I had the opportunity over the past two weeks to interview via email the two leading candidates for the Democratic nomination for the United States Senate seat in Illinois currently held by Sen. Roland Burris (who is not seeking election), State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias and Chicago Inspector General David Hoffman.
I'll have the full interviews up this weekend, but given that the primary is Tuesday I figured I should start with the first question, which was posed identically to each candidate:
If there's one thing that a group as diverse as the Netroots can be said to want, it's politicians who will push for and help make into law the most progressive policies possible -- whether it's on health care, clean energy, jobs or anything else. What makes you the best choice in this race?
Giannoulias:
We need to elect the best Democrat to fill President Obama’s seat. That means not just someone who has what it takes to take on Republican Mark Kirk and the GOP machine during the election, but someone who will be the type of Senator Illinois needs after the election.
I believe that being a good Democrat is about more than simply believing in progressive policies. It’s about evidencing the type of unwavering commitment to progressive principles that can withstand pressure from the establishment or from the corporate interests that control D.C.
Now more than ever, our party needs leaders in the U.S. Senate who aren’t afraid to plainly state their belief in the progressive principles that will move our country forward. That’s why I was the first candidate in this race to announce my support for full marriage equality. “It could be risky, but it’s what I believe” I said at the time, and that sums up my political philosophy as a whole.
That’s why I was here on Daily Kos last year, when other Democrats were still on the sidelines, announcing that I would be a Senator who would vote for a public health insurance option. It’s why I speak out against the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy every day on the campaign trail, why I don’t shy away from supporting EFCA, and why, when Wells Fargo threatened to liquidate a century-old factory here in Illinois, I was one of the few elected officials to stand up and tell that big bank “no.” It’s also why I’m the first U.S. Senate candidate in Illinois history to refuse contributions from corporate PACs and federal lobbyists.
I firmly believe that we don’t merely need Democratic votes in the U.S. Senate—we need Democratic voices to make the case that progressive policies are the types of policies we need as a nation to build a 21st century economy and to create the next generation of good-paying jobs. Only then can we build the type of long-lasting, functioning majority needed to enact the type of change that will ensure prosperity for generations of Americans.
Hoffman:
Thank you for the question.
I have taken clear progressive stances on many issues and hope the DailyKos community cares about these and more. While not necessarily progressive in nature the core issue in Illinois, a state plagued by corruption and the Blagojevich impeachment, is a question of, “who can we trust?” I would like to address this issue at the end of this response, but first the progressive issues.
I support gay marriage. This is an issue of basic equality. I also support a repeal of the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and I feel that the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy should be repealed as it prevents some of our brightest and most patriotic Americans from serving in the U.S. military.
I strongly support comprehensive health care reform that includes a public option, a key component that Kossaks have fought hard to keep in the healthcare reform bill currently being discussed in Washington. I believe that any health care reform should:
I support “cap and trade” legislation as a politically possible way of reducing CO2 emissions. I also believe that, to effectively transition to a low-carbon economy, we need to provide strong financial assistance to those industries requiring help in adopting the cleanest-possible production methods. And to ensure we do not place U.S. businesses at a competitive disadvantage to businesses overseas, the U.S. must be a strong leader – and use our leverage – in trade, aid policies and other international agreements to promote a world-wide commitment to limiting atmospheric green house gas emissions. Rural parts of Illinois’ are home to a growing number of wind farms while creative entrepreneurs in the suburbs have shown that they can use solar power and conservation efforts. I recently met with the owner of the World’s Largest Laundromat, a business that heats the water to wash cloths with solar panels. You can learn more here. The business owner told me that the solar panels on his building were manufactured in Germany. He would like to buy solar panels that were made here in Illinois, but we don’t produce highly efficient solar panels – this needs to change and some of the incentives discussed above can be used to put people back to work and reduce greenhouse gases.
I feel that investing in green-collar jobs is an important part of the larger discussion about putting people back to work, but we also need to look at the banking industry and the government’s role in this effort. Overall, I see a critical role that the government needs to play to push banks to increase lending to better lubricate the economy. After all, we bailed out the banks and now lawmakers need to make sure that those banks return to lending, especially to small and medium size business owners who want to hire people.
While the stimulus package helped avoid a more severe economic downturn and possibly a depression, the recovery package is just starting to take effect and generate positive benefits. Only 30% of the stimulus money has actually been distributed and I see a need to get the stimulus funds out of Washington much more quickly to help the small business and local governments save and create jobs.
Finally, we need to make it easier for small businesses to expand and grow. I support several proposals put forth by President Obama including a short-term moratorium on capital gains taxes on small business investment. But small businesses need to be able to obtain affordable market loans – right now – which can be done by providing government incentives that actually originate small business loans, and by increasing affordable lending programs. The program would act as an incentive for banks to resume of making small business loans, allowing these businesses to continue their critical role in the job market.
I see many of these issues as progressive, but I think there is a bigger issue that has to be addressed in this race. We can expect that the Blagojevich trial will be happening next summer and fall, leading into the 2010 November election. Kossaks are politically savvy enough to know that this will be an issue. Voters in Illinois have heard all of the promises about job creation, healthcare reform and pollution control, and they seem to have a much greater question on their minds. Illinois voters want to know who they can trust. I feel that my 16 years of public service have prepared me to answer this question of trust with the answer, “David Hoffman.” I was very proud to earn the Chicago Tribune’s endorsement that read, "Hoffman is what Illinoisans deserve - and should expect - in a United States senator. He's an incorruptible man who tells truth to power, and his commitment to open and honest government is unquestioned."
When it comes to pushing a progressive agenda in Washington, I hope that Kossaks ask themselves, “who do they trust?” Because we can all talk about our progressive agenda’s, but it’s all just campaign rhetoric in the absence of a proven record of fighting to protect taxpayers and standing up to the powerful interests. I have that record.
More this weekend.