MACOMB -- Don’t believe the propaganda that Democrats are now indifferent or apathetic about their party. More than 100 Democrats braved a nasty snow storm on Feb. 21 to attend the 24th Annual President’s Day Dinner organized by the McDonough County Democratic Coalition.
They heard several candidates who plowed through that snow storm to speak and socialize.
State Sen. John Sullivan, D-Rushville, even made news. The Democratic party will soon introduce its own redistricting proposal in the Illinois General Assembly, he said.
He’s not sure how it will differ from the petitions being passed by the Illinois League of Women Voters and other groups to get state redistricting on the November ballot. Republicans in the legislature have introduced the League proposal, which Sullivan attacked.
“It’s not a bipartisan proposal,” Sullivan said. “Without a doubt it will cause (redistricting) to end up in the courts.“
“Do we want reform? Yes,” he said. Voters will be able to compare the League/Republican and Democratic proposals, side by side, he said.
Redistricting advocates have expressed skepticism that any proposal can pass the General Assembly with the necessary 3/5ths vote. Instead citizens can sign petitions and get it placed on the November ballot for voter approval. (See stories below on redistricting.)
The keynote speaker was Alexi Giannoulias, the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate who is currently the state Treasurer. His race “is the most important race in the US. It’s about the future of our country“ and whether “greed“ or “hard work“ will triumph, he said.
He attacked his opponent, Republican Mark Kirk, as a Washington insider. “He goes to Chicago and preaches reform but when he‘s voting he shows how much Washington is in his blood,” Giannoulias said.
Kirk voted against affordable prescription drugs and health care, and against “holding companies accountable for shipping jobs overseas,” Giannoulias said. He voted against the minimum wage and unemployment benefits. “He has said ‘unemployment is not a big issue,” Giannoulias said of Kirk.
“ We have a choice to elect a Senator who will speak up for you and small businesses. We don’t need a Senator who thinks unemployment is not a big issue.”
Giannoulias’s old fashioned fighting stump speech pleased the crowd, which gave him a standing ovation.
Then they got another lively speech from Democratic Comptroller candidate David Miller. He touted his record in the Illinois General Assembly for payday loan reform. “We will fix the state,“ he said.
Robin Kelly, who is the Democratic nominee for state Treasurer also spoke. A Bradley University graduate, she has been a state legislator and now is chief of staff to Giannoulias the Treasurer. “Our main job is to keep your money safe,“ she said.
--Elaine Hopkins
E-mail comment 2/22/10: Burton Raabe wrote:
They heard several candidates who plowed through that snow storm to speak and socialize.
State Sen. John Sullivan, D-Rushville, even made news. The Democratic party will soon introduce its own redistricting proposal in the Illinois General Assembly, he said.
He’s not sure how it will differ from the petitions being passed by the Illinois League of Women Voters and other groups to get state redistricting on the November ballot. Republicans in the legislature have introduced the League proposal, which Sullivan attacked.
“It’s not a bipartisan proposal,” Sullivan said. “Without a doubt it will cause (redistricting) to end up in the courts.“
“Do we want reform? Yes,” he said. Voters will be able to compare the League/Republican and Democratic proposals, side by side, he said.
Redistricting advocates have expressed skepticism that any proposal can pass the General Assembly with the necessary 3/5ths vote. Instead citizens can sign petitions and get it placed on the November ballot for voter approval. (See stories below on redistricting.)
The keynote speaker was Alexi Giannoulias, the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate who is currently the state Treasurer. His race “is the most important race in the US. It’s about the future of our country“ and whether “greed“ or “hard work“ will triumph, he said.
He attacked his opponent, Republican Mark Kirk, as a Washington insider. “He goes to Chicago and preaches reform but when he‘s voting he shows how much Washington is in his blood,” Giannoulias said.
Kirk voted against affordable prescription drugs and health care, and against “holding companies accountable for shipping jobs overseas,” Giannoulias said. He voted against the minimum wage and unemployment benefits. “He has said ‘unemployment is not a big issue,” Giannoulias said of Kirk.
“ We have a choice to elect a Senator who will speak up for you and small businesses. We don’t need a Senator who thinks unemployment is not a big issue.”
Giannoulias’s old fashioned fighting stump speech pleased the crowd, which gave him a standing ovation.
Then they got another lively speech from Democratic Comptroller candidate David Miller. He touted his record in the Illinois General Assembly for payday loan reform. “We will fix the state,“ he said.
Robin Kelly, who is the Democratic nominee for state Treasurer also spoke. A Bradley University graduate, she has been a state legislator and now is chief of staff to Giannoulias the Treasurer. “Our main job is to keep your money safe,“ she said.
--Elaine Hopkins
E-mail comment 2/22/10: Burton Raabe wrote:
The cynicism of these bastards is amazing.
Both parties propose legislation they know will not pass so they
can claim to have been trying to do something and divert energy from
the petition drive.
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