Citizens Question Dold on Taxes, Social Security

Anger and frustration emanated from some members of a crowd of more
than 40 citizens who came to a Town Hall meeting to hear Rep. Robert
Dold (R-10th) speak Saturday at the Buffalo Grove Village Hall.

While some contentedly listened to an explanation of the House of
Representatives' efforts the last two weeks to reduce the nation’s
financial deficit, others expressed their displeasure of the perceived
privilege the wealthiest Americans receive from the Internal Revenue
Code.

Eleanore and Bob Rathke of Buffalo Grove are concerned with America’s
growing budget deficit. They came to hear what Dold was going to do
about the proposal passed Friday by the House of Representatives,
235-193. Dold voted for it.

“What [Rep. Paul] Ryan (R-Wis.) did was OK,” Eleanore Rathke said of
the budget passed Friday. “We want [Congress] to do what they were
elected to do. They need to know what people want.”

Dold began with a Power Point presentation and explanation of the
federal deficit. He discussed the growing national debt and expressed
urgency to take action.

“The last two weeks have been critical weeks in terms of the direction
of what’s been going on,” Dold said. “It’s really been revolving
around spending. We are heaping a mountain of debt on future
generations right now.”

As Dold was beginning, Jeff Rice of Buffalo Grove interrupted,
demanding to know why defense spending was exempt from the last round
of budget cuts.

“So of the $33 billion you cut, you couldn’t find a dime to cut out of
defense spending,” Rice said. Dold responded that he led an effort to
eliminate an engine from a proposed fighter jet and was willing to
look at reducing the military’s appropriations.

“I think we need to be putting the Department of Defense up there (for
consideration),” Dold said. “I think we need to talk about the
Department of Agriculture. We need to be talking about things I think
the Republican Party has said, ‘there are things we don’t need to
cut.’”

That did not satisfy Rice. “What about the oil subsidies?” he said.
“Why do we give billions of dollars to the people who are charging us
through the tuchus (for gas)?” Dold recognized Rice’s frustration and
gave the group an explanation of subsidies and their purpose.

All manufacturers receive a 3 percent tax break for producing goods in
the United States, according to Dold. Oil companies are considered
manufacturers and receive this benefit along with makers of other
goods.

“We want to shore up manufacturers here,” Dold said. “There is a break
of about 3 percent that is given to manufacturers who produce things
here. Those are (also) considered oil subsidies.” Dold then explained
the budget passed by the House Friday cuts the corporate tax rate
while eliminating the subsidies for oil and agriculture.

With the frustration growing, it was Buffalo Grove Mayor Elliott
Hartstein, a Democrat, who spoke of the need for the parties to work
together. He asked Dold more than once to give specific answers to
questions and make his position known.

“What are some of the things you think we could or should do and what
do you think about those things?” Hartstein asked. “How and what are
your views, so the people in this room understand what your views
are.”

Before he could reply, Dold received a barrage of questions about
increasing the contribution for Social Security and increasing the age
before benefits are paid. John Riley of Arlington Heights specifically
asked if the congressman would raise the cut-off from $106,000 to
$200,000.

“I think it’s certainly something we would take (a look at) with
raising the age,” Dold said. “(For) those at 55 and above, there
should be no change. Then you go to those at 54 and say, ‘Will you
work for us another month?’ Those at 53, ‘Will you work two months for
us?” he added, describing his ideas for raising the Social Security
age limits.

After the meeting, Dold said he would want to see a specific plan and
calculations from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office before
making a specific commitment on dollar amounts.

When Karen Loos of Prospect Heights had an opportunity to question the
congressman, she shared her personal struggle. Recently laid off, she
must draw money from her retirement savings to meet obligations she
and the crowd agreed were conservative.

 “My IRA is dwindling down and down and down because they tax me 10
percent when I take it out, plus they penalize me another 10 percent
because I’m taking it out early,” Loos said. “I don’t even qualify for
benefits or food stamps because I have an IRA. It’s not fair.”

Dold told the group the same topic was raised at his Town Hall meeting
in Winnetka that morning. He indicated it was one solution to help
people during these difficult economic times.

“I, frankly, agree with you. Times are tough right now. People are
using it not only for health care, they’re using it for housing,” Dold
said. “This seems to be an emergency-type situation. It makes a lot of
sense allowing people to get by. This is something the government can
do.”

After the meeting, Hartenstein said he was pleased with the dialogue.
He said he understands the need for Democrats and Republicans to work
together, and explained that is why he pushed Dold to give specific
positions and hear the views of the people in the room.

“In the end, I wanted to prompt him to start to be open to other
proposals,” Hartenstein said. “She’s (Loos) a perfect example. People
are out of work and need jobs,” he added, echoing Dold’s call for
economic stimulus and job creation.