SPRINGFIELD – A breakthrough measure to address Illinois' $96 billion pension crisis progressed Monday in the Illinois House, but odds of a final deal before this week's deadline grew slimmer as lawmakers left the Capitol for the day without taking a floor vote.

The House Personnel and Pensions Committee voted 6-3 to give the go-ahead to the plan, which freezes cost-of-living increases and calls for higher employee contributions to help solve a worst-in-the-nation pension shortfall.

The sponsor of the bill, Democratic Rep. Elaine Nekritz, said both Democrats and Republicans were assessing how many House lawmakers support the measure before deciding whether to call for a floor vote.