Lake County Gazette

As the state economy continues to dwindle, Wirepoints President Ted Dabrowski has a stern warning for Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

“Politicians here need to wake up,” Dabrowski told the Prairie State Wire. “The latest Census numbers show we’re already losing the most people in the country. If Gov. Pritzker continues to shut down the economy and run the state by executive order and through the legislature, we will continue to lose jobs and people.”

As it is, the latest Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) data shows Illinois is quickly becoming an island all of its own, losing jobs over two of the last three months and at a time when much of the rest of the country is showing signs of stabilizing to the tune of seven straight months of job growth.

Dabrowski worries the worse may still be yet to come.

“You look at the numbers and it’s clear we need to consider reopening the state or the outmigration will only continue,” Dabrowski said. “The fact that Springfield still hasn’t woke up means the crisis still isn’t bad enough. Who knows, it’s probably going to take more people leaving or the economy shrinking even more.”

Not surprisingly the bulk of the losses here in Illinois have come in the leisure and hospitality industry, which lost some 27,400 during the month of November alone.

All of this is coming at a time when the governor continues to entertain the thought of increased taxes, which many argue could serve as a final death knell for many of the businesses that have somehow managed to survive up to this point.  

“It’s really hard to understand the governor’s motivation,” Dabrowski said. “Looking at the data year after year, you see how the continuation of the policies he’s put in place have destroyed this state, things like high taxes, more borrowing and more gimmicks to balance the budget, all that has chased even more people away. It’s not sustainable for us to continue on this course.”