Mike Amrozowicz: Candidate Profile

Back to 31st State Senate 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: GurneeWebsite: www.mikesenate.comTwitter: Candidate did not respond.Facebook: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: 31st State Senate District Age: 57Family: Marta (wife)Tony, Sara, Natalie (Children)Occupation: Retired Navy, Small Business OwnerEducation: BS Degree, Southern Illinois UniversityMBA, Cameron UniversityCivic involvement: Chairman Warren Township RepublicansChairman Lake County RepublicansGurnee Police Pension BoardElected offices held: None, first time candidateQuestions 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?First, we need political reform. I support term limits on all legislators. I have promised to term limit myself to 10 years. When legislators spend too long in office, they get complacent. Often, they lose touch with their constituents and, at worst, they become corrupt. I also support fair maps because I believe voters should pick politicians, politicians should never get to pick their voters. Without competitive elections, it is impossible to hold politicians accountable. I was disappointed in the Supreme Court's decision on the Independent Maps Amendment but I will never stop fighting. Second, I think we need a change in attitude. Too many legislators refuse to compromise; they end up working for their party leaders and special interest donors rather than the people. As State Senator, I will always be an independent voice working for realistic solutions to the problems we all face. I will work with anyone who wants to be a problem solver and stand up to anyone who stands in the way, regardless of party. Finally, I think we need to see a shift in the balance of power. Democrats have supermajorities in both houses of the legislature. I support Leader Radogno and think she is doing a great job with the cards she's been dealt. However, we need to even out the balance of power if we are going to raise the level of debate and find solutions to grow the economy, balance the budget, and provide property tax relief.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?The best way for Illinois to generate more revenue is to grow our economy. When businesses and working families leave, they take their tax dollars with them. The Illinois Department of Revenue found that if the Illinois economy had grown at just the national average over the last 15 years, we would have had $19 billion more in revenue, no bill backlog, and a balanced budget. I will support initiatives to attract businesses to the state and make it easier for existing businesses to create jobs. We cannot keep asking the people of Illinois to pay more, especially when they are getting so little value for their tax dollars. I oppose a graduated income tax that would punish success, hurt small business owners, and drive even more companies and families out of the state. I am also adamantly opposed to any taxes on retirement income, which would be devastating to our seniors and retirees who often live on fixed incomes. Before we have any discussion raising taxes, we need structural reforms increase government efficiency and grow the economy.What changes, if any, do you support in education and education funding in Illinois? Please be specific.Revising the school funding formula will be a top priority of mine in the State Senate. Our current funding formula is badly out of date and leads to unequal outcomes for children, through no fault of their own. Every child in Illinois deserves a world class education. We must eliminate inequities wherever possible and close the achievement gap so that all students are given an opportunity to succeed. However, we cannot achieve this goal by taking from some children to give to others. Past proposals have focused on redistribution of income and I oppose those plans, which would have taken money away from schools in my district as well as many other suburban schools. Lastly, I believe that our education funding formula must be partially evidence based to encourage and incentivize good outcomes for students. I am looking forward to seeing the results of the newly formed bi-partisan commission on education funding reform.On Illinois' budget, specifically, where do you believe cuts need to be made?Balancing the budget will require better prioritizing our spending, but also growing our economy. More jobs and more economic activity will mean more revenue, but also fewer citizens who need to rely on social services and programs. Lifting the strain on our social services will allow resources to go to our most vulnerable populations as more families are able to provide for themselves through work. That said, opportunities for savings are certainly out there. Procurement reform would make our government more efficient and also save $500 million a year or more. Pension reform, which preserves existing earned benefits while changing the system going forward, can net savings in the billions. Currently almost 25% of all state spending goes into the pension system each year. Finally, we need to reduce the cost of our government, improve efficiency, and deliver value for taxpayers. I support recent efforts to modernize our technology and would also fight to end administrative bloat and inefficiency at all levels of government. Growing our economy and enacting meaningful pension reform will also reduce the state's worst in the nation unfunded pension liability. Growth and lower debt will improve our credit rating. Illinois currently spends an outsized portion of our yearly budget on debt service not only because of our large bill backlog, but also because of the interest rates we must pay due to our horrible credit rating.What approach do you support toward fixing the public pension systems?With over $110 billion in unfunded liabilities and 25% of annual spending going towards pensions, the time for action is now. Pension reform can save billions on annual budgets and help solve our long-term financial problems. I support pension reform that protects earned benefits, while making changes going forward. I would consider a "consideration model" that gives retirees a choice. Consideration proposals have received widespread interest on both sides of the aisle. I also support voluntary lump sum buyouts which give retirees the option of transitioning to a personal account. The final solution must respect both public retirees and taxpayers.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?Beyond all of our policy challenges, I think too many politicians have lost the sense of public service that is supposed to go with the job. I am a middle-class guy who comes from a humble, working-class, background and I think that's helped me understand the perspective of the voters. I'm focused on the issues that matter in my local community: balancing the budget, property tax relief, and term limits. As a 21-year veteran of the Navy, I know what it means to serve others. I'm running for office because the people of the 31st District deserve an independent voice.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Nikki Haley, the first female Governor of South Carolina and youngest current Governor in the United States.What is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?I learned my values by example. Those values are: hard work, devotion to family, and service to community.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I have tried to instill in my three children the importance of working hard in school. I could have better headed my own advice.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Math, it helps me balance the risk and reward in every decision I make.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?The same advice my wife gave them: being an American isn't a nationality, it's an attitude. Work hard, put family first, serve your community.