Cary Capparelli: Biography and questionnaire

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Cary Capparelli: Biography and questionnaire

1) Would you have voted in favor of the TARP legislation approved by Congress in 2008? Do you think Congress should approve a stimulus package this year? Please assess the competing proposals from the Obama administration and Democrats and Republicans in Congress. What should be the priority in a stimulus package, if you support one?

(a) Although philosophically I would be against the 'Troubled Asset Relief Program', in this particular reality I would voted for the TARP legislation because of the severity of the problem and the immediate need to correct it. (b) Yes, Congress should approve a stimulus package in 2009. (c) The House Democrat bill, largely the Obama stimulus, includes $550 billion in domestic spending and $275 billion in tax cuts. Spending concentrates on the following sectors: education, health care, welfare, infrastructure, and energy. Tax cuts are aimed at individual payroll taxes and tax credits for education and first-time home buyers. The Republican solution is to concentrate on trimming the 'pork' on the Democrat plan (i.e. the contention being that increased food stamp spending, additional monies allocated to the National Park system, weatherizing modest income homes and monies spent to prevent STDs have nothing to do with stimulus), spending on projects to create immediate jobs and further payroll tax deductions to individuals. Obviously, both plans have merit and need to be condensed into one effective plan. (d) In my opinion, the most important priorities in the plan should be 1) tax cuts affecting families and individuals, 2) maintaining the present job force, and 3) creating new jobs. The latter two initiatives require consideration to the corporate tax structure. I would support a modified Democrat plan that would trim its excessive spending, extend greater tax benefits to families and individuals, and be more responsive to corporate tax cuts.

2) President Obama supports increasing U.S. troop strength in Afghanistan. Do you support a deeper U.S. involvement there, and toward what goal?

Yes, I would agree with President Obama and support increased U.S. troop strength in Afghanistan towards the immediate goal to bring about security and stability to most, it not all, regions of the country, and the short range goal to arrange Afghan security forces to take over its own defense. 3) Should Congress expand government-funded health care to cover all citizens? How exactly should a government health care program be structured? Please explain what steps you would take to contain costs.

(a) Yes, Congress should expand government-funded health care to cover all citizens who are not covered by their own plan. (b) This expansion can be best served by a two-tier plan: 1) a Preferred Plan as may be allowed by some employers now or as can be purchased by a family or individual that allows the freedoms of choice in medical care and 2) a Standardized Plan that may not allow the exact freedoms of medical care choice but assures every citizen quality medical care. In essence, the new plan is better organized and overall refined version of our present system. (c) The first step to containing costs in medical care is to establish certain guidelines. These guidelines would be established with the health care providers to simplify the overall system whereas 1) exact or accurate estimate costs would be determined for any Preferred Plan for the covered individual to choose, and 2) mandatory guidelines determining costs would be applied to any Standardized Plan. Theoretically, this should create competition among providers, resulting in lower costs.

4) Give us your views on tax policy and entitlement spending. Should marginal tax rates be raised for people who earn more than $200,000 a year? Should the inheritance tax be abolished or extended? What difficult steps would you take to control the costs of Social Security and Medicare?

Per se, I support less taxing and less spending: (a) I would most likely be against tax rates to increase for people who earn more than $200,000. (b) Inheritance tax should not be abolished or extended but reduced significantly. (c) Raising the age limit in order to qualify for both Social Security and Medicare may be the most effective initial step in abating spiraling health care costs.

5) Whom did you support in the 2006 primary and general election for governor? Please explain the reasons for your support.

I did not support any particular candidate in the 2006 primary or general election for governor. Although I did vote, I was disenchanted with the choices available.

6) Do you support a constitutional amendment to allow voters to recall public officials? How would you have voted on the recall amendment that was approved in 2008 by the Illinois House? Please explain your thinking.

(a) I would support a constitutional amendment to allow voters to recall public officials; however any such amendment must apportion certain conditions and limitations as not to allow a blanket ability to simply remove a public official over biased or frivolous matters. (b) Obviously, the will of the people indicated a 'yes' vote on the 2008 Illinois House recall vote; however I have some reservations because the vote assumed a guilty verdict in regards to the recall without the right to a trial or some form of defense.

7) Do you think the U.S. Senate should have accepted the appointment of Sen. Roland Burris by Gov. Rod Blagojevich to a vacancy in the U.S. Senate? Should the legislature have called a special election?

(a) Yes, the U.S. Senate did the right thing when they approved the appointment of Senator Roland Burris by former Governor Rod Blagojevich to the vacant U.S. Senate seat because at that time it fulfilled the legal requirements demanded by the then-governor. (b) Although I would personally prefer a special election in this circumstance, a special election was not legally possible. I would support new legislation that would demand all vacant seats be filled by special election if more than two years are left on a U.S. Senate term. Additional legislative is probably needed to avoid future embarrassing situations like the Burris appointment.

8) Whom did you support in the 2006 primary and general election for president of the Cook County Board? Please explain your thinking.

Again, I had no particular preference in the 2006 primary and general election for president of the Cook County Board. In my opinion both candidates lacked credentials for different reasons.

9) Should the 1-percentage-point increase in Cook County's portion of the sales tax be repealed?

Yes, the 1-percentage-point increase in Cook County's portion of the sales tax should be repealed. In these difficult economic times, we should seek fewer taxing opportunities. Cook County should of frozen all pay increases and in some instances reduced pay for some upper executive positions.

10) Tell us: What have you done? What are your specific accomplishments in government or public service? What difference have you made?

This is my first-ever political run. I am not a career politician nor do I intend to be one. I strongly believe in term limits. My integrity, knowledge and hard work ethic make me a viable candidate for this difficult task. This is further complimented by my practical education and global experience in capacities that can be directly applied to serving in the U.S. House of Representatives. As outlined in my biography, I have served on the Illinois International Port Board of Directors since 2000, and am Chairman of three committees; including Homeland Security. It is my firm belief that the differences I will make will be in the future as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives serving the Fifth Congressional District of Illinois.

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