Metro East Sun

Doug Jameson points to Senate Bill 1905 as a clear-cut example of the lengths some politicians are willing to go to remain in power.

“SB 1905 represented a stunning new level of anti-growth, anti-business policy designed to maintain the status quo in Illinois,” Jameson told the Metro East Sun. “Plain and simple, it takes away individual worker choice in rather or not to pay union dues as a condition of employment. Further it takes the (unprecedented) and dangerous step of criminalizing the act of supporting an alternative point of view.”

Back in late October, Illinois state senators overwhelmingly voted to override Gov. Bruce Rauner’s veto of SB 1905. The bill would ban local governments from enforcing their own right-to-work laws by exposing officials who might seek to enact such measures to the possibility of Class A misdemeanor charges, punishable by up to a year in jail and/or a $2,500 fine. The House failed to override the veto in November.

Presently, right-to-work laws, which protect workers from being forced to pay union dues to keep their jobs, are on the books in 27 other states, including most neighboring ones.

“Clearly the economic policy instituted over the past several decades have failed with Illinois’ staggering debt and unfunded pension liabilities serving as proof,” Jameson said. “Corporate relocation and the growing number of fleeing citizens, especially Millennials seeking gainful opportunity, have become common and daily news.”

The Illinois Policy Institute recently reported Illinois was recently scratched off a list of potential sites for a new, $1.6 billion Toyota and Mazda plant looking to hire 4,000 workers because it is not a right-to-work state.

And back in 2015, Crain’s Chicago Business reported that the former director of Illinois’ Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity claimed more than 1,100 companies had “blacklisted” Illinois because it does not have a right-to-work law.

Jameson, a retired Army veteran recently launched his campaign against Rep. Jay Hoffman (D-Swansea) in the 113th District on a platform of greater fiscal responsibility and a reformed business agenda.

“As a legislator, I will support any reform oriented idea that is growth oriented,” he said. “We must get Illinois working again, and that starts with creating an environment that encourages businesses to invest in Illinois and encourages our citizens to seek and find work inside our state.”

The 113th District spans all or parts of Belleville, Swansea, Fairview Heights and parts of Washington Park, Fairmont City, Caseyville, Madison and Granite City.