advertisement

Heidi Holan: Candidate Profile

46th District Representative (Republican)

Back to 46th District Representative

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: Glen EllynWebsite: VoteHeidiHolan.ComOffice sought: 46th District Representative Age: 50Family: Married 30 years, two childrenOccupation: Homeschooling MotherEducation: B.S. in Business Administration from Elmhurst CollegeCivic involvement: Illinois State Coordinator for parentalrights.org, Parent Volunteer with Teaching Homes for Christ and The Greenhouse, Active Wheaton Bible Church memberElected offices held: Candidate did not respond.Questions 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?One thing I promise to do is my due diligence. Meaning I will independently evaluate each bill and determine its overall impact on the taxpayer as to my support of it or not. My vote will not be dependent on who the bill sponsor is or how it may be used as a messaging tool against me in future elections. I am not familiar enough with the individual members of my caucus and I have no idea who will run for leadership next session. I appreciate the support of our current caucus leader and the members I know to date.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?Illinois is insolvent and on a path which will lead to bankruptcy of many of our major cities or severe cuts to public safety and education due to our costly pension, retiree healthcare obligations, and debt. All new employees must be moved to new hybrid pension plans and new contracts that increase contributions for retiree healthcare commensurate with the costs. Overtime, these obligations need to be determined and paid for at the local level where salaries and other benefits are negotiated. The implementation of new contracts with current and future employees that recognize past earned benefits should be constitutional.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.Illinois must become a growth state. Business and taxpayers are watching to see if legislators will keep their promise. They need to send a clear message that they will adhere to their 2011 promise to keep the tax increase temporary. I do not support extending the tax increase. Growth is the primary way we will work ourselves out of the deep problems we have.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?Spending cuts alone will not propel Illinois into full financial health, significant reforms are also needed in the areas of retiree healthcare obligations and Medicaid. Unfortunately, our court system recently tied our hands in making these common sense reforms that would result in significant savings. Funding for projects that are not priorities for the state, such as rehabbing a theater and building a sports arena, must be eliminated. If needed, an across the board cut of 5% could be enacted and still allow for sufficient funding for core government services. We must focus on funding only our core functions.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?We need an honest discussion about the total cost of education at all levels. It is unaffordable for property taxpayers and for students in college. The school funding formula needs change but I do not favor SB16 as it fails to achieve fairness. Logically, local taxpayers should bear a majority of the cost of funding pensions since they set the salaries. I will only support pension cost shift if the state allows local control of the pensions or pension reform that moves to defined contributions. Education reform should include ending unfunded mandates that drive up costs to schools.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?Candidate did not respond.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Candidate did not respond.What's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Candidate did not respond.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?Candidate did not respond.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Candidate did not respond.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Candidate did not respond.