Madigan leads with his behind and puts it at his favorite table at Saputo’s.

Nikritz, Biss and Cross.

There are a couple of Illinois pension reports worth  noting today.

The Springfield Journal Register editorializes that while Governor Squeezy may be making a budget address today, it is Boss Madigan who will have the final say.

The editorial writers also suggest that Boss Madigan cares less about pensions and revenue than he cares about power. Much less.

Nobody believes he will take the lead on any proposal if there isn’t existing consensus.

Last week, Madigan put four pension proposals up for a vote on the House floor and was the only lawmaker to vote for all four. But three of the four were comically villainous ideas that only the fringe elements of this debate have proposed, such as ending COLAs altogether. They were also unconstitutional.

Even longtime Statehouse observers entranced by the speaker’s legislative voodoo were dumbfounded by the maneuver. What did putting four proposals — three of which will never be in the final pension product — up for a vote prove?

A more useful exercise might have been to put the individual elements of the Nekritz-Cross bill — of which there are 31 co-sponsors — up for votes to test how far they are from the 60 votes needed to pass. That would at least be informative compared to last week’s charade.

Better yet, Madigan could lead. He finally could say what he’s for and use his vaunted political skills to pass it. Everyone knows Madigan’s No. 1 priority — forever and always — is to keep the Democrats in the majority in the Illinois House so he can remain speaker. But what’s the point if you don’t try to solve the state’s biggest problem? Is being in Springfield during the winter and chowing down at Saputo’s really that much fun?

The good news is that as long as there is no consensus, our pensions are preserved without having to have a court fight. The bad news is that the failure of Madigan and the rest of the politicians in Springfield to address the revenue issue hurts everyone but the rich. They continue to pay very little of their stash of cash or pay their fair share.

The Daily Herald points out that all these pension proposals reflect the continuing lack of consensus.

On one hand, the varied ideas provide lawmakers with a lot to think about — a complex buffet of options with which to approach the state’s nearly $100 billion pension debt.

On the other, as each new plan is hatched, consensus could be harder to find. Cutting pension benefits for teachers and state workers is a tough vote for lawmakers — one many don’t want to have to take more than once.

So until there’s strength in numbers behind one plan, the debate could remain muddled.

As Quinn is set to give lawmakers his budget proposal Wednesday, he’s already backed one plan.

But when certain pension-cutting ideas were rejected handily in test votes last week, it could be a sign that compromise is not on the horizon.