Illinois Congressional candidate Jason Plummer points to the uncertainty of the Metro East levee situation as a large cause of the area’s high unemployment rate.
The Republican candidate says federal regulators are getting in the way of bipartisan work by local officials. The Federal Emergency Management Agency alleges the area should be deemed a “hazard zone.” If that happens, the value of houses would reportedly plummet. Plummer said the number one complaint he hears is the lack of certainty.
“Each month for the past several months, the unemployment rate in my counties has gone up," Plummer said. "I don’t cast blame on anybody for that. But I do know going to Washington, D.C and supporting Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama is not going to provide the change we need.”
The most recent unemployment rate for St. Clair County is 10.8 percent. Plummer is running against Democrat Bill Enyart to fill the retiring Jerry Costello’s seat.
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