Q&A with Harper

1. Why are you running for this office, whether for re-election or election the first time? Is there a particular issue that motivates you, and if so, what? What will be your main priority?

I am running for Congress because we need a change in Washington. With gas prices at $4 a gallon, a struggling economy, home foreclosure rates skyrocketing, and a war in Iraq, we need leaders who will take us in a new direction and will stand up for the people's interests rather than the special interests. The problems facing our district and our nation are real and I am running to offer real solutions to those problems in Congress.

2. For incumbents and non-incumbents. If you are an incumbent, describe your main contributions. Tell us of important initiatives you've led. If you are not an incumbent, tell us what contributions you would make.

In Congress, I will be a leader on economic issues and will work to grow businesses in our community. As a small business owner I understand what it takes to meet payrolls and what kind of climate allow businesses to thrive. In our district especially, where we have Argonne Laboratories and other new energy companies, we can become a nationwide leader on creating green jobs and bringing new technologies to our community and these are areas I will work on in Congress.

3. In which ways, if at all, would you alter U.S. policy in Iraq and Afghanistan? How would you characterize the effect of the U.S. "surge" in Iraq? What objectives, if any, must the U.S. still meet before it begins to withdraw troops?

I would alter the U.S. policy in Iraq by ending the war with a phased withdrawal beginning almost immediately. I was against the Iraq war from the beginning and believe that we need to begin phasing troops out and asking the Iraqi government to stand up for themselves. Unlike Judy Biggert, who has given George Bush a blank check to fight this war, I will demand timetables and accountability so that we can begin to end the war.

4. What short-term steps, if any, would you advocate to keep gasoline prices in check?

As a country we need to be searching for long-term clean, renewable energy sources to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. But there is still a necessity to keep prices at the pump as low as possible in the short-term because middle-class families are suffering. I support opening the Strategic Reserve and enacting "Use it or Lose Legislation" to encourage oil companies to begin drilling on the 68 million acres of land they have reserved for oil production. I also favor making cars more fuel-efficient so that people can drive further on a gallon of gas.

5. Please list the key elements of your preferred long-term energy policy. Rank or rate the relative importance of domestic oil exploration, conservation and alternative-energy development. What part, if any, should ethanol play in U.S. energy policy?

In the long-term solution to the energy crisis that this country faces, remaining dependent on foreign oil would be disastrous. It is in our economic and national security interest to end our dependence on foreign oil and invest in renewable and clean technologies. I favor the United States receiving 20% of all its energy from renewable and clean sources like solar and wind by 2020. I also think that energy conservation and using less energy are vital to making America more environmentally conscious and I will push for those regulations in Congress too. And while I see no problem incorporating ethanol as part of a longer term energy strategy, I believe that it is secondary to the other essential long-term energy solutions we need.

6. What steps, if any, should Congress take to promote economic recovery? What steps by the federal government might make the nation's economy worse?

The key to economic recovery is to build up the middle class and to cut taxes to grow our economy. I favor a middle-class tax break, a fairer tax system on small businesses and an investment in our businesses and our families; investments like affordable health care, accessible college and low interest student loans and making sure that big businesses and special interests pay their fair share. I also support a balanced budget so that we stop borrowing so much money.

7. Do you favor or oppose a larger federal role in health-care? Either way, why and what should the federal role be? What, if anything, should be done about rising health care costs and Americans who do not have health coverage?

In the richest country in the history of the world, it is unconscionable that 46 million people don't have health insurance and another 100 million people are underinsured. I favor a universal health care program that still gives families choices and access to their own program but doesn't leave people out.

8. Would you maintain or scale back federal tax cuts made during the past eight years? Either way, why? How, as specifically as possible, would you try to reduce federal budget deficits and the national debt?

I favor repealing the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest 1% of Americans - those making $560,000 a year or more - and using those taxes to help balance the budget. I also believe that we need to close corporate loopholes so that businesses who ship jobs overseas don't get rewarded with lower taxes. By doing these two things, we can balance the budget and reduce the federal defecit, which has skyrocketed out of control under George Bush and Judy Biggert's time in Washington.

9. The current Congress could not agree on immigration reform. What would you do to advance reform in a divided Congress, and, briefly, what should the key policy elements be?

America is a nation of immigrants and we must respect that and respect people who are here legally and who work hard and play by the rules. For those that do not, we need a sensible policy that protects our borders and keeps our residents safe. I will work in Congress to find a bi-partisan solution that is both tough and fair and that protects our people while valuing the contributions that immigrants make.

10. In what ways is the U.S. government successfully defending citizens against terrorism, and in what ways is the U.S. failing in that regard?

The U.S. government must do all it can to protect our nation from terrorism. We must go wherever terrorist threats occur, and utilize every piece of intelligence we can find to best defend our nation. I favor strengthening our intelligence budget and working to secure our borders, check incoming containers and ensure that we are proactively taking threats seriously so that we avoid problems down the road.