If Illinois used a more conservative actuarial method to estimate liabilities, amortized over no more than 30 years (or a shorter period, as is used in many states that want to get a handle on their pension liabilities) and used a more realistic return assumption for TRS, those pension contributions would be rising even faster.

FORBES: Pat Quinn's Illinois Budget: Spending Up, Program Spending Down

Merck says that it cannot estimate its legal liabilities, and that it has not yet taken any reserves to cover these costs.

ECONOMIST: Big trouble for Merck

States show current contributions as expense, not billion dollar liabilities (money owed), and worst yet, most states use ludicrous actuarial assumptions to estimate the returns on pension funds.

FORBES: America Is Broke! Who Will Fix It?