Metro East Sun

Doug Jameson is focusing on the big picture amid the fallout from Gov. Bruce Rauner's signing of abortion expansion bill HB40.

The new law forces state insurance and Medicaid to cover abortions for any reason at any point in pregnancy.

“I am profoundly disappointed and support our Illinois Republican Party platform on the issue,” Jameson, the chairman of the St. Clair County Republican Committee who has also launched his 2018 campaign against Rep. Jay Hoffman (D-Swansea) in the 113th District, told the Metro East Sun.

Doug Jameson

Nonetheless, Jameson said he plans to support Rauner’s 2018 re-election campaign because he sees it as the best overall strategy for the party and state.

“All things taken into consideration, things like the governor’s support for conservative principles that will get the debt under control and bring about pension reform are reasons I got into the race," he said. "And they are the reasons why I will still support the governor in his fight to bring about sustainability for the state of Illinois.”

Jameson said the other options are downright frightening.

“The thought of (House Speaker Mike) Madigan as speaker and (J.B.) Pritzker as governor is scary,” he said. “It does me no good to win a seat in Springfield, then have to fight with a governor who doesn’t believe in any of the principles that will make Illinois a better state for people.”

Jameson compared his disagreement with Rauner on HB40 to families that struggle to find balance when they disagree about issues.

“It’s like a marriage where you may not agree on everything, but you respect that the unit has to stay together in order for everyone to survive,” he said. “This circumstance is but another reason we need to elect a Republican majority to the House to prevent bills like HB40 from ever being delivered to the governor’s desk.”