Foster sworn in for second time

U.S. Rep. Bill Foster said Tuesday’s swearing in was less chaotic than his first experience just 10 months ago.

“I didn’t have to vote right after,” the Batavia Democrat said.

Foster first was sworn in as the 14th Congressional District’s representative last March after winning a special election to fill a vacancy.

He was re-elected last November and sworn in Tuesday afternoon for the new term along with other members of the 111th Congress.

“It was like the opening ceremonies for Congress,” Foster said.

But for U.S. Rep. Don Manzullo, R-Egan, who has represented the 16th Congressional District for about 15 years, Tuesday was as exciting as the first time he was sworn in in January 1993.

“My heart just pounds as I’m getting ready to take my oath,” he said. “It is such an honor and privilege to represent the district.”

Both men said the economy will be a main issue they will focus on as the new session of Congress gets going.

While Foster said he’s already accomplished some goals during his time in Washington, he hopes to tackle more.

As a member of the House Financial Services Committee, Foster has a front row seat to hearings concerning the economic crisis.

He said he wants to work to make choices that will help bring the country out of a recession and stave off a depression.

“It’s a tough situation,” he said.

Foster supports President-elect Barack Obama’s plan to include tax cuts targeting the middle class, and he also believes it’s important to scrutinize government spending.

“It’s equally important to be spending responsibly and in ways with lasting economic value,” he said.

Manzullo, also on the House Financial Services Committee, said he planned to focus on manufacturing issues, especially in the automotive industry.

“Unless manufacturing gets restarted in the automotive industry, we’ll be in a depression,” Manzullo said. “We’ve got to find a way to start selling cars.”

Manzullo said he has plans to introduce a measure that would provide a $5,000 tax credit that can be used on a down payment on a new vehicle. Sales of automobiles fell to 10 million in 2008 from 17 million in 2007, he said, which had a direct impact to dealers of about $175 billion.

“We’ve got to get those off factory floors,” he added.

Once people are buying vehicles, more jobs will be available in the automobile industry, which will then have a trickle-down effect into other aspects of the community, Manzullo said.

“Once that start, the top will right itself and the economy will recovery,” he added.

Contact your Congressman

14th Congressional District

Bill Foster

1339 Longworth HOB

Washington, D.C.  20515

202-225-2976

27 N. River Street

Batavia, IL 60510

630-406-1114

16th Congressional District

Don Manzullo

2228 Rayburn HOB

Washington, D.C.  20515

202-225-5676

415 S. Mulford Road

Rockford, IL 61108

815-394-1231