Civic Fed Dings Rauner Budget - In a fiscal analysis released Wednesday, the Civic Federation said it did not support Gov. Bruce Rauner's proposed budget for FY2019, calling it "precariously balanced" and asserting it does not sufficiently address the state's $7.7 billion backlog. The group's Institute for Illinois' Fiscal Sustainability focused its caution on the governor's projected $1.8 billion revenue plan which relies on the sale of the James R. Thompson Center, "speculative" group health plan savings, and shifting pension costs to Chicago Public Schools. Civic Federation President Laurence Msall said in the release: “The possibility of renewed political stalemate hangs over Springfield, and it would be financially reckless to wait until after the upcoming election to start working toward long-term stabilization. The state narrowly avoided a downgrade to junk status last year and another impasse could squander recent progress.” [Civic Federation Report: Governor's FY2019 Budget Proposal]