Dold Gives GBS Students Close-Up Look at Congress

When political science students got the chance to ask questions of an actual member of Congress, one of the things they wanted to know was whether debate on the floor of the House of Representatives swayed a vote. 

Veteran teacher Dave Kane’s class of mostly seniors and a few juniors learned firsthand how speeches by representatives affect each other from when he spoke to their regularly scheduled session Friday. 

“Yes, not on bills but on amendments,” Dold said. “I will try to learn from an individual the impact it will have on a certain region of the country. People in a different area will have a much better understanding.” 

What student Christopher Sousa-Nieves did not know when he asked the question was that a speech Dold made had a direct impact on legislation regarding Asian Carp in Lake Michigan. That was a time Dold had influence on others. 

When Congress was debating a continuing resolution in April to fund the government through September, one issue being discussed was weather to open or close the locks from the Chicago River into Lake Michigan. Dold favored open locks. 

“They (Dold’s fellow members) wanted to know how closing off the locks will have a negative impact on Lake Michigan,” Dold said. “The double (electric) barriers in the river will do the job,” Dold added explaining how the fish would be kept out of Lake Michigan when the locks were open. 

Dold also let the class know the first act he introduced in Congress was to protect Lake Michigan. He explained the bipartisan nature of the legislation. It was cosponsored by Rep. Dan Linpnski (D-Western Springs) with Sens. and as the senate sponsors. 

When Glenbrook South Principal suggested it was time for Dold to end his Washington update and let the students question their Congressman, Dold asked the first question. 

“Who’s going to win the game tonight,” Dold, a former New Trier quarterback, asked Titan signal caller about Friday .  Zabriskie predicted a 28-17 win for his school. The Titans won, 21-10, with Zabriskie accurately predicting the margin of victory. 

Then the questions got more serious. They were as much about politics as they were about government. Jeis Sweilem wanted to know how about partisanship in politics and redistricting in particular. 

“You hear much more partisanship in D.C.,” Dold said. “When Republicans sit down to draw the map it favors Republicans. Democrats try to elect Democrats. in a way to benefit Democrats.” 

Dold said he could not say more because there is a lawsuit in court challenging the current plan. He did explain each Congressional district must now contain 712,000 people up from 650,000 before the last census. He also said Illinois will lose a seat in the next Congress. 

Another student, Peter Lyngso, wanted to know more about the influence of campaign contributions in politics. Kane embellished the question asking about soft dollars, a method of making donations without limits. 

“Money does help you get your message out,” Dold said. “If we can do it evenly across the board, absolutely,” Dold added about limiting money funneled to candidates causes from third parties outside the legal campaign limits.

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