56th District Representative Moynihan: Candidate Profile

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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: SchaumburgWebsite: www.jimmoynihan.netOffice sought: 56th District Representative Age: 61Family: Joan, spouse Dan, son Matt, son Sarah, daughter plus 5 grandchildren (6 in October)Occupation: Financial AdvisorEducation: BA, Political Science, Northeastern Illinois UniversityCivic involvement: Current involvement: UNICO Pitch and Hit Club of Chicago Sons and Daughters of Italian AncestryElected offices held: none yetHave you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NoQuestions Answers How will you work to make the General Assembly function more productively and effectively? Wlll you vote to retain your party's current legislative leader? In what specific ways do you support changing how government in Springfield works?I'll productively reflective my district, working with both sides of the aisle to achieve effective/responsible government. I'll address the last decade's failed fiscal policies. Illinois can again be an economic powerhouse with common sense policies that attract/retain employers, adequate educational funding, a fair/equitable pension solution with all stakeholders seated at the table. We'll do it working together, finding common ground for common good in spite of differing opinions on solving critical fiscal issues Electing leaders who won't fail us will restore Illinois. Many long-term political leaders have become stagnant, reflecting our stateâ#128;™s current fiscal crisis. I support term limits/fair re-districtingIf the Supreme Court, strikes down the SB 1 pension reform, what is your Plan B and why do you think it would be both legal and effective?The pension reform debate that has gone on in Springfield has not really addressed the problem. Because of the Constitutional guarantees public pensions enjoy, recent legislation does not appear to satisfy any of the legal requirements for a common solution. I will work with all parties involved â#128;#147; legislators, educators, state workers, and taxpayers to find a fair solution to this growing crisis. We need to keep the commitment to state workers who have been guaranteed retirement benefits for their years of work, while addressing a growing problem on behalf of taxpayers, before it gets any worse.As it stands now, the 2011 income tax increase will expire as planned on Jan. 1. Do you think that expiration should be reconsidered? Would you support making the increase permanent or extending it for some period of time? Please be specific about what level of tax increase, if any, you would support.The 2011 tax increase brought additional $33 billion in revenues but little progress has been made towards paying overdue bills, addressing the pension issue, or solving budget problems. I favor a complete review on how Illinois spends money on non-essential services and state grant programs with little or no oversight. Without assessing how Illinois is handling the ever growing public assistance sector, the increase strain on Medicare due to Obamacare mandates, essential services funding like education and law enforcement will be at risk. Investment in Illinois' crumbling infrastructure will foster job growth making Illinois more competitive with our neighbors.Do you support cuts in state spending? If so, what specifically do you suggest cutting and how will those cuts be sufficient to restore the state's financial health and economic climate?Cutting arbitrarily may not be the best solution to the problem. While I support reducing or eliminating funding for programs that do not have any measurable return on investment, we really need to prioritize where each and every dollar is going.What changes, if any, do you believe the state should make in the area of education? Would you support the the so-called pension cost-shift to local schools?Every day, the main issue when I am at a voterâ#128;™s door or talk to people at community events, is property taxes. A cost shift to local schools would see an immediate increase in local property taxes to cover the increased costs. This is not an equitable solution. We need to solve the pension crisis immediately, so that we can find ways to grow education funding to keep up with increased costs and produce better students for entrance into our workforce.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?Statewide â#128;#147; -Agriculture is the number one industry in Illinois and I intend to focus on how to help it grow and prosper in Illinois. -Our second amendment is critical to maintain. -Chicago corruption must be on our minds moving forward given what weâ#128;™re finding out about Governor Quinnâ#128;™s failed violence prevention programs. Suburbs â#128;#147; -Keeping our kids safe and healthy needs to have some attention. -Balancing public safety with the needs of our local communities is key. -The cost of higher education is quickly becoming unattainable. Iâ#128;™ll fight to develop a strategy to hold down the cost of college.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Pope Francis for being a humble, genuine leader committed to reconnecting the Catholic Church with its global flock through balanced judgment and sincerityWhat's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?That love, respect and solid core values are the basis for growing up to be a good personIf life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I would have found a way to save more money for retirementWhat was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?History and Political Science. I was always fascinated with past events and where they had led us. I'm finally putting it all to good use.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Treat others the way you want to be treated.