East Central Reporter

The 2020 U.S. Census data stung for Illinois, which has lost some of its population for the first time in over a century and will see one of its congressional seats removed because of that decline. 

Several Republican lawmakers have made statements condemning what they say is the state's poor policy, high taxes and lack of economic opportunity as the driving factors behind the population decline. 

State Sen. Chapin Rose (R-Champaign) took to Facebook last week to ask constituents how they see the state moving forward. 

"What would you suggest to Gov. [J.B.] Pritzker to 'turn our state around?'" Rose posted to Facebook April 27. "Please be specific and constructive."

Commenters noted similar struggles to those outlined by legislators. High cost of living, evaporating blue-collar job opportunities and a neglected tourism industry were mentioned.

Others said that Pritzker simply needs to step down. 

One common thing among the commenters was that what's being done now just isn't working. 

Illinois had 22 seats in the U.S. Congress in the early '90s, and has dwindled down to 17 as other state's populations increased. The state's congressional power peaked in 1910 at 27 seats, and remained there until the 1940 U.S. Census, when the Prairie State then began to lose at least one seat each decade for the next nine decades. 

Pritzker says the state is losing tens of thousands of residents a year because college students are choosing out-of-state schools.