Kane County Reporter

Former Republican state Senate candidate Ben Bierly is convinced slowing down Illinois' rising outmigration problem starts with having new leadership in the governor's office.

"It's going to take letting people do what they need to in order to survive and weeding out some of this government so that we have new policies and not a governor that doesn't understand what people are going through and a Legislature that won't stand up to him," Bierly told the Kane County Reporter.

Illinois is one of the country's highest-taxed states, which has led to people seeking cheaper alternatives outside its border.

In January, Illinois Policy reported that two of the largest moving companies in the country concluded that upward of 60% of interstate moves served by them on behalf of Illinois residents were of the outbound variety.

With taxes and lack of job opportunities ranking among the biggest reasons for many deciding to walk away, researchers find it all adds up to the state experiencing its most extensive outmigration levels in 2020 since World War II, Illinois Policy reported.

"People have to work, and Illinois isn't the place to be for that right now," Bierly said. "It's disheartening because it tells you that the policies and actions of this government are not working and it's driving people out of this state at an alarming rate. People have to be able to live. Government assistance alone doesn't take you out of poverty."

Bierly said he hoped state leaders are starting to pay attention to the damage some of their policies are inflicting.

"It's a sad situation and the only reason a lot of people are still here is because they feel stuck," he said.