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Politics & Government

Democratic Dold Challengers Talk Jobs, Deficit

Find out where 10th District candidates stand on major issues.

The three Democratic Congressional candidates seeking the nomination to unseat  sat down with Patch last week to explain their positions on major issues facing the 10th District.

A three-part series that explores where the candidate stand on topics like social security, tax policy and education begins Tuesday with jobs and the deficit.

Helping small businesses

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“We need to focus on programs to give small and medium size businesses an opportunity to grow,” said , 50,  as he sat in his Northbrook campaign office. “If every small business in the 10th District hires one or two people, that will take us a long way.” 

Community organizer , who opened his Waukegan campaign office Saturday, agrees helping small businesses is a key to job growth and economic recovery. The 24-year-old suggested expanding tax credits for job creation as a method to motivate entrepreneurs to hire people.

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“I talked to a small business owner in Waukegan who wants to hire one or two people as apprentices to learn the tools of the trade,” said. “He can’t hire them full-time. We should extend a tax credit to him (for part-time hires).” 

Sheyman takes a broad-based approach to job creation and economic stimulus. The Waukegan resident would extend unemployment benefits beyond the current 99 weeks. 

“We have to use every tool in our tool box,” he said “We have to stop the bleeding.” 

Wheeling resident , who is exploring options for a campaign office, has the most elaborate idea for creating jobs. The 29-year-old wants to recreate the Works Progress Administration (WPA) from the New Deal-era of former President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. 

“We need to put people to work doing things to benefit our country and this [WPA] is a good way to do it,” McKenzie said. “For today we should rebuild transportation: roads, bridges, railroads and airports.” 

Reduce the deficit

All three candidates want to reduce the burgeoning federal deficit, though each takes a different approach. McKenzie would spend more efficiently on existing programs, like Medicare and Medicaid, but would stop spending on programs he considered ineffective. 

“We know how to make the hydrogen car, but it doesn’t make sense if we have no place to fill it up,” McKenzie said, citing an example.

Sheyman blames the deficit on failed policies of the last 11 years. He would start by rescinding the Bush era tax cuts. He also believes increased employment will bring the deficit down. 

Schneider considers the deficit a problem years in the making that needs a long-term solution. 

“I want to eliminate the deficit in my generation so my children can pay down the debt and my grandchildren can live in the world I had growing up,” Schneider said.

Check back Wednesday for part two of this three part series, when the candidates discuss social security and taxes.

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