Metro East Sun

State Sen. Jason Plummer (R-Vandalia) argues Gov. J.B. Pritzker can’t handle the truth when it comes to voters’ rejection of his progressive tax plan.

“Pritzker is throwing a multi-tweet tantrum on Twitter because the good people of Illinois didn’t fall for his completely misleading and disingenuous ad campaign to raise taxes on our families and small businesses,” Plummer said. “I’m proud of Illinoisans for absolutely crushing the sneaky attempt to raise taxes. We are all tired of being lied to and treated as ATMs by the Chicago/Springfield political establishment.”

Not long after the tax plan he had been promoting since his days as a candidate and pumped upwards of $50 million of his own money into to get across the finish line was roundly rejected, the governor was warning of “painful” steps he may soon be forced to take in order to balance things out.

Though Pritzker has long sold the tax as one that would only mean higher rates for the state’s most affluent residents, Plummer argues the measure has never been what it was advertised to be. In the days leading up to the Nov. 3 election, he made it a point of stressing that to any voter that would listen.

“I strongly urge you to vote ‘No’ on the progressive income tax,” he said. “They call it the fair tax and that’s some fancy marketing. The state is being sued right now because the language is so misleading.”

After voters had soundly rejected the tax that required support from 60% of those who voted on it or a majority of those who voted in the election overall, Plummer couldn’t hide his satisfaction.

“It wasn’t just a win, it was a big win,” he said. “Now, we need reform.”