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Forum one of 12 in 18th District
“It’s not everyday the city of Chillicothe gets a $130,000 check for the fire department,” Mayor Troy Childers Sr. told the crowd that gathered in the garage of Chillicothe Fire Station No. 1.
Neither is it everyday that citizens have a chance to speak to U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock (R-Peoria) face-to-face in their town.
But that is just what happened Wednesday morning. The meeting was one of a dozen of Schock’s “America Speaking Out” town hall meetings.
Not only was the meeting a chance for Schock to speak to his constituents and vice versa, but Chillicothe officials had the opportunity to thank Schock publicly for the federal grant for 25 new air packs for the Chillicothe Fire Department.
After Childers and Myers spoke about the city and the fire department, Schock addressed the crowd of more than 150 people with a short recap of the “challenging time” that he serves the 18th District.
Schock spoke of the original stimulus bill, which he noted that most of the money went to states for their budgets, and less than 8 percent went to infrastructure. He pointed out that while states like Illinois and others are broke, the federal government is in the same boat.
“The only difference is the federal government can print money,” Schock said.
Schock also asked the citizens to think about one fact: “We are more in debt now than the last 43 administrations combined.”
Residents clapped when Schock mentioned his “You Cut” proposal of eliminating the green signs designating work funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Already spent is $20 million on the signs with estimates of $100 million total spent for the signs. The You Cut program allows citizens to vote for their choice of cutting spending of the federal government with the top vote getter going to the House floor for a forced vote. Schock’s proposal was voted down.
Schock also said he is trying to talk with his peers about how government performs its services and the cost of those services.
For example, Schock said it takes longer to build a highway now than 30 years ago, even with technological advances.
“It’s not a matter of whether we can build roads, but we can do it more efficiently,” said Schock.
His forums are one way he can speak with constituents and get their ideas and opinions. He encouraged the crowd to visit the website www.americaspeakingout.com to submit their ideas about cutting spending, fixing regulations and more. Residents then may vote for ideas they like.
Forum one of 12 in 18th District
“It’s not everyday the city of Chillicothe gets a $130,000 check for the fire department,” Mayor Troy Childers Sr. told the crowd that gathered in the garage of Chillicothe Fire Station No. 1.
Neither is it everyday that citizens have a chance to speak to U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock (R-Peoria) face-to-face in their town.
But that is just what happened Wednesday morning. The meeting was one of a dozen of Schock’s “America Speaking Out” town hall meetings.
Not only was the meeting a chance for Schock to speak to his constituents and vice versa, but Chillicothe officials had the opportunity to thank Schock publicly for the federal grant for 25 new air packs for the Chillicothe Fire Department.
After Childers and Myers spoke about the city and the fire department, Schock addressed the crowd of more than 150 people with a short recap of the “challenging time” that he serves the 18th District.
Schock spoke of the original stimulus bill, which he noted that most of the money went to states for their budgets, and less than 8 percent went to infrastructure. He pointed out that while states like Illinois and others are broke, the federal government is in the same boat.
“The only difference is the federal government can print money,” Schock said.
Schock also asked the citizens to think about one fact: “We are more in debt now than the last 43 administrations combined.”
Residents clapped when Schock mentioned his “You Cut” proposal of eliminating the green signs designating work funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Already spent is $20 million on the signs with estimates of $100 million total spent for the signs. The You Cut program allows citizens to vote for their choice of cutting spending of the federal government with the top vote getter going to the House floor for a forced vote. Schock’s proposal was voted down.
Schock also said he is trying to talk with his peers about how government performs its services and the cost of those services.
For example, Schock said it takes longer to build a highway now than 30 years ago, even with technological advances.
“It’s not a matter of whether we can build roads, but we can do it more efficiently,” said Schock.
His forums are one way he can speak with constituents and get their ideas and opinions. He encouraged the crowd to visit the website www.americaspeakingout.com to submit their ideas about cutting spending, fixing regulations and more. Residents then may vote for ideas they like.
Schock then fielded about 10 residents’ questions, running the gamut from specific House bills to repealing bills such as universal health care, as well as issues of term limits, illegal aliens, loss of manufacturing jobs, local environmental issues, housing, using stimulus funds in the district, school funding and writing bills so that average citizens can understand them.
In answering their questions, Schock said he was trying to not talk political that morning.
IVC District 321 Superintendent Dr. Nick Polyak expressed his concern after President Barack Obama signed a bill Aug. 10 for more money to be spent on jobs, including those in education.
Polyak told Schock about how in his first year in Chillicothe, he faced cutbacks of personnel in the district — in total the school board approved more than $1 million of cuts from an $18 million budget. And while he was glad to be getting more money for the district, he said he worried about the future.
Schock did the math of the cuts and looked at Polyak again.
“You want to run for the legislature?” Schock asked him. “How come the state of Illinois can’t do that?”
An audience member answered from his seat, “They’re thieves.”
Schock said this topic shows his different worldview – whereas some say government should spend a little more to pump up the economy, he argues that based on the last one and one-half years, that does not happen.
He said two things should be done: rein-in spending and create certainty in businesses.
About one-third of those asking questions identified themselves as being with the Chillicothe 9/12 Project, which is a local chapter of a national group that has as its mission to be educated about government issues and to stand united like the country was after the Sept. 11 attacks.
Schock also encouraged residents by saying that his office can help residents with navigating issues involving the federal government, such as passports, Internal Revenue Service, adoption and more.
Myers attested to the work of Schock’s office earlier that morning by thanking them for their help in securing World War II medals due to his father, Gail “Mike” Myers. The family presented the overdue medals to Myers during last year’s Christmas dinner. Nate Hurn of Schock’s staff was especially thanked for his efforts.
Before leaving the garage, Schock was given a standing ovation by those in attendance. He also shook hands and listened individually to residents’ ideas.
