Some Murphysboro High School students had the opportunity to visit with U.S. Congressman Jerry Costello questions on Monday when the Democrat paid a visit MHS.
Costello said he visits about two schools per month that are in his District and that he likes to give insight to students on current events facing our government and how they are being handled.
Costello started his visit by giving the students a brief overview of his life, and how he got into politics.
Costello began his political career in 1980, when he was elected Chairman of the St. Clair County Board. He headed to Washington, D.C., in 1980 when he was appointed to fill the term of the late U.S. Representative Melvin Price. He began serving a full term in Nov. of 1988.
After telling the students about himself, Costello then took questions from the students, which included a question about the War on Terrorism.
Costello said that he voted against sending troops into Iraq because he thought that NATO inspectors on ground in Iraq should have been left alone to do their job of trying to find weapons of mass destruction. He went on to say that there was no question that there was no correlation between those who attacked us on 9/11 and Saddam Hussein. He said that the terrorists that hit us came from Afghanistan and surrounding areas.
One student asked the Representative of the 12th Congressional District his thoughts about the Cap and Trade Bill. Another asked whether Costello regretted any decisions he has made.
He was also asked about what the federal government might be doing to help Southern Illinois University overcome fiscal woes while waiting for a budget from the Illinois Congress.
Costello said that the government has been able, through the Recovery Act, to secure a substantial amount of funds for Jackson County and SIU.
Another question asked had to do with High Speed Rails in the United States.
Costello said that he is a strong supporter of High Speed Rails, and that he had to been to countries that have them in service and has ridden on one. He went on to say that one of the problems with High Speed Rails in the U.S. is that in this country most of it would have to be elevated around large cities, unlike other countries, such as China, which has more substantial rural areas.
In all, Costello was asked about 10 questions. He then closed his visit by reminding the students why the United States is still the greatest country in the World. He told them that it would not be that long before they were the police officers, fire fighters, lawyers, doctors, politicians, soldiers, etc... that made our country great.
Murphysboro High School principal Vince Turner got a chance to spend a couple of minutes with Costello before he spoke to the students. He came away very impressed.
"I think he is aware of the issues that we're facing everyday, because he is here,'' Turner said. "It felt like I was just talking to any other person. But it was someone who also represents our voice in Congress."