Michelle Mussman: Candidate Profile

Back to 56th State House District

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: SchaumburgWebsite: votemichelle.orgTwitter: Candidate did not respond.Facebook: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: 56th State House District Age: 44Family: I am married to George Mussman. Together we have 3 sons - Matt, Justin, and Nick.Occupation: Full-time State LegislatorEducation: Bachelor of Science in DesignUniversity of Cincinnati1995Civic involvement: Board Member of WINGS (2012 - Present)Board Member of Children's Advocacy Center of Illinois (2012 - Present)Chair of the Northwest Suburban Alliance on Domestic Violence (2015 - Present)Member of Communities for Positive Youth Development (2014 - Present)Member of Roosevelt Schaumburg Advisory Council (2016 - Present)Member of Harper College Promise Business Work Group (2014 - Present)Member of Northwest Suburban Autism Consortium (2014 - Present)Member of the Schaumburg Business Association (2012 - Present)Elected offices held: NoneQuestions Answers What needs to be done structurally to make the legislature more effective? Will you vote for your current legislative leader? What is your position on term limits in general and specifically for legislative leaders? Do you support the ongoing drive for a constitutional amendment on redistricting? What will you do to promote implementation of any changes you recommend?It is imperative that legislators have an open dialogue with their constituents. That is why I have dedicated so much of my time in the district to going door to door to answer questions and receive feedback from the people I represent. This way I am able to respond quickly to local residents who have a question or a problem. It was through holding a town hall meeting that I met Mike, a local father of a child with Autism. I have worked with Mike to better understand the struggles of parents of children with Autism. I could not help but recall the compassion and commitment Mike has for his son and other children with Autism when I learned about the Governor's cuts to the Autism Program on World Autism Day, as well as when I voted to restore funding for the program that Mike and so many other parents depend upon to give their children the services they deserve. I support bringing term limits to Illinois. I would like to see the specifics of any proposed legislation before throwing my full support behind it. The governor's plan for term limits has gone through various changes since he began talking about the issue. If term limits were to become the law in Illinois, I would like to see that it applies equally to all members of the General Assembly, including constitutional officers. I support redistricting reform, as demonstrated through my vote for House Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 58.Would you vote for an increase in state income taxes or sales taxes? Would you vote for new taxes, such as on services? What is your position on a graduated income tax?Illinois' middle-class is already taxed too much. Whether it's a fee, income taxes, property taxes, service taxes, or whatever you may name it, it still means taking money out of the pockets of working families. We need to make sure the wealthiest in society are paying their fair share. It is not right to ask middle-class families that I represent for more while the ultra wealthy are able to use loopholes in the law to take tax breaks. I want to close the corporate tax loopholes and pass a law that will require corporations who have received tax benefits from the state to repay them if they move out of Illinois.What changes, if any, do you support in education and education funding in Illinois? Please be specific.In the 2014 General Election, over 60% of the constituents I represent voted in favor of the advisory question regarding the "Millionaire's Tax," a proposal that would have created an additional tax on incomes exceeding $ 1 million. The dollars from the "Millionaire's Tax" would then be earmarked for our schools. Estimates stated the plan would have increased education funding by $1 billion dollars and would have increased individual district-level appropriations by over $500 per student. I agree with my constituents that we need to make sure the super-wealthy are paying their fair share and the burden of funding basic government functions should not be placed on the shoulders of the middle-class. I will continue to be adamantly opposed to any education funding proposal that is going to take money away from the children of my district. I will fight as I have since day one to make sure that we are bringing more resources to our local schools and making our community one where young families will want to move to because of high-preforming schools. I voted in favor of Senate Bill 2048, which would have increased funding for every public school throughout Illinois.On Illinois' budget, specifically, where do you believe cuts need to be made?Instead of cutting education, public safety, and other essential services that middle-class families depend on, I believe we should balance the budget by closing corporate tax loopholes and raising tax rates on multi-millionaires so they pay their fair share, an initiative that received the support of over 60% of my district when the question was put before voters two years ago. I will not support a tax on the middle-class, which will only serve to place a greater financial burden on already struggling families. Other items I am open to review to save money include rolling back pay for certain state boards and commissions, consolidating duplicative government services, and eliminating the lieutenant governor's office as well as consolidating the offices of state comptroller and treasurer. Further, as a legislator that has voted six times to cut my own pay since taking office, I feel we need a 10% pay reduction for legislators and constitutional officers and a deferment of the cost of living adjustments for members of the general assembly. I would also support requiring approval of a voter referendum before any legislative salaries are increased. We work for the voters and are accountable to them to keep our jobs. Our pay should be treated the same.What approach do you support toward fixing the public pension systems?We need to work together to find a solution to this issue. Any new proposal will likely require a rigorous drafting process. All stakeholders must be at the table, we must ensure those who rightfully paid into the system receive what they have earned. We need legislation that requires systems to ensure those who are receiving their pensions are fully entitled to them. There are many instances of elected officials receiving pensions without being able to show proof they were legally entitled to them. Taxpayers shouldn't be on the hook for pensions for politicians who are not entitled.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?A recent incident in Roselle is another example of the dangers our children face, even in the care of people who hold a position of trust. I support removing the statue of limitations on child sex abusers because justice should not have an expiration date. As a board member of the Children's Advocacy Council, I know that kids who have been the victims of sexual abuse carry the scars for the rest of their lives. We need to make sure that their predators can be brought to justice no matte how long it may take.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.I am impressed with Elizabeth Warren and the issues she has taken on; and after meeting her, how generous she is with her time.What is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Look out for your neighbors, even when it isn't easy. Everyone is your neighbor.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?To have returned to my hometown with my newborn son more quickly, so my Aunt Helen could have meet him and I could've said goodbye.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?In art class you build layer on layer to create something. You must be flexible, knowing that not everyone sees the piece the same way.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Be prepared to reinvent yourself. Life rarely goes the way you think it will. Have savings and a good attitude to help adapt to changes.