By Vince Kolber -
The year was 2009. Looking back, we saw it as a crucial moment for not only our state, but our country as a whole. The change had come, and with this change, many leaders emerged from one party rule.
Chicago ascended to the highest position of power and influence in America. A little known Illinois senator became president of the United States, a Chicago school superintendent became Secretary of Education, Illinois' other senator rose to U.S. Senate leadership, a Congressman became White House chief of staff, and a Cook County commissioner became a congressman.
That congressman is my opponent today: Mike Quigley, in the 5th congressional district race.
These leaders' Democratic Party cohorts controlled both houses in the Springfield and Illinois’ Executive Mansion. Back in Washington DC, the Chicago team had the White House and Congress under one party rule, just like we saw in Chicago. This was a historic moment for Illinois, if not for our entire country. Never had one party in any state achieved what Illinois Democrats achieved in 2009. There had never been a moment quite like 2009, where expectations for Illinois should have been elevated to the utmost pinnacle if we were to believe in the promise of these “progressive” leaders that more government was the solution for a brighter tomorrow.
Fast forward seven years. Where are we now? Has the great “progressive” agenda swooped in and saved the day? Are we better off as a country? How about as a state? I’m here to say no. That’s not the case at all. Let’s look at the evidence.
Our middle-income families seeking to make a living in the private sector have seen their real wages averaging less than $50 thousand per year go down while the average worker in government jobs in Illinois has gone up, now approaching close to $60 thousand per year. These same government employees retire early and reap lucrative pensions far exceeding their counterparts in the private sector. As a result, private sector workers are leaving Illinois in droves — at the rate of nearly 100 thousand per year. This means that Illinois will lose another seat in Congress by the next census just as Illinois lost one in the Census of 2010.
Due to this mass exodus of private sector workers, taxpayer revenue to local and state governments is declining. Families that raised their children in Illinois find that fewer of them obtain opportunities here after college, making college graduates an unfortunate leading export of our state. Our best and brightest for tomorrow can’t stay in the state that raised them. Where will that put us in the next 20 years?
The party opposite party has consistently proven over the past eight years that “progressive” methods simply are not getting the job done. That is why I am running for Congress.
Bold solutions are needed for a brighter future. Let us start with robust tax and regulation reform. The resulting economic growth will allow Illinois to rise.
Republican Vince Kolber is challenging Democrat incumbent Congressman Mike Quigley (IL-05) in the November 8th election
