[mdittmar]

Look out Illinois,more tax increases headed your way.

[Opinionated Blowhard]

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.

[LucianOfSamasota]

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

[Da Coyote]

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.

[bcsco]

Gov. Pat Quinn underscored his determination by declaring he was "put on earth" to solve the multi-billion-dollar pension problem.

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.

[blueyon]

Either your link to the story is incorrect or the story has been pulled......

[Jacquerie]

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.

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.

[spawn44]

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.

[Brilliant]

“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.

“And we can’t blame it on George W. Bush.”

[Oldeconomybuyer]

But can the Democrats actually do it?

Yes, then rename the state "Spain" and wait for North Dakota to bail them out.