Teachers' union blasts Quinn's budget speech

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — A leading teachers' union says Gov. Pat Quinn's budget address before lawmakers presented a "false choice" when it comes to schools and a pension overhaul.

Quinn says his budget is the most difficult he's ever proposed with deep cuts to areas like education. The Chicago Democrat says there are cuts because of lawmakers' inaction in solving the state's nearly $100 billion pension problem which strains spending in other areas.

Illinois Federation of Teachers President Dan Montgomery says in a statement that teachers did not create the pension funding problem and shouldn't be blamed. He says students shouldn't suffer.

Montgomery says Quinn could have used the speech to lead on pensions but it as the "tired same rhetoric that has gotten us nowhere."

Several pension bills are currently on the table.