Incumbent
Occupation: State Senator
Education: Los Angeles High School; Attended University of New Mexico.
Additional experience: Delegate to Sixth Illinois Constitutional Convention; Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, Assistant to Director;
Illinois State Representative, 10 years.
1. What is your top legislative priority?
Restoring Illinois as a top national leader agriculturally and industrially is essential. Encouraging economic growth in Cook County`s northwest suburbs is fundamental to the economy of my district. A Woodfield area convention center is vital for jobs and prosperity as is the proposed plan to replace Arlington Park Racetrack.
2. How would you allocate funds for the following programs?
MacDonald
Probation services Same
Prison programming Increase
Elementary/secondary education Increase
Higher education Increase
Emergency food/shelter Same
Mental health Increase
Public aid Same
Job training/retraining Same
Acquisition of natural areas Same
Mass transit Same
Highways Increase
Toxic waste cleanup Same
3.) Do you support the following proposals?
MacDonald
Ballot proposal for merit selection of judges Yes
Statewide handgun registration
Tuition tax credits No
Equal pay for occupations of comparable work
Mandatory reorganization of school districts No
Financial incentives for reorganization of
school districts No
Decrease dependence on local property tax
funding for education Yes
Increase state income tax No
Increase reliance on user fees for
state services Yes
Cap utility tax rate
Increase personal exemption to reflect
inflation Yes
Gender neutral insurance rates No
Caps on legal liability settlements Yes
Constitutional limits on taxes/spending Yes
Legislation requiring parent notification
of teenage reproductive health care Yes
Right-to-know legislation on hazardous chemicals Yes
Mandatory recycling legislation No
4. If further severe federal cuts are made in the following programs, would you favor increased state funding?
MacDonald
Income assistance
A. AFDC Yes
B. Food stamps Yes
Job training
A. Job Training Partnership Act Yes
B. Work Incentive Program Yes
Low-income housing
A. Construction No
B. Rent subsidies No
Education
A. Special education Yes
B. Compensatory education Yes
Mass transportation
A. Amtrak No
B. Intrastate bus/rail Yes
C. Urban mass transit Yes
