Ed Agustin: 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: NapervilleWebsite: www.edforillinois41.comOffice sought: 41st District Representative Age: 70Family: Wife - Kay Son - Michael Daughter - Emily Son-in-law - Jesse IrwinOccupation: Retired ArchitectEducation: Bachelor of Architecture U of I at Chicago Circle USN Electronics Technician Class "A" School - Treasure Island, San FranciscoCivic involvement: Precinct Committeeman Naperville Township - Precinct 0070006 Precinct Committeeman of the Year 2012 St. Thomas the Apostle: Parish Leadership Committee Building Grounds Chair Bread of Life Chair Voices of Faith ChoirElected offices held: Precinct Committeeman Naperville Township Precinct 0070006 Precinct Committeeman of the Year 2012Questions Answers How will you work to make the General Assembly function more productively and effectively? Wlll you vote to retain your party's current legislative leader? In what specific ways do you support changing how government in Springfield works?I would make every effort to communicate across the aisle to my fellow representatives. We each are there to represent all of the people of Illinois who have entrusted us with that job. We must be responsible stewards of the taxes received from our constituants. I cannot comment on whether I would vote to retain or change the current legislative leader since I have not had direct involvement with the operations of the legislature. I am focused on my campaign for the 41st District. Questions of legislative leadership will be on the agenda this coming January.If the Supreme Court, strikes down the SB 1 pension reform, what is your Plan B and why do you think it would be both legal and effective?Should the Supreme Court strike down the SB1 pension reform we would have to analyze the decision and the reason, if any, for why it was struck down. To anticipate a solution without knowing the rationale behind the decision would be unproductive at this time. Once the reasoning behind any Supreme Court decision is established, then and only then, could an action plan be developed.As it stands now, the 2011 income tax increase will expire as planned on Jan. 1. Do you think that expiration should be reconsidered? Would you support making the increase permanent or extending it for some period of time? Please be specific about what level of tax increase, if any, you would support.The tax increase was intended to be temporary and it should remain so. There must be other options to find additional revenue without penalizing the working families of Illinois. The often discussed "Millionaire's Tax" could be applied so that more funding could be made available for education. Service taxes could be applied to select services that would not negatively affect the middle class workers. The average number of professional services taxed in states is 57 while Illinois only taxes around 25. Depending on which services are taxed, there could be as much as $3.6 - $7.3 billion in revenue available.Do you support cuts in state spending? If so, what specifically do you suggest cutting and how will those cuts be sufficient to restore the state's financial health and economic climate?We must continue to go through the budget line by line in order to find wasteful spending and inefficiencies that have plagued our state. Both sides of the aisle must work jointly so that necessary cuts can be made that do not harm the working class families of Illinois. What should also be explored is what Paul Volcker stated while Chairman of the Federal Reserve. We have too narrow a tax base and need to broaden our sources of funds. We must be willing to cut where necessary and limit the impact of any tax increases on the middle class.What changes, if any, do you believe the state should make in the area of education? Would you support the the so-called pension cost-shift to local schools?Shifting the cost of pensions to the local school districts would put the responsibility back to the districts which determine salaries and eventual pension benefits for its employees. Currently the state pays the bulk of the employer's portion to the teacher retirement funds. Cost-shifting must be made very gradually, over a period of 10 -15 years, so that districts can accommodate these changes. An immediate implementation of cost-shifting of the total amounts involved could drive some districts into bankruptcy. I would oppose a sudden change but be willing to review a long term modification into funding by the school districts.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?As a veteran, I feel that more needs to be done to care for fellow veterans who have given so much to our country and are receiving so little in return. I benefited personally by utilizing the G.I. Bill to attend college and earn my degree. Without that assistance I may not have been able to achieve that goal. Now retired, I have time to be the voice for all the people of my district. Today everyone is working harder to make ends meet and I want to work to improve conditions so that our dreams can become our reality.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.President Obama because he has had overwhelming opposition to anything he favored. His perseverance shows that one must keep fighting to achieve one's goals.What's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Hard Work Pays Off. Good effort produces good results. In school or at work, the effort to do well results in academic and financial rewards.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I'm thoroughly happy with my life as it progresses. I have no need for a do-over.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Plane and Solid Geometry. Doing graphic solutions and step by step proofs were never work but more an exercise in logic and three dimensional thinking.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Get an education. Education is the key that unlocks the door when opportunity knocks. By being educated you can participate, be productive and contribute.