S&P cut the rating of Illinois debt by one level yesterday. From the news story:
“The downgrade reflects the state’s weak pension funding levels and lack of action on reform measures intended to improve funding levels and diminish cost pressures associated with annual contributions,” said Robin Prunty, an S&P analyst, in a report today.
Illinois has at least an $83 billion unfunded pension problem. The state is months late in paying its bills. It raised its income tax by 67% last year…and the state continues to spend money like its going out of style.
Governor Quinn says he’d welcome the state legislature to work together on solutions. The problem is that the real solutions involve cutting spending and pension benefits, and that’s anathema for Democrats. The problem is that the other “solution,” raising taxes, was tried and the results were more of the same.