3rd District candidates stay classy at forum
With few exceptions, congressional hopefuls keep discussion calm
A calm, respectful discussion Thursday night between the two hopefuls in the 3rd Congressional District race offered a stark contrast to the chaotic shouting match that characterized the presidential debate two nights earlier.
Republican Will County Board member Mike Fricilone, of Homer Glen, and Democrat Marie Newman, of La Grange, almost entirely refrained from name-calling and personal attacks during the hourlong forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters. Almost.
“When Dan Lipinski lost his primary election we lost one of the most bipartisan, common-sense voices in Congress and replaced him withmy opponent, socialist Marie Newman,” Fricilone said during his prepared opening statement. “Marie’s plans are not focused on the 3rd District. They’re taken fromthe most extreme leftists in Washington.”
Lipinski has held the seat since 2005. He lost the March Democratic primary to Newman, a former small-business owner and nonprofit leader.
“I think we can all agree name calling is very unproductive and makes things farworse,” Newman said during her opening statement.
The tone may have been far more courteous than the knockdown, drag-out verbal brawl between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden. But the substance of the conversation between Fricilone and Newman reflected distinct partisan divides on policy issues.
Democrats have represented the 3rd District for decades. Lipinski, however, is among the most conservative Democrats in Congress. Many constituents in Homer, Lemont and Palos town---
ships may not have liked Lipinski’s party affiliation, but many agreed with his views on issues like reproductive health.
Lipinski voted to restrict access to abortion. Fricilone and Newman addressed their views on abortion during a discussion about health care.
“I feel everywoman, and man, has a choice to make, and once they make the choice to create life, I believe that life should have the same chance thatwe all have,” Fricilone said.
Newman shared an opposing position.
“I trust women and they should have domain over their own bodies,” Newman said.
The U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear Republicans’ legal arguments to strike downthe Affordable Care Act. The Obamacare law prohibits insurance companies from charging higher rates for an estimated 100 million Americans with preexisting conditions.
“Republicans are dead set on taking away the ACA, and they’ve been trying to destroy it for years,” Newman said. “The only way we’re going to bring costs downand preserve our care is Medicare for All… That is the most responsible, practical path.”
Fricilone said he strongly disagrees with Newman on the topic. “Medicare for All is not the answer, especially at a cost of about $32 trillion over 10 years,” he said. “That’s our entire budget for about 10 years. That would basically double the taxes on everybody in the country.”
Fricilone said he favored reworking the ACA, and that an executive order recently signed by Trump would guarantee protection of preexisting conditions. Numerous analysts, however, have said Trump’s order lacked substance andwas largely symbolic.
As for cost, Americans spend about $3.6 trillion annually on health care. Health care costs would
increase to $54 trillion over 10 years if nothing is done, Newmansaid.
Moderator Ann Lee, co-president of the League of Women Voters of the La Grange Area, asked candidates about the nation’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We’ve lost 205,000 souls because there is no cohesive federal strategy,” Newman said. Expanding testing and encouraging mask-wearing are most important moving forward, she said.
Fricilone said he didn’t want to minimize any death.
“But last year whenwe had the normal fluwe (lost) 65,000 to 85,000 people,” he said.
The forum occurred just a few hours before the nation learned Trump had tested positive for COVID-19.
Candidates were asked about creating jobs and COVID-19’s impact on the economy. Fricilone said Congress should extend unemployment insurance forworkers and the Paycheck Protection Plan for small businesses.
“That is critical for Congress to pass that,” he said.
Newmansaid Congress should provide funding for state and local governments.
“What everybody forgets is there are lots of employees in cities, counties and states,” she said. “They add money back into the economy and they serve and provide services to folks in
those places.”
Lee asked candidates about legal protections for labor unions. Newmansaid 43% of households in the 3rd District had at least one union member. She said she was endorsed by the AFLCIO and “most other unions.” Fricilone said he was endorsed by Chicago’s police union.
“Unions brought us an eight-hour day, a five-day workweek,” Newman said. “We need to continue to protect and promote unions.”
Fricilone said he also supported labor unions.
“What I’m most concerned about is unions losing their health care,” he said. “Medicare for All is for all. Everyone would be on the same plan, and it certainly wouldn’t be as good as the union plans.”
Lee asked the candidates questions about climate change, gun control and police reform. Fricilone and Newman indicated their positions on many issues were consistent with their parties’ platforms.
Both, however, said they favored greater transparency in campaign financing and supported redistricting reform to limit gerrymandering. Both said they would support efforts to create an independent commission to determine legislative districts in Illinois instead of the party with more political power controlling the process.
“Both Ms. Newmanand I agree our district is gerrymandered to the hilt,” Fricilone said. “When you have a three-block swath that connects Bridgeport to the Garfield Ridge area, it really doesn’t make a lot of sense.”
Both candidates said they would work to improve infrastructure and transportation in the district.
“The district has never had a transportation plan,” Newmansaid.
Asking about cutting through congressional gridlock, Fricilone said he would join the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, of which Lipinski is a member.
“At least in the Problem Solvers Caucus they’re trying towork together to move things forward,” Fricilone said.
The caucus, however, never has passed a bill, Newmansaid.
Lee asked the candidates if a majority of constituents held a view thatwas different fromtheir own on an issue, would it change how they voted in Congress?
“If the majority of the district was not in agreement with me, Iwould support the district,” Newman said.
Fricilone said hewould listen to constituents as he has as a member of the Will County Board.
The 3rd District extends southwest from Chicago through Oak Lawn, Hickory Hills, Chicago Ridge, Palos Hills, Homer Glen, Lemont, Lockport, La Grange, Western Springs and other towns.
Newman is endorsed by 14 mayors in the district, including the top elected officials in Bridgeview, Burbank, Hickory Hills, Hometown, Palos Hills and Palos Park. The Chicago Tribune Editorial Board has endorsed Fricilone in the race.
The discussion took place via video conference and a recording may be viewed on the League of Women Voters of the La Grange Area’s Facebook page.