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"...(T)hat raises the question of whether a state like Illinois with its long legacy of corruption, of unions and machine politicians in it for themselves, and, quite honestly, without any 'glue' that holds it together, is simply incapable of implementing a retirement system that requires an 'all in this together' attitude."
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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.
I know someone who recently retired as a teacher with just a 20 year career. She is 55 and is now making just over $50K/yr or $4,100/month much more than what S.S would have paid plus healthcare. Contributions were $114K mostly picked up by taxpayers. 3% compounding for life will increase that a lot. Here’s an idea. What about taxing retirement accounts after they collect what they (us) paid in contributions. She will get her contributions back in 25 months. My IRA has done very little in returns due to low contributions on my part because of high property and… Read more »
Not to worry about taxing retirement accounts. As soon as the “fair tax” is approved then they will be able to tax those retirement accounts. Keep in mind they won’t just go after those evil public pensions but all retirement income above a certain level. As far as reforms, how many legislators are running on the idea that they will offer up pension reforms? Specific reforms that would pass constitutional requirements? Hard to get a majority to vote for reforms when hardly anyone runs on that platform. Not a fan of JB but he ran on a platform of more… Read more »
Well said. There was some talk about instituting a 1% state wide property tax on top of the local tax that would be applied to the pension shortfalls. It still would take almost 40 years to pay them off assuming home values don’t plummet. Did you hear anything about this idea. Would like to read some more about that.
I remember reading about it as well. The idea was floated like a lead balloon. Adding 1% additional tax to already high property taxes is down on their list of ideas. Not saying it wont happen but they have bigger fish to fry. Just my opinion but don’t think that is happening anytime soon.
Pass the progressive tax, raise rates on all groups as needed, start taxing high earning retirees, taxing services, real estate transfer tax. Lots of taxes for them to go after.
If we were all in this together, the pension systems would suspend the 3% compounded COLA for one year.
Tens of thousands out of work or had pay cuts, but retired state workers can’t get by on the same pension they had last year?! Bull.
It can’t be suspended and you know that. Are we expecting the bondholders to suspend their interest payments or lower the interest rate? Wouldn’t Fidelity be able to survive with less interest payments from the state? Georgia only pays 1.5% vs Illinois’ 5.6% for their debt. I would never expect bondholders to lower their interest they collect on the bonds the same way I wouldn’t expect pensioners to return their 3% contractual pension increase. I get that many people on this site hate pensioners but why would they ever give up something that contractually belongs to them? I don’t have… Read more »
The pensions were given in exchange for CRIMINAL activity – the Democrats were BRIBED by the unions. Both the giver and the taker of a bribe are guilty. Bribery is a CRIME. The pensions should be clawed back and renegotiated. Public employee slugs should take care of themselves like people in the real world do.
The pensions have been on the books longer than any current employee in the system. In fact the language that is in the constitution that doesn’t allow you to diminish their pensions was added in 1970. That amendment to the constitution was sponsored by Republicans. Back then Republicans thought it was wrong to force public sector workers to add money to the pensions to only have pensions taken away from them before or during retirement. All the people of Illinois voted on that amendment and it was approved. Did the unions bribe all the voters? It was a Republican Governor… Read more »
Technically they’re not bribes so probably no actual crime committed. However when a politician offers to vote for egregious union benefits in exchange for big campaign donations and public sector union election support then that borders on criminal. Not a whole lot different than what ComEd did.
Providing campaign funds to politicians that will vote in your best interest is not a bribe by itself. Without proving quid pro quo it is only a campaign contribution. The 2016 US Supreme Court ruling for the Governor McDonnell of Virginia made that clear. It’s a tough bar to clear. Otherwise any business that has ever made a campaign contribution to a public official and does business with any government agency we would have a crime. Unions providing money to candidates that believe public sector workers are “underpaid” or “deserve their pension” will most likely get more support from those… Read more »
I agree with most of that except when a politician votes for egregious benefits for public sector unions he’s essentially buying votes with my tax dollars. If it’s a plumbers union no problem, I can hire a non union plumber, but I can’t avoid paying taxes that benefit of the public sector union.
Soon, everyone but the union mob will be gone from the state. Illinois will become a democrap utopia as all problems will be solved by eliminating diversity of opinion. Laws will be passed to making cancer, heart disease, and other illnesses illegal. Children will will be educated on how the people’s democracy of Illinois requires the fruits of labor for generations to come. Wealth will be totally eliminated because the state will provide everything you need, even your opinion. Run from Illinois and don’t look back. For those who think they cannot afford to leave, I say you can’t afford… Read more »
“In This Together”? That’s a laugh.
Greedy union members think they should retire in their 50’s and you in your mid 60’s. They have very demanding jobs – you don’t.
Greedy union members think that their neighbors who will never make $100K in a year should fund union members $100K pensions. Plus a 3% raise each year..
Greedy union members think that their neighbors who avoid going to their doctors because of the cost should pay for union members medical expenses.
Sensible Republicans don’t stand a chance in Illinois. Get out while you still can.
Illinois is doomed. It has been run into the ditch by decades of corrupt, Democrat imbeciles. Only solution for the pension crisis is to tear them all up – claw them back – because they were given in exchange for criminal activity – BRIBERY OF DEMOCRATS BY THE CROOKED UNIONS. Then, call in forensic accountants, and actuaries to figure out what the retired public-employees should receive as a result of what they put in. Use the same standards that apply to people who actually work for a living. Simple as that.
Completely agree sir. And they should be taxed on the employers contribution, as folks are across Europe.
The last thing Illinois needs is more taxes especially European style taxes
So we really think if the Governor’s tax plan passes this November that Illinois will not be raising taxes anyway? No Washington bailout (good). And should it pass then taxing retirement income will be on the table, as it has been implemented in other states with similar tax schemes. If my retirement income is going to be taxed, then I want the pensions of all public sector workers taxed also, and because they have not paid any taxes thus far on their employer contributions, then these must be taxed as well, at higher rates because their pensions are well above… Read more »