Macon Reporter

Illinois state Rep. Dan Caulkins (R-Decatur) says he has yet to see much of a return on Gov. J.B. Pritzker's personal $3 million investment in what was supposed to be the best administration money could buy.

“I haven’t seen anyone he’s brought in that is of such a caliber that the benefit of having them in the administration is so clear and obvious,” Caulkins told the Chambana Sun of Pritzker’s early boast that his riches would help attract top-tier talent. “My experience has taught me that the difference-makers in government are the public servants that really want to work to turn things around. I would never think just doubling someone’s salary would be the answer.”

All told, Pritzker essentially doubled the salaries of 16 senior staffers to assure that they would be willing to get the job done. Caulkins was skeptical at the time about how wise of an investment that was, and the veteran lawmaker insists he’s seen nothing over the last year to make him second guess his position.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker

In fact, Caulkins is doing all he can to make sure it doesn’t happen again by backing a bill filed earlier this month by state Sen. Jason Plummer (R-Edwardsville) that would prohibit state employees from being able to receive compensation from any private citizen. Already, Rep. Grant Wehrli (R-Naperville) has pledged to file a House version of the measure.

“We’ve had this discussion for decades about money in politics and we’ve always seen Democrats accuse Republicans of spending all of this dark money to buy elections, but if you look at the facts, it’s the Democrats who are engaging in the practice," Caulkins said. "Right now, you have two billionaire Democrats running for president that are spending like crazy. Here in Illinois, you have you Pritzker spending like he is and then you have [House Speaker Mike] Madigan (D-Chicago) with more than $20 million to spend in different elections.”