Walsh speaks bluntly on taxes, health care
Newly elected Congressman Joe Walsh has made it clear he is not going to disappear in the Beltway.
And he backed that up Sunday during a town-hall meeting at the Lake Zurich police headquarters. An estimated crowd of 115 heard blunt talk on such issues as taxes and health care.
On taxes, Walsh spoke forcefully about taking the tax burden off businesses. He said he is in favor not only of cutting spending, but also of growing the economy.
He said he wants to cut the capital gains tax and the dividends tax. He also favors abolishing the estate tax.
“We should cut taxes on businesses and families, so that businesses know when they walk out this building, they know what their tax obligations are going to be for the next five to 10 years,” Walsh said.
He said the biggest reason businesses are not hiring is because they are scared to death, due to their uncertainty about costs.
“Shame on government for providing a climate that has given them that uncertainty,” he said.
Walsh also said he would begin to repeal the health care law.
“There is no more important issue in the world right now for Republicans to deal with than Obamacare,” he said.
He said Congress can do that with hearings that provide real oversight over how the health care program is implemented. It can also be reined in through the budget and appropriations process, he said.
“We should, as much as possible, deny funding to every little piece of Obamacare that we can in the next two years,” he said, “and then hopefully we will put somebody in the White House who understands that we need a different approach.”
He said it is easy to sound like the bad guy, but he reminded the audience that the Republicans in 1994 faced the same problem when they took over Congress.
Stressing that the media will not be friendly to this Congress, he said it is important for Republicans to educate the public.
One woman asked what is his alternative health care plan. She said her husband owns a small business but will not go to a doctor because he is scared to get a diagnosis that will send his premiums skyrocketing.
Walsh, who noted that he turned down the health care and retirement benefits offered congressmen, said, “I think that we should be able to compete across state lines for insurance.”
He also advocates tort reform.
But he also said people should be able to take charge of their own health care through such measures as health savings accounts.
Walsh did engage in a spirited discussion with one constituent, Bob Schlereth of Lake Zurich, who told him, “You cannot talk about reducing the budget without looking at the empire that we have all over the world. We have 785 military bases in 130 different countries.”
Walsh said the defense department, like any other department, needs to look at ways to save money, cut programs and be more efficient. But he said when “our boys and girls” are engaged abroad, “Money isn't a factor.”
Schlereth countered, “How long are they going to be there?”
Walsh responded, “This is not a debate right now. ... When they are engaged abroad, we do whatever we have to do to win those engagements.”
Regarding the issue of airport security, Walsh said he advocates the practice of “smart” law enforcement, with government doing such a good job at intelligence on the front end, so they don't have to grope on the back end.
“Oftentimes, smart law enforcement is profiling,” he said.
When he asked the audience, “Do you want your law enforcement profiling?” most responded with a resounding, “Yes.”
Town-hall meetings
8th Congressional District Rep. Joe Walsh is hosting a series of town-hall meetings in the district this week:
McHenry
Today, 7 to 8:30 p.m.
McHenry West High School
4724 W. Crystal Lake Road
Hoffman Estates
Tuesday, Dec. 14, 7 to 8:30 p.m.
Schaumburg Township Center
1 Illinois Blvd.
Gurnee
Thursday, Dec. 16, 7 to 8:30 p.m.
Gurnee village hall
325 N. O'Plaine Road