SE Illinois News

Tens of thousands of people, mostly professional millennials, are leaving Illinois each year, searching for better jobs and housing opportunities. 

According to the 2020 U.S. Census data, the population nosedive has been so steep that the state will lose a congressional district. 

Why can't the Prairie State offer its residents greener pastures? State Rep. Dave Severin (R-Marion) said it comes down to high taxes and a regulatory environment that stifles private growth and investment. 

"We are losing people and businesses to border states with lower taxes," Severin said at an April 26 press conference. "[...] That's what's going on not only in my district but throughout the state."

The representative feels a "pro-growth attitude" is needed to stop letting thousands of residents slip through Illinois' fingers each year but said that the Democrats ruling the Legislature seem deaf to taxpayers pleading for a reason to stay. 

"We've got to become friendlier with our tax policies, friendlier to our tax-paying individuals and also businesses," Severin said. 

Now that the Census data is available, lawmakers can also focus on the redrawing of congressional, state House and Senate districts. A new map must be on Gov. J.B. Pritzker's desk by June 30, but with Democrats the majority in the state Legislature, Republicans worry that the map the governor signs won't be fair to all Illinoisans. 

Illinois has a history with gerrymandering, and Pritzker vowed to overrule a partisan map, giving many hope that an independent, bipartisan commission may finally have the power to decide the state's legislative maps. However, Pritzker has since moved away from position and trusts Democrats to be fair and Republicans to go along with it. 

According to Pritzker's spokesperson, the governor believes the new maps must reflect the state's diversity "to ensure minorities are fully represented in the electoral process."