The following is a news release issued by the campaign of Bill Foster:

Joining the growing list of grassroots supporters lining up behind Bill Foster, the Illinois Federation of Teachers announced the endorsement of its 103,000 members throughout the state.

“The 103,000 members of the Illinois Federation of Teachers are proud to support Bill Foster," said IFT President Dan Montgomerry.  “In times like these, we need someone who will stand up for us and end the partisan bickering in Washington. In Congress Bill will fight to put middle class families back to work and protect Medicare for our seniors.  ”

“I knew when I met Bill Foster that he understands what’s important to middle class families in Will County,” said IFT Local 604 President Dick Manley. “We need leaders like Bill Foster, who know the importance of ending the gridlock in Washington and putting our families back to work.”

“I could not be more proud of the growing support from working families in this campaign,” said Bill Foster .  “As a scientist and businessman, I know first-hand the important role educators play in a child’s life. I believe the quality education is a right for every child and have always stood up to put our children first.”
 

The Bill Foster campaign announces its planned joint forum schedule in advance of the March 20 Democratic Primary.  Following joint appearances before the Chicago Sun Times¸ Kane County Chronicle and Chicago Tribune editorial boards, his campaign announced that Bill Foster will participate in the League of Women Voters of Naperville Forum on Feb. 25 and a forum sponsored by the Quad County African American Chamber of Commerce, which is still being formally scheduled. These public forums were chosen because will be hosted by well-established community organizations and all candidates on the ballot were invited.

“I look forward to a serious discussion of the issues,” said Bill Foster. “As a scientist and a businessman, I have first-hand experience creating jobs and finding solutions for complex problems. I look forward to talking directly with the voters about my vision for ending partisan bickering in Washington, and getting our economy back on track.”

On Saturday, February 4, 2012 the Citizen Action/Illinois Policy Council convened in Chicago to make endorsements in the 2012 Primary Elections. 

The Council voted to make the following endorsements for US Congress: Bobby L. Rush-1; Jesse L. Jackson, Jr.-2, Leslie Coolidge-6, Danny K. Davis-7, Tammy Duckworth-8, Janice D. Schakowsky-9, Ilya Sheyman-10, Bill Foster-11.

The Progressive Action Project, the state PAC of Citizen Action/Illinois, also announced its endorsements for the 2012 Primary Election.  

State Senate: Antonio “Tony” Munoz-1, Daniel Biss-9, Donna Miller-15, Melinda (Willen) Bush-31, Toi W. Hutchinson-40, Dave Koehler-46, Danny L. Stover-54

State Representative: Kenneth “Ken” Dunkin-5, Emanuel “Chris” Welch-7, Arthur Turner-9, Derrick Smith-10, Kelly M. Cassidy-14, Lou Lang-16, Robyn Gabel-18, Robert F. Martwick, Jr.-19, Rudy Lozano-21, Monique Davis-27, Elgie R. Sims, Jr.-34, Anthony R. Martin-35, Al Riley-38, Sam Yingling-62, Carl R. Wasco-68, Mike Smiddy-71, Frank J. Mautino-76, Brad Gillespie-95

Cook County Recorder of Deeds – Karen A.Yarbrough

Cook County Board of Review- Michael Cabonargi, Larry Rogers, Jr.

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Commissioner- Stella B. Black, Deborah Shore, Kari K. Steele

Court: Mathias William Delort-1st Appellate (Cahill Vacancy), Nathaniel R. Howse, Jr.-1st Appellate (Coleman Vacancy), P. Scott Neville, Jr.-1st Appellate (Gallagher Vacancy), Judy Cates-5th Appellate (Donovan Vacancy), James A. Shapiro-Cook County 8th Subcircuit (Chiola Vacancy), Lionel Jean-Baptiste-Cook County 9th Subcircuit (Bender Vacancy), Abbey Fishman Romanek-Cook County 9th Subcircuit (Epstein Vacancy), Lorna Ellen Propes-Cook County Circuit (Pucinski Vacancy), Stanley L. Hill, Sr.-Cook County Circuit (Conlon Vacancy), Erica L. Reddick-Cook County Circuit (Kinnaird Vacancy), Diann Karen Marsalek-Cook County Circuit (O’Mara Frossard Vacancy)

Illinois Senator Chris Lauzen, who is a candidate for Kane County Board Chairman, announced at a rally of more than 300 grassroots supporters of government reform his "Kane County Taxpayer Revitalization Plan."

Five Areas of Improvement for Kane County Government

1.  Property Tax Levy Freeze.  With home values falling,  property taxes continue

    to rise.  "Personal income taxes have gone up 67%, income taxes on employers

    have increased 46%, tolls have nearly doubled, the costs to commute have been     

    jacked up more than 25%, utility rates are increasing . . . at the very least, let's

   freeze the Kane County portions of our property taxes on our current residents!,"

    Lauzen said.

2.  Mortgage Help.  Through information and connecting to programs that already exist

   (HARP 2.0) for those who have stayed current on their mortgages and whose

    mortgages are already guaranteed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, we can help

    Kane County homeowners stay in their homes by lowering their interest rates and

    saving hundreds of dollars per month.  Lauzen said, "This wonít cost Kane County

    taxpayers any money, but it will improve their family budgets. Empty homes donít

    pay taxes, they destroy neighborhoods and families." 

   (See LauzenKaneCountyMortgageRelief.com)

3.  More Jobs Paying Higher Wages. "By helping to coordinate the efforts of the  

    existing network of Chambers of Commerce and restructuring how county

    government serves the employer community," Lauzen continued, "... we will take at

    least the following five steps:

   (a)    Streamline the permit process setting predictable prompt standards for

                     response.

   (b)      Coordinate a framework of incentives countywide, to minimize tensions of

                     regional "bidding wars."

   (c)          Partner with private industry and educational institutions through quarterly

                     roundtable discussions and employer forums.

   (d)     Coordinate planning for infrastructure among federal, state, local agencies

                     and developers who are willing to invest their capital . . . make sure that

                     our projects are "shovel-ready."

   (e)     Establish a Kane County Cooperative Clearinghouse website and portal to

                     exchange and exploit innovative ideas, equipment and services,

                     especially in areas of access to capital, e.g. SBA 504 Loan Guarantees

                     and the New Market Tax Incentive Program (which I helped pass into

                     Illinois law) to lower the down payment, decrease interest rates, and

                     extend repayment terms for commercial buildings.

   And, we'll have some fun learning from successful businesses, both large and

          small, as we recognize their progress and increase smart, hard-working Kane

          County commercial confidence."

4.  Drain the Swamp of Political Cronyism.  "One million five hundred thousand  

    dollars  ($1,5000,000 . . . five times what it costs good candidates in this area to run  

    and win an Illinois State Senate seat) of campaign contributions into the political fund

    of a local government administrative office is an obvious abuse of political

    competitiveness and clout.  A 75% correlation between campaign cash amounts and

    contracts, employment and other political favor is a problem with the status quo just

    begging for reform," asserted Lauzen.  Former U.S. Senator Peter Fitzgerald and

    State of Illinois reform leader Adam Andrzejewski have endorsed Lauzenís plan for

    48-hour disclosure of contributions from contractors, a ìsearchableî database like

    DuPage County has offered Kane County at no-charge, voluntary refusal of

    contributions from no-bid contractors, and the expansion of an unpaid ethics

    advisory panel from the current one member to three members, making sure that

    both the majority and minority parties are represented on the commission.

5.  Zero-based "Reality" Budgeting to Streamline County Government Spending.

    Lauzen said,  "We will simply deliver honest competent administration of county

    business through innovation and austerity.  We will survey best practices from

    anywhere in the world, prioritize and implement these innovations for the benefit of

    Kane County taxpayers and citizens."

As the only candidate for Republican nomination for Kane County Board Chairman who personally knows what it feels like to start, grow, manage and successfully sell a million-dollar small business, Lauzen is aligned with employersí needs.  And, as a tax specialist who has completed thousands of income, sales, and payroll tax returns for hundreds of families, he is sensitive to the burdens on taxpayers.

For answers to any questions, please call 630-264-2419 or email campaign@lauzen.com

Dennis Anderson, Democratic candidate for the 14th District Congressional seat, is pleased to announce that he has received endorsements of his candidacy from three influential statewide organizations. The Illinois AFL-CIO, Illinois Federation of Teachers, and the Independent Voters of Illinois – Independent Precinct Organization (IVI-IPO) recently announced their decisions to endorse Dennis Anderson in the 2012 Democratic Primary Election.

“I am honored to have been recommended by these organizations to serve as the Democratic candidate in the general election, “Anderson said.  “I’m running to change the tone of Congress, from one of gridlock and political paralysis to one that puts people first by working to serve the needs of the constituents of the 14th Congressional District.”

In addition to these endorsements, the Anderson Campaign is also happy to announce that a campaign office has recently been opened for business. It is located at 181 N. Virginia Street, Unit C, Crystal Lake, IL  60014.

Primary Election Day is Tuesday, March 20, 2012.  You can learn more about Dennis Anderson and his campaign by visiting www.dennisandersonforcongress.com.  For more information, contact the campaign office at 815.444.0305.

Joining the growing list of grassroots supporters lining up behind Bill Foster, the Associated Firefighters of Illinois announced today their endorsement of Bill Foster in the new 11th Congressional District.

“I am proud to announce the support of the 15,000 members of the AFFI for Bill Foster in Democratic primary the new 11th Congressional District,” sat Pat Devaney, President of the AFFI-IAFF.  “In times like these we need someone like Bill, who understands the importance of fighting to create jobs here.  Our working families are the priority, and no one knows this more than someone who has first-hand experience creating jobs here in the Midwest.”

“I could not be more proud of the growing support from working families in this campaign,” said Bill Foster (IL-11).  “I have always made it a priority to stand up for the hard working men and women, who keep us safe.  The support of these heroes will not be forgotten, and I am proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with them as we build our grassroots campaign.”

U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren, R-Winfield, released the following statement after the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee favorably reported H.R. 7, the American Energy & Infrastructure Jobs Act.

“The American Energy & Infrastructure Jobs Act will create good-paying jobs across the country and will help American businesses move their goods to market,” said Hultgren, a member of the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee. “This is a fully-funded, long-term, and robust reauthorization of the nation’s surface transportation programs that contains no earmarks and does not raise taxes on hard-working Americans. It also gives states increased flexibility in determining their most critical infrastructure needs, limiting the power of unaccountable federal bureaucrats.

“I’m especially pleased that H.R. 7 takes into account a concern I heard from my constituents during a field hearing at DuPage Airport last year. This bill brings badly-needed reforms the permitting process for infrastructure projects, which is too often cumbersome, leading to delays and wasteful spending.”

The American Energy & Infrastructure Jobs Act also includes two provisions previously introduced as stand-alone legislation by Congressman Hultgren. Incorporated in H.R. 7 are H.R. 1515, the Safe Teen and Novice Driver Uniform Protection (STANDUP) Act, and H.R. 3666, the Veterans Accelerated License Obtainment and Recertification (VALOR) Act.

“I’m excited that Chairman Mica saw fit to include these important bills in our committee’s legislation. The STANDUP Act will make our nation’s roads safer by encouraging states to enact graduated driver’s license (GDL) standards to ensure that teens are prepared for the challenges of the road. The VALOR Act will help us fulfill our commitment to our nation’s veterans by making it easier for them to obtain their commercial driver’s license (CDL), based on their military training and experience.”

Both STANDUP and the VALOR Act were introduced with bipartisan support.

State Sen. Chris Lauzen, a candidate for Kane County Board chairman, announced a Kane County portal for the federal Home Affordability Refinance Program 2.0 at the website www.LauzenKaneCountyMortgageRelief.com or the new www.Lauzen.com, which will be active on Wednesday.

Homeowners who have kept current on their mortgage payment, but who have seen their property values dramatically decrease, thereby disqualifying them for refinancing at lower interest rates, are encouraged to visit the website. When they enter their address and press either the Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac buttons, visitors will see whether their mortgage is guaranteed by one of the federal agencies that underwrites hundreds of billions of mortgage loans. The benefit of this program is significantly reduced interest rates on mortgages, no matter what your loan amount is to the value of your home.  

Mortgaged-stress homeowners can immediately apply for this program which takes effect in March.

The following is a press release from State Rep. Kay Hatcher, R-Yorkville:

In his annual State of the State address today Governor Quinn pledged to focus on job creation and tax relief, but his actions since taking office are at odds with those goals, said Rep. Kay Hatcher, R-Yorkville.

“It’s good to hear the governor talking about fostering job creation and providing tax relief, but actions speak louder than words. Just last year the Governor imposed a 67% income tax increase on working families- the largest in Illinois history. He also signed into law a job-killing business tax increase that has employers leaving Illinois or demanding exemptions from the high taxes to stay,” Hatcher said.

According to Rep. Hatcher, the Governor touched briefly today on the need for Medicaid and pension reforms to help stabilize the state budget but did not offer specific proposals.

“I understand that part of the Governor’s job is to talk about what’s good about Illinois and I was honored that he mentioned legislation I passed last year to help shield military families from protests during funerals. But given the magnitude of our budget crisis I was surprised and a bit concerned that the governor didn’t even mention our mountain of unpaid bills that is currently $8.5 billion and growing,” Hatcher said.

“Skyrocketing Medicaid costs are strangling our budget. Today the Governor acknowledged that fact, but again didn’t offer ideas on how to curb costs. In fact, the Quinn administration has failed to implement up to $1 billion in cost-saving Medicaid reforms already passed into law,” Hatcher said. “The Governor will give his Budget Address in three weeks. I sincerely hope he will use that opportunity to provide the concrete ideas and proposals for fulfilling his promises that were lacking today.

Illinois Treasurer Dan Rutherford issued the following press release:

“Governor Quinn’s State of the State address demonstrates that he and I share many common goals to avoid the financial disaster we’re headed towards: lower taxes, job creation, and a viable public pension system that protects benefits for current and future retirees. We may not always agree on how to achieve these goals, but I’m committed to working with the governor and the General Assembly to move Illinois forward.  I am committed to working with all parties to resolve the financial calamity of this state.”