North Cook News

A survey conducted by the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University confirmed what many have suspected: Taxes are driving residents out of the state.

The survey polled registered 1,000 voters, 47 percent of whom expressed a desire to leave the state; 27 percent of those wanting to leave cited taxes as the primary reason.

Mel Thillens, Republican candidate for the District 28 state Senate seat, said the climate in the state has not been beneficial for residents.

Mel Thillens | Contributed photo

“The career politicians will tell you that people are leaving Illinois for better weather,” Thillens told North Cook News. “That’s not true. The fact of the matter is that years of destructive decision making by both parties are forcing people out of Illinois.”

The state’s alleged destructive decisions led to many problems, including having the highest black unemployment rate in the nation, some of the highest property taxes in the U.S., high pension debt and a bill backlog in the billions of dollars, spurring an out-migration of residents.

Of those surveyed, an alarming 84 percent said Illinois is heading in the wrong direction.

“Illinois lost 100,000 residents last year alone,” Thillens said. “We can’t continue on this path. We must start sending people to Springfield who are on the side of taxpayers, not the party bosses and special interests.”

The desire to represent the taxpayers has driven Thillens to his campaign mission. Thillens is a businessman who already has gained the support of various business groups, including the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, the National Federation of Independent Business, Associated Builders & Contractors, and the Technology & Manufacturing Association.

Thillens has established a coalition of small businesses to discuss solutions for making the state's business climate more friendly.

Recently, he established another coalition focused on a very important group of voters: women.

“Last week, we announced a ‘Women for Thillens’ coalition at an event in Schaumburg with Illinois Comptroller Leslie Munger,” Thillens said. “I also had the opportunity to participate in a candidate forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters and the American Association of University Women. The attendees were very responsive to my call for property tax relief, term limits, fair maps and small-business reforms. I look forward to hearing more from concerned citizens before Nov. 8.”

Thillens and Munger each addressed the crowd of about 50 women at the Schaumburg event and listened to the concerns and issues facing women and residents of Illinois. Among the topics of discussion was Munger’s proposed “no budget, no pay” bill, which would force legislators to pass a balanced budget before they get paid. Thillens supports Munger’s proposal.

“The first job of a state legislator is to make sure we have a balanced budget in place,” Thillens said in a statement. “I look forward to sponsoring ‘no budget, no pay’ legislation once I get elected to the state Senate.”

Members of the ‘Women for Thillens’ coalition included Munger, Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno (R-Lemont), Michelle Barry, Carla Brookman, Mary Childers, Sue Clausen, Geli Corbett, Beth Dill, Diane Dunham, Char Foss-Eggemann, Michelle Gorman, Joan Hall, Harmony Harrington, Nancy Hoth, Char Kegarise, Andrea Koshaba, Susan Moylan Krey, Carol Langan, Hallie Leach, Jackie Mathews, Cheryl Mills, Laura Morask, Kathy Myalls, Christine Prochno, Doriene Prorak, Penny Pullen, Mary Rohde, Gayle Smolinski, Susan Sweeney, Carol Teschky, Nanci Vanderweel, Shea Walters, Kitty Weiner and Holly Zimmerman.