Chambana Sun

State Rep. Dan Caulkins (R-Decatur) has deduced there can only be one reason for Democrats to be pushing to remove a federal decree banning patronage hiring.

“The Shakman decree was put in place to stop Illinois lawmakers from using taxpayer funding to reward supporters and nothing has changed,” Caulkins told the Chambana Sun. “There’s no reason for Democrats to put an end to that agreement except that Gov. Pritzker and Democrats want patronage hiring to come back. This is just another prime example of corruption and a lack of concern for taxpayers.”

While the governor argues the state is no longer in need of the nearly half-century old laws, Caulkins is quick to point out his push to dismantle it comes at a time when longtime House Speaker Mike Madigan finds himself embroiled in a still evolving federal investigation targeting utility giant ComEd and a pay-for-play scheme.

“We still see plenty of patronage hiring,” Caulkins added. “We say a lot of it when Madigan had the governor bring on several of his people. The position the Shakman upholds is designed to protect everyday people and there’s no reason for the state to be pushing this.”

Caulkins said he’s surprised but not surprised to see Pritzker taking his latest position.

“I’m surprised from the standpoint he’s showing his hand at this moment, at a time when we’re going through all these problems on so many different fronts,” he said. I see it as a thumb in the eye to taxpayers across the state.”

In the end, Caulkins says he can conjure up just one explanation for why Pritzker and Democrats would now be pushing the change.

“Perhaps they’re sensing a change is coming in Illinois politics and they want to get all their friends set up beforehand,” he said.