Financial Crises December 20, 2015 Lights, cameras, tax breaks! PA House OKs more subsidies for Hollywood Pennsylvania lawmakers will soon be racing to fill a budget deficit that could top $1 billion in the next fiscal year, but there’s still a glimmer of hope the financial news won’t be all bad, at least if you’re M. Night Shyamalan or another Hollywood filmmaker that likes to shoot movies in the Keystone State.
Financial Crises December 20, 2015 Illinois Dems back off $100 million push for Obama library following outrage Illinois Democrats are backing off a plan to give $100 million of state money toward landing President Obama’s presidential library and museum -- following accusations of voting “shenanigans” and nasty Chicago-style politics, not to mention the state’s dire financial situation.
Financial Crises December 20, 2015 Cash-strapped Illinois gov't eyes Chicago casino as revenue jackpot When you're hungry, even a three-day-old banana and sardine sandwich looks good. And when you are as broke as Illinois, the promise of billions of dollars from a Chicago casino looks amazing.
Financial Crises December 20, 2015 Detroit strikes two deals over pensions with police, firefighters, other former employees The city of Detroit reached tentative agreements to preserve pensions for retired police office and firefighters but cut monthly payments for other former employees, key deals that could accelerate the largest public bankruptcy in U.S. history, officials said Tuesday.
Financial Crises December 20, 2015 Illinois Gov. Quinn wants to make ‘temporary’ tax increases permanent Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn is telling taxpayers he cannot lie -- he plans to keep Illinois' "temporary" income tax increases.
Financial Crises December 20, 2015 Detroit spends more to issue parking fines than it collects Restructuring consultants have recommended that Detroit increase its parking fines and crack down harder on people who don't pay to boost revenue for the bankrupt city, which currently pays $32 to issue and process a $30 parking violation.
Financial Crises December 20, 2015 Study of pension reform costing Pennsylvania taxpayers more than $1 million As Pennsylvania lawmakers continue to debate pension reform, the meter is running.
Financial Crises December 20, 2015 Unlucky winners: Illinois lottery halts payouts of over $600 over state budget deadlock Feeling like you've hit the jackpot through the Illinois Lottery? Well, think again.
Financial Crises December 20, 2015 Chicago sued over 'amusement tax' on streaming services Netflix, Spotify A group of Chicago residents is suing the city for allegedly trying to sneak in a 9 percent tax on streaming services like Netflix, Spotify and Amazon Prime.
Financial Crises December 20, 2015 Kansas to cap welfare ATM withdrawals at $25 per day Kansas is bleeding money. Lawmakers in the Sunflower State have been scrambling for years to make up a $400 million revenue gap following a 2012 income tax cut that left deep holes in the state budget.
Financial Crises December 20, 2015 California Dems push to repeal 'welfare queen' law California Democrats are trying to reverse a decades-old state law that bars families from getting extra welfare money for having an additional child, describing the law as "sexist" and "classist" -- despite concerns that repealing it could compound the state's money woes.