We’re supposed to worry that climate change itself is to blame for Illinois’ failing climate policy, but far bigger problems are obvious.
Traumatizing robberies and violent crime continue to go up in Chicago this year, hitting a six-year high compared to the same time last year. It’s crime in neighborhoods perceived as safe, sometimes taking place in broad daylight, that’s driving the increased fear among Chicagoans and suburbanites.
Ted was on The Chicago Way with John Kass and Jeff Carlin to discuss the proposed $5 billion lakefront stadium project proposed by the Chicago Bears & Mayor Brandon Johnson, why Chicago is struggling compared to other metro areas across the country, why the city might or might not go the way of Detroit, and more.
Some Illinois lawmakers continue to deny that covid aid and other federal stimulus bailed the state out of its fiscal mess. But a look at past and projected revenues from COGFA shows just how much the bailouts blew out the state’s revenues. And now that they’re over, how much harder it will be for Illinois revenues to grow.
Election integrity – both real and perceived – is essential to government’s legitimacy and stability. Illinois, like the rest of the nation, better fix its problems now.
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Imagine electing someone like JB (never earned a penny in his life) and expecting your taxes to go down… at any income level… imagine being this dumb and thinking that this clown can spend your hard earned money better than you can
Illinois in a nutshell.
The state gave the democrats the governorship and a supermajority in the legislature. The democrats ran on this platform.
What did people really think was going to happen? That it will somehow all be ok because now that Rauner “the obstructionist who can’t get along” is gone they’ll all get to work with their sleeves rolled up, and come up with magical solutions that will make everyone happy? That the democrats will suddenly turn rightward towards reform, fiscal sanity, and caring about non-public-sector-union middle class people?
Ha!
What an absurd and pointless article. Crains repeatedly says “illinois politicians must honestly….”. Until Illinois finally goes bankrupt, Illinois politicians and honesty will be vastly separated.
Moody’s has already smiled widely over the tax plan, the markets have blessed it, the sacrificing of taxpayers at the alter of high yields is what the rating agencies are all about. And the fake “just above junk” phrase we always hear is going to be the states reward for continuing the Ponzi. Until the bond holders get a crew cut this is exactly what a well designed colluded “can kick” looks like.
“But nearly half of Illinois income comes from people making between $50,000 and $200,000 – that means you have a red bull’s-eye on your back pocket already for a tax hike soon to be announced if the progressive amendment passes.”
This needs to be drilled into everyone’s head for the next 12 months.
I’ve discussed this with people and all of them just repeat the same line that the law would give the middle class a tax break; and it’s fearmongering and lies that taxes would increase for households between $50,000 and $200,000. I say “come on, we live in IL” and like robots they repeat the same thing.
The media in Illinois don’t ask any tough questions. Two tax hikes – one in 2011 and another in 2017 – yet the deficit continues to grow. Does it occur to any journalists to ask Pritzker to explain why giving money to the same government run by people with the same tax and spend mindset will bring about anything but higher deficits than before? Like it or not, that is the track record.
Most voters don’t care or don’t want to know the answers to these tough questions. All they care about is (D) next to their name and it’s a blank check to the politicians. Sometimes the apathy among voters is so infuriating, the only answer is to leave the state. I mean really, the state isn’t worth fixing or even fighting for because its a losing battle; you may as well be a refugee to another state.
This is a great article that hit the nail on the head!
The only thing I would’ve changed in this and many other articles is replacing the phrases “pension reform” with “pension and health care benefits reform” and “pension liability” with “pension and health care benefits liabilities,” and adjust any related dollar amounts accordingly.
There’s also the issue of bloated salaries, but let’s work that later.
I would add that health care that is subsidized by taxpayers the only option should be the basic ACA (obamacare) package not the Platinum version they negotiate without any taxpayer input and it should start under S.S. rules (age 65) not 55 as is the case for many. If they want the platinum care they make up the difference. Taxpayers are mostly on the hook for over $73 Billion in lifetime health benefits for which the prices (RX and medical procedures) are rarely or never negotiated.
When the state is short of cash they delay payments to the contracted health insurers (for government employee and teachers) and Medicaid providers. A significant part of the current ?$ 8 + billion plus in deferred vendor payments is owed to the health insurers. In the past providers and insurers have waited over 12 months for payment. They already pay Medicaid rates at or near the bottom of the nation on a per capital basis for all Medicaid services, in most instances less than 50 % of costs, with hospitals and nursing homes can wait 6-9+ months for payments. It… Read more »
My doctor won’t accept Medicaid patients, maybe this is why.
Rick, a lot of doctors around here won’t, either. And I would imagine that’s the reason, too. It’s not as though their malpractice insurers would accept that sort of thing, so they’ve got money going out either wat
My wife’s hospital is owed literally hundreds of millions of dollars in medicaid money.