By Dave Dahl
SPRINGFIELD – Responding to book bans, putting menstrual supplies in both men’s and women’s rooms – what about fixing the pension system?
During a busy week for moving legislation, members of the Illinois Freedom Caucus – about a half dozen Downstate Republican representatives – say supermajority Democrats still have it all wrong.
“When you look at this stuff,” said State Rep. Blaine Wilhour (R-Beecher City), “it’s a joke. You know, once again, our state’s a national embarrassment. We’re basically a woke dumpster fire of a government that’s literally circling the drain. These are the things we’re talking about. There’s nothing – we’re talking about nothing on the massive pension crisis that’s driving property taxes through the ceiling.”
The Freedom Caucus wants to, among other things, repeal the Clean Energy Jobs Act and roll the state’s portion of the gas tax to the early-1990’s level of nineteen cents a gallon.
Where is House Minority Leader Tony McCombie (R-Savanna) on this? Rep. Adam Niemerg (R-Dieterich) said she is doing a good job of helping them shepherd their legislation.
So – at a news conference called to complain about Democrats stymying their bills – we also hear that McCombie is doing a good job of moving their bills? Niemerg said those two points are not related.
Nevertheless, Wilhour stated that better messaging is needed, not just through the General Assembly but during the 2024 campaign season, as Democrats now hold a historic 78-40 domination in the Illinois General Assembly.
Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]
