State Rep.-elect Chris Miller laments that Illinois is becoming home to what he calls a "monolithic" population.
“Only people with emotional or familial ties are electing to remain in Illinois,” Miller told the East Central Reporter. “At some point, you get tired of being the laughingstock of the whole country, and successful people don’t have to be here. They’ve had enough of the pattern of tax, borrow and spend that goes along with all the waste and fraud.”
Recently released Census Bureau figures reveal that for the fifth straight year, Illinois lost population in 2018, this time to the tune of a state-record-setting 45,116 people. Since the start of the new millennium, the state lost almost 1.5 million residents.
“I don’t know why that surprises anyone,” added Miller, an Oakland Republican who defeated Shirley Bell, a Democrat, in November in the 110th District with 60 percent of the vote. “It makes very little economic sense to live here when we sit at the top of every taxing list you can think of. People are putting all that behind them while improving their quality of life at the same time.”
The mass exodus has dropped Illinois from the list of the country’s five largest states, and the 2018 decline came about when no other state in the Midwest lost population.
“It amazes me that you still hear people on the left argue that this hasn’t been caused by all the high taxes,” Miller added. “I think they’re still in denial and the truth is, in order to solve a problem you first have to admit to yourself that it exists.”
Still, Miller said he remains optimistic about what he and other new House members can get accomplished in Springfield.
“I’m confident that common sense and fiscal responsibility will fix this,” he said. “I still believe if we’re able to put our heads together and put the people of this state first a lot can get done.”
The 110th House District includes Clark, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, Edgar and Lawrence counties.
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