Brad Schneider: 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: NorthbrookWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Twitter: Candidate did not respond.Facebook: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: 10th Congressional District Age: Candidate did not respond.Family: Candidate did not respond.Occupation: Candidate did not respond.Education: Candidate did not respond.Civic involvement: Candidate did not respond.Elected offices held: Candidate did not respond.Questions Answers How will you work to make Congress more productive and effective? What actions are needed to produce a healthy federal budget? Specifically, what changes do you advocate regarding how revenue is produced or what our spending priorities are? In particular, what effect does current policy have on your district and what changes, if any, are needed?It is difficult to look at Congress's dysfunction and feel anything but frustration. Even essential tasks of governing, such as passing an annual budget, have fallen victim to partisan gridlock. I know that budgets matter and reflect our priorities, and are critical for moving us towards our goals. That's why I voted for the No Budget, No Pay Act, which would withhold pay for members of Congress if they fail to pass an annual budget.I also know that achieving a balanced budget and reducing our debt will require a mix of spending cuts and new sources of revenue. But the difficult choices we will make cannot put the greatest burden on the most vulnerable- middle class families, students, and seniors. That's why I voted twice against the Ryan Budget. The irresponsible tax breaks and draconian cuts to vital programs do not represent the values and priorities we should be focusing on. At the same time, we must look for sensible spending cuts. We should end unproductive, outdated tax subsidies and loopholes, as well as apply common sense to the defense budget. We can exploit new technologies to create efficiency savings in all our programs, including entitlements. Above all, we must continue to invest in our future, including investing in infrastructure and ensuring we continue to educate the most capable, most productive workforce in the world -starting with universal access to preschool. Such investments will help grow our economy, strengthen our communities, and ultimately reduce the calls for deficit spending.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 affect your district?Since our nation's founding, immigrants have comprised an important component of the American social fabric. Immigrants provide the diversity, energy, and wealth of knowledge that helped make America the dynamic, prosperous nation we are today. Unfortunately, our current immigration system is broken and holding back our economic progress.I strongly support comprehensive immigration reform, which must include a pathway to citizenship as well as measures to enhance our border security. We must also provide a way to a better life for children for whom America is the only home they have ever known, which is why I support the DREAM Act and the President's executive actions on immigration.Immigration reform will strengthen the communities of the 10th District, throughout Illinois and across the nation by freeing people living in the shadows in fear of deportation to be able to pursue higher education, buy homes, start businesses and expand our economy.I do not believe lack of compromise is what is holding up immigration legislation, but rather a failure of leadership within the House Republican party. When I was in Congress, I helped introduce a bill paralleling the "Gang of Eight" bill which successfully passed the Senate. I believe the only thing preventing the House version from passing overwhelmingly is the refusal of the Republican leadership to allow a simple up or down vote on any bill relating to immigration reform. I will not support anyone for a leadership position in my party who does not support comprehensive immigration reform.What should be the top priorities in Congress related to the Affordable Care Act? If you want changes, what specifically do you recommend? If you want the act entirely eliminated, please address these questions: Is that politically feasible? If it proves infeasible, where do you see the potential for compromise? If it is eliminated, what would you replace it with, if anything?Congress's priority should be strengthening the ACA by improving what is working, fixing what is not working and rethinking what is not fixable. That's why I helped introduce legislation to repeal the arbitrary medical device tax that hinders medical innovation and I also supported legislation that would ensure that individuals who paid their health insurance premiums, and tried to but could not enroll online, receive retroactive health insurance coverage.I strongly oppose repealing the Affordable Care Act, and in Congress repeatedly voted against Republican attempts to do so. Every American deserves access to quality, affordable health care. And while not perfect, the Affordable Care Act represents an important step forward in providing health care to millions of Americans. The Affordable Care Act allows kids to stay on their parents' plan until age 26, eliminates preexisting conditions as a barrier to getting insurance, prohibits insurance companies from kicking people off their insurance when they get sick, and closes the Medicare doughnut hole that affected millions of seniors. Unfortunately, Republicans in Congress have repeatedly wasted taxpayer time and money, and even shut down the government in their endless efforts to repeal or diminish the Affordable Care Act.What military or diplomatic roles should the United States play to promote peace and stability in the Mideast? Under what circumstances should we have military forces actively operating?The United States provides indispensable leadership throughout the world, in particular in the Middle East. In a region where conflicts stretch across millennia, the United States wields unparalleled convening power and is often uniquely able to bring both our allies and other parties to the negotiating table. Our goal must be to create conditions and opportunities for peace through diplomacy, while maintaining the necessities of security and military superiority for ourselves, and our allies like Israel.Furthermore, we must recognize that we cannot solve the problems of the Middle East as an occupying power. Indeed any attempt to do so would be counterproductive and risk further destabilizing an already chaotic region. Instead, our role is best in support of our allies and those working towards stability and peace-including providing training, equipment and, where appropriate, strategic special operations and air support. At the same time, it is imperative that the United States lead in preventing Iran from ever acquiring a nuclear weapon. That requires vigorously enforcing the Iran deal while leaving all options on the table, including military force, if necessary. This unwavering commitment is crucial in ensuring Iran's compliance, and we must continue to do so to make sure Iran never secures a nuclear weapon.Finally, we must also work with Israel, our most reliable, most important ally in the region, as well as with the Palestinians to create the context for a lasting, negotiated resolution to their conflict, based on two states for two people.Will you uphold the international climate change treaty? If not, what alternative steps would you advocate? If so, what steps will you take to meet U.S. obligations under the accord?Yes, I support the United States' commitment to the Paris Agreement to lower greenhouse gas emissions as part of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.It is our duty to future generations to urgently address climate change, as well as protect our air and water and conserve our natural spaces. I am proud of my strong record on environmental issues, and was honored to again receive the endorsement of the Sierra Club.To meet our obligations under the Paris Agreement, I will support efforts to transition our economy away from dirty fossil fuels such as coal and oil to cleaner, renewable and sustainable options, including solar, wind and geo-thermal. I believe the President's Clean Power Plan, which sets a national limit on carbon pollution produced from power plants, is a step in the right direction.We should strengthen this effort by ending our unnecessary and wasteful industry-specific loopholes and subsidies to big oil and gas companies - a change that would benefit both our environment and national budget. I also support making clean energy tax credits permanent, creating a federal renewable energy standard, and passing legislation to increase energy efficiency to hasten our nation's transition to a clean energy future.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?My number one issue is expanding our economy, growing our middle class, and providing every student the opportunity for a quality education to learn the skills they need to succeed and thrive. I am pro-choice and will stand against all politically-motivated attacks on the rights of women.I believe we need to urgently overturn Citizens United and reverse the corrupting influence that unlimited and undisclosed spending is having on our political process. I believe we must treat our returning veterans with the same level of respect that they showed us when they chose to serve.I believe we should invest in the search for cures to diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer's. And I believe we must take urgent action to reduce gun violence in our communities. Gun violence, in particular, is a personal issue for me. I was named for my great-uncle who was killed by a gunman. In Congress I will do everything in my power to make progress and pass commonsense gun safety legislation that makes our communities safer.Despite overwhelming support from most Americans, commonsense gun safety measures - such as banning suspected terrorists from purchasing firearms- remain stalled in Congress. Republican leadership continues to kowtow to the gun lobby and refuses to allow a vote on the legislation- a vote that would likely pass. It is frustrating to watch many, including my opponent, voice support for these gun safety measures, and then continue to support the same leadership responsible for the obstruction and continued inaction.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.John Lewis, a civil rights hero, who for more than 50 years lived true to his values and worked tirelessly to make our nation better.What is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?I remember my grandma saying that you have two ears and one mouth, use them in proportion.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I would go back to summer camp and climb Pikes Peak with my cabin group. I never should have doubted my abilities.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?I most enjoyed classes where the answers to the questions were challenging and complex. Reflecting back, it was actually the teachers that made the difference.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?I dropped off our son at college with "3 rules": Always do yourself proud;Don't do stupid things;Call home every Friday.