Credit ratings clearly at risk.

http://www.illinoispolicy.org/policy_posts/policy-lessons-from-illinois-exodus-of-people-and-money/

Illinois State Board of Investment is reviewing its asset allocation for potential changes to reduce volatility after lowering its assumed rate of return on investments to 7.25%.  ISBI’s actual asset allocation is 30.7% U.S. equities, 22.1% fixed income, 20.3% international equities, 9.8% hedge funds of funds, 9.5% real estate, 4.3% private equity and 3.3% real assets. http://www.pionline.com/article/20140707/ONLINE/140709927/illinois-state-board-mulling-changes-to-asset-mix-to-lower-volatility?utm_campaign=ramp_rss&utm_source=_rss&utm_medium=rss#

http://www.chicagonow.com/publius-forum/2014/07/thanks-democrats-illinois-fails-again-worst-in-midwest-for-private-sector-job-creation/

“Offsetting the Democratic advantage is a finding that 37 percent of the respondents consider themselves either “very” or “somewhat” conservative versus 30 percent who saw themselves as liberal to the same extent.”

http://quincyjournal.com/above-the-fold/2014/07/06/illinois-losing-residents-at-a-rate-of-1-person-every-10-minutes/

“The end of the road is pretty near, and it isn’t pretty.” via Truth in Accounting: Illinois budget tricks have hidden true cost of Kanerva v. Weems decision – RebootIllinois.com.

Comment: State Rep. David McSweeney is an up-and-comer to be watched. He’s one of the few in Springfield with a deep financial background. http://www.nwherald.com/2014/06/30/mcsweeney-illinois-needs-property-tax-relief-now/aq1u6cm/?__xsl=/print.xsl

“The unions think they’ll always get theirs. And they will. Right up until they don’t.”

Some Illinois lawmakers — as well as newspaper and broadcasting groups — say the private, not-for-profit Illinois High School Association, which oversees 35 high school sports and activities statewide, should be held to a higher transparency standard. http://politics.suntimes.com/article/springfield/how-ihsa-compares-spending-transparency/mon-07072014-1202am

Nearly two in five workers in the U.S. need government permission just to do their jobs. Occupational licensing overkill in Illinois

Illinois passed legislation to use existing funds to create more PV (solar panels) as the state tries to catch up to its renewable energy goals. http://www.pv-magazine.com/news/details/beitrag/illinois-to-spend-us30-million-on-more-solar-pv_100015622/#axzz36hMEkWpC

In the third annual Small Business Friendliness Survey, Illinois earned an overall F grade, with the state’s tax code earning an F and state regulations receiving a D. http://www.thonline.com/news/tri-state/article_02a468ed-b673-5f85-84b1-d6b5f4633c8e.html

Archer Daniels Midland Co. said it will acquire Wild Flavors, a maker of natural food ingredients, for $3 billion in what will be the company’s biggest takeover. http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20140707/NEWS07/140709907/adm-announces-its-biggest-takeover?r=8131B4604801F5R#

$70 million per year on another program that doesn’t work. http://www.illinoispolicy.org/employment-services-programs-failing-illinoisans/