Scott Harper

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1 Background
2 Biography
3 On The Issues: The Economy
4 On The Issues: War In Iraq
5 On The Issues: The Environment
6 On The Issues: Seniors
7 On The Issues: Education
8 References

[edit] Background

Scott Harper is running for Congress in the 13th Congressional District of Illinois. The DCCC (Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee) has recently granted the IL-13th the status of a 'targeted race' in the 2008 election.^[1] This is the first venture into politics by Mr Harper; but so far he has broken multiple fundraising records and has demonstrated his viability as a Congressional candidate.^[2]

[edit] Biography

Scott Harper is the Democratic nominee for Congress in the [13th District of Illinois]. He grew up in Naperville and graduated from Naperville Central High School.

Scott has spent his career as a successful small business owner. He started a media, design and marketing consulting firm called Closer Look and grew it from a two-person staff to a 40-person office with more than $5,000,000 in revenue. He understands the importance of fiscal responsibility and the value of economic development and in Congress, Scott will work to bring new technologies and industries to this community.

Before building Closer Look, Scott was a manufacturing executive who worked with labor and business to ensure workers rights were protected and to improve performance in the workplace. Scott believes strongly in the rights of working families and will be a strong advocate for them in Washington.

Aside from his successful career in business, Scott has always been a strong community activist dedicated to volunteerism. In Chicago, he tutored children, and worked in several area homeless shelters. He also coached at a Career Transitions Center and has been active in mentoring young adults. Additionally, Scott was a long-time member of Old St. Patrick’s Church in Chicago and continues to be active in the religious community.

A strong commitment to education is a centerpiece of Scott’s campaign for Congress and he has demonstrated a lifelong commitment to learning. Scott completed his undergraduate degree at Wheaton College and received his MBA from the University of Chicago. He also has a Master’s degree from Oxford University in England.

Scott was born in Illinois and is the oldest of five children. He has two children of his own—Natasha, 24, who is finishing her architecture degree from the Pratt Institute of Design and Briana, 22, who is double majoring in political science and economics at Barnard/Columbia.^[3]

[edit] On The Issues: The Economy

Bringing good jobs to the 13th district and ensuring that new technologies located here is an integral part of Scott Harper’s campaign for Congress. As a successful small business owner, Scott understands the perils of running a business and he also understands the importance of crafting policies that allow our economy to thrive. He is also firmly committed to growing our economy through fair trade and by protecting America’s working families. Scott’s plan will focus on:

Investing in new technologies: The 13th district is home to innovative science and technology, such as Argonne and many scientists from Fermi Labs, where researchers are working on new energy initiatives that will enhance our economy and grow jobs. Scott Harper will oppose any cuts to science funding, like the $500 million in cuts proposed by George Bush in his 2009 budget, and will work to ensure that new projects and research opportunities come to our district. He will also work with research and development leaders to grow new businesses, including green businesses that create jobs while investing in environmental technologies.

Demanding fiscal responsibility: The federal deficit has spiraled out of control under the current administration. Our nation went from a record surplus to a huge deficit in just over a few years and the debt that we build up now will be left for our children and our grandchildren. Demanding fiscal responsibility from our leaders in Washington makes common sense – we simply cannot continue to borrow $60 billion a month from countries like China and South Korea and then try to exert influence over their policies. By overhauling our tax policy and making it more fair and spending more responsibly, we can finally control our out of control spending and bring fiscal sanity back to government.

Standing up for America’s working families: There is perhaps no issue that separates Scott Harper from Judy Biggert more than his commitment to working families. While Biggert has voted for trade agreements with Oman and sponsored legislation to end overtime pay, Scott will vote to pass the Employee Free Choice Act and will never support a trade agreement that is not fair. He will also work to help our families by championing workplace safety and strengthening workers rights to organize.^[4]

[edit] On The Issues: War In Iraq

Scott Harper opposed the War in Iraq from the beginning and knows that the whole war has been mishandled from the beginning. Unlike Judy Biggert, who voted for the war initially and has been a staunch ally of President Bush’s Iraq policy, Scott Harper understands that there was no connection between 9/11 and Iraq and that our strategic errors along the way – the Abu Ghraib scandal, no exit strategy and no plan for post-war Iraq—have weakened our safety and security. In Congress, Scott will support a dramatically different Iraq policy than our current Congresswoman. He will:

Support a phased withdrawal with a timetable to end the war. Every conceivable military expert agrees that we must develop an exit strategy to the war in Iraq with definable timetables so that we can begin phasing out of the war and bringing our troops home. Judy Biggert had an opportunity to vote for a timetable for withdrawal and demand accountability from the Bush Administration but unfortunately she continued to support a failing policy (HR2337). Scott will do just the opposite and vote for legislation that will phase out our troops.

Reject our current blank check policy to fund the war. By being unprepared for the War in Iraq and the post-war state, the Bush Administration has spent an excessive amount of money to stay in Iraq. Since the start of the war, Biggert has authorized President Bush to spend more than $500 billion on the effort without demanding any real progress reports or accountability from the administration. Scott Harper will not support a blank check policy with taxpayer dollars and will ensure that we are spending our money wisely with the top priority being to protect our troops.

Oppose permanent bases in Iraq. While we must continue to offer our support and assistance to the Iraqi government, permanent bases in Iraq would signify our continued occupation of the country. Scott thinks this would be a strategic mistake, and that it would not make us safer. He thinks that it would actually be a recruiting point for would-be terrorists. In Congress, Scott Harper will reject any plans for permanent bases in Iraq.^[5]

[edit] On The Issues: The Environment

Protecting the environment is one of the most important things we can do for our children. It will also help us improve green technologies and grow new jobs in our community. Congress has a vital role to play in crafting a sensible environmental policy that address every issue ranging from global warming to pollution in Lake Michigan. In Congress, Scott Harper will be a champion for environmental causes. He will:

Fight global warming pollution and work toward energy independence. The science is in on global warming – it is real and it is happening and we must do something to stop it. In Congress, Scott Harper will support legislation that sensibly increases fuel efficiency standards and provides common-sense incentives for renewable and alternative energy. Scott knows that energy independence will save consumers money, will lessen our dependence on foreign oil and will grown green jobs right here at home.

Protect Lake Michigan and preserve our drinking water. During the Bush Administration, plans to restore Lake Michigan and reduce the mercury pollution in it have fallen by the wayside. Instead of being a leader on these issues, Judy Biggert has taken thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from big oil companies. In Congress, Scott Harper will immediately reverse these policies and work to clean up Lake Michigan so that our drinking water will be safer for our children.

Strengthen Clean Air and Water Acts. Childhood asthma, contaminated drinking water and toxic pollutants in the air are all reasons that we must strengthen the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts. Instead of allowing polluters a free pass, Scott Harper will work to strengthen these acts and work with the Environmental Protection Agency to ensure that we are protecting our environment.^[6]

[edit] On The Issues: Seniors

Scott Harper knows that we have a commitment to honor our seniors by providing them with the help and care they need to live in comfort and with dignity. In Congress, Scott will fight for the issues that matter most to seniors and be a strong advocate for protecting their priorities. These issues include:

Protecting Social Security. In Congress, Scott Harper will be a passionate advocate for protecting Social Security. He will support legislation to strengthen the program and ensure its commitment for all retirees and will oppose any measure to privatize the program or place it in jeopardy.

Supporting universal healthcare. In the richest country in the world, the fact that 46 million Americans – or nearly 16% of all people—is an absolute outrage. Scott Harper favors a universal healthcare system that will provide every American with the coverage they need. And the importance of healthcare coverage goes way beyond just seniors. When Congress voted to keep six million children from losing their healthcare in the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), Judy Biggert voted against the measure.

Making prescription drugs more affordable and reforming Medicare Part D. The cost of prescription drugs makes it difficult for some to afford the medicines they so desperately need. Scott Harper believes ensuring our seniors have the prescription drugs they need is a moral issue and will support a plan to allow the re-importation of safe prescriptions from Canada. Scott will also champion legislation to reform the flawed Medicare Part D program to allow the government to benefit from volume-discounts and purchase prescription drugs to drive the costs down for seniors.^[7]

[edit] On The Issues: Education

Scott Harper has a lifelong commitment to education and will make improving our schools and making college affordable centerpieces of his legislative agenda. In Washington, Scott will fight to end the unfunded mandates in No Child Left Behind and support sensible education policies that continue to make our schools succeed. Scott’s education policy includes:

Investing in our schools, our children and our teachers. We are fortunate in the 13th Congressional District to have good quality schools but there are still some schools that are below state standards and that do not have the resources they need to educate our children. The federal government, for example, promised to cover 40% of school costs for special education but is currently only funding 19% of those costs. In Congress, Scott will work to ensure that schools have the resources they need to thrive and that all students are afforded every opportunity to succeed. He will also fight for competitive salaries for teachers so that they are treated like the professionals they are.

Revising No Child Left Behind. Scott Harper is a strong believer in accountability in our schools but does not believe in unfunded mandates or in arbitrary accounting procedures. Scott favors more flexibility in our school evaluation process and allowing for teachers and administrators to have input into reporting systems.

Making college affordable. In today’s world, it is absolutely essential that every child grows up with the opportunity to earn a college degree. Scott deeply values the importance of higher education and knows that in today’s knowledge economy, we must make college more accessible. Today, 400,000 qualified students don’t attend college because they can’t afford it. In Congress, Scott will vote to restore Pell Grants after the cuts under the Bush Administration and he will increase other financial aid programs so that students have every opportunity to earn a degree.^[8]