Having enough of Illinois’ corrupt fiscal and political mess, a former Illinois state senator says he’s “tired of subsidizing crooks” and had declared he and his family are moving to Texas.
“You may all go to hell, I will go to Texas.” – Davy Crockett
As reported in the Washington Examiner, after many years of public service Roger Keats, a former Illinois state senator and Cook County Board president took a cue from Davy Crockett and is blazing a trail to the Lone Star State.
Keats spent a significant portion of his career working to clean up rampant corruption and bring some semblance of common sense to Illinois’ government. But now he plans to leave “the most corrupt big city…and most corrupt state in America” because “the leaders of Illinois refuse to see we can’t continue going in the direction we are and expect people who have options to stay here.”
Mr. Keats laundry list for leaving isn’t short:
Illinois is ranked 50th for fiscal policy; 47th in job creation; first in unfunded pension liabilities; second largest budget deficit; first in failing schools; first in bonded indebtedness; highest sales tax in the nation; most judges indicted; and five of our last nine elected governors have been indicted. That is more than the other 49 states added together!…Illinois just sold still more bonds and our credit rating is so bad we pay higher interest rates than junk bonds! Junk Bonds!
Why is Mr. Keats relocating his family after more than 60 years?
We are moving to Texas where there is no income tax while Illinois’ just went up 67%. Texas’ sales tax is half of ours, which is the highest in the nation. Southern states are supportive of job producers, taxpayers and folks who offer opportunities to their residents. Illinois shakes them down for every penny that can be extorted from them.
Mr. Keats is an example of what many Americans are doing in response to their home states’ policies of higher taxes, bigger government, and increased regulation: voting with their feet and moving to lands of greater opportunity.
While we welcome these newcomers, it’s important for current Texas lawmakers heed the warning that states like Illinois provide.
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Andrew Kerr is the Executive Director of Empower Texans / Texans for Fiscal Responsibility
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