According to a new report from the Pew Center on the States, Illinois is one of the 10 most financially troubled states in the country and struggles with many of the problems that led to “economic disaster” in California, further proving the need for state lawmakers to pass a plan for substantial new revenue for the state.

As the State Journal-Register reports:

The report, “Beyond California: States in Fiscal Peril,” portrays Illinois and eight other states as facing fiscal hardships that are just as tough as California’s, which at one point this year was making payments with IOUs.

Authors of the report, issued by the Pew Center on the States, cited Illinois for “its lack of fiscal discipline to balance its state budget.” Illinois’ $13.2 billion budget gap for fiscal year 2010 was among the top three in the country, they said.

“Officials have used all sorts of short-term approaches to address the budget gaps, but two of the most significant and consequential are to put off paying bills and skimp on the state’s annual pension payments,” the report said.

…

Susan Urahn, managing director of the Pew Center on the States, said Illinois’ status as one of the 10 most troubled states is “a pretty clear indicator” that officials must do more to address state government’s financial problems.

“They don’t have a lot of fiscal fat left in the budget,” she said.

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