Sangamon Sun

Dennis Collins was glad to see a politician listen.

After Collins and several other Morgan County citizens repeatedly called Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer (R-Jacksonville) following the lawmaker's initial support for the new state budget, Davidsmeyer voted against overriding Gov. Bruce Rauner's vetoes of the measures.

“At least he showed when you get on him, he’s man enough to listen to you and take action,” Collins told the Sangamon Sun. “He showed he’s willing to hear what we have to say and not just go along with whatever he wants to do.”

Collins said he and the other callers wanted to make sure Davisdmeyer understood they were tired of more taxes without reform. They were upset that he had originally approved the measures.

“I’m not happy about it, and no one I’ve spoken with supports the reasons he’s given for going along with it,” Collins said. “No one wants to pay more taxes, especially as part of a plan that offers no new reforms.”

In the end, 15 Republicans sided with Democrats to override Rauner’s veto and enact a $36.1 billion spending bill that hikes state incomes taxes by 32 percent. The largest permanent tax hike in state history pushed personal income tax rates to 4.95 percent from 3.75 percent and corporate income tax rates to 7 percent from 5.25 percent

“There needs to be reforms, especially in areas like pension liabilities,” Collins said. “You’ve got pension retirees now making more money than when they were working. The spending cuts need to be across the board, and all the pork projects need to be gone.”

Davidsmeyer said that after two years without a balanced budget, the state staring at more than $15 billion in unpaid bills and the threat of a bond-rating downgrade, he didn't feel like he had a choice but to vote for the budget – until Collins and company changed his mind.