Illinois State Legislative Election 1996 National Political Awareness Test

Abortion

Please indicate which principles you support (if any) concerning abortion.

1. Abortions should always be legally available.
- X

2. Abortions should be legally available when the procedure is completed within the first trimester of pregnancy.
- No Answer

3. Abortions should be legal only when the pregnancy resulted from incest, rape, or if the life of the woman is endangered.
- No Answer

4. Abortions should always be illegal.
- No Answer

5. Abortions should be limited by waiting periods and parental notification requirements.
- No Answer

6. Illinois government funding should not be provided to clinics and medical facilities that provide abortion services.
- No Answer

Affirmative Action

Please indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding affirmative action in Illinois.

1. Illinois government should prosecute cases of discrimination in the public and private sector.
- X

2. Illinois government should provide no affirmative action programs.
- No Answer

3. Amend the Minority and Female Business Enterprise Act to assist business owners in obtaining state contracts.
- No Answer

4. Illinois government should add sexual orientation to Illinois' anti-discrimination laws.
- X

5. Illinois government should not add sexual orientation to Illinois' anti-discrimination laws.
- No Answer

6. Do you believe that Illinois government should recognize same-sex marriages?
- Undecided

Budgetary

Indicate what changes you support (if any) concerning levels of funding for the following categories. Select one number only.

1. Abortion
- Maintain Status

2. Affirmative Action
- Maintain Status

3. Agriculture
- Maintain Status

4. Education
- Greatly Increase

5. Environment
- Slightly Increase

6. Health Care
- Slightly Increase

7. Law enforcement
- Greatly Increase

8. Welfare
- Slightly Decrease

Children & Families

Please indicate which principles you support (if any) to address child and family-related issues in Illinois.

1. Increase state funding for programs to prevent teen pregnancy.
- X

2. Provide tax credits for businesses that provide child care for their employees.
- No Answer

3. Deny or suspend state-issued permits and licenses to parents who are delinquent in paying court-ordered child support.
- X

4. Reduce child abuse and neglect by providing state funding to combat poverty.
- X

5. Reduce child abuse and neglect by placing abused or neglected children in orphanages.
- No Answer

Crime

Please indicate which principles you support (if any) to address crime in Illinois.

1. Increase state funds for construction of state prisons and hiring of additional prison staff.
- No Answer

2. Expand and promote "community policing" programs.
- X

3. Continue to enforce "truth in sentencing" for violent criminals so they serve their full sentences without parole.
- X

4. Expand the use of the death penalty for additional circumstances relating to murder.
- X

5. Oppose the death penalty.
- No Answer

6. Implement penalties other than incarceration for certain non-violent offenses.
- No Answer

7. Require mandatory life sentences for third-time, violent felons.
- X

8. Inform communities when a convicted sex offender moves into the community.
- X

9. Increase state funds for programs which rehabilitate and educate inmates during and after their prison sentence.
- X

10. Decriminalize the possession and private use of certain illegal drugs such as marijuana.
- No Answer

11. Strengthen penalties and sentences associated with drug-related crimes.
- X

12. Implement chain gangs, in which prison inmates work together in chained work groups.
- No Answer

13. Limit the number of appeals allowed for inmates on death row.
- X

14. Implement "enterprise zones" in high crime communities to promote job-creating industries in those areas.
- X

15. Support laws requiring restitution to crime victims at the personal expense of the criminal.
- X

Crime (Juvenile)

Please indicate which principles you support (if any) to address juvenile crime in Illinois.

1. Prosecute juveniles who commit murder or other serious, violent crimes as adults.
- X

2. Provide state funding for military-style "boot-camps" for first-time juvenile felons.
- X

3. Increase state funding for community centers and other social agencies in areas with at-risk youth.
- No Answer

4. Support state funding of programs for at-risk youth such as guaranteed college loans and job training and placement.
- No Answer

5. Impose mandatory curfews for minors in high crime areas.
- No Answer

6. Allow courts to hold parents accountable for a minor child who possesses a firearm.
- X

Economic Development

Please indicate which principles you support (if any) concerning Illinois' economic development.

1. Increase state funds for improving the state's transportation system, including major roadways, railways and airports.
- X

2. Provide low-interest loans and tax credits for expanding, start-up or relocating businesses.
- No Answer

3. Expand legalized gambling (e.g. slot machines, video gambling).
- No Answer

4. Reduce state government regulations on the private sector.
- X

5. Remove state governmental controls or caps from wages, prices, rents, profits, production, and interest rates.
- No Answer

6. Support limits on cash damages in lawsuits against businesses and professionals for product liability or malpractice.
- No Answer

7. Increase state funding for programs to re-train unemployed workers.
- X

8. Initiate cost/benefit analysis of all Illinois laws and regulations to determine their economic impact.
- X

9. Fund construction of a third metropolitan airport in the Chicago area.
- No Answer

10. Change the current Workers' Compensation Law by limiting the amount of damages for which a business may be liable to employees.
- No Answer

11. Support the use of state funding for the construction of sports stadiums and arenas in Illinois.
- No Answer

Education

Please indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding Illinois' education system.

1. Increase state funds for professional development and salaries of public school faculty.
- X

2. Endorse teacher-led voluntary school prayer in public schools.
- No Answer

3. Encourage private or corporate investment in certain public school programs.
- X

4. Provide parents with state-funded vouchers to send their children to any participating school (public, private, religious, technical).
- No Answer

5. Support "charter schools" where teachers/professionals receive state authorization and funding to establish new schools.
- No Answer

6. Require the use of state-wide achievement standards for all state public schools.
- No Answer

7. Emphasize local control of education as long as the school district meets state health and safety standards.
- X

8. Support sex education programs which stress abstinence.
- X

9. Support sex education programs which stress safe sexual practices.
- X

10. Fund public school education in Illinois by increasing state income taxes and decreasing local property taxes.
- No Answer

11. Provide state funding for programs which increase Illinois students' access to the Internet and other telecommunications networks.
- X

12. Increase state funding for school security (e.g. metal detectors, truancy officers).
- No Answer

13. Amend the Illinois Constitution to allow the state to fund at least 50% of costs related to Illinois public schools.
- X

Environment

Please indicate which principles you support (if any) concerning Illinois' environment and natural resources.

1. Enact tougher environmental standards to encourage the sale of cleaner burning fuels throughout Illinois.
- X

2. Support "self-audit" legislation which creates immunity incentives for polluting industries to clean up pollution.
- X

3. Require a cost/benefit analysis on the economic impact of any environmental regulation before it is implemented.
- No Answer

4. Require the state to reimburse citizens when state-sponsored environmental regulations limit use of privately owned land.
- No Answer

5. Provide funding for recycling programs in Illinois.
- X

6. Request flexibility from the federal government in enforcing and funding federal environmental regulations.
- No Answer

7. Suspend Illinois' participation in unfunded, federally mandated environmental protection legislation.
- No Answer

8. Maintain minimum environmental quality as mandated by current federal regulations.
- X

9. Support "right to know" information being made available to communities exposed to hazardous substances.
- No Answer

10. Support continuing Illinois' status as a host state for commercial low-level radioactive waste disposal.
- No Answer

11. Oppose continuing Illinois' status as a host state for commercial low-level radioactive waste disposal.
- X

Government Reform

Would you support amending the Illinois Constitution to limit the terms of the following Illinois officials?

1. State Senators and Representatives
- No

2. Governors
- No

3. Do you support amending the U.S. Constitution to require an annual balanced federal budget?
- Yes

4. Do you support requiring limits on individual contributions to state legislative candidates?
- Yes

5. Do you support requiring limits on PAC contributions to state legislative candidates?
- Yes

6. Do you support requiring limits on corporate contributions to state legislative candidates?
- Yes

7. Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information?
- Yes

8. Do you support imposing spending limits on political campaigns?
- Yes

9. Do you support partial funding from state taxes for state level political campaigns?
- Yes

Gun

Please indicate which principles you support (if any) concerning gun issues.

1. Support expanding the nationwide ban on the public sale of assault weapons to include all forms of semi-automatic weapons.
- X

2. Increase state restrictions on the purchase and possession of firearms.
- No Answer

3. Maintain all state registration procedures and state restrictions on possessing firearms.
- X

4. Ease state procedures and restrictions on the purchase and registration of a firearm.
- No Answer

5. Repeal all state bans and measures that restrict law-abiding citizens from obtaining firearms.
- No Answer

6. Allow law-abiding citizens to carry concealed firearms that are legally owned and registered.
- No Answer

Health Care

Please indicate which principles you support (if any) concerning Illinois' health care system.

1. Expand funding for pre-natal and infant care programs available in the state, including immunizations.
- X

2. Provide tax incentives to small businesses which provide health care to their employees.
- No Answer

3. Ensure that Illinois citizens have access to basic health care through managed care, insurance reforms, or state-funded care where necessary.
- X

4. Guaranteeing medical care to all citizens is not a responsibility of state government.
- No Answer

5. Limit the amount of damages that can be awarded in medical malpractice lawsuits.
- No Answer

6. Convert Illinois' Medicaid program to a system of Medicaid-funded managed health care.
- No Answer

7. Continue tax on Illinois hospitals and nursing homes to help fund health care for the poor.
- No Answer

8. Support programs in schools and workplaces which provide Illinois residents with AIDS/HIV prevention information.
- X

9. Support legislation requiring health insurance providers to provide certain medical services (e.g. coverage for a 2 day hospital stay after childbirth).
- X

10. Enact legislation which allows citizens and small employers to pool their health insurance purchasing power.
- X

11. Enact legislation which assures Illinois workers will have portable health insurance if they lose their jobs.
- X

State Taxes

Please indicate the changes you will support (if any) concerning Illinois' tax levels for the following categories.

1. Alcohol Taxes
- Maintain Status

2. Business Taxes
- Slightly Decrease

3. Capital Gains
- Maintain Status

4. Income Taxes (incomes less than $75,000)
- Slightly Decrease

5. Income Taxes (incomes greater than $75,000)
- Slightly Increase

6. Property taxes
- Greatly Decrease

7. Sales taxes
- Maintain Status

8. State Fees
- Maintain Status

9. Do you support a flat tax structure for state income taxes?
- No

10. Do you support expanding property tax caps to all Illinois counties?
- Undecided

Welfare

Please indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding Illinois' welfare system.

1. Provide child care services to welfare recipients who work or attend school.
- X

2. Allow welfare recipients to work and still receive state-funded health care and child care (if needed) until they become self-sufficient.
- X

3. Require that able-bodied welfare recipients receive job training, attend school, or work in order to receive welfare benefits.
- X

4. Require that unwed mothers under the age of 18 attend school and live with a parent or guardian (if possible) to receive benefits.
- X

5. Limit the benefits given to welfare recipients if they have additional children.
- No Answer

6. Provide two-parent families living in poverty the same welfare benefits as one-parent families.
- X

7. Eliminate government funded welfare and advocate privately funded assistance to people in need.
- No Answer

8. Impose a two-year limit on welfare benefits for recipients who are able to work.
- X

9. Require mothers age 18 and under to complete high school through mandatory "Learnfare" program.
- No Answer

10. Continue "Earnfare" as a voluntary program in which food stamps recipients work to earn money and pay off food stamps.
- X

11. Make "Earnfare" a mandatory program for parents who are delinquent in paying court-ordered support.
- No Answer

12. Require mothers to identify their child(ren)'s father in order to receive welfare benefits.
- No Answer

13. AFDC benefits for families with children in grades 1-6 should be tied to these children's attendance in school.
- X

Legislative Priorities

Explain what your two main legislative priorities will be if elected to the Illinois State Legislature. If any of your priorities will require additional government funding, explain how you intend to obtain the additional funding.
- I see the biggest challenge facing government in 1996 is making education the number one priority of our State legislators. It is imperative that education be fully funded at 50% as recommended by the Constitution of the State of Illinois. In an effort to address the challenges that face the State of Illinois, I recommend reprioritizing all of the issues faced by our legislators in Springfield....