JERSEY: Area Democratic committees host meeting with Congresswoman Budzinski

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By Steven Spencer

The local Democratic committees of Jersey, Calhoun, Greene and Macoupin counties hosted a town hall meeting in Jerseyville last Saturday, June 28, with Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski.

Congresswoman Budzinski opened the event by speaking to residents about a variety of issues including Medicaid, veterans assistance, fiscal responsibility, and Iran before addressing questions from the crowd regarding farming loans, young voters and engaging with local government.

Budzinski spoke to a full room at the Jersey County Governmental building saying she shared the fears and anxiety that she believes a lot of people have while commenting on Iran and the Republican tax package.

“There is so much anxiety and fear right now for our country for all that is happening both in the United States and outside of the United States,” she said. “We saw what happened with the President’s strike against Iran, so this is a very scary time. I just want to say I share that fear with you every single day when I go to work in Washington.”

Budzinski said that she fights every day for the residents of southern Illinois who will be impacted by tax increases and access to healthcare.

“This administration has been very effective,” she said. “The shock and awe of how they have attacked our federal workforce, attacked our constitution, attacked some of our most basic fundamental freedoms.”

“I have been constantly trying to advocate and tell the story of impact of what this will mean for the constituents that I represent. Whether it’s doing this on social media, whether it’s showing up to protests and speaking out, whether it’s signing letters and signing on to legislation, I can guarantee you I have done every single one of those things. But the thing that is going to, if this passes, stop this hemorrhaging in this country, is this next election,“ she said.

Budzinksi also spoke on birthright citizenship, federal workforce cuts and why she voted to table a motion for impeachment.

“I think timing is incredibly important, and why I didn’t support moving forward with that impeachment process. One, they would absolutely love to talk about that rather than talk about what they’re doing to Medicaid and Snap right now,” she said. “We need to be focused. Message focused on what is happening to our communities in this Republican tax package. We will be struggling with this for each of the rest of our lives, how to rebuild our communities if this bill passes. I don’t want to divert the attention away from that. The second, we are not in the majority in the House of Representatives, so it would fail.”

The first question from the crowd asked about loan guarantees for farmers, which she said she believes are still on hold.

“I really believe we should be having new conversations in our rural communities about what this administration is doing,” Budzinksi said. “They are walking back commitments on loans, with no clear end in sight. They have eliminated programs at the USDA like the local food purchasing program which was successful in making sure rural communities got access to good local foods. These loans are still, I think they are still on hold.”

Budzinksi said that in addition to loans being walked back, tariffs are putting pressure on farmers.

“The reality of these tariffs is that it’s closing off markets for our farmers. Our farmers want desperately to sell their corn and soybeans to other countries. China was our number one purchaser of corn. Brazil is our number one competitor when it comes to soybeans. When you cut off these markets, it’s going to make it more expensive for other countries to purchase our corn and soybean,” she said.

One question asked how to get young liberal voters to feel more included in conservative leading areas.

“I think it’s also meeting them where they are. If it’s organizing at SIUE, or going to Lewis and Clark, or it’s going to SWIC, it’s making sure that we’re in those communities and trying to connect,” she said. “When you talk about what is happening today, for young people, they are going to be paying the cost for all of this for the rest of their lives. So if any has more at stake, the most at stake, it is young people in this country.”

Another question asked how democratic voters can be motivated to go out and vote when having no candidates for senate or representative.

Budzinski said she believes it all starts locally, holding those elected accountable, and encouraged people to not be afraid to run themselves.

“It’s about thinking about you, and you are interested in running for school board, are you interested in running for county board,” she said.

She mentioned the need for precinct committeemen and encouraged people to get out rather than engage with issues online via social media.

“I think that if more people would get out and touch grass in this country we would be a better place,” she said. “Getting back to old-fashioned door knocking, it’s still the most effective way to have a conversation with your neighbor.”