Aug 16, 2012

First Debate Flop: Millionaire Jason Plummer Can’t Hide How He’s Out of Touch With Souther

Tonight, 30 year old inherited millionaire Jason Plummer lost the first Illinois 12^th Congressional debate because it became clear to voters how out of touch he is with Southern Illinois middle class families. For 801 days, Plummer has been hiding his financial record from voters while embracing the Ryan budget that rewards multi-millionaires like himself with more tax breaks, but ends Medicare and raises costs for seniors. Illinois voters learned tonight that inherited millionaire Plummer would be part of the problem in Congress – caring  more about what he stands to personally gain from special interest perks in Washington and more tax breaks for himself instead of standing up to protect Medicare for the middle class.

"For 801 days now 30 year old inherited millionaire Jason Plummer has refused to share his finances with voters, while backing more budget-busting tax breaks for millionaires from which he can personally profit," said Haley Morris of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. "Tonight, Plummer couldn’t fool Southern Illinois voters who know how he would end their Medicare just so millionaires like him can pocket more tax breaks. If thirty year-old millionaire Jason Plummer gets his way, fellow millionaires and billionaires will get more tax breaks, but Southern Illinois workers and middle class families will lose their Medicare."

Background 

Jason Plummer Thinks “The Benefits Of The Ryan Plan Are Pretty Obvious.  "At a June 2012 town hall, Plummer was asked if he supported the Ryan plan.  He answered “The specifics of it are pretty simple. I think that the Ryan plan aggressively addresses basically every entitlement program that we have. […] I think the benefits of the Ryan plan are pretty obvious.  They aggressively put Social Security in a situation where it will actually be there for people that are retiring.  It puts Medicare in a situation that it will actually be there to fund the healthcare needs of the people that it’s there for.  The negatives of the Ryan care are very political to be frank.” [Alton Town Hall, 6/12/12, 2:07]

Plummer Refused to Say If He Paid Taxes. During an interview with State Journal-Register columnist Bernard Schoenburg, in which Schoenburg asked if he paid taxes, Plummer thought and said, “If I start answering all the questions, it’s probably not going to stop, is it?” [State Journal-Register, 6/6/10]

Plummer Refused to Release Tax Returns: In 2010, Sun-Times columnist Carol Marin noted that Plummer “seemed irritated when pressed about his refusal to release his income tax returns.” Plummer told the editorial board he complied with Illinois law by filing a “Statement of Economic Interests.”  Marin disagreed and wrote: “leadership means doing more than the minimum required.” [Chicago Sun-Times, 10/6/10]

Again, Plummer Refused to Release His Tax Returns: “Jason Plummer is standing by his policy against releasing his personal tax returns.” [St. Louis Post Dispatch, 2/23/12]

And Again, Plummer Refused to Release His Tax Returns.  In a March 2012, the Plummer campaign again refused releasing his tax returns.  The statement claimed that “The voters in Southern Illinois are not concerned with how much Mr. Plummer paid in taxes as an individual last year.” [StLToday, 3/09/12]

And Yet Again, Plummer Refused to Release His Tax Returns.  In July 2012, just one day after his Democratic opponent released a decade’s worth of tax returns, Plummer again refused to release his tax returns. [Belleville News-Democrat, 7/6/12]

Editorial: Belleville News-Democrat Wondered if Plummer Has Something to Hide. In a February 2012 editorial, the Belleville News-Democrat urged Plummer to release his taxes. “The more Plummer refuses, the more it makes you wonder if he has something to hide. […] Plummer needs to release his tax returns.” [Belleville News-Democrat Editorial, 2/25/12]

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