With less than a week to go before the March 16 primary, Illinois voters are faced with the daunting task of choosing from among seven Democrats and eight Republicans vying for the U.S. Senate seat now held by Republican Peter Fitzgerald.
Bleary-eyed by fliers, TV ad blitzes and talk of certain candidates’ divorce files, a voter could just as well decide to cast a ballot for the guy who wears the snazziest tie or the woman with the strongest campaign-stop handshake.
But what really counts is where a candidate stands on the issues. To help matters, WomanNews asked 14 of the 15 candidates–Republican candidate Norm Hill did not respond–their positions on some issues that mean the most to women: health, family, children.
A guide to the candidates’ stances on selected issues
With so many candidates seeking both the Democratic and Republican nominations for the U.S. Senate, how will you decide for whom to vote? We hope you find this guide on issues affecting women and families helpful as you prepare to cast your ballot Tuesday.
THE DEMOCRATS
Gery Chico
Do you support the Family Leave Act? YES
It should be extended to apply to smaller companies.
Do you support abortion rights? YES
This is a personal, difficult choice that should be made not by government, but by a woman in consultation with her doctor, conscience and her God.
Do you support stem cell research? YES
It may one day provide cures for some of the most debilitating diseases, such as Alzheimer’s or diabetes.
Does No Child Left Behind Act work? NO
While it has positive features, its implementation has failed, allowing transfer vouchers when a school is labeled a failure. The only way to turn around a school is to fix it, not to abandon it.
Do you support gay marriage or civil unions for homosexuals? YES
But I don`t believe the state should force churches to perform or recognize samesex marriages.
Do you support the death penalty? YES
But for a limited set of crimes, such as terrorism, mass murder or serial killing.
Blair Hull
Do you support the Family Leave Act? YES
I think it should be extended to more families and to cover part-time workers and all establishments with more than 25 workers.
Do you support abortion rights? YES
Women have a fundamental, constitutionally protected right to make their own reproductive health decisions.
Do you support stem cell research? YES
I support federal funding of such research because scientific studies have shown research will help fund a cure for Parkinson`s, Alzheimer`s and other diseases.
Does No Child Left Behind Act work? NO
This unfunded mandate contains perverse incentives for schools to expel or shunt aside those students who test poorly in order to meet the standards required for continued funding.
Do you support gay marriage or civil unions for homosexuals? *
I support civil unions that enable couples to receive tax benefits, health benefits, hospital visitation and other similar rights.
Do you support the death penalty? NO
Based on the Illinois experience that highlights racial and prosecutorial biases in administering the death penalty, I support the current moratorium.
Daniel Hynes
Do you support the Family Leave Act? YES
Flexible work arrangements improve productivity and morale and are worth the minimal cost.
Do you support abortion rights? YES
The government should not be making personal healthcare decisions for women.
Do you support stem cell research? YES
I support federal funding because it is the key to unlocking treatments and cures for debilitating illnesses.
Does No Child Left Behind Act work? NO
While I support its goals of standards and accountability, it has failed to deliver on those points. It is an unfunded mandate.
Do you support gay marriage or civil unions for homosexuals? YES
Do you support the death penalty? YES
But for the most egregious cases. Capital sentences also should be allocated in a fair and non-discriminatory manner.
Barack Obama
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Do you support the Family Leave Act? YES
Do you support abortion rights? YES
A woman`s right to make reproductive decisions is a fundamental right.
Do you support stem cell research? YES
Such research has the potential to treat and cure many diseases.
Does No Child Left Behind Act work? YES
But the act needs to be fully funded and should be modified to avoid an overemphasis on standardized tests and other measurements that prioritize testing over learning.
Do you support gay marriage or civil unions for homosexuals? *
I support laws that guarantee basic rights to same-sex couples, including recognition of domestic partnerships for health insurance and other employment benefits.
Do you support the death penalty? YES
I support capital punishment for heinous crimes. I cannot, however, support the current system which is rife with error and lacks sufficient safeguards against wrongful convictions.
Maria Pappas
Do you support the Family Leave Act? YES
It allows employees to focus on family issues without fear of termination or job loss.
Do you support abortion rights? YES
This issue is between a woman, her family and her physician.
Do you support stem cell research? YES
I support stem-cell research; it could lead to developments in medical science that would improve quality of life.
Does No Child Left Behind Act work? NO
It has not been fully funded; it should be reformed to . . . allow states with strong standards to keep their systems in place instead of weakening them to meet federal guidelines.
Do you support gay marriage or civil unions for homosexuals? YES
I support providing equal legal protections to same-sex couples, allowing them to receive the legal benefits entitled to opposite-sex partners.
Do you support the death penalty? YES
Though I support every effort to end racial disparities in sentencing, the death penalty is a deterrent. We should increase the use of DNA testing.
Nancy Skinner
Do you support the Family Leave Act? YES
It has allowed millions to care for their newborns, adopted children or seriously ill relatives without fear of losing their jobs.
Do you support abortion rights? YES
Do you support stem cell research? YES
I support it for the therapeutic research . . . but not for reproductive or cloning research.
Does No Child Left Behind Act work? NO
The NCLB was way more carrot than stick and has been a sad failure in Illinois.
Do you support gay marriage or civil unions for homosexuals? YES
I believe gay couples cannot be denied the same benefits of marriage as straight people. But the government cannot force religious institutions to perform ceremonies.
Do you support the death penalty? NO
The Illinois experience shows the system is never going to be perfect, therefore innocent people could be put to death by a system that also is costly to taxpayers.
Joyce Washington
Do you support the Family Leave Act? YES
I also support expanding it because it gives families flexibility and strengthens immediate and extended families.
Do you support abortion rights? YES
The government should not interfere with a decision that should be left to a woman, her doctor and her God.
Do you support stem cell research? YES
It has the potential to lead to cures for many diseases.
Does No Child Left Behind Act work? *
Requiring states to annually test students, provide accountability measures and give schools greater flexibility to spend federal funds are all positives. However . . . more funding is needed.
Do you support gay marriage or civil unions for homosexuals? YES
There is room in our society to allow for state-sanctioned civil unions for same-sex couples, which would be similar to marriages.
Do you support the death penalty? NO
As long as we have the death penalty, we take the chance of executing an innocent person.
THE REPUBLICANS
John Borling
Do you support the Family Leave Act? YES
. . . in principle. Babies and children are best served by a family structure to thrive.
Do you support abortion rights? YES
A woman has sovereign control over her body to make the decision that’s best for her.
Do you support stem cell research? YES
But I do not support growing and harvesting human fetuses to accomplish it.
Does No Child Left Behind Act work? NO
It`s good-intentioned but not operational.
Do you support gay marriage or civil unions for homosexuals? NO
Do you support the death penalty? YES
But for the most heinous of crimes. Appropriate safeguards should be put into place to fix the problems we have seen in Illinois.
Chirinjeev Kathuria
Do you support the Family Leave Act? YES
It helps employees who face serious family emergencies. … This act is a safety valve for our society.
Do you support abortion rights? NO
I have taken an exception in the case of rape, incest or where the mother’s life is in danger.
Do you support stem cell research? YES
. . . just not embryonic stem cells. I support the president’s position not to kill embryos merely for stem cell research.
Does No Child Left Behind Act work? YES
However, there are still many important changes that need to be made to the act to improve it.
Do you support gay marriage or civil unions for homosexuals? NO
Do you support the death penalty? YES
But it should be reserved for the most heinous crimes and the crimes that are proven far beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Andy McKenna
Do you support the Family Leave Act? YES
Because it supports a strong family life.
Do you support abortion rights? NO
I support legislation that provides exceptions for rape, incest and to save the life of the mother.
Do you support stem cell research? YES
I support research on existing stem cell lines and on umbilical cord, placenta and adult and animal stem cells.
Does No Child Left Behind Act work? YES
It allows parents to know if their child is performing at a level consistent with other children and in a school that meets basic standards.
Do you support gay marriage or civil unions for homosexuals? NO
I support a constitutional amendment prohibiting same-sex marriages and civil unions.
Do you support the death penalty? YES
But in limited cases such as for violent acts of terrorism against our country.
Jim Oberweis
Do you support the Family Leave Act? NO
It is an issue that should be negotiated between the employee and employer.
Do you support abortion rights? NO
Except for the rare case when the life of the mother is at risk.
Do you support stem cell research?
Did not answer.
Does No Child Left Behind Act work?
Did not answer.
Do you support gay marriage or civil unions for homosexuals? NO
I support a constitutional amendment to define marriage as between a man and woman.
Do you support the death penalty? YES
In cases of terrorist acts or egregious criminal acts.
Steven Rauschenberger
Do you support the Family Leave Act? YES
Do you support abortion rights? NO
Do you support stem cell research? YES
But only existing lines of stem cells.
Does No Child Left Behind Act work? NO
I favor testing students and holding schools accountable for student performance; there is a flaw in the concept that one size fits all.
Do you support gay marriage or civil unions for homosexuals? NO
Do you support the death penalty? YES
Jack Ryan
Do you support the Family Leave Act? YES
Because it allows family members to care for children and sick relatives and strengthens the family unit.
Do you support abortion rights? NO
Too often, abortion is presented as the first and only choice when there is a real option–adoption.
Do you support stem cell research?
Did not answer.
Does No Child Left Behind Act work?
Did not answer.
Do you support gay marriage or civil unions for homosexuals? NO
I oppose same-sex marriage, civil unions, registries and domestic partner benefits. I support legislation defining marriage and protecting the traditional family unit.
Do you support the death penalty? YES
But in extreme cases, such as when incarceration would not prevent a criminal from doing harm.
Jonathan Wright
Do you support the Family Leave Act? NO
This bill had good intentions but has since expanded to include the husband and other family members, creating undue hardship on business.
Do you support abortion rights? NO
Life begins at conception and is entitled to protection. There is no medical research that I am aware of that says abortion is needed to save the life of the mother.
Do you support stem cell research? YES
When the stem cells are obtained from the umbilical cord.
Does No Child Left Behind Act work? NO
While I support the president`s goal of making schools more accountable, the No Child Left Behind Act is an expensive piece of legislation that doesn` t work.
Do you support gay marriage or civil unions for homosexuals? NO
I support the traditional family values and would support the Defense of Marriage Act.
Do you support the death penalty? YES
I do however see the need for reforms to the system to include more safeguards.
– – –
* Candidate would not answer yes or no.
Note: Republican Norm Hill did not respond in time for deadline.