Greg Hose: Candidate Profile

Back to 81st 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: Downers GroveWebsite: gregforillinois.comTwitter: Candidate did not respond.Facebook: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: 81st State House District Age: 35Family: Wife Rose Mary, daughters Evie (7) and Hannah (2)Occupation: AttorneyEducation: B.A., With Honor, in Political Theory Constitutional Democracy from Michigan State University (2002)J.D. With High Honors, from The George Washington University Law School (2007)Civic involvement: Candidate did not respond.Elected offices held: Downers Grove Village Commissioner (2013-present)Questions 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?Residents of the 81st District are tired of the partisan gridlock that has consumed the Legislature. They want a representative who will put their needs first and take action to ensure good middle-class jobs and wages while protecting vital services that families rely upon. I'll work to protect and preserve our public schools, public safety programs, Meals on Wheels and care for the elderly, and services for children with disabilities and victims of domestic violence. I believe it's fundamentally wrong for politicians to hold hostage programs and services our families depend on to further their agendas.My campaign is focused on how best to address the needs and concerns of the people I hope to represent. With this in mind, many of the causes I would champion in the Legislature are taken directly from feedback I have received at doors. With regard to term limits, it's important to know the specifics of any proposal. At a minimum, any legislative term limit proposal I would support would need to include limitations on legislative leadership positions.I also believe that if term limits are to be applied to legislators, they should be applied to constitutional officers. The executive power should be granted only for a limited time in order to limit the possibility for abuse. I support changing the way legislative districts are drawn in order to de-politicize the process, and I support the constitutional amendment on redistricting reform proposed and passed by the House in 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?I will not vote for a tax increase on middle-class families. Rather than penalize those who are already struggling to make ends meet, I am committed to going through the state budget line-by-line to cut wasteful spending and consolidate duplicative programs I also support eliminating taxpayer-funded health care for retired politicians, closing corporate tax loopholes, and implementing a graduated income tax so that millionaires pay their fair share.What changes, if any, do you support in education and education funding in Illinois? Please be specific.I support efforts to change the current school funding formula. What I will not accept is changing the formula in such a way that our local school districts lose money. Too many Chicago politicians have watched the mismanagement of the Chicago public schools, only to remain silent. Now they put forth plans to "bailout" Chicago schools. Unfortunately, this "Chicago bailout" means that our local schools would have to sacrifice state funding in order to achieve their goals, which is simply tax dollars that belong to our schools going to theirs. That is something I would always oppose.On Illinois' budget, specifically, where do you believe cuts need to be made?I support a balanced approach to our state's budget that includes cutting wasteful spending, closing corporate tax loopholes, and increasing tax rates on millionaires. As a starting point, I believe we should eliminate taxpayer-funded health care for retired politicians, eliminate the lieutenant governor's office, and defer legislative cost of living increases and freeze legislative pay.What approach do you support toward fixing the public pension systems?Any resolution to Illinois' pension funding problem must include making the full, required payment on time each year. Public servants, including teachers, police officers, firefighters, and more, have dutifully invested their contributions in the fund each year, paycheck after paycheck. The State must do its part after decades of abject failure.We must be mindful to craft any compromise in light of the Supreme Court's rulings, which unwound years of legislative work. Any changes must be fair to both taxpayers and the employees who have paid into the funds. This requires all stakeholders to be included at the bargaining table.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?In addition to the crucial education and pension issues discussed above, my main priority is finding a balanced approach to resolve our state's budget in a way that protects critical programs and services without burdening middle-class families. Many families are already struggling to make ends meet, which is why I will push for a new law capping property tax increases when home values decline. I will also push for background checks on anyone purchasing a gun, and I support removing the statute of limitations on dangerous child sex abusers to ensure these criminals are brought to justice.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Pope Francis, for living the example he preaches.What is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?The value of hard work and education, especially through watching and studying with my Mom while she completed college when I was young.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?My Dad, who traveled on business, died when I was 11. I would go back and take a business trip with him.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Math was my best subject; American History was my favorite. I learned who we are as a nation and who we strive to become.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Live by the Golden Rule - your kindness to others will be repaid to you.