Jack Franks: Candidate Profile

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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:BioQA Bio City: WoodstockWebsite: www.franks4illinois.comOffice sought: 63rd District Representative Age: 50Family: I am married to my wife, Debby, and we have two sons, Samuel and Henry. My parents and Debby's parents live close by in Marengo and Huntley.Occupation: AttorneyEducation: Received my law degree, with honors, from the American University Washington College of Law. As an undergraduate, I studied International Relations and Political Science at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, where I received my Bachelor of Arts degree, with honors, and spent a post-graduate year at the London School of Economics.Civic involvement: Many civic and philanthropic organizationsElected offices held: State RepresentativeQuestions Answers How will you work to make the General Assembly function more productively and effectively? Wlll you vote to retain your party's current legislative leader? In what specific ways do you support changing how government in Springfield works?Placing strong premium on bipartisanship is the most important way to improve efficiency and productivity of Illinois' General Assembly. Recently I worked with Sen. Dan Duffy to eliminate taxpayer-funded pensions for part-time board members at state transit agencies, and also with Reps. Wheeler and McSweeney to prohibit double-dipping at these agencies. I seek out every opportunity to work with all members of the General Assembly and will evaluate my decision regarding leadership when the candidates for those positions have declared. I believe in term limits for leadership and filed HB6281 to allow for a referendum on that issue.If the Supreme Court, strikes down the SB 1 pension reform, what is your Plan B and why do you think it would be both legal and effective?Senate Bill 2404 is a good place to start, but future measures will only be clear following the court's ruling. Stakeholders from all sides were involved in the negotiations that produced SB2404 and I believe that is the operative condition to produce a legislative remedy that will satisfy the greatest share of all parties' interests and endure the tests of time. While it "saves" less money, I wouldn't consider a law that is ultimately ruled unconstitutional as representing any savings to the taxpayers of Illinois. We should amortize pension payments over 45 years and require funding at 80%.As it stands now, the 2011 income tax increase will expire as planned on Jan. 1. Do you think that expiration should be reconsidered? Would you support making the increase permanent or extending it for some period of time? Please be specific about what level of tax increase, if any, you would support.Under no circumstance would I support an extension of the 2011 income tax hike, or any other tax increase. Illinois taxpayers are severely over taxed and were promised that this tax increase would be temporary. Our state took more revenue from taxpayers last year than ever before in history and Illinois' government needs to learn to live within its means. I have never voted for a tax increase. Illinois has a spending problem, not a revenue problem.Do you support cuts in state spending? If so, what specifically do you suggest cutting and how will those cuts be sufficient to restore the state's financial health and economic climate?Illinois' budget is riddled with waste. The recently abrogated agreement with Northstar Lottery Group costs Illinois hundreds of millions of dollars. The EDGE tax credit program amounts to hundreds of millions of dollars of corporate welfare for large profitable businesses, requiring small and medium-sized businesses to subsidize many companies that pay no taxes. This program should be retooled, and tax rates and fees on all businesses reduced. We need to make Illinois an attractive place to start a new enterprise or relocate an existing business. Additionally, state grant programs need much more scrutiny and accountability with measurable goals and outcomes.What changes, if any, do you believe the state should make in the area of education? Would you support the the so-called pension cost-shift to local schools?A cost shift would inevitably raise property taxes and is an idea I don't support. Additionally, I believe that our state's funding formula for schools is extremely antiquated and must be adjusted to reflect the economic and demographic realities of today. I am also very concerned about the level of debt students are assuming to attend universities and passed legislation in May to study alternative methods of paying for higher education. Additionally, I would use the proceeds of the lottery to provide tuition assistance to Illinois Public Universities.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?Property tax relief. Illinois has the second-highest property tax rates in the nation, according to recent data, and this part of what is driving businesses and families out of our state. This year, I have introduced legislation to forbid tax increases on home's whose value has declined during the previous year, as well as measures to crack down on property tax fraud and increase the transparency of local taxing bodies.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Secretary of State Jesse White's work with his tumblers has made an incredibly positive impact on thousands of youth.What's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Stand up for what is right, even if it is unpopular.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?Regrets, I've had a few, but too few to mention.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?History and Geography. The discussions and the knowledge of the past helped me as a litigator and legislator.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Stand up for what is right, even if it is unpopular. Do the right thing no matter what.