Prairie State Wire

Jeanne Ives, a former Illinois state representative and founder of Breakthrough Ideas, has highlighted Illinois as a prime example of how state government decisions can negatively impact its citizens, with effects extending nationwide. She made these remarks on the Prairie State Wire podcast.

"Illinois serves as a bad example to other states," said Jeanne M Ives, Former IL State Rep.. "I am a former state representative, and I have continued to be very focused on what state legislators are doing at the state level. All the power which I learned by being at the local level on Wheaton City Council, all the power though to really protect taxpayers rests in Springfield. The state level politics impacts what's happening."

According to Ives, who served in the Illinois General Assembly, she witnessed firsthand the influence that Springfield holds in shaping the state's economic landscape. On the podcast, she emphasized the power of state legislators and noted that despite beliefs that local governments can address issues, significant decisions affecting residents are made in the state capital. "All the power though to really protect taxpayers rests in Springfield," Ives said, stressing the importance of state-level decisions on local communities.

With Illinois facing high property taxes and a budget burdened by unfunded liabilities, Ives said that the state's financial mismanagement serves as an example of what can go wrong when lawmakers prioritize short-term political gains over long-term fiscal health.

Illinois residents face one of the highest state tax burdens in the nation. According to a 2024 WalletHub study, middle-income earners in Illinois pay approximately 12.57% of their income in state taxes, ranking third highest in the country behind New York. This high tax burden is driven by a combination of income, property, and sales taxes, placing significant strain on residents compared to states with lower or no state income taxes.

The state is facing a projected $3.2 billion budget deficit for fiscal year 2026—the largest shortfall during Governor J.B. Pritzker's tenure—according to Axios. The state's spending has surged to $53.1 billion, a 32% increase from 2019 levels due to rising costs in healthcare and pensions. Despite recent tax hikes and federal relief funds, the Governor's Office of Management and Budget warns of a persistent structural deficit with expenditures outpacing revenue growth.

Jeanne Ives is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point. Her military service included roles as platoon leader and headquarters detachment commander in Germany, as well as ROTC instructor at Wheaton College. She served three terms as an Illinois State Representative where she was known for her conservative leadership and advocacy for taxpayers. Ives ran for Governor of Illinois in 2018 and for Congress in 2020, energizing conservative momentum in suburban Illinois. She founded Breakthrough Ideas to advance conservative networks and hosts The Real Story with Jeanne Ives on AM 560 Chicago.