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Illinois Seeks a Bailout From Congress for Pensions and Cities
The New York Times ^ | 17 April 2020 | Mary Williams Walsh

Posted on 04/17/2020 7:01:07 PM PDT by Theoria

The president of the State Senate asked for $40 billion to help the pension system, fund unemployment insurance and aid hospitals and cities.

Illinois needs more than $40 billion in relief from the federal government because of the coronavirus pandemic — including $10 billion to help bail out its beleaguered pension system, according to a letter the Illinois Senate president sent to members of Congress.

The letter, sent this week by State Senator Don Harmon, also seeks a $15 billion grant to “stabilize the state’s budget,” $9.6 billion in direct aid to Illinois’s cities, $6 billion for the state’s unemployment insurance fund, and hardship money for hospitals and nursing homes, among other things.

“I realize I’ve asked for a lot, but this is an unprecedented situation,” Mr. Harmon, a Democrat, wrote in the letter to the state’s congressional delegation, a copy of which was viewed by The New York Times. A spokesman confirmed that Mr. Harmon had written the letter.

The letter was shared with Gov. J.B. Pritzker, also a Democrat, who said this week that the federal government should provide more funding to states. Messages left for State Senator Bill Brady, the minority leader, were not immediately returned on Friday evening. Democrats hold 40 of the State Senate's 59 seats.

The letter said the outbreak had caused economic havoc in the state, which has been under a stay-home order since March 21. Economic activity has frozen up across the country, causing tax collections to evaporate while spending has soared.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Breaking News; Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Government; US: Illinois
KEYWORDS: bailout; budget; congress; debt; economy; illinois; pension; pritzker; spending
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To: gogeo
I believe they’ve tried all those things.

And they will try all of them again. And again. And again.

They will keep doubling-down on failing actions until they are forcibly removed from office. That isn't going to happen by elections. Most likely that will be done by Federal Marshals acting under Federal court orders. That is if we are smart, and the State problems can be resolved in an orderly bankruptcy or debt repudiation.

Otherwise it will be done by assassinations as the criminal gangs who have always dominated Chicago politics fight for control of the remnants while the money runs out of the system.

The pensioners will be screwed either way.

121 posted on 04/18/2020 7:10:59 AM PDT by flamberge (The wheels keep turning)
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To: Theoria

They were already going broke and not far from the precipice of bankruptcy before the current crisis. I KNEW they would now use the crisis as the saving excuse with which to get federal help for their self-created financial problems.


122 posted on 04/18/2020 7:48:37 AM PDT by Wuli
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To: Theoria

Let these nitwit fake artists twist in the wind. They made their bed, now they get to lay in it.

FILE under foad irresponsible Illinois crap weasels and bush-league extortionists.


123 posted on 04/18/2020 7:53:42 AM PDT by dennisw
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To: dennisw

FAKE FUNDED PENSIONS
and other JIVE MONEY CREATIONS

This ChiCongo and Illinois is where Jive talkin’ Ubungu got his start. To plague us all, and reject style bring down the national IQ by 15 points.


124 posted on 04/18/2020 8:00:52 AM PDT by dennisw
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To: ridesthemiles

Ha! Al Capone would run Illinois much less corruptly . The wrong guys won that case? Ha!


125 posted on 04/18/2020 8:20:01 AM PDT by faithhopecharity ("Politicians are not born, they are excreted." Marcus Tullius Cicero (106 to 43 BCE))
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To: gogeo

Yes, but note that they have not done so in the 6-7 years since the Illinois SC ruled that public employee retiree (vested) benefits were untouchable. The state employee unions, the current state employees, and the still resident retirees under the pubic pension system are a Democratic voting bloc that will prevent an amendment from being offered. Crazy? Of course! But not a federal general revenue taxpayer responsibility. There should not be a cross subsidization of Illinois stupidity by taxpayers in states that acted responsibly.


126 posted on 04/18/2020 8:33:54 AM PDT by Wally_Kalbacken
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To: Richard Axtell

I work every now and again since he is part time with a guy from Chicago who was a fireman there.
He is always boasting how he gets nearly 6 figures for his pension, and still has his healthcare.
He has no problem that the taxpayers back up there are letting him live his lavish lifestyle down here. He complains how we are republican here and votes Dem all the time

.I wish he would move back to Chicago


127 posted on 04/18/2020 9:07:44 AM PDT by manc ( If they want so called marriage equality then they should support polygamy too.)
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To: Theoria

It looks like the decision among Freepers is not only NO, but Hell NO.


128 posted on 04/18/2020 9:10:13 AM PDT by KittyKares (Drain the Swamp)
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To: Wally_Kalbacken

“the Illinois SC ruled that public employee retiree (vested) benefits were untouchable.”

The Illinois SC had a conflict of interest because their retiree benefits were protected by this decision.

Illinois’s problem is so large that the state could become like Detroit in that real estate becomes worthless because property taxes become too high and there is no income to tax because all businesses have left. You can’t have a state made up of government bureaucrats, teachers, and welfare recipients.


129 posted on 04/18/2020 9:13:22 AM PDT by alternatives? (Why have an army if there are no borders?)
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To: KittyKares

Or “No Effing(ham) Way!”


130 posted on 04/18/2020 9:14:39 AM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: Bobalu

“we just paid 50,000 for it...so 2700.00/yr is mighty steep.”

If the taxes increase to $3,700 per year what will you be able to sell it for? $4,700 per year? See the problem?

Do you think you could rebuild the house for $50,000? If not if it burns down you wouldn’t rebuild it. It becomes difficult for builders to justify building new houses.

Another way of looking at it is you are paying 5.4% per year for your house excluding insurance and upkeep. That is higher than interest. You really don’t own your home.


131 posted on 04/18/2020 9:29:23 AM PDT by alternatives? (Why have an army if there are no borders?)
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To: Theoria

Not only NO, but open investigations into the shortfall.


132 posted on 04/18/2020 9:42:22 AM PDT by StAnDeliver (CNN's Dana B: "Show of hands: Coverage for undocumented immigrants?" ***all Democrat hands raised***)
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To: Theoria

Here’s an idea that works EVERY time.

CUT SPENDING!


133 posted on 04/18/2020 10:09:50 AM PDT by unixfox (Abolish Slavery, Repeal the 16th Amendment)
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To: Theoria
FU Illinois! Your mismanaged will not and should not be rewarded!
134 posted on 04/18/2020 10:22:29 AM PDT by Chgogal (Wuhan Virus, Chinese Virus, Kung Fu Virus - Wuhan Chinese Kung Fu Virus aka CCP virus.)
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To: Theoria

135 posted on 04/18/2020 10:24:32 AM PDT by Caipirabob (Communists...Socialists...Fascists & AntiFa...Democrats...Traitors... Who can tell the difference?)
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To: rustyboots
... but why not shoot for the moon?

Why not shoot for the politicians asking for the moon?

136 posted on 04/18/2020 10:39:22 AM PDT by Tonytitan
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To: Theoria

I’ll trade handing over the DMV database of all the illegals who got driver’s licenses in exchange for a bailout. Otherwise, no deal.


137 posted on 04/18/2020 11:41:34 AM PDT by ksm1
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To: unixfox

Problem is, makes too much sense and too many takers riding the gravy train.

Some places like Illinois, California or Oregon I think will only get fixed once they are forced to raise taxation to the point that the entire productive class leaves, and the place only has takers instead of makers. They don’t get it. Detroit, strange as it may sound, has actually been revitalizing since they already had their collapse. We’re going to need to see Chicago, Portland, San Francisco, and so forth completely collapse before it gets better in my opinion.

Remember that Michigan used to be a blue state, until Trump won it in 2016. Think it may need to get worse, maybe a lot worse, before it gets better.


138 posted on 04/18/2020 11:48:47 AM PDT by ksm1
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To: faithhopecharity

Cali will be next.


139 posted on 04/18/2020 1:13:42 PM PDT by TexasM1A
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To: Richard Axtell

Try austerity and fiscal prudence, and try not driving taxpayers away. It works.


140 posted on 04/18/2020 1:34:03 PM PDT by Eleutheria5 ("SHUT UP!" he explained.)
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