Shimkus Officially Opens Effingham Office

(CONGRESSMAN JOHN SHIMKUS IS SURROUNDED BY BUSINESSPEOPLE, GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND STAFF MEMBERS AS HE USES THE SCISSORS TO OFFICIALLY OPEN HIS LEGISLATIVE OFFICE IN THE EFFINGHAM COUNTY OFFICE BUILDING.  VERSATECH OWNER JOE FORBES AND CHAMBER AMBASSADOR JO HUSKEY HOLD THE RIBBON AS SHIMKUS GETS READY TO SNIP)

Congressman John Shimkus was throughout the area Monday, making a stop to officially dedicate his new Effingham office.

The office is located in the Effingham County Office Building and provides constituent service to 15th Congressional District residents.

Shimkus said redistricting due to the loss of an Illinois congressional seat helped necessitate the establishment of an Effingham office.  The population drop in Illinois in the decade ending in 2010 led to the loss of the congressional seat and initiated the relocation of a district office to Effingham.

Following a ribbon-cutting ceremony, Shimkus discussed progress on reducing the Federal deficit, hot spots in the world, concerns over efforts by President Obama to more closely regulate coal, and immigration.

Regarding immigration, Shimkus said he isn't sure whether the House will consider the same sweeping piece of legislation passed by the US Senate, or whether his group will take things in a "piecemeal fashion".

Shimkus Monday also visited the Altamont News Banner, Koerner Distributor in Effingham and the Country Bob's sauce processing plant in Centralia.