Debbie Halvorson

U.S. House, IL

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Out with the old and in with the blue. Even before Rep. Jerry Weller, dogged by allegations of corruption, decided not to seek re-election, Democratic leaders were working to recruit state Senate Majority Leader Debbie Halvorson to challenge him in Illinois’s 11th congressional district. When Weller announced his retirement, this seat shot to the top of the list of prime Democratic pick-up opportunities. Halvorson cleared the field for the primary and must now focus on raising enough money to compete with the full force of a GOP determined to hold onto this seat.

An American success story. Halvorson was told growing up that college was “for the boys.” She married at 21 and became a stay-at-home mom and community volunteer. In 1993, she ran for Crete township clerk, becoming the first Democrat to hold the post. In 1996, she knocked off an 18-year Republican incumbent in her first run for the state Senate. Halvorson has quickly moved up from chair of the Democratic caucus to assistant majority leader to Senate majority leader -- the first woman in Illinois history! At the same time, she went back to college, earning her bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

A solid record of accomplishment. Halvorson commands bipartisan respect as a legislator who gets things done. She’s cosponsored laws requiring health insurers to cover contraception, protecting women from domestic abuse and children from predators, establishing equal pay laws, and expanding health care coverage. She will be an outstanding leader in Congress -- but Republicans will spend heavily to hold this seat. Her GOP opponent, millionaire businessman Martin Ozinga III, does little to inspire confidence in change from Weller’s antics; his company has been accused of engaging in questionable business practices to evade minority contracting laws. Halvorson is strong enough to take this seat over for Democrats -- but she will need to raise $4 million to move this seat into the Democratic column in 2008.

More About Debbie Halvorson

Even before GOP Congressman Jerry Weller of Illinois’s 11th district announced he would retire, Democratic leaders were working to recruit state Senate Majority Leader Debbie Halvorson to challenge him. Then Weller, dogged by allegations of corruption, decided not to seek re-election. Candidates in both parties began jockeying for the position — but when Halvorson announced she would run, other Democratic hopefuls quickly bowed out to give her a clear path to the nomination.

Halvorson is a popular, hard-working, and remarkably skilled legislator whose leadership has earned her bipartisan respect and accolades from a wide range of organizations, including labor, business, teachers, health care workers, and senior citizens. She’s moved dozens of bills through the legislature that improve the lives of women and families -- requiring health insurers to cover contraception, protecting children from predators, and establishing equal pay laws. Halvorson has pushed to expand health care coverage for veterans, small businesses, self-employed people, and other uninsured individuals. She sponsored legislation to bring down the cost of prescription drugs for seniors and disabled citizens. To make sure young women are protected against human papilloma virus (HPV), which can lead to cervical cancer, Halvorson passed a law requiring schools to offer the vaccination to all sixth grade girls.

A native of this district, Halvorson was told growing up that college was “for the boys.” So she got married at 21 and dedicated herself to raising her children and volunteering in her community. But Halvorson was always interested in politics, and worked to elect other candidates until, in 1993, she was urged to run for Crete township clerk. She became the first Democrat to hold the post. In 1996, Halvorson defeated an 18-year Republican incumbent state senator. She very quickly became a part of the leadership team, moving from chair of the Democratic caucus to assistant majority leader until, in 2005, she became the first woman majority leader of the Illinois Senate. While serving in the Senate, Halvorson went back to college, earning her bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

The Political Situation

Political pundits consider this open GOP seat one of the most promising targets for Democratic takeover in 2008. The Rothenberg Political Report predicts holding it will be “a real problem for the GOP,” and political prognosticator Charlie Cook labels the seat one of eight that the GOP is in serious danger of losing. Halvorson and all Democrats will benefit from the presidential race in blue Illinois.

The travails of Weller, who was named one of the 22 most-corrupt members of Congress by the watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, complicate matters for Republicans, who are increasingly seen as using their power for personal gain rather than representing the concerns of ordinary voters

Republicans were left scrambling when their nominee withdrew after the primary rather than face Halvorson. Their new choice for November does little to inspire confidence in change: millionaire businessman Martin Ozinga, III, a frequent campaign contributor to former Rep. Weller, has been accused of engaging in questionable business practices to evade minority contracting laws. Ozinga has the ability to spend millions on his campaign and is already on the attack.

The Washington Post has ranked this seat second on their list of most competitive House races -- and it’s in play for Democrats largely because of Halvorson’s strength. She’s a proven fundraiser with a tremendous grassroots network. But the cost of running a congressional race in a targeted open seat will be considerably higher than any of her previous campaigns, as she will need to purchase ad time in the costly Chicago media market. Halvorson must raise a budget of $4 million to get her message out to voters hungry for change and move this seat into the Democratic column in 2008.

The Issues

“Our district has been underserved for too long, and I want to provide real leadership on the issues that matter to Illinois families,” says Halvorson. “I will work with the Democratic majorities and the newly elected Democratic president to develop sound policy alternatives to remedy the mismanagement of the Bush years, especially with regards to the war in Iraq.”

Halvorson calls on Congress to override Bush’s veto of the education funding bill and says, “we must demand key revisions to No Child Left Behind, including additional performance measures, smaller classes, and more highly qualified teachers.” Halvorson will work to fund special education and make paying for college easier on families.

Halvorson knows the challenges families face in balancing work and home responsibilities. She supports strengthening the Family and Medical Leave Act, closing the wage gap, and offering workers flexible alternatives like telecommuting and job sharing. “Work arrangements that accommodate our families help to strengthen our economy,” she says. Making quality child care more affordable is a priority for Halvorson. “Many families pay more for child care than they would for college tuition,” she says. “Often they are left with unstable and poorly supervised care as their only option. Surely we can do better.”

Halvorson supports free trade but says trade agreements must meet certain human rights and environmental standards. “We need a trade policy that enables American producers and workers to compete successfully in the global economy,” she says. “And we need to reinvest in manufacturing and innovation, and keep jobs here in America.”

Noting that the gap between rich and poor has widened dramatically during the Bush years, Halvorson says federal budget priorities need to be reordered to make health care and child care more affordable for families, invest in early childhood education, make college more affordable, and provide for a secure retirement. “These are not new concepts, but unfortunately, they have been on the back burner during the Bush administration,” she says. Halvorson supports the pay-as-you-go policy implemented by the current Congress to restore fiscal responsibility to government.

Halvorson supports a progressive tax policy that provides relief for middle- and low-income families. “We need to close corporate loopholes and ensure that the wealthy pay their fair share,” she says. While in Congress, she hopes to expand the child care and Earned Income Tax Credits to make more low-income workers eligible.

Adequately equipping our armed forces for war should be the nation’s top defense spending priority, Halvorson says. “Iraq is draining our budget and preventing us from responding to other, more real threats like Afghanistan and Pakistan,” she says. “My stepson is a captain in the special forces. He did one tour of duty in Iraq and is on his way to Afghanistan in a few months. I have deep respect for his service. But it is time to bring our troops home in a responsible way, refocus our efforts on fighting terrorism, and make America more secure.” Halvorson adds that the U.S. must repair its relationship with nations around the world: “We are stronger with diplomatic alliances and a foreign policy based on bipartisan consensus,” she says.

Noting the progress women and minorities have made in achieving equality in the workplace, Halvorson says, “there is much work still to be done. We must end wage disparities, sexual harassment, and workplace discrimination, as well as discrimination in the courts and housing. We must also protect a worker’s right to organize for fair wages, safe working conditions, and better benefits.”

Halvorson favors investing in education and after-school programs to help put children on the right track and reduce crime. Drug treatment is a proven way to reduce recidivism, she notes. “Because our jails often breed tougher criminals, we need to pursue alternative sentencing for non-violent offenders to help them escape the cycle of crime and get their lives back on track,” she says.

“Our health care system is hemorrhaging, and we need to do something now,” Halvorson says, noting that the number of uninsured Americans has increased to 47 million during the Bush years. Halvorson will work in Congress, as she has in Illinois, to make insurance more affordable and reduce the cost of prescription drugs by allowing direct negotiation with drug companies — and to reauthorize SCHIP (the State Children’s Health Insurance Program).

The number of American children living in poverty has risen 12 percent to 13 million children, another effect of Bush’s failed economic agenda. Halvorson favors revisiting the 1996 welfare reform package, “so that we can make sure families and children have basic necessities, at the very least,” she says.

Halvorson appreciates the increased attention being paid to the environment and global warming, but wants to see more action. “We must invest in cleaner, alternative sources of energy,” she says. “The recent increase in fuel efficiency standards is a great step forward, but we need to find more ways to protect the environment and lessen the bite at the pump. We also need stronger standards on greenhouse gases, and to hold corporate polluters responsible.”

“In Congress, I will fight to ensure that all women have the right to choose, and I will oppose all efforts to restrict that right,” Halvorson says.

May 2008