Kirk, Walsh hold town hall meeting
By Tina Johansson Special to The News-Sun April 23, 2011 9:28PM
U.S. Rep. Joe Walsh (right) and Sen. Mark Kirk answer questions during a town hall meeting Saturday at Christian Faith Fellowship Church, Zion. | Suzanne Tennant~For Sun-Times Media
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Updated: June 24, 2011 12:15AM
ZION — A town hall meeting that brought a U.S. senator and a congressman to Zion was called “historic” by Mayor Lane Harrison Saturday at Christian Faith Fellowship Church.
Before introducing Sen. Mark Kirk and 8th District Congressman Joe Walsh, Harrison said he was hopeful the men would hear what is on the people’s hearts and bring the messages back to Washington.
Hundreds attended the spirited discussion on issues including employment, the federal deficit, immigration, Social Security and education.
Walsh, a tea party activist who defeated Democrat Melissa Bean in the general election, did not stay behind the podium.
“There’s nothing subtle about me,” he said. “I want to hit both parties over the head. They’re spending our grandchildren’s future and they’re not even giving it a thought.”
Kirk, a commander in the Navy Reserve, explained after World War II, the country was able to pay off its debts within a short period of time. He said the U.S. cannot keep mortgaging its future by borrowing, especially when it can’t pay back. “If I had $1 trillion, would I want to lend to the United States? No!”
One resident asked about job creation. Kirk explained the United States needs to prioritize infrastructure, including aviation, railways and bridges. He also pointed out the financial woes of Illinois is driving out business by having one of the highest corporate taxes in the country.
Among other issues, Walsh said, “We have to reform Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, or they will not be there for the next generation.”
He and Kirk agreed that smaller government is needed, and they spoke against Presiddent Obama’s health-care reform. They also said economic stimulus spending failed to work and added to the federal deficit.
Round Lake Beach resident Chris Kucia addressed them with her concerns about big-money salaries and pensions being paid to school officials in her district. She added that she has been ridiculed for questioning this at a recent school board meeting.
Walsh said he was glad to see the issues of high salaries and pensions surfacing, and encouraged voters to continue to ask questions.
Kirk added that he believes schools should remain under local control.
One woman received rousing applause when she raised the issue of offshore drilling and downplayed wind turbines.
“Wind turbines don’t run cars,” she said. “We need oil! We need to drill now!”
Another person asked Kirk and Walsh what they felt about illegal immigration.
“Let me say we are the most compassionate country in the world. It should not be mean-spirited to say we need to secure our borders. (Illegal immigration) is a burden on our schools, healthcare and welfare systems,” Walsh said.
Kirk suggested a way to help would be for everyone to have Social Security cards upgraded, making them similar to what military members have — with a photo, a magnetic strip and a bar code.
In response to a question about the nuclear reactors in Zion, Kirk said he wants to see that Zion becomes nuclear-free by eventually moving the spent fuel rods out of state.
The men said they were open to having more town hall meetings.
“I work for you. You hired me,” said Walsh. He also predicated “a titanic clash of ideas” in the 2012 presidential election.
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