Chris Bos: 2022 candidate for 51st state House

Bio

Party: Republican

Office sought: 51st state House

City: Lake Zurich

Age: 44

Occupation: self-employed

Previous offices held: Ela Township Trustee, IL State Rep 51st Dist

Q&A

Q: What needs to be done structurally to make the legislature more effective? What is your position on term limits in general and for legislative leaders specifically?

A: I am completely supportive of term limits for all members of the General Assembly as well as for legislative leaders.

There are many structural issues that need to be addressed to have a more effective legislature. As a first term legislator, it's frustrating to watch the majority Democrats bypass the House rules, including requiring a balanced budget, requiring a three-day reading time on bills before voting, and allowing for public comment and input. Our process to spend taxpayers' hard-earned money should be as transparent as possible, and following these rules is a good place to begin earning back the trust of the people we serve. We also need real and meaningful anti-corruption reforms unlike the latest ethics bill to pass, which caused the Legislative Inspector General to resign because it removed authority from the office. We need to empower the Legislative Inspector General to operate independently, open investigations, issue subpoenas, and pursue potential wrongdoing.

Q: Federal assistance has enabled the state to make important advances toward improving its budget. What will you do to ensure these advances continue when the federal aid is gone?

A: Due to the one-time federal pandemic assistance, Illinois Democrats passed a budget with the largest spending increase in Illinois history. They did nothing to address the necessary structural reforms to put Illinois on a pathway to success and affordability for our residents and businesses. With the increase in spending and federal funds drying up, my greatest concern is this once again leads the Democrats to propose new and increased taxes. Our families and businesses already pay more than enough, and they deserve relief.

The legislature must cut non-essential, duplicative, or wasteful spending, starting with eliminating automatic pay raises for politicians as well as their automatic increasing pension benefits. We must call for complete transparency and accountability from all levels of government, demanding efficient and effective use of the taxpayers' money.

And, we must not give up on solving the largest driver of debt in our state, our underfunded pension liability.

Q: To what extent are you happy or unhappy with the evidence-based model for education funding now in place in Illinois? How would you define "adequate" state funding for Illinois schools and what will you do to promote that?

A: Creating equitable funding for our children and schools across the state is one of my priorities. With a strong education, children in every zip code have a chance at pursuing their dreams. In Illinois, schools are dependent on property taxes, which in some areas are rising beyond the means of the residents who live there. We must do better to fund our schools adequately, including always fully funding EBF and ensuring it is periodically evaluated for additional increases. Parents, teachers, school boards, and all engaged parties must work collaboratively to fully fund education and educational options for families, no matter their needs.

Q: Do you believe elections in Illinois are free and fair? What changes, if any, are needed regarding election security and voter access?

A: While there has been increasing attention given to the rare trouble spots, we are fortunate each election to have teams of professionals and volunteers helping to keep our elections free and fair. In keeping with the goal of making every election easier to vote and harder to cheat, I support legislation that could increase public trust in the electoral process, starting with incentivizing and encouraging local election authorities to remove voters who have moved or passed away. Other improvements include increased verification standards for vote-by-mail signatures as well as having the State Board of Elections create clearer statewide vote-by-mail ballot chain of custody procedures.

Q: How well has Illinois responded to Supreme Court indications that it considers abortion, gay marriage and other social issues to be state, not federal, responsibilities? What if anything needs to be done in these areas and what would you do to make your vision come to pass?

A; Under current law in the State of Illinois, the Supreme Court ruling creates no changes to any of those issues. Last year, despite the negative public response, Democratic legislators repealed the Parental Notification of Abortion Law, removing a parent's right to know if their minor child had an abortion. I fully support parents' right to know about medical procedures for their minor children, with proper safeguards for children suffering abuse. In my work with victims of sex trafficking, I have a unique perspective on ensuring our children are safe from predators, and look forward to continuing to serve as their advocate in Springfield.