WBEZ 91.5 Chicago

The president, once more needlessly trying to play pattycake with the GOP, has offered cuts to Social Security that will do zilch to ease the debt.

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn is expected to announce Wednesday that the state will spend almost a fifth of its general budget on pension payments next year.

The Illinois House is sending a message to state employees as they negotiating a new contract: don't expect a pay raise.

Officials say Gov. Pat Quinn's online pension reform campaign with its cartoon snake mascot has attracted more than 28,000 unique visitors.

On Friday, Democrats in the state Senate proposed a budget that cuts spending almost across the board, with the exception of education.

The East St. Louis school system says it will shutter five schools because of declining enrollment and in an effort to pare the district's roughly $12 million budget deficit.The Belleville News-Democrat reports that the schools will close by June 30.

Chicago Public Schools officials are bracing for another year of staggering budget deficits.