Illinois

A) Rauner wants to union bust. B) Illinois has some serious but solvable financial issues. Rauner wants to use B to get to A but he has to make the financial situation seem more dire than it really is plus make it seem like it's all because of those greedy unions with their greedy pensions and greedy pay and greedy work rules. By making those really asshole-ish cuts that he did, he is trying to make people believe that his hands are tied and unless we give him the power to deal with the unions and "special interests," his only option is draconian cuts to important social services. Even though there are numerous means of straightening Illinois out in a fair-handed way, he's not going to participate in that dialog as long as B can get get him to A.