Metro East Sun

A sizable portion of Prairie State dwellers would rather pack their bags than continue to endure a declining economic atmosphere and related tax burdens, according to industry observers, with over 37,000 residents exiting Illinois in 2015.

The U.S. Census Bureau’s recently released data showed that the Land of Lincoln suffered a higher population loss that year than any other state — a net decline of 37,508 individuals.

So frustrated with the government’s lack of progress that they labeled the state “the Land of Stinkin',” editors at the Belleville News-Democrat have suggested that Illinois state legislators unequivocally deserve the blame for this trend.

“We think it is more than fair to lay this at the feet of state lawmakers,” the publication stated. “They spent us into a $130 billion pension deficit, they allowed $11.2 billion in bills to pile up, they have failed to pass budgets … and they refuse to change the business climate or compensation that pays state union workers double what the average Illinoisan makes.”

The best that Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago) -- who has been in charge for over three decades -- could come up with was to suggest more taxes.

“A good place to begin … would be the level we were at before the income tax expired,” said Madigan, referring to the rate dropping to 3.75 percent two years ago. “And starting there, you can go in whatever direction you want to go.”

Evidently, that direction is to the nearest interstate, according to Census figures. As Illinois citizens leave to find more stability and better jobs in other states, it only increases the tax burden on those remaining in Illinois.

“Until Madigan and Co. own this problem and choose to reform, your choices are to put up with their garbage as this fiscal and social crisis worsens or move,” according to the News-Democrat.