Scott Reeder: Blank check mindset needs addressed Scott Reeder Imagine a state government with the worst credit rating in the nation, borrowing money to pay off the personal debts of individuals with six-digit incomes buying homes that cost as much as $500,000. Make much sense? Nope. But that’s exactly what the state of Illinois is doing. Two years ago, Illinois lawmakers passed the $45 billion Rebuild Illinois Capital Plan. It was a bipartisan proposal negotiated behind closed doors and designed to pay for repairing highways, building bridges and erecting public buildings. But the plan also set aside $25 million to forgive student loan debt.