Meet Jeff Cohen: Congressional Candidate In IL-09

EVANSTON, IL — Jeff Cohen, an economist, is running for the U.S. House of Representatives, IL-09.

Learn more about Cohen:

Campaign website

https://www.jeffcohenforcongress.com

Education

BA and MBA University of Chicago.

The single most pressing issue facing our district or state is ___________, and this is what I intend to do about it.

affordability. For me, the only economist running for Congress in the entire country, it is not merely a talking point. I intend to take bipartisan policies

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

I am not a career politician, and I have 30 years of experience actually working on the one thing that underlies all of our lives: the economy. The broken economic system underlies so much of the social rift in this country, as well as our foreign policy, healthcare, housing and, of course, jobs and affordability.

Do you believe an inequity exists between funding for wealthy and poor schools? If so, what would you do to address the disparity?

Yes. Increased Dept of Education funding — but only for classroom expenditures, meaning teachers, assistants or educational materials — is what is needed to help address this disparity.

If you support tax cuts in Illinois, what spending should be eliminated to offset those cuts?

There cannot be a stock answer to this question with respect to the federal office of representative. Sure, I'd like to see tax incentives, for example, tax cuts for small businesses in order for them to pay for healthcare costs for their employees, or to create profit-sharing pools the same way that large companies do. That will put money in employees' pockets. But spending cuts in this context would have to mean finding federal budget excesses. The first place I would look is in defense spending.

What would you do to help constituents struggling with the ever-increasing cost of living, housing and healthcare?

I have a full seven-minute press briefing on my Affordability Agenda located on my website. I describe in detail that the most important lever we can pull is raising income. Please go to: https://www.jeffcohenforcongress.com/affordabilityagenda

Do you support redistricting in a non-census year?

We must have nonpartisan commissions in every state. Any district drawing boundaries are better than what we have now. Pick a shape from 1st grade geometry--a triangle, a square, a hexagon. All of them would dominate the gerrymandering that is rampant in our country, foisted upon us by both parties, that results in a very undemocratic process. Yes, there could be some election cycles that don't swing to "our" side. But does anyone think this is working the way it is?

Do you support the full release of the Epstein files with the victims' names redacted? What should Congress do to pressure the DOJ into following the law with the full release of the Epstein files?

Yes. Congress needs to bring separate legal action that includes economic damages. Of course, Congress must hold hearings on the DOJ's failure to perform the job to acceptable legal standards.

Do you support the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement in the Chicago area and beyond? Why or why not? If not, what changes do you think should be made?

No. ICE leadership is morally and functionally bankrupt. We need an independent Congressional commission to reconstitute our law enforcement arm for immigration. No quotas, no masks, substantial increase in training, and critically: MUST REQUIRE JUDICIAL WARRANTS.

Do you support the repeal of the SAFE-T Act, which eliminated cash bail? Why or why not, and do you think wealthier defendants should have an easier route to release?

N/A

Would you push to repeal the TRUST Act, which bars local police cooperation with federal immigration enforcement? Why or why not?

This act is predicated on the assumption that federal immigration enforcement is working. It is not. I don't know if it would be better or worse for local police cooperation, given the existing failure of ICE.

Where do you agree and disagree with President Donald Trump on policy?

The laundry list of my disagreements would take up dozens of pages. I encourage readers to go to my website. https://www.jeffcohenforcongress.com. Can I name one thing where I agree? Sure. He claims that he wants to go after insider trading. I am not sure he means it, but that is, of course, something I agree with!

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

The most important thing to know is that I intend to be a lobbyist's worst nightmare: I am not seeking this job for salary, ego, attention, or a career. Indeed, I do not believe being a politician should be a career. I got into this race because the economy is broken, and I have the unique skill set and deep experience to do something about it for all of our families. Nothing more.

Editor's note: The same questionnaire was sent to every candidate who has filed to run in this election. The Q&A's are run verbatim from their responses and are not modified by Patch staff.