By Justin Carlson, includes “Illinois was one of only eight states to see spending outpace its revenues from 2005-2019, leaving it fiscally ill-prepared to deal with the tumultuous COVID-19 pandemic, according to new data from Pew Charitable Trusts … coming in just ahead of similarly troubled New Jersey … According to financial watchdog Truth in Accounting, each Illinois taxpayer now owes $57,000 just to pay off the state’s bills. … Rising debt and large spending increases to match that debt show Illinois has a spending problem and not a revenue problem. …”