David Harris: 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: Arlington HeightsWebsite: http://www.electdavidharris.comOffice sought: 53rd District RepresentativeAge: Candidate did not respond.Family: Married; two adult sons (one a US Army Captain deployed to Afghanistan, and the other a senior at Northwestern University)Occupation: Full-time legislatorEducation: Bachelor of Arts, Georgetown University, Washington, DCCivic involvement: Incumbent State Representative; Chair of Governing Council, Advocate Lutheran General HospitalElected offices held: State Representative 1983 - 1992Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NoCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Budget / state finances.Campaign issues #2 and #3 are tied in with this number one issue.The budget is revenues and expenditures, and our spending pressures exceed our revenue.We need to lower spending in order to get our finances in order.Pension and Medicaid reform will help us do that.With state finances in better shape, that will foster a climate for economic growth which will result in jobs in IL.Key Issue 2 Pension and Medicaid reformKey Issue 3 Economic growth / jobsQuestions 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?The economy in my district would be best helped by reforming the property tax system to stop the large increases year after year; property owners (both individuals and businesses) are suffering from the ever-increasing burden of their property taxes.The tax credits offered to companies like MMI, Navistar and Sears are credits that are given ONLY if the company being given the credits meets certain requirements, such as job creation/retention and capital investment.As a business development tool, they make sense when used reasonably, and most states have programs similar to ours in Illinois.I worked closely on crafting the provisions of the Sears legislation, and I supported the Sears provision of the legislation.However, I had a potential conflict of interest on another part of the bill not related to Sears, and thus I cast a Present vote.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?Yes, I support limits.I expect to vote to re-elect the current leader of the Republican caucus; he has demonstrated a genuine concern for the interests of all the members of the caucus.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?Spending reductions for current operations are an essential part of the solution.They have to be significant in order to provide available funds to pay down the state's backlog of unpaid bills.Meaningful Medicaid reform and pension reform can reduce state expenditures as can the elimination and reduction of unneeded and underutilized programs.I voted in favor of the expanded gaming legislation because I represent Arlington Heights, and Arlington Park is a significant economic contributor to the Village and to the area.I favor a casino for Chicago, but one that is overseen by the Illinois Gaming Board as are the 10 casinos that are currently operating.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 is essential; the system as currently structured is unsustainable, and pension payments will crowd out funding for other needed state services like education, health care, transportation, and all the others.I think moving to a three-tier pension system, as Rep. Cross and Rep. Madigan have proposed, may make sense as long as it is done in a way to protect system participants for credits already earned.I expect that the Cross-Madigan plan may be amended or an entirely new proposal will be put forward during the upcoming session. Also, there would be no change for individuals already retired.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?I believe that the legal status of marriage should be maintained as a union between a man and a woman.I do not know when exactly life begins, and I support laws to protect the unborn.I voted in favor of the tough and well-structured concealed carry legislation that was proposed last year, and I would do so again.Yes, the death penalty should be reinstated for heinous crimes.