-- Connecting the dots between our economy, government and business --
Jim Dey: "Since taking office, (Gov. JB) Pritzker has focused on improving state finances, especially the state’s credit ratings. As he indicated in his budget speech, he’s serious about defending its past improvements. But organized labor — the AFL-CIO, AFSCME and the teachers unions — are serious, too. Their conflicting positions could lead to an explosive final few days in Springfield."
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WIREPOINTS ORIGINAL STORIES
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.
For Years Wire Points has been trying to solve this mess. In fact, it only gets worse every year.
The State (taxpayers) are being eaten alive by the Public Sector Unions.
No, we have not said were would fix it. We’ve said routinely that it will have to get much worse before anything gets better, and that in the meantime we would be vetting the solutions that will need to be embraced eventually. And we are serving no small role as a warning to other states.
Much worse than it is now? The state is a stage 4 cancer patient right now. Only thing worse is death at this point. Then the pensions will be on the top of the capital structure and more than likely will get paid in full while everyone else loses.
Illinois’ finances have not improved a dime, when the pension bomb is added to the mix. Subtract the expiring covid subsidies and you have a huge hole in the finances, just ask the RTA.
Illinois is utterly lost, financially.