Ilya Sheyman: 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: WaukeganWebsite: http://www.SheymanForCongress.comOffice sought: 10th District U.S. RepresentativeAge: 25Family: SingleOccupation: Community OrganizerEducation: Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, McGill University, 2006Civic involvement: I co-founded the Community Connection Center in Waukegan, where community members can be matched up with the governmental resources they need. Whether people need help or information about food stamps, jobs skills training, loan applications, or medical services, the Center enables local governments to make more concrete improvements in the lives of their constituents. I've been a longtime volunteer with the Illinois Tenth District Democrats, where I helped bring together the 12 township chairs to implement plans to become more effective in promoting an agenda for progressive change in Illinois. I am a proud member of the NAACP of Lake County. I'm also a volunteer with the Lake County Coalition to Reduce Recidivism, where I teach a job skills program for ex-offenders, helping them find the opportunity and support they'll need to get back on their feet.Elected offices held: None.Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: No.Candidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 My top priority as a member of Congress from the 10th District will be revitalizing the economy by pushing for a federal jobs bill that will:put millions of Americans back to work in classrooms, on police forces, repairing our roads and bridges, and building high speed rail lines that will bring us up to speed with Europe and China,stimulate private sector job creation through the creation of a national green jobs bank that will offer loans directly to small businesses and by providing tax credits for those small businesses already looking to hire, provide a life vest of continued unemployment assistance to those drowning without work,and guarantee state and local aid, so that communities can stop letting go of cops, sanitation workers, firefighters and teachers.Key Issue 2 I will work to restore fairness to our tax code by rolling back the Bush Tax Cuts that overwhelmingly favor the wealthiest 2% of Americans - so that Washington stops attempting to balance the budget on the backs of seniors and working families.Key Issue 3 It's time we invest in America again, and defend the core programs that built the middle class in this country.Families in the 10th District want and need the opportunity to get back to work. But they also need the assurance that the safety net they rely on, including Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, are not put on the chopping block.I'm committed to defending these core programs - and promoting real economic growth through investment in job creation, education (including community colleges), infrastructure (including broadband and high-speed rail) the development of a green economy, and a focus on bringing a new manufacturing sector back to the district.Questions Answers What would you do to help ease partisan gridlock? Are you willing to compromise on sticking points including spending cuts and taxes to produce results' How can Congress move from being a "crisis-driven" institution?In general, I would pursue or accept compromise to the extent that it is necessary or useful in getting a piece of legislation passed that will help working families - and am open to a package that includes a mixture of both cuts and revenue increases.However, I would not pursue compromise just for the sake of compromise. We must negotiate in good faith on legislation, but this doesn't mean negotiating away our core values, or giving up our responsibility to communicate those values clearly and effectively. There are some issues on which we must draw bright lines and stick to them - such as opposing any cuts to Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid benefits that working families and seniors depend on in this rough economy. More importantly, we need to stop focusing on short term band-aids and instead focus on long term solutions to our economic crisis. That means being able to take the long view and recognize that investment today will not only save money, but also lead to significant economic growth in the future.Should tax breaks be extended? Why or why not? If so, for whom? What should Congress do to improve unemployment? Why do you support or oppose President Obama's jobs plan? What cuts or revenue increases do you support for deficit reduction?I have called for a roll-back of the Bush Tax Cuts, which overwhelmingly favor the wealthiest 2% of Americans, to help deal with our deficit and make sure that core programs millions of Americans rely on, like Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, are preserved.While I support President Obama's efforts to reduce unemployment, I believe the federal government should be doing more. My top priority as a member of Congress would be to pass a stronger and more comprehensive jobs bill that puts millions of people back to work in both private and public sector jobs.We also need to make sure the biggest and wealthiest corporations, like GE, are paying their fair share. We can't deal seriously with the budget deficit until we close the loopholes that are allowing some companies to avoid paying millions in taxes that are desperately needed to make our government run smoothly.What steps should the country now be taking in the war on terrorism? What policy should the U.S. have toward Iran and North Korea? What is your view of terrorism policies that pit public safety against civil liberty?I support a fixed timetable to extricate the United States from the quagmire in Afghanistan - so that we stop spending billions of dollars a week overseas and start building bridges and roads, schools and hospitals, mass transit and a green economy right here in towns in the 10th District like Buffalo Grove and North Chicago. I will only support further funding for the war in Afghanistan if it is tied to a fixed timetable for a speedy and responsible withdrawal of all our troops.While I commend President Obama for delivering on his promise to bring an end to the war in Iraq, I also have called for a reduction in the non-military U.S. presence in Iraq as well.When it comes to Iran, North Korea, and other international hot spots, I strongly support multilateral, diplomatic engagement.The reality is that the United States can not afford more destructive conflicts like the ones we've been fighting for the last decade, and so we should be doing everything in our power to resolve international challenges diplomatically.When fighting terrorism at home, is it critical that we are able to secure our communities without sacrificing the constitutionally protected civil liberties that make this country a beacon of freedom.How should Medicare and Medicaid be changed overall to fix fund gaps' How should Medicare be changed for those currently enrolled? How should it change for the Baby Boomer generation?We cannot afford to compromise the health care benefits that millions of Americans depend on. The funding issues currently facing Medicare and Medicaid need to be resolved through an increased budget from the government and cuts in waste, fraud and abuse - as opposed to cuts in benefits that would hit the most vulnerable.I will defend the integrity and stability of the American safety net, and as a member of Congress I will oppose any attempts to privatize either Medicare or Medicaid, and any attempts to reduce benefits through methods such as means-testing or raising the retirement age.On the contrary, we must ultimately expand Medicare to encompass all Americans, and to ensure that every citizen is not forced to make a choice between their money or their lives. Affordable health care should be the birthright of every citizen in a country as affluent as the Untied States, and I will fight for that right every day in Congress.In addition, we must pass cost-saving reforms, like allowing Medicare to negotiate bulk purchasing rates for prescription drugs (like the VA and Walmart are allowed to). This would provide significant cost savings without hurting seniors.What is your position on concealed carry gun laws' How do you believe marriage should be defined legally? What is your position on abortion? What, if any, abortion exceptions do you support? Should abortion clinics receive government funding?Concealed carry laws add a dangerous element of uncertainty to the already dangerous proposition of having more weapons on our streets. As such, I oppose concealed carry laws.It's long past time to realize the promise of full equality for all Americans, regardless of their gender and sexual orientation. Marriage is a legal, economic, and emotional union between two people; sexual orientation should have no place in the legal definition of marriage.I firmly believe that the decision of whether and when to have a child must remain between a woman and her medical professional - without interference from government or health insurance companies. Government funded clinics provide critical health care services that low-income women depend on, and their funding must be protected so we do not discriminate in health care access based on a person's wealth. <div style="margin:8px 8px 0 8px;"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.congressionalprimaries.org/static/primaries/js/widget_api.js"></script><script type="text/javascript">document.write(CongressionalPrimaries.donations("www", "www", "D1129646BCBE92C41681", "Ilya", "Sheyman"));</script></div><div style="margin:8px 8px 0 8px;"><script type="text/javascript">document.write(CongressionalPrimaries.tweets("www", "www", "D1129646BCBE92C41681", "Ilya", "Sheyman"));</script></div>