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Politics & Government

Kinzinger Talks Jobs at Town Hall Meeting

Jobs were the main focus of a town hall meeting in Channahon for Congressman Adam Kinzinger, who represents the Lincoln-Way area in the 11th Congressional District.

"Jobs" was the word on everyone's lips at a town hall meeting hosted by U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger Saturday at Minooka Community High School's South Campus in Channahon.

A dismal unemployment rate and faltering economy were the main topics of conversation, from the protesters outside waving signs to the constituents in the audience looking for answers.

In a PowerPoint presentation, Kinzinger outlined some of the steps he said would lead to job creation in this country: repealing government regulations, eliminating tax loopholes to allow small businesses to compete and encouraging entrepreneurship in this country. He said several times that the government should not be the main force driving employment, however.

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 “The federal government cannot create jobs,” Kinzinger. “We can create an environment for job creation, but we cannot create jobs.”

Constituents asked hard questions about unemployment. An audience member asked if the government couldn’t create jobs, then why weren’t the job creators creating jobs?

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“Talk to job creators and ask why they aren’t creating jobs,” said Kinzinger. He said companies weren’t hiring for the same reason consumers weren’t buying. “It’s the uncertainty.”

“There are no jobs! There is no money!” yelled an audience member. The meeting dissolved in shouting until order was restored.

An audience member asking why taxes weren’t increased on the wealthy drew loud cheers. Kinzinger’s response, that the richest Americans were already paying a lot in taxes, drew raucous boos in return.

A small-business owner from Kankakee told the audience, “I don’t want the government to give me a job, I want the government to let us earn our own way.”

Kinzinger agreed. “I believe my job is to make my job less important in your daily life.”

Several times during the meeting, people tried to shout each other down. Many people seemed angry. Frustration with the economy and the government was echoed by several audience members asking questions. Local police were on hand to keep order. A group of unemployed workers in the back complained loudly about not being able to speak.

“This is crazy. He didn’t hear us at all. They purposely ignored us,” said Yolanda Dickerson of Joliet, in tears after the meeting. Later on, Dickerson was able to speak to Kinzinger one-on-one.

“I want him to put himself in our shoes,” said Monica Morales of Joliet, who says she’s a factory worker who’s been unemployed for more than a year. “He has a good job. I’d like him to do it right and give us good jobs as well.”

After the meeting, Kinzinger met with constituents. When asked about the contentious tone of the meeting, he said, “It’s a good opportunity have a two-way discussion. I enjoyed the conversation.”

Second-grader Abigail Raichart, who attended with her father, Darren, agreed.

“It was pretty cool. I liked how the people who were being quiet were being respectful,” she said.

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