District 11: Rachel Ventura Patch Candidate Questionnaire

DISTRICT 11, ILLINOIS — The following answers were submitted by Rachel Ventura in response to our Patch candidate survey ahead of the 2020 general election, in which she will face off against Rep. Bill Foster (D-IL, 11) for the District 11 seat in Congress.

Rachel Ventura

<b>Age (as of Election Day)</b>

38

<b>Town/City of Residence</b>

Joliet

<b>Office Sought</b>

U.S. House

<b>Party Affiliation</b>

Progressive Democrat

<b>Family</b>

Twin 10 year old daughters. I am a single mom.

<b>Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?</b>

No

<b>Education</b>

I graduated from Joliet Central High School and earned a BA in mathematics from Benedictine University in Lisle. Later, I returned to school for a degree in Biology.

<b>Occupation</b>

I am a Will County Board Member representing District 9 since 2018 and I am the Business Director for an international publishing company, Legendary Games since 2012.

<b>Campaign website</b>

www.ElectVentura.com

<b>Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office</b>

Currently elected to the Will County Board

<b>The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.</b>

While we must address the Climate Crisis and healthcare, the growing wealth gap in America is the issue that seems to resurface again and again when I talk to voters at their doors.

For senior citizens who are living on a fixed income and living in poverty, I support the “scrap the cap” approach that would keep Social Security solvent until 2078. Currently earnings above $137,700 are not subject to a Social Security Payroll Tax. By lifting the cap, we can safeguard future generations and allow Social Security checks to keep pace with inflation. This would affect 1.5% of wage earners, many of them are millionaires and billionaires.

For many other people, the issue is poverty and low wages. Passing the Green New Deal will not only move us off fossil fuels, but allow us to pass a $15/hour living wage that is indexed to inflation. A federal jobs guarantee will create living wage jobs as we transition America to wind, solar, and hydropower.

For some, it is a choice between paying the mortgage or paying for healthcare. I talked to one woman who chose to lose her house so she could pay $250,000 in doctor bills. She still owes some money on those bills. As a solution, I am supporting Medicare for All as the simplest to implement, and most affordable way to cover the cost of healthcare for all Americans.

For some residents, the wealth gap makes it more difficult to pay for a college education and give their kids a debt-free start in life. As a solution, I support fully funding education from Pre-K through college.

A substantial number of residents in Illinois’ 11th congressional district have a criminal background because Joliet is a prison town. Once someone has a record, they will forever have a hard time getting a job, let alone get a good paying job. For these individuals to have a shot at the American dream, we need serious criminal justice reform like eliminating mandatory minimums, getting rid of cash bail and sealing people’s records who have already served their time.

When Americans have better paying jobs, healthcare, and more time with family, they have a higher quality of life. We all deserve a government that strives towards this common goal.

<b>What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?</b>

My opponent, after serving as a U.S. Congressman for more than 10 years, has failed to address the climate crisis, the healthcare crisis, the growing wealth gap or the broken immigration system. He argues that his PhD somehow makes him a better lawmaker, yet he has become part of the broken pay-to-play system that only rewards those who can afford to contribute to political campaigns.

In my first months as a Will County Board member, I spent time building political support to pass the Greenest Region Compact. I fought to protect the residents of Fairmont when the Lockport Township water board attempted to work out a contract with the private company, Aqua. I worked on an intergovernmental agreement that moved the community of Fairmont over to Joliet’s public water system, saving residents from high water bills and lead poisoning. For reference, Aqua is the same company that poisoned residents of University Park. I also advanced the idea that Will County public buildings should be powered by 100% renewable energy sources. This fight continues.

I have enjoyed my time on the Will County Board and I like seeing my actions make a difference, but I have also learned that big problems cannot be solved from the board. I have spoken to constituents who have lost loved ones because of our dysfunctional healthcare system, and they have no one to turn to in Washington D.C. People need someone who is willing to take on the entrenched for-profit healthcare system. Moreover, big oil is now trying to draft “solutions” to the climate crisis like the USE IT ACT, another fossil fuel bailout, and my opponent is going along with it by co-sponsoring this bad legislation.

Name a problem that working families struggle with, and someone in Washington is buying off lawmakers to keep that system exactly as it is, broken. Voters of the 11th congressional district would be better served by someone who has made significant accomplishments in a short amount of time and who is rejecting corporate PAC money. I ran my last race with the tagline, “no strings attached.” As a team we knocked on 10,000 doors. Even though we were outspent 3:1, we won by 11 points against the other Democrat and 8 points against the Republican.

America needs congressmen and congresswomen who are not bought and paid for, people who want to serve, and people who can change the system before the system changes them.

My ability to win elections by building an organization that does not depend on campaign funding from wealthy donors is one of the key elements necessary to restoring our democracy. My votes on the Will County Board have proven that I will continue to fight for my constituents even when it isn’t politically popular, like when I voted “no” on the Gas Tax.

<b>If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)</b>

My opponent, after serving as a U.S. Congressman for more than 10 years, has failed to address the climate crisis, the healthcare crisis, the growing wealth gap or the broken immigration system. He argues that his PhD somehow makes him a better lawmaker, yet he has become part of the broken pay-to-play system that only rewards those who can afford to contribute to political campaigns.

In 2018, Bill Foster voted against American's with Disabilities. He was one of twelve democrats to vote with the republicans to gut the ADA compliance laws placing the onus on the disabled and not the business. More recently, Foster voted to increase the National Defense Authorization Act by $22 Billion Dollars which included a border wall and Trump's Space Force. Foster also voted to support Trump's US Mexico Canada trade agreement even though every environmental organization opposed it. The small improvements to labor are offset by the jobs that will be lost from a lack of environmental standards. The agreement also failed to support small family farmers.

Foster has failed this community because he is out of touch with the struggles of families living paycheck to paycheck. We need a dramatic shift in priorities. Instead of investing in the military industrial complex and in fossil fuels we should be investing in people, communities, jobs, and education.

<b>Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform</b>

As a community activist, as a Will County Board Member, and as a candidate for Congress I have been a strong voice for working families and for the environment. The Green New Deal is a centerpiece of my campaign because I believe that those communities in the 11th district that have been plagued by poverty-level wage jobs can be put to work with higher-wage jobs making our homes and businesses energy efficient. I believe that we can replace warehouse jobs with jobs building windmills and installing solar panels. I believe that we can replace the sweatshops in Aurora, along the Fox River Valley with better-paying jobs building energy efficient windows and doors.

Investing in education from pre-k through college would provide students with more opportunities without burdening them with thousands in debt. It would also encourage new businesses thus creating more jobs.

<b>What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?</b>

In my short period of time on the board I have fought hard for three key environmental initiatives and supported an “opt-in” for adult use cannabis.

My first fight on the Will County Board was to oppose a water privatization scheme being proposed in the community of Fairmont by the company, Aqua. Aqua is the same company that exposed the residents of University Park to lead poisoning. We worked between several governing bodies to successfully move Fairmont residents over to Joliet’s public water system.

I worked with other Will County Board Members to make Will County the second county in Illinois to adopt the Greenest Region Compact and I continue to fight to move Will County to 100% renewable power.

As a member of my community I have taken to the podium in city hall to oppose a massive warehouse expansion project known as NorthPoint. I opposed it largely for environmental concerns and labor practices, but also because the CenterPoint Intermodal business brings a great deal of truck traffic to the area and has caused extensive damage to the roads. Tax abatements for the warehouses mean that these companies pay no taxes and the residents are left to foot the bill.

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

I would join the progressive caucus and leverage our growing numbers to secure key leadership positions and committee assignments. I would work to get on the Select Committee on Climate, Energy and Commerce, Education and Labor, or Ways and Means. These are the committees where I could work on climate legislation, expanded and improved Medicare for All, and address the growing wealth gap in the United States.

With respect to local issues and appropriating money for local projects I would commit to working with local and state officials or non-profit organizations in the 11th congressional district to make sure that projects that needed federal resources received funding. I would be a strong advocate for repairing our infrastructure, moving towards renewable energy, and creating living wage jobs in our district.

<b>Why should voters trust you?</b>

The key to remaining loyal to one’s constituents is getting elected without special interest money. I ran my both of my previous elections with the campaign slogan, “No Strings Attached.” As a Will County Board Member I have not compromised my values, I continue to speak out for my constituents and challenge my own party when they are wrong. A recent example is voting against the gas tax. I lobbied in favor of a gas tax only if it included a measure to offer residents a property tax rebate to offset the new tax. My hope was to enact a tax that would place a higher tax on trucks that cause a greater amount of damage to our roads and bridges.

A voter can go to the website, www.opensecrets.org to learn where my campaign contributions come from and I think they will probably be surprised if they look up my opponent and learn that he has taken millions of dollars from big banks, hedge fund managers, insurance companies, big Pharma and even money from fossil fuel companies.

I remain, “no strings attached” and will throughout my career.

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

Closing the Wealth Gap: A big priority for me is closing the wealth gap in the United States. I am more partial to increasing wages than I am to utilizing tax policy, but I am open to either approach. I support a living wage of $15/hour that is indexed to inflation. One benefit of this increase is that it would result in fewer people living in poverty and depending on public aid, effectively reducing overall government expenses. When large corporations like Walmart avoid paying living wages because their employees can qualify for food stamps, it is effectively a way for taxpayers to subsidize multi-billion dollar companies.

Wealth Tax: Presidential candidates, Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren are also talking about a wealth tax to tax existing wealth. While their plans are different, I am open to implementing either, or working on a hybrid model. I support a progressive tax policy that taxes the wealthy at a higher rate. As recently as the 1970s, the top tax bracket was 70% of a person’s income.

Some combination of a wealth tax, wage increases or a progressive income tax could be used to both curb government spending and reduce the nations’ $1 trillion budget deficit.

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

No

<b>The best advice ever shared with me was …</b>

<b>What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?</b>

We have seen an incredible amount of money being spent by big Pharma and big insurance companies to maintain the status quo, for-profit healthcare system. According to Opensecrets.org, in the last election cycle alone, Big Pharma and the for-profit health care system spent $24 million buying influence over Democratic lawmakers and they spent $30 million buying influence over Republican lawmakers. It is no wonder we have such a rigged system that results in 37,000 deaths each and every year because American citizens can’t afford private insurance. It is time we say enough with insurance companies and pharmaceutical companies profiting off the suffering and deaths of our fellow Americans. We need to fix the system now.

I support an expanded and improved Medicare for All system that would replace all premiums, co-pays and deductibles with a smaller payroll tax that is often estimated to be about half the cost of premiums and co-pays. It would do away with gap and supplemental insurance to be a true health care system and not “insurance” against getting sick. Patients would still have unlimited options when choosing their primary care physicians, dentists, eye doctors, or specialty care providers. All medically necessary procedures would be covered, including emergency room visits.

Even after the passing of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), America still has 29 million uninsured citizens, and millions more who are under-insured. Those who have access can hardly call it affordable. Many people avoid going to the doctor at all, even for check-ups which can prevent future illnesses.

I had a very similar system as a military spouse for ten years of my life. Military families are eligible for TRICARE, a system that operates similarly to but simpler than Medicare. I was able to go to any private doctor of my choosing and TRICARE, a government insurance system paid the bill.

This is a centrist and popular position. Two recent polls (August 2018 and May 2019) show that over 70% of Americans want a Medicare for All System. But if it is so popular, why aren’t more lawmakers listening and jumping on board? Why are journalists still calling this an extreme position and using scare tactics to frame the debate? Americans need healthcare, it is a basic human right.