quote:


Illinois has emerged as a poster child for fiscal irresponsibility. With its legislature beholden to public-sector unions, Illinois has long avoided financing state workers’ pensions out of its own budget. Instead, the state skips its contributions into retirement funds in some years and borrows money to finance the pensions in others. Since 2003, Illinois has floated more than $15 billion in pension-obligation bonds rather than pay for workers’ benefits out of its annual budget. Even with the borrowing, Illinois has one of the worst-funded pension systems in the country. One study estimates that the system could run out of money by the end of the decade.

Illinois legislators have consistently avoided tough choices. *cough* Obama almost 130 times in his oh so short career as a state senator *cough* When the recession of 2008 curtailed tax collections, Illinois stopped paying its bills rather than cut spending. The state has accumulated a steep pile of IOUs, including tax refunds owed to corporations and Medicaid payments owed to doctors and hospitals. Though Illinois’ constitution mandates a balanced budget, the state has met that requirement only by ignoring those bills. The Chicago-based Civic Federation projects that, under current budget trends, the state’s backlog of unpaid bills would grow to $34 billion in five years.

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To accomplish that end, Walker looked not to Illinois but to Indiana, where in 2005 Governor Mitch Daniels had rescinded collective bargaining rights for state employees as the prelude to a vast restructuring of state government. Among the innovations Daniels put in place, once he no longer had to negotiate every change in compensation with the unions, was a money-saving benefits plan for state workers featuring individual health savings accounts. With moves like that, Daniels put Indiana on better footing to withstand the 2008 financial meltdown, one reason that the state today enjoys one of the soundest budgets in the country.

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ORIGINAL: mnottertail

So that ws indiana, not wisconsin.   And walker is not looking to do that.

I see that the republicans got on the ballot fraudulently as democrats in that state, presumably because every vote should count in a fair and American election.

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ORIGINAL: subrob1967

It's no wonder you progressives want to recall Walker... You can't let Wisconsin become a better state than the president's own!

quote:


Illinois has emerged as a poster child for fiscal irresponsibility. With its legislature beholden to public-sector unions, Illinois has long avoided financing state workers’ pensions out of its own budget. Instead, the state skips its contributions into retirement funds in some years and borrows money to finance the pensions in others. Since 2003, Illinois has floated more than $15 billion in pension-obligation bonds rather than pay for workers’ benefits out of its annual budget. Even with the borrowing, Illinois has one of the worst-funded pension systems in the country. One study estimates that the system could run out of money by the end of the decade.

Illinois legislators have consistently avoided tough choices. *cough* Obama almost 130 times in his oh so short career as a state senator *cough* When the recession of 2008 curtailed tax collections, Illinois stopped paying its bills rather than cut spending. The state has accumulated a steep pile of IOUs, including tax refunds owed to corporations and Medicaid payments owed to doctors and hospitals. Though Illinois’ constitution mandates a balanced budget, the state has met that requirement only by ignoring those bills. The Chicago-based Civic Federation projects that, under current budget trends, the state’s backlog of unpaid bills would grow to $34 billion in five years.

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To accomplish that end, Walker looked not to Illinois but to Indiana, where in 2005 Governor Mitch Daniels had rescinded collective bargaining rights for state employees as the prelude to a vast restructuring of state government. Among the innovations Daniels put in place, once he no longer had to negotiate every change in compensation with the unions, was a money-saving benefits plan for state workers featuring individual health savings accounts. With moves like that, Daniels put Indiana on better footing to withstand the 2008 financial meltdown, one reason that the state today enjoys one of the soundest budgets in the country.

The old joke goes, what lies between Cheeseheads, and Hoseheads? Fuckin' Illinois Shitheads.

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ORIGINAL: joether

I find it funny that you blame Mr. Obama entirely for the state's financial troubles. Since according to you, Mr. Obama was a Governor of the state. Because then you could equally rail him as liberals/Democrats do towards the Governor of Wisconsin. 'Argue Over Like Terms'. Unfortunately for you, and fortunately for Mr. Obama, he didnt have all that much time to deal with that issue. 2003? Yeah, Mr. Obama was focus at that time on a federal position, not a state. In 2004, he won that position. Four years later, he became President of the United States of America. So why aren't you blaming all the other people that had a hand in that budget deals? On an individual and direct basis, just like Mr. Obama?

Because your trying to single him out as the person 100% at fault for the string of events. You dont like him, so, you rail him over the most irrelevant and petty stuff. And you expect to be taken seriously afterward?

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ORIGINAL: thompsonx

One has to wonder what sort of a shit head would be a member of one of those public sector unions.
You don't belong to one of those "communist" public sector unions do you?
Are all cops as disingenuous as you?

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ORIGINAL: subrob1967

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ORIGINAL: joether

I find it funny that you blame Mr. Obama entirely for the state's financial troubles. Since according to you, Mr. Obama was a Governor of the state. Because then you could equally rail him as liberals/Democrats do towards the Governor of Wisconsin. 'Argue Over Like Terms'. Unfortunately for you, and fortunately for Mr. Obama, he didnt have all that much time to deal with that issue. 2003? Yeah, Mr. Obama was focus at that time on a federal position, not a state. In 2004, he won that position. Four years later, he became President of the United States of America. So why aren't you blaming all the other people that had a hand in that budget deals? On an individual and direct basis, just like Mr. Obama?

Because your trying to single him out as the person 100% at fault for the string of events. You dont like him, so, you rail him over the most irrelevant and petty stuff. And you expect to be taken seriously afterward?

What the fuck planet do you come from? Where did I blame it solely on Obama? Where did I claim Obama was governor? If he was he'd be in a cell between Ryan and Blago, and not in DC.

Where did you blame anyone else?

I was pointing out Illinois senators preference for kicking the can down the road, like Obama did 130 times in the 1.5 years he served in the state senate... Illinois is a fiscal fucking nightmare, as is California, and New York... Gee, I wonder why?

Is that why california is about the tenth largest economy in the world?

I swear you progressives must have some type of dyslexia that allows you to see words that were never typed...

You never typed your aprobation of anyone but obama so it would make sense to conclude that obama was the target of your ire.

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ORIGINAL: subrob1967

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ORIGINAL: thompsonx

One has to wonder what sort of a shit head would be a member of one of those public sector unions.
You don't belong to one of those "communist" public sector unions do you?
Are all cops as disingenuous as you?

Again, for the twenty fifth time, I am NOT IN A UNION...

You are not the subrob who was whinning about being forced to belong to the police union?


Get your eyes examined with that 100% health coverage you claim to have Tommy.

I have similar coverage to a congressman. I just picked up a new pair of glasses...thank you for your contribution...yeah my shit is paid for with taxpayers money.

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Original: thompsonx

You are not the subrob who was whinning about being forced to belong to the police union?

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Original: subrob1967

I happen to be a union member

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Original: subrob1967

I don't support my union, wear my union t-shirt at mandatory rallies that they've bussed me to, or vote who they try to tell me to vote for... I guess that makes me a teabagger, not a puppet douchebagger.

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ORIGINAL: kalikshama

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Original: thompsonx

You are not the subrob who was whinning about being forced to belong to the police union?

Perhaps he's moved on since this:

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Original: subrob1967

I happen to be a union member

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Original: subrob1967

I don't support my union, wear my union t-shirt at mandatory rallies that they've bussed me to, or vote who they try to tell me to vote for... I guess that makes me a teabagger, not a puppet douchebagger.

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I don't listen to Limbaugh, or O'Reilly, and the insurance company I sell for is a UNION company, selling policies to UNION members. I happen to be a union member, & I'd say I was the exact opposite of what you think.

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Perhaps he's moved on since this:

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ORIGINAL: kalikshama

Lol, I said:

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Perhaps he's moved on since this:

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ORIGINAL: DomKen

FR

Illinois may not be perect but at least we do not lead the nation in jobs lost for the last 6 months unlike our neighbor to the north.

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ORIGINAL: subrob1967

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ORIGINAL: kalikshama

Lol, I said:

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Perhaps he's moved on since this:

2008...2012... Maybe nothing in your life has changed in the last four years, but again... Thompson is talking about PUBLIC SECTOR UNIONS, I AM NOT A MEMBER OF A PUBLIC EMPLOYEE UNION.

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ORIGINAL: servantforuse

Hey Ken, Wisconsin elliminated their 3.6 billion dollar deficit. Illinois has an 8 billion dollar deficit to deal with..My property taxes actually went down 39 dollars this year instesd of going up for the last 12 years. Scott Walker will survive this idiot recall election.