Doug Jameson hopes the spotlight on Springfield will force Democratic lawmakers out of hiding to fulfill their constitutional duty, he fold the Metro East Sun recently.
Jameson, the chairman of the St. Clair County Republican Central Committee, recently announced plans to go up against state Rep. Jay Hoffman (D-Swansea) in the 113th District in 2018. He said he is tired of lawmakers doing little for the people of Illinois.
“I’m hoping and praying,” Jameson said. “Illinois citizens need them to step up to the plate to fulfill their duties."
In an earlier statement, Jameson said the decision to force legislators into a 10-day special session to work on a budget was the right move.
"I support Gov. (Bruce) Rauner’s action to call a special session of the General Assembly and strongly encourage legislators to make the compromise necessary to get Illinois working again,” he said in the statement.
Jameson hoped all of the ongoing negotiations will end with a budget containing no new taxes.
“We need fundamental reform,” he said. “To only add more taxes now will mean having to seek additional revenue at a later date. In the past, income tax hikes have not solved things. It’s just a circular pattern.”
Since announcing his candidacy, the military veteran has stressed his belief that lawmakers need to be much more disciplined if the state is to ever get back on course.
“I don't think any family in Illinois that has a home budget can spend money they don’t have,” Jameson said. “It’s the same with a state government.”
Jameson said most of the blame for Illinois’ financial struggles falls squarely on the shoulders of Democrats.
“This crisis is not 700 days in the making, but rather caused by 34 years of single-party rule in the Illinois Statehouse,” he previously told the Metro East Sun. “Make no mistake: The $14 billion backlog of unpaid bills, over $230 billion in unfunded pension liabilities and lack of funding for vital state services has resulted from Mike Madigan’s (D-Chicago) reign as speaker of the House.”
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