Mark Walker's Legislative Priorities
Work for Tax Fairness
As gasoline, food and utility costs continue to skyrocket, Mark Walker believes we need to shift the tax burden off the middle class. He supports middle class tax cuts and backs legislation to repeal Todd Stroger's sales tax increase and require future tax increase proposals be put to a vote in a public referenda. He also supports the largest middle class income tax cut in state history.
Better Schools
Mark Walker will work to reduce class sizes, lower property taxes, and increases accountability by holding schools to higher standards.
Protecting Children from Sexual Predators
Mark Walker will work to pass a new law to require that sex offenders wear electronic monitoring devices at all times and he supports lifetime imprisonment with no possibility of parole for child rapists. He will also work to bolster law enforcement's ability to capture Internet predators.
Create Jobs & Economic Opportunities
As a businessman, Mark knows how important it is to maintain a positive business environment that encourages job creation. Among his top priorities is to pass new state incentives for businesses to expand and relocate to our area. He also believes it is unacceptable for corporations to take state tax breaks and then move out of Illinois to foreign countries. He will fight for a law that makes them refund taxpayers.
Fight for Veterans' Issues
As a Vietnam veteran and Bronze Star recipient, Mark Walker is proud of his service to our country and is strong advocate for veterans' causes. Mark believes the brave men and women returning from war, especially those who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan, are receiving inferior care from the federal government and will work to see to it that they receive state-of-the-art care from state facilities.
Advocating for Alternative Energy
Mark Walker supports Repealing tax breaks for oil companies and forcing them to pay a windfall profits tax to supports renewable energy that reduces our foreign oil dependence.
True, Ethical Reform
Mark Walker backs a constitutional amendment that would give voters the power to recall elected officials, like Governor Blagojevich, in the middle of their terms and to stop pay-to-play politics. He supports a ban on campaign contributions from businesses that receive government contracts.
Maintaining our Natural Resources
Mark Walker is pushing the state to begin regular testing of public drinking water supplies to ensure that they are free from contaminants - like pesticides, fertilizers and discarded prescription medications that could have adverse affects on our health and children's development.