From the Walsh for Congress campaign…
Melissa Bean may have declined Joe Walsh’s invitation, but nearly 200 concerned 8th district residents turned out for Walsh’s health care forum on Thursday evening at American Legion Post 911 in Wauconda.
In contrast to Rep. Bean’s controlled, closed-door, invite-only forums, Walsh’s was open to the public.
“It’s important that all voices are heard,” said Walsh. “I hear from hundreds of residents daily with concerns and questions about the federal takeover of health care and these townhall forums are an important means by which to hear from the folks I am running to represent.”
Walsh was joined by several experts for the discussion: Pediatrician Dr. Arie Friedman of Premiere Pediatrics, Cardiologist Dr. George Christy of Advocate for Christ Medical Center, and Joe Fehsenfeld, President/CEO, Midwest Printed Circuit Services.
“I wanted to make sure residents heard not just from the candidate but from medical providers and local businesspeople,” said Walsh. “Don’t just take my word for the need to fight the Medicare cuts and tax increases in the Obamacare legislation, hear from professionals who are assessing the impacts.”
Walsh and others made the point that the devil is really in the details of the legislation. For example, the cost projections Rep. Bean offers in defense of her vote for the federal takeover are based on 10 years of projected revenue but only 6 years of spending.
“It’s Bernie Madoff accounting,” said Walsh. “At a time when Illinois is struggling under 12% unemployment, we cannot afford to stunt the growth of our job-creating small businesses and that’s exactly what Melissa Bean has done with her support of this new, unfunded entitlement.”
Mr. Fehsenfeld said frankly that the financial burdens of increased payroll taxes and other employer mandates could force him and other small businesses to cut jobs.
Walsh said he would be hosting more forums and he would continue inviting Melissa Bean to participate so that voters understand their very different policy visions on health care, job creation and the range of other issues that directly impact the quality of life 8th district families are able to enjoy.
“I hope residents stay engaged and remember in November that when the time came to choose between her party and her district, Melissa Bean voted to serve the political interests of her party instead of the economic interests of her constituents,” said Walsh. “Voters have a crystal clear choice in this election.”
Joe Walsh is the Republican candidate running against Democrat incumbent Melissa Bean in 2010 for the Illinois 8th Congressional District. Born and raised in North Barrington, a policy advocate, teacher, and business entrepreneur, Joe has spent his adult life advancing limited-government and conservative principles. For more information on Joe Walsh and his campaign visit: www.joewalshforcongress.com