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Tenth News: 2012 Slam Edition is a post from Illinois Tenth Congressional District Democrats

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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).

Democrats Hold Dream Slam for Waukegan Area High School Students is a post from Illinois Tenth Congressional District Democrats

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“For too long Congress has continued to play politics and kick the can down the road rather than secure the border and fix our broken immigration system. Unfortunately, Speaker John Boehner seems content just waiting out the clock and hasn’t even committed to bring immigration reform up for debate in the house.”

Take a moment to add your name to join those who know we need comprehensive immigration reform now.

Help Rep. Brad Schneider Pass Comprehensive Immigration Reform is a post from Illinois Tenth Congressional District Democrats

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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.

Back to the Doldrums? is a post from Illinois Tenth Congressional District Democrats

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Where: Ramada Inn – Waukegan, 200 N. Green Bay Rd., Waukegan

What: Tenth Dems Community Connection is hosting our Third Annual Poetry (and Prose) Slam and Awards Ceremony. The event is free and open to the public. but space is limited, so RSVP online, call us at 847-266-VOTE (8683) or send an email.

Community Connection’s 3rd Annual Poetry Slam and Awards Ceremony is a post from Illinois Tenth Congressional District Democrats

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To continue the consideration of the importance of labor unions in the United States, theatre-goers are invited to a Talk-Back after the show. This session will be moderated by Larry Spivack, Regional Director for the American Federation of State County Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 31. He will be joined by Sue Eberle, Trustee and Bookkeeper, Lake County Federation of Teachers, Local 504; Jessica Redish, Choreographer and Founding Artistic Director of The Music Theatre Company; and Matt Deitchman, Music Director. AFSCME is the largest AFL-CIO union in the country. Mr. Spivack is also the President of the Illinois Labor History Society, the deed holder to the Haymarket Martyr’s Monument in Forest Park. He has spent his entire adult life in the labor movement and hopes that all audience members share or learn to share the view that all social justice grows out of economic justice and a democracy can only exist with a strong labor movement.

Sizzlin’ Show Celebrates Worker Memorial Day with Sold Out “Pajama Game” Performance is a post from Illinois Tenth Congressional District Democrats

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Jesse Brown VA Medical Center and A Safe Haven Foundation Open New Community Center is a post from Illinois Tenth Congressional District Democrats

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Do You Have a Minute? 

As Mayor, I appreciate any opportunity to talk with you about what matters the most. In person, by email, by mail, by phone, through social media, these conversations are a chance for us to talk about your hopes or your concerns. These conversations are how we work constructively together.

Tomorrow is Election Day. This is your chance to make your opinion count beyond any conversation.  It is easy to talk about things, but it is the action that brings impact.  Your individual vote matters.

Polls are open from 6:00am – 7:00pm. Seize the moment and exercise this important right. Not sure where to vote? Visit Voter Power for assistance.

Looking forward to seeing you at the polls tomorrow!

Want to see the results on-line as they come in? Click here after 7 p.m. and refresh until all votes are tallied.

Nancy Rotering
Mayor, City of Highland Park

Rotering: Do You Have a Minute? is a post from Illinois Tenth Congressional District Democrats

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Tuesday ELECTION DAY: stop by anytime, Phone banking 9am-5pm, Poll drivers needed throughout the day for rides to the polls

State Election Law allows you to take this ballot information with you into your polling place.

Wheeling Township offices – vote for all 8 Democrats:
For Township Supervisor: Fred Arenas
For Township Clerk: Marc Adelman
For Township Assessor: Don Bussey
For Township Highway Commissioner: Mike MacDonald
For Township Trustees:
Siobhan White of Arlington Heights
Kim Simmons of Arlington Heights
Bob Boros of Mt. Prospect
Nikos Tsonis of Wheeling

Other races – consider voting for members of our organization:
Arlington Heights Mayor – Mark Hellner
Arlington Heights Library – Greg Zyck
School District 21 -Bill Harrison & Phil Pritzker
School District 25 – Phil Crusius & David Page

Help Wheeling Township Get Out The Vote is a post from Illinois Tenth Congressional District Democrats

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Vote for Carol Blustein for Supervisor
Karen McCormick for Clerk
Dan Frey for Highway Commissioner
Mary Reynolds for Trustee
Rich Mullen for Trustee
Marla Miller for Trustee
Joanne Hirschtritt Licht for Trustee

West Deerfield Township Democrats: To volunteer, call 847-767-5665.

Vote for Alyson Miller Feiger for Supervisor
Tom Healy for Assessor
Ron Levitsky for Trustee
Ron Schwartz for Trustee
John Lesiotis for Trustee
Jack Strom for Trustee

Help Northfield and West Deerfield Townships Elect Their Slates is a post from Illinois Tenth Congressional District Democrats

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