Mike Tryon
My Crystal Lake State Representative Mike Tryon is doing exactly what I would do. He is filling out all sorts of questionnaires and publishing them on his campaign web site.
Here it is the latest one, a comprehensive one from Project Vote Smart:
Project Vote Smart
2010 Illinois State-Level Political Courage Test
Michael W. Tryon
Abortion and Reproductive Issues
Do you consider yourself pro-choice or pro-life? Pro-life
Should abortion be legal only within the first trimester of pregnancy? N
Should abortion be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape? Y
Should abortion be legal when the life of the woman is endangered? Y
Do you support requiring parental notification before an abortion is performed on a minor? Y
Do you support requiring parental consent before an abortion is performed on a minor? Y
Do you support sexual education programs that include information on abstinence, contraceptives, and HIV/STD prevention methods? Y
Do you support abstinence-only sexual education programs? N
Budget, Spending and Tax Issues
Using the key, indicate what state funding levels (1-6) you support for the following general categories:
1= Greatly Increase 2= Slightly Increase 3= Maintain Status
4= Slightly Decrease 5= Greatly Decrease 6= Eliminate
Higher Education 3
K-12 Education 3 (a #1 priority, but the system needs reform)
Environment 3
Health Care 4
Law Enforcement 3
Transportation and Highway Infrastructure 3
Welfare 3 (the system needs reform)
Alcohol Taxes 3
Cigarette Taxes 3
Corporate Taxes 3
Gasoline Taxes 3
Property Taxes 3 (however, the General Assembly does not control this)
Sales Taxes 3
Income taxes for low income families 3
Income taxes for middle income families 3
Income taxes for high income families 3
Budget Stabilization
Indicate which proposals you support (if any) for balancing Illinois’ budget.
Tapping into Illinois “rainy day” fund Y (but there isn’t one)
Issuing the early release of certain non-violent offenders N
Increasing tuition rates at public universities Y (modestly, but only if needed after significant reform of expenditures)
Instituting mandatory furloughs and layoffs for state employees Y
Reducing benefits for Medicaid recipients Y
Privatizing certain government services Y
Campaign Finance and Government Reform Issues
Do you support eliminating the position of lieutenant governor? Y
Do you support limits on the number of terms for Illinois governors? Y
Do you support limits on the number of terms for Illinois sate legislators? Y
Do you support limits on the number of terms for the four top legislative leadership positions? Y
Do you support limits on the following types of contributions to candidates for state government:
Individual Y
Political Action Committee Y
Corporate Y
Political Party Y (though this could be unconstitutional)
Legislative Leader Y
Crime and Public Safety Issues
Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes? Y
Do you support alternatives to incarceration for certain non-violent offenders, such as mandatory counseling or substance abuse treatment? Y (I was chief sponsor of a new law that does exactly that for Veterans suffering from post traumatic stress syndrome)
Should the possession of small amounts of marijuana be decriminalized? N
Should a minor accused of a violent crime be prosecuted as an adult? N (but Y is some rare cases)
Should a minor who sends sexually-explicit or nude photos by cell phone face criminal charges? Y
Do you support requiring all motorcyclists to wear helmets? N
Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by states and local police? Y
Economic Issues
Do you support reducing government regulation on the private sector? Y
Should video gambling be legal in Illinois? Y
Do you support increased state funding for job-training programs that re-train displaced workers? N (I can not support any increased spending at this time)
Do you support expanding access to unemployment benefits? N
Do you support providing financial incentives to the private sector for the purpose of job creation? Y
Do you support increased spending on infrastructure projects for the purpose of job creation? Y
Do you support providing direct financial assistance to homeowners facing foreclosure? Y (but no new spending)
Education Issues
Do you support National Education Standards? N
Do you support requiring public schools to administer high school exit exams? N
Do you support using a merit pay system for teachers? Y
Do you support state funding for charter schools? Y
Do you support the state government providing college students with financial aid? Y
Should illegal immigrants who graduate from Illinois high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities? N
Environment and Energy Issues
Do you support state funding for the development of alternative energy? Y
Do you support state funding for the development of traditional domestic energy sources (like coal, natural gas, oil)? Y
Do you support providing financial incentives to farms that produce biofuel crops? N
Do you support state funding for improvements to Illinois’ energy infrastructure? N
Do you support state funding for open space preservation? Y
Gun Issues
Do you support restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns? N
Do you support requiring a background checks on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows? Y
Do you support allowing individuals to carry concealed guns? Y
Do you support requiring a license for gun possession? N
Health Issues
Do you support a universally-accessible, publicly-administered health insurance option? N
Do you support expanding access to health care through commercial health insurance reform? Y
Do you support interstate health insurance compacts? Y
Should individuals be require3d to purchase health care insurance? N
Do you support monetary limits on damages that can be collected in malpractice lawsuits? Y
Do you support legalizing physician-assisted suicide in Illinois? N
Do you support allowing doctors to prescribe marijuana to their patients for medical purposes? N
Social Issues
Should marriage only be between one man and one woman? Y
Do you support state funding for stem cell research? N
Do you support state funding for embryonic stem cell research? N
Do you support the state’s use of affirmative action? Y
Do you support the inclusion of sexual orientation in Illinois’ anti-discrimination laws? N
Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in Illinois’ anti-discrimination laws? N
Legislative Priorities (100 words or less)
Illinois is facing its worst economic crisis in the State’s history.
While the private sector is contracting due to the current economy, state government continues to expand.
Difficult decisions need to be made to reign in spending, but the leadership in Springfield is unwilling to make them.
Additionally, state government needs to be more transparent so that citizens have easy access to learning how their taxes are being spent. Lastly, ethics reform must be a priority.
Corruption in Illinois must end and significant reforms in the area of ethics are needed to restore Illinoisans’ faith in their government.
