•April 11, 2018•

By Jim Nowlan
NP Guest Columnist

I feel compelled by the recent Illinois primary election to revisit the topic of “Can Illinois be saved?” Of course, it can be saved (returned to stability, growth). Whether it will be saved is a different question.

In Gov. Bruce Rauner and Democrat J. B. Pritzker, Illinois voters nominated two uninspiring candidates. The election apparently provided impetus for friends of mine to renew with vigor their drumbeat of despair about the future of our state.

I fear many of my friends have shifted their assessment of our state’s future from, “It won’t be saved” to “It can’t be saved.” That is tragic, and incorrect.

I admit that Illinois has excruciating problems. Billions in unpaid bills; worst credit rating in the nation, and public pension liabilities so great that we have been stealing from fundamental functions like our school and colleges to meet these obligations. And political dysfunction: Three recent annual legislative sessions without a state budget.     Login or Subscribe to read the rest of this story.