Issues

Needless to say, the State of Illinois has earned a poor reputation. Among other issues, the state oftentimes provides lazy and lousy service. Yet it continues to raise taxes, thereby compelling people to leave. And the folks who have stayed have to make up that tax burden.

We must hold our elected officials accountable to us. This includes proper oversight on appointments and on state agencies such as the Illinois Department of Children & Family Services.

As an advocate for education, I believe all parents and students have the right to choose and attend the best schools. I have spent most of my career working in education and seen what can go right and what can go wrong.

Our elected officials must do the same, and they must work to improve conditions and achievement at our public schools while supporting parents who choose to homeschool their children.

We need to increase the supply of housing in Illinois—by a lot. Any idea is worth considering. And tiny houses are trendy now. YouTube is full of videos of tiny house constructions, each garnering millions of views. Many retirees and empty-nesters are looking to downsize and they are realizing that smaller homes are an ideal path towards it. We must lower construction costs and unburden the market so that tiny homes and accessory dwelling units can increase the variety and supply of housing.

America is stronger when it welcomes immigrants who come here legally with the desire to embrace our culture, contribute to our communities, and pursue the American Dream. Legal immigration has always been one of our nation’s greatest strengths, but illegal immigration undermines that strength by fueling crime, human trafficking, drug activity, housing shortages, and misuse of services intended for citizens.

We must secure our borders and enforce our laws, not out of hostility, but out of fairness and compassion for both American citizens and those immigrants who follow the rules. At the same time, our immigration system should not favor only the wealthy or highly skilled—whether a farmworker or a technician, what matters most is a genuine commitment to becoming a patriotic American and contributing to this country’s future.

I think it is imperative for every level of government to spend taxpayer dollars wisely. This is especially true when the national debt is $37.51 trillion.

Our federal and state governments need to craft budgets that are balanced and that cut wasteful spending. We also need our elected representatives to propose tax rebate programs that return any dollars unspent back to the people.

Higher education should be a path to purpose, not a one-size-fits-all mandate. For some, that purpose is found in a college classroom, library, or laboratory; for others, it’s in the trades, the military, or entrepreneurship. We should value every pathway equally, while demanding rigor and resisting the lowering of standards or the politicization of higher education. Throwing more money at colleges won’t solve their problems—what matters is ensuring young men and women have real opportunities to grow into responsible, purposeful citizens, wherever they choose to pursue their calling.

Read more On Higher Education.

We need leaders who will not vote for an authorization to use military force (AUMF) that enable endless wars—period.

We must respect our Constitution and only go to war with a formal declaration that is passed by Congress. However I trust our armed forces, and know they can accomplish their mission. Thus I would support military force if we are attacked.

We should approach environmental challenges by focusing on practical conservation, not global climate fear or alarmism. As a former Boy Scout, I know that conservation begins with protecting our nation’s land, water, and wildlife so they remain strong for generations to come. Local communities are essential partners in this effort, but Washington and Springfield should empower them with the tools, resources, and flexibility to succeed. By pairing this conservation ethic with American innovation—like cleaner energy, better farming techniques, and smarter technology—and with free-market principles, we can strengthen our environment, grow our economy, and secure a greener future for all Americans and around the globe.

America First means America first. While we must respect other nations’ laws and customs, we must uphold our own.

And while we affirm Europe’s and others continents’ security, they must increase their defense contributions. We will clean our backyard if they clean theirs.