Don Moore isn’t surprised that overburdened taxpayers in Illinois are reacting to still rising taxes by just walking away in frustration.
"I had the pleasure of speaking with hundreds of voters while collecting signatures to get my name on the ballot for state representative,” Moore, a Troy Republican who is going up against Rep. Charlie Meier (R-Okawville) in the 108th District, recently posted on Facebook. “Unfortunately, my opponent is not listening to their biggest concern – high taxes.”
Moore’s words were sparked by a new IRS report showing that more than 86,000 people fled Illinois over a recent yearlong period beginning in 2015 at a taxpayer cost of nearly $5 billion.
“Earlier this summer he (Meier) partnered with (House Speaker) Mike Madigan (D-Chicago) and voted to raise our taxes by 32 percent,” Moore said. “As a Madison County Board member, I voted to cut property taxes and return more of your hard earned money to you. That is what I'll do in Springfield. As my opponent and Mike Madigan continue to raise our taxes to fund their corrupt political games, more people leave. Maybe my opponent will shut the lights off in this state when no one is left."
Illinois Policy Institute reports the net loss of nearly 42,000 tax returns over the yearlong period represents an all-time high, with millennial taxpayers leading the exodus of those seeking greener pastures.
The institute said the top 10 states to which Illinois lost people were Florida (12,800 exemptions gained from Illinois on net), Texas (9,400), Indiana (8,200), California (7,600), Arizona (6,400), Wisconsin (6,000), Colorado (4,700), Georgia (4,200), Tennessee (3,600) and North Carolina (2,700).
The 108th House District includes parts of Clinton, Madison, St. Clair and Washington counties.
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