Your Ward Room Blogger was not happy that his congresswoman, Rep. Jan Schakowsky, voted against the debt ceiling package. I was even less happy that she’d contributed to the partisan hyperbole in Washington by accusing Tea Partiers of “fragging” the Republican leadership. I’ve never spoken out at a town hall, but when I read Schakowsky was holding an event at the Skokie Public Library, I planned to attend and give her a piece of my mind.
Turns out Schakowsky wasn’t there. An aide was there, to deal with constituent service problems like veteran’s benefits and Social Security.
Americans are more fed up with Congress than they’ve been in years, but only three Illinois representatives have the guts to come home and face constituents angry about a debt ceiling debate that nearly caused the government to default -- Rep. Danny Davis, Rep. Randy Hultgren and Rep. Joe Walsh. Davis voted to raise the debt ceiling. Hultgren and Walsh voted no. Along with Republican Tim Johnson and Democrats Schakowsky and Jesse Jackson Jr., they were the only members of the Illinois delegation to oppose the compromise.
Since your congressman is probably in hiding, here’s where you can find a congressman willing to take the heat for his vote:
Walsh: 6 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, August 10
Northern Illinois University Town Hall (sponsored by the NIU Student Association) - Carl Sandberg Auditorium, Normal Road and Lucinda Avenue in DeKalb
Davis: 7 p.m. Monday, August 16
North West Town Hall - Amundsen Park Field House, 6200 W. Bloomingdale in Chicago
Hultgren: 6 p.m.-7 p.m. Thursday, August 17
Geneva Public Works Facility, 1801 S. Street in Geneva
The Illinois Review has more detailed schedules for all three congressmen.
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