#jason plummer

William Enyart, D-Belleville, was elected to the 12th Congressional District, keeping the seat for the Democrats, according to unofficial results from the Associated Press.

With 609 of the 667 precincts reporting in the 12th Congressional District, William Enyart was leading Jason Plummer and Paula Bradshaw Tuesday night.

The latest vote totals:

Jason Plummer (R): 117,362

William Enyart (D): 132,976

Paula Bradshaw (G): 14,882

In the 12th, voters were choosing a successor to longtime U.S. Rep. Jerry Costello (D-Belleville), who is retiring.

Plummer, 30, is a Fairview Heights businessman. Enyart, 63, is a Belleville lawyer and retired commander of the Illinois National Guard. Bradshaw, 59, of Carbondale, is a registered nurse.

Enyart took the stage at his campaign party at 10:17 p.m. with his wife, Annette Eckert.

To kick off his victory speech, he said, "The first thing I said I was going to do when I won was kiss my wife." So Enyart kissed his wife to a round of applause.

Enyart entered the 12th District race in early June, several weeks after Brad Harriman, the winner of the March Democratic primary, had dropped out of the race for health reasons.

Harriman's exit led a panel of Democratic leaders to convene in late June. They unanimously chose Enyart after interviewing him and six other hopefuls.

"I'm humbled by the support I've seen from friends and neighbors across Southern Illinois," Enyart said. "Thanks to all of you who donated your time, energy and enthusiasm, in just four months we've gone from nothing to a winning campaign against a candidate who's been running for the last four years."

In Nov. 2010, at age 28, Plummer nearly won Illinois' lieutenant governor's race. He won the GOP primary earlier in the year for lieutenant governor after raising $1.44 million, with the bulk of that sum loaned to the Plummer campaign by Plummer and companies linked to his father.

"I want to thank Jason Plummer and Paula Bradshaw for a spirited campaign," Enyart said. "I look forward to working with them both in the coming years to make Southern Illinois strong."

BELLEVILLE, IL. (KTVI) – In the final hours before polls were set to open Tuesday, campaigning continued down to the  wire, from the White House to the State House.  

One of the hottest races in the St. Louis area is for the key congressional seat in Illinois, held for  more than 24 years  by Belleville Democrat, Jerry Costello.

Political experts say the seat could go Republican for the first time since World War II.  

Maj. General Bill Enyart, the Democrat, wasn’t even a candidate, in the primary.  

He was commander of the Illinois National Guard at the time.

He was recruited to run after nominee, Brad Harriman, stepped down citing health reasons.  

Enyart may pull it off but Costello admitted, it would be close.  

‘When the votes are counted, I think  Bill Enyart`s going to go to Congress,’ Costello said.  

He`s campaigning for Enyart after being elected to the seat 12 times; plus winning the special election to succeed Melvin Price, who died in office in 1988.  

Price held the seat since 1945.  

Republican candidate, Jason Plummer, was also getting a boost from a high placed political friend, Monday.  Collinsville, Congressman John Shimkus, of the neighboring 15th district campaigned with Plummer in Alton.  Plummer is the heir to R.P. Lumber.  He also ran for Illinois Lt. Governor in 2010.  

It’s been a heated campaign.  Plummer`s recently blasted Enyart’s wife, a retired circuit judge, for drawing 3 government pensions.

Enyart has blasted Plummer for failing to release tax records, and renting a home in the district to run for office.  

Enyart has trumpeted his connection to home-state President, Barack Obama, even on the key issue of jobs.  Plummer blasts him for it.   

Costello predicted an Enyart victory, but said history showed it would be a tight race, especially with it being Enyart`s first time around.  

‘People forget when i ran the first time, my election was close.  I won by 52% of the vote.  We`ve never gotten less than 60% since then.  In many elections we got over 70%.  Is this election going to be close? Yes?’ Costello said.

Schedule: 10.31.2012 =: US Senate Overview 11.01.2012 1: US House Overview 1 (Northeast, New England, Midwest) 11.01.2012 2: US House Overview 2 (West, Southwest, Texas, South, Florida) 11.02.2012 1: IN-Sen (Donnelly v. Mourdock) 11.02.2012 2: WI-01 (Zerban v. Ryan) 11.02.2012 3: WI-Sen (Baldwin v. Thompson) 11.03.2012 1: MO-Gov (Nixon v. Spence), MO-Lt. Gov, Mo-SoS, MO-AG, MO-Treasurer 11.03.2012 2: MO-Sen (McCaskill v. Akin) 11.04.2012 1: IL-10 (Schneider v. Dold) 11.04.2012 2: IL-08 (Duckworth v. Walsh) 11.04.2012 3: IL-11 (Foster v. Biggert) 11.05.2012 1: IL-17 (Bustos v. Schilling) 11.05.2012 2: IL-13 (Gill v. Davis v. Hartman) 11.05.2012 3: IL-12 (My home district, Enyart v. Plummer) 11.06.2012 1 : POTUS/VPOTUS (Obama/Biden v. Romney/Ryan v. Stein/Honkala v. Johnson v. Gray), GOTV/Election Day diary

1 = Morning 2 = Afternoon/Early Evening 3 = Evening/Overnight

My 2nd-last diary series on the 2012 election previews. And this edition is about my home Congressional district, the 12th District, which is home to the retiring ConservaDem Congressman Jerry Costello (D). The contestants to replace Costello are registered nurse Paula Bradshaw (G), 2010 Lt. Gov. candidate with whacko Bill Brady Jason "Spoiled Rich Fatcat Who Refuses To Release His Tax Returns, aka Romney of Southwest Illinois" Plummer (R), and former Illinois National Guard leader and Major General Bill Enyart (D), whoreplaced primary winner Brad Harriman after he dropped out.

The Issues:

Bill Enyart: Abortion: There is no known position on this issue for Enyart, but we hope that he's an improvement on this issue over anti-choicer Costello.

PPACA:

MASCOUTAH (AP) — The Democratic candidate for a southern Illinois congressional seat says he'd vote against repealing President Barack Obama's health care law.

Bill Enyart's comments Monday in the health-care debate came four days after the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the law's mandate that individuals buy health insurance or face a penalty.

Enyart told reporters the bill isn't perfect. But he says he supports such provisions as allowing anyone up to age 26 to remain on their parents' insurance and ending the lifetime cap on health insurance policies.

Guns:

Enyart is a pro-Second Amendment Democrat.

Medicare/Social Security:

Enyart opposes plans to privatize Medicare and Social Security, and he supports the health care reform law known as the Affordable Care Act.

Marriage Equality/LGBTQ Rights:

supported President Barack Obama’s repeal of the Pentagon’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy for gays in the military. But he was reluctant to discuss either abortion or gay marriage. Enyart calls the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act, “Another one of those social issues that divides up the country.”

Enyart does support the repeal of DADT, unlike his predecessor Costello. We'll find out more on what he stands for on this issue if he wins. He is opposed to same-sex marriage, much like his predecessor.

Economy:

I know how important manufacturing jobs are because I’ve had one.  As a younger man I worked on the assembly line at the same Caterpillar plant where my father worked.  That plant gave my dad a good paying job and helped him take care of his family.  Unfair trade deals and bad tax policy have driven these jobs away.

In the last decade we’ve lost more than 176,000 manufacturing jobs here in Illinois.  While things have recently started to improve a bit we are nowhere near where we used to be.[1]  While some of this has been because of international competition it’s also happened because we’ve not had the right policy approach.

Why is it okay for corporations to avoid U.S. taxes?  If a regular person tried it they would go to jail, but if an executive does it they are rewarded with a bonus.

Immigration

Any kind of reform must start with tougher border security. A weak link in the border puts our entire nation at risk. I believe we have to end the underground economy that permeates throughout our country. We must have an earned path to citizenship, which includes paying a penalty, paying back taxes, and going to the back of the line."

Jason Plummer Abortion:

I am pro-life.  I believe we should work to protect the most vulnerable in our society.

PPACA:

America needs healthcare reform – it does not need ObamaCare.  ObamaCare puts 1/6 of the national economy under the control of the federal government and un-elected bureaucrats now make decisions that individuals, families, and doctors should be making.

Guns:

I am a long-term member of the National Rifle Association, Illinois State Rifle Association, Gun Owners of America, and the Edwardsville Gun Club.  Our right to bear arms is a constitutionally guaranteed right and one that must be vigorously defended.  There will be no stronger supporter in Congress when it comes to gun owners' rights.  I will fight to protect citizens from government overreach and I will work to expand right-to-carry laws.

Medicare/Social Security:

Anyone over the age of 55 should continue to receive what they were promised in regard to Medicare and Medicaid. However, without actuarial changes to the system, it will be insolvent and run out of money for my generation and all future generations. I do not support the Independent Payment Advisory Board and the unelected bureaucrats that would have the authority to make healthcare decisions that would affect millions of Americans. Additionally, the IPAB could cut the benefits that our seniors depend on.

Like with Medicare, I would not change the Social Security benefits for anyone over the age 55. However, without actuarial changes to Social Security, the system will be insolvent and run out of money for my generation and the generations to come. A serious conversation is needed in Congress about the long-term viability of the Social Security program.

Marriage Equality/LGBTQ Rights:

I believe marriage should be between a man and a woman.  I believe that our courts should not dictate public policy or pervert laws and legislation.  I believe we need leaders of strong moral fiber to keep America the greatest nation on earth.  

Economy:

The lack of leadership in Washington and Springfield has crippled the ability of small businesses to grow and create jobs.  We need elected officials who understand how the economy works and how public policy impacts businesses and workers.  We must create an environment where job creators are willing to take risks, businesses want to expand, and hardworking people can find quality jobs.

Due to the heavy burden of over-regulation and high taxes and fees, we have destroyed some of the largest industries and economic cornerstones of the 12th Congressional District.

Immigration:

"Our first priority is stopping illegal immigration by securing our borders. For any immigration system to work, we must know who is crossing our borders and how long they are staying in our country. America has always been a beacon to immigrants, and that should continue through legal channels."

Paula Bradshaw Abortion:

I oppose government intervention in the very private, health-care decisions involved in pregnancy. But reproductive choice means more than just the right to choose abortion before viability. The goal should be for every child born to be a wanted, cared-for child. A national health care system could not only provide quality care for all, it would make birth control, abortion and voluntary sterilization free and easily available. l support for birth control and for new parents will do more to reduce the frequency of abortion than any legislative restrictions.

PPACA:

I support a single-payer system like the one existing in Canada. The Expanded & Improved Medicare for All Act (HR 676) would establish a single authority responsible for paying for health care for all Americans. I don’t want to “save” the current inadequate system of Medicare. I want to improve it and expand it to cover everyone.

Guns:

I agree with the Supreme Court that the Second Amendment protects an individual right to bear arms. The question is where to draw the line. Self-defense does not require a weapon like the AR-15 that James Holmes used to massacre people in Colorado. Thus, I would support a carefully worded assault weapons ban.

Medicare/Social Security:

There is a problem with soaring health-care costs in this country but Medicare is not part of the problem; it is part of the solution. The real issue is one of political will, not lack of financial resources. Do we want a working health care system that can provide quality care for all? I do, and I believe most voters do. Then we have to pay for it. The real issues are what kind of system and how do we pay for it.

I support a single-payer system like the one existing in Canada. The Expanded & Improved Medicare for All Act (HR 676) would establish a single authority responsible for paying for health care for all Americans. I don’t want to “save” the current inadequate system of Medicare. I want to improve it and expand it to cover everyone.

As it stands now, Social Security can pay full benefits until 2033 – and 95 percent of the shortfall after that could be solved if we simply lifted the cap on the payroll tax.

Marriage Equality/LGBTQ Rights:

My position on the rights of LGBT persons can be summarized succinctly: I stand for equal protection under the law, equal rights in society and the workplace, and for embracing diversity. All persons, regardless of sexual orientation, must be accorded the same rights and the same opportunities to participate fully in all aspects of the life of society. This includes equal rights to employment opportunities, educational opportunities, health care and more. It includes the right to go to a senior prom with a same-sex partner. It includes the right to marry. We as a society need to recognize the truth that there is great breadth in human nature, human experience and human relations. We need to learn to cherish the freedom and richness it brings to our culture.

Economy:

We have over 15 million unemployed in the U.S. today. But to combat global climate change and create a healthy society, we need millions of workers to modernize our infrastructure, insulate buildings, build renewable energy systems and a modern high-speed rail system, plant trees and repair natural eco-systems, teach in our schools and colleges, provide social services to the disabled and disadvantaged, and provide quality health-care.

We can create a full employment economy through a massive government works program to accomplish these things. Now I’ll tell you how we pay for it. First, by simply restoring the more progressive tax system we had in the 1950s, when our economy was doing very well, we could easily raise over $100 billion in additional revenue.

Second, tax financial speculation. Working people pay sales taxes but Wall Street speculators pay nothing when they trade trillions of dollars worth of stocks, options, credit default swaps and other derivatives. A 0.5 percent tax on such trades, like Great Britain has now, could easily raise over $150 billion a year.

Third, cut the military budget by $360 billion, which would still leave us spending 2-1/2 times more than any other nation in the world.

Fourth, we need monetary reform. I would introduce the American Monetary Reform Act, which would nationalize the Federal Reserve and take the power to create money away from private banks by curtailing the fractional reserve system. Instead, money would be spent into circulation by paying workers directly to perform the projects and services we need, thereby directly attacking unemployment.

We also need to raise the minimum wage, so that the jobs we create allow workers to buy the products produced by our manufacturers and small businesses. If the minimum wage had kept pace with workers’ productivity since 1968, it would be $21.72 an hour today. This is another illustration of how much American workers have been robbed by the top 1 percent. We need to restore balance to our economy, in favor of working people.

Education:

It is unacceptable that in the wealthiest nation in the world, our schools are failing and students must incur a lifetime of debt just to obtain a college degree. We must stop disinvestment in education and instead put it at the top of our social and economic agenda. Regarding grade-school education: Federal policy should act principally to provide equal access to a quality education. It should ensure that our schools have sufficient resources to be effective, while remaining under local control. Too many of our teachers are overworked, underpaid, and starved of key materials. Regarding higher education: I will fight for free higher education in the United States, including vocational education. This is not impossible and it is smart economics. Some of the healthiest economies in the world – Germany, Denmark, Finland, and rising economies like Brazil and Argentina – provide free higher education. It helps reduce the oversupply in the labor market, creates more jobs directly, as well as in construction and college-related small businesses. The elimination of student debt would put more purchasing power in the hands of students, parents and graduates, to spend on goods and services, not enriching banks.

Immigration:

It is hypocritical for our nation to first adopt policies that drive up Mexican unemployment and then complain when the desperate victims look for work here.

I will support vigorous enforcement of our labor laws, to halt the extreme exploitation of immigrant workers and put an end to the practices that allow one group of workers to undermine another, to the detriment of all. I will not support intrusive restrictions on transportation, documentation requirements and other police state tactics, the militarization of immigration enforcement or racial profiling.

As to the DREAM Act, I don’t think that it best serves the interests of second-generation immigrants to encourage them to join the military as a major pathway toward achieving legal status. I might support an amended version of the Act.

Race Rating: Likely D

* Down in the polls and apparently fed up with being belittled, Jason Plummer’s campaign first resorted to attacking Bill Enyart’s son and has now moved on to attacking Enyart’s wife in a press release that’s literally chock full of glaring mistakes.

From Plummer’s press release…

While seniors and working families in Southern Illinois are left in limbo about the future of the pensions they earned, millionaire trial lawyer Bill Enyart and his family continue to enrich themselves on the taxpayer’s dime.

Enyart, who served as a political advisor to convicted felon Rod Blagojevich and Governor Quinn, and his wife Annette currently collect three taxpayer-funded pensions that pay more than $156,000 each year. With his household in line to receive at least four more taxpayer-funded pensions, how much more will Enyart collect off the backs of the taxpayers?

If elected, the Enyarts would add an eighth pension to their collection. This begs the question: Is he running to enrich himself or the lives of Southern Illinois families?

Despite those breathless allegations, Plummer’s own research shows that Bill Enyart isn’t collecting a single pension. Yes, you read that right.Go look for yourself.

* While the press release isn’t so explicit, this attack is purely about Enyart’s wife, Annette Eckert. And Plummer’s own research on her doesn’t even support Plummer’s attack.

For instance, this is one of the “pensions” that Ms. Eckert is supposedly receiving…

That ain’t a “pension.” That’s a one-time death benefit payout from her own mother, for crying out loud.

* And if you look at the Plummer research, the number of actual pensions being collected doesn’t equal seven, it equals three. And two of those are pretty small. Click for a larger view…

* Back to the press release…

Much of Illinois’ dire financial situation is due to pension abuse, and Enyart’s insider dealings show how Illinois’ pension system has been corrupted. Two of the pensions that he collects come from positions that lasted a total of 14 and 19 months, respectively.

Again, Enyart is not collecting those pensions. Plummer’s own research shows that Enyart’s wife is collecting those monthly payouts.

Argue what you want about whether or not Enyart’s wife should be receiving those two pensions. The monthly payouts do look a bit excessive for the time employed, even if they are small.

* But, really, that’s neither here nor there. Plummer’s press release comes nowhere near to matching Plummer’s actual research. This is a totally bogus release. Period. End of story.

To sum up: Plummer’s research shows three pensions for Enyart’s wife (one big, two small), but Plummer’s press release claims the couple is collecting seven pensions and that Enyart himself is collecting two, when Enyart is actually not collecting any.

#IL12: Democrats slam Jason Plummer in latest ad : Stltoday

St. Louis TV will see increased spending in the final week before Election Day as Republican Jason Plummer and Democrat Bill Enyart battle to replace Jerry Costello in the U.S. House.

The Democrat affiliated House Majority PAC is on air with a new ad to run though next week, and says Plummer "will end Medicare as we know it."  

Democratic nominee Bill Enyart in the 12th U.S. House race accused GOP rival Jason Plummer on Friday of claiming an owner-occupancy tax exemption for a home in Edwardsville where he does not live.

Enyart said in a telephone news conference that Plummer applied for and received the homestead exemption for a house he has owned for several years in Edwardsville, which is not in the 12th District, after he moved to a duplex near the Fairview Heights-O'Fallon border.

Enyart said Plummer's continued efforts to shave $6,000 off the assessed value of his property in Edwardsville through the homestead exemption is an example of "Plummer bending the rules to make himself wealthier."

Plummer's campaign in a written response said, "As anybody who pays property taxes knows, the homestead exemption is automatic and is applied to the 2012 taxes for the year 2011. Jason Plummer lived in the house in 2011, so he received the homestead exemption. When he pays his property taxes in 2013 for the year of 2012 - when he didn't live there - he will not take the exemption.

"This is common sense. The fact that Bill Enyart is 'attacking' Jason Plummer for following the law shows just what a desperate and frivolous campaign he is running. Jason Plummer will continue to run a campaign based on the issues."

According to Madison County documents, Plummer's homestead exemption was renewed on March 26, 2012, after he moved to St. Clair County, a check by the News-Democrat showed.

During the teleconference, Enyart also:

* accused Plummer of labeling his campaign staff as independent contract workers, rather than employees, in order to save money on payroll taxes, including workers' compensation insurance and Social Security.

* used non-union workers on an electrical project, for a company owned by Plummer's family, who were paid half of what union electricians would get and without benefits.

In his statement, Plummer did not address these accusations.

"Plummer is not for the middle class or the working people," Enyart said. "He is making his own rules. And this is a problem that we have in Washington, D.C." 

One issue that won't go away in Illinois' 12th congressional race: taxes.

Democrats have blasted Republican lumber heir Jason Plummer for not releasing his tax returns. Now comes news that Plummer has paid property taxes late on his home in Edwardsville, which is outside the district he's running to represent. Records show Plummer paid the taxes late for tax years 2011 and 2009, according to Madison County property records.

The taxes are about $5,500 per year, which Plummer has paid in installments. He was billed minimal penalties for the late payments, but has brought everything current.

Democrats say the issue demonstrates why Plummer should release his income tax returns, which he has declined.

Deb Detmers, a Plummer campaign operative, said the taxes "aren't an issue" and stressed that Plummer has brought everything current.

Plummer, who is a multimillionaire according to a personal financial disclosure, also took an owner occupied exemption on the property, which means the house must be your primary residence. The house is outside of Illinois' 12th district, which runs from parts of eastern Madison County to the Kentucky border. His campaign noted that the tax bill was for the past year. He moved to O'Fallon, Ill., which is in the district, in October of 2011. Plummer's campaign said the house, in the 100 block of Knights Bridge Court in Edwardsville, is now up for sale.