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Top 3 issues to watch for in Illinois gubernatorial debate
Illinois Policy Institute experts are available to comment on key Illinois reforms necessary from Illinois’ next governor

CHICAGO (Oct. 18, 2022) – With record inflation, the second-highest property taxes in the nation and one of the worst COVID-19 job recoveries affecting Illinoisans, the final debate between Illinois’ gubernatorial candidates tonight should give viewers a chance to hear about the important economic policy issues affecting Illinois taxpayers.

Illinois Policy Institute experts are available in person or via Zoom across the state to discuss budget, tax and economic reforms Illinois’ next governor could adopt.

“Despite his claims on the campaign trail, Gov. Pritzker’s results during his first term show his policies have made life harder, not easier, for Illinoisans,” said Bryce Hill, director of fiscal and economic research for the institute. “Taxpayers deserve a chance to hear about how a gubernatorial candidate will handle major fiscal and economic hurdles the state faces. One thing is for certain: policies that encourage high taxes are not improving the state.”

Three issues the candidates should address include:

1. Relief for Illinois families

• Inflation raised costs by $5,920 for the average Illinois consumer after Pritzker had already imposed $2,721 more in taxes on Illinoisans.
• While Pritzker is slowly sending out one-time property tax rebate checks – only 14% had been mailed after nearly a month – Illinois homeowners still spend more than double the national average on their bills.

2. Jobs and employment

• Illinois is still missing 1 in 10 jobs lost since the beginning of the pandemic, giving the state one of the worst job recoveries in the nation.
• Six companies left Illinois within the past five months. The companies and their jobs joined almost 114,000 former residents who left the state in 2021, a record-breaking year for Illinois outmigration.
• Illinois was ranked third worst in the nation as a place to do business by Chief Executive Magazine.

3. Long-term structural reforms

• Pritzker added to the state’s rainy-day fund and secured six credit upgrades using federal pandemic funds. The next governor will need to balance the budget without federal help.
• While Pritzker budgeted $500 million more for pensions in 2022, pension debt hit an all-time high during Pritzker’s administration.

To read more about Pritzker’s track record and the issues Illinois needs to address, visit illin.is/reportcard.

For bookings or interviews, contact media@illinoispolicy.org or (312) 607-4977.