Jordan Sims Q & A

1) What is the No. 1 issue in your district and how would you address it?

Unemployment is the primary concern in the district.  From the city to the suburbs, there is universal discontent that voters, or their friends, neighbors, and children, cannot find steady employment.  The stimulus in 2009 may have staved off further unemployment but it has not done enough to stimulate job growth within the 1st Congressional district of Illinois and innumerable communities across the country.  

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In order to address this issue the government must first take steps to restore liquidity and confidence in the housing market.  Foreclosures and costly loans have saddled homeowners with a considerable financial burden.  Many can barely afford to pay for non-discretionary expenses in addition to monthly mortgage obligations to stave off foreclosure.  Thus, there is less demand in the overall marketplace because people do not have the income to support hiring a contractor to enclose the back porch, or going to an appliance store to buy a more energy efficient refrigerator.  Likewise, those in foreclosure have lost both a home and their credit worthiness.  In light of fewer jobs and smaller paychecks the government and banks must modify loans so homeowners can make reasonable payments; reduce the foreclosure inventory; and stabilize the market so that consumers are confident enough to go out and spend.  This in turn drives demand, which means more hiring.

Demand is key to our economic recovery.  If an employer is not confident it can sustain business to break even, then there is little chance they will hire an additional worker out of sympathy.  

2) How would you promote job growth in your district?

Job growth requires the enthusiasm and drive of a community and its members.  Across the district, many areas are looking for significant investment but investors will always ask two defining questions.  First, is there enough demand that we, as employers, need to expand our business?  Second, is there a qualified pool of applicants capable of performing the tasks?

Businesses need incentives.  Chicago, and surrounding towns, have the land and are willing to do whatever it takes for development.  Low priced land sales (say $1 per acre) and tax-increment financing (TIF) funds attract people to the region but cheap real estate and government assistance does not keep the doors open.  An enterprise runs on the intuition and dedication of human capital.  

An innovative business always has room to expand.  Be it battery development, wind turbine production, photovoltaic cell research,  carbon containment, or recycled paper production, there are many opportunities where U.S. business can flourish and trump the competition if they have a superior product and a motivated workforce.  Today, some employees today are prepared to take on these jobs but others lack the training or proficiency that comes with time and experience.  Continuing education is key to fostering these efforts.  The government can help educate new workers only if companies are willing to take a risk on the untested employees.  Without taking a risk in the city’s underdeveloped areas and our growing communities in the suburbs, there is little chance for development and employment gains.  We must evaluate our strong suits as workers and elected officials must market that the people of the 1st congressional, and across Illinois are the most apt candidate for the job.

3) Should the federal government cut spending and where?

Yes, by consolidating and eliminating duplicative government programs the country stands to save billions of dollars annually.  Further congressional oversight of federal contracts and a system wide competitive bidding process would ensure domestic and defense savings.  Curbing or eliminating congressional earmarks is also a hearty deficit reduction measure.  No lawmaker has the right to use taxpayer dollars for a pet project that rewards donors and supporters.  

Moreover, Medicare cannot continue to pay based on procedures but rather on performance.  Simply cutting payments to doctors and hospitals does not promote change, but rather derision.  The goal is to cut spending and promote the efficient use of medical devices, treatments, and proper diagnoses.  A proper medical examination can go a long way.  There is no need to perform an angiogram on someone who comes in complaining of chest pains when the real culprit is heartburn.

5)  Give an example of something you’ve done that is bipartisanship in nature.

Occasionally rooting for the Cubs.

6) Name one good policy idea that comes from the opposing party.

I support the Marketplace Fairness Act (S. 1832), which requires online retailers to charge sales tax regardless of whether they have a physical presence in the state of the buyer.  The legislation is sponsored by Sen. Mike Enzi (R-WY) and has both Democratic and Republican co-sponsors.  Essentially the bill allows every state with a sales tax to reap the benefits of these electronic transactions and eliminates a loophole that gives e-business an unfair advantage over “brick and mortar” retailers. 

7) How do you define family values?

Family values are not confined to the nuclear family.  In fact the term family has changed completely.  Families may be one child and one parent, or children with parents of the same sex, children with unmarried parents, or a couple (regardless of their sexual orientation) without offspring.  Regardless of the categorization what every individual must accept are the principles of respect, flexibility, and honesty.  We are here to protect and uplift one another, not mindlessly harm each other.

8)   What are your thoughts on the healthcare law?

I support and will defend the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.  Thankfully, many Americans now, or will soon, have access to health insurance for the first time; even so, the Act does not do enough to reduce the cost of care.  We must not only renegotiate with insurers but also doctors, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, and medical device makers whom makeup the health care community.  With high deductibles, families still run the risks of having to pay large out-of-pocket expenses because of routine and costly procedures.

9)  Who is your political role model?

It is hard to make a single choice but it would have to be Senator Paul Douglass.  He was steadfastly devoted to bringing justice and equality to all members of society no matter their race, religion, or socioeconomic status.  Furthermore, he did not tolerate waste and was a believer in prudent spending.  It reminds me of another Illinois Senator, Paul Simon.

10) What’s on your iPod?

Mostly jazz including Horace Silver, Wayne Shorter, Shirley Horn, and John Coltrane.

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