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The rating agency noted the state’s weaknesses included “An almost empty budget stabilization fund that would further limit budgetary flexibility; The remaining bill backlog; Pension funding practices ... which is one of the least conservative funding methodologies in the nation among peers; and a recurring practice of relatively late audit reports,” the report outlined.
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Audio and summary Illinois bill would override local law to allow homeless living in all public parks – Wirepoints
April 14, 2026
29 Comments
If this bill passes, say goodbye to local control over all Illinois parks and expect to see open drug and alcohol use, needles, no sanitation and fire hazards, but no ordinary park users.
Mark Glennon on AM560’s Morning Answer: Chicago Fiscal Crisis Worse Than Pre-Bankruptcy Detroit, HIV Surge and Public Health Threat From Open Borders Goes Unreported
April 10, 2026
2 Comments
Summary and audio linked here.
Mark Glennon on AM560’s Morning Answer: Chicago pension buyout plan mostly shifts debt rather than eliminating it, property tax surge doubles inflation over three decades
April 3, 2026
9 Comments
Chicago’s political leadership is floating a pension buyout program as evidence it is seriously addressing the city’s thirty-six-billion-dollar unfunded pension liability, but Mark Glennon, founder of the Illinois policy research organization Wirepoints, said that the proposal moves debt from one column to another rather than reducing it, and that the broader fiscal picture facing the city continues to deteriorate across every measurable dimension. Audio here.
WBEZ and Chicago Sun-Times falsely blame Texas Gov. Abbott for 2020 to 2024 surge in Chicago Latino HIV, AIDS infections – Wirepoints Quickpoint
March 31, 2026
11 Comments
Expect no retraction or apology. This what they do.
“The state’s economic base can already support a higher rating,” S&P said. “Any upside to the state’s creditworthiness, however, remains somewhat constrained by the poorly funded pension systems and other outsize liabilities. If Illinois were to make sustainable progress toward structural balance, including meeting its pension obligations, further reducing its bill backlog, and increasing reserves, we could raise the rating.” It sounds like the state raising revenue and using the increased revenue towards the structural pension gap (actuarial vs statutory contributions) would be viewed as a positive by this ratings agency. Also as Fitch noted, “Illinois has unlimited legal ability… Read more »
Unfortunately passing a new tax would just be, at the end of the day, just another source for the free spending politicians newest feel gm. vote buying programs similar to the “lottery for education” fiasco sold to the public. Illinois voters seemingly are easily influenced by the hoopla produced by the politicians.
lol