Official warns Illinois is in financial crisis mode

Illinois residents may feel some solidarity with the likes of Puerto Rico and Detroit.

A financial crunch is spiraling into a serious problem for Illinois lawmakers, prompting some observers to wonder if the state might make history by becoming the first to go bankrupt. At the moment, it's impossible for a state to file for bankruptcy protection, which is only afforded to counties and municipalities like Detroit.

Chapter 9 bankruptcy protection could be extended to states if Congress took up the issue, although Stanford Law School professor Michael McConnell noted in an article last year that he believed the precedents are iffy for extending the option to states. Nevertheless, Illinois is in a serious financial pickle, which is why radical options such as bankruptcy are being floated as potential solutions.

Ratings agency Moody's Investor Service earlier this month downgraded Illinois' general obligation bonds to its lowest investment grade rating, citing the state's growing pile of unpaid bills and its mounting pension deficit. Illinois, by the way, has the lowest credit rating of any state. Lower ratings mean higher borrowing costs, since lenders view such borrowers as riskier bets.

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Elefantman said:

Now the state is looking at having to suspend Powerball and Mega Million lottery ticket sales.

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Elefantman said:

Now the state is looking at having to suspend Powerball and Mega Million lottery ticket sales.

LINK

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Elefantman said:

Now the state is looking at having to suspend Powerball and Mega Million lottery ticket sales.

LINK

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crimsonaudio said:

Nope, there are some pretty healthy states out there, actually.

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crimson fan man said:

Thanks, looked it up on google and except for Kentucky all southern and Midwestern states are healthy. California and most of the northeastern states are in trouble.

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