Metro East Sun

Republican state Sen. Jason Plummer has been elevated to the post of Assistant Republican Leader.

"I'm looking forward to taking on the responsibility of serving in leadership for the Republican caucus and representing the conservative, common-sense values of the 54th District as we enter into a new General Assembly,” Plummer said. “It is vitally important to have someone from the Metro East and Southern Illinois represented in legislative leadership and I am proud to be that voice."

Plummer was tabbed for the post by newly installed Illinois Senate GOP Leader Designate Dan McConchie, who enthusiastically welcomed Plummer to the leadership team.

“Sen. Plummer has been a constant voice of fiscal responsibility in government and economic development in our communities throughout his time at the statehouse," he told Riverbender.com. "I look forward to working with him in his new role as Assistant Republican Leader to expand on these ideas to help create policies to bring more financial health and prosperity to Illinois."

Serving as the face of the 54th District since 2018, Plummer is one of the youngest republican lawmakers ever appointed to the Senate Republican leadership team and will be the only senator from the southern Illinois region from either party serving in that capacity.

Since taking office, Plummer has been a consistent voice for ethics reform, fiscal reform, and pro-growth policies aimed at jumpstarting the sagging Illinois economy. With the effects of COVID-19 still lingering, Plummer acknowledges that task only figures to become more challenging.

"With Illinois recovering from a pandemic, it is more critical than ever that lawmakers buckle down, embrace real reforms and recognize that the problems of this state will not be fixed with partisan agendas and tax-and-spend policies," he added. "I firmly believe that under Sen. McConchie's leadership we can build a strong Republican caucus that will fight for the hardworking families and small businesses of Illinois."

The appointment is slated to become official later this month.