Sharon Hansen: 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: PontiacWebsite: http://SharonHansenforUSSenate.orgOffice sought: Senate Age: 63Family: Husband, 3 daughters, one grandchild, 2 sisters, 1 brotherOccupation: InnkeeperEducation: BS Nursing ScienceCivic involvement: Pontiac P.R.O.U.D.-board of directors for 2 years and volunteer webmaster for 7 years; volunteered to made cinnamon rolls for groups who helped with spring downtown clean-up Volunteer Webmaster for Illinois Route 66 Red Carpet Corridor for past 8 yearsElected offices held: NoneQuestions 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 will vote on things as they are presented. Hopefully the Senate will change party control where there will actually be something to change. The House submits things to the Senate and Harry Reid won't bring it up for a vote.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?I support securing our borders before any more talk about immigration. Our present situation is very dangerous for our country as our government has created so many enemies with their constant interference with other countries. Terrorists are coming into our country daily and this must stop. Currently I support the current law only until our borders are secure. I don't think that our border security should be a compromise. It MUST be done and done now. If these things are not done, jobs will only get harder and harder to find, more people will end up on public assistance and taxes will climb for the rest of us.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?Our current representatives in Congress have a spending problem. I know how to budget. I was born poor. I will be one of the few if not the only person to not grow up with a silver spoon in my mouth. I know better than any of my opponents what problems are facing the people of my state and country. I can better identify with them so am better able to identify and work on the needs of the people. We need to lower taxes on businesses and the people to bring more jobs to my state. We are one of the worst states in the country. I would like to help change that. The federal government actually doesn't need any of our money to function. The more of our money they steal from us, the more they spend. There are many duplicate federal programs. This needs to stop.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 think Obamacare need to be repealed in it's entirety. I think that insurance companies should not be allowed to reject covering people with pre-existing conditions or refuse to cover the seriously ill. I simply cannot call it the Affordable Care Act because it's anything but affordable. Problem solved.What can be done at the federal level to aid Illinois' economy and your district in particular?Personal income taxes need to be drastically reduced at the Federal level or better yet, done away with altogether. Spending needs to be drastically reduced. The Federal government has taken over too many aspects of our lives which is unconstitutional and too costly. We won't need federal help at all if no one is paying federal income tax. We would have plenty of money to help the poor without Federal programs and it would go 3 times further and we would have more money to spend. Middle income families will be able to afford to hire people to work in their homes which will provide jobs to those who want them. That's the way it worked in the mid to late 1800's and early 1900's. With todays taxes, both parents need to work in most homes and they could use some help with work at home.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?I want to give the people of Illinois a voice in Washington. We don't have any of my representatives in DC actually representing the people. They are only representing themselves. I am not wired that way. If I don't know the right way to vote on something for the people, I will ask them and I will listen to them. If I don't agree, it will be my job to explain to them why it's not a good idea and I will do that.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Justin AmashWhat's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Don't spend more money than you have.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?Studying the Bible at a younger age.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Algebra because I use it every single day. I used it as a nurse and I use it in the kitchen.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Try not to make the same mistakes that I did.