Laura Hois, Illinois House 81st District Republican nominee profile

Her top priorities include property tax relief, a safe reopening of the economy amid COVID-19 and ethics reform.

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Laura Hois, Illinois House 81st District Republican nominee, candidate, 2020 election

Laura Hois, Illinois House 81st District Republican nominee.

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Candidate profile

Laura Hois

Running for:State Rep District 81

Political party affiliation:Republican

Political/civic background:

  • Republican Committeeman 2010-2016
  • Town Clerk, Downers Grove Township 2013-2017
  • Downers Grove Township (DGT) Assessor Candidate 2017 
  • Republican Committeeman 2020 DGT precinct 36

Occupation:Attorney

Education:J.D. DePaul University College of Law w/distinction B.A. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Campaign website:LauraHois.com

Facebook:Laura Hois for State Representative District 81


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The Chicago Sun-Times Editorial Board sent nominees for the Illinois House of Representatives a list of questions to find out their views on a range of important issues facing the state of Illinois and their districts. Laura Hois submitted the following responses: 

The COVID-19 pandemic has hammered the finances of Illinois. The state is staring at a $6.2 billion budget shortfall in this fiscal year. What should be done? Please be specific. 

The $6.2 billion budget shortfall exists due to the $8 billion in new spending approved by majority party representatives. Lawmakers should stop initiating new spending and imposing unfunded mandates for expanded government programs that Illinoisans cannot afford. Spending responsibly means spending taxpayer dollars for what is necessary and within our means. The reckless spending has to stop. 

What grade — “A” to “F” — would you give Gov. J.B. Pritzker for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic? Please explain. What, if anything, should he have done differently? 

I would give Governor Pritzker a “C-”. In the beginning stages of the pandemic, his daily briefings provided Illinoisans with key information on keeping their families safe. However, as the pandemic continued, the Governor acted unilaterally and without legislative input. He allowed big-box retail to continue to operate while shuttering small retail stores, causing many to close forever. Additionally, the problems with IDES should have been anticipated and mitigated. Unreturned calls and a system completely unable to keep up with demand have resulted in some families going months without a paycheck through no fault of their own. Government officials must be held accountable for the services they provide, and the Governor must act to fix IDES immediately.

In the wake of the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, legislatures in some states have taken up the issue of police reform. Should Illinois do the same? If so, what would that look like? 

Additional training for police departments and other service departments should be deployed to create an environment where what happened to George Floyd never happens again.

I have a profound respect for law enforcement, and the service-minded officers in our district are highly trained, and top-notch. They have earned the trust of members of our community who rely on them to keep us safe. Peaceful dialogue with the police should occur to maintain law and order. I oppose reducing the number of police officers or police budgets.

Should the Legislature pass a law requiring all law enforcement officers to wear body cameras? Why or why not? 

Illinois is broken on many levels. We must restore law and order and encourage peaceful discussions and cooperation to lift our communities up. The General Assembly passed legislation setting standards for body cameras, and local governments should work with their local law enforcement agencies to determine their needs.

Federal prosecutors have revealed a comprehensive scheme of bribery, ghost jobs and favoritism in subcontracting by ComEd to influence the actions of House Speaker Michael Madigan. Who’s to blame? What ethics reforms should follow? Should Madigan resign?

Speaker of the House Michael Madigan is responsible for allowing a culture of corruption and self-dealing to flourish in both the governmental and political spheres he controls. He should resign immediately. However, Democratic members of the House should stand up and demand reform. Madigan blocked progress on more than a dozen ethics reform bills proposed by members of both parties, including initiatives to stop the revolving door of legislators serving as lobbyists and increased transparency to identify conflicts of interest. Ethics reform can’t wait, and both parties should work to pass reforms. 

Please tell us about your civic work in the last two years, whether it’s legislation you have sponsored or work you have done in other ways to improve your community. 

It’s critically important each member of our community reaches out to help others, especially during these unprecedented times when people can feel very alone. As an attorney, I provided pro bono legal services to low-income and disabled Illinoisans. I have volunteered at Grove Fest, SEASPAR, the Downers Grove Farmers’ Market, and Legal Aid. I support the important work of several charitable organizations, including the Family Shelter Service and DuPage Bar Foundation. 

I am particularly proud of the food drive my campaign organized a few months ago, delivering donations from local area residents to the Downers Grove Area FISH pantry during the COVID-19 shutdown.

Please list three concerns that are specific to your district, such as a project that should be undertaken or a state policy related to an important local issue that should be revised. 

Property Taxes - Illinois home and business owners pay one of the highest property taxes in the nation, and deserve reform so seniors and families can afford to stay in their homes.

Caring for COVID-Affected with a Safe Reopening – Our community must care for residents unable to work and who are isolated due to the COVID pandemic. Neighbors helping neighbors will make sure we emerge from this challenge together and stronger.

Illinois must safely reopen the economy, schools, park districts, churches, and other essential services. Every citizen has a role in keeping the virus from spreading, but government officials must allow businesses to operate if they are following safety guidelines. Our economic recovery must parallel our health care recovery.

Ethics Reform – Our district demands an accountable, transparent government from top to bottom. As a candidate for state representative, that means Speaker Madigan and his party must be held accountable for allegations of bribery, pay-to-play, ghost payrolling, and silencing of victims of sexual harassment.

What are your other top legislative priorities? 

My top legislative priorities are ethics reform and tax reform.

Our residents deserve comprehensive property tax reform so families and seniors can afford to stay in their homes. The graduated income tax constitutional amendment should be defeated at the ballot box so small businesses aren’t additionally challenged as they recover from COVID.

What is your position on Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s proposed graduated income tax? Please explain.

The graduated income tax would be a disaster for Illinois. Our constitutionally protected flat tax (currently at 5% of income) is the only fair tax. A graduated tax would require high income individuals and businesses to pay a greater percentage of income tax than the rest of us. But when wealthy individuals and business owners leave the state (as many already have), the tax burden will inevitably fall on the middle class. I am extremely concerned the graduated income tax opens the door to taxing retirement income, which I oppose.

Illinois continues to struggle financially, with a backlog of unpaid bills. In addition to a progressive state income tax — or in lieu of such a tax — what should the state do to pay its bills, meet its pension obligations and fund core services such as higher education?

The state should prioritize payment of debts and funding of pension accounts. Lawmakers must: (a) stop raiding the pension fund money and using it for other purposes, and (b) stop initiating new spending until such time as the state’s debts are paid in full. I support former Senate President Cullerton’s consideration model for pension reform.

Should Illinois consider taxing the retirement incomes of its very wealthiest residents, as most states do? And your argument is? 

No, I do not support taxing retirement income for seniors. If Illinois starts taxing retirement incomes even more people will leave the state. Seniors deserve to have certainty in their retirement, regardless of income level.

What can Illinois do to improve its elementary and high schools? 

We have many fine teachers, school administrators, and school board members in our District who understand student needs but are constrained by government regulations and unfunded mandates imposed by Springfield. Local communities should be empowered to make decisions regarding school operations, student services, classroom curriculums, protocols and safety procedures.

Mass shootings and gun violence plague America. What can or should the Legislature do, if anything, to address this problem in Illinois? 

Each night, local news networks broadcast violence in streets across America, but particularly in the City of Chicago. The City should allow additional resources to help stop damage to life and property. Law enforcement must have the tools, training, and clear direction to perform their jobs and keep families safe.

Do you favor or oppose term limits for any elected official in Illinois? Please explain.

I favor term limits for elected officials in Illinois, and on legislative leadership. In Illinois we have the longest-serving Speaker in history, and that has led to one of the largest ethics scandals in our state. Public servants must serve the people of their districts, not themselves.

Everybody says gerrymandering is bad, but the party in power in every state — Democrats in Illinois — resist doing anything about it. Or do we have that wrong? What should be done? 

The Fair Maps Amendment should have been presented to voters to decide. Governor Pritzker said early on that he would support fair maps but has walked that position back.

The General Assembly should determine a fair process within constitutional parameters before new districts are drawn. By the Constitution, districts should be compact and contiguous but additional principles from the Fair Maps Amendment should be incorporated into the remap process.

The U.S. attorney’s office in Chicago is investigating possible official corruption by state and local officials. This prompted the Legislature to pass an ethics reform measure to amend the Lobbyist Registration Act (SB 1639). It was signed into law in December. What’s your take on this and what more should be done? 

The SB 1639 ethics reform bill passed last December mandates lobbyists to make a few additional required public disclosures. However, it alone is not enough to bring about meaningful transparency. The majority party passed SB 1639 only when forced to amid public corruption scandals plaguing Illinois government. More than a dozen substantive ethics reform bills proposed by members of both parties had bipartisan support, but were stalled in committee. It is time for legislators to get serious about ethics reform, and that starts with a new Speaker of the House and consideration of the ethics bills held up by House Democratic leadership.

When people use the internet and wireless devices, companies collect data about us. Oftentimes, the information is sold to other companies, which can use it to track our movements or invade our privacy in other ways. When companies share this data, we also face a greater risk of identity theft. What should the Legislature do, if anything? 

The legislature should challenge big tech’s efforts to make big money by compromising our individual privacy and security rights.

The number of Illinois public high school graduates who enroll in out-of-state universities continues to climb. What can Illinois do to make its state universities more attractive to Illinois high school students?

College and trade schools are important steps in upward mobility, and Illinois must ensure its top-notch schools are affordable options for high school graduates and their families. When Illinois students move out of state, they often stay out of state to work and raise their families, which isn’t beneficial to our communities. State budgets must prioritize offering stable funding to institutions of higher learning, and also offering financial assistance to students, including funding student grants and low-interest loans.

My heart breaks for students entering college this year, where COVID restrictions prevent students from enjoying the full college experience.

What is your top legislative priority with respect to the environment?

I continue to learn and consider ideas on how to address the potential harm to people, animals, and plants from 5G radiation installed in this area with little advance notice.

What historical figure from Illinois, other than Abraham Lincoln (because everybody’s big on Abe), do you most admire or draw inspiration from? Please explain.

Bonnie Blair, Top U.S. Olympic winter athlete from Champaign, Illinois, won five speed skating golds and dominated her sport. I admire Bonnie’ focus, talent, persistence, faith and belief in herself and that she could truly make a difference - and she did!

What’s your favorite TV, streaming or web-based show of all time. Why?

I watch more movies than television, and my favorite is Back To The Future starring Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly.

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