Macon Reporter

State Rep. Dan Caulkins (R-Decatur) criticized the General Assembly’s Democrat supermajority for missing the May 19 budget deadline. 

“You have 78 votes. It takes 60 votes to pass a budget,” Caulkins said in a May 21 Illinois Freedom Caucus Roundtable livestream. “And you have, we don't know for sure, but somewhere around $50 billion - with a 'B' - dollars to spend. You know what your fixed costs are. You know what it costs to run the Illinois State Police. You know what it costs to run the Department of Natural Resources. You know what it costs to run all your departments last year. So that kind of gives you a baseline. And then what's left over."

Citing the same strategy implemented by the Appropriations Committee which State Rep. Brad Halbrook (R-Shelbyville) is part of, Caulkins pointed out that this can be similarly done in crafting the budget. 

"Brad, I mean, that's what you've been doing for the last two months in your approach committee," Caulkins said. "What's left over. And then you decide. You take your 78 members who can spend that money any way they want. They don't need our input. And you decide what to do with what's left over. You know. Well, guess what? They can't write. They can't get 60 of them to decide how to spend what's left over of our tax money.” 

The budget was scheduled to be passed by midnight of May 19, and the General Assembly has until May 31 to pass a budget prior to the fiscal year ending on June 30, according to Advantage News. Democrats notified legislators that the session was being extended for budget negotiations. Legislators are now back in session wherein a final budget is expected. 

Republican lawmakers have complained the General Assembly Democrats have left the minority party out of the budgeting process. 

“We have attempted numerous meetings with the House Democratic budgeteer, with the speaker and the governor,” Rep. Norine Hammond (R-Macomb) said at a news conference, according to Northern Public Radio, West Central Reporter noted. “Only one group has met with us on more than one occasion; that is the governor and his team. No negotiations with others have occurred.”

The Illinois Freedom Caucus is comprised of Republican state Reps. Halbrook, Blaine Wilhour (Louisville), Adam Niemerg (Teutopolis), Caulkins, Chris Miller, Jed Davis (Yorkville), and David Friess (Red Bud). It is part of the broader State Freedom Caucus Network.. 

“We need patriots who will serve in our state capitals to fight federal overreach and stand firm against those — in both parties — who prioritize seizing political power over representing constituents,” the group’s website reads.