Vince Kolber: 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: ChicagoWebsite: votevince.comOffice sought: 5th District U.S. Representative Age: Family: Occupation: Principal Founder RESIDCO which leases equipment to the Railroad and Airline industries since 1982Education: BS Wharton U PENN; MBA Booth U CHICAGOCivic involvement: 1992 - 2008 President and Vice President of Horner Park West Neighborhood Association 2009 - 2011 MoveOn 5th District Council OrganizerElected offices held: lQuestions Answers Many Americans see gridlock as the greatest problem facing Washington today, and public opinions are at historic lows regarding the job their Senators and congressmen are doing. Specifically, what will you do to make Congress more productive and effective?Our republic was founded on the clashing of ideas resolved through compromise into principled solutions. Now we are saddled with the an out sized government choking in red ink whose unsustainable programs are smothering job creation, opportunity for all and suffocating the American Dream. While a congress forever dominated by attorneys and professional politicians got us here they seem incapable of leading us to a better tomorrow. We need more job creators in Congress who understand this problem and who are capable of explaining it to members who retreat in frustration to untenable ideology rather than deal with practical reality. Business leaders who create jobs are skilled in the art of working through practical reality to make things happen and Congress needs more of them.What immigration policies do you support? Where, if at all, do you see room for compromise to produce an effective policy on immigration? How will these policies have an impact in your district?We need to secure our borders and fix our broken immigration system to recognize that those who come to America seeking a better life are just like previous generations. We should afford all honest and hard-working immigrants the clear opportunity to work towards a legal status as long as they have been law-abiding productive members of society. Anyone who has broken the law, hurt other immigrants, or have endangered the life, liberty or property of others, should be deported and refused re-entry. We need the secure border to prevent re-entry of those so returned and to restore confidence in our sovereign nation's legal immigration system. These solutions will help many in the 5th district have clarity in their lives and a better chance to be productively engaged on our economy.How do you assess the state of the federal budget? Do you see a need for changes in how revenue is produced or in spending priorities? What specific changes do you consider necessary regarding federal tax policy and practice?We have a spending problem not a revenue problem. All areas of federal spending including the defense department should be audited to uncover waste, fraud, and abuse without regard to sacred cows. A low flat tax on job creators and the closing of outdated corporate tax concessions will not only invigorate growth but it will raise revenue. Then we clearly need to reduce the rate of growth of government spending across all programs. While everyone should pay their fair share, I believe business taxpayers, families and seniors are already taxed too much. I would not seek any spending increases unless they were mandated by existing law.How would you work to produce a stable, affordable, effective federal health care policy? What shortcomings do you see in the Affordable Care Act, and how do you propose addressing them? If you favor scrapping the Act altogether, what do you propose as an alternative?I would vote to fix the ACA so that patients and their doctors regain control and take power away from nameless faceless paper pushing bureaucrats in Washington. The Act has two mandates; we only need one. We can grow more jobs without the employer mandate or the 30 hour rule and the 50 employee limit rule. These restrictive provisions are giving us a part time economy.What can be done at the federal level to aid Illinois' economy and your district in particular?Creating an environment that produces job growth to improve life for our low and middle income wage earners is essential. I understand the importance of earned success from a paying job. As a successful entrepreneur, I have assisted in the creation of thousands of private sector jobs. I will work to end corporate welfare and tax preferences. We need to reduce tax rates on job creators and get rid of job suffocating regulations. These measures will get this economy really growing with more jobs.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?I believe that children from low income households deserve as good an education as everyone else. I am a longtime school choice advocate and will bring to Congress a proven record of community action and educational reform. Parents and children deserve total school choice so that parents can send their children to the public, charter, parochial or private school that best fits their needs.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Scott Walker for his courage to do the right thing under pressure the likes of which we have not seen in our contemporary governmental landscape.What's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?You make your own bed and you sleep in it. Take responsibility for your your actions.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I live a no regrets, no looking back life consistent with the previous answer.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?History and Math. Both helped me learn economics and politics. This helped me build a business and now help me as I run for Congress.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Prepare and find a vocation you love. Work hard - do what is required and then some. Helping others is a key to happiness.