Randy Ramey: 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: Carol StreamWebsite: http://rameyforil.comOffice sought: 23rd District SenateAge: 49Family: married, Sharon Zach, Lexi and ChrisOccupation: State Representative Promotional SpecialtiesEducation: BS in Restaurant Management, University of Illinois, Urbana-ChampaignCivic involvement: 3rd degree Mason, Medinah Shrine, Scottish Rite Northern Illinois Food Bank Wayne Township General AssistanceElected offices held: Wayne Township Trustee State Representative, 55th DistrictHave you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: recent DUICandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 JobsKey Issue 2 Repeal the disastous 67% tax increase. And the equally crippling tax increase on businesses.Key Issue 3 Pension ReformQuestions 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?I helped save local governments millions of dollars by lowering the rates local governments are charged for publishing notices. I also worked with the State Board of Education to get the Illinois Aviation Academy accredited, creating local jobs. Additionally I have brought money back to the district for road construction and several other projects.On the Sears issue, I voted against giving them a tax break, because tax breaks should go to everyone, not just the chosen few.The best thing that can be done to help local economies and businesses across the state is for government to get out of the way and let business be business, the current climate of excessive taxation and regulation is cripplingDo 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?Absolutely, party leaders should be limited just as rank and file members are. The supposed reform bill passed in the last general assembly only served to strengthen the control of the four leaders. I am unsure whether I will vote for the current leaeder.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?First I am putting together a medicaid reform bill that will save the state $1 billion. Additionally I am inroducing another bill in the upcoming spring session that will require proof of residency to be eligible for taxpayer based benefits. This could save as much as $4 billion. And finally a return to 2007 spending levels would save another $7 billion. These measures would more than make up the deficit gap we faced even prior to the tax increase. And at the very least would come a long way toward solving our substantial fiscal problems.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?Although I would not vote for the bill in its current form, we are currently working on changes that bring all the parties to the table.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 firmly believe marriage is between a man and a woman and children growing up need both a mother and a father in their lives.I entirely agree that life should be defined to begin at conception.When it has come up in the past I have always voted in favor of conceled carry and will continue to do so. I fully support concealed carry and it is a disgrace that we are the only state in the union without it. The death penalty has always served as an effective deterrant and without it criminals have already come to our state to commit crime. There were some problems with the way the penalty was being applied prior to its elimination, but that does not mean the penalty should be eliminated. I am currently a cosponsor on the bill to reinstate the penalty and look forward to voting for its reinstatement.