Randy Hultgren: Candidate Profile

Note: Answers provided have not been edited for grammar, misspellings or typos. In some instances, candidate claims that could not be immediately verified have been omitted. Jump to:BioKey IssuesQA Bio City: St. CharlesWebsite: www.hultgrenforcongress.comOffice sought: 14th District U.S. RepresentativeAge: 45Family: Married, four childrenOccupation: Financial planner, citizen legislatorEducation: Bethel College, Magna Cum Laude JD, Chicago-Kent College of LawCivic involvement: Board of Directors for the DuPage Homeownership Center The Metropolitan Family of DuPage Board Koinonia Ministry Board Serenity House Board President, Wheaton Academy Alumni Board.Elected offices held: DuPage County Board, 1994-1999 Illinois House of Representatives, 1999-2007 Illinois State Senate, 2007-2011 U.S. House of Representatives, 2011 - presentHave you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NoCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 My top priority in Washington has been to get our economy moving again in order to spur private sector job creation, creating jobs for my constituents and across the country. I know that the government cannot create jobs, but we can create an environment to enable private sector job creation. To that end, I have supported legislation to cut spending, reduce the size of federal government, keep taxes low, and reduce the regulatory burdens confronting our small business owners and job-creators.Key Issue 2 As part of my focus on economic growth, I have worked hard to cut spending. Out-of-control federal spending threatens not only our economy's vitality, but also our children's future. With my help, we have succeeded in cutting spending for two years in a row, the first time that has happened since the end of the Second World War. We will not succeed in shrinking the federal government overnight, but we have succeeded in changing the conversation in Washington to one of how much more we can cut, not how much more we can spend.Key Issue 3 Enabling private sector job creation means creating a reasonable regulatory environment. Unelected Washington bureaucrats and their rules, regulations, and red tape pose a grave threat to small businesses across our district. During my first year in Congress, I have supported numerous bills that would roll back overreaching rules from bureaucracies such as the Environmental Protection Agency, which threaten the vitality of our farmers and manufacturers. I have also introduced legislation that would help get old and outdated rules off the books, improving the business climate for job creators.Questions Answers What would you do to help ease partisan gridlock? Are you willing to compromise on sticking points including spending cuts and taxes to produce results' How can Congress move from being a "crisis-driven" institution?As a former state legislator, I know that getting things done requires conversations and friendships across the aisle, and I've worked to develop those relationships with my colleagues from the other party. Since being elected, I have introduced many bills with bipartisan support. However, when Democrats speak of 'compromise' on spending cuts and taxes, what they mean is that they want to grow the size of government, and this is an issue that I cannot agree with them on. I was elected to shrink the federal government, cut spending, and keep taxes low. I have kept that commitment to my constituents, and will continue to do so.Should tax breaks be extended? Why or why not? If so, for whom? What should Congress do to improve unemployment? Why do you support or oppose President Obama's jobs plan? What cuts or revenue increases do you support for deficit reduction?I support comprehensive tax reform to make our tax code simpler and fairer, increasing American competitiveness and eliminating special interest-driven loopholes. To help the economy, Congress needs to create an environment to enable private sector job creation by cutting spending and excessive red tape, providing certainty about what Washington will do, and keeping taxes low. Since it was unveiled in September, it's become clear that the President's jobs plan is more of a campaign stump speech than a serious proposal to Congress. There have been some areas of common ground -- for example, the three free trade agreements we passed last year -- but too much of his proposals were empty rhetoric and calls for more borrowing and spending. Regarding deficit reduction, I know that we have a spending problem, not a revenue problem; getting our nation's debt under control requires us to make the hard decisions to cut spending.What steps should the country now be taking in the war on terrorism? What policy should the U.S. have toward Iran and North Korea? What is your view of terrorism policies that pit public safety against civil liberty?I have been a strong advocate of tough sanctions against Iran. Iran's nuclear ambitions pose an existential threat to Israel, and a grave threat to global security.How should Medicare and Medicaid be changed overall to fix fund gaps' How should Medicare be changed for those currently enrolled? How should it change for the Baby Boomer generation?I support reforms to protect Medicare for future generations. However, I have pledged not to support any changes to Medicare for current beneficiaries or those who will enter the program in the near future.What is your position on concealed carry gun laws' How do you believe marriage should be defined legally? What is your position on abortion? What, if any, abortion exceptions do you support? Should abortion clinics receive government funding?I am a strong supporter of Americans' Second Amendment rights. Last year, I led a letter signed by many of my Illinois colleagues in the House of Representatives calling on Governor Quinn and leaders in Springfield to pass concealed carry legislation. I believe that marriage must be defined as between one man and one woman. I have strongly opposed federal and state laws that undermine the sanctity of marriage and subsidize the break-up of families. I am pro-life. I have opposed government funding for Planned Parenthood. <div style="margin:8px 8px 0 8px;"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.congressionalprimaries.org/static/primaries/js/widget_api.js"></script><script type="text/javascript">document.write(CongressionalPrimaries.donations("www", "www", "D1129646BCBE92C41681", "Randy", "Hultgren"));</script></div><div style="margin:8px 8px 0 8px;"><script type="text/javascript">document.write(CongressionalPrimaries.tweets("www", "www", "D1129646BCBE92C41681", "Randy", "Hultgren"));</script></div>