Nancy Wade: Candidate Profile

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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:BioQA Bio City: ChicagoWebsite: www.wadeincongress.orgOffice sought: 5th District U.S. Representative Age: 59Family: Husband - Frank Scott Son - Nathan Wade-Scott Son - Eli Wade-ScottOccupation: educatorEducation: 2005 - Masters of Teaching Language Arts from Northeastern Illinois University. 1978 - Bachelor of Arts in Speech and Communication from the University of MinnesotaCivic involvement: 1992 - 2008 President and Vice President of Horner Park West Neighborhood Association 2009 - 2011 MoveOn 5th District Council OrganizerElected offices held: 1996- 1999 Pritzker Local School CouncilQuestions Answers Many Americans see gridlock as the greatest problem facing Washington today, and public opinions are at historic lows regarding the job their Senators and congressmen are doing. Specifically, what will you do to make Congress more productive and effective?The political reality is that the country is in a deadlock between the two corporate-bought parties, the Republicans and the Democrats. As a Green Party Representative I will not take corporate donations. My votes will truly reflect the best interests of my constituents, not the best interests of the big corporations.What immigration policies do you support? Where, if at all, do you see room for compromise to produce an effective policy on immigration? How will these policies have an impact in your district?I support policies that recognize that most often immigrants, particularly from Central and South America, are economic refugees from countries that United States policies, such as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) have economically devastated. We must have Fair Trade agreements that protect labor, human rights, the economy, environment and domestic industry of partner and recipient nations so that the growth of local industry and agriculture has the advantage over foreign corporate domination. This would go far towards ending the flood of immigrants over our southern borders. At the same time, we must have fair and clear policies that give immigrant workers, who are so important to the economy of this country, protection from exploitation and abuse as well as a clear and achievable path to citizenship. We must also end the war on drugs, which is killing far more people than drugs themselves are.How do you assess the state of the federal budget? Do you see a need for changes in how revenue is produced or in spending priorities? What specific changes do you consider necessary regarding federal tax policy and practice?We must stop bleeding the tax payers dry by sinking so much money into the military. We spend more than 65% of the budget on so-called defense. Throughout history empires that began diverting most of their wealth into armaments ended up digging their own graves.How would you work to produce a stable, affordable, effective federal health care policy? What shortcomings do you see in the Affordable Care Act, and how do you propose addressing them? If you favor scrapping the Act altogether, what do you propose as an alternative?I propose universal health care through Medicare for all.What can be done at the federal level to aid Illinois' economy and your district in particular?The federal government should immediately stop subsidizing the fossil fuel industry. We spend $37.5 billion a year on subsidies for a dying industry that is killing the planet. This figure does not include military expenditures for protecting fossil fuel interests. With these funds we should immediately invest in alternative energy sources and in retrofitting our cities to conserve energy. Illinois can become energy self-sustaining through solar and wind power production along with conservation. In this way we can create jobs in the largely urban and suburban 5th district that cannot be outsourced. In Illinois as a whole our farmers are uniquely situated to practice methods to sequester massive amounts of carbon, thus making them central to the effort to prevent the destructive effects of global warming. Using these methods can increase their bottom line by increasing yields while decreasing costs in fertilizer, herbicides, and pesticides.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?I propose making higher education at public institutions free. At present we spend the same amount per year, $69 billion, as it would take to accomplish this. We are currently spending the funds on subsidizing loans and grants. It would be far more beneficial to students and to our economy to simply use those funds to make college and other post-high school education free for anyone who qualifies. I support a Financial Transactions Tax on speculative trading transactions. A small charge per trade would allow Wall Street to pay reparations for the damage caused to the economy in 2007 and subsequently. It would generate billions in revenue while slowing down the automatic trading that experts agree was greatly responsible for the stock market crash. It would allow us to invest in sorely-needed infrastructure repairs and updates while creating jobs in our communities.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Jill Stein, the Green Party candidate for President in 2012. She endured arrest to assert her right to be included in the Presidential debates.What's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Be honest and help others less fortunate than yourself.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I led a fight to get a playground at my neighborhood school. I would realize we could have gotten much more in addition.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?I have always been interested in the communication process. This has helped me as a teacher, a community activist, and as a political candidate.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?A life in service to others is a life well-lived.