Foster, Khouri debate role of government in education

U.S. Rep. Bill Foster says the federal government plays an important role in improving education nationwide, but his Republican challenger, Tonia Khouri, says she prefers the federal government lessen its grip on education.

Foster, a Democrat from Naperville who is seeking a third term representing the 11th Congressional District, says lawmakers who hesitate to dedicate more spending to education should take a closer look at the return on investment. He points to the GI Bill, which taxed the wealthy to cover college costs for World War II veterans, as a good example.

Khouri, a DuPage County Board member and small-business owner from Aurora, says she believes education is done more effectively and efficiently at the local level. She supports school choice and would like to see the federal government stop handing down unfunded mandates to public school districts. Both candidates agree the price of college is too high but have different approaches about how to address the problem. Foster supports reduced-cost tuition and an increase in the federal minimum wage to about $11 or $12 an hour to help students pay for that tuition. Khouri said she would get to the root of the problem, to address why college tuition costs are skyrocketing, and increase workforce training for students who are not going to college.

The two are vying for a seat that covers parts of Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall and Will counties, including Aurora, Naperville, Bolingbrook, Burr Ridge and Joliet.