John O'Neill recruiting volunteers.
This are John O’Neill’s answers to the AARP questionnaire:
Biographical Info
Occupation: Business Trainer
Address: 3608 W. Clover Av.
McHenry, IL 60050
Campaign Phone: 815-276-2507
Web Site: www.electjohnoneill.com
Email: electjohnoneill@gmail.com
Campaign Questions
Q: Issue 1: State Budget Challenges – Please explain your approach to the state budget and taxes, specifically, which types of expenditures and/or revenues do you believe should be increased or reduced? (Please limit response to 125 words)
A: Rather than a tax hike, I believe that after performing a forensic audit on the Illinois Budget, we will be able to cover our budget deficit and look at ways to cut the punishing taxes that have driven so many of our employers out of state and are bankrupting the people of Illinois. It is never a good time for a tax hike, however with this being the “worst recession since the Great Depression,” unemployment at 10%, and property values plummeting; this is the wrong time for a tax hike. Families throughout McHenry County are struggling with higher prices and ever-increasing taxes. We need to cut back where we can in our personal budgets and government at all levels needs to do the same.
Q: Do you support or oppose increasing revenues to close the gap between revenues and expenditures?
A: Oppose
Q: Do you support or oppose reducing expenditures to close the gap between revenues and expenditures?
A: Support
Q: Do you support or oppose Increasing expenditures to fund state activities or programs that are not currently funded?
A: Oppose
Q: Issue 2: Older Workers – How would you improve Illinois’ laws to protect workers against age discrimination and improve conditions for older workers in Illinois? (Please limit response to 125 words)
A: I believe that the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 is sound law and, like many of our laws, simply needs to be enforced at the local level. I do not see a need to craft additional laws when the simple truth is that we need only enforce the laws already on the books.
Q: Do you support or oppose legislation to repeal the Social Security offset law?
A: Support
Q: Do you support or oppose protections against age discrimination?
A: Support
Q: Issue 3: Long Term Services and Supports – What steps would you take to ensure that Illinois residents have choices to remain in their homes and communities as they age?Do you support or oppose making the long-term care system in Illinois more responsive to the needs and preferences of Illinois residents by protecting and expanding community based services?What would you do to ensure that residents of long term care facilities receive quality care in a safe environment? (Please limit response to 125 words)
A: In response to the 3 questions, let me state that my own grandparents had difficulty in securing long-term care when they needed it.
- The State of Illinois already provides in-home care assistance for families, including Adult Day Services, Homemaker Services, Emergency Home Response Service, and Home Delivered Meals. One need only search for what programs are available; having a responsive State Representative would be helpful in navigating the red-tape in the State of Illinois.
- I would like to see the use of state and federal tax credits for the elderly who have worked their entire lives and now need help to retain the dignity of living in their own homes.
- Having witnessed the poor level of service my grandfather received during his stays in a pair of long-term facilities, I will push for criminal background checks, random drug tests, and mandatory elder-care sensitivity training for all workers who care for or treat patients in long-term care facilities.
Q: Do you support or oppose increasing funding for non-institutional long-term care alternatives?
A: No Position
Q: Do you support or oppose seeking federal funding to help the state shift its Medicaid long-term care spending from institutions to the community?
A: No Position
Q: Do you support or oppose increasing oversight and penalties that protect residents of nursing homes?
A: Support
Q: Issue 4: Consumer Protections and Health Insurance – What steps will you take to ensure that consumer protections that are included in the new federal health care law are made effective in Illinois before 2014? How would you prevent insurance companies from denying coverage based on medical condition or discriminating based on gender? (Please limit response to 125 words)
A: Before enacting any additional spending programs, we need to perform a line-by-line audit of the entire Illinois Budget in order to cut-out wasteful government spending. Once we have some accountability at the state level I would be open to addressing consumer protections related to health care and denials of coverage; although I believe that any sort of gender based discrimination ought to be dealt with immediately.
Q: Do you support or oppose changing state law and regulation to make the consumer protections included in the new federal health care law effective in our state before 2014?
A: No Position
Q: Do you support or oppose allowing insurance companies to deny or cut off coverage based on medical condition or history and to charge higher premiums based on gender?
A: No Position
Q: Issue 5: Government Reforms – How would you ensure that efforts on campaign finance and redistricting reforms are continued in Illinois? (Please limit response to 125 words)
A: Redistricting needs to be taken out of the hands of the elected officials who may benefit from the process. While it may not be possible to completely eliminate from the redistricting process in Illinois, I believe that a bi-partisan committee of citizens should be established; two from each county, one from each political party. Redistricting should be based solely on population centers rather than based on political, racial, or ethnic preferences.
Q: Do you support or oppose expansion of campaign finance reforms for General Elections?
A: No Position
Q: Do you support or oppose changes to Illinois’ redistricting process?
A: Support
I like O’Neill’s responses, and I like that, when he hadn’t studied a proposal, he said, “No Position”. I’ve been unemployed for over 18 months now. When I apply for a job, they ask for my ethinicity and sex (equal opportunity requirement). However, age discrimaination is also illegal, and no one asks about that. As anyone over the age of 50 will attest, it’s rampant and not enforced. I had two companies within one month tell me that they don’t hire people over 30 because we would be bored with the work. Enforce the law, or repeal it. If they discriminate against over 40’s, announce it, so we can boycott them.
Now THAT’S refreshing.