Kirk, Walsh, Manzullo talk spending, health care at town-hall meeting

Before three suburban, Republican lawmakers got down to talking budget cuts at a town-hall meeting Saturday in Crystal Lake, two of them mentioned Gabrielle Giffords, the Arizona congresswoman who survived an assassination attempt earlier this month while meeting with constituents in Tucson.

“I think we take several lessons from this,” U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk said. “We should not stop the American tradition of a town-hall meeting and in my service to this state. Gabby Giffords was doing exactly what she should have been doing when she’s talking to the men and women that she works for and we need to continue that.”

8th District U.S. Rep. Joe Walsh said the Tucson shootings made him even more determined to continue organizing community meetings.

“We held a town hall in Barrington last night specifically on what I consider to be my first, very important vote — when I voted to appeal ‘Obamacare,’” the McHenry Republican said.

During his opening statement, 16th District U.S. Rep. Don Manzullo spoke of what he said was the government’s unwelcome influence on determining what foods students can eat at school. He said that authority should rest with individual school boards.

“I’ve had it with those types of people,” Manzullo said. “Pizza is more fattening than apples, that may be the case, but it’s more fun.”

For nearly an hour and a half, the panel, which also included Andrew Biggs of the American Enterprise Institute, took questions from the audience and touched on their own spending views.

Kirk and Manzullo said they would favor more short-term borrowing by Washington only if the government puts several spending reforms in place. Walsh said he does not favor raising the debt ceiling — currently set at $14.3 trillion — “unless there is a serious effort made and agreed to, to make real, real fundamental spending cuts.”

The town hall meeting attracted more than 300 people to McHenry County College. Most appeared to be older than 50 years old, and many expressed frustration over the economy and rate of government spending.

“This country is broke,” said Dianne Hansen, 74, of Huntley. “I’m worried about my children, my grandchildren and my country.”

Some took the lawmakers to task.

Bill Parrot of McHenry asked Kirk to explain why he voted to repeal the “don’t ask don’t tell” policy that banned gays from openly serving in the military.

“I felt we should talk to military leaders before changing military policy,” Kirk said. “Any changes in military policy should not be put forth by eggheads in Washington.”