Macon Reporter

State Rep. Dan Caulkins (R-Decatur) has pledged not to take personal advantage of his time in Springfield.

“I just feel for elected officials to be trying to solve the state’s pension crisis and protect their own pensions at the same time is hypocritical,” Caulkins, who recently announced he plans to donate his nearly $70,000 legislative salary to charity, told the Macon Reporter. “For me, this is an important first step, and I’m hoping it will serve as an example to other lawmakers.”

Caulkins, who won the seat in the 101st District in November with nearly 70 percent of the vote, announced during the campaign that he would not be taking a state-funded pension or health care benefits.

 “This is a part-time job,” he reasoned. “Representatives and senators in Illinois are some of the best-paid workers in the whole country, but the actual number of days we spend in Springfield working are only around 75 days a year. In the House, that comes down to being paid about $1,000 a day to be in Springfield. Given Illinois’s financial situation, that just doesn’t seem right to me.”

Caulkins said his “Outreach 101” initiative will make his entire salary after taxes available to charities and community groups across his district, with priority being given to senior, veteran and youth groups.

According to the Herald-Review, initial requests for funds will be reviewed by a three-person panel with Caulkins, a longtime local businessman, making the final determinations.

“I’ve said all along I didn’t come to Springfield for a job but to help revive Illinois,” he said. “What I’ve seen from too many people is once they have this good-paying job with all the benefits, it’s awfully hard for them to walk away when they should or need to, even when their heart is no longer into it.”

As for the money, Caulkins said the requests are already pouring in.

“Our job is to make sure it’s put to good use,” he said. “I found out if you just don’t take the salary, it goes back to the treasury and I know for a fact there are better uses for it within the community.”

One message Caulkins said he hopes his gesture will send is that fundamental change is desperately needed in Springfield.  

“We need people in Springfield with a profession that’s not politics,” he said. “Too many people are politicians; we need different perspectives and experiences to really have the best chance of turning Illinois around.”

The 101st House District spans parts of Champaign, DeWitt, Macon, McLean and Piatt counties.