McHenry Times

In the mind of veteran Illinois state Rep. Allen Skillicorn (R-East Dundee), desperate times call for desperate measures.

“The reality is our state is falling apart,” Skillicorn told the DuPage Policy Journal. “We are billions of dollars behind in unpaid bills and we have more than $137 billion in pension debt. We need to do more than just tinker with a few policies. We need to transform how our government works.”

Skillicorn argues that’s where the new Illinois Taxpayer Freedom Caucus is planning to come in. The veteran lawmaker is one of 20 GOP House members to recently form the group with the ultimate goal of wrestling away control of Springfield from Democrat leaders. In committing themselves to bringing about a level of change they all argue is long overdue, Skillicorn joins a group that also includes Reps. Blaine Wilhour, Brad Halbrook, Chris Miller, Darren Bailey, David McSweeney and Amy Grant.

“The Democrat Party in Illinois has had largely unchecked and unaccountable power for far too long, which has resulted in an agenda that is extreme, one-sided and has rendered vast regions of our state powerless,” Skillicorn added. “The solution is spending reform, economic growth and ethical government and enacting policies that will allow our economy to grow.”

Skillicorn said the mission of the Taxpayer Freedom Caucus is clear.

“The Taxpayer Freedom Caucus intends to hold leaders of both parties accountable for the failings of the past and the caucus will work to control spending, reform our structural imbalances, and eliminate any influence peddling in our government,” he said. “None of these answers are easy or popular, but they are what need to be done."