I blame it on Blago, Quinn and Madigan, Chicago, Cook Cty. Rauner? No way. IL was in much better shape before democrats took over.
Back in the mid fifties the comptroller of NYS set up the Fire and Police pension. Nelson Rockefeller was the govenor. The NYS Assembly passed legislation that only ONE person could access the funds in the pension system, the sitting NYS Comptroller. Not the Gov, not the assembly, not anyone. Today it is most likely the number retirement system in the US, having approx 150 Billion dollars in there. Over the years the social trouble makers tried to grab that cash, the courts wouldnt let them. It is so good that local taxpayers no more contribute to it. It virtually pays for itself.
So, it can be done.