Consolidating downstate and suburban police and fire pension systems is a start, but both fixes and Illinois’ pension problems go much deeper.

East St. Louis already faces a $2.2 million state funding diversion for its firefighters pension fund. Now the police pension board is demanding $1.79 million the city owes that fund.

A new report shows Illinois’ unfunded pension debt liability remained highest in the nation despite the 2017 income tax hike.

Bailouts reward bad behavior. Reform rewards residents. Lawmakers should bend toward the latter.