Illinois Education Association Recommends Republican Judy Biggert in 11th District
Biggert (R-Hinsdale) is running against Democrat Bill Foster in the 11th Congressional District.
Photos
Rep. Judy Biggert (R-Hinsdale) faced some tough political questions when she was endorsed by the Illinois Education Association as its candidate for the 11th Congressional District race Monday, and so did those endorsing her.
Biggert and members of the Illinois Education Association answered questions from the media at Hinsdale South High School in Darien after the announcement was made.
Although some members of the Republican Party have actively said they don't agree with teacher unions, Vice President Kathi Griffin of the Illinois Education Association said it's important to look past Biggert's political party.
"I think it's important that we focus on what the candidate stands for," Griffin said. "It's not whether you are a Democrat or Republican. It's whether you're a friend to education, and that's what we see in Judy Biggert and why we are endorsing her."
Read more about the 11th Congressional District race between Biggert and Democrat Bill Foster.
Question: There are members of the Republican party, such as New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who have been quoted as saying that he "loves teachers, but hates teachers unions." Where do you fall on this issue?
Biggert: Education unions are the teachers, and they're the heart of public education. They're the ones that are training our children to compete in this world. At some point, I hope we have members of Congress that are willing to sit down with teachers unions.
Question: There's been a lot of negativity in this campaign cycle, a lot of campaign ads being paid for by Super PACs. What is your reaction to what is being said?
Biggert: This is a year we've had Super PACs involved in a way that we haven't seen before. I don't want to say anything about that. We can't, legally ... This [involvement of Super PACs] is something I'm not used to.
Question: Are you noticing a marked difference in tone in this campaign? Why do you think that is?
Biggert: This is a time when we are at a crossroads ... This is happening in extreme times where there is no economic growth. It goes beyond one issue ... We used to work together a lot better, and I think the problem is that there aren't a lot of people who are willing to cross the [party] line.
Question: You represent an area where national laboratories (such as Argonne National Labs and Fermilab) occupy large portions of land, which can not generate revenue in the form of property taxes. Under sequestration, Impact Aid, which had been designed to disburse payments to local educational agencies to compensate, would be cut by $89.98 million nationwide. Where do you stand on the issue? And how would you help out local school districts?
Biggert: I've always really worked to make sure they get that money ... I would work on a bill to reduce the cuts made particularly in the first year for all of education ... This is the toughest year to do that, but it's really owed to the school districts. I don't see how they can [cut Impact Aid] when it's supposed to go to the school districts.
*Editor's Note: Bill Foster's Director of Communication, Eleis Brennan, was out of the office at the time of this article's publication and was unavailable for comment regarding the announcement of the Illinois Education Association's support of Rep. Judy Biggert in the 11th District Congressional race.
In This article
-
-
Hinsdale South High School
7401 Clarendon Hills Rd, Darien, IL -
Darien City Hall
1702 Plainfield Rd, Darien, IL
Mike Keniley
3:43 pm on Monday, October 8, 2012
Is this a press release? Where are Bill Foster's comments?? Was he even interviewed??
Sabrina Wu
3:54 pm on Monday, October 8, 2012
Hi Mike,
This is not a press release. It's coverage of the IEA press conference today and questions that were directed at the association and Rep. Biggert following the announcement. Bill Foster was not present, because the point of the press conference was to announce Biggert's endorsement.
Tom Kurcz
6:05 pm on Monday, October 8, 2012
Can anyone confirm that Foster and Biggert actually live in the new 11th district? Last info I had was that Foster lives in Batavia, and Biggert lives in Hinsdale, which are both outside the district. I want MY representative to live in MY district.
Sabrina Wu
8:46 pm on Monday, October 8, 2012
Hi Tom, According to their latest filings on the State Board of Elections website, Bill Foster lives in Naperville, and Judy Biggert lives in Hinsdale. Candidates for Congress are not required to live within the districts they run, however. I'm including a link to the Illinois State Board of Elections 2012 candidate guide in case you wanted it for reference. Thanks. : http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CCUQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.elections.state.il.us%2FDownloads%2FElectionInformation%2FPDF%2F2012Canguide.pdf&ei=JX9zUNPqGoWX0QHXuIB4&usg=AFQjCNHCpc6vhNFHPFAP1PmPmOqnbuYCLw
Leigh
2:53 pm on Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Sabrina In order to help me decide who to vote for in the upcoming election I was looking forward to hearing from both the candidates in an AARP sponsored debate that was to be held on Tuesday Oct 16th between Biggert and Foster. That debate never happened can Patch tell us why?
Bob Swanson
2:06 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
A sizable portion of the city of Joliet is in this District, and neither of these candidates have any connection to this significant population center. It is a major transportation hub (interstates, rail and waterway) all of which come under interstate commerce and therefore subject to congressional actions. I question any significant level of commitment from either candidate to the city of Joliet and its people number over 140,000. I am very surprized that the IEA endorsed a candidate whose campaign literature states a support of Paul Ryan's budget plan.
Tom Koz
10:52 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Judy Biggert needs to GO - Illinois needs a TRUE conservative!!
I no longer vote or support Republican / Democrat. VOTE Constitutional Consevative!!! The ONLY way this Country can/will survive (unless you want to end up like Greece/Spain) is to stick to the Government as outlined in the Constitution!! SMALL Government!!!
Leigh
2:49 pm on Wednesday, October 17, 2012
I have voted for Judy in the past but she seems increasingly partisan to me.
I don't like the fact they she pushed so hard for Navistar, calling everyone who asks for a handout a job creator. In truth Navistar moved many workers here. I recently spoke to a man who said that on one hand he was lucky that he is single and didn't own property in the area where he was transferred from but that he was having a hard time making ends meet on his salary because the cost of living (rent) is so much higher here. He also felt pretty bad for his co-workers who could not transfer because they could not sell a home or leave family. He wonders if any of those people still have a home since their jobs were moved here.
So who does this really benefit?
Us job seekers, hardly since Navistar is now talking about cutting jobs?
Lisle? Are we getting the benefit of any increased tax income?
The state of Illinois?
After you come up with an answer to these questions decide if you truly want to vote for Judy.
I too am surprized that the IEA endorsed a candidate whose campaign literature states a support of Paul Ryan's budget plan.
Sabrina Wu
11:28 am on Thursday, October 18, 2012
Hi Leigh,
In answer to your question about the AARP, we heard unofficially that one of the candidates had to reschedule due to a time conflict. We are working on getting confirmation. Thanks.
Millbrook Party
6:19 pm on Wednesday, October 24, 2012
IEA has supported Judy Biggert in the past, but this year with Romney/Ryan I can not see her being a friend of education. She will most certainly march along with Ryan who is not a friend of education in any form. R & R will cut education, go after teachers unions and are all for charter schools. I believe Foster will be a better choice for education. The Biggert record of being friendly to education is history. If R & R prevail, public education will be greatly hurt.
Tom Koz
12:26 am on Thursday, October 25, 2012
Everyone is for education. Only union brass, some teachers, and sellout politictians are for teacher unions!! can you have education, and better education at that, without unions??? Of course. Home schooling, charter schools, vouchers. Get rid of the damn unions!!! Are you for education, or unions?
Millbrook Party
7:57 pm on Thursday, October 25, 2012
I'm for Public education. If it were not for public education all the things this country stands for would not existed. Home schooling, charter schools, vouchers-you must be kidding! Charter schools ONLY take the best students so that is while they excel. Vouchers-There is no proof that they work and studies have shown they do not provide a better education that a public school. Unions have made this country great. Check the history of unions and see what they have done for the American workers. Forty hour work week, vacations, sick time, safe working conditions, health care. The average worker today, no matter white collar or blue collar should step back and understand that unions fought for them. You also have your facts wrong concerning teacher unions. Explain why in the last 25 years NEA has become the largest union in the USA? They have 3.9 million members. Plus you also have the American Federation of Teachers-approx 2 million members. The majority of teachers are for unions. I am for PUBLIC EDUCATION and UNIONS.