As incumbent U.S. Rep. Bill Foster, D-Naperville, and attorney Qasim Rashid of Naperville compete for the Democratic nomination to represent the 11th District in the U.S. House of Representatives, they are showing subtle distinctions on policy issues.
Both Rashid and Foster want to reduce the cost of living, provide healthcare for more people, attack climate change and cure social media ills, but they demonstrated varied approaches during a virtual League Of Women Voters forum on Feb. 28.
Voters will choose between Foster and Rashid in selecting the Democratic nominee for the 11th Congressional District seat when they cast their ballots in the March 19 primary.
The winner of the Democratic contest will compete in November against the Republican primary winner — Jerry Evans of Warrenville, Kent Mercado of Bartlett or Susan Hathaway-Altman of Geneva — and any independents who file by the June 24 deadline.
Taking a two-pronged approach, Rashid said finding a way to reduce the influence of special-interest groups on elected officials and closing the wealth gap between Americans will help close the, “vast inequality of wealth in our country.”
“That means ensuring multimillionaires and billionaires are paying their fair share in taxes, (and) we are lowering taxes on low-income people and small businesses,” he said.
Talking about legislation he supported to reduce costs, Foster said continuing efforts like that will improve the lives of Americans. Mandating lower prescription drug costs will be, “transformative to the household budgets of millions of seniors.” He said he wants more.
“Despite the falling inflation, families are still feeling the pain from rapidly rising costs,” he said. “I believe the best way to address this is by raising workers wages, and helping low- and middle-income families afford life’s essentials.”
Though both Foster and Rashid support universal healthcare as a right, they have different approaches to reaching the goal. Foster said he wants to expand the benefits afforded under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) implemented under former President Barack Obama.
“I’ve always believed in universal healthcare and the best pathway is ACA,” Foster said. “It got rid of the scourge of preexisting conditions. The American Rescue Plan (during COVID-19) expanded subsidies. It should be expanded further.”
Rather than build on the ACA, Rashid said he wants to see the federal government adopt a universal healthcare system akin to what is done in Canada and much of Western Europe. The cost would be substantially less than it is now, he said.
“That is an approved model 30-plus developed nations have made,” Rashid said. “What it shows us is a universal healthcare model that prioritizes healthcare, not profits.”
Viewing climate change as an issue demanding economic, social and climate justice, Rashid said “massive” spending is needed. Though he wants to transition to “green energy,” he does not want people long involved in the fossil fuel industry out of work.
“You can’t just go to somebody in the fossil fuel industry and say, ‘Hey, your job is canceled, go figure something else out,’” he said. “We need to have an off-ramp, and we need to make massive federal investments.”
Recognizing climate change as a global crisis, Foster said “wise” government action is mandatory. The carbon footprint in both the United States and the rest of the world must be significantly reduced quickly.
“It’s not going to be cheap, but we have the money to do it,” Foster said. “We have to continue to invest in the cost-lowering technologies that will allow not only the United States, but the rest of the world to have to decarbonize their economy.”
Both Foster and Rashid said controls on social media are important. A nuclear physicist, Foster said he has been exposed to artificial intelligence for many years. He said an understanding of the technology and algorithms involved is essential.
“We have to start with understanding the underlying technology, and understanding the blinding data that our children are being damaged badly by their excessive exposure to cell phones and social media,” Foster said.
A personal victim of threats on social media, Rashid said he knows what it is like to be a victim. He said there must be a balance between speech and keeping people safe.
“We need to ensure that our laws are reflective of not only ensuring free speech and free access, but not letting that line cross into incitement to violence, terrorism, to dehumanization that’s happening all too often,” Rashid said.
The 11th District includes a portion of northwest Lake County including Volo and Wauconda, as well as parts of McHenry, DuPage, Boone, Cook, Will, DeKalb and Kane counties.
Early voting is underway at 18 locations in Lake County, including the Wauconda Township office. Hours there are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays through March 16.
