Posted on 05/02/2012 1:54:18 PM PDT by mdittmar
Facing one of the nation's worst budget crises, the Democrats who run Illinois insist they're serious about overhauling the state's expensive health programs and employee pensions. Gov. Pat Quinn underscored his determination by declaring he was "put on earth" to solve the multi-billion-dollar pension problem.
But can the Democrats actually do it?
The effort will test whether a state infamous for emphasizing politics over policy and for finding budget shortcuts rather than long-term solutions can change its ways. It will require Democrats, in the middle of an election year, to deflect longtime union allies and to cut state money flowing to many of the urban wards that put them in office.
"I don't think my constituents realized the truly horrible choices we're going to have to make," said Rep. Greg Harris, a Democrat from Chicago.
State Medicaid and pension problems exploded nationwide when recession hit in 2008. The number of people eligible for government health care assistance jumped by 5.6 million and state retirement systems lost more than one-quarter of their total value, by some estimates.
Many states, particularly those led by Republicans, have taken drastic steps to fix their budgets, including cutting spending and requiring public employees to contribute more to their benefits. In some cases, the cutbacks triggered huge protests last year at state capitols by public employees and advocates for the poor.
(Excerpt) Read more at stltoday.com ...
This is what happens when you let Dems run the entire show. This and California, and Rhode Island. Spend, spend, spend, spend, spend. And raise taxes on the rich. And when spending outstrips revenue again, then raise taxes on the rich again. Oh, and spend some more to get the economy moving. Then when the whole Ponzi scheme collapses, scream for a federal bailout.
Chicago, June 21, 2011– Cook County taxpayers are on the hook for a staggering amount of local debt, according to figures presented by Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas today. Cook County’s numerous local governments face mounting debts totaling more than $108 billion. And, for the first time, specific figures have been collected for municipal unfunded pensions obligations totaling in excess of $25 billion, almost a quarter of debt countywide. The total figures translate into an average debt-per-household in the city of Chicago of $63,525, and $32,901 in the suburbs.
http://www.cookcountytreasurer.com/newsdetail.aspx?ntopicid=434
A democrat balancing a budget?
Bwahahahahahaha.
People of Illinois, you are so screwed.
But then again, you all obviously like felons for governor, president, mayor, etc, etc.
Oh, come on. It's a one pony show. Raise taxes. That's all they know.
The man's a jerk and Illinois deserves him (and I'm from Illinois). This state is so corrupt it's absurd. Both parties are guilty. So are the people who voted for these a$$holes, myself included when I thought I was voting for a good Republican.
Anyone who has a reason to move to Illinois should think again. It's the worst move you can make short of California.
Bwahahahahahaha.
You have to read that in democrat-speak. They're serious when they talk about balancing the budget. Only their idea of "balancing" is completely the opposite of ours. To them, "balancing the budget" means raising taxes sufficiently to cover the shortfall. To us, it means cutting spending to within budgetary guidelines.
Of course, they know that increasing taxes will never, ever, balance any budget because it just allows them to spend more. But they also know the sheeple believe they're slight-of hand, so that's irrelevant.
Either your link to the story is incorrect or the story has been pulled......
The “People’s Republic of New Jersey” is no better.
The FL Republican Legislature and Governor Rick Scott signed state employee pension reform last year that required a couple percent of pay donations toward their health care and pensions.
The FL Supremos shot it down, essentially agreeing w/unions that the system cannot be reformed.
Brutal but true. This place has become a socialist s##thole.
“The “People’s Republic of New Jersey” is no better.”
The property tax cap helped stabilize NJ (which is still in horrible shape); at least our taxes don’t go up $500 to $600 annually anymore. It was encouraging to see so many government workers lose their jobs; they had forgotten that they work for us, and were squeezing us harder & harder.
The long-term costs of the public employees will drown CA, NJ, NY, IL; anyone thinking of moving to or opening a business in those states should bear in mind that they are buying a share of a huge IOU.
How odd?
All you have to do is look at Wisconsin to see how serious the SOCIALIST DEMOCRAT (commie unions) are at getting any state finances in order that they control. WHAT A JOKE.
The Dem strategy on a national level is to centralize the socialism so that people and companies can’t flee the worst-offending states to better tax environments. The Dem states are losing electoral votes in their strongholds, and have to somehow reverse that trend.
The “federal bailout” is one way to do that; taxpayers in Texas will get the bill for the government workforce of Illinois.
It's a fact. Pure and simple. This is one of the most anti-business, anti-capitalist, anti-growth, anti-individual-rights states of them all. You say I was brutal. I say I was being kind...
Updated: 4:01 pm.
“The total figures translate into an average debt-per-household in the city of Chicago of $63,525, and $32,901 in the suburbs.”
Read on another thread that for the NATO summit that’s up coming that they are testing out the ability to cut off all transportation into and out of the city. Sounds to me like they’re getting ready to raise the barriers and not let anyone out until they’ve paid their “fair share” of the debt to support the unions pensions. Get out while you still can, otherwise it may be too late!
We could also do with making the state less friendly to illegal immigrants...
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