BACK HOME AGAIN IN ILLINOIS - AT 10:32 A.M. ET:  Illinois is the gift that keeps on giving, an endless source of news about bad government, shady politics, and a president who didn't get the Olympic games for Chicago.

And now, money woes:

CHICAGO (CBS) — The State of Illinois' pile of unpaid bills has grown to a record-breaking $3 billion. Comptroller Dan Hynes said Tuesday it's never before been this bad at this point in any previous fiscal year. CBS 2 Political Editor Mike Flannery reports that some social service agencies that rely heavily on state reimbursement warn they will soon be forced out of business.

Hynes said that things are likely to get worse before the state's bleak revenue picture begins to improve.

The comptroller reported corporate income tax receipts down $77 million for July through September; sales tax receipts, down $244 million; personal income tax receipts, down $251 million.

COMMENT:  Oh, come on.  With the Daley machine in Chicago, and Roland Burris in the Senate, and no need to spend cash on Olympic stadiums, how bad can it be?  After all, The One is in the White House, and he will deliver for Illinois the way he did in Copenhagen last week.

Oh, by the way, if Illinois had gotten the Olympics, where would the money come from to build all that necessary stuff?  Interesting that this financial report came out after the decision was announced.

October 7, 2009