Michael McAuliffe: Candidate Profile

Back to 20th State House District

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: michaelmcauliffe.netTwitter: Candidate did not respond.Facebook: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: 20th State House District Age: Candidate did not respond.Family: Married with two children.Occupation: Full-time legislatorEducation: Candidate did not respond.Civic involvement: Candidate did not respond.Elected offices held: Candidate did not respond.Questions Answers What needs to be done structurally to make the legislature more effective? Will you vote for your current legislative leader? What is your position on term limits in general and specifically for legislative leaders? Do you support the ongoing drive for a constitutional amendment on redistricting? What will you do to promote implementation of any changes you recommend?Our political system isn't working, and because of that Springfield refuses to pass reforms to grow our economy and fix Illinois. I believe redistricting reform and term limits will be impactful. If given the opportunity to vote on the issue I would support term limits. I also support term limits for legislative leaders. Much of the gridlock we see in Springfield is a result of longstanding leaders and their entrenched interests. Yes, I believe we need to reform the way our districts are drawn here in Illinois. Legislators shouldn't be choosing their own districts and carving up communities for political purposes.Jim Durkin is a solid leader and fair-minded former prosecutor who, like me, has an ability to work across the aisle to get things done. Political reform should not be a partisan issue. I look forward to discussing these issues with my colleagues when we return to session and I hope that Speaker Madigan and President Cullerton will join in voting for these reforms.Would you vote for an increase in state income taxes or sales taxes? Would you vote for new taxes, such as on services? What is your position on a graduated income tax?I believe the tax burden facing our community is already too high. Between 2011 and 2014, Illinois collected an additional $34 billion in additional revenue on the temporary income tax. Despite this additional revenue, we find ourselves in the same shape as we did then. Raising taxes alone will never remedy the situation in the long-term. I am strongly opposed to any property tax hikes and any hikes on retirement income; and when it comes down to it, I would oppose any tax increases that are not tied to reform.What changes, if any, do you support in education and education funding in Illinois? Please be specific.Education is the most important thing that government does. We must make sure all our schools, regardless of the income level of the people in their communities, have the resources they need. All of our schools need more funding going in to the classroom and I would support funding reform that both boosts funding to schools in need and holds those school districts with greater resources harmless. We can not harm the funding streams of our suburban districts whose residents already shoulder huge property taxes.On Illinois' budget, specifically, where do you believe cuts need to be made?I believe we do a disservice to our residents and those most in need when politicians make promises they can't pay for. We need reform and a budget where revenues match expenditures. Specifically, we can save money through pension reform, which can save over a billion dollars, procurement reform and Medicaid reform to stop waste and abuse. We also must go line by line through the budget and take a hard look at every government program. If we spend within our means and focus on growing our economy, we will expand our tax base and have the revenue necessary to fund our schools and vital social service in the long run.What approach do you support toward fixing the public pension systems?I don't want to erode benefits for working class families, but in the absence of reform our only alternative is hiking taxes. We need to find reform that's both fair to taxpayers as well as state employees. I have a record of supporting tough reforms and I intend to continue to be a part of that solution. If a future proposal is fair, balanced and is believed to be constitutional I would likely again take the tough vote and support it. This would likely be the case for the Cullerton consideration model that was widely by the state government unions.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?Bipartisanship isn't a luxury in Illinois, it's a necessity. I am constantly working across the aisle with rank-and-file Democrats to get things done. Both Speaker Madigan and the Governor need to take more cues from the rank-and-file legislators like myself who understand this. I have fought hard for the bridges I have built with my Democrat colleagues, and those bridges are still there. What we need are more legislators who are willing to step away from their own party's leadership and use those bridges, and then maybe we'd get something done.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Candidate did not respond.What is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Candidate did not respond.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?Candidate did not respond.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Candidate did not respond.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Candidate did not respond.