Macon Reporter

Republican Illinois Senate candidate Jason Plummer isn’t going to idly stand by and see the people of his district railroaded.

“The whole idea of a mileage tax for the state of Illinois amounts to nothing more than punishment for all the people of Southern Illinois,” Plummer told the Metro East Sun. “Lifestyles are different depending on where you are. Unlike places like Chicago, we drive everywhere.”

The idea of a mileage tax has seemingly picked up steam after Democratic Governor nominee J.B. Pritzker recently expressed interest in a new state tax.  

The enactment would require motorists to track their travels by using a device placed in their vehicle, Illinois News Network (INN) states. The vehicle owner would then be obligated to pay a designated tax rate based on miles traveled with the newly generated revenues being used to cover the cost of infrastructure projects.

INN estimates that annual infrastructure repairs alone run at approximately $21 billion.

“Rather than increasing taxes on a consistently shrinking tax base we would be better served by concentrating on increasing the tax base,” said Plummer, who is running against Democrat Brian Stout in the 54th Senate District. “You need to have more people working and to do that we have to position our economy to be competitive. Right now, property taxes are too high, workers compensation rates are dramatically higher, and we have a state government that’s not friendly to business.”

Plummer said area taxpayers shouldn’t expect any answers to come from Stout.

“My opponent toes the line for anything Pritzker wants, including supporting a progressive tax to no new reforms of the court system,” he said. “It’s whatever Chicago wants. He didn’t decide to run until visiting Chicago and speaking with the people up there.”

The 54th District includes Bond, Clinton, Effingham, Fayette, Madison, Marion, St. Clair and Washington counties.