Randy Hultgren: Candidate profile

Bio:

Name: Randy Hultgren

City: Plano

Website: www.randyhultgren.com

Twitter: @Randall Hultgren

Facebook: Randy Hultgren

Party: Republican

Office sought: U.S. House of Representatives, 14th District

Age: 52

Family: Wife Christy and 4 children: Karsten, Kylie, Kaden and Kole

Occupation: Elected official.

Education: Bethel College, B.A. 1988; Chicago-Kent College of Law, J.D., 1993.

Civic involvement: Active in local church community.

Elected offices held: DuPage County Board; Illinois House of Representatives; Illinois Senate.

Questions & Answers

Did you support or oppose the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017? Why or why not? Please outline your basic view of what the national economic policy should be?

I supported the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The new law, in conjunction with other pro-growth policies like regulatory reform, has contributed to increased economic growth, lower unemployment, greater consumer confidence, improved retirement security and expanded opportunity for the people of Illinois.

More than a million new jobs have been created since passage of the new law. I have spoken to a number of business owners who have told me how the law has empowered them to invest in new equipment and hire workers.

One important step we could take to expand on the law would be to increase certainty for job creators and other individuals by making the tax rates permanent.

And as I meet with employers across my district, they tell they are having a hard time finding qualified workers, so I believe we need to expand and enhance job training opportunities and programs to match employee skills with the needs of today's employers.

In addition, I have consistently voted for budgets that will balance in a decade and I believe that we can continue the progress of growth and prosperity we are seeing while getting our fiscal house in order.

How strong is the threat of so-called cyberwarfare? What should the U.S. be doing in response to that threat in addition to what is now being done?

It is both a continuing and emerging threat, with foreign adversaries building up their capabilities dramatically to engage in this dangerous form of warfare.

One area where the threat is particularly pronounced concerns our aging energy infrastructure, which has numerous vulnerable targets across the United States. Congress must provide the necessary resources for the departments of Homeland Security and of Defense to work together, coordinate their activities and go after bad actors. We also need a proactive cyber strategy against nations that have long sought to exploit our vulnerabilities, including North Korea, China, Iran, Russia and other bad actors.

Please outline your position on immigration. What should the nation's philosophy be on the issue? Should there be a wall along most of the country's southern border? What should the nation's philosophy be on how the government treats and responds to undocumented immigrants?

Our broken immigration system clearly needs to be fixed. If there is an immigration deal that includes funding for a wall, I would support it and have voted that way in the past.

I also believe that something must be done to address the DACA population and other young people who were brought here by their parents at a young age. These kids contribute to our communities and should be allowed an opportunity to legally stay and work in the United States, and I have voted for legislation that would establish legal status for DACA recipients.

As a further part of immigration reform, in situations where American workers are not harmed, there ought to be an efficient legal process for temporary guest workers and others who bring valuable contributions to the nation.

And as co-chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, I believe the United States must remain a beacon of freedom and hope for refugees from around the world and that we have the capacity to accept more refugees than we are currently admitting into this country.

What is your evaluation of President Trump's job performance? Please specify what you view as its highs and lows.

The tax cuts and regulatory reform he has supported and promulgated have helped spur robust economic growth and new jobs, and the economy is undoubtedly doing well. I am also pleased the Administration has appointed judges who will respect the rule of law. This is a president who acts on his convictions and lets you know where he stands on issues. I have not always agreed with every policy, however, and when there were issues I have opposed I have spoken up. Among these are the discussion of a religious test for immigrants, or banning anyone's entry into the U.S. based on their religious beliefs. The trade tariffs, which represent a tax on consumers and businesses, will raise costs. And I am strongly against any practice of separating families at the border. I have also been troubled by the way the president has said some things and I have pointed that out, too.

How important is Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation? What's your assessment of its fairness and professionalism?

I have consistently supported the investigation and will continue to do so until the case is complete. The quicker we as a nation get to the bottom of this situation the better.

Would you vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act? Should there be a penalty for those who do not comply with the individual mandate?

My constituents have struggled under the ACA because the law has resulted in the consolidation of plans and doctors, which restricts their choice and the quality of care they receive and means they are no longer in control of their health care decisions.

Many of them face higher out-of-pocket costs under the high deductible plans the ACA created. And without alternatives, they are often forced to ration their care.

I do believe we need to reform the health care regime, to lower costs and expand access to care. One piece of that is greater transparency, and another is a more robust waiver system to enable states to innovate and improve care. I also support the steps the Administration has already taken to improve the ability of individuals, small businesses and nonprofits to band together like large businesses can do and form pools to negotiate for lower prices and higher quality care.

In addition, I have co-sponsored legislation to guarantee protections for those with pre-existing health conditions, and nothing I voted for would allow them to be denied insurance coverage.

What other issues are important to you as a candidate for this office?

I have sought to work in a bipartisan, common sense way to jump-start the economy and create jobs, reform health care, address the opioid overdose epidemic and improve the quality of life for the constituents of the 14th Congressional district.

I believe passionately in the need for working across the aisle to collaborate and help Congress work for people. I started a regular series of events called “Common Grounds” during which my staff and I have coffee and doughnuts with Democratic members and their staffs. These have been amazing experiences that have enabled us to build relationships and explore areas where we could work together. One of the highlights of my career in Congress was hosting one of these sessions with civil rights pioneer and Georgia Congressman John Lewis. I also work closely and regularly with the Democratic co-chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission on those important issues.

In addition, here a few questions meant to provide more personal insight into you as a person:

What's the hardest decision you ever had to make?

Any time where Congress has had to make a decision to put American lives in danger to protect our nation are sobering and difficult.

Who is your hero?

William Wilberforce, the British member of Parliament who led the effort to abolish the slave trade in Britain. He had the courage to express his conscience and live out his convictions. I have invoked his legacy countless times as a member of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission as we have sought to eradicate modern-day slavery and human trafficking.

Each amendment in the Bill of Rights is important, but which one of those 10 is most precious to you?

The First Amendment. Without the freedom to believe and then freely express and live out our conscience and beliefs, all other freedoms fail.

What lesson of youth has been most important to you as an adult?

I grew up on the second floor of our family's funeral home in Wheaton. This gave me a unique and firsthand look at important issues like life and death, grieving, families and faith. I also learned the value of hard work and service to others, as well as the importance of a team working together to help people during their time of need.

Think back to a time you failed at something? What did you learn from it?

I worked long and hard as a member of the state senate on a bipartisan bill to give kids in the worst 10 percent of schools in our state the chance to study at a better school of their choice. The failure of the bill to pass taught me the value of bipartisanship and the need to work together and build coalitions to pass important legislation.