Dahl gives opinion on local, state issues
By Marty Rue
IV Leader Staff
Since we have a newly elected state senator, I thought I
would take some time to allow readers to know him better.
One important issue in our area has been the addition of 80
beds at the La Salle Veteran’s Home. We have been guaranteed the project for at
least 11 years and this year were promised the funding. Nothing has been passed
to fund the project, however. Dahl said the funding should come through and
vowed to make much noise should this not happen. He would like the governor to
visit the home to see firsthand the veterans’ need.
Going along with the Veteran’s Home is the need for nursing professionals. Dahl
said IVCC is adding more students, but it is difficult because the funding for
instructors is hard to come by as is the space for clinicals for the students.
Since the La Salle County Board has not followed a referendum
suggestion, I asked Dahl what can be done to make a county board who does not
want to abide by the referendums listen to the people. He said he wasn’t aware
that the county governments were not accountable to the people as a matter of
law, but said that if this is true, it would be a problem for those running for
re-election. When asked about the disarray of the Illinois Republican Party,
Dahl opined that Andy McKenna’s appointment as chairman is a good first step and
the younger, more dynamic politicians with new ideas would greatly boost the
party in Illinois. He also said, “we need to get back to the basics: back to the
people.”
Dahl also noted Illinois has an anti-business climate and
that the way to fix it is to rollback fees and tax increases to encourage
growth. On the same note, Dahl realizes the need to “cap awards for Malpractice
suits” to retain medical professionals as well as switch to a loser pays legal
system.
Finally, on the question of the President’s ban on gay
marriage, Dahl would be supportive. He noted “marriage is between a man and a
woman,” and that one’s life style “behind closed doors is one thing.”