More food stamps: Another 20,000 Illinoisans added to SNAP rolls in May

More than 2 million Illinoisans – 16 percent of the state’s population – are on food stamps according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, enrollment numbers continue to rise in Illinois, and have been continuing to increase across the nation. Illinois added nearly 20,000 people to food stamp rolls...

More than 2 million Illinoisans – 16 percent of the state’s population – are on food stamps according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, enrollment numbers continue to rise in Illinois, and have been continuing to increase across the nation.

Illinois added nearly 20,000 people to food stamp rolls in May.

In contrast, the state managed to create only 4,800 payroll jobs in May.

It’s obvious Illinois is better at putting residents on food stamps than it is at creating jobs.

These May numbers are part of a decade-long trend, during which Illinois has added more residents to the food stamp program than added to its employment rolls.

This trend must be reversed if Illinoisans are to prosper. But that reversal cannot happen unless the state embraces pro-growth and free market policies.

Illinois should lower its corporate income tax rate to encourage business investment, reduce onerous and costly regulations that stifle entrepreneurship, and pass labor reforms to make Illinois a more attractive business destination.

Enacting these polices would go a long way toward reducing Illinois’ food stamp rolls.