South Central Reporter

State Senator Jason Plummer (R-Edwardsville) has been recognized by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) with a 100% rating for his support of small businesses in the Illinois General Assembly. "It’s an honor to be recognized again for my support of our small business community," said Plummer. "If we want to grow our economy and create new good-paying jobs, we have to put forward pro-growth policies that help our businesses succeed."

The NFIB's rankings are based on legislator voting records on eight bills from the 103rd General Assembly (2023-2024) affecting small businesses in Illinois. NFIB advocates for small and independent business owners across the United States.

"Small-business owners appreciate Senator Plummer’s stance on the issues," said NFIB Illinois State Director Noah Finley. "This past legislative session, Senator Plummer earned a 100% small-business voting record. Due to his business background, he understands that small-business job-creators are vital to our local communities, and he has consistently stood up against governmental mandates and red-tape that make it harder to run a business in Illinois."

For more information about the NFIB and legislators' voting records, visit https://strgnfibcom.blob.core.windows.net/nfibcom/IL-Voting-Record-05.pdf.

In other legislative updates, recent laws signed by Governor J.B. Pritzker have drawn criticism from Senator Plummer. These include legislation changing “offender” to “justice-impacted individual” in some state statutes and providing free state IDs to individuals released from jails.

Senator Plummer criticized these measures as misplaced priorities amidst rising crime rates in Chicago, noting major crimes have increased by nearly 60% since 2019 and 18% since 2022. He argued that Senate Bill 2803 and House Bill 4409 prioritize criminals over citizens' safety.

Significant amendments were also made to Illinois’ Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA). The law aims to reform digital privacy regulations but has faced backlash due to unintended consequences like multi-billion-dollar damage awards. While proponents believe the amendments balance privacy protection with reducing burdens on businesses, Senator Plummer contends they fall short of addressing BIPA's ambiguities.

Additionally, the Illinois State Fair commenced on August 8 with traditional events including a ribbon-cutting ceremony and Twilight Parade. The fair features themed days such as Agriculture Day, Kids Day, Veterans Day among others, alongside grandstand concerts by artists like Keith Urban and Lil Wayne.

Lastly, a study from the University of Illinois System highlights ongoing educational challenges post-pandemic. Findings indicate only a quarter of public-school students have returned to pre-pandemic academic levels in English language arts; fewer have done so in math. With federal relief funds expiring this year, schools face difficulties maintaining essential programs aimed at addressing learning gaps exacerbated by pandemic disruptions.