Randy Hultgren: 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: St. CharlesWebsite: www.hultgrenforcongress.comOffice sought: 14th District U.S. Representative Age: 48Family: He currently resides in Plano with his wife, Christy, and four children.Occupation: Member of CongressEducation: B.A. Bethel College in Minnesota, J.D. Chicago-Kent College of LawCivic involvement: Candidate did not respond.Elected offices held: Rep. Hultgren was elected to the DuPage County Board and County Forest Preserve Board in 1994, to the Illinois House of Representatives in 1999, and to the Illinois Senate in 2007. He's been proudly representing Illinois' 14th Congressional District since 2011.Questions 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?I have great hope that the two sides of the aisle can work together to get our economy moving again. Working with several Democrats I introduced two bills to do just that. One helps ensure the great discoveries made at our national labs like Fermilab will create jobs and boost our economy. The second bill modernizes manufacturing bonds, a key tool for hiring more workers. Additionally, I worked with Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger, a Democrat, to protect tax-exempt municipal bonds, a lifeline for local communities looking to build better schools or hospitals. Illinois' Dan Lipinski and I have promoted basic scientific research and Illinois innovation. I truly believe we can agree on about 80% of the issues facing the nation. Building relationships and working on common goals can help us address the other 20% without being divisive. Americans deserve to have representatives work together on the deep issues facing our country.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?Our nation is one of immigrants. My grandparents came from Sweden to find the opportunities our great nation had and still has to offer. It is frustrating to see how broken our system has become in the last few decades. Reforming our immigration system and compromise requires that the American people can trust their president to enforce the laws already in place, but we've seen that isn't the case with the most recent border crisis. Immigration reform is not a race; it's about getting it right. Immigration reform requires three steps: 1) Secure the borders and strengthen enforcement; 2) Overhaul the entire visa system creating clear processes with no loopholes; and 3) Address the status of undocumented families who have been residing in our country for many years. We should examine reform piece by piece through the normal legislative process--it's too complex and important not to tackle step-by-step.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?Americans have no other option than to follow a budget every month, but Washington clearly has a spending problem, continually spending much more than it takes in. Medicare costs are exploding and Social Security is projected to be bankrupt by 2033. This unsustainable trajectory threatens our economic recovery. We must continue to put strict controls on our budget and prioritize spending each and every taxpayer dollar to reduce our debt--passing it on to our children is irresponsible. We must look long-term to truly reforming these safety net programs, protecting them for our seniors and preserving them for the next generation. We must look to adopting serious budget constraint tools, such as zero-based budgeting, to make the serious changes needed for a stronger and better America.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?Healthcare decisions weigh heavy on the minds of my constituents. Unfortunately, the President's answer has resulted in loss of choice, rising insurance premiums, botched national and state exchanges, a myriad of missed deadlines, reduced worker hours and cancelled insurance plans. Businesses and schools want to provide insurance but face confusing and burdensome paperwork. But there are alternatives, like the American Health Care Reform Act and the Empowering Patients First Act, which spur competition to lower healthcare costs and provide tax incentives for people to maintain health insurance. Smart tax provisions would allow families and individuals to deduct healthcare costs, just like companies. I support expanding access to Health Savings Accounts, reforming medical malpractice laws and stopping government's intrusion on religious freedoms. Alternatives like these would also give greater flexibility to Medicare patients, tackle Medicare and Medicaid fraud, and address our doctor shortage by offering loans to medical students.What can be done at the federal level to aid Illinois' economy and your district in particular?Illinois businesses want to expand and hire. Too often they face ineffective, inefficient regulations and a confusing tax system. If each small business in Illinois could hire just one more employee, we would solve unemployment. They should be supported instead of having to defend against aggressive and crippling federal red tape. Illinois and the 14th District are undergoing a manufacturing renaissance. But long-term unemployment remains unacceptably high as workers become discouraged and simply stop looking. Some find their skills don't match with 21st century jobs. The un- and underemployed need training for the jobs that actually exist. I supported bipartisan legislation signed by the President to reform federal workforce training programs so these workers can fill available jobs. Transportation and infrastructure projects are a top priority for community leaders I meet with regularly. I support bold, regional projects to attract new manufacturers and help existing businesses expand and hire workers.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?Our education system is in peril as students are failing to receive the knowledge to pursue higher education or skills to gain employment. The Common Core Standards threaten local control and rob parents of the freedom to decide what's best for their children. As co-chair of the bipartisan House STEM Education Caucus, I support standards in the classroom. But we must take a hard look at this one-size-fits-all approach and ensure the Obama Administration isn't using our children as guinea pigs for a grand social experiment. In my many interactions with 14th District veterans, I am convinced the current VA system of healthcare needs an urgent overhaul. I voted for H.R. 3230 which allows veterans private care if they live more than 40 miles from a VA facility or aren't seen by a physician within 30 days. I will fight to ensure our service men and women receive proper care.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Indiana Governor Mike Pence. He's a strong leader with a clear vision and he brings together community leaders to solve problems for his state.What's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?To serve your community and your fellow man.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I would spend more time telling family and friends how much I love and appreciate them and their unwavering support.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?History and Social Studies: They introduced me to the leadership vision of our founding fathers who inspire me in my service in WashingtonIf you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Love god and serve your fellow man.