Illinois State Representative C.D. Davidsmeyer responded on Mar. 12 to recent remarks by Governor J.B. Pritzker, who referred to state Republicans as “doom grifters” and “carnival barkers” during an interview with Capitol News Illinois. Davidsmeyer said that House Republicans have consistently offered solutions for the state’s challenges but have been excluded from the legislative process by the Democratic supermajority.
The exchange highlights ongoing tensions between Republican lawmakers and the governor’s office over legislative participation and policy direction in Illinois. Davidsmeyer said, “While the governor calls Republicans ‘carnival barkers,’ it is his party that has shut them out of the legislative process, effectively silencing the voices of the districts they represent.”
Davidsmeyer criticized Democrats for excluding Republicans from budget negotiations and for not providing legislative language in advance of committee hearings, particularly regarding a mass transit bailout bill last fall. He also noted that House Republicans have introduced more than 40 bills aimed at amending the SAFE-T Act, many of which have not received hearings.
Davidsmeyer further accused Governor Pritzker of prioritizing political disputes over cooperation with federal initiatives, such as declining to opt Illinois into a federal provision exempting tips from taxation and not participating in the Educational Choice for Children Act. He cited actions during the 2025 veto session where Democrats decoupled Illinois from certain federal tax provisions, potentially increasing taxes on businesses by hundreds of millions of dollars.
On tax policy, Davidsmeyer disputed claims that taxes had been lowered for working-class residents. He referenced rankings showing Illinois with some of the highest tax rates nationally and increases in per-person tax burdens since Pritzker took office.
In education, Davidsmeyer pointed out that while eighth-grade reading and math scores were celebrated by some officials, proficiency standards had been lowered by the State Board of Education, making results appear stronger than they actually are.
Davidsmeyer was elected to represent Illinois’ 100th House District in 2012 after replacing former state representative Jim Watson according to available records.
He concluded by saying that leadership should focus on real solutions rather than political attacks.
