Mike Quigley, Congressional Candidate: 2020 Election

U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley, D-Chicago, faces an opponent in the March 17 Democratic primary — Brian Burns. Here are the answers to a questionnaire that Patch submitted to Quigley. Burns has not returned his survey.

Age: 61

City of residence: Chicago

Office sought: U.S. House

Party affiliation: Democrat

Family: Barbara Quigley (wife), Alyson and Meghan Quigley (daughters)

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? No

Education: Roosevelt University (B.A.); University of Chicago (M.P.P.); Loyola School of Law (J.D.)

Occupation: Member of Congress, lawyer

Campaign website: quigleyforcongress.com

Previous or current elected or appointed office: Congressman for Illinois' 5th District

The single most pressing issue facing Congress is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

We face incredible challenges like addressing climate change, expanding healthcare, and creating an economy that works for everyone. While it is not the reason I came to Congress, I believe my most important job at this moment is to protect our democratic institutions and to hold this administration accountable. The Trump administration has done serious damage to our government and our democracy. At the President’s direction, the administration has reshaped the Department of Justice as a political agency, fully disregarded congressional oversight, demonstrated contempt for the free press, pushed disinformation, conspiracy theories and outright lies from every official platform, attacked civil liberties, pursued bigoted and xenophobic immigration policies and weakened our system of checks and balances across the entire government. This stark reality was on display most obviously throughout the Russia investigation and the impeachment inquiry. As a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, I was intimately involved in these investigations and took on a leading role during the public hearings. I was proud of our work to uncover the truth and demonstrate that in America, no one is above the law — not even the President.

Despite our deep polarization, ultimately these issues are not partisan. These values are fundamental to our well-being as a country and as a democratic society. They are enshrined in our Constitution and have allowed the United States to become the leader of the free world. We must return to the days when we lead by example. And as long as I’m in Congress, I pledge to uphold my oath to protect and defend the Constitution.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

Maintaining a connection to the local community is one of the most important things any elected official can do to be successful. That’s why throughout my career I’ve prioritized community involvement. Since 1982, when I began my career in public service, I’ve participated in thousands of community meetings across the district. Those meetings ranged from my involvement in No Lights at Wrigley Field to regular visits with the many neighborhood associations in the city to speaking with local chapters of Indivisible that were established after President Trump’s election. And despite a heavy workload in Washington, D.C., I still make it a priority to attend hundreds of community meetings each year. These meetings are a critical opportunity for me to connect individually with my constituents and learn what policy issues are on their minds on a day-to-day basis, which are often not the issues cable news pundits are highlighting. These conversations have enabled me to bring the priorities of regular Chicagoans back to Washington to guide my work in Congress. Without these connections, I would not be able to fulfill my job as fully or responsibly. In all that time, I’ve never seen my opponent participate in any of these important community meetings.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current officeholder failed the district?

Not applicable.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Climate change is an unprecedented global threat, impacting our food production, transportation, housing, immigration and our national security. Urgent action is needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transition to a resilient, low carbon economy. We must invest in the research and development of the new and improved technologies that will be needed to reduce emissions in line with what science demands. This includes increased investments that will reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. We must enact bold policies that will accelerate the decarbonization of our power and transportation sectors and start accounting for the costs of carbon pollution on society. A price on carbon would be an effective policy to catalyze this transition.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

One of the accomplishments I’m particularly proud of is securing funding for election security. Safe and fair elections are the foundation of any democratic system. Voters must have faith that the electoral process will accurately reflect the will of the people. For the past several years, I’ve sounded the alarm that our election infrastructure is outdated, low-tech, and nowhere near where it needs to be to prevent future intrusions. That’s why I was proud to use my position as chairman of the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Subcommittee, which oversees the Election Assistance Commission, to secure $425 million in new grants to help states protect, fortify, and update election systems from cyber-hacking. This was one of our most important victories in the fiscal year 2020 funding package and has been highlighted by Speaker Nancy Pelosi as one of the Congress’ top funding achievements. I plan to continue to lead on this issue and fight for a secure elections process.

If you win this position, what accomplishment would make your term in office as a success?

Since taking back the House in 2018, Democrats have moved forward with an aggressive legislative agenda, focusing on the issues that are most important to the American people. Our “For the People” agenda will expand access to the ballot box, protect the right to vote, lower prescription drug costs, outlaw discrimination on the basis of gender and sexual identity, safeguard workers’ rights, enact common sense gun reform, fight climate change, ensure every student has access to quality public education and promise the American worker a fair shake. These 10 bills — and hundreds of others — have passed the House and now sit on Mitch McConnell’s desk, collecting dust, despite a bipartisan appetite to solve these problems. In order to enact this agenda and make a difference in the lives of our constituents, we must work to take back the Senate and White House in 2020. Republicans in Congress have shown, through their actions, that they are far more invested in protecting President Trump than finding common ground. We should continue to be ambitious about our plans for the future of this country, while we seek bipartisan compromises anywhere we can in the present.

Why should voters trust you?

I’ve spent a career in public service at the city, county and national level. Throughout that time, I’ve consistently made transparency and government reform one of my top priorities. In fact, when I was elected to the House, I co-founded the bipartisan Congressional Transparency Caucus to help ensure an open and accountable government. Sunlight is indeed the best of disinfectants and history has shown that Americans have more faith and trust in government when it acts transparently and in the public interest. Those ideals shape everything I do in Congress and I believe the voters of the Fifth District have rewarded me with their trust by electing me to this office six times, and I’m asking them to do it again in this election.

What are your views on fiscal policy, government spending and the use of taxpayer dollars in the office you are seeking?

The federal government cannot continue on its current fiscal path. In the next two decades, we will face serious problems with our debt that our children and grandchildren will be forced to confront. The costs of an aging population and unsound tax policies will continue to rise sharply, a fact that Congress must resolve. To deal with this issue, we must have a long-term plan.

Bipartisan solutions to our budget woes exist, but talk is cheap. One of the most important votes I’ve taken in Congress was for a long-term bipartisan budget plan — a bill that was supported by only 37 of my colleagues. Introduced by Republican Steve LaTourette and Democrat Jim Cooper, it was modeled after the Simpson-Bowles Commission deficit reduction plan. Although it ultimately failed, I believe it is a step in the right direction. Now more than ever we need to spend taxpayer dollars wisely and make smarter investments that will grow our economy and create jobs.

Is there any reason you would not serve your full term of office, other than those of health or family?

I intend to serve a full term if re-elected.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I enjoy a wide range of hobbies and interests, which include playing hockey in a league every weekend, practicing my chess game, and closely analyzing the NFL draft.