Some images I have collected concerning Veterans: And, if you would like to see want World War II was like in the Pacific theater, I invite you to see the photos Wonder Lake’s Sully Sullivan brought … Continue reading
Category Archives: Illinois
A continuation of the analysis of the current situation in Illinois by WirePoints: Fact 20 20. Illinoisans leave. Nothing captures the dysfunction of Illinois as well as the data on outmigration does. Illinoisans have been fleeing the state in search of a better environment … Continue reading
A continuation of the analysis of the current situation in Illinois by WirePoints: Fact 13 13. Struggling social services. Several nonprofits and social service agencies were already closing their doors during the 2009-2013 period due to the state’s nonpayment of bills. The Urban Institute ranked Illinois the … Continue reading
A continuation of the analysis of the current situation in Illinois by WirePoints: FACT 10 10. University administrative bloat. Illinois’ public universities went on an administrative hiring spree between 2005 and 2015. The number of administrators employed grew by more than 25 percent … Continue reading
A continuation of the analysis of the current situation in Illinois by WirePoints: Fact 11 11. Medicaid crowd out. Medicaid costs continued to balloon as the number of Illinoisans enrolled in the program jumped by 60 percent – or more than 1 million people … Continue reading
A continuation of the analysis of the current situation in Illinois by WirePoints: Fact 8 8. Overpromised pensions. Between 2003 and 2015, Illinois lawmakers allowed total pension benefits (accrued liabilities) to grow at the third-fastest pace in the nation. At 7.5 percent a … Continue reading
Governor JB Pritzker will give his first budget address to the Illinois General Assembly today. This observer is wondering if he will propose building a wall around Illinois to keep residents from leaving. … Continue reading
A continuation of the analysis of the current situation in Illinois by WirePoints: Fact 7 BUDGET DRIVERS Hynes ignored the fact that many of the cost drivers that made the impasse so painful had accelerated to crisis levels long before … Continue reading
A continuation of the analysis of the current situation in Illinois by WirePoints: Fact 6 6. Nation’s worst rating. By 2010, Illinois’ credit rating was already the worst in the nation according to Moody’s. And in 2013, S&P declared Illinois was … Continue reading
A continuation of the analysis of the current situation in Illinois by WirePoints: Fact 5 5. Credit downgrades. Illinois’ deep credit rating slide began in 2009. The state experienced 13 total credit downgrades from the three major rating agencies from 2009 through 2013, … Continue reading
Prepared for the State of Illinois Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability: State of Illinois Forecast Report Summary Illinois’ economy is having its share of ups and downs, but overall, 2018 was better than the year before. The state has moved beyond … Continue reading
A continuation of the analysis of the current situation in Illinois by WirePoints: Fact 3 3. Pension shortfalls. Illinois’ pension shortfall tripled to over $100 billion in the decade before Rauner took office. That was despite the $17 billion in pension obligation bonds and the 2011-2014 … Continue reading
Here is the Executive Order that Governor JB Pritzker signed last week: … Continue reading
Look what showed up today from State Rep. David McSweeney: Illinois’ population has continued to decline as families flee from the crippling high taxes. We need to keep residents and jobs in our state, not push them out! Do you … Continue reading
Reprinted with permission: Illinois’ Lethal Combination: Rising Property Taxes & Stagnant Incomes Authored by Ted Dabrowski and John Klingner via WirePoints.com, A lethal combination of rising property taxes and stagnant incomes has forced many Illinoisans to rethink their relationship with … Continue reading
Look what the Tax Foundation presents in its most recent email. It’s a good follow-up to yesterday’s article by the Illinois News Network. Where Did Americans Move in 2018? States compete in a variety of ways, including attracting residents, and … Continue reading
Reprinted from Illinois News Network: Moving companies say Illinois at or near top state to move from in 2018 by Cole Lauterbach Illinois remains at, or near, the top of states with the highest percentage of people leaving compared to … Continue reading
A Friend of McHenry County Blog found this 2017 U.S. Census information comparing state and local government employment numbers in Illinois with those in other states: Category Illinois Rank FTE per Capita Illinois Rank Pay per capita Total States this category … Continue reading
Reprinted with permission from Illinois News Network: Illinois population drops by more than 45,000, per latest Census report Illinois had the largest population decline in the nation in 2018, the continuation of a years-long retreat from the state, according to … Continue reading
In view of the incredible debt being carried by the State of Illinois for unfunded pensions and future retired employee health benefits, a question arises in the comment session every once in a while as to why state government doesn’t … Continue reading