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News: Firefighters Say…”Elect Quinn”

September 10, 2010 – 7:48 am
jmjh

Citing Governor Quinn’s longtime support of firefighters and their families, the Associated Fire Fighters of Illinois (AFFI) and the Chicago Firefighters IAFF Local #2 endorsed Governor Quinn on Thursday for the Nov. 2 General Election.

“Governor Quinn is the leader Illinois needs. He’s proven that he is committed to helping Illinois working families and preserving public safety in our state,” said Pat Devaney, President of Associated Fire Fighters of Illinois. “We support him 100 percent in this election, because he supports us.”

While Governor Quinn has proven he is committed to protecting public safety, Senator Brady has called for massive cuts that would devastate our public safety, lay off fire fighters, hurt our state’s economy, and result in more than 100,000 lost jobs, many in the private sector.

“Fire fighters show us what bravery and selflessness mean every single day. Their efforts in ensuring our safety do not go unrecognized.” Governor Quinn said. “I’m honored and humbled to receive the endorsement of such an admirable group of men and women, and I promise to fight for them every day.”

Governor Pat Quinn was sworn into office less than 20 months ago, inheriting severe economic and fiscal crises.  Since then, his administration has worked with private sector employers to assemble more than 70 investment packages to create and retain jobs in Illinois, and signed into law the state’s first infrastructure improvements plan in 10 years.  He has also cut a record $3 billion in spending from our state’s budget, and implemented historic reform legislation, including the addition of a gubernatorial recall provision to the November 2010 ballot.

The AFFI represents more than 200 locals and 15,000 full-time professional firefighters and retired members throughout the state of Illinois.  It joins other major Illinois labor groups in their support of Governor Quinn, including the AFL-CIO, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Service Employees International Union, and the Illinois Education Association.

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News: Veterans for Alexi Launch Truth Tour

September 9, 2010 – 7:26 am
jmjh

Veterans for Alexi, a volunteer group of veterans supporting Alexi Giannoulias’ Senate campaign, launched its first Truth Tour to spread the word across Illinois about Alexi Giannoulias’ record of helping Illinois military veterans and families, especially during these difficult economic times.  

“Veterans for Alexi is launching today to help spread the word across Illinois why Alexi Giannoulias is the leader Illinois veterans can trust,” said Retired Lieutenant Colonel Jaime Martinez, a 25-year Army veteran and volunteer with Veterans for Alexi. “Illinois’ veterans are struggling every day trying to find employment, housing and education. The only candidate I trust with the mission to provide for the military, veterans and their families is Alexi Giannoulias. As Treasurer, he has committed himself to providing for the veterans’ community.  Alexi has championed the Welcome Home loan program and Fallen Heroes scholarship program. As Senator he will build on these programs and fight for our veterans and military families every day.”
 
“The Rambo-esque embellishments of Congressman Kirk are simply unacceptable. Service members live by one code: the truth. Once breached, they can no longer be trusted, especially in the context of what you did or did not do when facing the ultimate test against a determined foe.”

The first Veterans for Alexi veterans outreach tour, which runs today through Friday, will include stops in Decatur, Springfield, Bloomington and Peoria.

You can learn more about Veterans for Alexi by visiting www.alexiforillinois.com/your-campaign/veterans-alexi.
 
ALEXI’S RECORD OF HELPING VETERANS AND MILITARY FAMILIES:
 
As Senator, Alexi will ensure our returning troops and their families have access to jobs and capital. Service members and reservists too often have trouble finding a job in this tough economy. Alexi supports efforts to strengthen penalties on employers who commit job discrimination against returning veterans.
 
Alexi will work to expand the VA loan programs so that veterans have the opportunity to open a small business or buy a home. As State Treasurer, he expanded Illinois’ Welcome Home Loan Program, which gives low interest loans to members of the Illinois National Guard and U.S. Military Reserves after their deployment ends.
 
To help veterans have access an affordable college education, Alexi would push for the proper implementation of the Post-9/11 GI Bill, which will allow every eligible veteran, serviceman and woman, Reservist and National Guard member to attend a public college or university for free for four years. Alexi used his position as State Treasurer to launch the Fallen Heroes Scholarship Fund to benefit the children of fallen Illinois service members. The fund helps children of those who have died in Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom attend any college or university anywhere in the U.S. or select institutions abroad.

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News: New Poll Shows 13 Point Lead for Dan Seals

September 8, 2010 – 2:59 pm
eric

New poll: Seals leads by 13 points in IL-10

Dan Seals for Congress Press Release

Tuesday, September 7th, 2010

Seals also leading among independents, picking up Kirk voters

DEERFIELD, IL – In one of the most closely-watched Congressional races in the country, Democratic Candidate Dan Seals has a 13-point lead over his opponent, a new poll shows.  Seals is also winning among independents and picks up significant crossover support from voters who plan to support Republican Mark Kirk in the 2010 U.S. Senate race.

The attached memo shows Seals besting his opponent in several critical ways:

– DOUBLE-DIGIT LEAD: Seals holds a 13-point lead over Republican Bob Dold, 49% to 36%.  This margin is slightly larger than Seals’ 8-point lead in May (46% to 38%).

– WINNING INDEPENDENTS: Seals leads by 5 points among self-identified independent voters, 39% to 34%.

– STRONGER NAME ID: Seals’ name identification remains strong at 74% compared to his opponent, who was recognized by just 47% of respondents.  Seals leads in both Cook and Lake Counties and leads with almost every demographic subgroup.

– LARGE CROSSOVER VOTE: In addition to his strong base of Democratic and independent support, Seals is also winning 16% of voters who say they plan to support Mark Kirk in the 2010 U.S. Senate race, pointing to a diverse coalition of bi-partisan support.

“We are encouraged by this recent poll because it means that voters trust Dan to provide independent leadership and fiscal responsibility,” said Seals’ Communications Director Aviva Gibbs. “Dan will continue to focus on creating jobs and keeping taxes low, while ensuring that we protect our values and reduce the national debt in the years ahead.”

Anzalone Liszt Research conducted live phone interviews with 500 likely 2010 General Election voters between August 30 – September 2, 2010. Respondents were selected at random. The expected margin of error is +/-4.4% with a 95% confidence level.

Dan Seals is a business consultant and Lecturer at Northwestern University. The Democratic nominee for Congress in Illinois’ Tenth District, Seals is a former Director at GE Capital and Group Manager at Sprint. He holds an MBA from the University of Chicago and an MA in International Economics from Johns Hopkins University.  He lives in Wilmette with his wife, Mia, and their three daughters.  Seals is proud to be endorsed by Planned Parenthood, NARAL Pro-Choice America, the National Committee to Preserve Social Security & Medicare, the Joint Action Committee for Political Affairs (JAC-PAC), Sierra Club, League of Conservation Voters, Illinois Federation of Teachers, the Human Rights Campaign, and more.

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Featured, News: Fall Internships Available

September 1, 2010 – 10:40 am
pau1ke11y

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 1, 2010

For More Information Contact:

Andy Bookman 847-266-VOTE (8683)

Progressing Toward an Internship That Matters

If you have progressive values and are looking for a fall internship that will make a difference, have we got a deal for you!

The Tenth Congressional District Democrats (Tenth Dems) is accepting applications for fall internships. Several of our interns have gone on to internships in Washington, to college majors in political science or law, or paid political and nonprofit positions locally and in Washington.

Interns may do research, walk door-to-door with candidates, work in campaign offices, staff events and issue forums, and get to meet many political figures. In the past, they’ve helped at Tenth Dems events featuring former Presidential nominee George McGovern, as well as Presidential hopefuls Senators Evan Bayh of Indiana, Russ Feingold of Wisconsin, Howard Dean of Vermont, and Illinois’ Barack Obama.

Tenth Dems is a grassroots political organization that helps elect Democrats to all levels of political office throughout the 10th Congressional District. The organization has had thousands of volunteers helping Democratic candidates.

The 10th Congressional District contains portions of both Cook and Lake Counties stretching from Wilmette on the south through Waukegan and from Lake Michigan west through parts of Arlington Heights and Palatine.
Applicants should be high school juniors or seniors, college students, or graduate or law students with a desire to help the Democratic Party. Computer skills are desired. Fall interns are expected to work a minimum of 8 hours a week. We are looking especially for interns with web administration, social media, data and/or organizing skills.
Course credit is available with cooperating high schools and colleges. Acceptance into the Internship Program is selective and contingent upon an interview. Applicants are asked to submit a brief paragraph explaining why they want this internship, and a resume of their educational background and activities. Neither need be formal.

For more information on the Intern Program, or to apply, contact Hon. Lauren Beth Gash, Chair, or Andy Bookman, Internship Coordinator, at info@tenthdems.org or call 847-266-VOTE (8683).

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News: Robin Kelly Meets the Voters at Tenth Dems U

August 30, 2010 – 7:23 pm
pau1ke11y

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 26, 2010

State Treasurer Candidate Robin Kelly Meets the Voters at Tenth Dems U

Robin Kelly, the Democratic candidate for Illinois State Treasurer, will be the guest speaker at this Tenth Dems University (TDU) event. Like all TDU events, there is no charge to attend and it is open to all.

Meet the Candidates: Robin Kelly, Candidate for Illinois State Treasurer
Date & Time: Wednesday, Sept. 1, 7:00 p.m.
Location: Deerfield Public Library, 920 N. Waukegan Road, Deerfield

Robin Kelly received the Democratic nomination for Illinois State Treasurer by winning 94 of the state’s 102 counties in this year’s primary election. She not only won over voters in that election, but also impressed the newspapers. The Chicago Tribune endorsed her, saying that they were “really impressed with Kelly’s performance in the legislature and her work in the treasurer’s office.” The Sun-Times endorsed her, saying she was the only candidate with “the right experience, temperament and background for the job.” And the Peoria Journal-Star endorsed her as a “better fit in a cash-strapped state.”

Kelly is a former State Representative of the 38th District, and now serves as chief of staff in the office of the Illinois State Treasurer. In her career she has successfully sponsored bills to protect consumers from fraud, support economic development, and increase the minimum wage. She also led the fight for landmark legislation to protect victims of domestic violence and improve public safety. She has pursued a progressive agenda that promotes small business job creation, innovative investment strategies and financial literacy in underserved areas.

Originally from New York, Kelly moved to Illinois to attend Bradley University in Peoria, where she earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees. She later received her Ph.D. from Northern Illinois University. She currently lives in Matteson with her family.

All Tenth Dems University courses are free of charge and open to all. Pre-registration is not required, but it is encouraged. If we reach legal room capacity, those who are not pre-registered will not be admitted until we are certain that there is room for them. To register in advance, go to www.tenthdemsu.org. For more information you can call 847-266-VOTE (8683).

The Tenth Congressional District Democrats, or Tenth Dems for short, is a group of grassroots political volunteers who formed the organization in late 2003 to help elect Democrats to all levels of office throughout the 10th District. Tenth Dems University, established by Tenth Dems, is a series of classes designed to teach potential candidates, campaign volunteers and interested voters about the issues facing our community. The courses consist of one session each, are free of charge, and are offered at various locations around the 10th Congressional District.

For more information, or to RSVP, call 847-266-VOTE (8683) or email info@TenthDems.org.

The Deerfield Public Library provides meeting space as a community service. Neither the Library nor its Board sponsors or endorses these events or the presenting individuals or organizations.

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Featured, News: Seals Calls Court’s Stem Cell Ruling “Very Disappointing”

August 28, 2010 – 4:05 am
jmjh

Democratic Congressional Candidate Dan Seals issued the following statement after a U.S. District judge granted a temporary injunction to halt federal funding of embryonic stem cell research:

“Embryonic stem cell research is the foundation of regenerative medicine and the key to unlocking tomorrow’s scientific breakthroughs. I support the federal funding of this innovative work, which could yield effective treatment or cures for millions of Americans who are suffering from debilitating pain and terminal illnesses. Yesterday’s ruling is very disappointing, and we must work to move beyond this disruption so that scientists can restart their research and patients can regain their hope.”

Embryonic stem cell research has resulted in promising developments in the search for a cure for conditions such as Parkinson’s Disease, juvenile diabetes, and Tay-Sachs Disease.

Seals’ opponent, Bob Dold, sought out and received the support of the Illinois Federation for Right to Life (IFRL), the state’s largest anti-choice organization.

The IFRL opposes embryonic stem cell research, and in a March 2009 news update, published an article which tied the research to the work of notorious Nazi doctor Josef Mengele.

Dan Seals is proud to be endorsed by Planned Parenthood, NARAL Pro-Choice America, the National Committee to Preserve Social Security & Medicare, the Joint Action Committee for Political Affairs (JAC-PAC), Sierra Club, League of Conservation Voters, the Human Rights Campaign, and more.

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News: Stem Cells: Where Does Dold Stand?

August 25, 2010 – 4:12 pm
jackdimatteo

Stem Cells: Where Does Dold Stand?

Tenth Congressional District Democratic nominee Dan Seals was quick to voice his disapproval of a federal judge’s ruling to stop the use of government money for embryonic stem cell research. Where does his opponent, GOP candidate Robert Dold, stand on the issue?

Dold hasn’t commented on the stem cell ruling (or the issue as a whole), so the best we can do is postulate on where he might fall in the debate based on related topics. When it comes to abortion rights, Dold is telling the media he is pro-choice, although his interaction with Planned Parenthood tells a different story. According to the organization, Dold failed to apply for endorsement consideration until after they named Seals the only pro-choice candidate running in the district. Planned Parenthood even highlighted Dold’s endorsement by the right-wing Eagle Forum, which has subsequentially disappeared from that group’s website. The anti-choice Illinois Federation for Right to Life is backing the GOP nominee, as well.

Considering his dodgy behavior surrounding the issue of choice, Dold might be keeping mum about the stem cell ruling because he supports it and knows the sentiment wouldn’t bode well in the northern suburbs.

Source: progressillinois.com

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Blog, Featured, News: Quinn’s New Fight: Jobs For Troops

August 23, 2010 – 10:30 am
jackdimatteo

Quinn visits RLC, promotes Helmets to Hardhats program

August 20, 2010
Benton’s Grant Montgomery and Greg McClintock have served their country as U.S. Marines.

Now, both men are among the participants in the Helmets to Hardhats program at Rend Lake College.

“It’s a blessing,” Montgomery said. “The job market is really tough right now, and this program has fallen into my lap. It has been a true blessing.”

“I’m just trying to better myself,” McClintock added. “Hopefully, this will result in a really good job.”

McClintock and Montgomery were working on their welding skills in the RLC lab Friday morning when Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn visited the campus, promoting the program that trains veterans for good-paying jobs. Read More »

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News: Meet the Candidates this Thursday

August 23, 2010 – 7:10 am
jmjh

The Warren Township Democrats will hold its seventh annual “Meet The Candidates Night” on  this coming Thursday, August 26th, from 7:00 P.M. to 8:30 P.M. at the Warren Newport Public Library, 224 N. O’Plaine Road in Gurnee. 

Our Guest Speakers include Dr. Dan McDermott, Candidate for Superintendent of Lake County Schools; Laura Tomsky, Candidate for Lake County Clerk; State Senator Michael Bond, Re-election Candidate for Illinois State Senator, District 31; Scott Pollack, Candidate for Illinois State Representative, District 61, (Tentatively); Douglas Roberts, Candidate for Lake County Sheriff; Richard Voltair, Candidate for Illinois State Representative, District 62; David Weinstein, Candidate for Lake County Board, District 7; and Carol Sente, Candidate for Illinois State Representative, District 59.

Everyone who is a Democrat, Independent, or is of any political persuasion should attend, as well as any and all Warren Township Democratic Precinct Committeemen available.  (Unfortunately, there was a mistake in the paper saying that refreshments will be provided. Please Bring your own refreshments if possible and if the Library Cafe’ is still open, refreshments will be available for purchase there.) 

Anyone and Everyone is welcome to attend and for further information, call (847) 223-0795, consult our website at http://www.warrentwpdemocrats.org/, or drop us a line at P.O. Box 8061.  All of our “Meet The Candidates Nights” are FREE and are put on as a public service.  Bring a Friend and meet new ones here.

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Blog, News, The Mark Kirk We Know: Giannoulias, Durbin Expose The Real Mark Kirk

August 18, 2010 – 2:32 pm
jackdimatteo

SPRINGFIELD – Joined by U.S. Senator Dick Durbin at the State Fair in Springfield today, U.S. Senate nominee Alexi Giannoulias kicked off a 16-town Illinois Jobs Tour in which he delivered a withering indictment of Congressman Mark Kirk’s failed record of supporting the Bush economic policies that led to the loss of 8 million jobs, the doubling of the national debt and the worst recession in 75 years.

“Congressman Kirk’s abysmal record of supporting the failed, reckless policies of the past will not earn him a promotion come November. The people of Illinois are tired of typical politicians who lie to them and then turn their back on them when they need them most. That’s exactly what Congressman Kirk has been doing for the 20 years he has been in Washington,” said Giannoulias. “Unlike Congressman Kirk, I have a detailed, comprehensive plan to create the new jobs of tomorrow right here in Illinois, help our small businesses grow, and close corporate tax loopholes that have led to American jobs being shipped overseas to China.” Read More »

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