Lake County Gazette

Newly elected state Rep. Martin McLaughlin (R-Barrington Hills) wonders how much more Springfield Democrats think voters can take.

“Basically, poor policies have been implemented at every level, whether you’re talking about the state or local level,” McLaughlin told the Lake County Gazette. “Everywhere you look, lawmakers are seeking increases. All the backwards math is what’s causing the exodus out of Illinois and putting a burden on the rest of us trying to stay here and hold things together.”

All of it has left Illinois as just one of four states to lose population over the last decade, with the latest U.S. Census Bureau data pegging the loss at nearly 170,000 residents. Overall, 93 of the state’s 102 counties have experienced population loss, topped by the Cook County area at almost 49,000 residents.  Finally, at least 10 counties have suffered losses topping 5,000 residents over that same time.

Through it all, McLaughlin sees a ray of hope when it comes to the long-troubled state having a chance of getting its fiscal house in order.

“The idea to give options to pension recipients where they can be removed from long-term liability by doing early payout was a good first step,” he said. “It’s also been very interesting to see the Democrat governor talking about spending reductions. That, along with the rejection of the progressive tax, had Democrats even starting to understand that we can’t just keep going to the well before it runs dry.”

Deeper analysis shows that downstate counties have been particularly hard hit with the region losing 144,000 residents or 3.2% of its 2010 population over the same time period.

In addition, data shows the losses in Cook County represent the second-worst losses of residents in any country across the country with only Wayne County in Michigan losing more people.