Profile: Bill Huizenga

Name: Bill Huizenga

Office you are Seeking: 2nd Congressional District for the U.S. House of Representatives

Current Profession: Small Business Owner

Age: 43

Where Do you Live: Zeeland

Marital Status and Children: Wife Natalie Huizenga, 5 Children

Questionnaire:

WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO RUN FOR THIS OFFICE (OR FOR RE-ELECTION) ?

I was elected to Congress under the banner of "Stop Spending, Create Jobs, Protect Life." That slogan still defines my role in Congress. At this date, the House of Representatives has passed more than 30 job-creating bills that are languishing in the Senate. I will continue to support bills that roll back excessive red tape, avoid impending tax hikes on both the American people and small businesses, and stop the unsustainable spending.

I have voted for serious budgets proposed by the U.S. House of Representatives. Instead of getting serious about the government's spending addiction, the Senate has refused to pass a budget in four years. We must rein in government spending and I will not kick the can down the road.


WHAT PARTICULAR SKILL SET OR EXPERIENCE WOULD YOU BRING TO THIS OFFICE?

I was born in Zeeland and spent my whole life here in West Michigan. As a small business owner and a former Realtor, I know that it is the private sector that creates jobs. My experiences in the public sector as a District Director, a State Representative and a Congressman have given me the experience to implement real solutions that remove government barriers and help all Americans succeed. Most importantly, I am a husband and a father of five children.

WHAT, IN YOUR OPINION, IS THE PRIMARY CAUSE FOR THE POLITICAL POLARIZATION THAT WE SEE IN WASHINGTON, AND WHAT COULD OR SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT IT?

I believe it is important to work together with Democrats and President Barack Obama as much possible without sacrificing core principles.
People from across the country are elected on different platforms, but all of them are held in check by their constituents. As long as we can work towards reining in federal spending, creating jobs and protecting life, I am more than willing to compromise with Americans of any political persuasion. I strive to maintain friendly relations with my fellow colleagues, and I look forward to many more opportunities to work towards the common good. But, in the end, it is up to the American people to decide the proper role and size of our government. That is what this election is all about.

IF THE DEFICIT IS A MAJOR CONCERN, HOW BEST SHOULD WE DEAL WITH IT AS A NATION, SPENDING CUTS, TAX INCREASES OR BOTH?

With approximately $16 trillion in debt, it is past time to place our country on the path to long-term, sustainable fiscal health. Our children and grandchildren deserve better than to inherit stifling, unsustainable debt.

This means that the Congress must cut spending, restore accountability, reform entitlement programs and continue to pursue a balanced budget amendment.  In the process, Congress must restore public trust in the fiscal health of the federal government. Our government will come against the next debt ceiling at $16.394 trillion, which may or may not happen this year. Tying the debt limit increase to common-sense spending reforms is a necessary first step to solving the nation's fiscal imbalance. And any measure to increase the federal debt limit must be accompanied by common-sense policies to immediately cut spending, cap future spending, reform the nation's entitlement programs, and balance the federal budget.

WHAT IS THE BIGGEST ISSUE FACING MICHIGAN THAT YOU BELIEVE YOU COULD POSITIVELY IMPACT BY HOLDING THE FEDERAL OFFICE THAT YOU ARE SEEKING?

Clearly, the top economic issue for Michigan, as well as much of our country is job creation. I am working to address tax hikes, overregulation and excessive government spending, all of which crowd-out real private sector growth. This is a broad, but effective, approach to unleashing our economy and getting Americans back to work.

There are also simple things that Congress can do right now, actions that will have an immediate effect. I introduced H.R. 3634, a bipartisan bill that would reform Federal Prison Industries (FPI). FPI, a government-owned corporation, currently wins no-bid contracts for federal prisoners, taking away jobs from everyone furniture to apparel manufacturers. FPI even wins the contracts when their costs are higher than the private sector. West Michigan needs jobs, and the federal government should not stand in the way of our hard-working men and women.