Michael White: Candidate Profile

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:BioKey IssuesQA Bio City: LindenhurstWebsite: http://www.michaelforillinois.comOffice sought: 31st District SenateAge: 49Family: Married with one childOccupation: Branding and Marketing ConsultantEducation: AA degree, Kankakee Community College BS Degree, Illinois State University Leadership training, USAFCivic involvement: American Legion Lake County Republican FederationElected offices held: Candidate did not respond.Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NoCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Fiscal Discipline As your next State Senator for the 31st district, Michael White will work to curb government spending from day one.As a business owner, he knows how to balance a budget and work within a budget.Michael will fight for pension reform, reducing our debt and will work against the creation of any new or additional taxes on the hard-working people of the 31st District.Key Issue 2 Small business/Jobs Michael White will work to promote private sector small business growth by lowering taxes, reducing government regulations and creating a pro-business environment that will allow the job market to thrive.Key Issue 3 Individual wealth Increases in personal income taxes, property taxes and fees of every kind have become too heavy of a burden on taxpayers.Michael White will fight to lower your taxes and put your hard-earned money back in your pocket where it belongs.Questions Answers What can you do specifically to help the economy in your district? What is your view of the tax breaks granted to companies like Motorola Mobility, Navistar and Sears? For incumbents, how did you vote on the Sears plan in this fall's veto session?After the latest corporate tax increase, State leadership was forced to provide special allowances to certain businesses that threatened to leave Illinois.This damages the Illinois business environment by increasing the burden of businesses that are not considered worthy of a special deal and diminishes the stability required for economic growth. Michael will support changes to the corporate tax rate provided it stabilizes the business environment for all businesses.Taking steps to develop a favorable business environment begins with a favorable government environment that works diligently to get spending under control and reduces regulations that stifle the growth of small business.If businesses and citizens see state government taking serious action they will respond by investing in Illinois.Do you favor limiting how much money party leaders can give candidates during a general election? If elected, do you plan to vote for the current leader of your caucus' Why or why not?Michael will support campaign finance laws that are equal for all regardless of party status.He maintains that because laws do not teach ethics, we need to focus on electing individuals who emulate "service before self."How, specifically, would you cut the budget? What does Illinois need to do to fix its status as a "deadbeat state?" How have you or will you vote on future gambling bills' What is your view of slots at racetracks' Casino expansion?Fiscal discipline is the plan. However, instead of increasing taxes and fees on the hard-working people of Illinois, Michael's top priority is to put State government on a fiscally sound path by curbing government spending and promoting pension reform. Michael's view of slots at racetracks and casino expansion is that while it may raise revenue for the casino industry and government, it will do very little to improve the wealth of Illinois taxpayers. Our focus should be on growth in manufacturing, agriculture, small business and entrepreneurship.What do you specifically support to deal with the state's pension gap? Would you vote for House Republican Leader Tom Cross's three-tier pension plan? Why or why not?Pension reform should begin with eliminating pensions for elected officials.Michael supports fiscally sound and fair pension reform, provided it prevents the unconscionable inflation of pension benefits for a few select individuals.Should gay marriage be legalized? Should Illinois define life as beginning at conception as others have? How would you vote on a concealed carry firearm plan? Should the death penalty be reinstated?Michael supports civil unions. Michael supports concealed carry. Micheal supports the reinstatement of the death penalty.