Two Happiest People in the Wake of the Illinois Tax Frenzy

Governors Scott Walker from Wisconsin and Mitch Daniels of Indiana are enthusiastic while Illinois reels from the tax hysteria that hit the state this morning.

by Ashley Muchow

The two happiest people in the wake of the Illinois tax delirium are Governors Scott Walker from Wisconsin and Mitch Daniels of Indiana. Why? Illinois’s pain is their gain.

Around 1:00 a.m. this morning, the Illinois General Assembly agreed that a tax hike on hardworking Illinois citizens was the best way to solve the state’s budget woes that have been decades in the making. The bill passed despite no votes from both House and Senate Republican caucuses and in the face of multiple warnings of a hike’s blow to Illinois taxpayers and businesses.

Though dark clouds are quickly forming above Illinois, two states are rejoicing in the news.

Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels has no reason not to be pleased with the recent turn of events. According to Daniels:

We already had an edge on Illinois in terms of the cost of doing business, and this is going to make it significantly wider.

Folks in Illinois will eventually have to decide: Is this working well enough for us or do we want something different? Point one of our anti-recession strategy here is to avoid doing what they’ve now decided to do.

Our northerly neighbor has much to revel in as well. Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker is cordially inviting Illinois businesses to the Badger State:

Wisconsin is open for business. In these challenging economic times while Illinois is raising taxes, we are lowering them. On my first day in office I called a special session of the legislature, not in order to raise taxes, but to open Wisconsin for business. Already the legislature is taking up bills to provide tax relief to small businesses, to create a job-friendly legal environment, to lessen the regulations that stifle growth and to expand tax credits for companies that relocate here and grow here. Years ago Wisconsin had a tourism advertising campaign targeted to Illinois with the motto, ‘Escape to Wisconsin.’ Today we renew that call to Illinois businesses, ‘Escape to Wisconsin.’ You are welcome here. Our talented workforce stands ready to help you grow and prosper.

Yikes. Our two healthier neighbors are enthusiastically poaching Illinois business and people. What’s your incentive to stay?