Chambana Sun

State Rep. Dan Caulkins (R-Decatur) wasn't impressed with Gov. J.B. Pritzker's (D-IL) budget plan delivered as part of the State of the State Address earlier this month, calling the governor's proposal "a series of budget gimmicks."

Caulkins attached a press release to his Facebook page. 

"It is fitting that the Governor delivered his budget address on Feb. 2, Groundhog Day," Caulkins said in the release. "Despite the rosy spin he attempted to put on it, very little in this state has changed for Illinois families and businesses – except for perhaps their neighbors and customers fleeing at a record pace."

Caulkins stated the governor's proposal was "more of the same."  

During the address, Pritzker had talked about increasing spending and providing temporary tax relief. 

"Temporary relief in an election year? Novel. But what Illinois needs to solve its budget problems is structural reform to its major systems — including the pension system and Medicaid. Without that, he is only delaying the pain," Caulkins said in the release. 

Caulkins expanded upon his thoughts on his website. 

"Governor Pritzker’s speech today shows that either he thinks we are all stupid, or he is grotesquely out of touch with what life is like for families and businesses in this state," Caulkins said in the statement. "The people I represent are tired of the same lies and gimmicks from Springfield. This Groundhog Day nightmare must come to an end. But that means we need an honest  accounting of the realities the state faces, and that is not what Illinois got this afternoon.”

This isn't the first time Caulkins has spoken out about his dislike of how the state's government was operating. Back in January he was unhappy with the use of remote voting when he stated "members need to be in their seats," according to the Chambana Sun.

He also spoke out against Pritzker and the budget plans last March.

Caulkins claimed lawmakers weren't given enough time to review the 1,600-page budget plan, but were told by the governor a vote was needed soon, the Chambana Sun reported.