State of Illinois Budget

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States Punt on Tax Increases for FY2011

The State of Illinois is not the only cash-strapped state that shied away from major tax increases to improve its financial condition in FY2011. According to Stateline.…

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Our View: Illinois continues to fail to live up to pension obligations

This editorial opposes the policy decisions that have led to the dire state of Illinois’ pension system. The Civic Federation says the threat that Illinois’ pensions will run out of money is very real and that Illinois’ police and…

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Big State, Big Cuts, Little Room

The Civic Federation is quoted in this article that details the challenges facing Illinois government agencies in their efforts to reduce expenditures to help the State balance its budget.

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Watchdog Urges Quinn to Veto State Budget

In this news segment about the Illinois legislature’s passage of an unbalanced budget that would leave the State further behind on its paying its bills, Civic Federation President Laurence Msall calls on Governor Quinn to veto the budget…

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States Worry Medicaid Stimulus to End, Adding to Budget Woes

Illinois and many other states drafted budget plans for FY2011 based on the assumption that Congress would extend the expiration date for enhanced federal Medicaid funding by six months—from December 31, 2010 to June 30, 2011. Now that…

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States cap workers benefits to reduce shortfalls: Is your pension fund at risk?

This article examines Illinois’ pension-funding crisis and the legislative reforms that attempt to stabilize the State pension systems. The Civic Federation points out that the reforms do not do enough to address immediate funding problems…

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Fox Chicago Sunday: Laurence Msall

In a discussion on the Fox Chicago Sunday news program about the Illinois legislature’s passage of an emergency budget, Civic Federation President Laurence Msall explains that the budget does not make sufficient cuts nor does it address…

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Large Gap Remains in FY2011 State Budget

Before adjourning for a second time this session on May 28, 2010, the Illinois General Assembly sent a series of budget bills for FY2011 to the Governor. Both houses passed $26.0 billion in appropriations, emergency budget powers for the…

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Illinois Lawmakers Propose $1.3 Billion in State Budget Cuts

As the General Assembly nears the final days of this year’s regular session with no FY2011 budget in sight, a group of lawmakers is attempting to advance the negotiations by…

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Enough with ‘semantics’; give detailed plan

In this editorial about the various Illinois gubernatorial candidates’ plans to balance the State’s budget, the Pantagraph encourages candidates for state office to read the Civic Federation’s “Fiscal Rehabiliation Plan for the State of…