A bit of good news for Illinois' dwindling coffers.  Effective immediately, public employees can no longer take a leave of absence from one position in order to pull down a salary somewhere else...and continue to draw state pensions from both. This legislation appears to close the "Reg Weaver loophole" created in 2007, no more, no less. 

The real issue in Illinois — which officials have yet to address seriously — is the state's $85 billion unfunded pension liability.  Any takers?

Marisa Goldstein