Dupage Policy Journal

Jay Kinzler internalizes news from an IRS study of Illinois having lost more than 86,000 residents and nearly $5 billion in adjusted gross income over a 12-month period as further affirmation of just how dysfunctional the system has become.

“When our founding fathers created this system, they meant for people to fill these positions for a couple years or so, then for others to step in and assume power,” Kinzler told the DuPage Policy Journal. “Now, we’ve got people making careers out of being political office holders, which is something that was never intended to happen.”

In addition to the IRS findings, a recent Paul Simon Public Policy Institute survey found that nearly 50 percent of all Illinois residents now want to leave the state, with spiraling taxes cited as the top reason.

Jay Kinzler

Overall, the IRS data uncovered that the cash-strapped state experienced a loss of nearly 42,000 tax returns to other states over 2015-16, equating to an all-time high in lost exemptions.

Perhaps making matters even worse is the fact millennials are leading the charge for greener pastures, with the top 10 states to which Illinois lost population being Florida (12,800 exemptions gained from Illinois on net), Texas (9,400), Indiana (8,200), California (7,600), Arizona (6,400), Wisconsin (6,000), Colorado (4,700), Georgia (4,200), Tennessee (3,600) and North Carolina (2,700).

“We’re losing our best because they see better opportunities in other places,” said Kinzler, the Glen Ellyn Republican who is running in the 46th House District for the seat held by Rep. Deb Conroy (D-Villa Park). “We have to get pension liabilities in order.”

As it is, Kinzler said voters have allowed the system to deteriorate to the point of becoming a dictatorship where everything that happens in Springfield seems to have to pass through House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago).   

“That’s not good and something our founding fathers never meant to happen,” he said.

The 46th District includes all or part of Glendale Heights, Carol Stream and Villa Park.