Dupage Policy Journal

Republican state House candidate Laura Hois sees just one way forward for the long financially troubled state of Illinois.

“The best way to make up the shortfall is to hasten economic recovery by supporting our families and businesses,” Hois, who is running against incumbent state Rep. Anne Stava-Murray (D-Naperville) in the 81st District, told the DuPage Policy Journal. “Specifically, lift regulations, lower taxes to create a friendlier business environment, remove the progressive tax from the ballot, postpone new spending, and initiate common-sense pension reform.”

Hois, a Downers Grove resident, said she isn’t at all surprised with the findings of a new WalletHub.com survey that concludes Illinois is in need of more help than almost every other state stemming from the fallout and the damage caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Researchers concluded that Illinois ranks as the sixth-neediest state in the country, with part of its poor standing being attributed to its instability even before the pandemic broke out.

The state also ranked near the bottom in terms of state and local debt per capita, including on the metric of unfunded pension liabilities, which are estimated at more than $138 billion

Hois said it’s all taken a heavy toll on the cash-strapped state.

“Lawmakers must give people good reasons to stay in Illinois by leading the way toward a brighter future,” she said.

Hois points to the new $42 billion state budget Democrats banded to pass during the recent four-day General Assembly special session and send to the desk of Gov. J.B. Pritzker as just more bad policy making.  

"The brighter future route represents a positive change in course from the unrealistic, fantasy-driven, job-killing, harmful, burdensome $42.8 billion budget that lawmakers approved but Illinoisans cannot afford,” she said.