CHICAGO — Gov. Pat Quinn dangled the possibility this week that he'll call lawmakers back for a special session on Illinois' nearly $100 billion pension crisis, but he pressed Senate President John Cullerton and House Speaker Michael Madigan to first agree on a fix.

However, Quinn's efforts to nudge lawmakers hit an immediate snag when Madigan, who was out of the state, didn't show up to the first closed-door meeting legislative leaders have held since lawmakers adjourned and didn't participate by phone either.

Quinn said he impressed the urgency of the problem upon Cullerton in the roughly hourlong meeting, which came a day after a major bond house downgraded Illinois' credit rating. Quinn told reporters he spoke with Madigan last week in Springfield but that the speaker doesn't have a cellphone — which a spokesman confirmed — and so he left word with Madigan's wife.