Bill Grossi: 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: Mount ProspectWebsite: votegrossi.comOffice sought: 57th District Representative Age: 61Family: Mari Otto Spouse William T Grossi SonOccupation: AttorneyEducation: Marquette University B.S. Business:Finance DePaul University M.S. Accounting IIT/Chicago-Kent J.D.Civic involvement: American Cancer Society Past Volunteer River Grove Chamber of Commerce Past Board Member Loyola Academy Past President, Vice President, and Secretary of the Fathers' club Mount Prospect Past T-ball coachElected offices held: NoneQuestions 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?I will work with both sides to examine the structure and process that is currently in use. I will introduce measures to combine and eliminate committees. Those committees that duplicate the function of others will be eliminated as will those that are no longer needed. In addition where possible committees will be combined.I will vote for my party's leader. This should allow us to focus on the most important issues facing the state.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?First I will call on the unions to renegotiate their future benefits and second I will introduce legislation to freeze current pensions, convert all current employees to section 403 defined contribution plans, and place all state employees on social security. The Illinois Constitution does not allow changes in earned benefits and therefore no retiree will be affected. The constitution does not prohibit changing future benefits. Retirees will be protected and current employees will be frozen at the benefit they have currently earned. The constitution states that pensions benefits are contractual agreements and as such can be changed.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.I will not support any extension of the expiring income tax increase of 2011. This was a promise made to the taxpayers of Illinois and it should be kept. Expiration should not be reconsidered. I will not support any income tax increase for individuals or corporations.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?I support elimination of waste, fraud, and abuse in every program. Outside firms should be used to investigate all programs. When medicaid was reviewed by an outside firm, millions in abuse were discovered yet the public unions forced the private firm out because Quinn and the Democrats are empowered by those special interests. Every department's budget should be reviewed for cuts. No new programs will be allowed until we get the budget under control. There should be a freeze in all state employees' wages. State employees are now paid in excess of the average paid in the private sector.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?I am a firm supporter of vouchers and charter schools. They have shown they can give parents a choice and students a better education in locations where schools are failing. I will not support cost-shift at this time. Combining school districts as indicated below will achieve savings without compromising student performance.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?We need property tax reform, workers compensation reform, and should look at combining governmental units to achieve cost efficiency. I would like to look at combining school districts, park districts, and other units of government. My school district has three schools yet we have a superintendent, three assistant superintendents, their assistants, three principals, etc. Combining districts could save the taxpayers money and still ensure local control. Jobs are the major priority and bringing them back to Illinois is important since more employment growth increases state revenue. The state's job loss must be ended by common sense reforms.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.John RobertsWhat's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I would spend my do-over on the ability to thank my dad once more for everything he did for me during his life.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Federal Income Taxation - This course was the starting point of my professional life.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Take responsibility for all your actions.