(06-15-2017 04:43 PM)dekalb222 Wrote:  Huskie1stdown, I guess will go without a budget and see what the people of Illinois decide at the end of Rauners term. Tough choices yes but not on the backs of the working class or education.

Stop the socio-economic rhetoric. The fact is the state of Illinois pension funds are under water by $130 billion, which equates to about $10,000 owed per citizen. If you are a family of four, that's $40,000. Those pensions are owed to retired teachers and state workers, and are paid for by you, me and the non-government employed "working class". The state can barely fund the current liabilities, let alone cover the future costs.
A balanced budget is trivial compared to the debt issue facings the state, and raising taxes has the catch 22 of driving more people and business to other states which worsens the revenues earned. Unlike the feds, the state can't print more money to cover its deficits. Won't matter who the folks elect in 2018 because everyone refuses to address the elephant in the room.