Metro East Sun

Jason Plummer feels a twinge of envy every time he compares the way business is done in Illinois with several of its neighboring states.

“I’m a small business owner, so I know how difficult it is to do business in Illinois,” Plummer told the Metro East Sun. “It’s really a shame because it’s not due to a lack of resources or lack of an adequate workforce. We have all those things. It’s the bad policy coming out of Springfield that have hampered the growth of this economy.”

Illinois now rates as the “least accommodating state” in the country for small business owners, according to a Thumbtack Business Friendly survey, which also slapped the state with a failing grade for its overall level of friendliness and regulations.

The online services company survey of more than 7,500 local entrepreneurs and small business owners also gave the state failing marks in the areas of taxes, labor and licensure, the Illinois Policy Institute states.

“The problem is we have all these so-called leaders only focusing on taking care of themselves as everything crumbles around them,” said Plummer, running against Democrat Brian Stout for the 54th District Senate seat. “All these career politicians are overpaid for part-time jobs where they get nice benefits and a pension while all their constituents suffer. What happened to the concept of service over self?”

Nothing will change until House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago) is ousted from power, Plummer said.

“Average Joe Taxpayer is being left behind by Springfield while Chicago is put on a pedestal,” he said. “We need people to stand up for their districts, not look for breadcrumbs from Madigan. Right now, we fall behind every neighboring state on every economic indicator.”

The solution to making Illinois competitive again is simple, Plummer said.

“We have to make ourselves competitive with our neighbors and states across the country,” he said. “To do that, we have to lower our taxes and get rid of all these regulations.”

The 54th District runs from Effingham to Shiloh, including all of Bond, Fayette, Clinton and Marion counties and parts of St. Clair, Madison, Effingham and Washington counties.