Illinois taxpayers celebrate Tax Freedom Day nearly two weeks after their peers in neighboring states.

Illinois stands out in the Midwest for unaffordable housing – 34 percent of Illinois households spend more than 30 cents per dollar of income on housing, more than any other state in the region.

Tax revenues in Illinois are up 22.5 percent over pre-recession highs, while 30 other states are collecting less tax revenue today than they were before the recession began.

State lawmakers and the city of Chicago owe taxpayers an honest assessment. It's a sad state of affairs when we have to get that assessment from a bond guru in Kentucky.