U.S. Reps. Bob Dold (R-IL) and John Shimkus (R-IL) discussed factors contributing to voter temperament on Thursday during a Ripon Society meeting.
Dold, a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee who was elected to Congress for the second time in 2014, said that the American people are upset.
“They feel that they’re falling behind,” Dold said. “They’re sitting at their kitchen tables and they’re taking a look at their bills and they’re making decisions about what to do and what to cut back on. Real world wages are the same as they were eight years ago. And yet the cost of food, the cost of higher education, the cost of health care, the uncertainty about retirement – people are saying ‘wait a second.’ For the first time ever in their lifetime, they’re actually concerned that their children have fewer opportunities than they had. So, this whole idea of the American dream, this whole idea of the American compact — that we leave the country stronger for the next generation — for the first time, it is potentially out of reach. But I believe that our best days are ahead.”
Dold, a former businessman, described his legislative priorities as economic growth and job creation.
“In 2015, we did 550 events in our district, 721 cases of individuals who called into the office with a problem and 26,000 constituent letters,” Dold said. “There’s no doubt this is going to be a wild election. But it’s going to largely be about constituent service and making sure that we’re listening to our constituents. It’s going to be about what have you been able to do and what are you doing to break the gridlock. People want results.”
Shimkus, who won a Republican primary for his House seat on March 15, said that his victory reinforced his desire to serve his constituents.
“Never take your seat or the chance to serve your constituents for granted,” Shimkus said. “Always work hard and always be prepared, because we live in a very interesting time. I’ve been in election cycles for more than 20 years. And when you get an opponent who is somewhat credible, you have to check and see if you’ve got the fire in the belly to continue to serve. I checked, and there is still a flame there.”
Shimkus, the chairman of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy, discussed how media and social media have shaped the political landscape.
“There was a time in our party when we liked workhorses, not show horses,” Shimkus said. “Today, it’s all about the show horses. I think it’s because of the media now, and social media and the pundits who scream and holler. They aren’t really involved in the hard work of moving public policy forward.”