Illinois faces major budget problems including uncontrolled spending increases, large debts, and the worst funded pension system in the nation. Medicaid costs are rising significantly due to more enrollment and higher costs. The state's business climate and economy have declined, with Illinois now ranking near the bottom nationally in measures like job growth, debt levels, and credit ratings. Proposed solutions include cutting spending, reforming pensions and Medicaid, selling state assets, consolidating offices, and bringing more transparency to spending.

1. State of Illinois BudgetAn Uphill Battle

2. Uncontrolled SpendingFY2003 spending has increased $4.3 billion or 19%!

3. Borrowing to Spend

5. Worst Funded Pension System in the Nation

6. Unpaid Bills

9. Exploding Medicaid Growth

10. Medicaid is the Largest Insurer in the StateCovers 2.8 million Illinoisans

11. Covers 1 of every 5 Illinoisans

12. Covers 1 of every 2 births in Illinois

13. Covers 2 of every 3 nursing home residents in Illinois

14. Covers 1 of every 3 children in IllinoisMore People and Higher Costs

17. Lagging Behind

18. Lagging Behind

19. Business ClimateChief Executive Magazine ranks Illinois 46th in the nation of best states in which to do business. The ranking is done by surveying 600 major company CEOs.

20. In this year’s ranking Chief Executive Magazine ranked Illinois as the biggest loser over the last 5 years, as we dropped from ranking 17th to 46th in the last five years.

21. Citizens of Chicago pay the highest sales tax (9.75%) of any city in the nation.

22. Forbes Magazine ranked Illinois #50 (worst in the nation) for debt burden. According to Forbes, we have the worst debt problem of any state in the country.Average Worker’s Compensation Costs (per $100 of payroll)*Source: 2009 ALEC-Laffer State Economic Competitiveness Index

23. Overall Economic Performance**Historical measure based on a state’s performance in three important performance variables: Personal Income Per Capita Cumulative Growth, Absolute Domestic Migration and Non-Farm Payroll Employment Cumulative Growth -- all highly influenced by state policy.Source: 2009 ALEC-Laffer State Economic Competitiveness Index

24. Losing JobsIllinois ranks 47th in the nation in job growth.

25. Only three states in the nation have performed more poorly than Illinois over that time period. (Michigan, Ohio & Rhode Island).

26. Illinois has LOST almost 250,000 jobs.