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Expert: State Has History of Financial Mismanagement
Illinois government mismanaged its finances even in good economic times, according to a professor at the University of Illinois' Institute of Government and Public Affairs. That, says Dan McMillen, set up a real disaster.

McMillen says with the deficit roughly one-third the size of the state's budget, it will take fundamental changes -- not simple shortcuts -- to fix things. "The main problem for years has been the under-funding of pensions," he says. "It would have been nice if we'd been able to attack that problem when times were good."

As for the economy, unemployment is 10.9 percent, and people are struggling to find jobs. Even developing solid career skills is no guarantee.

At a Springfield social service agency, carpenter Edward House said he hasn't had steady work in a couple of years. "A lot of people in Springfield ain't been doing a lot of hiring," he says. Another person seeking help, who gave her name as Tammy, says her job as a nurse's aide at a nursing home was cut from 40 hours per week to 15 because it has fewer residents.

(Illinois Radio Network)
12 21 09 by Newsroom
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