CHICAGO (AP) – Illinois Senate President John Cullerton said Monday that he’ll push forward with a pension overhaul “as quickly as possible” and that the timing is right to legalize gay marriage and possibly expand gambling, previewing what could be a packed spring legislative session.

Cullerton, who spoke to the City Club of Chicago, stressed the need for addressing Illinois’ pension crisis, particularly after Standard & Poor’s downgraded Illinois’ credit rating last week to the worst of any U.S. state. The rating service blamed lawmakers’ continuing failure to resolve a multibillion-dollar pension problem.

The Chicago Democrat introduced legislation – Senate Bill 1 – after lawmakers were sworn in earlier this month that combines two plans previously proposed. Cullerton hoped the downgrade would motivate lawmakers to act on the pension problem.