Q&A with Seals

1. Why are you running for this office, whether for re-election or election the first time? Is there a particular issue that motivates you, and if so, what? What will be your main priority?

I'm running for Congress because I believe it's time for a change- not only in the course of our country, but also in the way business is done in Washington today. Over the past 8 years, the Bush Administration has led us into a war with no end, overseen reckless spending that has weakened our economy, and left us with little hope for healthcare. When this Administration has needed an ally, Mark Kirk has been there for them nearly 90% of the time. The 10th district deserves better. As the father of three daughters, I know that we simply cannot afford 8 more years of the failed leadership that has led us to where we are today. I was raised to believe that each of us has no greater responsibility than to leave our country better off for the next generation. Yet today, each of my three little girls is over $30,000 in debt due to the fiscal recklessness that has taken hold in Washington. My main priority will be moving our country in a new direction by focusing on fiscal discipline, economic growth, affordable healthcare, and bringing a responsible end to the war in Iraq. We can only accomplish this change, however, if we change who we send to Washington.

2. For incumbents and non-incumbents. If you are an incumbent, describe your main contributions. Tell us of important initiatives you've led. If you are not an incumbent, tell us what contributions you would make.

My contributions will be to bring both fresh eyes and a results orientated mindset to Washington. Many of the problems that we are facing have been around for decades-a poor healthcare system, our dependence on oil, and a burdensome tax code to name a few-yet we have seen little progress in resolving them. I am not a creature of Washington and will not act like one in approaching these problems. Whether it is making healthcare portable, diverting our tax subsidies from the oil industry to green technologies, or simplifying the tax code, I will bring a different approach. Another part of that approach is focusing on results. While my time working as a Presidential Management fellow in the U.S. Senate taught me a lot about how Washington works, the time I've spent working in business has taught me a lot more about how Washington should work. In business, success is defined by results. In Washington, the currency is intention. I would like more data driven policies where programs are assessed for the actual results they achieve. Programs that don't work should be fixed. Programs that do work should be built upon.

3. In which ways, if at all, would you alter U.S. policy in Iraq and Afghanistan? How would you characterize the effect of the U.S. "surge" in Iraq? What objectives, if any, must the U.S. still meet before it begins to withdraw troops?

I believe that the war in Iraq has been misguided and mismanaged from the start. It has cost too many lives and too much money, while weakening our military readiness and making us less safe at home. Our troops have performed extraordinarily, but they now find themselves in the middle of a civil war that has no military solution. Just as putting all of the police in Chicago into its worst neighborhood would bring down the crime there, the "surge" in troops has helped to reduce the violence. But in and of itself, the "surge" has not reduced the causes of the violence. That can only be accomplished with a political solution. I support a responsible timetable for withdrawal, one that allows our troops to leave honorably, safely, and soon. I also believe that the US should continue to provide support and expertise to Iraqi leaders even after the bulk of our military presence has been redeployed. Prime Minister Maliki has made it clear that the Iraqi people are ready to step up and rebuild their country. Given that we are spending $12 billion/month there while needs at home are going unmet, I'd say it can't happen soon enough.

4. What short-term steps, if any, would you advocate to keep gasoline prices in check?

Many in Washington have implied that new drilling will provide short-term relief. It will not. That is part of a long-term-and temporary-solution. In the short-term, our options are limited. I support tapping the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to provide gas price relief for consumers. In the past, releasing oil from the SPR resulted in gas price decreases. The SPR is currently 97% full, with a record-high level of over 700 million barrels of oil. By selling a modest 50 million barrels, the government could generate over $7 billion in revenue while lowering gas prices by up to 24 cents a gallon. Even with this release, the SPR would remain 90% full. We can provide additional relief by requiring oil companies to drill on existing leases to increase our domestic oil supplies. I also support measures to protect consumers from artificial oil price manipulation by giving the Federal Trade Commission the authority to investigate energy companies for price-gouging and establish harsher financial penalties for violators. Finally, we must encourage conservation. This is still the most immediate and cost-effective way to address the energy crisis. Using more public transportation, turning down the thermometer a couple of degrees, and driving more slowly will all help to reduce our energy bills.

5. Please list the key elements of your preferred long-term energy policy. Rank or rate the relative importance of domestic oil exploration, conservation and alternative-energy development. What part, if any, should ethanol play in U.S. energy policy?

1. Investing in Renewable Energy Technologies. I believe we should take away tax breaks and subsidies for oil companies and invest those funds into renewable energy research and development, including solar, wind, and geothermal projects. I also support extending existing tax credits for renewable energy programs. 2. Promoting Conservation. I support aggressive measures to promote energy conservation, beginning with raising CAFE standards to 35 mpg by 2014. I also support giving tax credits of $3,000 or more toward the purchase of fuel-efficient vehicles, and supporting local initiatives for green building and construction. 3. Developing Domestic Oil Reserves. I would like to accelerate drilling in the 68 million acres of existing leases, both onshore and offshore, to develop our domestic oil reserves. These undeveloped lands could produce an additional 5 million barrels a day. However, we must accept that we cannot drill our way to energy independence and focus greater resources on breaking our addiction to oil. Ethanol, specifically, has far too many disadvantages to be a central part of a comprehensive energy plan. While biofuels may play a role in reducing our dependence on oil, I would place greater emphasis on promoting energy efficiency and exploring other technologies.

6. What steps, if any, should Congress take to promote economic recovery? What steps by the federal government might make the nation's economy worse?

We can provide short-term economic relief by extending unemployment insurance and providing a second stimulus package, but we must also make long-term structural changes to turn our economy around: Simplifying the tax code. Our tax code hits middle-class families too hard and takes too much of their time and money to prepare. Over $300 billion in taxes go uncollected every year due to loopholes and shelters, forcing the rest of us to pay more than our fair share. Simplifying the tax code and reducing the number of brackets brings the scofflaws into the system and allows us to lower taxes for nearly everyone else. Repealing the AMT. Unless we can simplify the code, we should roll back the AMT and index it to inflation. Otherwise, it will hit 30 million Americans by 2010. Making the R&D tax credit permanent. The R&D tax credit has rarely been approved long enough for businesses to plan it in. It expired for the 13th time at the end of last year. As a result, businesses have a disincentive to invest in medium and long-term R&D. R&D is essential to developing future technologies and industries. Reducing Regulations for Small Business. Small businesses face a disproportionate amount of regulation. We should work towards a system that is more encouraging (read: less government) to those who start businesses and create jobs.

7. Do you favor or oppose a larger federal role in health-care? Either way, why and what should the federal role be? What, if anything, should be done about rising health care costs and Americans who do not have health coverage?

HEALTHCARE--Do you favor or oppose a larger federal role in healthcare? Either way, why and what should the federal role be? What, if anything, should be done about rising health care costs and Americans who do not have health coverage? We spend more money on healthcare than any other nation in the world, yet over 47 million Americans are still uninsured. We must make healthcare more affordable and comprehensive by: Creating a Choice: Individuals who are satisfied with the cost and quality of their healthcare plans should be allowed to keep them. Providing an Affordable Alternative: There must be an affordable alternative for those who are uninsured or underinsured. I believe in creating a universal healthcare plan that provides a basic level of healthcare for all Americans. It would be based on the Medicare system, which while not perfect, has overhead costs that are 75% lower than those of private insurers. Increasing Portability: The cost of providing health benefits is hurting American businesses and making them less globally competitive. The workers themselves are at a disadvantage because they are often forced to stay in certain jobs just to retain coverage. A national program of health insurance would give workers more flexibility while alleviating the economic burdens of our current healthcare system. In addition, I support improving patient safety standards and the quality of medical care received. There must also be a shift in focus from treatment to prevention.

8. Would you maintain or scale back federal tax cuts made during the past eight years? Either way, why? How, as specifically as possible, would you try to reduce federal budget deficits and the national debt?

Any serious discussion of reducing the debt must look at both spending and taxes-but it is essential to begin on the spending side. Doing so will cut down on unnecessary spending and increase the electorate's trust in government. That's why I will fight for substantial spending cuts before supporting a roll back of the Bush tax cuts. Even then, I would like those cuts to be limited to the top 2% of Americans. One of my priorities in Congress will be to reduce budget deficits and pay down the national debt. I support strict adherence to PAYGO rules in Congress so that all new spending is offset by new revenue. I also believe we need to end the practice of earmarks and reduce wasteful government spending. Adopting these policies will strengthen our economy and ensure that future generations are not forced to bear the burden of our fiscally irresponsible decisions.

9. The current Congress could not agree on immigration reform. What would you do to advance reform in a divided Congress, and, briefly, what should the key policy elements be?

The biggest source of deadlock in the immigration debate is the tendency on both sides to speak in hypotheticals and hyperbole. It is critical that we reengage in a dialogue about what measures are actual workable--and begin by recognizing what is not workable. The deportation of 12 million undocumented immigrants is not a workable policy. That said, here are a few of the steps I believe that we can take: When it comes to securing our border, a physical barrier is not the only approach. I will fight for increased border patrol, better border technology, and the creation of additional holding facilities. Moreover, we should engage the Mexican government to help control the flow of people across the border. I support an earned pathway to citizenship. Undocumented workers should be required to pass a criminal background check, prove that they are financially independent, pay a fine, and apply for legal status. Those who cannot should be sent home. We must also crack down on employers who hire illegal immigrants, as well as those who help falsify identification documents.

10. In what ways is the U.S. government successfully defending citizens against terrorism, and in what ways is the U.S. failing in that regard?

Since 9/11, the U.S. has launched successful assaults on those who harbor terrorists, shut down their financial supporters, and implemented a number of key security measures recommended by the 9/11 Commission. However, the Bush administration has also squandered much of the political goodwill that followed the 9/11 attacks with policies that have alienated our international allies and failed to improve our national security. The war in Iraq has distracted us from our global efforts to combat terrorism, weakened our military readiness, and strengthened the ranks of our enemies. Certain security measures, such as the practice of warrantless wiretapping, have undermined the Constitution without making us any safer. We need to refocus our military on finishing the fight against Al-Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan. But we also need to bring more of our diplomatic, economic, and soft power to bear in addressing the underlying causes of terrorism: poverty, ignorance, and oppression. We should do more to support leaders and organizations that encourage education, economic development, and political freedom; and to counter those who don't.