An economist: “Taxes are high, the services [that taxes] pay for are terrible, and the debt load is so high, so palpably unsustainable that people have no belief that the resources can be found to turn it all around.”

And we’d love to say, “Let this be a lesson to the rest of the nation” who believes that government financial problems and pension liabilities are simply “no big deal”, but we’re certain they’re not listening anyway.

The state of Illinois potentially will be on the hook for more than $5 billion in equity and financing costs if a provision to speed construction of a megaproject near Soldier Field is approved by the General Assembly in this weekend’s extended spring session.

Elements of the deal for the huge One Central project have been in the discussion stage for weeks, but actual language didn’t surface until Friday afternoon, when it was included in a must-pass budget implementation bill.