$1.3 billion for 41,000 units of housing. “Bouncing Back” tries to address forces that have battered Chicago – namely the foreclosure crisis and a population decline of 200,000 people from 2000 to 2010 — with a focus on putting vacant and foreclosed properties back into the mix.” via City housing plan takes into account foreclosures, population loss | WBEZ 91.5 Chicago.

http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2014/01/taxpayers-to-foot-big-bill-for-legislator-pay-stunt.html Withholding pay from legislators who didn’t do what Quinn wanted on pension reform was blatantly unconstitutional. Now, we pay the bill.

Mayer Brown’s Ty Fahner has been an outspoken critic of Illinois fiscal policy and reportedly encouraged rating agencies to downgrade Illinois bonds. http://www.illinoisobserver.net/2014/01/13/extra-mayer-brown-loses-illinois-bond-counsel-contract/

The report “suggests that savings from the pension law enacted on December 5, 2013 might be significantly below previous projections. Supporters had estimated that the plan would reduce State contributions in FY2016 by about $1.2 billion. The new projection shows FY2016 savings of approximately $673 million.” And note the shift in emphasis to the effect of the pension bill on near term contributions only. That’s the default focus of politicians who run pensions. Meanwhile, the can gets kicked and the unfunded liability remains huge. Notice how we are gradually slipping to analysis based on how much the near term contribution

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/jan/13/winter-storm-tab-costs-illinois-14-million/

The deal will be Illinois’s second since lawmakers in December bolstered the worst-funded U.S. state pension system. Note also that Illinois’ credit “spread — the high interest penalty we pay for bad credit — remains no better than August 2013. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2014-01-13/illinois-sets-1-billion-g-o-sale-in-february-after-pension-fix.html

Gang ties not allowed. http://illinoisissuesblog.blogspot.com/

“Over the past decade, Illinois has made significant gains in bringing technologies developed at universities to market. This quarterly edition of the Innovation Index report examines the path that technology takes from inception to commercialization, sheds light on the challenges of technology transfer at academic institutions, and provides insights from new research on university start-ups.” via Download the Innovation Index 2013 Quarter 4 Report | Innovation Index.

http://illinoispolicy.org/justifications-for-tax-hike-fall-short/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=justifications-for-tax-hike-fall-short