Illinois Senate District 25, Democratic Primary

Education:

Civic, professional, fraternal or other affiliations:

AFL-CIO North Central Illinois Labor Council
IBEW Local21 Union Steward
Democratic Party Precinct Committeeman

Have you held elective or appointive political office or been employed by any branch of government?

U.S. Navy (submarines)
Democratic Party Precinct Committeeman

Please list jobs or contracts you, members of your immediate family or business partners have had with government.

N/A

Education:

BA, University of California Irvine
MA, San Francisco State University
MBA, Roosevelt University, Chicago
Doctoral Studies, Graduate Center of the City University of New York.

Civic, professional, fraternal or other affiliations:

Executive Service Corps of Chicago
Association of Fundraising Professionals

Have you held elective or appointive political office or been employed by any branch of government?

Elected to the Saint Charles School Board (current)
Appointed to the Saint Charles Housing Commission (current)

Please list jobs or contracts you, members of your immediate family or business partners have had with government.

Instructor at IL Valley Community College

Campaign headquarters: P.O. Box 207 Geneva,IL 60134
Website: electstevenhunter.com
Campaign manager:
Campaign budget:
Name your five biggest campaign contributors and the amount they contributed.

Campaign headquarters: PO Box 3501
Website: www.electcorinnepierog.com
Campaign manager:
Campaign budget: Primary Election $25,000
Name your five biggest campaign contributors and the amount they contributed.
I am just beginning my fundraising campaign.

We need to continue our dedication to excellence in education by ensuring the state reimburses our schools on time and as agreed. This would allow our local school boards to properly budget for our academic year.

Economic development for our suburban Main Street
Educational Opportunities
Transportation
Support of our vital Social Service Agencies

Education Funding
Expanding the state's broadband system and intranet
Infrastructure Improvement will play a key role in creating jobs and increasing efficiency of small businesses.

Jobs
Education
Environment
Sustainable Energy
Transportation

Did not respond

For the past 35 years, I have engaged in a broad spectrum of vital community service efforts. My work has ranged from being a college professor and administrator to developing micro-business opportunities for the developmentally disabled to global health development. Currently, I am the founder and president of Sustainable Leadership Solutions, a consulting company specializing in values-based leadership education. I continue to advise nonprofit and governmental agencies on matters regarding executive transition, strategic management, fundraising, and economic development.

No, I do not support reducing pension benefits not yet earned through a bill like SB512. Reducing future benefits does nothing to address the current debt. The current system would still be severely underfunded and we need to address this current debt. Focusing on tomorrow's debt does nothing but distracts us from addressing our current situation.

Under Illinois constitutional law a pension creates a contract between the state and the member. Legislation that amends or has a direct effect of amending the pension code would be unconstitutional. Both the Illinois Supreme Court as well as the Illinois Appellate Court has consistently found legislation amending or having a direct effect of amending the Pension Code and ultimately reducing the pension benefits for current pension system beneficiaries unconstitutional regardless of the manner in which it is achieved. An individual who has contributed into the state pension system cannot be asked to contribute more without being given an equal increase in his retirement benefit package. I am opposed to senate Bill 512 since it would be in breach of the IL State Constitution, Article XIII, Section 5.

I would divert revenue from non essential programs that the state is not mandated or obligated to fund. We are going to need to prioritize our budget to pay our essentials.

According to a fact sheet from the Illinois Retirement Security Initiative, “Illinois usually chose to underfund its employer contribution. Over time, this chronic failure to make the full employer contribution is the primary reason for Illinois state government's predicament today, facing the worst unfunded pension liability in the country.” The weighted average pension received by an Illinois retiree is $32,632. On a voluntary basis a current employee could be offered the opportunity to switch to a different plan pursuant to a change in the Pension Code. This amendment to the Pension Code would provide a provision where a balance would be calculated and moved over to the voluntary plan. The calculation of benefits would include included both actual employee contributions and assumed employer contributions. This change in the Pension Code must be approved by both the Legislature and the Members before it could be enacted. But the current employee contributions and investment earnings is actually cheaper to Illinois taxpayers than a proposed defined contribution plan. The current defined benefit plan covers the bulk of the benefit costs. Government contributions cover 26% of the total costs while for example investments earnings of the Teachers Retirement System (TRS) accounted for nearly 65% funding in 2009; in addition, the TRS employee contribution rate of 9.4% is the highest in the nation among public pension systems for teachers (Center for Tax and Budget Accountability).

I would love to see the 2 percent point income tax increase expire in 2014. It depends upon how successful the general assembly is in 2013 (My first year in office) at righting the ship and establishing a balanced and sustainable financial plan for the State of Illinois.

The 2011 legislature barely passed an income tax rate increase that temporarily raises the tax from 3 to 5 percent; corporate taxes were increase to 7 percent from its previous 4.8 percent. The tax increase is coupled with strict 2 percent limits on spending growth. If the legislature spends above those limits, the tax increase will automatically be canceled. After four years, the rate drops to 3.75 percent. I support the terms and limits of this tax increase.

I don't believe we can lower any tax rate until we find a way to meet our current expenses. Once all our bills are paid on time and as agreed we will have more flexibility in our decisions.

Repealing the current corporate income tax increase would cost the state at least $800 million a year. There are more ways to encourage Illinois businesses than simply a reduction of corporate income tax rates or additional workers compensation reform to encourage business development. For example, the Illinois Manufacturers' Association suggested capping the tax paid for their utility usage. I support the creation of bi-partisan committee which would include legislatures and members of the business community, and labor to consider the needs and the issues surrounding the development of a healthy business environment in tandem with a fiscally healthy Illinois. By working together key solutions would be identified, developed and implemented.

We have already started taking steps in the right direction with the Advantage Illinois. This program provides an opportunity for growth in small business and entrepreneurism. I also believe the treasurer should invest state funds in Illinois businesses. We should keep Illinois State money in Illinois. The Illinois pension funds and college savings programs should be invested in programs like Advantage Illinois that promote local businesses. Infrastructure Improvement will also play a key role in creating jobs and increasing efficiency of small businesses. Improving railroads, bridges, highways and the other failing infrastructures in this state will help to increase business productivity. Better transportation will make for better business.

Increasing Investment in the Employer Training Investment Program, which provides a grant to industry to upgrade workers' skills increases productivity, reduces costs, and improves quality. This successful program has recently been cut by 70% over the past six years.
Help small technology companies in information technology and biotechnology locate the capital they need to expand. Illinois's research universities are a natural incubator for these business which need an the ability to grow so that job growth can develop in this high impact area.
Expand rail transportation and invest in the capacity of Illinoi's intermodal facilities which will alleviate freight congestion and foster economic development.

Borrowing to pay these bills is not an option as the state has proved they can not pay the bills they have. We need to put a moratorium on any new spending and divert all possible new revenue sources such as gambling expansion towards paying our existing bills.

Illinois FY12 budget has already recommended additional funding cuts for its social service agencies pushing Illinois' funding for social service programs as one of the lowest in the nation, perhaps the lowest. When the state cuts one dollar of spending on human services, it causes the loss of $1.36 of economic activity. The state also accounts for a mere estimated 30% of funding for schools. Property taxes are local rather than state-based revenue, which means that where a child lives can often determine whether she has access or not to a good school.
Rather than assuming it is recommended that Springfield use the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability which has been noted for its accuracy for revenue projections.
Identify unnecessary revenues from the $2.3 billion projected for F12, assigned to statutory transfers that are made annually from the General Funds into special state funds.
Illinois should avoid spending $600 million dollars to accelerate a business tax break for capital purchases by decoupling Illinois from the federal law as all but 18 other states have.

I believe that the General Assembly negotiating contracts with state labor unions violates the constitution of the State of Illinois and the separation of powers. I believe it is the executive branch's responsibility to negotiate contracts with state employees that are not directly working for the general assembly.

As fiscal concern embrace the legislature overt reactions to funding issues often ensue, this is such a case. I question this resolution since the negotiating of contracts is the responsibility of the Governor and not the legislature.

I support a Chicago casino. It would provide jobs and increase the states tax revenue. I am open to debate on the possibility of slot machines at the airports and race tracks.

I support the expansion of a casino in Chicago. I also support our horse racing industry and would consider placing a limited amount of slot machines at the race tracks to help improve the revenue stream for that distressed industry.

As long as the corporations, PAC's and super PAC's have no real contribution limits the state party leaders should not be limited on what they can contribute. I would not seek any changes in the state campaign laws. I don't see any real effective way to limit contributions uniformly.

Did not respond

I have no position at this time. I am very hesitant to increase taxes when Illinois recently raised the income tax by 66%.

Currently the tax burden is inequitable placing a higher actual dollar value on lower incomes than higher incomes. I would consider a progressive tax proposal, but would have to review the actual legislation before I could make an informed decision.

There is no easy answer to this question. Until the state accounting systems and budget are under control, there is no way to produce a plan that would fix either of these major issues. Just to preserve school funding at our current spending level the Governor is proposing a 9% cut to all other departments. We need to attract new businesses and grow the economy of Illinois. It's going to be a long road to recovery. We need to remain persistent and dedicated to the education of our future generations.

The state must take on additional responsibility for the funding of Illinois' schools, raising its minimum investment in our children's education from 30% to 50%.
It is a promise that we cannot afford not to keep.

I stand for equal protection under the law. That includes GLBT individuals and couples.

I support civil unions, and I would support equitable tax similar to that of marred couples on indiivduals who enter into this legal relation.