* As I told subscribers this morning, Jason Plummer pledged during the primary not to accept a salary if he’s elected lt. governor. See it for yourself…
So, how will he be paying his expenses for four years? We won’t know unless he releases his income tax returns. We’re just supposed to thank him for not taking a state check without knowing who is paying his bills.
(V)oters can fairly wonder if Plummer has decided it is better to risk the criticism he’ll receive for not releasing his returns than the stream of news stories if he does.
Plummer’s running mate, gubernatorial candidate Bill Brady, was in a similar situation last month after saying he wouldn’t release his returns. After criticism from several quarters, including Gov. Quinn, Brady relented. The result was the revelation that Brady, who is wealthy, did not owe federal income taxes for the past two years because of business losses.
Plummer, who also is wealthy, might well wish to keep the details of his family’s extensive businesses private. But this is Illinois, where three of the last seven men elected governor have gone to prison and a fourth is scheduled to go on trial next month.
If Plummer doesn’t change his mind, he shouldn’t be surprised if voters turn out to be a bit skeptical.
Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor Sheila Simon on Wednesday took her Republican opponent Jason Plummer to task for declining to release his tax returns. […]
“I think it’s a pretty reasonable request on the part of the voters to want to know about a candidate,” Simon said. “In the course of the campaign there are probably some unreasonable requests for information, some things that are too personal. I don’t think this is one of those.”
Simon said Plummer’s decision made the Democratic ticket more transparent.
“The other side has a less than stellar record in that department,” Simon said.
* Also, as a followup to an earlier post, Bill Brady’s campaign says that Brady will be turning over the management of his businesses to his brothers if he’s elected. He’ll essentially convert his income from “non passive” to “passive.” I plan to ask Plummer’s campaign today what he will do with his own business interests if he’s elected.
