Illinois corruptocrats have been self-dealing in public sector collective bargaining and creating a public pension deficit for decades in Illinois. That's not a problem for the rest of us. It's a problem for the retirees in that system and the Illinois taxpayers. (Note: Will the last taxpayer leaving that cesspool please turn the lights out?)
Being corrupt does not mean they are stupid. As one of their revered leaders once said, "Never let a crisis go to waste." In the midst of the fight for Covid-19 relief funds, Illinois has asked the feds for $10 billion to fund its pension deficit. I am sure there are comptrollers in California, New York City and several other cesspools wishing they had thought to do the same.
God help us if Mnuchin gives them any relief for such a corrupt request. They should share equitably in the funds available to hospitals and covid-related costs, but that's it. Their pension problem is not the fed's problem and its not the taxpayer's problem.