For the sake of Illinois, new Republican state Rep. Dan Caulkins (R-Decatur) is hoping his mind is playing tricks on him.
“I keep hoping to wake up to a time when everyone in Springfield is truly interested in doing the job we were sent here to do,” Caulkins told the Chambana Sun. “In my first few weeks here, too many democrats haven’t shown a willingness to do the things that need to be done to help the people of Illinois.”
With Gov. J.B. Pritzker expected to zero in on his long-touted idea of a progressive tax between now and his first budget address set for Feb. 20, Caulkins fears things are on the verge of getting much worse before they get any better.
State Rep. Dan Caulkins (R-Decatur)
“We know they don’t listen to much of what Republicans have to say,” he added. “But now you’ve got them completely ignoring the advice of professional agencies that don’t have an agenda in any of this other than to see the state be successful.”
Indeed, Moody’s Investors Service has strongly warned Pritzker against moving forward with his progressive tax idea given the state’s current climate, lest he run the risk of keeping Illinois locked in its system of spiraling pension liabilities, rising debt costs and growing outmigration. Simply put, Illinois Policy Institute states that Illinois faces a “conundrum,” where fixed costs have long outpaced generated revenues leading to more outmigration.
“No operation can survive given that kind of formula,” said Caulkins, who won his seat in the 101st District in November with nearly 70 percent of the vote. “The bottom line for all the people in Springfield who profess to care about Illinois is that the time to come together for the common good, not thinking about any partisanship, is right now. We don’t have a moment to lose because it’s really past that time.”
The 101st House District spans parts of Champaign, DeWitt, Macon, McLean and Piatt counties.
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