LaHood: Federal government shutdown unlikely

Darin LaHood
U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood said he wouldn’t want to see President Trump’s proposed border wall with Mexico hold up a federal budget with the threat of a government shutdown just days away.
(Photo courtesy Facebook/Darin LaHood)

By Eric Stock

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood said he believes Congress will avoid a government shutdown this week, with a deadline looming for some spending plan to be approved by midnight Friday.

PODCAST: Listen to Scott and Patti’s interview with LaHood on WJBC.

“We can’t let that happen,” LaHood said. “I don’t think that will happen.”

LaHood told WJBC’s Scott Laughlin and Patti Penn it’s not feasible to spend billions of dollars on a border wall with Mexico, though he says he supports other security measures, such as fencing and added patrols.

“I’m very cautious about a wall that costs $25 billion and where you find the money to do that,” LaHood added. “Just on the fiscal aspect of that, I don’t think that makes sense.”

LaHood tells WJBC’s Scott Laughlin and Patti Penn there are other ways the U.S. can secure its southern border, through fencing, added patrols and other measures.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…