Ken Idstein laments that recent U.S. Census Bureau data confirming Illinois has slipped below Pennsylvania in population and no longer rates among the country’s five most populous states merely confirms what everyone has already suspected.
“Sadly, this census data surprises no one,” Idstein, the Grayslake Republican who is running for the seat held by Rep. Sam Yingling (D-Grayslake) in the 62nd District, posted on Facebook. “It makes sense that after multiple income tax hikes, paying the highest property tax rates in the nation, and the lack of reforms or improving the business climate that people and businesses would leave Illinois by the thousands.”
According to the Illinois Policy Institute, residents are now leaving the state for other states at a rate of 1 person every 4.6 minutes. Overall, from July 2016 to July 2017, the state lost 115,000 people on net to other states and since 2010 that number has swelled to nearly 643,000 residents.
"In percentage terms, Illinois saw the third-worst population decline in the nation, bringing the 2017 population estimate for Illinois to 12,802,023 people,” Idstein wrote. “This marks the fourth consecutive year of population decline in Illinois."
With the news of Illinois' dwindling presence coming during the holiday season, Idstein said all the state’s financial woes are now starting to affect families in ways many are struggling to understand.
“Over the Christmas holiday, I am reminded how blessed we are to have friends and family who live close and we are able to see,” he wrote. “Unfortunately, data like yesterday's from the IRS shows us that not everyone’s families are close. Many people are traveling across the country this weekend because their family members have moved out of Illinois in search of better opportunities.”
Idstein added it’s all serving as fuel in his making a run for the state House.
“I’m running to bring opportunities back to Illinois so our friends, family, and neighbors can come home," he added.
Alerts Sign-up