Daily Herald - 11th Hopefuls Discuss Foreign Policy, Environment

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By Jessica Cilella

With election season heating up, the two candidates for the U.S. 11th Congressional District seat have grown accustomed to debating popular topics such as immigration, health care and changes to the tax code.

During a forum at Congregation Beth Shalom in Naperville Wednesday, however, Democratic U.S. Rep. Bill Foster and his challenger, Republican State Rep. Darlene Senger, had a chance to offer their viewpoints on some lesser discussed items, such as international relations and environmental issues.

The more than 50 people who attended had a chance to write down questions for the candidates.

In response to a question about Israel, Foster said he's always been a strong backer of the country and believes the U.S. plays a role in making negotiations happen.

"I believe in the two-state solution as the fundamental endpoint that we should all aim for, but it has to be something that, based on mutual respect (and) mutual acknowledgment, both states have a right to exist," he said.

He also addressed the issue of safety surrounding hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, to release natural gas from shale rock.

"I think in most places, fracking can be very safe," he said. "I think that it will depend a great deal on the geological conditions that you're fracking."

Foster also said he felt the oil industry has not been destroyed by President Barack Obama, adding that the number of active oil rigs has increased sixfold onshore and offshore in recent years.

Senger said she is very concerned about forming a nuclear compromise with Iran by the Nov. 24, unless it is "an absolutely good, guaranteed agreement."

She said she doesn't think the Iranians are going to hold their word and one of the number one priorities for the U.S. should be to "keep ourselves and our allies safe."

"We've got to be offensive on Homeland Security," she said.

In response to a question about global warming, she said there definitely is a problem. She added, however, that she doesn't think it's fair that U.S. companies like Caterpillar are forced to make expensive changes to their systems to meet environmental standards when companies in other countries, like China, don't have such strict regulations.

"If we're going to solve the problem, let's solve it in a way where we don't hurt our citizens and hurt our jobs," she said.

Senger added that she thinks the U.S. is on the verge of an "energy renaissance" and hopes the country can capitalize on new energy opportunities, such as natural gas.

She said she supports the expansion of the Keystone Pipeline, which runs from Alberta, Canada, to refineries in the United States.

Foster and Senger are both residents of Naperville. The 11th District covers parts of Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall and Will counties, including Aurora, Naperville, Bolingbrook, Burr Ridge and Joliet.

http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20141022/news/141029290/

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