League of Women Voters
of Elmhurst - Voters Guide for the General Primary Election |
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Rafael Rivadeneira |
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1. Illinois is struggling to balance its budget this year and may face a $12 billion deficit in 2010-2011. Given the recent reduction in Illinois' bond ratings to A2, what are your specific solutions for alleviating our state government's fiscal crisis? We need to restore a sense of fiscal restraint in our
spending habits. Over the past 5 years, our legislators have bloated the
budget above what inflation and population growth allows for. The first
step to alleviating this crisis is to cut spending across the board. This
includes eliminating pork projects and any new spending increases proposed.
Second, we need to look at ways to reform some of the large ticket items,
i.e., health care costs and pension funding. I believe through strict
health care reforms and adopting a two-tier pension system we can greatly
reduce the deficit. Finally, I believe we need to enact transparency during
the budgeting process. We have a strong, proud population that will not
stand for the backroom deals and frivolous spending habits. When our voters
start to see what goes on, they will vote out the corruption and vote
in fiscally conservative representation who will take care of their tax
dollars. 2. Do you favor or oppose limits on campaign contributions by individuals and interest groups? Should limits apply to contributions made by political parties and by funds controlled by the leaders of the House and Senate? Please explain. I oppose limits on individuals, but support limits on interest groups, political parties, and party leadership. My belief is that by limiting individuals, we unfairly give the incumbent time to generate larger funds. Individuals should have the right to give any amount to the candidate who most embodies their political philosophy. However, interest groups and parties are the ones that control politicians. Their unlimited funding of campaigns is what brought us to the point of corrupt politicians and two parties that have lost touch with the voters.3. The National Census will be counted in April of this year and Illinois is likely to lose 1 seat in Congress, perhaps more, if Illinois residents fail to respond to the census. Should the new Illinois legislative and congressional districts be drawn by an independent, nonpolitical organization, or should that power stay with the legislature? If you support a change, explain how that should be done. I believe the power should stay within the legislature. However I believe that we need to invoke a great oversight from the executive and judicial branches. When people mention a nonpolitical organization, they forget that these people can still be influenced and directed to draw district lines a certain way. If we adopt a method where the judges can oversee the redistricting process, we can ensure a fair process.
4. What policies do you support to resolve the financial issues confronting the Illinois public school districts? Our biggest threat is the poor quality of education across Illinois. I've proposed performance/merit-based pay in the public school system. This method has proven successful in other states, and many more are adopting it. The schools, administrators, and teachers who perform the best are eligible for raises, while the other schools are watched and encouraged to meet standards. The school system has fallen victim to greedy administrators who suffocate the budget, which should be focused on the students' needs. Another policy we should focus on is allowing for the
creation of more charter schools. I believe this will encourage more competition
in the public school system, while giving parents and students a choice
on schooling. Finally, we need to sit with the State Board of Education
to find out where we can cut unsuccessful programs, and restore funding
to the necessary outlets. This year alone ISBE suggested cutting $100
million in programs. We need to find out where they can use innovative
technology and cost-saving measures. 5. Given the current economic climate, would you support a salary freeze or reduction for Illinois’ elected officials? Absolutely. I am the only candidate in the 41st District race to support reducing the salaries. I've proposed cutting the State Representative salary from over $60,000 to the Midwest average of $32,000. I believe an elected official's job is not based on the salary, but a willingness to support the voters and their best interests. Reducing the salary will show a commitment to being good stewards of the taxpayers money.
6. Recently, federal funding has become available to the states for a myriad of projects to develop green technology and reduce green house gas emissions. What actions do you advocate to reduce the Illinois carbon footprint? I would like to see Illinois take a proactive stance towards bringing more environmentally friendly industry and power. We have the ability to become the capital of eco-friendly energy by building wind turbines, using hydropower, and solar energy. I want to bring the companies who create these great products to Illinois, and give tax credits to individuals and businesses that utilize them.
Finally, I'm the only candidate in my race to advocate for green space along our waterways and rain-barrels within our communities. I understand we hold the future in our hands for our children and theirs. If we don't take preventative measures, Illinois may not continue to be the beautiful state it is today.
7. Illinois ranked 48th out of 50 states in job growth between 1997 and 2007, according to the 2009 Alec-Laffer State Economic Competitiveness Index. What specific steps should Illinois lawmakers take to enhance job creation and expand the economic base? What do you see as the greatest obstacle to job creation here? Do you favor lowering the Illinois minimum wage? First and foremost, we should reduce the corporate tax rate to encourage more business and job creation. Second, we need to fix the state's financial situation to show our sustainability and growth. Many business owners want to expand and create jobs, but they are afraid of where the state government is going. We cannot expect them to expand when Springfield continually is asking to take more from our small businesses. The greatest obstacle in job creation is unions and politicians.
For years, greedy unions and politicians who bow to their demands have
suffocated our industry. I support enacting right to work legislation,
to protect individuals and businesses from the damaging demands of unions
and the political cronies We should lower the minimum wage -- considering
Illinois' minimum wage is nearly a dollar higher than the Federal minimum
wage. This is yet another reason why Illinois is not seen as a great state
for businesses, as the cost of doing business here is higher than other
places. Lowering the minimum wage would allow for more jobs, something
that benefits everyone. 8. Please address the academic achievement gap between white and minority students, and between students in property wealthy and property poor communities -- in your district and throughout Illinois. What policies would you support to boost student achievement in your district and statewide? Speaking from experience: growing up as a Hispanic in a working-class neighborhood I outperformed many of my richer, white classmates. So it's important to remember that the "academic achievement gap" isn't a sign of individual disparity, but of system-wide failure. Bar none, the most important thing we can do for ALL students is to increase the amount of charter schools. Students from all backgrounds perform far better in these schools than they do in many neighborhood public schools. Beyond that, the state should offer education vouchers so parents have real choice where their kids go to school. Of course, teacher unions stand in the way of charter schools and politicians tend to stand in the way of vouchers. No one likes to give up control -- even for the sake of children. Charter schools and school vouchers level the playing field and offer all children -- no matter what their background -- the equal shot of a great education we all deserve. As a Hispanic, I understand that there are many people
who still think of minorities as "lesser" in most areas, academically,
socially, economically, and politically. We need to show children of all
socio-economic backgrounds that anything is possible for anyone in our
district, in this state, and in this country. And we need to start in
our schools. 9. Positive DNA tests and dead carp have provided evidence that Asian carp have moved over nearly ten miles up the CalSag Channel and Ship Canal above the electronic barrier installed to prevent them from entering Lake Michigan. Do you consider this a concern and if so, what solutions would you recommend and fund to prevent the carp from entering Lake Michigan? I do consider this a great concern. Asian carp and another invasive species can kill the ecosystem of Lake Michigan costing billions of dollars in clean up and harming our beautiful environment. I believe, with the EPA, the State can conduct research studies and trials to see what our current options are from keeping them out of Lake Michigan.
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