Illinois State Legislative Election 2018 Political Courage Test

Abortion & Reproductive

1. Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
- Pro-choice

2. Should abortion be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape?
- Yes

3. Do you support the prohibition of public funds for organizations that perform abortions?
- No

4. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Budget, Spending, & Tax

1. Reducing state employee salaries AND/OR pensions?
- No

2. Instituting mandatory furloughs AND/OR layoffs for state employees?
- No

3. Reducing benefits for Medicaid recipients?
- No

4. An income tax increase on any tax bracket?
- Yes

5. Other or expanded principles
- Stabilizing the state's finances will require evaluating the current tax system at the state and local level. We will not be able to fix the problem through cuts and must identify new revenues which will not impact working and middle class families. I support creating a graduated income tax; expanding the sales tax to discretionary services, and finding new sources of revenue.

Campaign Finance & Government Reform

1. Do you support any limits on campaign contributions to state candidates?
- Yes

2. Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
- Yes

3. Do you support the use of an independent AND/OR bipartisan commission for redistricting?
- Yes

4. Do you support requiring a government-issued photo identification in order to vote at the polls?
- No

5. Other or expanded principles
- I also support creating a public financing system to reduce the need for large corporate, PAC, and individual contributions and shortening the election cycle to reduce campaign costs.

Crime & Public Safety

1. Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?
- No

2. Do you support the legalization of marijuana for recreational purposes?
- Yes

3. Should a minor accused of a violent crime be prosecuted as an adult?
- No

4. Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police?
- No

5. Other or expanded principles
- Regarding (c), this would apply in all cases except where there are rare, aggravated circumstances. To reduce crime, we must start by addressing the root causes: poverty, poor education, and joblessness. We need to also re-establish trust with local law enforcement using modern policing methods, such as community policing, to build a better relationship with communities.

Economic

1. Do you support state government spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
- Yes

2. Do you support lowering state taxes as a means of promoting economic growth?
- No

3. Do you support reducing state government regulations on the private sector?
- No

4. Do you support expanding access to unemployment benefits?
- Yes

5. Do you support requiring welfare applicants to pass a drug test in order to receive benefits?
- No

6. Do you support an increase of the minimum wage of Illinois?
- Yes

7. Other or expanded principles
- Re (c): While as a general policy I believe that government has a responsibility to regulate industries and commerce, these regulations do need to be based on establishing reasonable protections for the citizenry. Out dated regulations should be eliminated and overburdensome regulations should be re-evaluated for their effectiveness. As a general manager in a production facility, I learned that the keys to recruiting and retaining businesses is to invest in people and infrastructure. These investments have a greater impact on a business's bottom line than corporate tax incentives and tax levels.

Education

1. Do you support adopting federal education standards in Illinois?
- Yes

2. Do you support state funding for charter schools?
- No

3. Should immigrants unlawfully present in the United States who graduate from Illinois high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities?
- Yes

4. Do you support requiring local governments to fund teacher pensions?
- No

5. Other or expanded principles
- Re (a): I support the standards in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act as currently amended which was developed through collaboration of major stakeholders. I am concerned about how the current Federal administration a implementing the Act. I support fully funding the new Illinois evidence-based education formula, re-investing in our higher education program, and expanding Career and Technical Education programs in our school districts to provide students with more choices post high school.

Environment & Energy

1. Do you support state funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, thermal)?
- Yes

2. Do you support state government regulations of greenhouse gas emissions?
- Yes

3. Do you support increasing state funding for clean drinking water initiatives?
- Yes

4. Other or expanded principles
- I also support the state creating opportunities for investing in and expanding green economy businesses in Illinois.

Gun

1. Do you generally support gun-control legislation?
- Yes

2. Should background checks be required on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows?
- Yes

3. Should teachers be allowed to bring guns into the classroom?
- No

4. Should a license be required for gun ownership?
- Yes

5. Other or expanded principles
- I also support reducing access to militaristic weapons such a assault weapons, bump stocks, and large ammunition magazines.

Health

1. Should the state government increase funding for treatment facilities to combat opioid abuse?
- Yes

2. Do you support Medicaid expansion through Illinois's health care programs?
- Yes

3. Do you support requiring individuals to purchase health care insurance?
- Yes

4. Do you support legislation that grants citizens the right to choose to die through euthanasia?
- Yes

5. Do you support eliminating religious exemptions for vaccinations?
- No

6. Other or expanded principles
- Re (e): While I do not support eliminating religious exemptions for vaccinations, I believe that such exemptions should be strictly monitored and I do not support expansion of such exemptions beyond complying with established religious practice. I support maintaining the coverage protections that currently exist under the ACA, and adding a public option (such as Medicaid) to the choices on the ACA Marketplace. Adding the Medicaid option might have the additional benefit of stabilizing Medicaid costs.

Social

1. Do you support the inclusion of sexual orientation in Illinois's anti-discrimination laws?
- Yes

2. Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in Illinois's anti-discrimination laws?
- Yes

3. Do you support greater efforts by Illinois state government in closing the pay gap between men and women?
- Yes

4. Other or expanded principles
- I support expanding the Equal Pay Act in Illinois to require companies to provide equal pay to women for comparable skills and forbidding the use of salary history as part of the recruitment and selection process. I also support legislation which would improve the healthcare needs of the LGBTQ community.

Legislative Priorities

In the following area, please explain in a total of 100 words or less, your top two or three priorities if elected. If they require additional funding for implementation, please explain how you would obtain this funding.
- 1. Investing in the future of Illinois by providing world class education to all students from pre-K through college.2. Establishing a fair tax system for the middle class. This will require evaluating the current system at all levels so that higher income residents pay their fair share, enables full funding of education so that school districts can lower property taxes, and identifying new sources of revenue.3. Assuring that healthcare is accessible and affordable for all citizens of Illinois.4. Continued development of the state's infrastructure to attract 21st Century businesses.