Illinoisans knew that the 2019 session of the Legislature would bring big changes in how the state was run. Voters chose a Democratic billionaire to replace a Republican billionaire in the Governor’s chair, and both the House and Senate became supermajorities for the Democrats.
Fiscal policy was vital. The state had endured two years of not having a budget passed because of the impasse between the Republican governor and a heavily Democratic Legislature, resulting in a budget gap in the billions of dollars. By the end of the legislation session in Springfield, more than 20 bills were passed to increase revenue, from raises raising taxes to increasing fees for individuals and businesses.
That supermajority in both houses was needed, for a proposal to increase the income tax from a flat rate of 4.95% to a graduated tax needed those votes to place the issue on next year’s ballot. Those against argued that this was a ploy to get more money for the state, with the danger (seen in other states) that the rates would increase over time.
Just one example of the fee hikes is seen in the increase for the auto license tag. This increase was from $101 per year to $151 per year. By the time the last business day in May arrived, the budget gap was magically erased by the Legislature’s work.
Much angst was expressed by mostly rural and downstate legislators and residents. Small town newspapers railed against the raid on people’s pocketbooks, but with a solid Democratic caucus in the General Assembly behind the governor, not much could be done about the situation.
However, mostly ignored was the damage done to the moral fiber of this once great state. Social policy was radically changed by bills, signed into law by the Governor, which have coarsened our society.
First was the abortion bill, loudly hailed by the pro-choice (read pro-abortion) side as the most liberal in the nation. It provides for the procedure to be legal up to the time of delivery. Abortion on demand, at any time during a pregnancy, is now the law in Illinois. Now the good solons are debating the next step, which is to eliminate the requirement that minors must inform their parents or guardians before an abortion can be performed. Given the makeup of our politics, that outcome seems preordained.
Another change was to legalize the use of marijuana by the public at large. Now it is no longer a crime to smoke pot, the only restriction is that it be “recreational”, however that term is interpreted. Immediately pot stores popped up, and hemp growers made their presence known. All this was approved, even with legislators being informed of the harmful effect the drug has on it users, and its impairment on drivers.
The LGBTQ “community” received what was demanded by them. Orders went out that small businesses had to quit using “men” and “women” designations for restrooms. Extending this to the schools in Illinois meant that at least one rest room had to be open to only those who felt some form of gender dysphoria. In my small town (Paris in Edgar County) the local high school was forced to label one of the two restrooms formerly reserved for faculty as the rest room of choice for those who felt they were not the gender they were born with.
The abortion law has borne fruit in an unexpected way for Illinois. Before that law was enacted, women from surrounding states came to Illinois to have their abortions. Since the signing of the bill into law, the number has increased. And just this last week, Planned Parenthood announced the imminent opening of a “mega-clinic” in Fairview Heights, just minutes from St. Louis. Because Missouri has one of the most restrictive abortions laws in the nation, only one clinic remains open, in St. Louis.
Planned Parenthood expects its new clinic to be able to handle all those who wish to cross into Illinois for abortions, easing the pressure on existing clinics who are overwhelmed by patients from Missouri.
One leader of a pro-life group lamented the present laws here makes “Illinois the abortion capital of the Midwest”.
Yet in one of the most conservative areas of the state, not a whimper has been raised in opposition to the social laws passed. Our local newspaper has offered, in my count, less than one editorial decrying the moral failings of our elected officials. I am sure many of my fellow citizens feel the same way I do, as Edgar County voted over 70% for Trump in 2016.
For fifty-four years I have lived in this county, and never have I been so disappointed in the public reaction to the moral decay seen today. To answer my question to begin this essay, “Is there any hope for Illinois?” At the present time, the answer seems to be “no”.