Debbie Halvorson

Debbie Halvorson has been a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives, representing the 11th district of the State of Illinois, since 2009 (map).

Healthcare
Halvorson believes that small businesses should be able to bargain collectively for lower premiums on their employee health benefits. She supports strengthening Medicare by allowing the government to negotiate with drug companies for lower prescription drug prices, and ensuring that insurance companies hold up their end of the deal.

Iraq and National Security
Halvorson says on her website that the U.S should bring the troops home safely and securely. She believes that U.S national security will be enhanced by better securing the borders and ports and ensuring that nuclear weapons are accounted for and secure and restoring by America’s relationships with other nations. She also believes that veterans and active soliders should be provided with the health care, job opportunities, and other support.

Education
On her campaign website, Halvorson says that additional performance measures, smaller classes, more highly qualified teachers, and fully funded special education programs are needed before reauthorizing No Child Left Behind. She also vows to make college more affordable for all families. Halvorson says she would create higher standards for high school graduation requirements, better testing for elementary and middle school children, and additional funding for early childhood education.

Labor, Economy and Business
Halvorson says that U.S budget priorities must include "affordable health care, quality child care, investments in early childhood education, making college more affordable, and providing for a secure retirement."

Energy and the Environment
Halvorson says she supports higher environmental standards and utilizing clean and renewable sources of energy.

Taxes
Halvorson has proposed the Middle Class Tax Relief Package which includes allowing homeowners who do not itemize their tax returns to deduct their property taxes from their federal income taxes, doubling the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit (DCTC) for middle class families that make up to $100,000, making the marriage penalty relief that equalizes the standard deduction for married couples and singles and extends the 15% bracket for married couples permanent, making the per-child tax credit level at $1,000 permanent and fixing the Alternative Minimum Tax.

Second Amendment
Halvorson believes that Second Amendment protects the individual right to keep and bear arms. She has also gotten three A+ ratings from the National Rifle Association.

Social Security
Halvorson says on her campaign website that she will support and protect our Social Security system. She opposes privatization and will not support any proposal that weakens benefits guaranteed by Social Security, means testing for Social Security or that raises the retirement age.

2008 elections
On February 5, 2008, Halvorson won the Democratic nomination to challenge for Rep. Jerry Weller's (R-Ill.) vacant seat by running unopposed in the Democratic primary. She went on to defeat Republican nominee Marty Ozinga in the November 2008 general election.

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Committees

 * House Committee on Agriculture

Related SourceWatch articles

 * 2008 U.S. congressional elections
 * 2008 U.S. congressional election dates
 * Portal:Illinois and the U.S. Congress

External resources

 * 2008 Race Tracker page on Illinois's 11th Congressional District
 * Official Debbie Halvorson campaign website