Education

I believe that there are workable solutions available that will enhance the quality of education to all children in America. The first step toward these solutions is to reform and fully fund the “No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB)”, marking the federal government allocating only 2.4% of the budget to education. The second solution, is to provide funding for the training of teachers and school administrators to adapt to new and up-to-date teaching techniques as well as the ever- changing technology in today’s society. I will also fight to increase funding for vocational training and college education that all students who want to attend college or vocational training, will be able to do so. When it comes to student loans, my quest will be to increase the time span in which students will have to begin their payback process. Students have up to six months after graduation before they are required to start paying back their student loans, my goal would be to increase that grace period by six months. That would give graduating students one year before they will have to begin paying back their loans. As a result, to this, it will give the student ample time to find a job and adjust to their new independence and responsibility.

“Our progress as a nation can be no swifter than our progress in education”
John F. Kennedy

Veterans

I will fight for stronger veteran benefits including a program that assists in the transition from military service life to civilian life when a tour of duty has ended. I would also work to establish housing that would accommodate disabled veterans, to include the fight for extended mental and physical health benefits. We must adequately fund VA hospitals in order to provide the services that all our veterans’ need, from the most recent veterans to the longtime veterans. As Americans, we need to value the servicemen and women who fight for our freedom and liberties.

Economy

Creating jobs is an important aspect of economic development and job growth in the First Congressional District in Illinois.


My plan will be to provide significant tax relief for the middle class families and small businesses in the First District. I will fight for investment in the district’s infrastructure to help boost the economy. I will work to make the First Dirctrict and America the leaders in green jobs, clean energy, and internet technology. The plan will also ensure that the First District receives its fair share of taxes from Washington so we can stop the increase of property taxes and start to improve the educational system.


We must hold career politicians and Wall Street accountable for every tax dollars spent, unlike the bail-out. These career politicians in Illinois and Washington have failed us. Instead of working for us to lower our taxes, creating jobs, and stopping the violence in our communities, they have looked out for themselves, lobbyist, and special interest groups.


Additionally, I believe in providing tax credits to companies that create jobs right here in the 1st District. This includes investing in renewable energy to create well-paying green jobs, clean energy jobs, and working to make our region a center for technology and innovation.


Finally, we must make sure that corporate executives are held accountable when they receive taxpayer bailout money. When corporations receive taxpayers’ money, there should be a freeze on executive compensation and bonus.

Health Care

We have 1.8 million uninsured people in Illinois and over 47 million uninsured people in America. These numbers will increase over the next several months because 80% of people who are insured are so as a result through work-base insurance. From 2006-2009 the cost for work-base insurance has increased by 5 to 7 percent. With the large amount of job losses in the past few months, these numbers will continue to increase during this recession. We need to find ways to make sure that all Americans have accessibility to healthcare. We need to have a single-payer and/or public option healthcare system to cover the underinsured and uninsured. This is also beneficial in preventive healthcare. The Americans who are uninsured or underinsured are most likely using the emergency room as their primary doctors. People with an illness that started out as something treatable, if caught early, could have been easily prevented; instead, they culminate to a hospital’s emergency room, which now is the highest cost of healthcare. Early diagnosis and preventive care is crucial in reducing the cost of healthcare.

Seniors

We must be committed to work endlessly to ensure that our senior citizens receive the benefits they have worked for and earned. We must work to simplify Medicare benefits and to lower the cost of prescription drugs. Social Security Trust should not be used to fund other government spending or gambled away in the private sector.

Transparency and Accountability

As Congressman, I will post legislation that comes up for votes on the website and ask for your opinions on the legislation. After casting my vote, based upon the opinions of the people of whom I was elected to represent, I will post it on the website for public viewing. I will also post my schedule online and make myself available to all of the residents in the First Congressional District.


Stop the Violence

Violence is a major concern in Chicago and an even larger problem in the First Congressional District of Illinois. There exists an epidemic that plagues the district that is atrocious and heart-wrenching. There are recent incidents of children killed on their way to school and on their way home from school. There are also incidents of children gunned down in neighborhood parks, on their porch and sleeping in their very own bed. In a recent study by the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), four of the most violent communities in America are located in our district. As a parent I am appalled, and as a long-time resident in the district, I am fed up. More people are killed on the streets in the first district than citizens in any other part of the city. Offenders are often released from jail with a slap on the wrist only to continue their criminal activities upon their release.


As Congressman, I am committed to bring to Congress the crisis that afflicts the district and remedies to combat them. I will work jointly with federal, state, and county officials in a collaborative effort to find resources and solutions on ways to resolve this crisis. I will advocate for the increasing of funding for after school programs, community service providers, and summer programs for our youth. This is an effort to get our youth off the streets and corners and in a more productive setting. Statistics indicates that there is a correlation to the decrease in funding for these services and an increase in violent crimes. The issues that are a major problem in the First District are consistently overlooked in Congress. The youth today are not the children of 40 years ago. We need change and we need it now. We should not vote based on popularity, but rather the person who has knowledge and understanding of ways to battle this crisis. If we continue with the same policies, we can only expect the same results. The future of our kids is greatly dependent upon the decisions we make today. The future is in our hands and it is up to us, as responsible citizens, to make the right decisions. Working together, we can make this a reality. I cannot do this without your support and I ask you to help make it possible.

Elect Fred Smith
First Congressional District of Illinois
February 2, 2010

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