The following press release has been received from 16th District Congressman Don Manzullo:
Manzullo Opposes Transfer of Gitmo Terrorists to Northwest Illinois
[ROCKFORD] Congressman Don Manzullo (R-Egan) today issued the following statement responding to news reports that the near-empty state prison in Thomson, IL has emerged as a “leading option” to house terrorists from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Manzullo is a member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Trade.
STATEMENT
“The terrorists remaining at Guantanamo Bay are dangerous and brutal killers, many of whom were involved in the attacks on our nation.
Don Manzullo Announcing His Re-Election Bid
“As a matter of national security and public safety, I have consistently joined with a majority of my colleagues in fighting efforts to bring these terrorists onto our shores, and I adamantly oppose this plan to bring the terrorists to northwestern Illinois, where they could one day be released into our communities. Gitmo is set up to house these dangerous terrorists, and they should stay there.
“Part of the Administration’s proposal involves opening a separate maximum security federal prison at Thomson, and I have long encouraged the Administration to support that venture as long as it does not include the Guantanamo Bay detainees.
“Our residents in Carroll County and throughout northwestern Illinois desperately need jobs, and if there’s a need for a new federal prison to house domestic federal prisoners the Thomson facility would be ideal.
“But bringing the world’s most dangerous terrorists to northern Illinois would do more harm than good in the long run. Future job providers and residents would have serious reservations about locating in a region that’s home to the world’s most dangerous criminals and could be a target for future terrorist activity.”
Here’s the email I sent off to Congressman Manzullo this morning.
Congressman Manzullo:
I live in Carroll County just 6 miles from the Thomson Correctional Center. I happened to hear your interview this morning on WGN. I am amazed that you are against bringing the Guantanamo detainees to our prison. You are I’m sure, well aware that Carroll County has a 10.5% jobless rate and ranks 32nd in Illinois in unemployment. You also must know that Carroll County has a per capita income of only $18.688 and that 9.60% of the population is below the poverty line.
With this in mind, HOW can you in good conscience, be against a plan that will bring more jobs and businesses to our area? The purchase of the Thomson facility by the Federal Government will be a huge gain for us. It will mean that people will move to Carroll County, purchase homes and pay taxes. Aren’t you putting politics above your constituents? The surrounding towns are little more than ghost towns. There are no businesses to speak of. People have to travel to Clinton, Iowa to shop, leaving the sales tax they pay to plump up Iowa’s coffers, not Illinois’. You are OK with this?
In your interview, your rational left much to be desired. Do you believe your constituents to be ignorant farmers? Your statement that Al Qaida and the Taliban will travel to O’Hare Airport to visit the prisoners is ludicrous. Certainly there are terrorist cells here on US soil, but these are very covert operations. I hardly think Al Qaida will flock through O’Hare and schlep all the way out to Carroll County to visit their friends. They hardly seem to care about sentimentality. They wouldn’t want to be visible, and advertize their presence in that way, so your argument reeks of that same old Republican scare tactics. In addition, the detainees in Gitmo are hardly capable of arranging a jail break from a super-max prison. I don’t see how this would be a concern. Most were merely teens when captured and are hardly the threat you make them out to be.
Please, for once put your partisanship aside and think about what is good for your constituents. If you are unable to do this, you may find yourself unemployed.
Notice how all Manzullo ever says these days is “no” and yet for 8 years with Bush he NEVER said “no”!! This man does not have a mind of his own. First he followed Bush and now he’s following the ignorant Boehner (and I mean ignorant in the literal sense!!!) – it’s time we vote Rep Manzullo out!!! There has GOT to be someone better than this!!! Who will vote for him??? He is NOT for helping his constiuents w/ getting affordable heatlhcare and now not for helping create JOBS!!! OUT OF TOUCH!!!