Anne Sommerkamp: 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: Downers GroveWebsite: www.annesommerkamp.comTwitter: @sommerkamp47Facebook: www.facebook.com/sommerkamp47Office sought: 47th District Representative Age: 58Family: I'm married to Steve Osterling from LaGrange who works in banking. We have two adult children who went through District 58 and 99 public schools. Our daughter, Alana, graduated from the University of Southern California last May with a degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering. She plans to acquire more language skills abroad and possibly work toward a Ph.D. Our son, Andy, is majoring in Political Science with a Minor in History at USC. He will finish in December 2018 or May 2019 depending on whether he works on a campaign over the summer through the fall.Occupation: HealthcareEducation: University of Missouri - Columbia B.A. Speech and Dramatic Art.Civic involvement: PTA Choir and Orchestra volunteer Dist 58 99 Worked on Amanda Howland's campaign in 2016Elected offices held: You mean besides PTA?? -N/A OH, Precinct CommitteemanQuestions 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 for legislative leaders specifically?The legislature will work more effectively when partisanship gives way to unbiased governing. It seems if one side says black, the other side has to say white, with no room for grey. I know I'll get the idealism beaten out of me - but honestly the Rauner years have been the most divisive since I moved to Illinois 30 years ago. People can not be that far apart without outside influences stirring the pot. I do not believe in term limits in general or for legislative leaders, when people talk about term limits, I believe they are talking about the House Speaker, but if people in his district wanted him out they could vote him out and they don't, just as if the people in the General Assembly wanted him out they would vote him out. I have no idea who I'll vote for to be the legislative leader, I'll have to see who's running before I would say who would get my vote. One can make oneself a fool dealing in hypotheticals.On budgeting, what should be done to ensure that the state does not again go through a period of time without a budget in place? What will you do as a legislator to help ensure that the spending priorities you espouse during your campaign are reflected in the budget?The best way to ensure the state does not go through a period without a budget is to never elect Rauner or another inexperienced person like him ever again. As a legislator there are tax loopholes that need to be closed so the wealthy pay their fair share of state taxes.Should the legislature approve ballot initiatives either for a constitutional amendment on legislative redistricting or one on term limits? If so, how would you recommend the issues be structure? If not, why not?I support a ballot initiative for a constitutional amendment on legislative redistricting reform. The California model has regular people apply to be on the redistricting commission. Membership on the commission is composed of five Democrats, five Republicans, and four members who declined to state their political affiliation. The commission's voting structure requires multi-partisan agreement among the members to approve any major matter, including the final maps. The commission had to obtain Ãâ#128;™yesÃâ#128;œ votes from at least three Democratic commissioners, three Republican commissioners, and three commissioners who are not affiliated with either major party. Surely more attention will be paid to California's successful experiment in redistricting reform. The California modelÃâ#128;deg;has proven that real people can draw fair, transparent, non-partisan, and non-gerrymandered districts.What approach do you support in fixing public employee pension systems?Ralph Martire, Director of the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability think tank proposed debt re-amortization of 90 percent of the $130 billion unfunded liability, Ãâ#128;™restructuringÃâ#128;œ roughly $117 billion of the pension debt. All but 10 percent of the unfunded liability would be paid by 2057, through equal annual contributions from the state. In 2013, Martire estimated the payment would be about $6.9 billion a year for 44 years. Along with the annual payment toward the unfunded liability, the state also HAS to pay the annual cost of pensions earned in that year. For TRS alone, that cost was roughly $1.1 billion in 2014 and it will grow to $3.1 billion by 2045. The state also has to pay an annual amortized contribution to help pay off the 10 percent unfunded liability that is left over under the plan, further increasing the state's total pension contribution. No matter how you slice it it isn't pretty, but something has to be done. Whatever happens to fix this mess, IT CAN NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN!To what extent do you support or oppose legalization of marijuana for recreational use?I fully support the legalization regulation and taxation of cannabis for medical and recreational use. There is more public support for marijuana law reform than ever before with new polls showing more than half the country is in favor of legalizing marijuana. The Drug Policy Alliance (DPA) believes marijuana should be removed from the criminal justice system and regulated like alcohol and tobacco.The criminalization of marijuana use disproportionately harms young people and people of color, sponsors massive levels of violence and corruption, and fails to curb youth access. Legalizing and regulating marijuana will bring one of the nation's largest cash crops under the rule of law. This will create jobs and economic opportunities in the formal economy instead of the illicit market. Scarce law enforcement resources will be better used to ensure public safety while reducing corrections and court costs. State and local governments would acquire significant new sources of tax revenue from regulating marijuana sales. Marijuana product testing is becoming a standard requirement for legalized marijuana markets. This means consumers are better informed about the marijuana they use.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?If the Equal Rights Amendment hasn't passed by the time I get to the General Assembly, it will be my top priority when our class is inaugurated. Only two more states need to pass the 24 word amendment to the U.S. constitution to give women equal rights under the law. Healthcare is a basic human right and it has to be protected from the likes of Rauner and Trump who would rather give tax cuts to the ultra rich than let the Children's Health Insurance Program live muchless healthcare for everyone else. The bill requiring gun stores in Illinois have a license to do business needs two votes in the house to pass. That must get done. If liquor stores, hair and nail salons need a license to do business, it really should not be a problem for gun stores should have one too. Since Trump pulled out of the Paris Accords every state has to take responsibility for carbon emissions. Illinois already offers tax breaks for installing solar panels and home wind turbines. Sooner than later we have to man up and face the fact the Earth can handle only so much carbon. We can become energy independent which would create jobs in sales, installation, maintenance. Costs of green energy products are getting low enough and with the tax incentives this should not wait.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Kamala Harris, Senator CAWhat is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Being smart is a blessing and a curse.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I would do undergrad again and actually try this time rather than spending all my free time at the college radio station.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Social Studies/History Knowing that history tends repeats itself shines a light on human stupidity.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?You only have one body. So be comfortable in it. Confidence in yourself will spur confidence others will have in you.