Incumbent
Occupation: attorney
Education: J.D. from DePaul University
Other experience: Leader in health care reform, developing legislation kee/
ping health care accessible, and returning $735,000,000 in federal funds to Illinois. Sponsored legislation maintaining pharmaceutical assistance for seniors, and sponsored the Comprehensive Health Insurance Program and the Health Cost Containment Council.
THOMAS H. JOSEPH/REPUBLICAN
Did not respond to questionnaire
1. State Income: Which of the
following do you support to
address the state`s fiscal crisis? Carroll
Raise income tax rate
Enact a graduated income tax Yes
Increase the sales tax No
Increase user fees Yes
Allow more legalized gambling Yes
Impose a tax on services No
Eliminate the tax credit for property tax No
Tax pension income No
Reenact an inheritance tax No
2. State spending: Would you increase (I),
decrease (D) or maintain (M) the level
of spending in the following areas? Carroll
Public aid (families with children) M
General assistance (single adults) M
Incentives for business investments M
Job training (Opportunities/Project Chance) I
Energy assistance for poor M
Community mental health programs I
Public transportation I
Environmental protection I
Prisons M
Probation services M
Early intervention for at-risk children I
3. School funding: Do you support: Carroll
Statewide sharing of
a portion of property taxes? Yes
Local/regional income tax for schools No
Reducing mandates for schools Yes
Public funds for private school vouchers No
Substantial increase in
new revenue for schools Yes
No new money for schools No
4. Social issues: Do you support: Carroll
Job protected family and medical leave Yes
Earned income tax credits No
Tighter restrictions on
eligibility for welfare benefits Yes
5. Environment and natural resources:
Should the state: Carroll
Set higher recycling goals? Yes
Regulate the use of pesticids Yes
Increase groundwater protection Yes
Increase protection for wetlands Yes
Control municipal landfill
and incinerator siting No
Set recycled content goals for packaging Yes
6. Health care: Do you support
legislation that would: Carroll
Provide Medicaid for all
below the federal poverty line Yes
Assign Medicaid patients
to an HMO type health care plan Yes
Give incentives to health care
porfessionals to work in underserved areas Yes
Expand insurance coverage of mental illness Yes
7. Reproductive choice: Do you support
legislation that would: Carroll
Keep abortion legal with
no additional restrictions Yes
Require parental consent
for a minor`s abortion No
Require parental notification
before a minor`s abortion No
Allow Medicaid to pay for abortions Yes
8. Other: Do you support: Carroll
A ban on semi-automatic assault weapons Yes
State legislation overriding
local gun restrictions No
Community service for
drug possessors (not dealers) Yes
Term limitations for state legislators No
Merit selection of judges
instead of elections No
