Metro East Sun

Jason Plummer, State Senator of Illinois, has expressed concerns about the state's declining population and revenue, attributing these issues to high taxes and policy failures. He urged a change in leadership through a statement made on Facebook.

"Illinois has lost many tens of billions of dollars of tax revenue as families and businesses flee the high taxes, busted budgets, corruption, and unaccountable government of the majority party," said Robert Jason Plummer, State Senator for Illinois, according to Facebook. "Fewer and fewer people are sharing an ever-growing liability. The only things Illinois Democrats are bringing their constituents are higher taxes, growing liabilities, higher crime, more corruption, worse school achievement, and less accountability than any of our neighbors. We must do better."

Illinois has experienced years of population and business outmigration, weakening its tax base and intensifying budget pressures. The Illinois Policy Institute reported that more than 56,000 residents left the state in one recent year, raising alarms about long-term impacts on school funding, pensions, and state revenue.

According to IRS migration data reported by Wirepoints, Illinois lost approximately 86,700 residents and $9.9 billion in adjusted gross income during the tax year 2022 alone. High earners constituted over half of those departures, resulting in an estimated $3.6 billion loss in income tax revenue for the state that year.

A Tax Foundation analysis highlights that Illinois's net outmigration contrasts sharply with nearby states. Between 2012 and 2022, Illinois lost about $63 billion in net adjusted gross income while Florida and Texas experienced significant gains. The relatively high tax burden in Illinois is cited as a key factor contributing to its economic stagnation.

Plummer is a Republican serving as Illinois State Senator for the 55th District since 2019. According to his official biography, he has a background in business and the Navy Reserve and has focused on economic growth, tax reform, and workforce issues in Southern Illinois.