By Leo Kolivakis, includes “There comes a point where responsible lawmakers cannot ignore their pension liabilities. New Jersey has reached that point. … Even now, they will need to raise taxes in the midst of a pandemic to make this massive pension contribution. … And it's not just New Jersey. As The Economist reported almost a year ago … ‘Perhaps it takes teachers to give politicians a lesson. Any official who wants to understand the terrible state of American public-sector pensions should read the financial report of the Illinois Teachers Pension Fund. …”