Illinois is a Fiscal Train Wreck

When Illinois voters consider their choices in the next several weeks, it is important that they decide whether to hold incumbants accountable for their financial responsibility.

Just a few days ago, the Civic Federation of Chicago disclosed that the delayed funding of the state's pension obligations will cost taxpayers $12 billion vs the $3.5 billion that was not funded in the fiscal 2011 budget (source COGFA). Earlier in September, the Civic Federation was quoted on the NPR website:
 
"The financial condition of the state of Illinois is a fiscal train wreck," says Laurence Msall, president of the Civic Federation, a Chicago-based nonpartisan, not-for-profit group[ http://www.civicfed.org/ ] that analyzes and researches state and local government budgets.
 
He says Illinois' fiscal problems are not simply the result of a bad economy.

"The state's train wreck is caused by inaction and dereliction of duty in Springfield; the failure to provide a balanced budget," Msall says, adding that Illinois' last two governors and the Democratic-controlled state Legislature haven't cut spending to match declining revenues. In fact, he says, they keep spending more.

Illinois By the Numbers; Chicago Tribune

An Opinion Piece today in the Chicago Tribune provides insight into where Illinois stands relative to other states. Several important ideas from the analysis assembled by the Tribune:

• One of the worst states for job creation and business confidence
• The WORST state for funding its employees pension obligations
• The state with the most units of government
• Not effective in providing public education
• 29th in the US out of 50 in voter turnout
• 29% of the state budget (3rd in US) spent on Medicaid (health care for the poor) which provides health services/benefits to 1 in 5 people in IL.

Most Important Election Ever

From this point forward, this blog will be focused on giving friends and followers information that leads to the conclusion that voters should "Vote Em All Out". My orientation comes from living in Central Illinois and seeing the negative turn of events in our country. From where I sit, Obama was a "bait and switch" candidate. He lead the country to believe that he would be post-politics, consensus builder, post racial and new age world leader. In fact, he is simply a socialist.

And, he has too many enablers in Congress. Not all members of Congress are socialists. Some are. But the democratic leadership and majority support too many of his policies. These policies are either socialistic, or are designed to reduce freedoms, or to nationalize the US economy. Enough is enough. The worst of these are:

• ObamaCare
• Tax and Trade (tax)
• FinReg

And Illinois is not better. Illinois is behind 5-6 months in paying its bills. Its pension obligations can never be met without taxing the state into oblivion. And if a state could be bankrupt, Illinois would be.

It is time to Vote Em All Out ("VEAO"). We would be better of with a whole new group of elected leaders in the Federal government and in Illinois. While these posts, won't duck local issues, the focus will be on national and state issues.

Critics might point out that we would be giving up either experienced leaders or effective leaders. That may be. But, the benefits of reminding all elected leaders that they can be held accountable is worth the cost. In general, a whole new group, can't be worse. In calling for VEAO, this blog does not suggest that every voter should vote out every leader. It does mean hold them all accountable.

In future posts, this blog will be a depository of what is wrong with the federal government and Illinois government and issues that voters should consider when deciding who to vote for. In many cases, the blog will link readers to articles and analysis from around the country. The focus will also be on races where readers of this blog can influence with their vote. That will mean the IL Congressional 17th District. The IL governor, the IL US Senate race, and, IL legislative races for central Illinois.

This blog will also suggest the most important issues to consider in the upcoming election and policies on those issues to measure candidates against.