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* SJ-R…
Lawmakers at the state Capitol have been working to find a solution to a $4.5 billion problem. The state’s unemployment insurance trust fund, the pool of money used to pay out unemployment insurance benefits, sank $4.5 billion into debt during the pandemic.
On Thursday, the Senate gave final approval to paying $2.7 billion of funds from the federal government’s American Rescue Plan Act to address the problem, though it still leaves the fund $1.8 billion in the hole.
The funding is coming through a piece of legislation, SB 2803, sponsored by Rep. Greg Harris, D-Chicago, and Sen. Linda Holmes, D-Aurora. Both hold leadership roles in the General Assembly’s budgeting and financial process.
The bill passed the House of Representatives on a 68-43 vote Wednesday night with solely Democratic support. It passed the Senate Thursday afternoon on a 39-16 vote. It now goes to the governor for final approval.
* Tribune…
The measure also would use about $1.4 billion in surplus state funds to pay off old employee health insurance bills, shore up a college savings plan that has been headed toward insolvency and make additional deposits into the state’s woefully underfunded pension plans. […]
But Republicans, who since last spring have repeatedly criticized the majority party for not addressing the unemployment fund debt in the current year’s $42 billion operating budget, maintained that only about $1.2 billion of the federal relief money has actually been spent. That would leave enough to cover the full unemployment fund debt if the other allocations were abandoned. […]
Ongoing negotiations with business and labor groups over separate legislation to fill the remaining insurance fund hole have touched on the possibility of issuing bonds that likely would be repaid through increased payroll taxes on businesses and reduced or shortened benefits.
* Capitol News Illinois…
Republicans urged reallocating other ARPA funds, particularly a $1 billion sum allocated last year to capital projects, to pay down the entire debt to stave off the negative consequences for employers and workers.
Republican Senators, in a Thursday news conference after the vote, did not identify any other ARPA funds that they would like to see reallocated to be put toward the trust fund. […]
Democrats called their action a fiscally prudent measure that goes a long way to addressing the trust fund problem while allowing other necessary expenditures of ARPA funds.
“You know as well as I do that we’ve used the ARPA funding during this emergency to support those institutions and those businesses who have been on the frontlines and delivering health care in our communities,” Harris said in response to Republican criticisms Wednesday.
He pointed to spending for hospitals, nursing homes and purchases of personal protective equipment, as well as trust fund payments to gig workers and increased unemployment payments to workers which were paid by the federal government.
* WGEM…
The Gray TV Illinois Capitol Bureau asked Democratic leaders if they considered running two separate bills to have more bipartisan support. Gov. JB Pritzker said it doesn’t make sense to see Republicans vote against a bill that could help address debt and help businesses in the long run.
“On the Republican side, it seems like they have perhaps more support from big business,” Pritzker said Thursday. “And I would just say that businesses across the state, small and large, benefited mightily from the work that was done through this bill to reduce their tax burden.” […]
Sen. Win Stoller (R-Peoria) said this will still create one of the “largest tax increases on employers in Illinois history.” He said the move to only use $2.7 billion from the ARPA funds to address the debt will cause significant benefit cuts for unemployed Illinoisans. Stoller said the state will try to borrow money to get out of the problem through bonding and create more debt.
“That’s one, actually, that we know how to do in this state, and that’s going into debt,” Stoller said. “Even with all of our practice going into debt, we’re even screwing that up. If we had decided to bond just six months ago, and had gone down that path, we would be facing an interest rate of about 1.5 percent.”
* Center Square…
Pritzker said he’ll sign the partial payment as soon as the bill hits his desk, even as early as Thursday evening, saying it will be “between labor and business to decide how we’re going to pay off any deficit that exists.”
State Sen. Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet, said Republicans support paying down debt, but they want to pay down the whole debt. Not doing so could lead to tax increases on businesses, benefit cuts for the unemployed and continued interest payments that taxpayers would be responsible for.
“They’ve had $16 billion [of federal COVID-19 tax funds] over the last two years and they couldn’t fix this,” Rose said during a news conference.
It’s now up to business and labor groups to negotiate how to plug the gap.
* On to press releases. The most important is this one from the Joint Employers…
The Joint Employers have released the following statement regarding today’s vote to ease the deficit facing the state’s unemployment insurance trust fund:
“Today’s vote will inject $2.7 billion from the American Rescue Plan (ARPA) into the Illinois Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund. Illinois employers appreciate the Governor and members of the General Assembly for taking this positive step in addressing the massive $4.5 billion in outstanding debt. We’re hopeful that negotiations will continue to resolve the remaining balance of this unprecedented deficit.”
The Joint Employers include the Illinois Retail Merchants Association, Illinois Manufacturers’ Association, Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, the National Federation of Independent Businesses of Illinois and the Associated General Contractors of Illinois.
* Comptroller Mendoza…
“I’d like to join business and civic groups around Illinois praising the General Assembly and Governor Pritzker for a great step in the right direction to responsibly pay down $4 billion of Illinois’ bills with the passage of SB 2803 today.
• The bill spares Illinois businesses an onerous tax hike by devoting a larger-than-expected $2.7 billion in federal ARPA funds – more than our neighboring states – toward paying off Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund advances.
• It allocates $900 million to address legacy debt for state employee health insurance – money that previous administrations have kicked the can on from one budget to the next.
• It provides $300 million extra to the state’s pension funds, which will reduce the pension shortfall by $1 billion between now and 2045.
• And there’s $230 million to pay off the College Illinois tuition program, saving taxpayers $75 million.
This is the kind of responsible budgeting that will keep those first-in-20-years credit upgrades coming for Illinois.I will continue to work with Illinois’ congressional delegation on their effort to extend the interest waiver on the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund, saving state taxpayers an estimated $70 million or more in interest.”
* Senate GOP Leader McConchie…
“Illinois has long been known for its financial issues, and today’s decision to leave a large hole in the unemployment trust fund is just another example of how Democrats continue to mismanage this state. Despite this payment, Illinois still has the fourth largest deficit in the country and is left with the second largest shortfall in state history. The impact this will have on employers across the state will be devastating. To no fault of their own, they were forced to lay off workers and close their doors, and will now be on the hook to pay for the unemployment costs ensued by the pandemic and the fraud that engulfed the Department of Employment Security. These industries and their workers deserve better, but they were failed today.”
* DPI…
Today, the Illinois Senate joined the Illinois House of Representatives in passing SB 2803 to pay off over $4 billion in debts, support working families, and help get our state’s finances back on track. Statehouse Democrats passed the legislation without a single Republican vote, which will help pay down Illinois’ unemployment insurance trust fund debt by using funding provided by the American Rescue Plan…which Congressional Democrats also passed without a single Republican vote last year.
“First, Congressional Republicans voted against the American Rescue Plan to deliver relief to small businesses, working families, and state and local governments. Now, statehouse Republicans—including 2022 statewide candidates Darren Bailey, Tom Demmer, and Avery Bourne—have voted against using those dollars to pay down our state’s debts in a fiscally responsible way,” said Jake Lewis, Deputy Director of the Democratic Party of Illinois. “Bruce Rauner’s fiscal mismangement racked up billions in unpaid bills and nearly plunged our state into junk status. Thankfully, Democrats are working to put Illinois’ finances back on track and move our state forward—no thanks to a single Illinois Republican.”
* Sen. DeWitte…
On Thursday, Senate Democrats passed an ill-advised and incomplete plan to address the state’s multi-billion-dollar Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund deficit. Following the party-line vote, State Senator Donald DeWitte (R-St. Charles) issued the following statement:
“It’s incredibly disingenuous for Governor Pritzker and his Democrat legislative leaders to paint this vote as a victory. This action will lead to the largest tax increase on jobs in Illinois history. Employers who have been treated poorly and with complete disregard throughout the pandemic will be left holding the bag and left responsible for filling the remaining multi-billion-dollar deficit in the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund.
“Responsible states across the nation took their federal ARPA funds and prioritized the replenishment of their states’ unemployment insurance funds, but not Illinois. Governor Pritzker and legislative Democrats made a conscious choice to use the majority of the ARPA funds on pork projects and other election year gimmickry to buy support and votes from constituents in an election year.
“Yet again, Governor Pritzker and the Democrats are turning their backs on the business community. Their action guarantees a significant tax increase on every Illinois job through higher employment insurance costs, and a decrease in benefits for every Illinois worker. Especially as we head towards what many believe will be another recession, when unemployed workers turn to Illinois’ unemployment system, their benefits will be reduced due to the greed shown by the majority party. Even if the majority party chooses to borrow funds to plug some or part of the remaining hole, the result is the same: a huge tax increase and millions and millions in new interest costs.”
* DGA…
Last night Richard Irvin’s running mate and Ken Griffin’s handpicked Lt. Gov. candidate Avery Bourne voted against legislation to pay off $4.1 billion in debt and accomplish several key goals laid out by Gov. JB Pritzker in his budget proposal.
Since March, Irvin’s Rauner Reboot costar has refused to engage in good faith on legitimate solutions to help working families deal with the challenges caused by the pandemic, and yesterday’s vote is no exception.
Bourne won’t address the multi-billion-dollar deficit in the unemployment insurance trust fund, and she’s made it clear that she’d rather see working families and small businesses suffer than work with the governor to find bipartisan solutions to the challenges Illinoisans face today.
Meanwhile, after decades of fiscal mismanagement, Gov. Pritzker is righting the wrongs of previous administrations. He passed balanced budgets, eliminated the state’s nearly $17 billion backlog in unpaid bills, and continues to lead Illinois on a path toward fiscal stability.
“Between misleading voters on the campaign trail, avoiding reporters, and voting against legislation that will lead to fiscal stability, Richard Irvin and Avery Bourne will have a lot of explaining to do ahead of the messy GOP primary,” said DGA Senior Communications Advisor Christina Amestoy. “No matter what they say, the Republican gubernatorial candidates are not in the party of fiscal responsibility.”
* Sen. Bryant…
On March 24, Senate Democrats rammed through legislation that underfunds the state’s massive $4.5 billion Unemployment Insurance (UI) Trust Fund deficit that State Senator Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) is calling both ill-advised and financially irresponsible.
Senate Bill 2803 appropriates only $2.7 billion from the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021 funds for the state’s UI Trust Fund. Sen. Bryant noted that the late additions in the bill, including roughly $1.4 billion of the state’s General Revenue Fund for paying old health insurance bills, a $300 million boost to pension payments, and paying more than $200 million in College Illinois debt, were positive proposals that could have easily gained bipartisan support if they had not been lumped with the shortchanging of the UI Trust Fund.
“This proposal will still leave our state’s UI Trust Fund with a $1.8 billion debt that will force businesses to fill that hole by either paying the highest business tax increase in recent Illinois history or cutting benefits to workers. Instead of using our federally gifted funds to fix this problem, we continued to delay which allowed the debt to grow,” said Sen. Bryant. “By shortchanging the UI Trust Fund, we are going to harm the people who need the most help within our state. This will hurt our hospitality and restaurant industry, an industry who is still struggling to recover from the Governor’s imposed shutdowns, more than anyone else.”
The state of Illinois received $8.1 billion of ARPA funds from the federal government, which was designed to be used to for COVID-19 relief and help with economic recovery. The federal government approved ARPA funds to be used on items like the UI Trust Fund, which prompted several states to use their APRA dollars to fully fund their own deficits.
“What Democrats did today is simply not right. It’s wrong for our state to lay the burden of fixing this problem on our state’s employers when they did absolutely nothing to create the debt. It’s even more disgraceful that Democrats decided to force this upon them when our state was given nearly double the amount of funds needed to replenish this deficit.” continued Sen. Bryant. “We could’ve and should’ve avoided this by allocating some of the billions of federal dollars we got from the federal government last year. However, when we asked Democrats and the Governor to put the federal dollars into the trust fund, they chose to ignore us and claimed we had plenty of time to address the problem. Now, a year later, we are being told by those same people that we are out of time and that this is the best that our state can do.”
* Quotes from Gov. Pritzker’s press release…
“We are continuing our responsible use of federal dollars by providing $2.7 billion in tax relief to businesses and benefit protections for workers,” said Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park). “At the same time, our investments in college savings, health insurance and the retirement security of teachers, prison guards, state troopers and university workers will again demonstrate strength through stability for the hard-working people of our great state.”
“This is what fiscal responsibility looks like,” said House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch (D-Hillside). “We’re putting $4 billion toward our state liabilities and saving taxpayers more than a billion dollars. It’s disappointing that every Republican voted against this responsible legislation, but I’m proud Democrats are united in building a strong financial future for Illinois.”
“This General Assembly has made a firm commitment to paying down debt,” said Assistant Majority Leader Senator Bill Cunningham (D-Chicago). “By dedicating $2.7 billion to the unemployment trust fund, we are not only doubling down on that commitment, we are protecting employers from higher taxes and employees from benefit cuts.”
““I’m proud of this unprecedented change to catch up on some outstanding debts to continue improving our state’s credit standing,” said Leader Linda Holmes (D-Aurora). “Allotting $2.7 billion to the Unemployment Trust Fund, as well as substantial earmarks for group health insurance bills, the College Illinois Program and extra pension payments, is a big step to boost our fiscal standing. It also provides a sense of security for Illinois residents, including current and retired state workers and their families.”
“With this legislation, the State of Illinois is living up to its obligations, paying off billions in debt and making sure working families aren’t left footing the bill,” said Majority Leader Greg Harris (D-Chicago). “This is what responsible leadership looks like and I’m grateful to Governor Pritzker and Democrats in the General Assembly for coming to the table and getting this done.
With our budgets balanced and our bills paid, Illinois is on its best fiscal footing in years,” said Assistant Majority Leader Jay Hoffman (D-Belleville). “This legislation builds on that incredible progress, paying off billions in debt, some of it many years-old, and leaving our state better off for future generations.
“I’ve always been a strong advocate of balanced budgets, and today Illinois Democrats have done even more than simply balance our budget – we’ve paid down $4.1 billion in debt,” said Assistant Majority Leader Robyn Gabel (D-Evanston). “Our efforts today mean taxpayers will save billions over the long run, and comes with the peace of mind that we’re putting our fiscal house back in order.”
“This is a $4.1 billion down payment on the future Illinois residents deserve,” said Assistant Majority Leader Marcus C. Evans, Jr. (D-Chicago). “We’ve put the state in the best fiscal position it’s been in since the 21st century – and we did so while continuing to prioritize the other key investments we’re making in a strong state.
“At a time when Illinois families are experiencing rising costs in their everyday lives, it’s never been more important to put the interests of taxpayers first – and that’s what Democrats in the statehouse did today,” said Assistant Majority Leader Elizabeth Hernandez (D-Cicero). “We’re paying off $4.1 billion now, saving hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars and putting Illinois families first.”
“This bill is the right thing to do for businesses, labor organizations and everyday Illinoisans,” said Senator Elgie R. Sims Jr. (D-Chicago), Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “I want people to know that if they need temporary help providing for their families, no matter the reason, Illinois has their back. Paying down debt, making additional pension payments and fully funding Illinois Colleges is the fiscally responsible move that could lead to another credit upgrade.”
“I’ve said before that it’s a hard truth for some, but Illinois’ fiscal condition is in its best shape since September of 2001, and I’m incredibly proud to be part of the team that is making this historic debt payment,” said Representative Michael J. Zalewski (D-Riverside). “Everyone from ratings agencies to the Civic Federation is right to praise Illinois for the steps we’re taking to put our fiscal house in order, and I’m committed to continuing this work with next year’s budget.
“Democrats in the statehouse are proving that we can invest in justice, education, and opportunity while also being responsible with our resources,” said Representative William Davis (D-East Hazel Crest). “Illinoisans can be proud to know that our state is in its best fiscal shape in decades – and we’ll use the rest of session to bring more progress to working people.”
*** UPDATE *** The governor signed the bill just now…
Governor Pritzker today signed SB2803, which pays off $4.1 billion in debt and saves taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars in interest payments. The Governor and Democratic leaders in the General Assembly gathered Thursday to celebrate the passage of the unprecedented measure, noting that watchdog groups like Civic Federation are praising the fact that Illinois is “in a much stronger financial position than it has been for many years” under Governor Pritzker’s prudent leadership and partnership with the General Assembly.
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Mar 25, 22 @ 8:44 am
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Show of hands
Who is surprised GOPies wanted a big bailout for their biz buddies?
Comment by Annonin' Friday, Mar 25, 22 @ 8:57 am
” … maintained that only about $1.2 billion of the federal relief money has actually been spent.”
Any documentation been provided to back this up?
Health insurance - is it $900 Million (Mendoza) or $1.4 Billion (Bryant)?
Comment by Anyone Remember Friday, Mar 25, 22 @ 9:00 am
== if the other allocations were abandoned ==
Well hey, if simply abandoning allocations is an option to get Republicans on board to paying this off;
The LGDF fund is almost exactly 1.2B. Simply abandon funding the funding for a single year, and redirect the funds.
I can’t think of a better way to evenly spread the cost. If some of the towns can’t manage without the state subsidy, those towns can simply bond out the difference instead of the state.
Paying off state debt without issuing more state debt, AND giving local control to municipalities.
Comment by TheInvisibleMan Friday, Mar 25, 22 @ 9:01 am
GOP knows how to fill budget holes with a grand bargain
Comment by Rabid Friday, Mar 25, 22 @ 9:01 am
After year of ignoring the staggering unemployment trust fund deficit problem escalated by his actions JB leads from behind solving the issue
It’s up to business and labor apparently to figure it out
Comment by Lucky Pierre Friday, Mar 25, 22 @ 9:01 am
Isn’t it cute, zero Republicans voted for ARPA, or SB 2803, but have criticisms on how it’s spent? “That’s not how it works. That’s not how any of this works.”
Comment by Grandson of Man Friday, Mar 25, 22 @ 9:05 am
The Democrats are like a couple that are celebrating paying off 60% of their credit card debt while going on a Caribiana vacation that would have paid off all their debt.
Comment by Nagidam Friday, Mar 25, 22 @ 9:05 am
Hey Democrats being even 60% fiscally responsible is an improvement. They just can’t resist the tempting taste of federal pork.
Comment by Captain Obvious Friday, Mar 25, 22 @ 9:08 am
IL GOP: Letting the perfect get in the way of the good for decades.
Also, I have to say that The Joint Employers is an awesome name for a marijuana trade association. Missed opportunity.
Comment by thechampaignlife Friday, Mar 25, 22 @ 9:09 am
===today’s decision to leave a large hole===
There’s going to be a big hole somewhere no matter what. Just depends on where you want it, and who might pay to fill it. The bonus? No matter where the money is spent, the GOP gets to criticize how it is done. Politics as usual.
Comment by Jibba Friday, Mar 25, 22 @ 9:14 am
=The Democrats are like a couple that are celebrating paying off 60%=
The Illinois business interests-
=The Joint Employers include the Illinois Retail Merchants Association, Illinois Manufacturers’ Association, Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, the National Federation of Independent Businesses of Illinois and the Associated General Contractors of Illinois=
Seem to disagree with you and the party of “no”. The ILGOP seems to be stuck. They are basically against things they are for which is bizarre. But when you have nothing, that is what it looks like.
Comment by JS Mill Friday, Mar 25, 22 @ 9:15 am
“The measure also would use about $1.4 billion in surplus state funds to pay off old employee health insurance bills, shore up a college savings plan that has been headed toward insolvency and make additional deposits into the state’s woefully underfunded pension plans.”
I don’t see Any Caribbean vacation in there. It looks like it all went to pay down debt.
The Democrats are like a couple that are celebrating paying off 60% of their credit card debt, paying off old medical bills, putting money in their kids college fund, and adding money to their 401k.
There, fixed it for you.
Comment by One Trick Pony Friday, Mar 25, 22 @ 9:18 am
===Seem to disagree with you===
What are the Business groups going to say? Of course, they are in favor or any money going towards the UI deficit.
Comment by Nagidam Friday, Mar 25, 22 @ 9:22 am
=== Of course, they are in favor or any money going towards the UI deficit. ===
You just undercut your original argument.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Mar 25, 22 @ 9:26 am
Some of these comments decrying paying down debt in the name of “fiscal conservatism” are hilarious.
Of course, when one’s lord and savior has nothing but a wake of bankruptcies in his path, paying down debt prolly sounds devious.
Comment by Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter Friday, Mar 25, 22 @ 9:29 am
===You just undercut your original argument===
How?
My argument is that the Democrats are celebrating paying part of the debt and going on a spending spree when they could have paid the whole debt. The Business groups are celebrating any money going to the UI deficit. Pretty much the same argument.
Comment by Nagidam Friday, Mar 25, 22 @ 9:30 am
Shocked that the fiscal responsibility folks have sour grapes over Democrats improving our finances (not). It’s almost as if fiscal responsibility is not really their true goal (see debt under Rauner and Trump).
Comment by Grandson of Man Friday, Mar 25, 22 @ 9:32 am
Greed is good. Don’t you people understand that? Why be happy with 60% of the pie when there are more slices that could be on your plate?
Greed. It’s why the richest man in the State feels so powerless.
Comment by Henry Francis Friday, Mar 25, 22 @ 9:47 am
==$230 million to pay off the College Illinois tuition program, saving taxpayers $75 million.==
Great. So are you re-opening the plan now?
Comment by City Zen Friday, Mar 25, 22 @ 9:47 am
I really enjoy it when the Illinois GOP pretends to be fiscally conservative after all that time they spent goose stepping to Rauner’s drum of destruction.
Comment by Candy Dogood Friday, Mar 25, 22 @ 9:49 am
Perfect example of why we need financial literacy classes in schools.
Comment by Franklin Friday, Mar 25, 22 @ 9:50 am
So, if Federal money is money from other states (as well as ours) This money was treated a shade better than the tax dollars from our taxpayers here. Very quaint. Should have paid off the whole thing while the dollars were falling from the sky.
Oddly, I think if we ever caught up financially, even our taxpayers would demand we not recede back into a hole again. That must be scary to those who think spending more than you take in is normal.
Comment by A Guy Friday, Mar 25, 22 @ 10:10 am
Has anyone does a calculation on how much of this was due to the $600 bonus or the inclusion of “gig” workers in the UE program? This always seemed to warrant a need for the states to suggest Uncle Donald/Uncle Joe accept some of the “debt”
Comment by Annonin' Friday, Mar 25, 22 @ 10:26 am
= I don’t see Any Caribbean vacation in there. It looks like it all went to pay down debt.=
Those are coming from GRF. The GOP wanted the trust funded paid with ARPA dollars, of which there was far more than enough. As Rich noted yesterday, Democrats decided instead to spend a big chunk of that on pork last year. Enough of that pork still hasn’t gone out yet that could be used to cover the rest of the trust fund. That pork is the Caribbean vacation. The rest of the bill didn’t get paid because they couldn’t resist the pork.
Comment by phenom_Anon Friday, Mar 25, 22 @ 10:36 am
Under the last bid’nessman/fiscal conservative governor and comptroller wingman how much debt was paid down? I mean other than for the crew of Laffer superstars and tech consultants.
LOL.
Comment by JS Mill Friday, Mar 25, 22 @ 10:57 am
Dear Comptroller Mendoza,
While paying the state employee health insurance, please remember the state retiree’s dental insurance payments. Delta Dental says the state’s payments are approaching 500 days late. Thank-you
===It allocates $900 million to address legacy debt for state employee health insurance – money that previous administrations have kicked the can on from one budget to the next.===
Comment by DuPage Friday, Mar 25, 22 @ 10:57 am
“They couldn’t resist the pork”
When some of this “pork” is used in GOP held districts, see Fowler, Dale, will those pols show up to the press conferences/photo ops.
The word you’re looking for is “hypocrite”.
Comment by Flying Elvis'-Utah Chapter Friday, Mar 25, 22 @ 11:01 am
===When some of this “pork” is used in GOP held districts===
This was $1 billion in Democratic projects. The only Repubs who might benefit are House Republicans with Democratic Senators.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Mar 25, 22 @ 11:36 am
Listening to Rose on the press audio I just can’t keep my head straight. He’s bemoaning folks that aren’t even on unemployment yet, having to deal with lower amounts. But a year and half ago his act and the entire GOP is you don’t deserve these enhanced benefits.
He was also going on and on about the ten’s of millions in interest we are going to owe. I wish someone would have asked him about hundreds of millions in interest we owed during the Rauner years after each budget impasse.
It’s a tired act but one that works someplace.
Comment by Cool Papa Bell Friday, Mar 25, 22 @ 1:11 pm
How does the wisdom of being one of few states who offered the enhanced unemployment benefits, that were clearly unaffordable, look now that they can’t figure out how to pay for them?
Comment by Lucky Pierre Friday, Mar 25, 22 @ 2:00 pm