Congressman Mike Quigley wraps sequestration doom with hope

Predicting that sequestration will occur, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley, Illinois' 5th District, said at the WPB SSA #33 Commission meeting on Feb. 20, "Sequestration will impact you big time. It is a horrible plan, ill conceived and poorly carried out."  He went on to say that, "Once we get passed this, it will depend on how Congress acts. "

"In the 80's social security was saved by a compromise between Ronald Reagan, Tip O'Neill and Dan Rostenkowski. You don't see that now.

"If it [sequestration] is carried out, and I think it will be, there will be a lot of hell to pay. I think it will dramatically alter the economy, dramatically effect things like O'Hare Airport and the Pentagon."

Once beyond..."in the ideal world, it will pivot back to the old way of dealing with the deficit by actually passing a budget. From that we'd appropriate," he explained.

When Quigley arrived in Congress, Mark Kirk, then congressman, told him, "Everything that actually gets done here gets done in the middle. Regardless of how you feel about things, you get driven toward the middle, particularly on financial issues."

A member of the Transportation Committee, Quigley explained that spending infrastructure dollars is necessary and important for the health of the country and that such expenditures are what puts people into jobs. More jobs, a better economy.

Supporting that fact, he cited the Recovery Act. He explained that while infrastructure expenditures were only 6% of the budget, they produced 67% of the jobs.

A new member of the Appropriations Committee, he joked that now he is a more popular person. He carries on a 120-year tradition of an Illinois Congressman sitting on that committee. Looking forward, he plans to bring more Federal dollars to Illinois.

Common sense gun control is also an important topic for Quigley. "In four years, with all the school violence, Congress has not had one hearing on the topic."  He then went on to point out the sense of gun registration, background checks and making weapons such as the Bushmaster guns, as used in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings, illegal.

He has proposed a Tracking Bill which would keep a history of a weapon. When asked why the National Rifle Association (NRA) has the culture it does, he said, "Two-thirds of NRA members believe in background checks. But, the NRA preys on its members worst fears…that the President is planning to get their guns.

"That is, of course, not possible. There is the 2nd Amendment."

Further complicating the issue of gun control are the legislators. Many are in fear of being run out of office by the far right, if their voting record shows opposition to the NRA.

A true believer in conservation, Quigley champions environmental protection, equal rights and ethical, open government.

Quigley's new redistricted 5th U.S. Congressional District area includes approximately three-quarter of a million people from a broad geographic area that houses a diverse population ethnically, culturally and economically.

It stretches from Grand Ave. in West Town to Petersen north of Bowmanville and a strip that connects Hinsdale to north of O'Hare Airport. To zoom in on specific areas go to Tim Nazanin's interactive Google Map.

A Lakeview resident, Quigley began his career as an aide for former 44th Ward Alderman Bernie Hansen. Prior to being elected 5th District Congressman in April 2009, he served as Cook County's 10 District Commissioner.

A lawyer, a degree he earned at Loyola University School of Law, he also holds a master's degree in public policy from the University of Chicago which he achieved after graduating from Roosevelt University. His days as an adjunct professor, lecturing on politics, the environment and local government are no doubt what makes his presentations very informative, as they were on Tuesday evening.