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Kinzinger set to represent county By JEFF ENGELHARDT
second term as a congressman but his first in the new district, which includes DeKalb County. County voters did not give Kinzinger an early gesture of confidence as Democrat Wanda Rohl received more support at the polls, but Kinzinger said he was determined to gain his new constituents’ trust. “I’ve got some big shoes to fill,” Kinzinger said of taking
jengelhardt@shawmedia.com DeKALB – Washington is familiar territory for U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger, but the territory back home is more foreign. Kinzinger, a Manteno Republican who was sworn into office as the representative for the 16th Congressional District this week, is in his
over from his predecessor Don Manzullo. “My door is always open and my staff and I are here to ensure that con- Adam stituents never Kinzinger walk away feeling that they weren’t able to share their thoughts, ideas, opinions and beliefs with me.”
Kinzinger represented the 11th Congressional District in his first term. He said he expects the next two years to pose more challenges than his first two in Washington, but hopes lawmakers can show bipartisanship in the future to address major issues. Kinzinger said his work across the aisle was a point of pride and pointed to his recent vote to support the deal to avoid
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creases and spending cuts, was not perfect, he said, but it was the best deal at the time. “I didn’t feel that this was a phenomenally negotiated package, but I feared the economy would have spun into recession,” he said. “Voting ‘yes’ on this was the tough vote. I don’t think people sent me out here to make the easy vote.”
Would you have supported the legislation that prevented the nation from jumping off the “fiscal cliff”? Vote online at Daily-Chronicle.com the fiscal cliff as an example. The agreement, which prevented a series of automatic tax in-
‘THE LIGHT ON THE HILL’ CHuRCH RE-OPENING IN SyCAMORE
Shining brightly again
See KINzINGER, page A6
Lawmaker optimistic on pensions deal for Ill. The ASSOCIATED PRESS
Erik Anderson – For the Daily Chronicle
Music Director Chris Pawola plays his guitar while choir members of the Mayfield Congregational Church sing to their audience Sunday during the re-opening service of the church in Mayfield.
Mayfield congregation rejoices in rebuilt church By JEFF ENGELHARDT
jengelhardt@shawmedia.com SYCAMORE – The “light on the hill” shone brightly for the first time in nine months Sunday. Mayfield Congregational Church members worshiped at their church on 28405 Church Road on Sunday for the first time since the interior ceiling collapsed in March. It was a welcome sight to Wilma Miranda, who said she was unsure if the congregation would come back to the 150-year-old building after she saw the plaster, insulation, dust and other debris covering nearly everything in the sanctuary after the ceiling fell. “We thought the church might not ever be rebuilt, but it turns out the building is as sound today as the day it was built,” she said. “It’s our church again and she sure does look pretty to us. We did it.” One of the main drivers in the rebuilding process was longtime member Joan Berger, who coordinated work with insurance agen-
Erik Anderson – For the Daily Chronicle
Mayfield Congregational Church Pastor Bill Nagy speaks about the newly renovated church to members during service Sunday in Mayfield. cies, contractors and interior designers throughout the process. Berger said insurance covered nearly the full cost of repairs and
local workers such as interior designer Jane Kielb were instrumental in restoring the church. Berger said local volunteers
even helped make some of the new features of the church, such as the main cross in the sanctuary and new offering plates – both of which were made from the unusable wooden beams of the original structure. “It was a very rewarding process,” she said of her role in the rebuilding process. “This building is our home and is precious to us.” Members also took time to reflect on the generosity and hospitality of First Congregational United Church of Christ in DeKalb, which allowed the Mayfield congregation to use the chapel next to its main sanctuary as its own church. Phyllis Roush, a Mayfield member for more than 25 years, said the DeKalb congregation became a second family to members, as they would often gather for fellowship before and after their respective services. “We were so blessed to have them as our home away from home,” Roush said. “It was our own little heaven.”
See CHuRCH, page A6
SPRINGFIELD – A scaledback overhaul addressing Illinois’ worst-in-the-nation pension problem is ready for its first test, key House lawmakers said Sunday as they entered the final stretch of the lame-duck session. The amended measure – which would mean employees chip in more and would freeze cost-of-living increases for retirees, among other provisions – was scheduled to get a committee hearing today, said Rep. More Elaine Nekritz, a Northbrook on state Democrat who Legislature has been at the heart of penIllinois Senate sion talks. President John “We think Cullerton said the bill will get out of com- despite not reaching pensions mittee,” she told reporters deal, addressing Sunday. “It’s gay marriage, gun been my goal control still importhroughout this tant. Read more entire process on page A3. to not to place blame, whether it’s blame as to how we got here, blame as to why this isn’t getting done.” But Nekritz and other backers were coy about the chances on the floor for the measure during the final days of the current General Assembly, which features lame-duck lawmakers who are not returning and can vote without fearing voter backlash. Nonetheless, Nekritz said the issue has “consensus among the leaders of the House.” “We’re taking this one step at a time,” she said. “The bill will get out of committee, and then we’ll work to get votes on the floor.” Key to the agreement is House Minority Leader Tom Cross, ROswego, who has blocked action on closing the monstrous pension deficit because he opposed a provision to shift some teacher-benefit costs to local school districts. A spokeswoman for Cross said he supported the agreement. The opening to a new agreement emerged over the weekend when House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, agreed to set the matter aside for now. Gov. Pat Quinn – who had set a Wednesday deadline for pension legislation – had been working with Nekritz on the bill, said Quinn’s spokeswoman, Brooke Anderson.
See PENSIONS, page A6
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