Illinois' borrowing bonanza

Facing both an election and the politically unpalatable prospects of raising taxes or cutting social programs, Gov. Pat Quinn and lawmakers increasingly have turned to borrowing as a quick fix and are on track to rack up more than $6.5 billion in loans to keep the state afloat.

As University of Illinois at Springfield state budget expert Charles Wheeler asks: "How are they going to pay that money back?"

Wheeler's comments were featured in an November 2, 2009 article in the Chicago Tribune.

Download a PDF of the article.
20091102-TRIB-chi-state-of-denial.pdf

Wheeler quoted in assessment of Lt. Gov.

As Gov. Rod Blagojevich faces unofficial but increasing talk of impeachment or indictment, people have come to view Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn in a more favorable light.

An article that appeared in the May 11 Bloomington Pantagraph includes an assessment by UIS Director of Public Affairs Reporting Charles Wheeler that Quinn has "shown himself to be a pretty decent state official."

Download a pdf file of the article
20080511-Pantagraph-Quinn.pdf