Democratic News from Rockford, IL – more news at WinnDems.org.

Senator Stadelman's Weekly Bulletin - October 27, 2016




Framing complete on Indoor Sports Center expansion 
Construction workers and public officials including Senator Steve Stadelman gathered this week for a "topping off" ceremony at the Indoor Sports Center, where the last beam was lowered into place on a 133,000-square-foot expansion.

Stadelman passed legislation in his freshman year in the Illinois General Assembly in 2013 to provide a funding mechanism for $13 million in projects to help Rockford regain its dominance in the sports tourism market.



State funds help redesign dangerous Rockford road crossing
State Senator Steve Stadelman joined local officials to reopen the intersection of East State Street and Bell School Road this week. 
Reconstruction included the addition of sidewalks, walking paths and streetlights to an area frequented by pedestrians staying at several nearby hotels, where two Chinese businessmen were killed after being hit by an SUV nearly three years ago.
State funds helped pay for the $5.7 million project.

Stadelman backs bill to close executive ethics loophole
 
Cabinet-level appointees of the governor would be barred from using their official positions to sway elections under a bipartisan, good-government measure supported by Senator Steve Stadelman. 
The proposal reflects federal ethics rules that prohibit government employees from campaigning in their official capacities. It would apply to paid political ads but would not prohibit appointees from endorsing or otherwise supporting candidates on their own time as private citizens.
Campaign ads featuring state agency directors – including lawmakers who were appointed to cabinet-level positions by Gov. Bruce Rauner –  prompted the legislation. In the ads, the Rauner appointees endorse specific candidates and criticize challengers.
Nothing in current Illinois law prohibits them from identifying themselves as leaders of state agencies while campaigning for candidates who were appointed by Rauner to replace them in the General Assembly.
At least 43 other states have taken steps – called "little Hatch acts," a reference to the federal guidelines – to close similar ethics loopholes. Illinois is an outlier.

Stadelman urges renewal of housing tax credit
 
Senator Steve Stadelman is urging lawmakers to support a plan to renew an expiring state income tax credit that supports the development of much-needed low-income housing in Illinois.
The Illinois Affordable Housing Tax Credit gives a partial income tax credit to individuals, foundations or corporations that donate money to non-profit organizations that build affordable housing units. The credit will expire in December if it is not renewed by the General Assembly. Senator Steve Stadelman is a co-sponsor of legislation to extend it for five years.
Since the tax credit was established in 2000, more than $370 million has been donated to help construct more than 18,000 housing units for low-income households. The program has helped to sustain 27,000 jobs in 51 projects across the state.
Stadelman argues that the credit is among the smallest in Illinois but among the most effective incentives to create affordable.

Rock River Times Endorses John Nelson for County Board Chairman



From John Nelson's website:

I sincerely thank Frank Schier of the Rock River Times for endorsing me for County Board Chairman.

Unfortunately for Mr. Schier, he announced in the same issue of the paper that he has suffered a stroke.
 I ask that you, the readers of this post, keep Frank in your prayers. Read his statement here.


Democrat John Nelson is the pragmatic leader the county board needs. He is committed to ending the nepotism and corruption that has permeated the county's operations. He is committed to putting the county back on stable financial ground. He is committed to finding creative solutions to the crime problems that continue to plague the community. And he will be able to look past the same kabal of business owners who have controlled county politics for more than two-decades to find new economic development potential for our area.

Again, thank you Frank, and we all wish you quick recovery.

John Nelson,
Democratic Candidate for Winnebago County Board Chairman

2016 Democratic Candidates



Your 2016 Democratic Candidates
Winnebago County and City of Rockford, Illinois

1) You may not see all candidates on your ballot depending where you live.
2) Italicized names indicate uncontested races – these folks already won!

President and Vice President of the United States
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Timothy Michael Kaine

United States Senator
Tammy Duckworth

Comptroller
Susana Mendoza

Representative in Congress, Seventeenth Congressional District
Cheri Bustos

State Senator, Thirty-Fourth Legislative District
Steve Stadelman

Representative in the General Assembly, Sixty-Seventh Representative District
Litesa E. Wallace (may have different spelling on Rockford city ballot)

Representative in the General Assembly, Sixty-Eighth Representative District
Tricia Sweeney

Representative in the General Assembly, Sixty-Ninth Representative District
Angelique A. Bodine

State's Attorney
Joseph P. "Joe" Bruscato

Auditor
William D. "Bill" Crowley

Coroner
Frank R. Fitzgerald

County Board Chairman
John M. Nelson

Member of the County Board District Ten
Joe C. Hoffman

Member of the County Board District Twelve
Jaime Salgado

Member of the County Board District Thirteen
Angie Goral

Member of the County Board District Seventeen
David J. Soll

Member of the County Board District Eighteen
Dorothy Redd

Member of the County Board District Nineteen
Daniel S. Fellars









Chicago Tribune endorses Tammy Duckworth for U.S. Senate!



 
Great news: the Chicago Tribune endorsed Tammy this morning for U.S. Senate! 
 
The Tribune has endorsed Mark Kirk in every previous race he's run and their decision to endorse Tammy over Kirk is a big deal. 
 
That's why Tammy needs your help to make sure voters across Illinois know about the Tribune's critical endorsement. Contribute right now to give our campaign the resources needed to spread the word:
 
If you've saved your payment information with ActBlue Express, your donation will go through immediately:

Here are a few of the highlights from the Tribune's endorsement: 
 
"As a Veteran of combat in Iraq, Duckworth offers a unique perspective on military spending, preparedness and troop deployment."
 
"She has criticized wasteful defense spending […] She famously excoriated a beneficiary of the system who qualified for a contract by claiming an injury to his ankle that he had sustained during military prep school."
 
"Duckworth has the chops for nonconformity. She trained as a U.S. Army helicopter pilot because that was one of the only options for women in the military who wanted to engage in combat."
 
It's a strong endorsement and an important counterpoint to the misleading attack ads Mark Kirk and his super PAC are running, criticizing Tammy's record on Veterans' issues and national security. Contribute now help Tammy respond to Kirk's attacks and highlight this key endorsement:
 
 


 
CONTRIBUTE







No purchase, payment, or contribution is necessary to win, and will not improve chances of winning. Void where prohibited. Entries must be received between 10/12/16 and 10/16/16. Enter by contributing here. or click here to enter without contributing. One winner and a guest will receive a trip to Chicago, Illinois, including round-trip airfare for the winner and the winner's guest and one hotel room. Attend a reception with Tammy Duckworth and David Letterman. (approx. retail value of all prizes $1,500.00). Odds of winning depend on number of entries received. Promotion open only to U.S. citizens, or lawful permanent U.S. residents who are legal residents of the 50 states, DC or Puerto Rico and 18 or older (or age of majority under applicable law). All prizes awarded. Promotion subject to Official Rules and additional restrictions on eligibility. Sponsor: Tammy for Illinois, PO Box 10793, Chicago, IL 60610 
This email was sent to: paul@gorski.info. If that is not your preferred email address, click here. We try to send only the most important information and opportunities to participate via email, but if you'd like to unsubscribe, go to: http://action.tammyduckworth.com/page/unsubscribe
Contributions or gifts to Tammy for Illinois are not tax deductible.
Paid for by Tammy for Illinois

Meet N Greet, Tammy Duckworth, Friday, October 14, 2016

Please join
Sunil Puri
and
Democratic County Chairman Charlie Laskonis

for a Meet & Greet with

Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth
Candidate for U.S. Senate

Come meet Illinois' next US Senator and discuss the issues important to you.
 
Appetizers and soft drinks will be provided.

Friday, October 14th
6:00 – 7:00 PM
Radisson Hotel
200 S. Bell Rd
Rockford, IL

RSVP Online! 

Please RSVP by 12:00  pm on Thursday, October 13
(Editor note: looks like registration is still open online, give it a try!)
 
For more information or to RSVP, please contact Sharon Weber or Eric Stern at
(312)  955-0573 or  Eric@TammyDuckworth.com

Paid for by Tammy for Illinois

Senator Stadelman's Weekly Bulletin - October 13, 2016



Courts reinstate same-day voter registration
Voters in Winnebago County will be able to register to vote and cast ballots on the same day after a federal appeals court last week temporarily blocked a lower court ruling against the legislation. The ruling suspends a court challenge to the law and allows same-day voting to occur Nov. 8 in Illinois.

Under the new law, supported by State Senator Steve Stadelman as an effort to expand participation in the electoral process, counties with more than 100,000 residents and smaller counties that keep electronic records must allow Election Day registration. The legal challenge came from a conservative policy institute that argued same-day voting slights rural areas that tend to favor Republican candidates.


Feds warn against 'race to the bottom' on workers' comp
The U.S. Department of Labor is warning of a "race to the bottom" across America as states strip workers of vital workplace protections so that companies can save on workers' compensation costs. Workers' compensation has been a key issue in Illinois, and Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner's agenda includes dramatic reductions in worker protections. The labor department's new report provides a disturbing look at what happened in other states when similar agendas took hold.

The report's authors conclude that although corporations may be saving money, the dismantling of workers' compensation benefits results in injured workers and their families being saddled with
debt, forced into poverty and reliant on government welfare programs.
According to the report, released last week, "working people are at great risk of falling into poverty." It also says that benefits changes made across the country resulted in "the failure of state
workers' compensation systems to provide [injured workers] with adequate benefits."
The labor department is calling for possible national minimum standards for workers' compensation benefits and federal oversight when states fall short. Without intervention, federal labor officials
say, the system will continue to put injured workers "on a pathway to poverty."

Senate Democrats demand justice for sexual abuse victims
Former Speaker of the U.S. House Dennis Hastert is an admitted sex offender, but he is in prison for bank fraud, not sex crimes. That's because the deadline to prosecute his crimes against his former students ran out long ago, and Illinois prosecutors are powerless to do anything today.
State Senator Steve Stadelman supports lifting the statute of limitations for prosecution in child sex abuse cases in Illinois.
Two proposals to remove time limitations on prosecution of child sex offenders were the subject of a committee hearing last week in Chicago that featured testimony from Scott Cross, a former student, now 54, who Hastert abused when he taught and coached wrestling at Yorkville High School.

Harlem news conference focuses on unfair education funding
Harlem High School administrators, teachers and students conducted a news conference last week to shed light on the inequities of education funding in Illinois.
"We rely too heavily on property taxes, which forces higher local tax rates and results in inequitable funding in schools across the state," said State Senator Steve Stadelman, who also spoke and who has co-sponsored past legislation to attempt to change the state's funding formula.
Following the news conference, students on the "Link Crew" gave guests a tour of the school.

President Bill Clinton in Milwaukee, WI, Saturday, Oct 8

President Bill Clinton in Milwaukee, WI, Saturday!
 
President Bill Clinton will be campaigning for the Democratic ticket in
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
where he will lay out the stake's of November's election
 and emphasize Hillary Clinton's plans to create an economy that works for everyone,
 not just those at the top.
 
When: Saturday October 8th 2016
Doors Open at 3 PM
 
Where: IBEW Local 494
3003 South 103rd Street, Milwaukee
 
Please RSVP at the link below to reserve your space:
 
 
We look forward to seeing you tomorrow!
--
Crystal Miller
Deputy Political Director
Wisconsin Coordinated Campaign
608-209-6326

Senator Stadelman's Weekly Bulletin - October 4, 2016




Stadelman disappointed in same-day voter registration ruling
 
State Senator Steve Stadelman expressed frustration with a judge's decision last week to block some Election Day voter registrations in Illinois.
"While I respect the role of the judiciary in government, I'm disappointed any time access to the polls is restricted," said Stadelman, who supported the 2014 initiative to allow Election Day registration at Illinois polling places. "We should be working to make voting easier and encourage more participation in the electoral process." 
The legal arm of a conservative political think tank backed by Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner challenged the law in court in August. A judge last week ruled in its favor and issued a preliminary injunction.
Stadelman said the court ruling is particularly troubling combined with Rauner's recent veto of automatic voter registration, which the General Assembly passed with bipartisan support. Under that bill, motorists would have automatically been registered to vote -- or had their voting records automatically updated -- when obtaining or renewing a driver's license.

Free dictionary program continues for its 20th year
State Senator Steve Stadelman took part in "sort day" for the Sara Ingrassia-Jackie Confer Dictionary Fund. Volunteers packaged more than 3,000 dictionaries to be given later this month to all 3rd-graders who attend Rockford Public Schools.
The dictionaries, which are free to students and theirs to keep at the end of the school year, are used in classroom assignments during third grade. No public funds are used to purchase or distribute the dictionaries; the program depends entirely on charitable contributions for individuals, corporations, service clubs and PTOs.



Stadelman praises completion of downtown pedestrian bridge 
A former railroad crossing turned foot bridge over the Rock River is a prime example of intergovernmental cooperation and another key downtown redevelopment project, Senator Steve Stadelman said of the new attraction that opened for public use last week.

More than half of the $1.6 million cost of converting the bridge, which connects recreation paths between Davis Park and the UW Sports Factory, was paid through the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program.

"Projects like the pedestrian bridge often don't come to pass without multiple funding sources," Stadelman said. "A vibrant urban core is essential to a prosperous community, so anything that benefits downtown Rockford benefits the entire region."

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It is a "lite" version of WinnDems.org.
Paul Gorski is the editor and posts the content.
More information about local Democratic officials and candidates can be found at WinnDems.org (http://www.winndems.org)
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