Democratic U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen says his success rate in getting federal funding for projects in the district this year is way above average compared with other U.S. congressmen.
In appearances Wednesday in Bloomington Normal touting nearly $5 million in grants, Sorensen said the appropriations committee funded 13 of the 15 projects he pushed for in the 17th Congressional District that includes the Twin Cities.
"When we talk about which of these projects we vet, which ones we fight for, I look at two things. Number one is the immediacy of concern. Then number two, every dollar we bring back has to be an investment," said Sorensen.
The grants will pay for sewer separation and anti-flood work in Bloomington and the central business district in Normal, and a redesigned and constructed Vernon Avenue near Colene Hoose Elementary School in Normal.
Biden debate performance
On another topic, Sorensen said constituents he has talked with are evenly split over the recent debate between former President Donald Trump and incumbent President Joe Biden. When he was working in television, Sorensen said he occasionally had bad days and Biden's shaky performance last week did not affect his support for the president.
"I had a young person ask me why that didn't change your mind. I said I can either vote for the nice guy, or I can vote for the jerk," said Sorensen, who is completing his first term in Washington, D.C.
Biden, he said, has done a lot for infrastructure, inflation control, and helped economic development in his district that stretches from Bloomington-Normal through Peoria, and north to the Quad Cities and Rockford.
Sorensen acknowledged Biden's debate performance could make Sorensen's job of re-election more difficult. He faces Republican Joe McGraw in the November election.
Supreme Court ruling
Sorensen said the U.S. Supreme Court ruling this week declaring presidents have substantial immunity from prosecution for acts they perform in their official duties should also be a call to action for voters.
"The conservative justices are playing politics with the court," he said. "Your vote matters. The people that are going to sit home in this upcoming election are going to mean there will be more decisions from the Supreme Court like this. And there are more rights that are going to be taken away if you don't participate."
In the ruling, conservative justices gave more weight to the threat that presidents will hesitate to perform official duties out of fear they could be criminally prosecuted, and there could be a cycle of political retribution following a presidency. Liberal Justices in the minority felt it's more likely presidents will use immunity to suppress opposition under the guise of official acts.
Sorensen said he strongly disagrees with the conservative majority on the court.
"What we had is the Supreme Court is making a decision that the United States has a king. In the U.S., no one, including the president, should ever be above the law," he said.
Watch video of Sorensen's visit to Bloomington:
