Barack Obama

Obama finds job 'exhilarating'

Saturday, June 25, 2005

PEORIA JOURNAL STAR
BY CARRIE KEPPLE

But lack of communication and debate are 'frustrating'

NORMAL - Before a standing-room only crowd Friday, U.S. Sen. Barack Obama said he is determined to make positive changes for Illinois in Washington, D.C.

A wave of applause and whistles rolled through the crowd of several hundred, preceding Obama as he walked into the Heartland College Community Commons Building for his 26th town meeting in Illinois since his election last November.

"When in Washington, it's a trend you get comfortable. Then pretty soon you're representing Washington to your voters instead of representing your voters," said the first-term Democrat from Chicago.

"Lift the hood, kick the tires. Make sure I am representing you effectively," he said.

Over the hourlong meeting, about 10 people were called on to ask questions, though many more hands were raised.

Topics included Social Security, drugs, transportation, energy, federal spending and the war in Iraq.

Obama said Washington is exhilarating, but he is frustrated with the lack of communication and debate he had hoped to find there.

"So far the agenda being talked about in Washington isn't the same as the agenda I've heard about when traveling the state," he said. "But I will not stop until we actually get some of the problems solved that you have talked to me about."

Obama spent time discussing Social Security.

He said the problem is the nation's aging population. Over time, there will be more seniors per worker. Projections indicate that by either 2042 or 2052, beneficiaries would get only 75 percent of what's promised them, he said.

Obama was critical of President Bush's proposal to partially privatize Social Security and said solutions are to either take more money in through taxes or reduce the amount of money going out of the Social Security.

Obama said he is in favor of drug courts and a tough justice system but, "We are imprisoning nonviolent, first-time offenders at a rate that is bankrupting our state" and taking money from other areas like our schools.

Obama said he has been working on a highway bill to get more money for roads and bridges in Illinois.

"We've got to make sure we are putting more money into transportation," he said.

He also said he supports the use of ethanol as a tool for achieving long-term energy independence.

Obama reiterated he was against the war in Iraq from the beginning. Over the past two years the government has spent over $200 billion there, and the country has lost more than 1,700 brave men and women, he said.

Obama said constant deployment overseas is "hollowing out" the military, and "the recruitment problem is worse than is being reported."

He said a report this week showed that the veteran medical care system providing care to injured soldiers is $1 billion short in funding.