SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - Top Republicans say there's been no progress on an Illinois pension overhaul in talks with the governor and Democratic legislative leaders.

The officials say the two parties remain firmly divided on how to reduce the state's fast-growing pension costs.

House Minority Leader Tom Cross and Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno (rah-DOHN'-yoh) oppose any plan to shift pension costs to schools. Democrats contend that must be part of any overhaul.

The two Republicans on Friday said that since a full-scale pension plan is stalled, Democrats want to vote on one that covers state employees and university staff but leaves out teachers. The GOP leaders reject that approach.

Lawmakers are in Springfield for a special session on pensions that was ordered by Gov. Pat Quinn.

(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

Earlier story:

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - Illinois lawmakers are returning to Springfield with instructions to work on the state's massive pension problem, although there's no sign that a breakthrough is on the horizon.
   
Democratic legislative leaders are concentrating on a proposal that would address only part of the problem. Republicans reject that as insufficient, but they also reject a more comprehensive version that gradually shifts some pension costs to schools.
   
Gov. Pat Quinn called for Friday's special session. He says it can be successful if everyone is willing to compromise.
   
State pension systems are roughly $85 billion short of the money they'll eventually need to pay out. Closing that gap costs huge amounts each year, so officials want to cut costs by reducing retirement benefits.

(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)