Waukegan, IL (May 15, 2013) — The Tenth Congressional District Democrats (“Tenth Dems”) will host its 3rd annual poetry and prose competition on Thursday, May 16th. Hundreds of high school students entered the competition to win prizes and to have the chance to present their work before a live audience at the Ramada Inn Waukegan. The competition encourages student authors to write and speak on a chosen topic, and the 2013 theme is “Dreaming.” The competition was open to area high school students residing in Benton, northern Shields (North Chicago), Warren, Waukegan, and Zion Townships.

Cash prizes will be awarded to winners in the categories of poetry and prose. There will be a $100 prize for the best poem and prose entries, $75 for second place in both categories, and $50 for third place.

What: “The Dream Slam”, the Tenth Dems’ 3rd Annual Poetry and Prose Slam and Awards Ceremony

When: Thursday, May 16th. Doors open at 6:00 pm, program starts at 6:30 pm

Where: Ramada Inn Waukegan
200 N. Green Bay Road, Waukegan, IL

Contact: RSVP online at http://tenthdems.org/slam
Email info@tenthdems.org or call (847) 266-VOTE (8683)

Why have a slam competition? “The Tenth Dems motto holds that politics should be about more than just elections; it should be about working together to make our world a better place,” said Tenth Dems Community Connection Executive Director Laura Tomsky. “This competition gives young people the chance to express themselves in a fun and creative way while being recognized by the community.”

This year, applicants were asked to write about the theme of Dreaming. Their challenge is described below:

What is Dreaming? The dictionary tells us it can be a succession of images, thoughts or emotions passing through the mind during sleep or while awake. A dream can be an involuntary vision or an indulgent getaway. The act of dreaming is thinking or conceiving of something in a remote way.

Throughout history dreams have inspired, alarmed and challenged us to become more than what we are; to act for change; and to make the world a more beautiful place. What are your dreams, where do they come from and where will they take you.

The Tenth Dems Community Connection Office is located in downtown Waukegan. The office is open for outreach to many programs in the 10th District. Programs include job interview training, voter registration drives, and much more.

For more information, please visit the website at http://tenthdems.org/slam, email info@tenthdems.org, or call (847) 266-VOTE (8683).

Former Congressman Robert Dold (R-Kenilworth) announced on Wednesday that he will challenge Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Deerfield). This will be the third time Dold has run for Congress in the 10th District.

The Hill listed Dold as one of John Boehner’s “100 loyal soldiers.” While in Congress, Dold voted with the Republicans more than 80% of the time. If you’re concerned about gridlock in Washington, the last thing you want is another Republican voting against anything President Obama supports.

Dold is a rare bird: A challenger with a record. We won’t forget why we voted Dold out last year.

Dold Voted to Allow Drilling in the Great Lakes. On February 16, 2012, Dold joined House Republicans and voted against a measure that would have prevented oil and gas exploration in the Great Lakes and the Florida Everglades. [HR 3408, Vote #70, 2/16/12; Congressional Record, H884, 2/16/12]

Dold Voted to defund Planned Parenthood. Dold voted for a bill that would have “reinstated the D.C. abortion ban, eliminated the Title X family-planning program, defunded Planned Parenthood, reinstated the global gag rule, and eliminated funding for the United Nations Population Fund.” [HR 1,Vote #147, 2/19/11; NARAL’s Congressional Record on Choice, 2011]

Dold Opposed Employee Non-Discrimination Act. Dold filled out a questionnaire from the Illinois Family Institute indicating that he opposed the Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2009 (ENDA), which “gives homosexual and transsexual individuals protected class status in the workplace,” according to the Institute. [Illinois Family Institute Voter Guide for Illinois Primary Election, accessed 5/02/13; HR 317, introduced 6/24/09] 

Dold Opposed Marriage Equality. In 2010, Dold said “I believe marriage is between a man and a woman.” [Daily Herald, 10/26/10] 

Dold Voted for Ryan Budget That “Would Essentially End Medicare.” Dold twice voted for the Republican budget plan authored by Rep. Paul Ryan. The Wall Street Journal wrote, “The plan would essentially end Medicare, which now pays most of the health-care bills for 48 million elderly and disabled Americans, as a program that directly pays those bills.” [H Con. Res. 34, Vote #277, 4/15/11; Wall Street Journal, 4/04/11; H Con Res 112, Vote #151, 3/29/12]

In previous elections, Dold and his allies (and Mark Kirk and his allies) harped about how terrible it was that Dan Seals lived outside the district, even though Dan’s kids went to school in the district, his house was within the boundaries of the district under the previous map, and one could throw a football from his backyard into the district.

Dold now lives much farther outside the district than Dan did and Dold’s kids don’t go to school in our district. Dold got a pass on this issue in the last election, but he’s had plenty of time now to move. Dan said he’d move if he won, but that wasn’t good enough for Dold. Let’s see if Dold applies the same standard to himself that he applied to others.

Brad Schneider is fighting for our agenda in Congress. Brad serves on the Foreign Affairs Committee and the Small Business Committee. He’s only been in office for four months, but here’s some of what he’s done so far:

• Helped introduce the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which prohibits employers from firing, refusing to hire or discriminating against an employee based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
• Cosponsored the Safe Schools Improvement Act.
• Joined his colleagues in calling on the Supreme Court to overturn the so-called Defense of Marriage Act.
• Supported the Illinois General Assembly’s marriage equality bill.
• Cosponsored and voted for the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013.
• Cosponsored and helped introduce the Nuclear Iran Prevention Act.
• Cosponsored the United States Israel Strategic Partnership Act.
• Introduced the bipartisan American Manufacturing Efficiency and Retraining Investment Collaboration Achievement (AMERICA) Works Act to help build a skilled American workforce.
• Cosponsored the Gun Trafficking Prevention Act, which would finally make gun trafficking a federal crime.
• Backed the President’s plan to close the gun show loophole, extending basic background checks to all retail gun sales; to enact a new Assault Weapons Ban, which will take deadly military-style weapons off the streets; to outlaw the sale of high-capacity magazines that accommodate dozens of rounds of ammunition; and to enhance the national system of background checks, combining information from all 50 states.
• Cosponsored the Paycheck Fairness Act that helps uncover gender pay discrimination. Congressman Schneider has earned our support. Robert Dold has earned our distrust. We can and will do all we can to re-elect Brad Schneider.