During the Annual Lincoln Day Dinner Saturday, Speaker of the House J. Dennis Hastert (R-14), said Lincoln did extraordinary things to keep the United States safe and whole, as President George W. Bush does currently.

The dinner took place at Southpoint Centre, 200 Gurler Rd., in DeKalb.

Republicans believe in individual rights, health care choice and education, he said.

After talking about the Republican party, Hastert discussed the current administration and the economy.

The economy should be given room to grow and spending needs to be cut by half to combat the deficit, he said.

The budget gained $25 billion from this doing this, Hastert said.

During the Bush administration, the unemployment rate fell to 4.7 percent, he said.

Hastert also saluted State Senator Brad Burzynski for helping to promote the state of Illinois.

“We pulled together to decide what is best for the state and to understand what is best for the people,” he said.

Keynote speaker Andrew McKenna, also chairman of the Illinois Republican Party, laid out the future goals of the Republican party.

Republicans need to sway independent voters and disenfranchised Democrats to win the upcoming election, McKenna said.

Public service is a sacred trust, the courts need to change, focus on children, increase funding to schools and counter the debt, he said.

Governor Rod Blagojevich had one problem when he came to office, the debt, and Illinois’ debt is second highest in the country, McKenna said.

The dinner, hosted by DeKalb County Republicans, was a time to support the Republican party.

“Tonight is a night of celebration more than a time of issues,” said Gil Morrison, DeKalb county regional superintendent of schools.

Local and national officials weren’t the only ones in attendance.

“I am here to support the Republican party and I would like to be informed about what the issues are,” said DeKalb resident Deirdre Young.

Illinois is becoming a non-business-friendly state. Ideas on job creation and retention need to be discussed, said Mac McIntyre, executive officer for the DeKalb County building and development association.