JASON PLUMMER

Robert Plummer has repeatedly refused to release his tax returns, while his disclosures indicated assets of up to $41 million. In 2010, Plummer, who has only ever worked for his family business, exaggerated his experience while he was a candidate for Lieutenant Governor, to the point that the Chicago Sun Times printed Jason Plummer is unqualified. It is ludicrous that he is on the ballot. He has also relied on his and his familys wealth to self-fund his campaigns, raising about $375,000 from himself and his family in 2010.

Resume Exaggeration
2010 Chicago Sun Times: Jason Plummer Is So Unqualified It Is Ludicrous That He Is On The Ballot. According to an editorial by the Chicago Sun Times, If you're still undecided about whom to vote for in the race for governor, we urge you to take a closer look at their running mates, the candidates for lieutenant governor. The Democratic candidate, Sheila Simon, is well-qualified. The Republican candidate, Jason Plummer, is unqualified. It is ludicrous that he is on the ballot. [Chicago Sun Times, 10/26/10] 2010 Chicago Tribune: Other Than Two Internships, Plummer Has Only Worked In His Family Business. According to the Chicago Tribune, Other than internships, Jason Plummer has never worked anywhere but the family business. But he has built a resume that includes intelligence officer in the Navy Reserves, Republican Party county chairman, and high-tech entrepreneur. [Chicago Tribune, 10/10/10]

Chicago Tribune: Plummer Overstated His Roles As A Navy Officer And Business Owner While A Candidate For Lt. Governor. According to the Chicago Tribune, But a closer examination of Plummer's resume shows that his leadership experience may be more limited than his rhetoric and campaign bio suggest. Plummer highlights his service as a Navy intelligence officer, but he received his commission just last September and has yet to undergo training. He touts his creation and operation of a wireless Internet provider while still a college undergrad, yet public records show it was his father who owned the firm and Plummer was never listed as an officer. He has referenced his experience working for former U.S. Sen. Peter Fitzgerald and a conservative think tank, but doesn't always say both jobs were internships. Plummer also had a short stint as Madison County Republican chairman during which he oversaw the opening of a GOP office in a strip mall owned by one of his family's businesses, which received more than $13,000 in rent. [Chicago Tribune, 2/14/10] Chicago Tribune: Plummer Exaggerated His Role With Senators Office, Heritage Foundation. According to the Chicago Tribune, Shortly after Plummer launched his bid for

first public office, his campaign produced a resume that noted he had served internships with Fitzgerald and with the conservative Heritage Foundation. By December, the official resume had been updated and the reference to internships removed. Instead, it said that he served under the senator and with the Heritage Foundation. In a Chicago radio interview last month, Plummer described his role at the foundation as acting as the go-between between the Heritage Foundation and Congress and the Senate and the administration. Foundation official Brian Darling said Plummers description of his role was accurate, but also explained that interns like Plummer spend a lot of their time dragging around food for meetings and making copies. Plummer said he wasnt sure why the wording of his resume was changed, but maintained that both versions were accurate. I never claimed I was not an intern, Plummer said. [Chicago Tribune, 2/14/10] Plummer Called His Misleading Campaign Biography As Understated. According to a State Journal-Register editorial, Some have questioned why, for example, a campaign biography for Plummer claims he worked for then-U.S. Sen. Peter Fitzgerald and the Heritage Foundation in Washington, D.C., without mentioning that he was an intern in both those jobs. (He was a full-time, paid intern at Heritage.) Theres been a whole lot of things that Ive done in my life that arent on the biography, Plummer responded. I think that my biography is probably understated, to be honest with you. [State Journal-Register (Springfield, IL), 2/11/10]

Out Of Touch Self-Funder

2010: Plummer Funded His Run For Lieutenant Governor With Personal Loans From Himself, His Father, And His Fathers Company. According to the State Journal-Register, Jason Plummer of Edwardsville, who is vice president of corporate development for his familys business, R.P. Lumber, has raised about $430,000 -- about $375,000 coming from himself and others in his family, said spokesman John Pastuovic. That includes a $50,000 loan to himself in September, at least $100,000 loaned from the company, and $200,000 loaned from his father, Robert L. Plummer. We made a decision early on that we were going to pretty much follow (former U.S. Sen.) Peter Fitzgerald road map for fundraising and (significantly) self-fund, Pastuovic said. That way, he said, we can assure our independence moving forward. Plummer also listed more than 30 out-ofstate donors, but Pastuovic said they fall into the category of most of Plummers solicitations, which have been to family, close friends and business associates. [State Journal-Register (Springfield, IL), 1/7/10] Belleville News-Democrat: Plummers Worth Between $13 And $33 Million. According to the Belleville News-Democrat, The scion of an Edwardsville-based family with extensive real estate holdings, including office buildings and shopping centers, Plummer, a Republican, has reported a personal worth -- excluding liabilities -- of between $13.6 million and $33.1 million, according to financial disclosure statements filed with the U.S. House of Representatives. [Belleville News-Democrat, 1/30/12]

Lack Of Transparency
February 2012: Plummer Opposed The Release Of His Tax Returns, Said Personal Financial Disclosure Was Sufficient. In February 2012 Jason Plummer rebuked a call by Republican candidate Roger Cook for all statewide and federal candidates in Illinois to release tax returns. According to the Belleville News Democrat, [Jason] Plummer issued a statement in which he stated

that voters want to know where you get your money, where your money is invested, and what kind of financial relationships you have. They should want to know these things, it is tremendously important information. But this information is obtained through a legally required Federal Personal Financial Disclosure, not a tax return, Plummer wrote. A tax return does not have all the details a PFD has, which is why I released my PFD before any other candidate. [Belleville News Democrat, 2/22/12] In 2010 Plummer Resisted Releasing Tax Return, Disclosure Listed Assets Between $3 Million And $41 Million. According to the Belleville News Democrat, In 2010, when he ran for lieutenant governor as the Republican nominee, Plummer resisted call to turn his tax returns. In a disclosure report filed late last year, Plummer listed personal assets of between nearly $3 million and $41 million. [Belleville News Democrat, 2/22/12]