This article compares underfunding of the Michigan Public Employee Retirement System with similar crises affecting other teacher and public-employee pension systems in the Midwest. The Civic Federation spoke about the financial crisis…
Public officials and opinion leaders in Illinois have expressed much interest in the landmark pension reforms approved in Rhode Island in 2011. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel…
The Teachers’ Retirement System of the State of Illinois (TRS) has concluded that it can no longer rely on the State to follow the law for funding its five retirement systems and that sweeping changes are needed to sustain the pension…
This article discusses a report released April 9 by Cook County Commissioner Bridget Gainer that outlines how Cook County’s pension fund will go broke in 26 years without immediate reforms. The Civic Federation applauds Commissioner Gainer…
(The full text of this article is available only to the publication's subscribers.) This overview of Illinois’ fiscal challenges focuses on rising costs in the State’s Medicaid program and pension systems. The article cites the Civic…
This article discusses Governor Quinn’s call to stabilize the State’s pensions and restructure the Medicaid program. The article cites the Civic Federation’s projection that, without action, the State’s unpaid bills could rise to $34.8…
In advance of Governor Pat Quinn's budget address on February 22, this op-ed by Civic Federation President Laurence Msall discusses Illinois' damaged fiscal reputation. The piece offers recommendations for stabilizing the State's finances…
A week before Governor Pat Quinn’s FY2013 budget address, a panel of Illinois State senators met in Chicago to hear testimony on the State’s major budget challenges: rising Medicaid costs and unfunded pension liabilities. The Senate’s two…
