Call me crazy, but I expect my representatives to actually represent me -- not their lobbyist donors, their wealthy business interests, or their immediate family members. Especially in these tough times, I expect transparency from the leaders who will be tasked with getting our economy moving again.
Unfortunately you wont be seeing any transparency coming from Governor Pat Quinn's Republican opponents. While Gov. Quinn has been hard at work to create jobs and put Illinois back to work, the GOP nominees have been hard at work at only one thing: keeping us in the dark on their shady history.
It wasn't until after he played extensive games with the media and the public that the GOP nominee, multi-millionaire Bill Brady, begrudgingly released his tax returns... only to show that he hadn't actually paid ANY taxes for the past two years! Now we know why he was so hesitant to be transparent -- transparency shows that Bill Brady embodies the same shady greed and corruption that got us into this mess!
Now, Brady's running mate for Lt. Governor, Jason Plummer, is flat-out refusing to release his tax returns as well, only saying "If I start answering all the questions, it's probably not going to stop, is it?". It begs us to ask: Which questions does Mr. Plummer not want to answer? What is he hiding? Who is he beholden to? Has he, like multi-millionaire Bill Brady, also failed to pay his fair share?
DFA is starting a petition demanding that Jason Plummer come clean to the voters of Illinois. Demand that Jason Plummer release his tax returns today!
The Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun Times, and the State Journal Register editorial boards have all publicly called for the Brady campaign and Jason Plummer to "Put it all out there:
"...voters aren't required to accept [Plummer's] explanation that releasing tax data is just a "political distraction.' Presumably, it wouldn't be much of a distraction if there is little of interest in those tax records... voters 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." [Chicago Sun-Times, 5/20/10]
"... allowing public inspection of income tax returns has become an important gesture toward engendering public trust in a candidate who wants to be a heartbeat away from the state's highest office." [State Journal Register 5/25/10]
"Sen. Brady, tell your running-mate Plummer he shouldn't hide from voters. Otherwise, it's all just more gamesmanship." [Chicago Tribune 6/5/10]
Join
us in telling Bill Brady and Jason Plummer that you want the games to
stop. Sign our petition demanding transparency today.
Thank you for all that you do.
-Nick
Nick Passanante, Deputy Field Director
Democracy for America
Democracy for America relies on you and the people-power of more than one million members to fund the grassroots organizing and training that delivers progressive change on the issues that matter.
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