By Jessica Cilella Democratic U.S. Rep. Bill Foster is questioning how strongly his challenger, Republican Darlene Senger, feels about gun control. During a televised debate, Senger, of Naperville, said she is "already on the record" supporting universal background checks across the country when asked if she would favor any new gun restrictions. "The gun bill that we crafted in Springfield included a lot of good things in making sure you have background checks, you weren't arrested on charges of addiction, alcohol," she said during "Chicago Tonight's" 11th Congressional District candidate forum last week on WTTW. "There's a lot of things in there I'd like to see implemented in Washington." Senger was a co-sponsor of a statewide concealed carry bill and last year voted to override Gov. Pat Quinn's rewrite of the concealed carry law. As for assault weapons, Senger said there are technicalities in describing what an assault weapon is, but she favors getting "the most dangerous weapons out of individual's hands." But Foster, also of Naperville, said Senger has an A rating from the National Rifle Association, which he believes a candidate cannot receive "with the sort of things that my opponent just presented." According to the NRA website, an A rating is given to "solidly pro-gun" candidates who have supported NRA positions on key votes in elective office or candidates with a demonstrated record of support on Second Amendment issues. Foster received a D rating from the NRA. The grade is given to "anti-gun" candidates who support restrictive gun control legislation and oppose pro-gun reforms. Prevention of gun violence, Foster said, is one of the major issues in the 11th District campaign. He said he would approve a ban on assault weapons without hesitation. "I support common-sense measures like universal background checks to prevent guns from falling into the hands of criminals and the dangerously mentally ill," he said. Aside from gun laws, Senger said she would like to see more national security policies in place that are "on the offense" instead of being a reaction to certain issues that develop across the globe. "We've got to keep on the offense here and it's troubling to see the current administration's policies putting us at risk," she said. During a Daily Herald endorsement interview, however, Senger said she supports the strategy that is being implemented in regard to the Islamic State. She said she would have voted for President Barack Obama's plan to arm and train rebels in Syria to fight the Islamic State. "I'm glad to see the policies and approaches that we are taking right now and I hope we continue with this mindful sort of process and consideration in regard to protecting our citizens and our allies," she said in the endorsement interview. During the "Chicago Tonight" appearance, Foster said he believes there is "a serious threat from radical Islam" that needs to be addressed. "We have to address the root causes of it and we also have to act very strongly, with appropriate military force, when they come to a place like Syria, like Iraq, to actually try to capture and hold territory," he said. In his Daily Herald endorsement interview, Foster said he supports Obama's approach of trying to organize a predominantly Sunni Muslim coalition. "We cannot do nothing," he said. "On the other hand, I have been a strong opponent of our involvement in the war in Iraq for a long time. I do not believe that American boots on the ground are an appropriate solution." The 11th District covers parts of Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall and Will counties, including Aurora, Naperville, Bolingbrook, Burr Ridge and Joliet. The election is Nov. 4. http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20141028/news/141028379/

By Jessica Cilella With election season heating up, the two candidates for the U.S. 11th Congressional District seat have grown accustomed to debating popular topics such as immigration, health care and changes to the tax code. During a forum at Congregation Beth Shalom in Naperville Wednesday, however, Democratic U.S. Rep. Bill Foster and his challenger, Republican State Rep. Darlene Senger, had a chance to offer their viewpoints on some lesser discussed items, such as international relations and environmental issues. The more than 50 people who attended had a chance to write down questions for the candidates. In response to a question about Israel, Foster said he's always been a strong backer of the country and believes the U.S. plays a role in making negotiations happen. "I believe in the two-state solution as the fundamental endpoint that we should all aim for, but it has to be something that, based on mutual respect (and) mutual acknowledgment, both states have a right to exist," he said. He also addressed the issue of safety surrounding hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, to release natural gas from shale rock. "I think in most places, fracking can be very safe," he said. "I think that it will depend a great deal on the geological conditions that you're fracking." Foster also said he felt the oil industry has not been destroyed by President Barack Obama, adding that the number of active oil rigs has increased sixfold onshore and offshore in recent years. Senger said she is very concerned about forming a nuclear compromise with Iran by the Nov. 24, unless it is "an absolutely good, guaranteed agreement." She said she doesn't think the Iranians are going to hold their word and one of the number one priorities for the U.S. should be to "keep ourselves and our allies safe." "We've got to be offensive on Homeland Security," she said. In response to a question about global warming, she said there definitely is a problem. She added, however, that she doesn't think it's fair that U.S. companies like Caterpillar are forced to make expensive changes to their systems to meet environmental standards when companies in other countries, like China, don't have such strict regulations. "If we're going to solve the problem, let's solve it in a way where we don't hurt our citizens and hurt our jobs," she said. Senger added that she thinks the U.S. is on the verge of an "energy renaissance" and hopes the country can capitalize on new energy opportunities, such as natural gas. She said she supports the expansion of the Keystone Pipeline, which runs from Alberta, Canada, to refineries in the United States. Foster and Senger are both residents of Naperville. The 11th District covers parts of Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall and Will counties, including Aurora, Naperville, Bolingbrook, Burr Ridge and Joliet. http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20141022/news/141029290/

Congressman Bill Foster used thousands of taxpayer dollars to deliver a mailing to his constituents that is a complete misrepresentation. Foster described how unfair it is that some millionaires pay lower tax rates than middle class families. What Congressman Foster failed to disclose was that as one of the 50 wealthiest members of a Congress and a multimillionaire, he paid no taxes in 2011 and when he did pay taxes, he paid a lower rate than most middle class families. Foster has routinely supported higher taxes on Illinois citizens while refusing to pay his own. It is quite literally the height of hypocrisy. Foster's taxpayer-paid mailing blares: "When millionaires can pay a lower tax rate than middle class families, it's bad for our economy, and it's just plain wrong." Darlene Senger, a single mom and Republican candidate for Congress, said Foster's misrepresentations are insulting and his use of taxpayer dollars to deceive his own constituents is beyond the pale. "For one year, Bill Foster paid no income taxes and when he did, even as a multimillionaire, he paid less than middle class Illinois families. And now, he is using taxpayer dollars to denounce the same practice he engaged in without disclosing the facts to his constituents," said Senger. "The simple truth is Bill Foster is being deeply disingenuous and the voters of the 11th Congressional District deserve better than a taxpayer-funded mail piece littered with misrepresentations." Senger is calling on Bill Foster to explain to voters in the 11th Congressional District why he deliberately misled them. As a State Representative, Darlene Senger has earned accolades for her work to hold the line on taxes and promote job creation in Illinois. Recently, the Illinois Chamber of Commerce awarded Darlene with their Champion of Free Enterprise Award for her legislative work to encourage job creation and economic expansion in Illinois, and the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) honored Senger with their Guardian of Small Business Award for her efforts to help small businesses in Illinois expand and succeed. Darlene Senger is the Republican candidate for the Illinois 11th Congressional District. Senger has lived in Naperville for 20 years and before that resided in Clarendon Hills. Darlene is a graduate of Purdue University and received her MBA from DePaul University, having worked her way through school. Darlene's children, Eric and Michelle are graduates of Waubonsie Valley High School and the University of Illinois.