(promoted per blog practice. however, someone from the campaign really does need to answer gary's question... - promoted by bored now)
Julie kicked off the week at the Hadassah-sponsored congressional candidates debate at Am Shalom synagogue in Glencoe.
Connecting with the crowd of more than 150 men and women, Julie shared her family’s story of escape from Communist Hungary during the 1956 revolution. She also discussed how, as the daughter of Holocaust survivors, Israel is more than simply a political platform or policy position for her. She has a deep, personal connection with the United States’ only Democratic ally in the Middle East.
“I am proud to be running for Congress in a district which values Israel and expects its Congresswoman to be a passionate advocate for Israel,” she said. “That’s what I will be.”
Like many of the 10th District's residents, health care was also on the minds of attendees. As the Republican candidates made clear their opposition to health care reform, Julie stood up for Americans in need of quality, affordable health care. Voicing her strong support for the Affordable Health Care Act and the public health insurance option Julie stated:
“We have the opportunity to provide access to quality health care for all Americans. This is a key moment in time.”
Julie made clear that while the Affordable Health Care Act was a significant achievement, she is adamantly opposed to the Stupak amendment, which would limit women’s reproductive rights more than any legislation in recent history.
Since the 2002 redistricting, the northern half of the 18th Representative District lies in the 10th Congressional District, so naturally (I thought) it made sense, despite the odd date, to hang out on Halloween with the district-wide group, 10th Congressional District Democrats, that Lauren Beth Gash has invigorated up north, especially since Howard Dean was the guest speaker. Apparently too many folks must have felt the New Trier Democratic dinner the week before was enough 10th CD action for them, since a number of candidates weren't present. But I thought it worthy enough to both attend and blog.
(posted by a campaign, which we encourage... - promoted by bored now)
Julie Hamos supports a public option and wants Congressman Mark Kirk to do the same.
On Monday, the Hamos campaign released a video urging voters to contact their representatives and tell them to support a public option.
From the video:
“The time has come for every American to have quality, affordable health care. We finally we have a chance to make that happen with a comprehensive package that includes a public option so that everyone has an affordable choice for health insurance - no matter what. But we have to let Congress know that real health care reform demands a public option to ensure competition and make health care accessible to everyone. “
On the Hamos website, 10th District residents can sign a petition encouraging Republican Congressman Mark Kirk to support health care reform that includes a public option.
You can also see the video on YouTube or link to it on Facebook.
Here’s the latest from the Illinois 2010 candidate and cow-pie trail …
… Illinois Comptroller Dan Hynes' Democratic primary campaign for governor has a new income tax attack ad on Pat Quinn airborne.
Hynes contrasts his Illinois income tax increase plan with Governor Pat Quinn's by noting he'll raise taxes on Illinois incomes only over $200,000. Hynes claims that his plan will protect the middle class incomes--but that plan will also exempt the next governor and all Illinois lawmakers from a tax hike, too. Yikes.
In addition, the lt. governor, treasurer, comptroller, attorney general, secretary of state, speaker of the House and president of the Senate would all be shielded from an income tax increase, too.
Julie Hamos spoke before Northside DFA at their October meeting, talking about why she's running for Congress in Illinois's 10th Congressional District.
Hamos had previously spoken before the group, but this time as a candidate for Congress in the Democratic primary. Questions were again pointed, but handled with aplomb.
I know there's the whole money thing, but really I think the trade offs are worth it. Often especially if your opponent is breezing into their primary slot. So the voters in the 10th are going to be treated to an exciting action-packed Democratic primary and then be ready for the real thing come September.
I have to admit to being among those that think Seals should have gracefully bowed out. I also agree that having a election-tested and winning Hamos taking on an also election-tested Coulson is better than an already tried and unsuccessful Seals taking her on.
The open seat in the solidly Democratic and progressive 18th District has attracted several good progressive candidates. But let's face it, the Illinois general assembly is full of good progressives that are powerless on the big issues. Why? Because of current leadership that is almost psychotically dictatorial and past leadership that was so corrupt that it has left our state finances and our social safety net in a shambles.
And year after year this leadership is kept in place by a support system that includes many of these same good progressives. They support it passively with their silence and lack of interest in creating something else, and actively by funneling their money and support to that same leadership.
In some districts yes, we're lucky to elect a Democrat at all. But in the 18th we have the opportunity to elect someone who is not only a solid progressive, but has a history of standing up to the very interests that are strangling our state government and our hopes for reform.
Did you know that in 1986 Jeff ran for State Central Committeeman against the chair of the machine-dominated Illinois Democratc Party -- and won? For that brief four-year period the Committeemen were able to elect a non-machine chair and rebuild downstate and suburban Dem organizations, which helped swing Illinois back into the Democratic column in 1992.
Did you know that in 1988 Jeff ran against Joe Berrios -- Joe "the poster child for conflicts of interests" Berrios -- for what was then the Board of Tax Appeals? Jeff received over a quarter-million votes in that race, receiving strong support from north suburban, lakefront, and majority-black wards and townships, as well as many media, labor, good-government, and progressive-advocacy endorsements. Unfortunately intense machine turnout on the southwest side overwhelmed the good-government forces and put Berrios into the office he holds today.
Ever run for office against a machine candidate? It is an incredible thing to take on and I give tremendous props to anyone willing to do it.
But there are several other reasons why I am supporting Jeff Smith.
[edit update 9/20 - (bored makes a point below that I hadn't considered.] by Jeff Wegerson (wegerje)
Robyn Gabel is a progressive. Robyn is a woman. Robyn is a long time friend. Robyn is endorsed by Jan Schakowsky.
Last August 5th I was riding the el home with several others after spending the evening downtown with IVI-IPOers meeting to improve the IVI-IPO endorsement process. On the el was fellow IVI-IPOer Jeff Smith. Jeff was at that moment the progressive heir apparent to replace Julie Hamos who has decided to go for the seat being vacated in IL-10 by Congressional Rep. Mark Kirk. Jeff Smith is a Prairie State Blue blogger. At that moment I was a Jeff Smith supporter. As a progressive blogger my aim is always to get the best possible Democratic candidate elected. That means as progressive a candidate as possible. Jeff Smith is a known progressive quantity.
After the jump I will explain how I know Robyn to be a good solid progressive candidate as well.
Despite his office being bombarded with calls from rabid, out-of-state Rush Limbaugh listeners, Mark Kirk did a good job of representing his district when he became one of eight Republicans who voted for the Waxman-Markey energy and jobs bill.
Now that he's running for US Senate, his district is a top target for Democrats. Announced candidates are already appealing to eco-voters in the 10th Congressional.
I'm pretty far from the district, but I know about the strong environmental record of Julie Hamos, who declared her candidacy today. She has been particularly outspoken on the Clean Car Act and energy efficiency, which are both mentioned on her issues page.
As a supporter for statewide office, I have appreciated your help and tremendous support.
I am pleased to tell you that after a great deal of discussion with you and many other supporters, I have made some decisions about my future and I plan on making a public announcement next Tuesday at noon.
If you are interested in participating in the event please contact Angie from my campaign staff at angie@juliehamos.org.
A current sticking point in negotiations over campaign finance reform is one of the key points, contribution limits. The reasonable step of parallelling the federal limits, i.e., $2400 per individual per election cycle, i.e., $4800 in an election (primary + general), and strict limits on transfers from party committees, is being resisted. It's important to show General Assembly leadership that the average voter or Democratic activist gets the importance of this issue, and cares about it.
I understand the argument that a limit means politicians spend more time fundraising. I don't agree -- even without limits my recent conversations confirm that they are maxing out that time. I could actually support a lower limit, such as the $500 in Massachusetts, or the different limits per office in Wisconsin that limits a state legislative contrbiution to $500. But I can live with the federal limits.
My state representative has an online petition which states simply,
We, the undersigned, petition the Governor and Illinois legislative leaders to enact caps on political contributions immediately. We call for contribution limits of $2,400 for individuals per candidate and strict limits on political party transfers to each candidate. We call for legislation to be enacted before the legislature adjourns on May 31.
To sign the petition click here. Then pass on to a friend. I won't say your name and e-mail won't get databased. But if you are reading this it probably already is.
I understand you are preparing to run for Illinois Attorney General. I request you assist me and countless other consumers on a bread-and-butter issue where banks are ripping-off regular folk.
Twice in the last year I have attempted to cash checks at the banks from which the checks were drawn. Both Bank of America and Citizens Financial Bank required me to pay them $5 to cash a check drawn on their bank.
Is this legal? What part of U.S. law or Illinois law allows banks to extort money for cashing a check drawn on their own institution?
If it is legal, it shouldn't be. The Illinois legislature should pass a law prohibiting this practice.
If it's not legal, I request you prod the Illinois Attorney General to take action. For starters the Illinois Attorney General should learn what banks (and other financial institutions) are charging to cash their own checks and the history of these policies. Then she should file a suit to recover the money stolen. And if it's a clear case of the banks taking money from people without legal authority the decision makers should be criminally prosecuted.
