Joe Walsh in The Chicago Tribune

On Education: Eliminate teacher tenure & favor teacher accountability

A: I favor accountability for teachers. I favor eliminating teacher tenure and implementing performance pay for teachers. For too long, teachers' unions have managed to get higher pay for teachers, completely divorced from their performance. Our schools should work for our children, not the unions.

On Energy & Oil: Low-cost energy sources is vital to our economy

A: The availability of low-cost energy sources is vital to our economy. Higher energy costs directly harm small businesses and also reduce the number of good paying jobs. US energy policy must be "all of the above," we cannot afford to turn our back on energy sources that are reliable, abundant and cost-effective. We can reduce our dependence on foreign oil by expanding domestic oil and gas exploration, expanding production of clean coal, looking to affordable sources of renewable energy and building more nuclear power plants.

Q: Should the US halt or expand offshore drilling?

A: America should not halt offshore drilling but we should look at ways to drill for more oil and gas closer to shore and on land.

Q: Should the US subsidize the production of ethanol for fuel?

A: We can reduce our dependence on foreign oil by reducing tariffs on foreign ethanol, including sugar-based ethanol from countries like Brazil.

On Social Security: Gradually raising the retirement age beyond 67

A: I would not raise the Social Security payroll tax on employers or employees. However, I would support gradually raising the retirement age beyond 67. With life expectancy continuing to increase, we have to ensure that entitlement programs are updated to reflect current realities of life expectancy.

On Welfare & Poverty: Abolish Fannie Mae; too much focus on home ownership

A: Yes, our tax policies and other policies are focused too much on increasing the rate of home ownership. Home ownership is a laudable financial goal for families, but we have pursued it as a public policy objective, often overlooking that many families do not have the means to purchase expensive homes. I am opposed to capping the unlimited tax deduction for home mortgage. That tax deduction helps our construction businesses. I would abolish Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

On Health Care: Opposed to government sponsored health care system

A. I am opposed to a government sponsored health care system. We need only look to the health care systems in Canada or Great Britain to see evidence of this. I support Republican proposals such as allowing insurance companies to compete across state lines, tort reform, and Medical Savings Accounts to reduce costs. Allowing competition across state lines and eliminating these costly mandates will reduce costs for most people.

On Homeland Security: Keep prisoners at Guantanamo; try them in military tribunals

A. Guantanamo Bay should not be closed and the prisoners there should not be transferred to the United States and specifically not to the state of Illinois. The individuals being held there are enemy combatants and should be tried in military tribunals, not civilian courts.

On Homeland Security: All provisions of the Patriot Act should be renewed

A. All provisions of the Patriot Act due to expire at the end of the year should be renewed, including all wiretapping and provisions allowin subpoenas of all personal, medical and financial records without informing the person being investigated. I do not believe Congress should place any restrictions on the use of the Patriot Act and interfere with the President's execution of the war.

On Social Security: Individuals set aside portion of own income for retirement

A. The President's health care proposals effectively perpetuate the Ponzi scheme-like character that epitomizes both Social Security and Medicare. Ultimately, the answer will require some mechanism for individuals to set aside a portion of their own income for their own retirement and health care. Only when individuals have some responsibility for their own well-being will we be able to get a handle on skyrocketing costs.

On Tax Reform: Reduced tax rates will increase economic activity

A. My prescription for bringing down the deficit, reducing the debt, and ultimately returning to a balanced budget is a combination of tax cuts and spending reductions. Government is too big and we can't afford the government we have now. Reduced tax rates across the board will increase economic activity and bolster government revenues. This has been demonstrated over and over from Kennedy, to Reagan, to Bush.

On War & Peace: Provide the troops needed in Afghanistan, like Iraqi surge

A. In Iraq, Pres. Bush implemented a "surge" strategy that proved to be wildly successful. The same sort of strategy is being requested for the effort in Afghanistan and we are currently awaiting the President's decision. I believe that the commanders in the field are in the best position to formulate and execute this strategy and I hope that Pres. Obama offers General McChrystal the troops he needs. I would vote to fund such a request.