THE $ORRY $TATE OF ILLINOIS

Lincoln would turn over in his grave but Illinois cannot afford the repairs.

It is never a good thing when there are 50 competitors and you are near the bottom. Yet, that is where the state of Illinois finds itself. Illinois is, arguably and factually, one of the worst states in the U.S.

Want proof Illinois is among the bottom feeders?

Illinois went two years without a state budget, from July 1, 2015 to July 5, 2017, and was on the verge of receiving a “junk” bond rating, with $15 billion in unpaid bills.

No other state in America was without a budget during this timeframe. In fact, no other state has ever gone two years without a budget so when it comes to state budgets, Illinois is dead last, in 50th place.

Six times, since Republican Governor Bruce Rauner took office, major ratings agencies have lowered Illinois’ bond rating. This “accomplishment” almost defies comprehension.

No state has ever received a “junk” bond rating. Had this happened to Illinois, it would have been a surreal conclusion to a level of ineptness never seen before in U.S. state politics. From a bond rating perspective, Illinois is in 50th place among U.S. states.

More evidence that Illinois is among the worst states in America?

Consecutive Illinois governors, Republican George Ryan and Democrat Rod Blagojevich, were sent to prison. At one point, Ryan and Blagojevich were serving time at the same time. Ryan was released several years ago while Blagojevich continues to toil, not due to be released until 2024.

It stretches the imagination to envision any state capable of producing back-to-back jailbird governors, but Illinois did. When your state’s top government official goes to prison it’s a given that political corruption is rampant, which it is in Illinois.

Another example of corrupt Illinois politicians is two-time convicted felon Democrat ex-U.S. Congressman Mel Reynolds, who went to prison in the 1990’s. His replacement, Democrat ex-U.S. Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr., eventually followed Reynolds to prison. (You cannot make this stuff up!)

When the replacement follows the predecessor to prison, then you can argue Illinois is 50th in a field of 50 when it comes to clean politics.

Illinois is dead last among U.S. states in the amount of the state budget that funds public schools. Another 50th place ribbon for the Land of Lincoln.

Taxes in the state of Illinois are no bargain, either. When you are as deep in debt as Illinois, you find a variety of creative solutions to raise taxes on your citizens.

The bizarre Cook County soda tax is one example. The short-lived penny-an-ounce soda tax leaves a negative, embarrassing stain on one-time-rising political star, Democrat Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle.

Then, in July 2017, Illinois increased the state income tax from 3.75% to 4.95%.

According to Forbes Business, in 2016, Illinois 11% tax burden per capita put the state in 46th place.

Crime in Illinois’ showcase city, Chicago, has been well-documented. While murder numbers improved in 2017 vs. 2016, the totality of crime in Chicago is taking a toll. Not just murders and shootings, but armed car-jackings, smash and grab crimes and bank robberies, in the big city and surrounding suburbs.

The psychological damage is immeasurable but suffice it to say tourism in Illinois, and specifically Chicago, surely suffers with Chicago’s reputation for violence and the state’s reputation for being unfriendly re: sales taxes and other fees.

And Chicago’s violence is fueled in part by the high unemployment rate in the African-American community.

The Economic Policy Institute shows national black unemployment is 6.8 percent. In Illinois, black unemployment is 10 percent, placing Illinois dead last among all states.

There is a category where Illinois is first. But it’s a category where you want to finish 50th.

In 2017, a net of 33,703 residents left the state, the largest loss of any state. For four consecutive years Illinois’ population decreased (only West Virginia has a longer streak, five years).

Demographers say the trend in Illinois shows no signs of abating.

The Chicago Tribune interviewed recently relocated ex-Illinois residents to gauge why they exited the state. The main factors? High taxes. State budget crisis. Crime. And the weather.

Conversely, states adjacent to Illinois prosper with Indiana adding 32,811 residents, Michigan 28,866, Wisconsin 22,566 and Missouri 22,356.

Some in Illinois want to use weather as the excuse for population loss however, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin have weather that is as cold and snowy as Illinois. The reality is, as someone who left recently told The Chicago Tribune, they are “tired of paying for everyone else’s retirement before mine” in reference to Illinois’ massive underfunded pension obligation.

The Trib reports residents believe Illinois’ government has turned against them with increased property tax, income tax, sales tax, parking tax, red-light cameras, bag fees, soda tax, etc., etc.

It’s true. For example, Chicago continues to attract major companies with sweet tax breaks or other financial incentives, but the windfall doesn’t apply to Chicago residents.

Since Mayor Emanuel was elected, the average Chicago family has been hit with an $1,813 increase in annual taxes and fees. And the mayor has raised taxes in 6 of his 7 years in office.

Illinois faces a declining populace and labor force, which means a smaller tax base, which means those who remain shoulder the burden, paying higher taxes and fees. A tailor-made invitation for residents to leave.

(Why Amazon would consider bringing their second headquarters to Chicago, or anyplace in Illinois, is puzzling.)

Illinois residents have suffered under Democrat and Republican governors. But the constant at the Illinois Capitol in Springfield has been Democrat House Speaker Mike Madigan. He and his cronies are more responsible than anyone for the sorry state of Illinois.

A close second in the blame game are Illinois voters who, in a mind-blowing act of self-financial-mutilation, continue to elect Madigan and others, including some Republicans, who want to enrich themselves and retain power.

Hello, Illinois voters, wake up!

In the coming gubernatorial election, the people of Illinois have an opportunity to fix things and move beyond the cycle of corruption, imprisoned politicians, and fleeing residents.

For example, candidate Daniel Biss, a Democrat state senator from Evanston, has a proposal that would increase revenue by an estimated $10-$12 billion annually.

Biss’ proposal would tax financial transactions (consumers do, after all, pay sales tax at the grocery store). The LaSalle Street tax seems like a fair way to generate extra revenue to fund community schools, ensure healthcare for everyone, pay for free college tuition and help bring Illinois out of debt.

To repeat, wake up Illinois voters! Don’t absent-mindedly vote for the same old con artists who have Illinois at the doorstep of irreversible disaster.

Douglas FreelandJanuary 11, 2018