WBEZ 91.5 Chicago

A new report projects Illinois’ budget will go from bad to worse if legislators don’t address key issues.

Illinois Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka said Monday the state is not prepared for a second economic recession.The tax watchdog group Civic Federation projected Illinois would end the 2012 fiscal year $8.3 billion in debt.

Today is Tax Day in the U.S., and to cope with the complicated tax code and to maximize deductions, Americans are increasingly relying on third-party vendors like Turbo Tax to fill out forms. That’s not necessary in places like the U.K. and Denmark, where the government fills out forms for you.

These have not been easy times for Illinois bean counters and those who depend on them.  An already weakened state balance sheet, like the pocketbooks of its already stretched citizens, was hard-hit by the recession.  Ever since, the state has been caught in a cycle of rising costs, unpaid

Chicago mayoral hopeful Carol Moseley Braun is continuing to avoid questions about her finances. The former U.S. Senator testily told reporters she's already said what she has to say about her personal finances."You've got the returns," she said.