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.
FYI– gasoline prices are almost $2/gallon cheaper in many states. And many of those states have better roads and bridges. I guess Illinoisans just don’t care about getting ripped off.
Gas prices are not $2 cheaper in many states. Gas prices are definitely more expensive than many states but why lie? What’s the point? Are you afraid people won’t be outraged by the higher gas prices unless you make up some absurd stat?
OMG I have to agree with Mr./Mrs./Ms. state retiree again. Yes gas is cheaper in states not as poorly run as Illinois, but not generally $2 cheaper overall. Over a buck cheaper? It depends. The gallon of regular in Illinois for $3.49 compares to $2.71 in the saner state.
After spending some time outside of Madiganistan in a far saner and better run state, I stepped off a plane this week and the higher prices for gas in Madiganistan was jarring though.
Are any Chicago or IL residents aware of these new taxes? Do they care? These are further tax increases along with those in the budget.
Most don’t care or care enough to do anything about it.