Paul Schimpf: 2022 candidate for Illinois Governor
Bio
Party: Republican
Office sought: Governor
City: Waterloo
Age: 51
Occupation: Attorney
Previous offices held: Illinois State Senator 2017-2021
Q&A
What do you consider the key to an effective working relationship between the governor's office and legislative leaders? To what extent is this relationship effective now? What would you do to improve it?
The Illinois and the legislative caucus leaders should be meeting on a weekly basis. Although we represent different equities, the relationship need not be adversarial. As the head of the Illinois administrative agencies, I will, as Governor, demand oversight from the Illinois legislature. The truth is not afraid of transparency and effective, competent government should be able to withstand scrutiny.
What is the responsibility of the governor to work with legislators in determining health regulations during the pandemic or any other public health crisis? How would you work to meet this responsibility?
His unwillingness to partner with the Illinois legislature in developing solutions was JB Pritzker's greatest failure during the pandemic. This led to him abusing his emergency executive authority by issuing orders beyond his 30 day statutory authority. As discussed in Question 1, I will insist upon legislative input and oversight during the development of pandemic policy.
Should the state play a role in funding a new Bears stadium at Arlington Park? What is the governor's responsibility in this regard?
I do not support public financing of professional sports stadiums and will veto any legislation that does so.
What will you do to ensure spending priorities you espouse during your campaign are reflected in the budget?
I will negotiate with the Illinois legislature to ensure that P-12 education, pensions, and the social safety net receive necessary funding.
Efforts to create an independent panel to determine legislative districts were not successful in time for the 2020 Census. How important do you think it is to create such a process for the 2030 Census? If you support the issue, what should be done to create change, when should it be done and how would you contribute?
Reforming our legislative mapping process is a key component in restoring the public's trust in Illinois government. Work should start in January of 2023 to change the law and create an independent commission for drawing legislative maps.
How well do you think the evidence-based model for education funding in place in Illinois is working? How would you define "adequate" state funding for Illinois schools and what will you do to promote that?
Our education funding formula can always be improved. Increasing education funding by $350M per year, as we do under the current funding formula, is not sustainable. We need to free up money for the children in classrooms by consolidating administrative positions, i.e., having school districts share superintendents.
What will you do to fix the public employee pension systems?
When addressing our pension shortfall, we must remember that the cause of this situation is the failure of the Illinois General Assembly to make the required pension payments. The state employees with pensions made their required payments into the system. I am open to an "all-of-the-above" solution with the exception of removing the pension clause of the Illinois Constitution. The state needs to keep its pension promises. It is important to note that we have been digging this pension hole for three decades. No silver bullet or magic beans solution exists to solve this problem. It will take at least a decade of tough choices to make our pension funds solvent.