By Cynthia Grau/WJEZ News

A planned visit to Pontiac Correctional Center brought Congressman Adam Kinzinger to Pontiac Tuesday, following his Memorial Day weekend in Chicago.

Kinzinger, a US Air Force veteran, gave a speech at the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery. He said he always comes back to his 14-county district whenever he can to make sure he interacts with constituents.

“Talking to the chambers, talking to small business, going to see the prison, for instance, and seeing the jobs that exist here and frankly, the good work that the folks in Pontiac do to keep Illinois safe, and frankly, the country safe,” Kinzinger said.

Getting down to business and speaking of the fragile economy, Kinzinger pointed out the national deficit was $1.5 trillion when he went into office. Although today it’s $500 billion, he says it’s better, but it’s still too much.

“I think we’re beginning to turn the corner,” Kinzinger said. “The issue is, though, we have to empower the individual to basically set their own destiny. Keep the tax burden as light as physically possible. Obviously, we have to pay some taxes for what we get, but keep that burden as light as possible so people have more money in their pockets, they can spend on their children on raising their family.”

He also added, with all the Republican candidates throwing their hats into the ring, he supports Jeb Bush for the Republican presidential nomination.