The pensions themselves are. That leaves legislation actively in play in only two states: California, where a watered-down bill went to the governor on Aug. 24 for his possible signature, and Illinois, where a measure faces serious opposition.

“Enjoy what you have created and the legacy you are leaving your children and grandchildren. Goodbye.”

“The Illinois Constitution is meant to prevent tyranny, not to enshrine it.” Comment: Illinois, we have a rogue top court.

Comment: Great article. The Tribune’s editorial writers are among the few who seem to understand pensions and our fiscal crisis.

Under Illinois law, as well as in 42 other states, corrections officials s can sue inmates to recover their room and board costs. Rauner vetoed a bill last Friday, narrowly passed by the legislature, that would have stopped the practice, which critics say is petty and vindictive, leaves prisoners destitute, and possibly costs more in the end than the revenue the lawsuits actually generate.

Already facing a budget crisis, Illinois will be on the hook for another $421 million in the next fiscal year after the board of the state’s largest public-pension fund voted Friday to lower the assumed rate of return from 7.5 percent to 7 percent. Comment: Pension contributions by the state already consume about a quarter of its spending. You can count on more of the same from this and other state and local pensions across Illinois. You can also be sure their unfunded liabilities will continue to increase nevertheless. This is a bottomless pit.

But not only in a narrow, bitter, utterly partisan 4-3 vote did the court’s Democratic majority deem the proposed referendum unconstitutional, it failed to deal with other challenges raised by foes, who were represented by Mike Madigan lawyer Mike Kasper. “We leave that question for another day,” the majority quipped, offering absolutely no guidance to those dummies who might be inclined to try again.

Illinois sends many more students than it takes. It sends the most college students to Missouri, with 2,319 leaving for school. Missouri sends the most students, with 428 entering.

“Working together, Democrats and Republicans produced a batch of laws that will save taxpayers money, make communities safer and help offenders turn their lives around. There’s some momentum going now. Don’t blow it.”

Text of full decision linked here. Comment: Considered together with the court’s other rulings on pensions and tort reform, the court essentially thinks the Illinois Constitution is a suicide pact. Justice Thomas’ dissenting opinion: “Today, a muzzle has been placed on the people of the state, and their voices supplanted by judicial fiat.”

“Legislative districts should represent people based upon the community where they live,” Rauner said Thursday. “Politicians should not pick their voters by drawing spaghetti-like district lines with the sole intent of keeping one party in power regardless of how the people vote.”

Comment: Tax revolts have indeed started germinating. We’ve heard the same thing here that the Northwest Herald describes. Property taxes have already gone way to far in dozens of communities, some of which are already destroyed by them.

Comment: The entire world is recognizing Illinois as among the worst victims of the crisis.  Reform opponents in Illinois, however, maintain their central position, which is, “We’ll just have to pay up; nothing a tax increase can’t solve.”

Minority-owned businesses will have an exclusive opportunity to bid on a wide-ranging information technology contract with the state under a program that has been on the books but never before exercised in Illinois.

States and actuaries are trying to stifle debate about the growing shortfall in fund assets.

Comment: Revolutions are brewing.

TRS, Illinois’ biggest pension, votes today on a possible change in its assumptions that would have a huge spending impact.

Dr. Ben Scafidi has studied the numerical growth of public school students compared to public school staff from the years 1950 to 2009, and the results are stunning. In Illinois, for the years from 1992 to 2014 indicated disproportionate student to staff additions. While the number of Illinois students grew 12 percent during those years, the number of staff grew nearly three times as much.