Chambana Sun

Republican candidate Dan Caulkins doesn’t know how House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago) can sleep at night, especially now that the fallout from last year’s record-setting tax increase is being felt.

“I think everybody is starting to see that we’ve been sold another bill of goods and we’ve got Madigan and all the career politicians to thank for that,” he told the Chambana Sun. “We were told the tax increase would help reduce our debt and pay down bills and now we’re seeing none of that is what’s happening.”

One year after the state’s personal and corporate tax rates jumped by roughly 33 percent and a permanent $5 billion income tax hike was enacted, the state still ranks near the bottom in jobs growth, according to an analysis by the Illinois Policy Institute.

In addition, Chief Executive magazine recently ranked Illinois the 48th best state to do business in, and since the 32 percent tax increase became law the state has witnessed a 34 percent decline in jobs growth.

“I’ve always said, if you give the government a dollar this year they’ll be back again before long looking for $2,” said Caulkins, who is running against Democrat Jennifer McMillian in the 101st District. “Right now, there are no constraints. These career politicians feel like it’s not their money, so they spend all they can get their hands on and have a plan to just borrow the rest. They give politics a bad name and explain why so many people are now disillusioned with Illinois.”

Still, Caulkins is convinced the few people Madigan truly caters to might actually be better off, he said.

“I’m talking about the insiders,” Caulkins said. “For the average taxpayer, that couldn’t be further from the truth. We all just keep falling further and further in debt. You got the 32 percent tax increase, and still, that wasn’t enough. Now, all you hear is this talk about a progressive tax.”

Caulkins said everything about Springfield’s approach to running state government runs counter to what he’s learned in all his years as a successful businessman.

“You would think after all this time of your business failing, and you not being able to afford the bills, and customers leaving, you would look to do something different if you wanted to stay in business,” he said. “That’s just not Springfield.”