Q&A with Manzullo
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 a life-long resident of this Congressional district, and I care deeply about the people of northern Illinois. I first ran for office because of my desire to improve the lives of the people I represent in McHenry County and the rest of the district. We have had many successes, including securing $32 million for vital road projects in McHenry County and launching a program in our schools to help protect students from Internet predators, but there is still much more to be done. The 9-county district I represent has one of the highest concentrations of manufacturing of any congressional district, and I am leading the national effort to strengthen American manufacturing and keep jobs in the United States. I recently received the Wings of Liberty Award from the Aerospace Industries Association for my efforts to streamline our export control laws to help bolster America's $60 billion aerospace export market and save American jobs. My main priorities will continue to be fighting to reduce traffic congestion -- including opposing more freight trains through Barrington -- and leading the effort to strengthen American manufacturing to create highly-skilled, high-paying jobs in northern Illinois and throughout our nation.
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.
Relieving traffic congestion is my main priority for McHenry County, and I secured more than $32 million in federal funds to help build Algonquin's Western Bypass, widen Route 47 in Huntley, and widen Rakow Road in Crystal Lake. Rakow Road is scheduled for construction in 2010, but the other projects are delayed until state Democrat leaders can agree on a capital plan ($6.2 billion in federal road dollars is sitting in Springfield waiting to be spent). I also secured funds to clean up the Fox River by helping put Johnsburg and Port Barrington on sewer systems, removing more than a million gallons of sewage that was flowing into the Fox each day. More than 6,000 middle school students in McHenry County received training on how to protect themselves from Internet predators because I was able to secure funds to bring the Web Wise Kids program to our schools. Nationally, I won a major legislative battle to give our manufacturers tax incentives to keep jobs in America. The 9 percent tax deduction for domestic manufacturing discourages companies from off-shoring American jobs. I also authored a law that helps soldiers suffering from Gulf War Syndrome get the assistance they need.
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 not fundamentally alter U.S. policy in Iraq and Afghanistan. Conditions on the ground may require various changes over time but I will not second-guess the best judgment of our brave men and women in uniform. I would, however, continue to press our NATO allies to contribute more troops to the effort in Afghanistan. I would also press Pakistan to do more to eliminate the Taliban influence in their tribal areas. I would also redouble the efforts to find and destroy the top leadership of the reconstituted Al Qaeda, including Osama Bin Laden. I would characterize the surge in Iraq as a success - violence is down, giving Iraq the breathing room to achieve 15 out of the 18 benchmarks the U.S. established Iraq to meet. We will have accomplished our mission and be able to withdraw our troops when conditions on the ground continue to improve and Iraqi security forces, as directed by a democratically-elected civilian government, are prepared to fill the role left by departing U.S. forces.
4. What short-term steps, if any, would you advocate to keep gasoline prices in check?
Last May, I developed a 12 point plan to reduce gasoline prices in America. The longer exposition of my plan can be accessed through my web site (www.house.gov/manzullo). The short-term provisions would: Last May, I developed a 12 point plan to reduce gasoline prices in America. The longer exposition of my plan can be accessed through my web site (www.house.gov/manzullo). The short-term provisions would: a) eliminate the federal mandate for multiple fuels in Illinois during the summer months while preserving clean air standards; b) stop filling America's Strategic Petroleum Reserve (accomplished); c) institute a summertime gas tax holiday when gas prices typically are the highest; d) support policies that enhance fuel conservation; and e) increase tax credits for Americans to buy alternative-fueled vehicles and energy-saving truck-idling devices. Bottom line: each year, Americans send $770 billion overseas - some to unfriendly nations such as Venezuela and Russia - to buy energy from foreign countries. The high cost of energy is destroying our economy and killing American jobs. We need to drill offshore and we need to drill now to give us the oil we need until new technologies are developed that make us independent of anybody's oil, including ours. I will continue to push House Democrat Speaker Nancy Pelosi to end her opposition to American-made energy and allow such a vote. Bottom line: each year, Americans send $770 billion overseas - some to unfriendly nations such as Venezuela and Russia - to buy energy from foreign countries. The high cost of energy is destroying our economy and killing American jobs. We need to drill offshore and we need to drill now to give us the oil we need until new technologies are developed that make us independent of anybody's oil, including ours. I will continue to push House Democrat Speaker Nancy Pelosi to end her opposition to American-made energy and allow such a vote.
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?
My long-term energy provisions would: a) avoid tax increases on oil and gas producers that will only be passed onto motorists; b) eliminate manipulation of energy prices; c) allow more drilling and refining of our own oil and gas on and off American shores; d) encourage the continued development and production of alternative and renewable fuels; e) encourage the continued development and production of alternative vehicles; and f) provide incentives to encourage development of new refineries in the United States. We need to drill offshore and we need to drill now to give us the oil we need until new technologies are developed that make us independent of anybody's oil, including our own. Corn-based ethanol has helped reduce gas prices by 54 cents per gallon. However, it has matured enough to merit a gradual reduction in direct benefits from the government. In fact, the ethanol tax credit is reduced by 6 cents per gallon in the 2008 Farm bill. The savings can be used to encourage the development of cellulose-based ethanol made from switch-grass and other non-corn sources.
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?
We must make permanent the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts, which are due to expire in 2011 (see answer to 8). We should offer taxpayers a choice - stick with the current tax code or choose a flat tax with two rates and generous exemptions (Taxpayer Choice Act of 2007 -- H.R. 3818). Second, we must lower energy prices (see answers to 4 and 5 above). Third, we must lower health care costs by providing Americans more affordable options. Fourth, we must reign in government spending to balance our budget and pay down the national debt. Taxes will skyrocket and companies will cut jobs if the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts are not extended. A government-run health care system would cost hundreds of billions of dollars and would surge the national debt; it would also lower the quality of health care for our citizens. Also, we cannot pass new laws that would hurt one of the few bright spots in our economy now - exports from our manufacturing sector - and put many Americans out of work. If we continue the prohibitions that prevent us from drilling for American oil, gas prices will stay high and continue to hurt our economy.
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?
Oppose. Expanding the federal government's role in health care will decrease the quality of care offered to our citizens and limit doctor's choice. If you think Health Management Organizations (HMOs) are bad, just wait until a government bureaucrat gets in the way of access to the health care that you need. In addition, it would cost hundreds of billions of dollars and balloon the already massive national debt that costs Americans $300 billion a year in interest. We need to increase access to quality health care and preserve doctor choice. About 60 percent of the uninsured are small business owners, their employees or dependents. We must allow small businesses to band together in a nationwide pool to obtain lower health insurance prices (by spreading risk); provide tax credits to purchase health insurance; allow the self-employed to pay for their health insurance before they pay their FICA (Social Security/Medicare) tax; and support the expansion of Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). We also need to move more quickly towards electronic medical records (with appropriate privacy protections) to help reduce medical errors, which cost our health care system about $29 billion per year, and cut down on paperwork.
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 would maintain the tax cuts. If the tax cuts expire, Americans will see huge tax increases. All tax rates will increase 3 percent, the $1,000 per child tax credit will drop to $500, the marriage penalty will return, the death tax will come back with a vengeance, and capital gains rates (many seniors pay capital gains on retirement investments) would surge from 15 to 25 percent. The typical family of four earning $50,000 per year will see a $2,155 tax increase. I made tough choices throughout my career to reduce spending. I was part of the Republican-controlled Congress in the late 1990's that cut spending, produced budget surpluses, and started paying down the national debt. Unfortunately, 9/11 curtailed economic growth and the federal budget deficit re-emerged. The Republican-controlled Congress was making progress again (deficit was $162 billion in 2007). However, with the Democrats controlling Congress, the deficit is now projected to be $482 billion in 2009. Since January 2007, I have voted 250 times to reduce federal deficit by $106 billion. I was rated the most fiscally conservative member of the Illinois Congressional delegation by the National Taxpayers Union and American Conservative Union.
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?
Basically, we need to secure our border first and enforce existing immigration laws before we tackle the other complicated immigration issues. Unfortunately, the House Democratic leadership wants to pass a comprehensive immigration reform bill that would offer some version of amnesty to illegal immigrants. We tried amnesty once in 1986 when there were only 3 million illegal immigrants in the United States. Now, there are an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants. Amnesty only encourages more foreigners to cross our borders illegally and cut ahead of those waiting patiently in line to enter our country legally.
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. has thus far not experienced another attack on the U.S. homeland since September 11, 2001 and only two attacks on our allies that have contributed troops to the effort to fight al-Qaeda in Afghanistan (Spain and Great Britain). We have also turned around a former state-sponsor of terrorism - Libya - into a more responsible member of the international community. The U.S. has failed thus far to capture Osama Bin Laden and failed to close the loop or totally surround to capture or kill al-Qaeda and Taliban operatives, such as Mullah Mohammad Omar, at Tora Bora, Afghanistan in December 2001. We have also seen some terrorist allies grow stronger in recent years - Hezbollah in Lebanon and Syria; Hamas in the Gaza Strip; and Iran.