Metro East Sun

Doug Jameson believes Illinois’ financial stability is so fragile only surgical precision will help. 

“Taxes have come to be so out-of-control not even freezing them will do,” Jameson told the Metro East Sun. “We absolutely have to lower taxes and ease the burden on people and businesses. Anything short of that and we soon may not have anything left to call Illinois.”

Better than half, or 53 percent, of all Illinois residents concede they have at least entertained thoughts of leaving the state, according to a new Illinois Issues Survey of residents polled by the Center for State Policy and Leadership at the University of Illinois Springfield and NPR Illinois.

Rep. Jay Hoffman (D-Swansea)

Topping the list of reasons fueling the mass exodus are high taxes and a dysfunctional government.

An Illinois Policy Institute deeper dive into the numbers reveals much of the dissatisfaction is spread equally among numerous groups.

A staggering 74 percent of all respondents agreed they find the state to be moving in the wrong direction, while nearly two in three (64 percent) residing in homes with incomes of up to $100,000 admit they too have considered fleeing.   

A 2016 Paul Simon Public Institute survey essentially found the same results, with 47 percent of residents admitting they would rather be somewhere else. Again, high taxes were the main reason given by respondents.

“The top debt driver is unfunded pension and it’s growing at a faster rate than anything else in the state,” said Jameson, who is running against Rep. Jay Hoffman (D-Swansea) for the 113th House District seat. “Until we deal with that, we really don’t have a chance of turning things around and getting Illinois back on track.”

Many of the policy ideas put forth by Democratic gubernatorial candidate J.B. Pritzker won't do much to help the situation, Jameson said.

“Pritzker’s idea of 1 percent tax hike to pay down pension debt only defeats the purpose,” Jameson said.

The 113th House District includes Madison and St. Clair counties.