Mike Fricilone | Contributed photo
Mike Fricilone | Contributed photo
Former Republican Congressional candidate Mike Fricilone steams Illinois is being forced to pay a heavy price for Springfield’s dysfunction.
“We’re losing residents every day and now are likely to lose a congressional representative because of so many people choosing to walk away, which will greatly impact the upcoming redistricting the state is set for,” Fricilone told the Will County Gazette. “We’ve got slow this trend sooner rather than later.”
As it is, the latest U.S. Census Bureau data shows Illinois has lost nearly 170,000 residents over the last decade, leaving the state as only one of four to lose population over that time. Of the state’s 102 counties, 93 have suffered population loss, topped by the Cook County area, which has seen almost 49,000 people fled. Finally, at least 10 counties have suffered losses topping 5,000 residents over that same time.
Fricilone, who bagged nearly 44% of the vote in his 3rd District run against Democrat Marie Newman, knows change won’t come easily.
“Reversing the trend will be laid squarely on the state legislature, where we have to do things to get our budget down so we can start looking at a reduction in taxes because in many cases its driving people out of this state to places where they can live paying much less,” he said. “In addition, we can’t tax retirement income because that will drive even more people out of state. We have to get more in line with other states if we’re going to draw people back.”
Deeper analysis shows that downstate counties have particularly been hard hit, with the region losing 144,000 residents or 3.2% of its 2010 population over the same time period. In addition, data shows the losses in Cook County represent the second-worst losses of residents in any country across the country, with only Wayne County in Michigan losing more people.
“The legislature has to work hard at making this state more attractive,” Fricilone added. “I’d like to see it start with us having new leadership and finally being able to show (House Speaker) Mike Madigan the door.”
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