POSHARD PLANS VISITS TO ALL COUNTIES IN 22ND DISTRICT

MOUND CITY, Ill. -- U.S. Rep. Glenn Poshard is visiting every county in his 22nd District of Southern Illinois.

"I need to make myself available to answer questions, discuss issues, and, where I can, solve problems for people in Southern Illinois," said Poshard. "Town meetings are a good opportunity for that, and I invite everyone to come out and participate."

Among his stops will be the Alexander County Courthouse at Cairo, April 4 at 6 p.m., and, in Union County, at Stinson Memorial Library at Anna April 4 at 8 p.m.

Poshard, a Democrat, said, "One of the most basic responsibilities I have is to be present when votes are taken." Poshard compiled the highest voting attendance mark in the Illinois State Senate during four-and-a-half years of service there.

"Some of the votes like those of balancing the budget or raising the minimum wage were easy," he said. "Others have been very difficult. But I think it is essential that I be there when the vote is called, to speak on behalf of the people of Southern Illinois."

Poshard missed five vote calls during his first two years of Congress, best of the 435-member House.

One of the recent votes by Poshard was that of voting against funding the savings-and-loan bailout until "a more fair solution is on the table."

"They can count me out until they come up with something that's better for the average American taxpayer," said Poshard, who recently joined his colleagues in the House to reject a series of measures to fund the Resolution Trust Corporation (RTC) to cover losses of savings and loans that closed, sold, or were merged by the RTC in fiscal year 1991.

"Nothing we've seen so far says anything about making the people who caused most of the problem pay for the cleanup," said Poshard. "And to make matters worse, the bailout is way beyond just paying insured deposits; it also covers all kinds of losses, including those caused by bad judgments."

Poshard said he believes states that have created the problems should pay the majority of the cost.

"I find it aggravating that a couple of states have created this problem and now want everyone else to come in and put them back on their feet," he said. "The people of Southern Illinois are kind and generous, but enough is enough."

Poshard is working with other lawmakers to include "burden-sharing" proposals to any bailout legislation. In essence, he said, that would make states and their institutions that caused all of the losses to pay their share instead of taking equally from all taxpayers.

"In the end, we're all going to have to kick in to settle this mess," said Poshard. "But there's no reason in the world why we shouldn't make the states that caused the problem pay up now.

"I will discuss the bailout vote, or any other vote I have made, with anyone who is interested," said Poshard. "I am proud of my attendance record and voting record on the issues."

The remaining schedule is:

Monday Centralia City Hall, 6 p.m.; Farmers & Merchants Bank, Nashville, Ill., 8 p.m.

Tuesday Vandalia City Hall, 6 p.m.; Carlyle VFW, 8 p.m.

Wednesday DuQuoin City Hall, 6 p.m.; Murphysboro City Hall, 8 p.m.

Thursday Shawneetown, courthouse, 6 p.m.; Harrisburg, courthouse, 8 p.m.

April 1 Metropolis, courthouse, 6 p.m.; Vienna, courthouse, 8 p.m.

April 3 Johnston City, council chambers, 6 p.m.; Benton Civic Center, 8 p.m.

April 4 Cairo, courthouse, 6 p.m.; Anna, Stinson Library, 8 p.m.

April 5 Elizabethtown, courthouse, 6 p.m.; Golconda, Pope County Golden Circle, 8 p.m.

April 6 Cahokia City Hall, noon; Waterloo, courthouse, 1 p.m.; Sparta City Hall, 4 p.m.