Metro East Sun

Doug Jameson likes to think his advocacy on behalf of small business owners has no limits. 

“One of my campaign issues has been how all the regulations we have on the books have become so over-burdensome,” Jameson, a Belleville Republican challenging Rep. Jay Hoffman (D-Swansea) in the 113th District, told the Metro East Sun. “The Gun Dealer’s Act now being debated is an example of that. You take the combination of the high taxes and over-regulations, and that puts small business owners at quite a distinct disadvantage.”

The first week of May marked National Small Business Appreciation Week, prompting Jameson to recently speak out on behalf of small business owners by outlining many of the ways he thinks Illinois lawmakers unnecessarily make their survival more challenging.

“In Illinois, we’ve got all these businesses that are fleeing and not being replaced by new business,” Jameson added. “As a commercial Realtor and candidate for state office, that’s a community I’m very much connected with, and I can tell all this red tape is doing them no favors.”

Jameson said that when he gets to Springfield he is considering introducing legislation that would seek to reduce some of the regulations and lower the costs of business licensing, renewals and fees in some areas.

“People are making decisions about the cost of doing business here in Illinois that are having adverse effects on the entire state,” he said. “Another thing that’s hurting us is the fact that our workers’ compensation premiums are almost twice as high as in a state like Missouri.”

Jameson said he is also in the process of forming a coalition of small business owners to advise him on matters that may benefit the industry.

“New home construction in Illinois ranks last in the country because of the high cost of doing business here,” he said. “The only constant in that equation is our very high property taxes. We are not taking a comprehensive view of the cost of doing business here versus what it might be somewhere else. Everything we’re doing is influencing the trend of outmigration.”

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