1) What is the No. 1 issue in your district and how would you address it?
The number one issue in my district is the economy, illustrated by both a shortage of good jobs and continuing weakness in the housing market. I have found in talking to people as I go door to door that most people are considerably more concerned about getting or keeping a job and staying in their homes than about anything else. I’ve also talked to good people in DuPage County who’ve worked hard their entire lives and are now homeless, due to long-term unemployment. This is just wrong.
I believe that Congress can address these problems in a number of ways. A better system for mortgage loan modification, including incentives or punishments for banks reluctant to do so, will go a long way toward getting our economy growing again. And, although job numbers are finally on the uptick, Washington can put the economy on firmer ground by investing in infrastructure and high-tech industries, which will pump funds into the economy as those with new jobs spend their money locally. This will leadto more confidence on the part of business that it is time to create jobs and invest in inventories, new technology and equipment. This, in turn, will further spur lending as banks see more opportunity to invest in future growth.
2) How would you promote job growth in your district?
Most immediately, Congress should promote investment in infrastructure, such as repairs to deteriorating bridges and roads, as well as make other investments that private industry cannot provide on its own, such as supporting vocational education for high-tech jobs. This is particularly important in my district since part of the Dupage County High Tech Corridor (along I88) runs through it, along with the business hub along the Jane Addams Expressway in the northern part of the district, both of which provide employment for many district residents.
I would also propose giving businesses incentives to create jobs, such as generous tax credits for the salaries of first-year employees. I also believe the R&D (research and development) tax credit should be made permanent to spur American companies like these to develop new technologies. A study by Ernst & Young shows doing this will add 130,000 jobs to the U.S. economy just in the short-term. In fact, a focus by Congress on rewarding innovation can improve our economy over the long term by creating high paying jobs and making us more competitive in world markets.
3) Should the federal government cut spending and where?
Yes, spending should be cut, but with a scalpel, not an ax. It makes little sense to slash government spending when the economy is still weak and not producing enough jobs for a strong recovery. I would argue that cutting spending is not the most important problem facing our country right now, despite what some in Congress would have us believe. Once we get the economy rolling at a rapid pace again, more people and businesses will be paying taxes on higher incomes and so the deficit will automatically fall. We do need to look for places to cut spending, though, because there is still a lot of waste in government spending.
For instance, Congress is still funneling billions in subsidies to oil and gas companies, many of which are among the most profitable companies in the world. Selectively ending subsidies and tax breaks to corporations that no longer need them to be profitable will add to the federal budget without increasing taxes. We should also reduce the military budget, particularly for private contractors, now that we have withdrawn from Iraq and will soon be out of Afghanistan. Of course, this will also cost jobs, so even these cuts should be done cautiously in a weak economy.
4) If Republican, which GOP presidential candidate do you support?
I would love to answer that question, but I am a Democrat.
5) Give an example of something you’ve done that is bipartisanship in nature.
I am a CPA and the essence of being a CPA is solving problems rather than advocating a position, so most of what I have done in my professional life has been bipartisan in nature. I have used my knowledge of the details of financial reporting to negotiate with clients (and work collaboratively with colleagues) to achieve the fairest possible outcomes for all parties. Although you cannot negotiate or compromise with people who believe “no” is the only answer for Democratic ideas, you can learn to recognize people who share your interest in reaching solutions that make sense for the American people, no matter what party label they wear.
6) Name one good policy idea that comes from the opposing party.
I really admire the environmental protection policy ideas of 20th Century Republicans. In the forefront was Republican president Teddy Roosevelt, one of my heroes. He used the power of the presidency to personally set aside more than 200 million acres of wilderness in national parks, national monuments and national forests, made possible by the Antiquities Act of 1906. And President Richard Nixon was responsible for creating the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through Executive Order in 1970, which brought a wide variety of environmental agencies and initiatives under one roof for maximum efficiency in controlling pollution. Preserving the environment is one of the best ideas ever, and Republicans took a leadership role to put the full weight of the government behind it.
7) How do you define family values?
Family values mean something very different to me than to Republicans. To Republicans, it seems to mean requiring government to define good and bad family configurations and behaviors. To me, family values are ideals of good behavior that strong families can pass on to children. In order to make sure that happens, I believe we should do everything we can to preserve the family as a vibrant economic unit and help each family achieve its highest potential. It means helping parents provide good child care, excellent education and a great start on a satisfying and well-paying career for their kids. Building on that foundation, it is up to the parents to instill in their children the value of working hard and treating everyone fairly.
8) What are your thoughts on the healthcare law?
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is a first step in the right direction that I believe people will probably come to favor as it is fully implemented, just as they did Social Security and Medicare. I do believe we need some adjustments to the Act to better control costs of medical care to reduce the overall cost of the program. But, more fundamentally, I think it is morally bankrupt that a rich country like ours cannot order its priorities to ensure that all citizens have access to adequate health care. Even under this Act, it is estimated that millions of people might still be uninsured. We need to expand coverage to everyone. We should also consider whether a public option deserves to be back on the table. I do not think that its impact on the cost of the Act was ever seriously under study which I, as a CPA, would be able to analyze.
9) Who is your political role model?
Teddy Kennedy has always been my political role model because he developed strong relationships across the aisle with the GOP. He focused on serving the interests of the average American and he accomplished a great deal. In addition to his efforts on the health care law before his death, Kennedy was largely responsible for the Americans with Disabilities Act and almost single-handedly pushed the Civil Rights Act to completion in the Senate. He was also able to work closely with the Republican Congress and president to make No Child Left Behind a reality. Whatever you might think of that law – and I think it requires vast improvement – at least Kennedy’s heart was in the right place. He wanted to improve the quality of education for all children in this country and attempted to put a law in place that would mandate it. Funding turned out to be inadequate to achieve those goals but at least he took steps in the right direction and managed to convince his natural political enemies to support him in the effort.
10) What’s on your iPod?
My musical taste is very diverse, from the Rolling Stones to Broadway musicals, classical music and opera. Right now I’m listening to an original-cast version of Rent, the soundtrack to the girl-buddy movie Boys on the Side and Sheryl Crow. Another favorite on my playlist is the Limeliters, a California folk group from the sixties. I remember my father listening to them when I was a child and I rediscovered them when I found an old album of his.
