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Allen Skillicorn: Candidate Profile

66th State House District (Republican)

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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: East DundeeWebsite: http://www.allenskillicorn.com/Twitter: Candidate did not respond.Facebook: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: 66th State House District Age: 42Family: Allen grew up in Algonquin and now lives in East Dundee with his wife Heather and 6-year-old Doberman, McFly. Together they attend Fox Valley Church.Occupation: Director of Marketing for a local electronics manufacturer.Education: Associates from Elgin Community College, Graduate of Dundee Crown High SchoolCivic involvement: Vice-Chairman of the Kane County Republican Party, Chairman of the Republican Liberty Caucus of Illinois, Liberty Leader for the Illinois Policy Institute, former board member of the Northern Kane County Chamber of Commerce, Sports Car Club of America, and volunteer for Therapy Dogs, Inc.Elected offices held: Serving as a two-term Trustee for the Village of East DundeeQuestions 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?We need to restore the two-party system in the Illinois legislature. Republican super-minorities in the House and Senate have empowered Chicago Democrat Speaker Madigan to hold the state budget hostage. Behind closed doors he silently refuses to negotiate with the Governor. Madigan could ignore Rauner's reforms and pass his own state budget tomorrow, yet he chooses not to do so. I support Republican Leader Jim Durkin because he understands the need for balance and two functional parties in Illinois and isn't afraid to talk about it. For these same reasons I whole-heartedly support the constitutional amendment for redistricting and term-limits (I even helped gather petitions signatures). We need Term-Limits now! As village Trustee, I was able to overcome objections to freezing property taxes. After 3 months of convincing, I was able to freeze East Dundee's property taxes unanimously. I am a tireless salesman for reform!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?There is little evidence to suggest that any tax hike would help balance the state budget. In 2011, Democrats levied the highest tax increase in state history on Illinois families and business that was supposed to pay down our backlog of bills. In two years, the state took in $31 billion in additional revenue, but it didn't even make a dent in our backlog of bills. I believe Illinois needs to prioritize it's spending and cut unnecessary and wasteful spending. For example, Democrats in charge have supported reckless spending initiatives such as a $35 million grant that went to a school in Speaker Madigan's district outside normal grant lines; the $500,000 in General Revenue funds to Gateway Motorsports Park; the $10 million in capital construction money that went to a theater in Senate President Cullerton's district; the $250,000 in General Revenue Funds that will go to fund a year-long celebration of the state's birthday; and the nearly $700,000 that went to putting bronze doors on the Capitol building. If we are truly going to return the state to solvency long-term, we have to make structural reforms to our failing systems. Lastly, I oppose the graduated income tax and restoring the 5% income tax hike. Speaker Michael Madigan's proven for decades that sending more money to Springfield doesn't solve anything. However, I do support the selling the obscenely expensive cooper-plated doors to the capitol dome for scrap metal.What changes, if any, do you support in education and education funding in Illinois? Please be specific.We need to reform the state's school funding formula which gives Chicago priority over our suburban schools through special grants. News and government reports link these grants to waste, corruption, and criminal activity in the Chicago Public School System. Property taxes are too high. This is the State of Illinois, not the State of Chicago.As a state lawmaker I will oppose additional unfunded mandates and believe education resources need to be focused on classroom learning. Currently, one-quarter of every dollar the state takes in goes to fund pensions, yet our unfunded liability continues to grow. Left unreformed, pensions will eat more and more of our tax money.Reforming pensions are key to to fixing the funding formula.On Illinois' budget, specifically, where do you believe cuts need to be made?As one of the single largest expenditures, I would investigate overhauling Medicaid. Not long ago a private company found 40% of Medicaid recipients ineligible. These are people living out-of-state or no longer eligible for other reasons. A year ago the Sun-Times reported $12 million in benefits going to dead people. I'm not making this stuff up. Conservative estimates, show we could save $1.5 to $1.9 billion a year here alone.Crafting our state budget should be a deliberative process where legislators have an opportunity to review spending, line-by-line, using a zero-based budgeting approach. Instead Speaker Michael Madigan traditionally crams these budget bills through the house before anyone can read them.No more special grants and ear marks like $500,000 to a racetrack, Millions of special funding for projects in Speaker Madigan's and President Cullerton's districts, and again the nearly $700,000 Capitol building doors. Sell them for scrap!What approach do you support toward fixing the public pension systems?Illinois simply cannot tax, borrow, or invest our way out of a $111 billion (and growing) pension liability. I support another attempt at pension reform because Illinois has:* the largest unfunded pension liability in the nation* the worst credit rating in the nation* the highest unemployment in the Midwest * One-quarter of the state budget is spent on pension payments (most states only spend 5%)* And, even before the budget impasse, our ability to deliver services had greatly deteriorated The sooner we move to a defined contribution pension system, the less painful the transition will be.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?I'm going to Springfield to reform state government, reduce taxes, and improve the business climate so middle-income workers can find and keep jobs. The key reforms are:* Property Tax Relief* Workers Compensation Reform* Pension Reform - including eliminating pensions for all legislators* Term Limits* And Redistricting ReformPlease name one current leader who most inspires you.My wife, Heather. We volunteer at St. Alexius with Therapy Dogs, Inc. She has this way with people and they just open up to her.What is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?A wise mentor once told me, "Work smarter, not harder". Simple, but true!If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I love to study history, personal finance, and economics. Going back to school and pursuing a law degree is a dream of mine.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Another easy question. I love history. It's not about names and dates, it's about humanity and what we've done, for better or for worse.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Don't be in such a hurry to grow up.