Where I stand on the issues facing our district and state....
"For politicians, this is the part of
the website where a bunch of promises are listed. I can't change
our state by myself and over-night. What I can promise you, is that I
will represent YOU in Springfield, and not big money political
interests. Anyone running for or that is in office who says he or she has all answers or that he or she knows what is best for you, just remember the old saying, beware if it sounds too good to be true it is. The people of the 110th District have had enough of that treatment. I will not be making decisions for the people of the 110th district, I will be making decisions with them. If an agriculture bill comes up, I will talk to the farmer, he is the expert. If a bill on education comes up, I would talk to the teachers, the principals, and the Superintendents, the ones who really know about the various issues, and in that way, I will truly represent the people of Coles, Clark, Cumberland, Crawford, Lawrence and Edgar Counties. My motto as a candidate and representative will be that I will work to restore government back to the people. It should be the people leading the government, not the government leading the people. That is why I am running to be your next State Representative. That said, here are some of the things
I will work towards as your Representative.”~Kevin
EDUCATION
We need to support the teachers of the 110th district with quality schools and materials so they can have the best resources to teach our children. Nothing else can make or break someone's future then the quality of education they receive.
*Stop unfunded mandates from the state that force our schools to use what little money they have for new bureaucracy.
*Ensure our district receives their fair share of money from the state. For far too long, our area has been ignored in favor of northern schools.
*Stop tying the hands of teachers with senseless regulation.
We need to support the teachers of the 110th district with quality schools and materials so they can have the best resources to teach our children. Nothing else can make or break someone's future then the quality of education they receive.
*Stop unfunded mandates from the state that force our schools to use what little money they have for new bureaucracy.
*Ensure our district receives their fair share of money from the state. For far too long, our area has been ignored in favor of northern schools.
*Stop tying the hands of teachers with senseless regulation.
PENSION CRISIS
The pension system in Illinois is almost $100 billion dollars in debt. For far too long, the money that was supposed to go to hard working educators and others, was stolen from them to fund other projects. Do I have the answer to fix this massive problem facing our district and state? No. But I do believe in getting the principals, the teacher unions, others (such as financial experts, and regular taxpaying citizens) and come up with an unbiased solution that will be fair to teachers and ensuring they get what is due to their many years of service while also bringing our state back to financial security.
The pension system in Illinois is almost $100 billion dollars in debt. For far too long, the money that was supposed to go to hard working educators and others, was stolen from them to fund other projects. Do I have the answer to fix this massive problem facing our district and state? No. But I do believe in getting the principals, the teacher unions, others (such as financial experts, and regular taxpaying citizens) and come up with an unbiased solution that will be fair to teachers and ensuring they get what is due to their many years of service while also bringing our state back to financial security.
TAXES
I will oppose making permanent the tax hike passed a few years ago that are due to expire soon.
I will oppose making permanent the tax hike passed a few years ago that are due to expire soon.
ECONOMIC GROWTH
Illinois still has not recovered from the 2008 recession. Most of us know that without drastic change in our state, it will not. Illinois is suffering from over-regulation, which scares away new business and is forcing many small-business either out of state or out of business. I am a former small business owner and currently work for a small business. I have seen the problems first hand and I want to be the advocate for the small business owners of the 110th district. Here are some of the things I will do to help our district create jobs:
Cut taxes for business's:
Right now, the company I work for, which employes about 20 people, pays about $14,061 a year for just one type of tax. If they relocated about 25 miles east to Indiana, they would only pay about $10,355. I don't know about you, but about $4,000 extra a year would make a lot of difference for me and for many business's. That money could be the difference between staying in business for closing, and this is just the tip of the iceberg.
Stop senseless regulation:
I think we can all agree that some regulation is needed. No company should be able to dump toxic chemicals in the water. However, there are many senseless regulations that stifle business growth unnecessarily.
For instance, in Charleston, there is a $25 permit for every water heater to be installed that must be bought by the licensed plumber. This is an needless extra cost for business, and it gets passed on to the consumer, unnecessarily raising their bill. This is a system designed to set up legal business for failure. That added cost may force a family to choose between going to a licensed or an unlicensed worker. The permit serves no other purpose then to tax good business.
I will work hard in Springfield to end similar laws that hurt the district and the state, so we can become more business friendly.
Illinois still has not recovered from the 2008 recession. Most of us know that without drastic change in our state, it will not. Illinois is suffering from over-regulation, which scares away new business and is forcing many small-business either out of state or out of business. I am a former small business owner and currently work for a small business. I have seen the problems first hand and I want to be the advocate for the small business owners of the 110th district. Here are some of the things I will do to help our district create jobs:
Cut taxes for business's:
Right now, the company I work for, which employes about 20 people, pays about $14,061 a year for just one type of tax. If they relocated about 25 miles east to Indiana, they would only pay about $10,355. I don't know about you, but about $4,000 extra a year would make a lot of difference for me and for many business's. That money could be the difference between staying in business for closing, and this is just the tip of the iceberg.
Stop senseless regulation:
I think we can all agree that some regulation is needed. No company should be able to dump toxic chemicals in the water. However, there are many senseless regulations that stifle business growth unnecessarily.
For instance, in Charleston, there is a $25 permit for every water heater to be installed that must be bought by the licensed plumber. This is an needless extra cost for business, and it gets passed on to the consumer, unnecessarily raising their bill. This is a system designed to set up legal business for failure. That added cost may force a family to choose between going to a licensed or an unlicensed worker. The permit serves no other purpose then to tax good business.
I will work hard in Springfield to end similar laws that hurt the district and the state, so we can become more business friendly.
WELFARE REFORM
I think almost everyone has no problem with helping those who, sometimes through no fault of their own, need a little extra help to feed their family. My faith tells me it is my duty to reach out and help someone through troubled times. Sadly, there are a small amount of people who do abuse the welfare system. I would be wiling to support measures that range from putting a picture of the one receiving the benefits on the card to ensure no one else can use it, to drug screenings to ensure the person receiving aide is not taking illegal substances.
I think almost everyone has no problem with helping those who, sometimes through no fault of their own, need a little extra help to feed their family. My faith tells me it is my duty to reach out and help someone through troubled times. Sadly, there are a small amount of people who do abuse the welfare system. I would be wiling to support measures that range from putting a picture of the one receiving the benefits on the card to ensure no one else can use it, to drug screenings to ensure the person receiving aide is not taking illegal substances.
2ND AMENDMENT RIGHTS
I am proud to say I have finished the requisite 16 hours of education to receive my Concealed-Carried license. I am also a proud life-time member of the NRA. While I support the right to carry a concealed weapon, I would encourage going back to the bill and cutting some of the red tape that makes it hard for law abiding citizens to exercise their 2nd amendment rights. What other Constitutional right are we forced to pay the State a fee or Tax to exercise?
Term Limits
Contrary to claims by other candidates, I fully support term limits and was proud to sign my name to a petition that would allow the citizens of our state to vote on a constitutional amendment to place term limits upon career politicians. In an ideal world, we wouldn't need term limits, but in a system controlled by money, favoritism, and the example of some local and elected officials through out the state, it's easy to see the corruption that comes with long stints in political office.
I am proud to say I have finished the requisite 16 hours of education to receive my Concealed-Carried license. I am also a proud life-time member of the NRA. While I support the right to carry a concealed weapon, I would encourage going back to the bill and cutting some of the red tape that makes it hard for law abiding citizens to exercise their 2nd amendment rights. What other Constitutional right are we forced to pay the State a fee or Tax to exercise?
Term Limits
Contrary to claims by other candidates, I fully support term limits and was proud to sign my name to a petition that would allow the citizens of our state to vote on a constitutional amendment to place term limits upon career politicians. In an ideal world, we wouldn't need term limits, but in a system controlled by money, favoritism, and the example of some local and elected officials through out the state, it's easy to see the corruption that comes with long stints in political office.