Political Quotes

“I represent a pretty diverse district. I represent the south side of Chicago and the south suburbs in Cook and Will Counties, bedroom communities like the town of Morris, where I live, as well as a lot of corn fields and farm towns. Representing such a diverse district, city and suburbs and country, I have learned to listen, and to listen for the common concerns that the people ask their elected representatives to look out for. One clear message that I have heard over the last 4 years that I have had the privilege of serving in this House of Representatives is that the folks back home want us to work together, they want us to get things done, and they want us to come up with real solutions, solutions that meet the challenges that we face. I am pretty proud that we have met that request. When I was first elected in 1994, I was told it would be too difficult to balance the budget, and surely we could not cut taxes, let alone reform welfare or tame the IRS. I am proud to say in the last 4 years we did just that. By working together, by staying focused, by keeping our eye on the ball and working hard, we balanced the budget for the first time in 28 years, we cut taxes for the middle class for the first time in 16 years, we reformed welfare for the first time in a generation, and we tamed the tax collector, reforming the IRS. That is pretty good. Those are real accomplishments, major changes in how Washington works.”