Metro East Sun

Doug Jameson hopes what voters tell him are their most important issues can inspire them to turn out at the polls in November.

“People tell me their No. 1 issue is taxes,” Jameson told the Metro East Sun. “That should be good for Republicans because we’re the only ones fighting for lower taxes and smaller government.”

Jameson says that the latest example of that comes from the statewide property tax now being pushed by some lawmakers as a way of paying down the state’s spiraling pension debt.

Doug Jameson

According to Wirepoints, others in the financial sector have specifically proposed the idea of levying a special property assessment estimated to be about 1 percent of actual property value each year for 30 years.

“This is just a recipe for continuing the cycle of economic decline and disaster in Illinois,” said Jameson, a Belleville Republican challenging Rep. Jay Hoffman (D-Swansea) in the 113th District. “I guess that’s what it means to be a Democrat, all the tax and spend policies. It’s Republicans who are more likely to support limited government and fiscal responsibility. The current Democratic leadership definitely leans toward raising taxes, while I believe we need to be concentrating on increasing the base.”

Jameson said he stands in full support of the resolution recently introduced by Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) opposing any new statewide property tax.

“One thing we can all agree on is the fact as taxes are increasing, people are exiting,” he said. “Our tax base is eroding as fewer and fewer people decide to remain here in Illinois. It’s an unsustainable cycle.”

Jameson added the differences between him and Hoffman couldn’t be more exaggerated. 

“I will fight every day to lower taxes, while he has voted in favor of them,” he said. “You’ve got to give businesses and individuals the chance to keep more of their own money so it let circulates into the economy and improves things for everyone. I don’t know anyone who’s getting up to go to work every morning to support our state government. Yet, here it is; we’re being taxed on everything.”

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