The President’s health care legislation simply writes a blank government check instead of working on controlling rising health care costs. We must focus on both short term costs to long term costs through preventative care. Seventy-five percent of our nation’s health care spending is tied to the treatment of chronic diseases like asthma, diabetes, heart disease and cancer. Some treatment that is excluded from coverage now should be covered because it shifts the focus to disease prevention, leading to cost reductions through the management of chronic diseases.
Secondly, I support the creation of Association or Small Business Health Plans - allowing groups of small employers to band together to increase purchasing power for their employees’ health insurance thereby receiving a more affordable rate. This would be a major step for people in small businesses or self-employed people to obtain affordable health coverage. Additionally, I fully support federal income tax deductibility for health insurance premiums, uniform medical records and reimbursement forms will also streamline the system and reduce administrative costs and I’d like to see Congress extend and expand individual Health Savings Accounts and enact tort reform.
By implementing these types of reforms, we will see the cost of health costs decline.
In order to turn our economy around, we need to listen to those who know best: the job creators. Over the last year, I’ve held small business roundtables all throughout my current district to hear their thoughts, concerns about what is hampering their business. The majority of these businesses tell me that tax reform would help their business to grow and thrive, and overregulation is a deterrent to job growth. The House has passed several bills addressing tax reform and rolling back burdensome and unnecessary regulations however, the U.S. Senate has refused to take up America’s pressing issues to help spur job growth.
I believe becoming more energy secure is an untapped opportunity to expand employment opportunities right here in the U.S. The newly drawn 16th District of Illinois will be one of the most energy intensive districts in the country, if not the most. From nuclear to hydropower, the 16th District will produce much of the energy that powers the Midwest, particularly the large manufacturers here. I’m proud to be a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee where we are working to find solutions that increase the supply of American made energy in all forms, reduce prices for Americans, and provide high paying jobs here at home.
I supported House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan’s Path to Prosperity budget resolution, which tackled our national debt in a responsible way by reforming the tax code, repealing President Obama’s health care law and restructuring entitlement programs while keeping promises to current seniors and those nearing retirement age. This budget puts our country on a pathway toward prosperity by reining in government spending while encouraging growth through overhauling our tax code, which will increase tax revenue through economic growth, not by tax increases.
I do not support U.S. intervention in Syria however, this is an opportunity for the United Nations Security Council to serve its purpose, impose necessary sanctions and build the international community against the Bashar al-Assads regime’s inexcusable actions against its people. The international community, including the United States, should be ready to offer assistance in the event of a regime collapse.
With all the partisanship in Washington, I wasn’t elected to Congress to add to the gridlock. Instead, I have made it my top priority to reach across the aisle by working with Democrats on legislation to benefit my constituents.
In my first term, I have worked with Illinois Democrat Congressman Dan Lipinski on revitalizing American manufacturing, with Democrat Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin on improving employment and job training programs for returning service members and Democrat Congressman Lois Capps on streamlining requirements and procedures for veterans with military emergency training to become civilian emergency medical technicians.
The only way for our country to move forward is for our leaders to have a mutual respect for one another and to focus on what unites, not divides us. We must not forget that the founding of our country was based on compromise and unfortunately, that word has been demonized by both sides. You can hold onto your principles while also compromising with members of the other side. We were sent to Washington to solve our country’s pressing issues, not to score political points.
There is a legal way to come to America and we must not demonize immigrants who come to our country by following the rules. Illegal immigration places an extreme burden on our public services and our communities – a burden that is not sustainable. Too often in government, they discuss steps two, three and four before step one is resolved. In my role with the Air National Guard, I have seen firsthand the importance of the National Guard’s role in securing the border. In a post 9/11 world, an open border creates an opportunity for terrorists to cross into our nation undetected. Border security is step one and Congress has not committed to fully addressing the issue yet. After that, we can take the next steps to solving this complex issue.
The 16th District of Illinois is one of the most energy intensive districts in the country, if not the most. From nuclear to hydropower, the 16th District produces much of the energy that powers the Midwest, particularly the large manufacturers here. I’m proud to be a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee where we are working to find solutions that increase the supply of American made energy in all forms and reduce prices for Americans. America can become more energy independent and the area can help play a vital role in that and benefit by the high paying jobs it would create.
Secondly, the 16th District is also home to one of the largest manufacturing areas in the country. I’m excited to work with a Democrat member in the Illinois delegation on a manufacturing reform proposal that would develop a national strategy to promote growth and competitiveness in American manufacturing. This is an opportunity to drive Republicans and Democrats together while benefiting the manufacturing sectors within the district.
We need to ensure that we enforce the laws already on the books. I am a firm believer in the 2nd Amendment and do not support measures that would infringe on that right.
The government made a promise to our nation’s seniors and that promise should be kept. I do not believe it is fair to change the rules for those currently receiving Social Security benefits or nearing retirement as some members propose. It is necessary, however, to modify Social Security for younger generations, like myself, if we are to ensure the program’s long-term viability. I think many people in my generation do not expect Social Security to be available to them when they reach retirement. Before we can begin discussing how to save Social Security, we all must agree that there is a problem. It will be much easier to discuss the various proposals that have been floated when both sides decide to set aside the opportunity to score political points and work toward solving the problems we were elected to do.
Congress needs to accept that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act has been found constitutional and move forward. Continuing to hold votes in an attempt to repeal the ACA wastes valuable time and taxpayer dollars. Instead, Congress should work together in a joint effort to ensure people are receiving the healthcare they deserve. We must also make citizens aware of the ACA and educate them as to how the law benefits them. In addition, we must also hold non-compliant insurance companies accountable.
Congress needs to stop playing politics and get to work. Job proposal packages that have stalled for far too long need to be acted upon.
We need to repair our infrastructure and doing so will create jobs for our citizens. Five years ago the U.S. was ranked 1st in infrastructure, we are now 15th. Fixing our deteriorating highways, bridges, will make us more globally competitive and strengthen our economy.
We should also invest in our states and municipalities so that they can hire more workers such as teachers, firefighters, and police officers. This investment will only create a return for taxpayers.
Simply put, no. The irresponsibility of handing out two enormous tax cuts to the richest Americans while at the same time creating a brand new entitlement program that was a give-away to Big Pharma without paying for it in the budget, and starting two wars, also without paying for them, is one of the most shameful economic failures I’ve witnessed in my lifetime. As President Lincoln said, “Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if labor had not first existed. Labor is the superior of capital, and deserves much the higher consideration.” Republicans have turned it backwards in this country, giving higher consideration to capital in our tax code than labor, taxing it at 50 percent of what the working man must pay. I intend to rectify this injustice by restoring common sense to the tax structure so the wealthy CEO isn’t paying only 13 percent of his income in taxes while the working man or woman who needs more of his or her income to survive, is paying more than a quarter of their earnings to the government. Paul Ryan’s budget is just one more paving stone in the Path to Poverty for working Americans laid out by him and his colleagues in the previous Congress that will worsen the already weakened economy that his Congress saddled us with. By restoring tax fairness we will pay down our national debt far more quickly and that’s what I intend to see happen.
I do not support U.S. military intervention in Syria. While the current reprehensible situation certainly warrants a response, I believe it is up to the U.N. to fill that role. Strict sanctions should be imposed against Bashar al-Assad’s regime; however, the international community, and the United States, should be prepared to assist Syrian citizens if the government falls.
Absolutely. America works best when we work together to move the country forward. Cap and Trade, full participation in the health insurance pool, and the DREAM Act are just a few things Republicans have endorsed that Democrats have embraced because they are good ideas. Unfortunately Congress has become gridlocked because of political opposition to our president, abandoning their duty to work for the people, putting party before country. There is no greater evidence of this than their 100 percent opposition to their own legislation now that President Obama is trying to get it passed. Many of us supported President Obama because of his legislative history of bi-partisanship, passing legislation such as the Lugar-Obama Nuclear Nonproliferation Initiative, the Obama-Coburn Transparency In Government Act that brought us usaspending.gov, and the sweeping Death Penalty reform bill right here in Illinois, that no one initially wanted, but in working with his colleagues he was able to improve it so that it passed both Houses unanimously with the full support of law enforcement. If I’m elected to represent this district in the House of Representatives I will strive for the highest level of bipartisanship.
Of course those born outside our borders should only enter our country legally, but given the demand for their labor and services, it’s shameful that we still don’t hold Corporations responsible for following the law when it comes to our Guest Worker programs. Most Americans don’t realize how much they depend on the labor of immigrants in this country, but we cannot morally continue to exploit them for that labor and then villainize them in the next breath. Unscrupulous businesses that skirt our Employment Laws by enticing undocumented immigrants with the promise of jobs while paying those workers under the table and forcing them to work in illegal and hazardous conditions should be held accountable for their illegal actions. People will always naturally go where opportunity for their family can be found, and the United States has a long and rich history of welcoming immigrants from all over the world who want to share in the American Dream. Let’s keep that dream alive by focusing on the best solutions, not vitriolic hyperbole aimed at those who seek to live it. With better enforcement of our current laws and a Guest Worker program that holds employers responsible, we can build a future America that works for everyone who wants to be a part of it.
Programs such as Medicare and Veteran’s Benefits are vital issues for the 16th district. We have a large population of citizens who are eligible for these earned benefits and we must ensure that they are not cut. People who have paid into social security and medicare their entire lives should not have to worry about suddenly losing the benefits that they worked so hard for. In addition, soldiers who have sacrificed so much for our freedom and security should be respected for the heroes that they are once they return home. As a wife and mother to members of our armed services, I cannot fathom the thought of sending our troops overseas and then leaving them to struggle without opportunity when they return home from war. They protect our freedoms and we must protect them when they get home. Allowing taxpayer money to be wasted on no-bid military contracts to giant corporations while cutting Veteran’s Benefits is simply unAmerican.
We must also remember our district is heavily reliant on our farmers who are an essential and integral part of our economy. Congress should have moved forward in passing The Farm Bill and it is abhorrent that they allowed political gridlock and an extended vacation to prevent that from happening. I will stand up for our farmers and not be a part of this ineffective Congress.
As a gun owner myself, I am, and will remain, a strong advocate for the rights and freedoms of gun owners under the 2nd Amendment. But I’m sure my fellow gun owners would agree that common sense gun responsibility laws save lives. We must ensure fewer guns fall into the hands of the irresponsible, law-breaking few while still affording responsible gun owners the freedom they enjoy under our Constitution, and these are the types of improvements I will fight for as your representative.
The next time someone tries to scare Americans into abandoning Social Security, the most important promise we make to seniors, generation after generation, ask yourself two questions.
One, do they use any actual math? and Two, who is going to benefit from their scheme?
I’ll tell you the truth: Social Security as we know it can last indefinitely, for decades, if we have the courage to make a few honest changes. They want you to think this is some crisis, some horrible socialist disaster. You know what it is? A math problem. The Baby Boom generation is already reaching retirement, and Social Security has enough surplus to get us through the next two decades without any changes. It’s not going to be bankrupt after that, it’s just going to be taking in less than it pays out. But if we start making the simple math adjustments now, it will survive forever. It’s not even difficult math -- it’s addition and subtraction. Take in a little more, pay out a little less, add up how much we need to adjust.
Congress should have the courage to figure out the adjustments instead of scrapping the whole thing and turning it over to Wall Street. Who do you think comes out ahead on that deal?
