Laura Murphy: Candidate Profile

Back to 28th 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: Des PlainesWebsite: www.murphyforillinois.comTwitter: Candidate did not respond.Facebook: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: 28th State Senate District Age: 56Family: Reside in Des Plaines With my husband and 14 year old son.Occupation: State SenatorEducation: Bachelor Science, Political ScienceEmerging Leaders Training, University of Virginia, Darden College of Business 2016Civic involvement: Volunteer Meals on WheelsVolunteer St Mary Parish, Des PlainesVolunteer Jr. Warriors FootballVolunteer Our Lady of Destiny SchoolBoard Member Maine Center for Mental HealthFounding Member North West Suburban Democratic WomenMaine Township Democratic Committeeman 2003-currentElected offices held: Alderman, 3rd Ward, City of Des Plaines; 2001-2009Questions 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?The first step in making the Illinois legislative system more effective is to increase communication and compromise. Communication must be conducted in a mature responsible fashion where all parties agree to respect the process. Compromise requires open, honest and respectful discussion, with neither party going into negotiations expecting to get everything they want. The GA Leadership on both sides is going to have to find a way to get along and publicly insulting each other does not help the process. Leaders must realize that they have to work together and put differences aside. I introduced SJRCA 18 that limits the number of years the majority and minority leaders can serve in a leadership role to eight consecutive years. The leadership is not popularly elected; limiting the number of years they can serve in a leadership role will allow a more fair and transparent flow of ideas in the General Assembly. It should also prevent the leaders from having total control of the agenda making the legislature more effective.I also support Independent Maps, which would establish a non-partisan, independent commission responsible for drawing state legislative districts in a way that is transparent and open to the public. It is deeply frustrating that the Cook County Circuit Court and the Illinois Supreme Court has found this measure unconstitutional. It is my hope that the initiative will continue with an appeal to the next court or in another form.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?Illinois families cannot afford any additional taxes. I do not support increasing taxes; rather I support legislation freezing property taxes, including SB 318 and HB 696. Until the State gets things in fiscal order; I do not think it right to continue to impose extra burdens on already overburdened families. We need to start putting Illinois on the right fiscal foot by putting Springfield on the side of working people. This means closing some of the corporate loopholes that allow two thirds of Illinois' major corporations to pay no state tax. It is estimated that loopholes have cost the State almost $73 billion over the last five years alone. I am the chief co-sponsor of SB 2148 that attempts to change this tax structure and eliminate these loop holes. We also need to expand our job base so that there are opportunities for middle class families to earn a living wage and make the necessary investment in education to eliminate the skills gap which in 2014 left 30,000 jobs unfilled in STEM fields. Investing in technology and clean energy will enable us to meet the demands of an evolving work force and develop new initiatives, like the insurance apprenticeship program that was created at Harper Community College with Zurich Insurance Company. Currently, is the only program of this type in the United States.What changes, if any, do you support in education and education funding in Illinois? Please be specific.Illinois' school funding formula is antiquated, archaic, and unequal. It is time that these inadequacies are addressed and the funding formula is restructured to maximize every student in the State's potential and ensure that every public school provides the kind of world class education every child deserves. There is an over reliance on property tax dollars to fund public education; Illinois ranks in the top 25% of all states income per capita, however, we are dead last in the percentage of state revenue provided for K-12 education. This is the direct cause of skyrocketing property taxes in the 28th district. The State needs to ends its practice of "proration,", fund education at the level required to provide all school districts with an adequate education, and then implement the needed reforms to ensure basic standards of achievement are attained. There has been some recent discussion on implementing a new 28 step evidence based funding formula that addresses the funding inadequacies as well as establishing base performance and accountability standards. I am awaiting numbers from ISBE to see if this is a viable solution to our funding inadequacies while not penalizing those school districts who have achieved reserves.On Illinois' budget, specifically, where do you believe cuts need to be made?I could not support the budget plan as stated in HB 2048. I felt approving a budget with a $7 billion deficit would only perpetuate the budget problems we are experiencing in the State. My district deserves better than a plan that did not provide any solutions.We should reduce state spending by consolidating duplicative government services, which would save money and increase efficiency, (Illinois has over 7,000 local units of government).We also need pension reform, however, after the Illinois Supreme Court struck down the 2013 pension reform, it is clear we cannot be unilateral in efforts. I will bring all parties to the table to be a part of decisions on solutions.I would like to see a more open process that involves all legislators. I worked to pass legislation, (SB2585) that requires additional transparency to the budget process. Specifically the bill provides that the annual economic and fiscal policy report submitted to the General Assembly by the Governor's Office of Management and Budget must include economic and fiscal policy intentions for the following four fiscal years. The report must include any assumptions concerning tax rates and fees used to determine revenue and expenditures for future fiscal years and the report must include a comparison of the enacted current fiscal year budget to the current fiscal year outlook. Lastly, the report must include fiscal and policy options that the Governor's Office of Management and Budget will pursue to remedy any budgetary shortfalls.What approach do you support toward fixing the public pension systems?I support revisiting elements of the compromise pension bill, SB 2404, allowing state employees a choice between pay increases or COLA increases. I support refinancing pension bonds. It is unfortunate that in the past 16 months no pension payments have been made. I supported reforms included in SB 2156 that prevent pension spiking and prohibit severance packages from being pension eligible and HB 4259 which limits positions that are pension-eligible. REAL pension reform starts with all stakeholders at the table; short of that the State will continue to fend off lawsuit after lawsuit and no pension reform will take place.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?I strongly support redistricting reform, including Independent Maps. It is an important first step in providing citizens with a more transparent government and would remove partisan politics involved in the current redistricting process. Competition is good for democracy. Voters deserve to hear different ideas for addressing our state's greatest challenges and legislators benefit when they are accountable and defend their records. Unfortunately, the recent court rulings were a setback for the people of Illinois. I will continue this fight and support passing legislation through the general assembly. It is time that voters pick their representatives not the other way aroundPlease name one current leader who most inspires you.Ruth Bader Ginsburg. She overcame great adversities to get to the Supreme Court. She abhors injustices; fights for equality. She successfully balanced family and career.What is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?To treat people as you want to be treated. Nothing is worth having if it hasn't been earned. Actions speak louder than words.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?Spending more time with family.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?History. I believe we must embrace and learn from our history as it is doomed to repeat.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Be honest and true to yourself. Follow your passions and be respectful of others. This will result in true happiness.