Mark Pocan
Age: 48
City of residence: Madison, WI
Family: Married to Philip Frank
Education: Bachelor of arts - journalism
Occupation: small business owner
Website: www.pocanforcongress.com
Previous elected positions held: Dane County Board of Supervisors, 1991-1996 (3 terms); Wisconsin State Assembly - District 78, 1999-2013 (7 terms)
What is the top issue facing this district and how would you work to resolve it?
The most critical issue facing the Second District as well as our country is the need to continue to rebuild our economy. Not only will I support President Obama's jobs legislation, but I will make efforts to close corporate loopholes and cut wasteful spending to resolve our mounting debt. Also, I will follow Tammy Baldwin in supporting the Buffett Rule - that will ensure millionaires and billionaires pay the same taxes as middle-class Americans.
In the Assembly, I worked across the aisle to pass many common-sense measures, including passing the American Jobs Act, which mandated that State tax revenue not be spent on contracts for services abroad. Also, I ended the Las Vegas tax loophole ensuring that Wisconsin companies paid Wisconsin taxes instead of avoiding contributing to the infrastructure, schools, and society where they do business. Much of my work occurred when my party served in the minority, proving I can fight for my values yet still work across the aisle to get the job done. In Congress, I will work to bring jobs back to the U.S. and fight for Wisconsin's working families.
What are other key issues facing the district, and how would you work to resolve them?
As I travel across each county of the Second District I find that people continue to face issues with healthcare. The Affordable Care Act was a critical first step towards covering all Americans with affordable, quality healthcare. It provides critical improvements including ending barriers to those with pre-existing conditions, guaranteeing young adults have coverage, ending the lifetime caps on insurance benefits, and providing small businesses with tax credits. Yet, I believe we must cover every American - that is the only way to hold costs down and ensure that we can compete globally. In Wisconsin, I helped provide health care to 98 percent of the population as well as every child.
Also, I believe we must honor our seniors with the programs they have paid into for their entire lives - and count on for a dignified retirement. Medicare and Social Security must be secured. We should not attempt to "fix" them by giving seniors vouchers that will decline in value over time and cost them more in out-of-pocket expenses. I want to continue to find new effective ways to hold costs down, yet still provide quality care, such as letting the government negotiate with drug companies for prescription drugs. I support efforts to preserve the system we have and not turn our retirement dollars over to risky schemes on Wall Street.
Why are you the best candidate for this office?
I believe my 24 years of experience as the small business owner of a union print shop combined with my 19 years of experience as an elected representative provide a winning combination of practical work experience and legislative expertise that will help me to hit the ground running in Washington. I know what small business owners need to succeed - and I also know that politicians must accomplish results and achieve progress for their constituents. I want to protect Main Street, invest in small businesses and bolster programs like Social Security and Medicare that our seniors have paid into all of their lives. We must keep this promise so they may live out their golden years with dignity.
Age: 48
City of residence: Madison, WI
Family: Married to Philip Frank
Education: Bachelor of arts - journalism
Occupation: small business owner
Website: www.pocanforcongress.com
Previous elected positions held: Dane County Board of Supervisors, 1991-1996 (3 terms); Wisconsin State Assembly - District 78, 1999-2013 (7 terms)
What is the top issue facing this district and how would you work to resolve it?
The most critical issue facing the Second District as well as our country is the need to continue to rebuild our economy. Not only will I support President Obama's jobs legislation, but I will make efforts to close corporate loopholes and cut wasteful spending to resolve our mounting debt. Also, I will follow Tammy Baldwin in supporting the Buffett Rule - that will ensure millionaires and billionaires pay the same taxes as middle-class Americans.
In the Assembly, I worked across the aisle to pass many common-sense measures, including passing the American Jobs Act, which mandated that State tax revenue not be spent on contracts for services abroad. Also, I ended the Las Vegas tax loophole ensuring that Wisconsin companies paid Wisconsin taxes instead of avoiding contributing to the infrastructure, schools, and society where they do business. Much of my work occurred when my party served in the minority, proving I can fight for my values yet still work across the aisle to get the job done. In Congress, I will work to bring jobs back to the U.S. and fight for Wisconsin's working families.
What are other key issues facing the district, and how would you work to resolve them?
As I travel across each county of the Second District I find that people continue to face issues with healthcare. The Affordable Care Act was a critical first step towards covering all Americans with affordable, quality healthcare. It provides critical improvements including ending barriers to those with pre-existing conditions, guaranteeing young adults have coverage, ending the lifetime caps on insurance benefits, and providing small businesses with tax credits. Yet, I believe we must cover every American - that is the only way to hold costs down and ensure that we can compete globally. In Wisconsin, I helped provide health care to 98 percent of the population as well as every child.
Also, I believe we must honor our seniors with the programs they have paid into for their entire lives - and count on for a dignified retirement. Medicare and Social Security must be secured. We should not attempt to "fix" them by giving seniors vouchers that will decline in value over time and cost them more in out-of-pocket expenses. I want to continue to find new effective ways to hold costs down, yet still provide quality care, such as letting the government negotiate with drug companies for prescription drugs. I support efforts to preserve the system we have and not turn our retirement dollars over to risky schemes on Wall Street.
Why are you the best candidate for this office?
I believe my 24 years of experience as the small business owner of a union print shop combined with my 19 years of experience as an elected representative provide a winning combination of practical work experience and legislative expertise that will help me to hit the ground running in Washington. I know what small business owners need to succeed - and I also know that politicians must accomplish results and achieve progress for their constituents. I want to protect Main Street, invest in small businesses and bolster programs like Social Security and Medicare that our seniors have paid into all of their lives. We must keep this promise so they may live out their golden years with dignity.