(The Center Square) – The Pritzker administration continues to deny the state is losing population.
During a panel discussion about pensions with the Better Government Association this week, Deputy Gov. Andy Manar was asked about the state’s economic trends, including population decline.
“There has never been more people living in the state of Illinois than there is today,” Manar said. “The Census is the Census. There’s a thing called the Post Enumeration Survey which shows Illinois gained population. It’s a correction. And it’s a real correction from the Census Bureau. So I just want to dispel that right away. Illinois is not losing people. Illinois is gaining people.”
Wirepoints President Ted Dabrowski said Manar is not correct. He said while the U.S. Census did modify its numbers for Illinois, it didn’t change them upward.
“They’re just trying to hang on, right,” Dabrowski told The Center Square. “You look at every piece of data, IRS, moving vans, everything is showing this massive out migration of people.”