Jim Oberweis: 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: Sugar GroveWebsite: http://www.jimoberweis.com/Office sought: Senate Age: 68Family: Wife Julie, children Jenni Roberts, Trish Oberweis, Jim W. Oberweis, Julie Oberweis, Joe Oberweis, stepchildren Michael Wilkinson and Katie Wilkinson and 19 grandchildren.Occupation: State senator, entrepreneurEducation: Marmion Military Academy, Aurora; University of Il, BA Political Science; University of Chicago MBA.Civic involvement: Jim is well known for his philanthropic endeavors. More than two decades ago, he established the Oberweis Foundation as a charitable trust created to help children and adults in difficult economic circumstances, such as those served by Hesed House and the Northern Illinois Food Bank, on whose Board of Directors Jim serves.Elected offices held: State senator since 2013.Questions 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?I believe that the public is fed up with career politicians. The problem with them is they tend to act not in the public interest but in the interest of their political futures. That is the problem with Washington -- too many career politicians. If I am elected, I will only serve up to two terms. My actions will be guided by the best interests of the people without regard to my political future. That is the model the Founding Fathers believed best and I intend to embody it.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 will work with anyone to forge immigration reform as long as it first secures our borders. We must show compassion to the children of those who entered our country illegally and not punish them for the actions of their parents.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?There is no question that career politicians like Dick Durbin have an insatiable appetite to spend our money even though we clearly can't afford it. During Durbin's last term, we have averaged deficits of more than $1 trillion annually and the national debt has nearly doubled to $17.7 trillion. Our spending is clearly out of control and it is helping dull our economic growth and jobs and prosperity for the poor and middle class. The single best thing we can do is reform our individual and corporate tax codes by eliminating loopholes and special tax breaks and lowering rates for most individuals and companies. Doing so would unleash an economic revival in the U.S. that would help most Illinois families.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?Obamacare is fatally flawed. We need to go back to the drawing board, preserving some of the positives of the program such as allowing people to purchase insurance across state lines, including young adults in parents' plans until age 26 and some type of acceptance of pre-existing conditions, but also returning to the free market so that we can buy the insurance we need, not the insurance the government says we need. The current law already is failing under its own weight. New health care reform must be bi-partisan -- unlike the current law that was engineered by Dick Durbin and his allies without a single vote from the opposition party. We cannot make large changes to our economy in blatantly partisan fashion and expect public acceptance.What can be done at the federal level to aid Illinois' economy and your district in particular?Since my opponent last ran for re-election, the real median family income in Illinois has declined by $5,053. That is significant evidence that current policies are failing the poor and middle class in this state. We have to move in a different direction if we want that trend to turn around. We must reduce wasteful federal spending, eliminate unneeded and burdensome federal regulations and dramatically reform our individual and corporate tax codes. That agenda will spur economic growth, which leads to jobs and prosperity for Illinois families instead of the economic stagnation and decline we currently are experiencing.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?Another difference between my opponent and me is school choice. He believes that children in underperforming schools must be trapped there because he is afraid to act in defiance of union bosses. I believe that is unfair to the children and parents trapped in those schools. I favor maximum school choice to allow children of all backgrounds to have the same opportunity for advancement as all our children. I am also focused on reforming abuses at the IRS. My opponent was using the IRS to attack his political opponents, which is wrong and contrary to our values as a country. I will get to the bottom of Dick Durbin's abuse of power and make sure it never happens again.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Paul Ryan. Not afraid to solve problems without regard to political consequence.What's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?As a child I learned that hard work was crucial to success as well as finding something you enjoy doing.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?Instead of dwelling on past mistakes, I try to learn from them and improve in the future.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Math. It gave me a structure to evaluate business ventures and investments.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Chose an endeavor that you are passionate about and don't worry about income. That will naturally flow from your enthusiasm and hard work.