Illinois has a spending problem. Spending per capita has grown nearly three times faster than it would have under a responsible spending limit – one tied to the growth of inflation and population.

In the aftermath of this month’s scramble to pass something – anything – that politicians could call pension reform, here’s the most important reason why taxpayers should be grateful the Nekritz-Biss plan was shelved: the “funding guarantee.”

Illinois Policy Institute Executive Vice President, Kristina Rasmussen, appeared on ABC 20 to discuss the Auditor General’s report, which found that Illinois’ unfunded pension liability grew nearly $12 billion in fiscal year 2012. The unfunded liability in the state’s retirement systems has ballooned by nearly $12 billion in the last budget year. That’s according to...

Is your wallet a little thinner these days?

Gov. Pat Quinn’s Office of Management and Budget recently released its three-year budget projections for Illinois’ General Fund. According to the report, Illinois will end fiscal year 2013 with a $242 million budget surplus.

We keep looking for leadership – and we keep ending up with politics.

How confident do you feel that Illinois will be able to pay its bills in 2013 and beyond?