Metro East Sun

State Sen. Jason Plummer (R-Edwardsville) has grown weary of watching the state becomes its own worst enemy.

“Because of all the mismanagement over last 15 years, this state has put itself in a terrible position where even the slightest bump can throw everything off course,” Plummer told the Metro East Sun. “We were the slowest to bounce back from the recession and there’s no doubt without sustentative changes in Springfield, we will come out of this coronavirus crisis the same way. Sadly, we have a governor who instead of listening and working with people about our fiscal situation, elected instead to call people out like a carnival barker.”

A new U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Metlife survey that concludes over the next two weeks, well over half of all small businesses across the country could be closed.

Researchers note currently 24% of all small businesses have already temporarily shuttered and another 40% indicate they’re poised to do the same thing over the next 14 days.

Across the country, more than 10 million people and counting have filed for unemployment benefits over the last two weeks, with the unemployment spiraling up to 4.4% from 3.5% in February. Overall, 43% of businesses think they have less than six months until a permanent shutdown is unavoidable, while 10% of owners said they have less than a month to survive.

“Economic devastation will lead to health care devastation,” Plummer added in a post to Facebook. “We need more communication and more data sharing from the State of Illinois to make sure we are making the right decisions. Not sound bites – actual data and context. You can't shut down the economy and not have massive negative ramifications. If we're not careful, the cure will be far worse than the disease, and we're getting close.”

As the Congress is currently constituted, Plummer wonders if lawmakers now in Springfield are up to the job.

“This Congress has neglected Illinois and has not protected the state from this fiscal crisis,” he said. “We’re at the point now that it will take a major attitude adjustment to get the job done. I’m hopeful we can make the kind of changes that are clearly needed.