East Central Reporter

Illinois state Rep. Chris Miller (R-Oakland) views the state's system of over-taxation and rising tax rates as the perfect storm accounting for its long-held financial struggles.

“It’s one of the things that happens when you over-regulate and over-govern, people find other places to live and open businesses,” he told the East Central Reporter. “People that are successful and thriving have options other than just hanging around and being abused by their government.”

A new George Mason University survey finds that Illinois now ranks as the third most heavily regulated state in the country with some 259,832 total restrictions, including almost 35,000 in the chemical manufacturing and food sector alone.

All the micromanaging has come at a huge cost, with the state now also recording a grade of F when it comes to taxes, labor and licensure and a 2018 study concluding that Illinois rates as the worst state in the country for business friendliness largely based on a whole host of tax and fee increases imposed over the last three years.

“People go as far as they can, but at some point they decide they’ve had enough after they see it as having become a hostile environment for businesses and families,” Miller added. “I think a big part of the reason why Democrats struggle to face reality is they don’t want to take ownership for so much of what’s gone bad. They’re the ones who have passed all the laws and regulations.”

Miller argues hiding from the problem is the worst thing they can do if the state is ever to have a chance of truly turning things around.

“You change things by being honest with yourself, acknowledging that state government has been a big part of the problem with this system of over-regulation and over-taxation,” he said.