Aug 16, 2012

FACT CHECK: Millionaire Plummer Falsely Claims His Experience Touch on Southern Illinois Problems

In tonight's debate, millionaire Jason Plummer falsely claimed his "experiences touch on the problems we are facing."

In reality, according to the Chicago Tribune, 30-year old millionaire son Jason Plummer has never had any job experience on his own. Since his failed lieutenant gubernatorial bid, Plummer has refused to release his tax returns and won't answer questions about how he’s a 30 year old whose never held a real job but is worth millions. In addition, Plummer has been criticized for inflating his resume and exaggerating internships as real jobs.

Fact Check:  

Plummer Dependent on Family Businesses. In October 2010, the Chicago Tribune reported that other than his internships, Plummer had never worked anywhere but the family business, RP Lumber. [Chicago Tribune, 10/10/10]

…Yet Stressed Business Experience in 2009. In September 2009, Plummer stressed his business experience in his run for public office. “I’ve got a lot of experience that is necessary. I’ve run a business, I’ve worked in the private sector, I have the experience to run an organization successfully,” said Plummer. [Belleville News-Democrat, 9/15/09]

…and Again in 2012. In a town hall in 2012 Plummer again stressed his (and his family’s) business acumen.  Plummer said, “My family has our lumber company which is where I work but outside of that, I’ve started multiple companies. A real estate brokerage, real estate development, a lot of those things. [Town Hall, 6/15/12]

Chicago Sun Times: Plummer “Unqualified” A Chicago Sun-Times editorial in October 2010 heavily criticized Plummer’s lack of experience. “Jason Plummer, is unqualified. It is ludicrous that he is on the ballot…He is 28, a graduate of the University of Illinois, and has served 15 months as an officer in the U.S. Naval Reserve. Other than that, best we can tell, Plummer works for his dad…Even less impressive than Plummer's record of achievement is a certain unearned cockiness he projects, something we picked up on earlier this month when he met with the Chicago Sun-Times editorial board. We were reminded of the old joke -- he was born on third base and thought he hit a triple.” [Chicago Sun-Times, editorial, 10/26/10]

Plummer Exaggerated his Résumé. Jason Plummer has been repeatedly caught exaggerating his resume. “He has referenced his experience working for former U.S. Sen. Peter Fitzgerald and a conservative think tank, but doesn’t always mention both jobs were internships.” In 2010, he was caught trying to spin his Heritage Foundation internship as substantive experience. According to Brian Darling, a Heritage Foundation official, interns like Plummer spent a lot of their time “dragging around food for meetings and making copies.” [Chicago Tribune, 2/12/10; State Journal-Register, 2/11/10]

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