Metro East Sun

Doug Jameson doesn’t need a study to tell him what he already knows about the depressing state of business in Illinois.

“I’m looking around downtown Belleville right now and I can see five for-sale signs plastered across what were once business operations,” Jameson told the Metro East Sun. “Businesses don’t want to locate here and the ones that are still here are trying to get out. We’re losing a resident across the state every 4.6 minutes and rising property taxes and burdensome regulations are the reasons why.”

Chief Executive’s 2018 “Best and Worst States for Business” report recently placed Illinois No. 48 of 50 states, ahead of only New York and California. The dismal showing marks the fourth straight year Illinois has landed in that position.

Doug Jameson

At the other end of the spectrum, Texas ranked at the top, followed by Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina. Closer to home, Indiana ranked No. 5 and Michigan, up nine spots over last year, ranked No. 27.

“The cost of doing business here is higher than most places,” said Jameson, a Belleville Republican challenging Rep. Jay Hoffman (D-Swansea) in the 113th District. “You’ve got to get things like property taxes and workmen’s compensations rates down to have any chance of rescuing the state.”

Jameson said the fact that Illinois has languished in the same position for so long also sends a clear and distinct message.

“It tells me that state government is not paying attention to the trends of the state and not doing enough to change things,” he said. “I’ve said since Day One of my campaign ‘we’ve got to get rid of (House Speaker Mike) Madigan and replace him with a pro-growth, pro-business, pro-jobs speaker.”

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