Illinois Congressional Election 2018 Political Courage Test

Abortion

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

2. Other or expanded principles
- While I understand the purpose these labels, the life and death issue of women's reproductive health cannot and should not be limited by these two terms. More women are dying in child birth in the USA today than they did 30 years ago. Because pregnancy is still a life or death decision for women today, the choice can only be an individual woman's to make. All women deserve accessible, quality reproductive health care- our lives depend on it.

Budget

1. In order to balance the budget, do you support an income tax increase on any tax bracket?
- Yes

2. In order to balance the budget, do you support reducing defense spending?
- Yes

3. Other or expanded principles
- The widening gap of income inequality in the US is making us weaker and obstructs economic growth. Corporations and the wealthiest Americans who benefit from the privilege of doing business in the US have a responsibility to pay their fair share to keep our nation strong. I do not support increasing taxes on the middle class. The middle class needs a pay raise which is why I support Medicare for All, $15 minimum wage and protecting workers' rights to unionize.

Campaign Finance

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

2. Other or expanded principles
- We need transparency and accountability in government which means eliminating influence of special interest and corporate PAC money in our elections.

Economy

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

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

3. Other or expanded principles
- Small businesses create two out of every three new jobs. Investments in infrastructure projects create good paying jobs. Investments in public education and public universities will help lower tuition and eliminate the crippling student loan debt that prevents Americans from building middle class wealth.

Education

1. Do you support requiring states to adopt federal education standards?
- No

2. Other or expanded principles
- The role of federal government should be to hold states accountable to their own education standards.

Energy & Environment

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

2. Do you support the federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions?
- Yes

3. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Guns

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

2. Other or expanded principles
- I support the 2nd Amendment but like all individual constitutional rights, it is not unlimited. We face an urgent challenge of reducing gun violence in the US. We need to elect people with the courage to debate balancing individual rights with our responsibility to keep all communities safe.

Health Care

1. Do you support repealing the 2010 Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare")?
- Yes

2. Other or expanded principles
- The ACA is necessary to protect individuals with pre-existing conditions and provide coverage to more Americans under the multi-payer system of private health insurance but we need to move forward to expanding Medicare and Medicaid. Medicare for All will be cheaper, more efficient and cover everyone.

Immigration

1. Do you support the construction of a wall along the Mexican border?
- No

2. Do you support requiring immigrants who are unlawfully present to return to their country of origin before they are eligible for citizenship?
- No

3. Other or expanded principles
- A wall is a waste of tax payer dollars and do nothing to secure the border. Border security requires a regulated border- something we do not have now under our dysfunctional immigration system. I support securing the border by comprehensive immigration reform which includes a broad legalization program for the undocumented population who are already here and fulling integrated in our communities, a real worker visa program tied to actual labor market demand and greater due process protections in immigration proceedings. This will increase tax revenues, stimulate economic growth and create a 'right way' to come for a regulated border.

Marijuana

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

2. Other or expanded principles
- I support legalization of marijuana, investing in drug education programming and Medicare for All to ensure that everyone has access to consistent and stable controlled substance treatment.

National Security

1. Should the United States use military force in order to prevent governments hostile to the U.S. from possessing a nuclear weapon?
- No

2. Do you support increased American intervention in Middle Eastern conflicts beyond air support?
- No

3. Other or expanded principles
- I think war is only the result of failed diplomacy. We have a responsibility to use our military sparingly, as a last resort and then only when there are clearly achievable mission objectives. I do not support increased military interventions in the Middle East or else where until our current conflicts are resolved.

Administrative Priorities

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.
- My top priority is to give the middle class a pay raise by removing the out of control burden of health care from the backs of employers and paychecks of employees, increasing minimum wage to $15, protecting workers' rights to unionize, protecting social security and expanding Medicare. I also support stimulating economic growth and national security by passing comprehensive immigration reform and investing in infrastructure fit for the 21st century.