Robert Dold: 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: KenilworthWebsite: www.doldforcongress.comOffice sought: 10th District U.S. Representative Age: 45Family: Wife - Danielle Children - Harper (12), Bobby (10) and Honor (7)Occupation: Small business owner - Rose Pest SolutionsEducation: BA, Denison University - 1991 JD, Indiana University - 1996 MBA, Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University - 2000Civic involvement: *Serves as the scoutmaster for Troop 13 Senior Scouts and is a board member for the Northeast Illinois Council for the Boy Scouts of America *Serves on the Board for the Boys Girls Club of Lake CountyElected offices held: Congressman for the 10th District of IL - 2010-2012Questions 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 am confident that we can move beyond the partisan paralysis and gridlock that plagues Washington today. However, doing so requires more than talk, it demands a renewed approach and effective leaders who are willing to put progress ahead of their party bosses or political ambitions. It requires that both parties stop talking at us, and start listening to us and to each other. During my term in Congress, I was proud to have been rated as one of the most independent, bipartisan members of the U.S. House of Representatives and that approach helped me amass a record as one of the most effective freshman legislators. By restoring the 10th District's long tradition of serious, effective leadership, I can not only help end the gridlock but also forge bipartisan support for the policy reforms we so badly need to help revive our stalled economy.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?America's immigration system is broken and needs to be reformed now. Failed policies and an absence of leadership in Washington have saddled America with broken borders, broken families and a status quo that weakens our economy and our communities. For instance, we currently invite the world's best and brightest to study at our universities, yet force them from our shores upon graduation to compete and innovate against us--including against many companies headquartered right here in the 10th District. We drastically limit work visas for highly skilled workers while preventing low-skilled workers who are already here from contributing to our tax system. And at the same time, our borders remain chaotic and insecure. Passing sensible immigration reform requires leadership and compromise, but also that Washington politicians cease exploiting the issue as nothing more than a partisan campaign tool and do the heavy lifting that's needed to fix the system.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?In the past 5 years alone, America's national debt has grown by 70%, soaring on an unsustainable path to a staggering $17.6 trillion. From the U.S. Senate going four years without passing a budget to the "Just Say No Caucus" in the House who have opposed every budget this Congress without offering alternatives of their own, Washington's lack of leadership on the budget is appalling. Borrowing money from foreign countries and future generations of Americans because Washington refuses to budget responsibly today is simply unacceptable. During my term in Congress I was proud to stand with a small group of lawmakers from both parties who crafted the first bipartisan budget in a generation. It's critical that Washington act now to enact bipartisan spending reforms that address the drivers of our long-term and short-term debt, as well as pro-growth tax reform that reduces rates while eliminating lobbyists loopholes.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?Unfortunately, both the Affordable Care Act and the debate over our healthcare system in general have become far more about partisan politics than about the needs of patients. Healthcare should not be a partisan issue and it's imperative that reforms are built upon bipartisan consensus, as was the case when Medicare was first enacted. The steepest challenge facing our healthcare system is the rising cost of care. While I support some components of the Affordable Care Act, the law fails to address the issue of cost and is in fact driving up the price of insurance premiums and deductibles for millions of Americans, while cutting benefits and canceling plans for others. I believe we must move forward with patient-centric bipartisan policy reforms that combine both increased marketplace choices and a reduction in overhead costs through reform, including medical malpractice reform, to drive down the cost of care and expand coverage.What can be done at the federal level to aid Illinois' economy and your district in particular?In recent years both Washington and Springfield have enacted policies that have crippled the local economy and left Illinois families struggling to find work and make ends meet. The combination of disastrous leadership, massive tax increases and misguided regulations have burdened Illinois with the third highest unemployment rate in the nation while driving jobs and employers out of the state and overseas. To reverse the tide we need effective leadership in Washington with a focus on forging bipartisan support for both tax and regulatory reform, along with a serious and responsible plan to address the debt and restore our AAA credit rating. In the 10th District in particular, simplifying the tax code would not only help families and small businesses but imposing more globally competitive corporate rates would stem the growing exodus of large employers from our community to more favorable tax climates abroad.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?â#8364;cent;Advancing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education in our local schools is critical to workforce readiness and ensuring that recent graduates are armed with the skills they need to secure good, well-paying jobs in the growing technology sector. â#8364;cent;Our region is being ravaged by the worst heroin problem in the nation. It's taking a devastating toll on families and communities across the 10th District. Working with local and federal officials to bolster the treatment, education and enforcement programs needed to combat heroin use and addiction is a top priority of mine. â#8364;cent;I'm a strong proponent of infrastructure development, which is critical to our economy, safety and quality of life. In Congress, I helped lead a bipartisan effort to protect crucial infrastructure funding that was threatened by Washington politics. I remain a strong and vocal advocate for that cause and will continue in Congress.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Benjamin Netanyahu. He transcends political partisanship by clearly articulating his position in a manner that appeals to those who share a desire for peace.What's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Your integrity determines your identity.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?Family. I don't know of anyone who, at the end of their life, felt they spent too much time with their family.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Studying the value of negotiation and compromise in business school proved critical to providing effective, bipartisan leadership during my term in Congress.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Live every day as if it were your last.