Metro East Sun

Republican candidate Jason Plummer finds little consolation in being right about Springfield.

“This new poll points to data that proves everything I and others have been saying about all the crippling policies coming out of Springfield for some time now,” Plummer told the Metro East Sun. “I’ve long maintained Illinois is a great place that’s being wrecked by bad public policy. It pains me to have to say that, but it’s the absolute truth.”

Running against Democrat Brian Stout in the 54th Senate District, Plummer said he isn’t surprised by an Illinois Issues Survey that finds 53 percent of residents admitting they’ve thought of leaving the state due to high taxes and dysfunctional government.

According to Illinois Policy Institute, much of that dissatisfaction is shared by most every sector across the state, with 74 percent of respondents saying the state is headed in the wrong direction. More than half of those earning more than $100,000 have also wondered if they might be better off someplace else.  

The results effectively mirror the results found from a 2016 Paul Simon Public Policy Institute survey that found 47 percent of residents expressed a desire to live elsewhere because of high taxes.

“We have to address our out-of-control property taxes immediately, that’s what keeping companies from coming here and that’s the biggest single burden on families that are here,” Plummer said. “You have to remember all the property taxes are on top of the 32 percent income tax hike recently imposed. That came with no reforms and has made little dent in the state’s debt load, and now they’re already talking about a new progressive income tax.”

Being a native of Illinois makes him feel more obligation for being part of the movement to get the state back on track, Plummer said.

“We have to send people to Springfield that will first admit we’ve lost our way, then be willing to work toward implementing the kind of policy it will take to change that,” he said.

The 54th District includes Bond, Clinton, Effingham, Fayette, Madison, Marion, St. Clair and Washington counties.