Taxpayers being forced to bail out state

"Illinois is back" so proclaimed by our governor, J.B. Pritzker. But is Illinois really back? Back from where?

We Illinoisans now have one of the most liberal abortion laws in the nation. We enacted the legalization of recreational marijuana, doubling of the gasoline taxes, an increase in the vehicle license fees and electric auto fees, more casinos, statewide sports betting, and a pension fund that is still woefully underfunded.

What Pritzker and his Springfield cronies have done is to put the burden of financial repair directly on the backs of the state's taxpayers, and then proclaiming that everything is just fine. Really?

Springfield mismanaged the state's funds for decades. Now, instead of trying to put an end to uncontrollable spending, Pritzker and certain leaders in Springfield want us taxpayers to carry the brunt of the financial fix, by having us pay for their gross incompetence. Oh, and let's not forget that these same wonderful politicians in Springfield gave themselves a raise for their hard-earned work.

Like sheep, we follow the same path; we continue to elect the same political leaders, election after election. And then most of us wonder when will Illinois really get back to financial stability. I always thought of Illinois as Bedford Falls in the past, but now I see Pottersville in the future.

Ed Kabot

Vernon Hills