To the Editor:
According to a recent Southern Illinois University and University of Illinois at Chicago studies, Illinois ranks third in corruption of the 50 states.
Critic Leah Ansel estimates Illinois loses $16.8 billion per year due to corruption.
While critic Chad Merda asserts the annual Illinois corruption tax amounts to $1,308 per person a year, criminologists note four (4) of the last seven (7) Illinois Governors did time.
Some joke: “Illinois, the only state where the governor makes your license plate.”
The government’s reputation for cronyism and corruption does little to inspire confidence and jaundices business opportunities. In fact during 2014 Illinois lost jobs.
Last month Illinois lost4,200 jobs to bring the yearly total to almost 19,000. From 2011 to 2014 Illinois ranked last in job creation of all Midwest states yet added 244,000 food stamp recipients . A recent Gallup poll conducted revealed 25% of Illinois citizens think it is the worst state to live in. Additionally, this poll found only 28% trust Illinois government.
If you think corruption and job creation are problems there is a solution: replace Governor Pat Quinn and Attorney General Lisa Madigan.
Mr. Quinn passed a 67% tax increase in 2011 adding $34 billion in new taxes. During the same time we lost $50.4 billion to corruption.
State Attorney General Lisa Madigan promised to fight corruption but sent who to jail? Anyone?
Vote Bruce Rauner for Governor and Paul Schimpf for Attorney General November 4.
Philip W. Chapman
Highland
Vote for Rauner and Schrimpf
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