Illinois out-migration a reflection of mistrust in state politicians
Half the Illinoisans surveyed in a recent Gallup poll said they’d like to move to another state. This attitude isn’t a new trend. Between 1995 and 2009, the state lost on a net basis more than 806,000 people to out-migration. As Illinois lost residents, it also lost out on a net of $26 billion in taxable...
Half the Illinoisans surveyed in a recent Gallup poll said they’d like to move to another state.
This attitude isn’t a new trend. Between 1995 and 2009, the state lost on a net basis more than 806,000 people to out-migration. As Illinois lost residents, it also lost out on a net of $26 billion in taxable income during this period.
One of the major driving factors behind this exodus is the state’s failed political environment and residents’ general lack of trust in Illinois state government.
The worst kept secret in the world is that backroom deals and horse-trading are how deals get done in Springfield politics.
The problem now is that Illinois taxpayers have had enough, and they’re poised to take their spending power to states that respect hard work and a fair tax environment.
But there is hope that the tide is turning in Illinois after the next big tax hike was defeated last month.
Illinois Policy’s long battle against the proposed progressive income tax came to a triumphant conclusion when state Sen. Don Harmon’s progressive tax legislation failed to be called to the floor for a vote because it lacked support in the House.
On the day that the progressive income tax met its death, I had a meeting with Kankakee state Rep. Katherine Cloonen. I brought with me 1,000 signed petitions from within Cloonen’s district, through which her constituents made the strong but simple declaration that they did not support the tax increase. The interesting part of the conversation was when Cloonen told me that she was grateful for the information and proof from actual constituents that they were in opposition to the measure, because she had been fed data from the pro-progressive tax group, A Better Illinois, claiming that her constituents were in favor of the tax hike. Our clarification of the facts helped move Cloonen to a likely “no” vote had the progressive tax ever come to the House floor for a vote.
This exchange proves that there are groups out there working to push their tax-hiking interests at the expense of Illinois taxpayers.
And it’s this attitude that has driven mistrust in Illinois government and fueled a movement of out-migration from the state.
Perhaps Gallup could do a follow-up to its original query, this time asking Illinois taxpayers: “If the opportunity presented itself, would you like the lawmakers who have gotten us into this fiscal mess to move to another state?”