U.S. Senate candidate Raja Krishnamoorthi on Tuesday released a lengthy economic policy blueprint that includes a nationwide free lunch program, expanding the child tax credit and helping first-time homeowners get a refundable tax credit.
Krishnamoorthi’s “Restore the American Dream” plan includes policies for all stages of life — from children to those in retirement. The fundraising leader in the heated race to replace outgoing Sen. Dick Durbin in August unveiled a “Trump accountability plan” for his Senate campaign that includes pushing to restrict ICE agents from wearing masks and introducing constitutional amendments to block self-pardons and a potential presidential term.
U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly and Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton are also vying for the Durbin seat. Kelly in September released an economic policy blueprint aimed at affordability that calls for taxing the ultra rich, raising the minimum wage and expanding Medicare. And Stratton in October released an economic agenda that includes expanding Medicare and bringing Illinois Birth Equity Initiative to the federal level to reduce maternal mortality.
Just as with the bulk of Kelly and Stratton’s plans, the success of many of Krishnamoorthi’s policy positions rely heavily on Democrats being able to clear substantial measures through the Senate.
Krishnamoorthi’s plan includes support for a nationwide free lunch program for children and a repeal of cuts to both SNAP and Medicaid. He also wants to introduce legislation to offer low-interest federal loans through the Small Business Administration to entrepreneurs who open affordable child care facilities that pay their workers living wages. And he wants to expand and enhance the child tax credit.
His plan for seniors includes co-sponsoring a bill to eliminate federal taxes on Social Security benefits and another bill to lift the cap on the annual number of new drugs selected to be subject to negotiation. The change would expand the list and lower costs for seniors.
For those in higher education, Krishnamoorthi wants to propose a bill to double federal investments in career and technical education, expand and enhance PELL grants and push to pass his College Transparency Act, which requires schools to provide accurate reporting on student outcomes like enrollment, completion and post-college earnings.
To help homeowners, Krishnamoorthi’s plan includes proposing legislation to create a refundable tax credit for qualified first-time homeowners for their first five years of ownership — and the congressman suggests it be paid for by dedicating a portion of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s profits. He would also push buildings previously zoned as “commercial” that are now vacant to be re-zoned and converted to be made into housing, and to limit private interests from buying up single family homes.
To combat rising bills, Krishnamoorthi is voicing support for legislation that would create new incentives for homeowners to install solar panels, restore funding to renewable energy projects that Trump has canceled, and expand access to the Weatherization Assistance Program so Illinois residents can weatherize their homes and cut heating bills.
The economic plan also includes support for small businesses and farmers — including giving additional tax and regulatory relief to small business located in underserved areas and introducing a series of low-interest loans to help Illinois farmers affected by Trump’s war on tariffs.