Donna Arduin is an Illinois Policy Institute senior fellow and a partner at Arduin, Laffer & Moore Econometrics, a group that advises federal, state and municipal leaders, as well as political candidates and private-sector clients, on economic, fiscal and state policies.

Illinois’ monthslong budget gridlock, $111 billion in government-worker pension debt, and more than a decade of unbalanced budgets have resulted in credit downgrades for Illinois and the highest borrowing costs of any state in the nation.

Amid budget gridlock, Illinois lottery winners sue to have their winnings paid with interest and to prevent the state from selling more tickets it can’t pay out.

The Illinois House of Representatives concluded its 2015 session without passing a budget, relying instead on piecemeal legislation to resolve policy issues and fill funding gaps.

Amid continued budget gridlock in Springfield, Senate Bill 2039 provides funds to pay Illinois Lottery winners, as well as to allow for road maintenance, 911-center operations and projects by Chicago’s tourism office, among other local government programs.

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle resorted to the same tired formula that has all but bankrupted Chicago.

Ticket sales slumped by more than $20 million in October as lottery players balked at a broken system.

Good-faith negotiation and trust were foundational to all of the deals made, but some Statehouse Democrats pushed for extreme solutions while others were actively compromising.

State politicians will decide the fate of Chicago’s demand for more money, but a budget vote isn’t likely before January 2016.

The budget stalemate in Springfield has forced Illinois’ secretary of state to suspend mailing vehicle registration renewal notices to vehicle owners.