- Just this past February 2020, the Dow Jones Industrial surpassed 29,000, setting an all-time historic high
- Millions of worker’s 401k’s have almost doubled since President Trump took office in January 2017
- Unemployment numbers were under 3.5% which was a historic low
- There were more jobs available than workers
- Wages were growing at an all-time high
- President Trump’s tax cuts did wonders in economic growth
- The booming housing market and lenient mortgage guidelines skyrocketed home sales and prices
- Both HUD and the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) had to increase FHA and Conventional loan limits for the past four years due to rising home prices
- Homeowners enjoyed the increasing equity in their homes
- Individuals and businesses were not the only ones enjoying the rewards of the booming economy
- Cities, counties, and states were raking in revenues
- For the first time in a long time, many government agencies and states enjoyed billions of dollars in surplus
- However, there are a number of Democratic financially irresponsible states such as Illinois that were still financially struggling
- Then the coronavirus pandemic hit the United States and the economy literally crashed overnight
- In a period of a few weeks, 26 million Americans filed unemployment claims
- Millions of businesses closed until further notice. Millions of Americans were jobless and limbo with no set date on when to return to work
- Many Democrat-led states tried to politicize the pandemic to try to get Trump out of office and lessen his chances of re-election
In this breaking news article, we will discuss and cover how Illinois Demands Pension Bail Out As Part Of Pandemic Aid.
Illinois Demands Pension Bail Out Due To Debts Not Associated With The Pandemic
Prior to the pandemic, many neighboring states to Illinois such as Indiana was thriving.
- Indiana was raking in billions of revenues due to its lower-taxes and lower cost of living while Illinois was increasing taxes and on the verge of bankruptcy due to financial mismanagement
- Illinois pension debt is reaching close to $300 billion
- Nothing is working out to balance Illinois’s pension system
- Property taxes were raised multiple times over the years hurting Illinoisans to cover the pension shortfall
- Steps for pension reform are out of the question according to freshman Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker. Pritzker
- J.B. Pritzker who got elected in 2018 did not waste any time pulling up his sleeves to fix the state’s budget problems
- Instead of trying to cut costs and other plans, Pritzker started increasing taxes on over 24 line items
- Pritzker also created and imposed new taxes
- Many were shocked at the actions the new freshman governor was taking to fix Illinois’ deep financial crisis. Illinoisans were expecting spending cuts
- However, Pritzker did not have any intention of cutting spending
- He actually increased spending
- He approved hefty pay raises to all state lawmakers
- He doubled Illinois gas tax
- He also recently approved a $261 million dollar raise for upper-level state workers when the state was on the verge of financial collapse
Many Illinoisans, including Democrats, are getting voter’s remorse by voting for Pritzker. Many groups are forming Recall J.B. Pritzker groups due to the incompetent governor who seems lost and clueless.
How Successful States Operate And Achieve Billions In Surplus
Illinois is probably the worst financially strapped state in the Nation along with New York.
- The Illinois governor needs to realize that it is not how much you take in but rather how much you spend
- Also, successful governors need to treat their state as a business
- There needs to be economic growth in states to get revenues to pay for the services
- The reason Indiana is so successful is due to its low taxes
- Indiana property taxes are half of Illinois
- Illinois also has a fraction of state income taxes compared to Illinois
- Indiana is consistently cutting taxes and spending while their revenues are skyrocketing
- Due to lower taxes and low cost of Illinois, tens of thousands of Illinois residents and businesses are fleeing to Indiana from Illinois
- On the contrary, Illinois keeps on raising taxes, creating new taxes including property taxes, and spending more than they get in tax revenues
- Pritzker is becoming the laughing stock of the nation
- Here he is trying to include the pension debts that have mounted prior to the pandemic included in the coronavirus pandemic federal relief program but is slamming President Trump on Twitter
- Pritzker is tweeting to the President to get off twitter and do his job in fixing the pandemic
- Trump strikes back and pretty much made Pritzker a total fool
Illinois Demands Pension Bail Out but why should other financially responsible states pay for it. Illinois was on the verge of financial disaster prior to the pandemic outbreak.
Illinois Demands Pension Bail Out And Makes A Fool Of Themselves
Illinois Demands Pension Bail Out to be instantly laughed at by the White House. The federal government plans in helping states hurt by the coronavirus pandemic. The pandemic did more damage than any other disaster in history. 26 million Americans filed for unemployment in the past 4 weeks. Never before were unemployment numbers this high. Unemployment claims are expected to get worse. States with billions of surpluses such as Florida, Texas, Indiana, and dozens of others have depleted a substantial amount of its reserves. However, with the news of the reopening of states, financially strong states are expected to recover. However, Illinois was financially strapped prior to the pandemic. With the pandemic, Illinois is in a world of trouble. Illinois Democrats led by J.B. Pritzker tried to pull a fast one. Why not try to balance their pension shortfall by including the part of the pension debt in the federal government bailout. Pritzker and the Democrats have requested a $41 billion demand which $10 billion was targeted for the $10 billion pension bailout. The $10 billion dollar pension bailout has absolutely nothing to do with the coronavirus pandemic.
What Economists Are Saying
Gustan Cho Associates follows the financial crisis in Illinois. They said the following:
President Donald Trump and his administration were dumbfounded when Pritzker and the team asked for the massive federal aid in which the pension debt was included. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo came to J.B. Pritzker’s defense. Many Republican Senators and Governors were scratching their heads and could not believe how Pritzker had the nerve to ask such an unreasonable request
Harmon and Pritzker want a block grant. They want the taxpayers to put $15 billion in the hands of state Democrats to spend as they wish. The governor and the Democrats got criticized by Republicans for capitalizing on the global pandemic for an excuse to ask the federal government to bail the state’s mismanaged pension system. The pension debt have been accruing for the past two decades with no other option in fixing it but bankruptcy. The funny part is J.B. Pritzker was going to ask President Trump for a government bailout for its pension debt even prior to the coronavirus pandemic. Now, with the pandemic, it makes it easier for Pritzker to push for a federal pension bailout.
Is The Federal Government Going To Bailout Illinois?
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said the federal government should not be bailing out financially irresponsible states who have major pension debt with the coronavirus national emergency aid to states. He did not mention the state by name but he was referring to Illinois. President Trump also said the federal government will not be bailing out states who had a financial crisis prior to the pandemic. He said it will not be fair to states who played by the rules. McConnell even went further and said financially irresponsible states like Illinois should think about bankruptcy instead of requesting a federal bailout.
Solutions To Fixing Illinois’ Financial Crisis
Illinois was in a major financial crisis prior to the pandemic. The problem with Illinois and Chicago is they have incompetent politicians who have no idea on how to run basic business. It is not how much you make but rather how much you spend. J.B. Pritzker’s only solution in fixing the financial crisis is to raise taxes. However, raising taxes may increase revenue but he needs to cut spending which he is not doing. Pritzker has doubled the gas tax for Illinoisans. He went further and increased all state taxes across the board making Illinois the highest taxed states. The state has the second-highest tax rate in the Nation right behind New Jersey. Pritzker and lawmakers are not doing anything to attract new residents and businesses. Actually, there is no other state that has an out-migration than Illinois. Not only is Illinois attracting new residents and taxpayers, but they are leaving by the tens of thousands. Homes are not appreciating in the state due to high property taxes. No matter how much you pour in to the pension system, the pension debt keeps on growing with no light at the end of the tunnel. Bankruptcy for Illinois may be the only solution. However, more importantly, Illinois needs a governor and lawmakers who are competent and know what they are doing. This is a developing story. We will keep our viewers updated on new developments as they develop in the coming days and weeks.
