Strong investment returns yet worsening unfunded liabilities in most cases. http://www.bondbuyer.com/news/regionalnews/struggles-continue-for-many-illinois-pension-funds-1068346-1.html

The plan, SB2799, makes it harder for people to get repaid legal costs when a government wrongfully denies access to public documents. At the same time, it makes it easier for governments to keep certain information off-limits. http://wuis.org/post/last-minute-rush-change-freedom-information-act

A new OECD study shows we have the world’s second-largest welfare state — just behind France. Direct government spending isn’t the only way that societies provide social services. We channel payments through private companies, encouraged, regulated and subsidized by government. This is what the United States does, notably with employer-provided health insurance (which is subsidized by government by not counting employer contributions as taxable income) and tax-favored retirement savings accounts.   When these are added to government’s direct payments, France remains at the top, but the United States vaults into second position with roughly 30 percent of its GDP spent

The decisive victory by Bruce Rauner over Pat Quinn in the battle for Illinois governor was influenced by the superior financial health of Indiana. The folks in Illinois are amazed and jealous that a major recent issue in Indiana was how much to reduce the state income tax. http://www.nwitimes.com/news/opinion/columnists/guest-columnists/allan-katz-illinois-following-indiana-s-playbook/article_f3ae98ff-a3d5-57cd-8ca4-cbda091f0d02.html

Record 1.05 million Illinois households on food stamps this Thanksgiving