8th District GOP hopefuls talk taxes, economic issues

Three Republican candidates in the 8th Congressional District are addressing federal tax cuts and other economic issues as a part of their campaigns.

Steve Greenberg of Long Grove and Gurnee residents Kenneth Arnold and Kirk Morris are the GOP's three candidates in the 8th District, which includes northwest Cook, western Lake and eastern McHenry counties.

Declared Republicans will pick from Morris, Arnold and Greenberg in the Feb. 5 primary.

All three GOP candidates addressed economic issues in a Daily Herald questionnaire and a follow-up editorial board interview.

Greenberg, 36, said he'd push to make permanent federal tax cuts made in 2001 and 2003. He also would seek to reduce tax rates in all brackets.

In addition, Greenberg said he favors maintaining current tax rates on capital gains and dividends. He said raising those taxes would discourage investment in American businesses.

"We need to put more money into the pockets of the people," Greenberg said.

Arnold, 51, said his ideas go beyond keeping the federal tax cuts. He said he also favors modifying the inheritance tax that hits the country's wealthiest individuals.

"Why?" Arnold said. "Because nobody can argue that such assets are required for their family's sustenance and need.

"And, what every politician is too timid to say but me, if we don't get federal tax revenue from the highest-asset dead individuals who no longer have living expense needs -- what other living Americans who struggle to meet their living expenses every day do we get this revenue from?"

Morris, 49, said he favors keeping the federal tax cuts permanent while reforming entitlement spending.

"Increasing taxes on working Americans will discourage investment and savings," Morris said. "I believe that people should be allowed to keep what they earn."

Arnold, a senior benefit plan management consultant, made an unsuccessful try for an 8th Congressional District seat in 2006.

Morris is a sales executive for a biofuels manufacturing company.

Greenberg is a former minor league hockey player who has a lead role in his family's business of developing solutions for small businesses competing with large retail chains.

On the Democratic side, incumbent Melissa Bean of Barrington faces Lindenhurst activist Randi Scheurer in the Feb. 5 primary.