But, also, before I even go on the Medicare prescription drug debate, I always tell the folks in rural Illinois, and I represent 30 counties south of Springfield down to Indiana and Kentucky, that in this bill is the best rural package for hospitals ever passed.

5 percent. Shimkus earned his bachelor's degree at the United States Military Academy. The campaign was very bitter; both men accused the other's staffers of stalking their families.

Representative for Illinois's 15th congressional district (numbered as the 20th from 1997 to 2003 and 19th from 2003 to 2013) serving since 1997. The district includes much of the southern portion of the state taking in part of Springfield and a portion of the Metro-East area (the Illinois side of the St.