Comment: The misunderstanding reflected here, which is epidemic, is that passing “a budget” means the painful cuts will be restored. They won’t be. We’re running a $6.2 billion annualized excess of expenses over revenue, even with the cuts in place, and excluding the massive pension underfunding. “Compromise” to get a budget won’t help much and nobody wants a tax increase big enough to cover it all.

Comment: The article certainly isn’t true to the headline.

Comment: With a ratio of inactives to actives of almost 2:1, unfunded actuarial accrued liability of $45,173,850 — a 30% funded ratio, yes, you can call that a “thorn.” Alston is hardly unusual. Illinois is a thorn garden.

Great study showing how the system is rigged for gluttony at the top and hardship at the bottom. See our own article about the study linked here.

Comment: “The only road forward is through compromise,” the article says. Compromise will will speed the spiral down. The opposite it true. The list of radical reforms needed immediately must be expanded — bankruptcy for many municpalities, pay cuts, layoffs, slashed pension payments. The crisis is now spinning out of control and a state of emergency should be recognized by all.

Comment: Just another indication of the severity of the heroin crisis, which, as a primary cause of crime and gang activity, is helping undermine the entire economy.