This Is a Joke, Right?

Let's see. The budget supposedly has a $11 billion deficit and its predecessor is getting an award.

Here's the citation below the award:

“The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA)presented a Distinguished Budget Presentation Award to the State of Illinois, for its annual budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2008 (fiscal year 2009). According to GFOA, this award “reflects the highest form of recognition in governmental budgeting.

"In order to receive this award, a governmental unit must satisfy nationally recognized guidelines for effective budget presentation. These guidelines are designed to assess how well the entity’s budget serves as a policy document, as an operations guide, as a financial plan, and as a communications device.

“The Government Finance Officers Association’s Distinguished Budget Presentation Awards Program, established in 1984, recognizes exemplary budget documentation by state, provincial and local governments, as well as public universities and colleges. Entities participating in the program submit copies of their operating budgets for review. Each budget document is evaluated using a comprehensive evaluation checklist and those judged proficient receive the award.

“We are very pleased to have received this national recognition. We believe our current budget continues to conform to program requirements, and we are submitting it to GFOA to determine its eligibility for another award.”