The pension problem was created and has been fueled by weak politicians – men and women who decided their next elections were more important than the next generation.

Instead of talking about the necessary, structural reforms to help the state, a collection of Illinois lawmakers want to ask taxpayers to give more to continue irresponsible policies.

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.

Restoration of child-care cuts fails in Illinois House.

IOUs continue to flow from a broken state government.