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The Pew Charitable Trust also found that the four states with the most endangered pension systems — Illinois, Kentucky, New Jersey and Pennsylvania — have been ramping up their contributions, averaging annual growth of 16%. Nevertheless, Illinois and New Jersey’s plans still had slightly under 40% of their required funding by 2019.
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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
27 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.
What about this for a headline-
Pensions are in a better shape but taxpayers wallets are anorexic.
Really irresponsible of the Tribune to publish this AP article the way it did, making it look like the report says something positive about IL.
<Investment riding a bubble> reaches best shape since <last bubble>
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA Is this the Onion?!?!?!!?!? Here’s a few alternate headlines:
“Illinois now only owes $325B”
“Illinois now owes less than New Jersey, per taxpayer”
“At this rate, Illinois will now fully fund pensions by your great great great grandchild’s 10th birthday”
“After claiming victory over unfunded pensions, Gov Pritzker claims both mansions uninhabitable”