This is part two of a five-part series in which the Northern Star interviews Congressman Randy Hultgren, who took office this January.

NORTHERN STAR: How do you think your previous background as a state senator and an office manager and scheduler for former Congressman Dennis Hastert has helped you when stepping into the 14th District?

RANDY HULTGREN: I think already having that commitment on a much smaller scale of making my number one priority serving my constituents so I think that helped having gone through that. Also just having reasonable expectations that as a new member of Congress, I know I could have an impact, but it has to be strategic, it has to be that you can’t change the world overnight, so it’s step-by-step, and I think I’ve realized that from my experiences back in Springfield.

NS: The new health care bill has been heavily debated over the past year. You voted to repeal the health care bill. What would you say to those students who graduate and may not find work right away and reach an age when they are no longer covered by their parents’ health insurance?

RH: While I was in Illinois, that was one of the things we did do- to extend it- so we already have that coverage here in Illinois to extend coverage to people, I think it’s up to 26, so we already do that here in Illinois, but that would be extended across the nation. I think there’s several things from that bill that we can agree in a bipartisan way that it’s the right thing to do and the best thing to do. And make sure that across the country that if people want to stay on their parents insurance policies until they are able to find work that they are able to do that. I think that’s something we can pass, but overall the majority of people in my district was very frustrated with the health care bill, just seeing that we have real problems with health care.