As Republican members of the U.S. House of Representatives have been told by their leadership not to conduct in-person town halls, the four Democrats who represent parts of Lake County say they plan to continue holding live gatherings to communicate with constituents, along with virtual meetings with residents of their districts.
“Chaos” is a word used frequently to describe the atmosphere sweeping the country as Reps. Brad Schneider, D-Highland Park, Mike Quigley, D-Chicago, Jan Schakowsky, D-Evanston, and Bill Foster, D-Naperville, work with colleagues and reach out to constituents.
“Over the past eight weeks, President (Donald) Trump has unleashed a torrent of chaos on our nation – chaos that is already placing heavy costs on the people that live in my district,” Schneider said in an email.
“We are living in unprecedented times,” added Schakowsky in an email. “The chaos, confusion, and fear caused by the Trump administration is having real impacts.”
Foster, Quigley, Schakowsky and Schneider plan to spend time with their constituents in Lake County and elsewhere over the next week after voting Tuesday in Washington against the first continuing resolution this fiscal year to fund the government, which was not a bipartisan effort.
Continuing resolutions were approved in September and December with bipartisan support as Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson relied on Democrats to keep the government operating when a significant number of GOP members balked at the legislation. This time, only one member from each party switched.
Quigley said in an email the mood in Washington has changed since Trump took office on Jan. 20. As long as the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) headed by Elon Musk is haphazardly cutting spending and firing people, he said he cannot support legislation that hurts them.
“There is no room for business as usual when the president and his administration are dismantling the federal government,” Quigley said. “I will not support a continuing resolution unless the majority and the administration stop gutting federal services and start taking genuine steps to improve government efficiency.”
U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley in a 2019 file photo. (Antonio Perez/ Chicago Tribune)
Foster said in an email the continuing resolution approved Tuesday reduces access to Social Security and veterans’ healthcare. It also cuts infrastructure investments, as well as nutrition and rent assistance for low-income families, he said.
“Republicans had months to negotiate with Democrats to craft a bipartisan funding bill. Instead, they chose to set the stage for massive new tax cuts for Trump, Elon (Musk) and their billionaire buddies,” Foster said.
Though he supported the past two continuing resolutions, Schneider said he cannot vote for legislation that cuts $23 billion in veterans’ healthcare benefits, and continues to give Trump and Musk, “free rein for the next six months to keep dismantling the government.”
“I believe Democrats and Republicans need to find a way to work together to land on a responsible funding bill that keeps the government functioning and ensures our President cannot ignore the will of the people reflected in that plan,” Schneider said.
Criticizing the same cuts her Lake County colleagues faulted, Schakowsky also said community funding projects made by all members last year were ignored again with the continuing resolution, like the creation of a police-social work facility.
“Creation of a police officer social work headquarters that would reduce recidivism and help local police keep our communities safe were completely cut from this bill,” she said. “The funding bill that Speaker Mike Johnson put forward is a disaster.”
As local members of Congress return to their districts during a recess next week, they plan to spend time listening to their constituents via in-person and virtual town halls.
Foster said in a district spanning eight counties, using the phone enables him to communicate with more people.
“We last held a telephone town hall on Feb. 20 with nearly 12,000 constituents joining the call,” he said. “Many of my recent meeting requests have come from constituents across the political spectrum who are rightly concerned about the Trump administration’s reckless, and oftentimes unlawful, actions that are threatening their livelihoods.”
Foster scheduled an in-person town hall for 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Goodwin Auditorium at Benedictine University in Lisle. Doors will open at 6:30.
Schneider said he and his team are working to arrange in-person town halls in the coming weeks. He utilizes phone gatherings because he can communicate with constituents whether he is home in the district or in Washington. His three phone gatherings so far this year attracted more than 20,000 people.
“People in my district, and across the country, are rightfully outraged and I share their outrage,” he said. “People want to share their concerns and hear about what is happening in Congress. That’s why we have already hosted three telephone town halls this year.”
Schakowsky said her job is to ensure the voices of the residents of her district are heard in Washington. She does this with both telephone town halls and in-person gatherings of various types, including visiting organizations, holding meetings in her office, and “even running into my constituents at Jewel.”
“I hosted a town hall-style event (recently) in Chicago to discuss how President Donald Trump and his sidekick Elon Musk are coming after lifesaving benefits like Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare to help fund billionaire tax breaks,” she said.
