Area business people share concerns with lt. gov. candidate

Posted Online: Aug. 05, 2010, 6:12 pm
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By Brandy Donaldson, bdonaldson@qconline.com

Scott Sidor, president of Safe Money Concepts in Port Byron, does not want to move his growing business to Iowa, but he said Thursday he will consider doing so if Illinois’ business climate does not soon soften.

“I can go across the border very easily if the taxes on employers go up very quickly here, and that bothers me,” he said. “My concern is if they raise taxes I’ll have to pick up and go to Iowa where I don’t have the tax problems I have here.”

Mr. Sidor shared his concerns with Republican lieutenant governor candidate Jason Plummer on Thursday and was satisfied with the answers he got, he said.

Mr. Plummer and GOP District 71 state representative candidate Rich Morthland met with about half a dozen area business people at Johnny’s Italian Steak House in Moline to discuss the state’s economic and business climate and the candidates’ ideas for changing it.

“Rich realizes and I realize that a lot of the businesses in Illinois are at a competitive disadvantage with surrounding states,” Mr. Plummer said. “We’ve watched companies and jobs leave Illinois on a daily basis.”

Mr. Plummer is vice president of R.P. Lumber Company, his family-owned business that operates more than 40 lumber yards in Illinois. He said he personally understands the plight of business owners large and small.

The solutions he proposes include solving direct issues, such as the state’s “brutal” tax and regulatory environment, tort reform and workers compensation and lawsuit abuse, among others, in order to make Illinois a more comfortable environment for businesses that want to make an investment here, Mr. Plummer said.

“Right now, Illinois doesn’t offer that environment. Folks don’t know what’s coming down the road,” he said. “We have a huge pension obligation, a $13 billion budget deficit and business people know someone’s going to have to pay those bills down the road.

“Who’s going to be punished because of the lack of management and lack of leadership in Springfield? Businesses want to be here, we have to stop scaring them away.”

Bringing jobs to Illinois will be his top priority as lieutenant governor, Mr. Plummer said.

“Unfortunately over the last 10 years, we’ve lost literally hundreds of thousands of jobs. The manufacturing base has been decimated,” he said. “When you come to the Quad-Cities you can see that. We need strong leaders in the House and Senate to solve some of these problems.”

Mr. Plummer said he’s eager to work with the General Assembly where Mr. Morthland is hoping to serve.

“When we get to Springfield, we’re going to be working together in the executive and legislative branches,” Mr. Morthland said.

Mr. Plummer is running with state Sen. Bill Brady, the GOP candidate for governor. They face Democrats, Gov. Pat Quinn and lieutenant governor candidate Sheila Simon. Mr. Morthland faces Democrat Dennis Ahern in the general election.

On the Internet

Jason Plummer: www.jasonplummer.com
Rich Morthland: www.electmorthland.com

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