Chambana Sun

State Rep. Dan Caulkins (R-Decatur) wasn’t surprised to see frustrated taxpayers rally together to soundly reject the notion of granting Springfield lawmakers even more power.

“It’s no great shock, despite all the tricks Gov. Pritzker and democrats turned to try and get his progressive tax over the finish line,” Caulkins told the Chambana Sun. “When they came to understand it, people didn’t want anything to do with transferring more power to the governor and politicians when it comes to tax matters.”

In the end, the tax the governor has been pushing since his days as a candidate as one that will only mean higher taxes for the state’s most affluent residents netted just 47% of the 60% of support needed from all voters needed for passage. After having pumped upwards of $50 million of his own money into a campaign created to sway voters, Caulkins added he also isn’t surprised to see the governor now lashing out over the measure being so soundly defeated, threatening everything from across-the-board tax hikes to severely “painful” cuts needed to counterbalance things as he sees fit.

Caulkins sees it as just more of the same wayward policy that has led too much of the struggle.

“People have already learned that the Democratic Party has no restraint or desire to stop spending and this tax effort has exposed even more weakness in the party’s budget ambitions,” he said. “People saw through it; I think that’s why the governor put all this money into effort. He thought he was going to bamboozle people with his message.”

As for the talk of looming cuts, Caulkins said he’s definitely open to hearing more.

“Put it on the table, and don’t let it be just more bullying and posturing to try to get your way,” he said. “I think we can all see people have had enough of that.”

Caulkins argues the governor has little wiggle room when it comes to holding on to any real support.

“I think he’s lost his ability to govern,” he said. “I really think the majority of the people of Illinois don’t trust him any longer.”