Newman vs. Fricilone: 10 questions for the candidates running for the 3rd District of the U.S. House of Representatives
Illinois has 18 congressional districts, and each one features a contested race this year. Several include third-party candidates.
Congressional districts are determined by overall state population. Illinois, due to shrinking population, could lose a seat in the U.S. House, possibly two, following the completion of the U.S. Census.
To learn more about the candidates running for Congress, read their Tribune questionnaires here:
Why should voters elect you and not your opponent(s)? Please limit this to policy and approach, not a biography recitation.
My solutions for the 3rd Congressional District are mainstream, common-sense, bold, and aligned with the values of our community. When Dan Lipinski lost his Primary Election, we lost one of the most commonsense, bipartisan voices in Congress and replaced him with socialist Marie Newman. Marie Newman’s plans aren’t focused on the 3rd District, they are taken from the most extreme leftists in Washington. Her plans for healthcare, the environment, the economy, and every other issue are aligned with socialists Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez—they certainly don’t reflect the mainstream and commonsense values of our community. When I am elected to represent you in Congress, I will join the same caucus that mainstream Congressman Dan Lipinski was part of, “The Problem Solvers Caucus,” because I will be a Congressman that actually takes action and solves problems.
If I am honored to represent the district in Congress, I will bring mainstream, commonsense solutions to our nation’s capital that are aligned with the values of our 3rd District residents.
What are your highest priorities for Illinois and the nation?
When I go to cast my vote on legislation, my thought will be “does this make the lives of families and small businesses in our community better?” I will push forward legislation that lowers taxes, creates a better way of life for families and seniors, and improves the business climate of our district. I will ensure America stays energy independent while developing commonsense solutions to protect our environment. And I will address healthcare by improving services and lowering costs for all Americans.
Assuming your victory, choose a single issue you would prioritize in the coming term – name it and describe what you want to accomplish.
I have proudly pledged to join the Problem Solvers Caucus, the same caucus that incumbent Dan Lipinski is a member of. By working with Democrats and Republicans we will be able to find solutions to the issues that are impacting American’s everyday lives.
There are many important issues my campaign has focused on, from providing much-needed tax relief to working people, improving our healthcare system by making improvements to the Affordable Care Act, to a realistic energy policy, but the most pressing issue in our nation today and the world is COVID-19 and the fallout from the pandemic.
Specifically, we need to address the hemorrhaging of millions of jobs, the closing and bankruptcies of countless employers, and the civil unrest in our nation’s cities. These are big jobs and the solutions for them will not come from one political party, they will need to be bipartisan. I am the only candidate that has pledged to work on a bipartisan basis and the only candidate with solutions that are grounded in the values of the people of the 3rd Congressional District. I support strong and continued action by the federal government to help our families and economy recover from the pandemic. I strongly support the CARES Act and Paycheck Protection Program, and I am currently on the CARES Act Committee with Will County. I am confident in the American spirit of ingenuity and believe that this is a temporary, though devastating, set back to our lives and our economy.
In 150 words or fewer, make a pitch for the presidential candidate you support.
President Trump successfully jump-started our economy and created millions of jobs, he is actively working to ensure American safety by securing the border, his foreign policy hasn’t landed the United States into new wars, he was successful at dismantling ISIS, and has provided much needed regulatory relief to American businesses while working to make our government more accountable. Finally, our economy was firing on all cylinders until we were hit with COVID-19 and I believe that with appropriate action President Trump will lead us to a V-shaped economic recovery.
Are you prepared to take up real reform to Social Security and Medicare to ensure their future solvency? What specific reforms would you be willing to support?
As part of the Problem Solvers Caucus' national strategic agenda, I believe we can work on a bipartisan basis to secure Medicare and social security for the next 75 years. This would be a process of uniting behind big goals and achieving them. This happened when President Clinton and Speaker Newt Gingrich worked to balance the budget in the 1990s and it worked in the 1980s when President Reagan and Speaker Tip O’Neill worked together to fix the tax code and Social Security.
Also, we must reform the cost of living adjustments to more accurately reflect the needs of senior citizens. Specifically, I have called for the use of the consumer price index for the elderly, CPI-E to be used moving forward and would sponsor legislation to ensure that change is made.
We must also work to fix obvious issues with Medicare which would save money and not reduce benefits. These would include a laundry list of action items including: Expanding bundled payments and promoting new payment models, reducing preventable readmissions and unnecessary complications, expanding drug rebates, adopting competitive bidding for Medicare Advantage, and limiting medical malpractice claims that are frivolous. Just these outlined changes would save taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars on an annual basis.
What do you view as the government’s obligation, if any, to help American workers secure health insurance? Do you support the creation or continuation of a program, such as Medicare for All or Obamacare? Do you have a different idea? If you support a government-related insurance plan, how would you pay for it?
The American people deserve the best medical care in the world. Our healthcare system has many challenges, but can improve the system without tearing down our entire healthcare structure. Working people of the 3rd District should always be able to keep their employer-based and union-negotiated insurance. We can improve our current healthcare system with forward-thinking policies that lower costs and improve access while ensuring no one loses access to their doctors and all pre-existing conditions are covered.
Marie Newman has adopted the most extreme approach to healthcare, by using Bernie Sanders ‘Medicare for all’ plan that even many Democrats have rejected. It isn’t just radical polity, it is dangerous and dishonest. The $32 trillion of new spending proposed in ‘Medicare for all’ would result in massive tax hikes for every single American taxpayer, not just the wealthy. The plan would limit access to doctors, stop people from being able to see their current physician, increase doctor and hospital wait times, and overload our emergency rooms. We can do better. Republicans and Democrats must come together in Washington and bring forward a comprehensive solution that keeps the best parts of the Affordable Care Act, like protections for pre-existing coverage, while driving down healthcare costs. Americans should be free to choose affordable insurance plans from anywhere in the country that meet the needs of their families. We must have increased insurance company competition which will lead to significant cost savings for 3rd District families.
Identify 3 national security threats to the United States. Choose one and explain your approach to dealing with that threat.
1) Russian attempts to undermine American Democracy
2) Domestic Extremism
3) Production of medication, PPE, and other healthcare supplies
We’ve now had a bright light shown upon the fact that the United States is much too dependent on manufacturers in China and other nations for specific types of products. It is a direct threat to our national security to have a vast majority of our over the counter and prescription drugs, as well as medical equipment produced overseas.
At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, I had numerous constituents talk to me directly about this concern. No matter who is president, I will work in a bipartisan fashion to create legislation that requires more staple mediations, PPE and medical supplies to be made in the United States. I would do this by creating incentives for companies who manufacturer these much needed good here in our country. In the 3rd district, we have the capacity, the workforce, and the transportation systems to be a leader in the production of these goods.
COVID-19 has destroyed jobs. The economy needs to be rebuilt. What policy steps should Congress take (beyond stimulus money or bailouts) in the next year to create as many jobs and as much prosperity as possible?
We certainly can’t use Marie Newman’s socialist policies to restore our economy. Her plans for healthcare and energy would likely more than double taxes on every single American taxpayer. We should be cutting payroll taxes and incentivizing companies to bring back their companies from overseas to create good-paying American jobs.
That said, nothing will rebuild our economy faster than a national vaccination program for COVID-19. Once the vaccine or vaccines are available for COVID-19, we need to invest in a nationwide education campaign to encourage everyone to get vaccinated. When people being to feel safe again, I know that we’ll thrive again.
When have you shown independence from your party on an issue of major import?
We must have a better energy policy that considers our environment. In Will County, I am proud to be a Republican that is respected for protecting our environment. My comprehensive energy plan is meant to reduce our reliance on foreign oil, protect our environment, and unleash American innovation.
Our energy policy must take an aggressive and forward-looking approach. We must use all our nation’s resources and fully take advantage of our American ingenuity. Our policy must be comprehensive, knowing that we will not be completely changing from a fossil fuel-based economy overnight, but forward-thinking, knowing that we must move to more sustainable, renewable energy sources. No American energy plan is complete without the use of natural gas, solar, wind, and nuclear power. We can fully balance being energy independent, protecting our environment, and growing our economy to create jobs for American workers.
If you are an incumbent, tell us the most significant accomplishment of your current term. If you are a newcomer, tell us how you as a rookie would keep from being a backbencher.
The decision in this campaign is not between an incumbent and a challenger, but their still will be a great deal of difference between the way Marie Newman is in Congress and the way I will be. In addition to my mainstream approach vs Marie Newman’s extreme approach, I have an extensive public record as an elected official who has brought forward mainstream, commonsense solutions to move our community forward. As a Member of the Will County Board since 2012, I’ve run up a record of accomplishments. During my tenure as Finance Chairman, we reduced tax rates 4 years in a row while improving services. We found waste in government and we cut it. We also reduced overtime in various county departments, saving taxpayers millions of dollars annually. While I worked to keep Will County fiscally on track, I oversaw the “Building Will County Financial Plan” to move our county forward. The plan included a new Public Safety Facility, a new 911 Center, a new County Court House, and a new county health center. We accomplished all this without a tax increase. That’s the type of leadership I will bring to Washington if you elect me the next Congressperson for the 3rd District.
Why should voters elect you and not your opponent(s)? Please limit this to policy and approach, not a biography recitation.
Our country is struggling, Illinois is struggling, and our community here in Illinois' Third District is struggling. This pandemic, and the tragic lack of any coordinated national response, has left millions of Americans out of work, millions without access to healthcare, and has brought our economy to its lowest point since the Great Depression. My goal has always been to work with my community to address deep economic inequities that are growing larger and faster than ever, and to build an economy that works for all of us. Now, that goal is more important than it ever has been. I am committed to working with colleagues in Congress to fast-track immediate relief for the millions of families across this country who are struggling to keep food on the table and shelters over their heads. As we work to get that done, the next step will be to fight for a stimulus package that will create good paying American jobs in our district and give local small businesses the flexibility and leeway they need to compete, because it’s Main Street, not Wall Street, that will pull our economy out of this crisis. While my opponent seems more interested in defending President Trump on social media, I have a plan to address our struggling economy and am ready to go on day one.
What are your highest priorities for Illinois and the nation?
First and foremost we need continued and more robust relief for workers and working families. I will immediately work with my peers to fight for extended unemployment relief, an extended paycheck protection program, more Small Business Administration loans for the struggling small businesses in our District, and relief for renters and homeowners. Second, we need to address our broken healthcare system. COVID-19 has demonstrated that a system where a majority of Americans rely on their employer for health insurance is uniquely vulnerable to the effects of a global pandemic, and equally unsustainable and inefficient under normal conditions. I will be a fierce advocate for universal healthcare because I believe it is a moral and economic imperative. Universal healthcare will provide necessary relief to small business owners and over 156 million Americans who are reliant on their employer for health coverage. And as we rebuild, we must work to build an economy that works for all of us by addressing economic inequities. We need to ensure corporations and the ultra-wealthy pay their fair share, we need to make education more affordable to everyone, regardless of where you live, we need to fight climate change by investing in a green economy and creating good paying American jobs.
Assuming your victory, choose a single issue you would prioritize in the coming term – name it and describe what you want to accomplish.
I would prioritize the crumbling infrastructure in Illinois' Third District and the need for substantial investments in infrastructure improvements, in public transportation, and in the creation of a green economy to create jobs and opportunities for small businesses here in our community. My goal is to work with leaders at every level of government in the Third to identify major problems and priority projects, as well as opportunities to embrace new green and renewable technologies and initiatives.
In 150 words or fewer, make a pitch for the presidential candidate you support.
We desperately need a change of leadership in the White House, and I believe that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will lead our country out of the disaster that President Trump and his administration have created. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have real plans for putting the pieces back together, for raising wages, creating good paying jobs, protecting and expanding access to healthcare, and building an economy that works for all of us.
Are you prepared to take up real reform to Social Security and Medicare to ensure their future solvency? What specific reforms would you be willing to support?
I support H.R.860, the Social Security 2100 Act, which would guarantee Social Security benefits for all, increase benefits for those receiving Social Security today, extend benefits to low-wage workers, protect Social Security for the remainder of the 21st century, and Include a tax cut for middle-income seniors and Social Security beneficiaries who are required to pay federal income tax on their benefits. Additionally, we must do all we can to prevent privatization of Social Security. Much like insurance companies today, privatizing Social Security will allow for more exemptions and seniors' already-fixed incomes to stagnate and income inequality to grow. We can’t risk placing Social Security in the hands of private investors; doing so jeopardizes seniors' life earnings. I would also support legislation to lower the Medicare eligibility age from 65 to 60.
What do you view as the government’s obligation, if any, to help American workers secure health insurance? Do you support the creation or continuation of a program, such as Medicare for All or Obamacare? Do you have a different idea? If you support a government-related insurance plan, how would you pay for it?
I believe that healthcare is a human right, not a privilege. Period. As COVID-19 has demonstrated, our current healthcare system is fragile, inefficient, and incapable of providing quality care to those who need it most. The Affordable Care act has made life easier for people and has brought insurance to over 20,000 people in my district. I would support any legislation meant to strengthen the program, but ultimately I believe that Medicare for All will give hard working families in my district the most security and peace of mind moving forward. Adopting Medicare for All will remove costs like doctor visits, ambulance trips, blood tests, and completely cover vision, dental, and prescription drugs as well. These costs are paid for by ensuring everyone in the country pays their taxes, raising taxes on the ultra-wealthy, and appropriating federal funds to ensure the process is administered smoothly.
Identify 3 national security threats to the United States. Choose one and explain your approach to dealing with that threat.
The rise of right wing extremism
Climate change
China
The spread of right wing extremism across this country, often fueled and stoked by President Trump, is terrifying and something that we need to address. Similarly, the growing threat of China’s authoritarian rule and market dominance is an issue that our current President has failed to adequately address. That said, I believe that the single greatest threat to our national security is climate change. 2020 is on track to be the hottest year ever recorded, fires are raging across the west, and warming and rising seas are making hurricane season more devastating and damaging. If we don’t curb global carbon emissions in the immediate future, we stand a very good chance of leaving this world uninhabitable for our children and grandchildren. I believe that fighting climate change and growing our economy are not mutually exclusive, and that we can save our planet while creating good paying American jobs. We do this by investing in the creation of a green energy economy, infrastructure improvements and transportation innovation.
COVID-19 has destroyed jobs. The economy needs to be rebuilt. What policy steps should Congress take (beyond stimulus money or bailouts) in the next year to create as many jobs and as much prosperity as possible?
Beyond stimulus, there are two immediate steps that should be taken to rebuild our economy. First, we need to address the obstacles faced by small businesses. Here in the Third District, small businesses make up roughly 80% of our overall economy. We need to shift the tax burden from these small business owners to the largest corporations in our country who are paying virtually nothing. Next, we need to revise Dodd-Frank to give small business owners access to the capital they need to grow. The second step that we need to immediately take is to stop the attack on organized labor. I will fight to pass the Protecting the Right to Organize Act, to advance card check legislation, and to repeal section 14(b) of Taft Hartley which has allowed 28 states to pass right to work laws.
When have you shown independence from your party on an issue of major import?
As stated above, I am an avid proponent of small business and believe that the Democratic party should place a stronger emphasis on creating an environment where small businesses and entrepreneurs can thrive.
I have also worked across the aisle on everything from gun violence and education to social issues and healthcare. In working in the marketing industry and as an advocate for issues at both the local and national level, I have learned how to balance a drive for what I know is right and what I believe in with coordination and cooperation with stakeholders and colleagues.
If you are an incumbent, tell us the most significant accomplishment of your current term. If you are a newcomer, tell us how you as a rookie would keep from being a backbencher.
I will represent the interests of the Third District however I can. And that means working as hard as I can in my first term to support existing legislation, packaged and ready to go, that will benefit workers and working families here in our community. To make an immediate and measurable difference, we have identified a portfolio of existing legislation to support and help pass through the House. In addition to helping party leadership achieve those goals, I have identified a handful of unique priorities that my office will pursue in tandem.
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