Walsh makes town-hall stop in Arlington Heights

An animated and bipartisan group of residents Thursday night debated the merits of Medicare, tax cuts and other hot-button issues with Congressman Joe Walsh during one stop on his jam-packed tour of town-hall meetings.

The McHenry Tea Partyer, who recently announced a switch to the 8th District GOP primary, also used the forum to bash both political parties but ultimately urge voters to back Republican candidates.

“I truly believe if we don’t get this next election right, our country will not recover,” Walsh told about 40 people gathered at the Arlington Heights Memorial Library for the Arlington Heights Tea Party’s monthly meeting.

Walsh, who remained mum on which of the Republican presidential candidates he’ll endorse, spoke at length about the growing federal debt crisis. He pointed out, more than once, that GOP leaders don’t appreciate his criticisms of the party.

“Both parties caused the country to go broke,” he said.

When it came to policy, Walsh said he’ll work to repeal the Affordable Health Care Act he dubbed “Obamacare,” move forward on the Keystone pipeline, eliminate the estate and capital gains taxes and lighten regulations on businesses. He also believes the military can operate more efficiently by closing some bases around the globe.

The liveliest debate among Walsh and a few people in attendance was about overhauling Medicare. Walsh supports proposals to give future recipients vouchers to shop for private health insurance. He cited statistics that the average senior will receive more than three times what he paid into the system, a trend he called unsustainable.

Walsh also defended the Tea Party movement as stronger than ever and says it will, despite doubts by some pundits, be just as influential this election cycle as in 2010.

Walsh, who claims to hold more town-hall meetings than any other congressman, in the next week alone will hold similar forums in York, Elk Grove, Addison and Hanover townships.