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* The Sun-Times editorializes about the more than 114,000 Illinoisans who left for other states in the past year and connects it to the big squeeze on higher education…
Those are broad strokes. So let’s consider how Springfield’s failure to govern has played out in one specific area: Higher education. The quality of public universities is at the heart of why many people choose to live in one state or another, and Illinois has long been known for some of the best. But the state Legislature has chipped away at funding for universities for two decades, and Gov. Bruce Rauner came into office saying he wanted to cut higher ed funding by a third.
Then came the end of state budgets. Since then, money for higher education has been sporadic, unpredictable and insufficient. Current funding will end with the expiration of the state’s stopgap spending plan on Dec. 31, and the universities have no idea when they will see more funding. They are in crisis mode: freezing hiring, cutting staff and delaying maintenance.
When a state cannot be bothered to write a budget, a public university cannot plan. It cannot offer certainty about tuition or faculty pay or what programs will continue on.
Should anybody be surprised, then, that Illinois this fall suffered a net outmigration of 16,000 higher ed students? Our state is losing bright young people to other states. They will embark on careers and offer their talents elsewhere.
A preliminary report this week by the Illinois Board of Higher Education reveals that enrollment is dropping in all centers of higher education in Illinois — public universities, community colleges and private colleges, which typically depend on state scholarship aid for some of their students. Southern Illinois University at Carbondale suffered the biggest loss — 6½ percent of its enrollment, including 11 percent of its graduate students.
As tuition rises and university finances grow shakier, students and their families are hesitating to enroll at an Illinois school that might cut back on classes or even shut down, making it hard or impossible to graduate. As Illinois State University President Larry Dietz points out, this is the time of year when students and their families are making decisions about where to enroll in the fall.
Financial aid is contingent on a state budget, but nobody knows if and when there will be one. The stopgap budget that expires in a couple of weeks provided money to pay off last year’s Monetary Assistant Program scholarships, but included no such funding for this year.
We really need a budget, man.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 10:20 am
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The Higher Ed damage could continue for a decade as families learn more and more about the outstanding opportunities other states and universities are offering, including scholarships that equal the cost of a condo, that might not even need additional FASFA or student loans to supplement.
The Rauner Library and Rauner Dormatory are not good examples of Diana and Bruce Rauner worried about Illinois Higer Education.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 10:27 am
“But the state Legislature has chipped away at funding for universities for two decades”
Wrong.
Plenty of new dollars, they just went toward retirement costs and massive administrative bloat. Now more than 50 cents of every higher ed dollar in IL is devoured by retirement costs. https://www.illinoispolicy.org/reports/pensions-vs-higher-education/
Comment by IU Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 10:28 am
Rauner: “Change is hard. (for you, not for me)”
Comment by PublicServant Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 10:33 am
I’m looking at moving, and it pains me to even think it. I grew up here. I love my state, and I work very hard to make it a better place, but it is very obvious now that I’m considered the enemy because I happen to do a certain type of job, and my son and his future aren’t secure here anymore.
It saddens me more than I can ever express.
Comment by Delimma Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 10:34 am
“We really need a budget, man.”
Raunerbot: “But how is that possible, without term limits and a “permanent” property tax freeze?
Does not compute. Does not compute.”
Comment by AlfondoGonz Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 10:37 am
Also too, a “permanent” property tax freeze means ending the unfunded mandate known as prevailing wage along with “right to work” for public school teachers.
Comment by Hamlet's Ghost Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 10:41 am
I don’t understand how we can be at the top of losing population 3 years in a row and yet our housing market has increased prices and projected increased pricing.
Comment by Housing Market Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 10:42 am
In addition to the student/family long-term impact that OW raises, public universities in Illinois could be losing out on talented professors.
Often professors have offers from multiple schools across the country, and the uncertainty regarding higher ed funding has to be having an impact at recruiting talent our way.
Comment by Robert the Bruce Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 10:43 am
Well, higher ed is chock-fulla union and prevailing wage workers, so the governor is putting the wood to them.
Same goes for those in the trades — why do you think there’s no infrastructure plan nearly two years in?
What governor, ever, did not have an infrastructure plan?
Higher ed and infrastructure are core functions, principle reasons for the existence of state government. They are the foundations for attracting private capital and thriving commerce.
And they are being willfully sabotaged by this governor to feed his personal anti-union mania.
By his actions in these two areas, who can believe Rauner gives a hoot about promoting economic growth and building a better future?
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 10:45 am
Change is hard.
Death is harder.
Comment by Cubs in '16 Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 10:48 am
“When a state cannot be bothered to write a budget, a public university cannot plan. It cannot offer certainty about tuition or faculty pay or what programs will continue on.”
This is exactly right, and human service providers are the same boat. They cannot plan programming, maintain staffing levels, or amplify state appropriations with contributions from private donors without a public commitment to investment.
We’re 9 days away from being a state that does not invest in public higher education or human services.
We really need a budget.
Comment by Emily Miller Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 10:51 am
==I don’t understand how we can be at the top of losing population 3 years in a row and yet our housing market has increased prices and projected increased pricing.==
Geography. The part of the state that is just hemorrhaging residents, downstate, was already scattered.
Comment by Arsenal Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 10:52 am
Every time Raunerites in the GA say things like “budget with reforms”, understand…
Rauner wants to make sure the destruction is baked into any budget, because in reality, a budget that doesn’t include Rauner’s wanted destruction is a budget Rauner wants.
That’s real.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 10:52 am
We need a budget, but what we’ll get instead is constant campaigning.
While we all bemoan the loss of more residents. The biggest loss we’ve experienced is leadership.
Comment by Norseman Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 10:52 am
“a budget that doesn’t include Rauner’s wanted destruction is a budget Rauner doesn’t want.”
Apologies.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 10:54 am
I’ve soooo had it with this state.
Comment by Big Muddy Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 10:54 am
== I don’t understand how we can be at the top of losing population 3 years in a row and yet our housing market has increased prices and projected increased pricing. ==
Low interest rates can drive housing prices higher than expected. So can people with the means bargain hunting / moving up to their “dream” home. But with the Fed starting to raise rates, that may be slowing down (says the guy who needs to get a house on the market and sold). You also need to remember that, outside the city and collars, prices look like a bargain to people coming from either coast, so some of them overpay.
The other factor is location, location, location. The housing “recovery” has been weaker in the small towns and more rural areas. Same thing for “less desirable” neighborhoods in bigger cities. But if you have a house where every wants to live, the price is back up.
Comment by RNUG Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 10:56 am
Housing Market - to echo what Arsenal and RNUG stated the movement of people from certain areas to in-demand towns is a good indicator. In some areas - like Springfield - surrounding towns such as Sherman and Rochester and New Berlin have seen upticks in property values while Springfield homes have (generally) seen stagnant valuations. In the Metro East it is common for some areas such as Belleville or Alton or Granite City to see stagnant or even rapidly-declining home values while areas such as O’Fallon and Edwardsville and Maryville have benefited from the change in the housing market. Most downstate areas that are gaining population and seeing increased housing values are villages, towns and small cities that have strong school districts, access to hospital and health services, and competent public services.
Comment by Team Sleep Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 11:05 am
We are our own worst enemies.
We do not understand the relationship, in realitty lack there of, between taxes and growth.
In rural communities no one wants to pay taxes and the narrative is that taxes are too high.
That belief saps our schools and communities of opportunity. The people in these parts do not realize or accept that if you do not have “stuff” like parks, libraries, and good school no one wants to move TO your community no matter how low taxes are.
That is not an argument for runaway taxation but one for a level that sustains the things and services that bring people or keep people in communities.
Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 11:14 am
Over half of the state’s contribution to higher education is for pensions.
Think that might be a reason to call Senator Cullerton’s pension bill for a vote?
Comment by Lucky Pierre Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 11:16 am
Last week I was at a meeting at the IBHE where Eric Lichtenberger gave a briefing of the report mentioned in the Sun Times. To put it into perspective. In 2002 30% of high school graduates who enrolled in the Fall at a four year institution (note that this is a very specific sub group–it does not include those who went to a 2 year college or not to college at all)went out of state. In 2015 that percentage has risen to 45%. The state that has benefited the most from this out migration is Wisconsin.
Comment by G'Kar Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 11:20 am
Yeah, it would be a great idea to call Cullerton’s pension bill for a vote. Then it will wind it’s way thru the courts and struck down, just like the previous pension reform bill was. Let’s just keep kicking that can.
Comment by The Dude Abides Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 11:24 am
- Lucky Pierre - Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 11:16 am:
Over half of the state’s contribution to higher education is for pensions.
Think that might be a reason to call Senator Cullerton’s pension bill for a vote?
And what would be your specific proposal(s)???
Comment by Federalist Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 11:26 am
=call Cullerton’s pension bill for a vote==
Huh? Would that create instant savings? Would we then have enough to pay back to the funds the amount — stolen, yes, stolen from employees in the past? What kind of solution is this?
And, by the way, count our family in for sending our kids out of state universities. One has settled in a functioning state and shakes his head at the insanity in this one. Never movin’ back, he says. Can’t understand how we all put up with the politics and dysfunction here. The state he lives in is growing, building and thriving. By the way, he pays higher taxes than we do, but the folks there understand that things worth having aren’t free (or cheap). When our last is out of school and we figure out where she’ll settle, we’re out of here too. The ridiculousness of politics and the people who either ignore it all or actively dig in and refuse to demand better is too much for us.
If you are informed and pay attention to politics, it’s a very depressing place to live. I guess that’s why some pretend it isn’t happening.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 11:30 am
No one leaves because of a lack of a budget. How silly. They leave because we have one of the highest tax burdens in the nation and receive little for it but a highly coddled public workforce.
Comment by Ron Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 11:31 am
This is exactly the point I have been making on this site for at least the past 2 years.
It is not only my Alma Mater, but the other Regionals and the Community Colleges that drive the economic engine of our state.
Yet many do not recognize that this “squeeze the beast” mentality exemplified by our Governor is far, far more counterproductive to growth than many other other many other misguided aspects of the TAA.
Yet, it appears, that his “Plan” is succeeding exactly as he had hoped - while Higher Ed, Social Services and critical operations are being decimated.
Comment by illini Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 11:36 am
My take on all this:
–The population loss means Illinois has a higher backlog of bills and fewer taxpayers to pay them. Not good. Raising taxes on remaining taxpayers will have them rushing for the exits at an even faster rate. Need to shed some long term liabilities like Puerto Rico and Detroit did.
–With population shrinking, why does Illinois need all those public colleges and jucos? I get that they provide jobs to a unionized workforce, but beyond that, what is the value proposition to the state? Does a state really need a Western, Central (ISU), and Eastern U all essentially bunched along the same longitude, serving the same demographic, offering the same programs and degrees? Transition some of these to other uses and the quality of higher ed will increase.
–These changes started before anybody even heard of Bruce Rauner’s name. He isn’t the problem. –Get creative people. Working 37.5 hours per week and expecting a lifetime pension that fully supports a comfortable middle class lifestyle in retirement ain’t going to sell to what is left of the state’s taxpayers. Have your leaders cut a deal rather than have one imposed on you by a bankruptcy judge.
Comment by Bowels of the Capitol Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 11:39 am
I’m starting to hate the word “impasse.” It makes me picture personalities (Madigan’s Fault! Rauner’s Fault! Both! etc.) and not issues. It also has a revolving meaning depending on which and how many TA items are in the talking points for the day. To paraphrase a poem:
like
i mean
don’t it all come down
to
collective bargaining?
Comment by Earnest Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 11:40 am
=== Working 37.5 hours per week and expecting a lifetime pension that fully supports a comfortable middle class lifestyle in retirement ain’t going to sell to what is left of the state’s taxpayers.===
Union state workers are taxpayers too. Keep up.
The judiciary has made it very clear; pay what is owed.
Get over your angst against Union state workers.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 11:42 am
Sorry - should have proofed my comments before I “said it” - too many interruptions.
Comment by illini Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 11:44 am
===No one leaves because of a lack of a budget. How silly.===
So you’re saying all of the commenters, including myself, who are stating that their children are fleeing to schools in other states never to return, as a direct result of higher ed instability caused by the lack of a budget, are lying?
Comment by Cubs in '16 Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 11:44 am
==They leave because we have one of the highest tax burdens==
Well, we cut taxes in ‘14/’15, and they’re still leaving.
Comment by Arsenal Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 11:45 am
==what is the value proposition to the state?==
High quality education for as many people as possible?
==Does a state really need a Western, Central (ISU), and Eastern U all essentially bunched along the same longitude, serving the same demographic, offering the same programs and degrees?==
Flip the question. Is shutting down all of those institutions, laying off all the people working there, devastating those communities, and scattering all those students, justified by whatever it saves the state? At some point, we’re getting into real “burn down the village to save it” mentality. It’d be easy to balance the state’s budget if we set expenditures at 0.
Comment by Arsenal Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 11:50 am
I actually find this a really interesting line of thinking. Schools are suffering from this impasse so…let’s give up on the schools? That indicates that the impasse *is* the priority here.
Comment by Arsenal Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 11:52 am
===With population shrinking, why does Illinois need all those public colleges and jucos? I get that they provide jobs to a unionized workforce, but beyond that, what is the value proposition to the state? Does a state really need a Western, Central (ISU), and Eastern U all essentially bunched along the same longitude, serving the same demographic, offering the same programs and degrees===
Run a statewide campaign on that. See if it wins.
Wonder why Rauner didn’t choose to disclose the closing of state universities when he ran for governor?
Capiche?
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 11:53 am
=Well, we cut taxes in ‘14/’15, and they’re still leaving.=
Mic drop, right there.
Why is Minnesota doing better? Might be worth looking at.
Why is economic growth and jobs growth in California and Texas basically the same or better in Califoria? Two diametrically different states.
It ain’t about taxes.
Our governor and his drones are a big part of killing opportunity.
The ILDP did its fair share and then some on creating our debt issue.
Solution- Pay the bills, stop trying to push wages down and quit focusing on unionized labor’s destruction.
Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 11:53 am
== Rauner came into office saying he wanted to cut higher ed funding by a third.==
No, he lied on the campaign trail and said he was going to increase funding for public universities. He lied.
Comment by Oh, Please! Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 11:54 am
“Rauner wants more higher education funding”
https://www.google.com/amp/herald-review.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/elections/rauner-wants-more-higher-education-spending/article_b38d48b5-872e-5d39-8394-d67630671794.amp.html?c
Comment by Oh, Please! Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 11:56 am
Bruce Rauner never ran on defunding state universities or closing state universities.
Period.
Saying anything along those lines is dishonest, at best.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 11:57 am
Moved this year to a state that has genuine pride, and much to be proud of. What an uplifting feeling
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 12:00 pm
What Bruce Rauner has done to public universities in Illinois is one very clear window into his character and failed leadership.
His sycophantic team of yes-men will someday rue the time they spent enabling his destruction of our state.
Comment by Handle Bar Mustache Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 12:03 pm
So, people are leaving Illinois because of high tax rates? Doesn’t Illinois have one of the lowest tax rates excluding the sand states?
Comment by TinyDancer(FKASue) Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 12:08 pm
Again, the ISC has said “pay what is owed” on the topic of pensions…Any law that does not offer “keep what you have” as an option is DOA in the court system.
Comment by iildoc Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 12:10 pm
The exodus started before Rauner was elected albeit if is worse last year
Comment by Sue Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 12:12 pm
http://www.sacbee.com/site-services/databases/article32679753.html
Roughly 5 million people left California between 2004 and 2013 and it was not because they did not like the weather.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 12:13 pm
==They leave because we have one of the highest tax burdens==
== Well, we cut taxes in ‘14/’15, and they’re still leaving. ==
It’s not about the taxes; it’s about the uncertainty and lack of vision for the State. Or maybe it’s a rejection of the Governor’s vision ran by and operated for the 1.4%.
FWIW, you could see this division of America into a new gilded age of rich and poor classes coming 30 years ago.
Comment by RNUG Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 12:16 pm
My kids have sought their educations in a neighboring state. With the rotten essence of Illinois’ government in mind, why should they return? With a future that honors unions and trial lawyers over citizens and the businesses which prosper communities, why should I stay? I will be retired soon and am financially liquid, mostly. Madigan will be in office long after I am ready to depart.
Indiana is a welcoming place. It sure has taken good care of my two kids with fine university educations. My family moved to Illinois before it was a state….1817. I never thought I would leave.
Comment by Downstate Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 12:17 pm
The impasse has only accelerated the death. Years of unbalanced “balanced” budgets that never funded the pensions appropriately sent us on this path. So readily overlooked….
Comment by Shemp Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 12:23 pm
Downstate,
You think Bruce Rauner’s business honored citizens and helped communities prosper?
Friendly advice: Don’t paint everyone / everything with such a broad brush.
But if you can’t resist, I’ll help pack your moving truck.
Comment by Handle Bar Mustache Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 12:26 pm
“With population shrinking, why does Illinois need all those public colleges and jucos? I get that they provide jobs to a unionized workforce, but beyond that, what is the value proposition to the state? Does a state really need a Western, Central (ISU), and Eastern U all essentially bunched along the same longitude, serving the same demographic, offering the same programs and degrees? Transition some of these to other uses and the quality of higher ed will increase.”
Multiple options and opportunities in higher education are those quaint things you find in a state that takes pride in itself, takes pride in its people, and that understands that nice things — things that enhance the quality of life and betters the people — aren’t cheap.
But if you want Illinois to be an illiterate, cultural, and economic wasteland, by all means vote Rauner in ‘18.
Comment by Nick Name Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 12:31 pm
A broken public Higher Education system is what Rauner wants. How better to leverage for privatization? Rauner would prefer that you remain in the dark and have you think he really does care about his TAA. The TAA is an illusion to enable the impasse and hide his real agenda. If you don’t like what Rauner is doing, educate yourself; look up the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), specifically alecexposed.org.
Comment by Jimmy H Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 12:56 pm
What are the chances, with Trump (who has used bankruptcy to his advantage in the past) in the White House, naming justices to the U.S. Supreme Court and backed by a GOP Congress that bankruptcy for the states will become possible? Is that what Rauner now is holding out for?
Comment by up2now Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 1:10 pm
- TinyDancer(FKASue) - Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 12:08 pm:
So, people are leaving Illinois because of high tax rates? Doesn’t Illinois have one of the lowest tax rates excluding the sand states?
NO, Illinois has one of the highest tax burdens in the nation. And the taxpayers get very little for that tax burden.
Comment by Ron Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 1:11 pm
If we can get through this term, I shudder to think of what the next governor will have on his or her hands to try to fix. That’s another thought that could drive folks across the border. On top of what we started with at the beginning of Bruce’s term, he has now devastated, almost flattened this state.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 1:11 pm
-arsenal
=Geography. The part of the state that is just hemorrhaging residents, downstate, was already scattered.=
The part of the state that is hemorrhaging is Chicago, specifically the same parts where people tend to get shot. Remember downstate picked up a rep district from chicago after the last census.
If Chicago simply had the same population it had back in 1950, it would still be the 2nd city.
Part of the loss in Chicago is to the suburbs, the rest are leaving the state.
Comment by m Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 1:20 pm
I don’t understand how we can be at the top of “losing population 3 years in a row and yet our housing market has increased prices and projected increased pricing.”
Income inequality means some people can own nice suburban homes and condos downtown at the same time. Probably some airbnb action in there as well.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 1:24 pm
Downstate
to paraphrase OW, union members and trial lawyers are also taxpayers. As are firemen, police officers, county, city, and village employees, teachers… and on and on.
we get a paycheck for working. Don’t forget, I support whatever business your work for or own too. I don’t moan and cry and vilify you because my customer dollars pay YOUR salary.
Comment by thoughts matter Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 1:25 pm
downstate
Trial lawyers are citizens. Unions are composed of citizens. What all those who clamor and say “people are struggling, reduce rights and pays of other people” ignore is that is robbing Peter to pay Paul.
Comment by AlfondoGonz Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 1:45 pm
The use of the word “Impasse” in this context is at best inaccurate and at worst downright deceptive.
Illinois does not have a budget impasse. A budget impasse would entail the engaged parties being unable to come to agreement on issues related to Illinois’ income and expenditures.
What we have is the governor and Republican leadership (with nary a complaint from Republican rank and file) demanding passage of non-budget related policies, before they will even begin to discuss a budget. This is by definition a hostage situation. What is worse, the policies they are demanding are so extreme that even the governor knew better than to run on them. He ran on “shakin’ up Springfield” and other vague slogans.
I know that the word “hostage” is inflammatory, but nothing else comes more closely to accurately describing the situation. If anyone has a better term, I would love to hear. What I do know is that this is not a “budget impasse.”
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 1:53 pm
thoughts matter
Hysterical. Reminds me of being badgered by 2 parents who knew I was a teacher (one a nurse at MY hospital, other in an energy company that I pay bills to). After a comment about them paying my salary, I asked them who the hell do they think was paying theirs? A private printing press in the back room? I pay their salary as they pay mine. Big secret surprise! We all feed each other!
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 1:57 pm
–The part of the state that is hemorrhaging is Chicago, specifically the same parts where people tend to get shot. Remember downstate picked up a rep district from chicago after the last census.–
From the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs:
–Rural Depopulation. The population of Illinois has grown slowly during the first two decades of the 21st century, but most of this growth has occurred in urban counties. Many rural counties have been losing population for decades.–
Lot of heavy-lift information and data here.
http://www.rwhc.com/mediasite/6-App-Chris%20Merrett_Plenary%20am.pdf
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 1:58 pm
===The use of the word “Impasse” in this context is at best inaccurate and at worst downright deceptive.
Illinois does not have a budget impasse.===
Um, I used the word impasse, not in the sense that there’s no budget, but that there is an impasse over whether to get to the budget.
I mean, do you think I just fell off a turnip truck?
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 1:59 pm
“What are the chances, with Trump (who has used bankruptcy to his advantage in the past) in the White House, naming justices to the U.S. Supreme Court and backed by a GOP Congress that bankruptcy for the states will become possible? Is that what Rauner now is holding out for?”
———–
Maybe, but it’s more likely to be New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and/or the Municipality of Dallas, TX holding out for the US Supreme Court.
Btw, it’s called the Federal Supremacy clause (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supremacy_Clause).
And yes, WHEN (not IF) a case regarding public sector pension obligations under Receivership finally makes it to the Supreme Court, it will likely be a really big deal. It’s going to take a while.
Interesting times ahead……
Comment by Anon Downstate Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 2:54 pm
The “impasse over whether to get to a budget” robs everybody both of their taxes and of the rule of law that the constitution itself should protect. The fact these few elected officials can decide not to act on a constitutionally required item i.e. a budget and there is no legal way to require redress of them for the taxes and services lost robs everyone no matter how they feel about any of the above issues. We need a way forward. We need BUDGET NOW. We need to put more of our politicians in jail or otherwise retire them NOW. Tom Jefferson may have been right about the blood of patriots. The average Illinois voter does not know how much he has been hurt. Close the schools send that pesky state work force home because the constitution says you can’t pay them. Then Katy Bar(r) the door. Maybe.
Comment by enpassant Thursday, Dec 22, 16 @ 3:09 pm