Below is an outline of some of the issue priorities I will bring to Springfield if elected. This is a brief overview, and during the next few weeks I will be releasing a series of detailed policy statements on these and other topics.

Rather than just post a list of issue bullet points, I want to work to engage voters in a discussion of the key problems confronting Illinois and the 10th District. This is a time of serious challenges, and as part of this campaign I intend to create a serious debate around the issues.

Restore Fiscal Sanity

For too many years the State of Illinois has cut corners and used accounting tricks to cover up a growing fiscal crisis. As a result, Illinois now stands on the verge of financial insolvency.

Illinois owes $80 billion to its massively underfunded pension systems, and next year’s budget deficit is projected to be more than $12 billion. Add in some recent short-term borrowing, and taxpayers are on the hook for nearly $100 billion that the State can’t afford to pay, and has no plan to pay. According to a new Pew Center report, Illinois now has the second most severe budget gap of any state, just after California. 

We need to get serious once and for all about fixing the State budget, rather than lurching from one fiscal crisis to another. We need to restructure our tax policies based on ability to pay and address our structural deficit so that we can pay our bills on time and fully fund our pension obligations.

Provide Quality Education for our Children

One of the most critical issues we face is the future of our public education system. Ensuring that our children receive a quality education benefits us all. Fixing this problem will require both new funding and new reforms and accountability.

New funding must be programmed to where it can drive the best results, such as pre-school and afterschool programs, technology, and repairing our school infrastructure.

We need to recruit, empower and hold accountable effective teachers. We need to support local school control and innovation. We must set high expectations, develop clear roadmaps for meeting those expectations, and provide the funding necessary to implement those plans.

Protect the Environment and Create Jobs

We are on the verge of an environmental and economic revolution built around reducing global warming pollution and cleaning up our environment. We have the ability to ensure clean air, clean water and protect natural areas for Illinois residents while also fostering new industries. Illinois can create jobs by promoting clean technologies and reducing energy use.

According to the Pew Center, from 1998-2007 new clean technology jobs nationally were created at a rate nearly three times that of overall job growth. Yet during that time, Illinois was one of only 8 states to see a decline in the number of clean technology jobs. Additionally, Illinois ranks in the bottom 25 percent of states for the percentage of jobs in clean technology. Unless we take action to support this new economic boom in Illinois, the investment and jobs will go elsewhere.

To see Jonathan's job creation plan, click here.

Fight for Common Sense Gun Control

We must take action to stop the tragedy of gun violence in Chicago. For starters, we must ensure that people who are legally barred from owning a gun are not able to avoid background checks when trying to buy a gun. Pending legislation would require universal background checks for all gun purchasers, closing the private sale loophole.

Another pending bill would require gun owners to report lost or stolen guns to local law enforcement agencies. Many guns used in crimes were originally stolen or lost, and this bill would give law enforcement another tool to combat the flow of illegal weapons.

To read my gun control policy statement, Common Sense Policies to Reduce Gun Violence in Illinois, click here.

Stop Illinois’ Culture of Corruption

After years of seemingly non-stop scandals, we are finally seeing some movement in ethics and campaign finance reform, and the recent passage of SB 1466 was a big step forward. Yet there is much more to do, and I will support efforts to achieve further reforms in the areas of ethics, campaign finance, voting rights and public corruption.

Protect Women’s Right to Choose

The Reproductive Health and Access Act, currently pending in Springfield, would guarantee a woman’s right to make her own health decisions – whether about birth control, pre-natal care or abortion. It also would provide for comprehensive sex education in order to cut down the number of unwanted pregnancies. I will co-sponsor and support this and other pro-choice legislation.

Marriage Equality and LGBT Rights

I support equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Illinois. A cornerstone of these protections is marriage equality. I will sponsor and support legislation to guarantee marriage equality in Illinois, and to provide equality in other civil rights for LBGT individuals and families.

Support Union Members and Employees’ Rights

I support the right of employees – whether public sector or private - to organize unions and engage in collective bargaining without interference. I will oppose legislation aimed at weakening these rights.