Name: Adam Kinzinger

Age: 40

Town of residence: Channahon

Office sought: U.S. Representative for Illinois' 16th Congressional District

Party: Republican

Website: electadam.com

1. What are the key differences between you and your opponent?

My opponent believes in single-payer healthcare, which will take more decisions out of the hands of doctors and patients and put them with Washington bureaucrats. Whether you call it “Medicare For All”, “Single-Payer”, “Public Option”, or something else, they’re all just another name for a one-size-fits-all government-controlled health care system and they will all have the same consequences. The government cannot effectively administer or efficiently run anything. You will pay more – not less. You will not be able to keep the plan you have today because the bureaucrats will have control, not patients. You will have to wait in a long line for critical care. Medicare For All places the most important health decisions for you and your children under government control, and puts the current Medicare system for seniors at risk. Instead of ripping apart what we have today, we should improve what’s working - and fix what’s not. We shouldn’t eliminate coverage that 180 million Americans get through their jobs today. Let’s make it work better.

2. The amount of state and local taxes that can be deducted on federal returns was capped this year at $10,000. Illinoisans pay some of the highest property taxes in the country and recently were hit with a state income tax hike to boot. How will you work to protect residents from double-taxation?

I’m optimistic about the current trajectory of the economy. As a direct result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, wage growth made steady growth this year and the GDP growth in the last quarter was 4.1%. The new tax code allows my constituents to keep more of their hard-earned paychecks, to spend on what’s best for them and their families. Businesses across the country are reinvesting in their workforces and customers, which, of course, helps millions of Americans.

In addition to this new and improved tax code, the federal government must continue reducing regulatory burdens that are choking businesses of all sizes and stifling growth. Undoubtedly, regulations are necessary to protect consumers, businesses, and the environment. But we need smart regulation — not just regulations for the sake of having them. The Trump Administration has kept the President’s campaign promise to cut unnecessary regulations, which has helped fuel our economic growth. I will continue to work with my colleagues and the White House to remove barriers and unleash even more substantial economic growth.

As for the State of Illinois, I believe our state and local leaders need to compete with our neighboring states, foster job growth, and create a favorable climate for people to live and work.

It’s not hard to see why so many people are moving away from Illinois. The vast majority of my constituents are middle-class, hardworking Americans that need tax relief. The new State and Local Tax (SALT) Deduction covers other forms of taxes (including sales taxes) and will yield even more savings than before--savings on top of the income tax cuts enacted through the same legislation. Springfield needs to get its act together, confront its budgetary problems, and create an economic environment that is friendlier to businesses and families alike.

3. Do you believe any additional federal gun control measures are warranted? If so, what? If not, why not?

As a veteran and sportsman, I firmly believe in the right to keep and bear arms for hunting, sport, and personal defense—as do the majority of Americans. My record reflects strong support for our Second Amendment rights under the Constitution, and strong support for the current background check system, applicable laws, and court decisions on this issue. I believe we should address any flaws found in reporting requirements for state governments, law enforcement, and certain federal agencies. For example, the shooter at the church in Sutherland Springs, Texas had been discharged from the Air Force after being tried and convicted of a criminal offense, and his conviction records were not reported to the National Instate Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), as required by law.

There are additional ways to balance safety while respecting our constitutional rights. The courts have upheld the federal laws regulating automatic weapons several times, but certain manufacturers have found ways to circumvent the spirit of these laws based on technicalities. The shooter in the Las Vegas massacre was found to have used bump-stocks on his rifles to simulate automatic rates of fire. Following the tragedy, I led a bipartisan letter to the Department of Justice to ask them to re-evaluate these bump-stocks to ensure they are, in fact, compliant with federal law as previous ATF letters had stated. The Attorney General later announced they would oblige this request, and when President Trump took the same position and asked the ATF to expedite the process, things have begun moving quickly. I firmly believe these fully-automatic simulator devices have no place in civil society.

4. What is your opinion on the Mueller investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election? Would you vote to impeach President Trump?

I support the investigation and hope that we get answers soon on whether or not Russia interfered with our elections. We deserve transparency and the truth, and I believe the special counsel was the way to do that. It’s unfortunate to see how political this investigation has become, but I trust the process and would like to see the results as soon as possible, so we can move on and address the many vitally important issues that are eclipsed by Washington’s obsession with the Mueller investigation.

5. Do you agree with the Trump administration's approach to immigration policy? What is the proper way to enforce America's immigration laws?

Our immigration system is broken, and it incentivizes people to come to this country illegally. We must remove these incentives for illegal border crossings, including family migration. Throughout the year, I serve as a pilot in the Air National Guard and have seen the drugs flow into the border towns of Texas during patrols. I know firsthand that we need major improvements with respect to border security, interior enforcement, and visa reform. We must also consider the people who will be affected as we undergo these changes. I repeatedly stated that President Obama circumvented the will of Congress and the rule of law itself when he instituted the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program by executive fiat. It was a blatantly illegal action, as later held in the courts, and was an insult to Americans and to those legally waiting in line to become an American citizen. Still, we cannot punish children who followed their parents to this country and only know America to be their home. It’s critical that Congress act on behalf of DACA recipients, as well as families separated at the border. I have cosponsored legislation, worked in a bipartisan fashion, and voted twice to give certainty to the DACA recipients while securing the border and giving our border agents the tools needed to do their job and prevent future illegal immigration and visa overstays. I also voted for two major immigration reform packages earlier this year, both of which would have addressed many of the problems we face today.

6. What is your position on abortion? Should it be a matter of federal law, or should states be free to regulate it as they see fit?

I am and have always been pro-life. I have supported numerous federal protections for the unborn, and believe states should be able to enact additional protections compatible with federal law. I also believe we should always protect women in cases of rape, incest, and to save the life of the mother. I am strongly opposed to taxpayer-funded abortion, and believe it is a moral imperative that we end the use of public funds for these procedures.

7.  What role should the federal government play in America's health care system? Should the Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”) be repealed?

I don’t support the Affordable Care Act, or “Obamacare” as it’s known, because it forces far too many of my constituents to change doctors, lose their preferred coverage, or buy plans they can’t use because the deductible is too costly. I support the goals of accessible, affordable coverage and I supported legislation that would have replaced the most burdensome parts of Obamacare while maintaining protections for individuals with pre-existing conditions. Going forward, the federal government should provide coverage to those in need, including through Medicaid and CHIP, but recognize that a one-size-fits-all government-run system won’t make coverage better or more affordable for families.

The focus in our healthcare should be on the doctor-patient relationship, and I firmly believe there are other ways to make coverage more affordable. Congress should cede more control back to the state governments, and encourage new and innovative approaches to lower costs and provide more options and treatments. States are better prepared to deal directly with the healthcare issues and crises impacting them, rather than waiting for a slow-moving federal government to get involved. The opioid epidemic and obesity crisis are examples of issues that impact some states disproportionately.

Congress should also enact policies that allow Americans to have greater choice in their plans. Individuals should be able to buy plans across state lines and should not have to pay for services they don’t need. Another way to lower prices would be meaningful medical liability reforms to help drive down costs. With my support, the House of Representatives passed the American Health Care Act of 2017, but unfortunately, the Senate failed to act. Still, I remain committed to getting things done, like neutralizing the individual mandate and voting to repeal the medical device tax, so my constituents can have affordable coverage once again.

8. How will you advocate for the district's agricultural economy? What is your opinion of the opposing Farm Bill proposals from the U.S. House and Senate?

I am a champion for the agricultural community in the 16th District, and our farmers know I am fighting hard for them in Congress. That’s why the Illinois Farm Bureau has endorsed me yet again in recognition of my work for our rural communities.

I voted for the House version of the Farm Bill and believe it is better than the Senate version, but recognize that some concessions will have to be made in order to get a final product to the President’s desk.

I support free trade, and believe the US needs to negotiate from a position of strength and not weakness. I agree that many of our allies and our international competitors have taken advantage of our system for far too long. I’m optimistic about the trade deal with Canada and Mexico, updating the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), to better serve the American people, and particularly our farmers. I’m glad we have resolved a number of our trade issues with the European Union, so now President Trump can turn his attention to the biggest issue: China.

China has been putting America at a major disadvantage with imports and exports, while stealing billions of dollars’ worth of intellectual property and regularly engaging in cyber operations against our government and private sectors alike. I have not generally supported tariffs and recognize the situation with China is hurting the Illinois agriculture industry. The fact is that the President has chosen to employ tariffs in order to extract concessions from China and others. I am hopeful that we’ll see a good deal finalized soon and give Illinois farmers some relief.

9. What’s your assessment of the job the federal government does in caring for military veterans? How can services be improved?

As a veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, I have the utmost respect for the men and women who have served our country in uniform, both at home and abroad. The federal government must ensure that promises are kept and that our veterans receive the care and benefits they rightfully deserve. Anything short of that would be a dishonor to the sacrifices they and their families have made.

Reform is underway at the Department of Veteran Affairs to make healthcare coverage better for our veterans. Let's not forget that just a few years ago we witnessed a major scandal at the VA where veterans were being put on secret wait lists for care, and many were dying due to neglect. The behavior of too many VA employees ranged from unacceptable to criminal. In the wake of that crisis, I voted in favor of giving our veterans the flexibility to seek care outside of the VA system so they could have access to timely and effective care. It was only a temporary solution and more work needs to be done at the VA to get it up to where it needs to be. And while progress has been made, we are not out of the woods. I will continue to work in Congress to ensure the needs of ALL veterans are appropriately addressed, as promised.

10. Is there an important issue in the federal government that has not received adequate attention? How would you solve it?

a. Unfortunately, what matters most to the Illinois families doesn’t get the attention of the national media despite this 24-hour news cycle. Too much attention has been given to what’s happening on social media, and not enough on education. As the son of a former public school elementary teacher, I know the value of a good education and how important it is to give children hope and opportunity. With so many innovative and creative programs being tested in education, the federal government should do more to partner with local communities to prepare children for the 21st Century challenges they’ll face. Technical schools and employers should have the opportunity to introduce careers to kids while they are in high school. These are important skills and provide an alternative option to the four-year college route.

I also believe we should encourage civility in our communities, our classrooms, our homes – and remind people that far more unites us than divides us.

b. The federal government has not done nearly enough to help bring the Syrian War to a peaceful resolution. The conflict has received some attention, but more should be done by the Administration and Congress to support and protect the Syrian people from the genocide, barrel bombs, and chemical weapons they face daily. If we fail to hold those accountable for their heinous chemical weapons violations, we will see the end of the nonproliferation treaty and open the world to ghastly horrors, perpetual insecurity, and extreme dangers. More than half a million people, including 50,000 children, have been murdered by the Assad regime with support from Russia and Iran. I believe Assad must be removed from power and be held responsible for his countless war crimes. I will continue to use my position as Co-Chair of the bipartisan Friends of a Free, Stable, and Democratic Syria Caucus to raise awareness on the suffering in Syria and to call for a long-term strategy that leads to a peaceful solution.