Roskam Votes Against Unemployment Extension

Millions of unemployed Americans will be breathing a sigh of relief this week. The House just voted overwhelmingly to extend unemployment benefits for an additional 13 weeks to people in 27 states where unemployment rates top 8.5%, among them Illinois.

The roll call is here.

ILLINOIS

Democrats — Bean, Y; Costello, Y; Davis, Y; Foster, Y; Gutierrez, X; Halvorson, Y; Hare, Y; Jackson, X; Lipinski, Y; Quigley, Y; Rush, X; Schakowsky, Y.

Republicans — Biggert, Y; Johnson, Y; Kirk, X; Manzullo, Y; Roskam, NO; Schock, Y; Shimkus, Y.

NOTICE ANYTHING UNUSUAL?? Yeah, me neither! Yet again, Creepy Pete Roskam votes against the interests of his district. Not only that, he is the ONLY member of the IL GOP House delegation to vote against it. If you check out the link, you'll also notice that some of the most conservative members of the House voted FOR the extension. Among them the ENTIRE Indiana GOP delegation and the infamous anti-immigrant crusader, Jim Sensenbrenner of Wisconsin.

I'm from that neighborhood. I've spent the better part of my 31 years in that neighborhood. I know an awful lot of people there and A LOT of them are out of work and in a very tough spot.

SHAME on you, Pete Roskam. You've really outdone yourself this time.

Hat tip to Adam Doster over at Progress Illinois.

Who will challenge Creepy Pete in IL-06?

So petitions have started and apparently there isn't a Democrat yet running in IL-06. Jill Morgenthaler has told me said she needs significant support from DC in order to run. I'm assuming that means she needs significant support from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee as well as other Democratic and progressive-leaning PAC's and institutions.

In other words, these fools better not leave her hanging if she decides to take on ol' Creepy again. Last time around, it was pretty apparent that she didn't get the kind of resources and institutional support allocated to Tammy Duckworth's campaign in 2006. She was largely left to fend for herself as a first time candidate. It went as well as could be expected, even in the year of President Barack Obama. A badly planned and executed campaign will turn out badly, almost without question.

So far as I can tell, Jill Morgenthaler is our best bet to beat Creepy Pete. I'm hoping she runs.

Treat Your Mama Right

Happy Mother's Day to my Mom and all the mothers out there!

Congressman Quigley!

A few days late, but what the heck...

¡ CONGRATULATIONS !
CONGRESSMAN QUIGLEY

Love,
Rosána Pulído

Contribution Limits in IL? Maybe...

I consider myself pretty fortunate to be represented by Senator Heather Steans. In addition to credibly moving progressive issues in Senate, she's asserted herself as a non-nonsense voice for reform in IL government. And, as we're all too aware, Illinois government certainly has it's share of nonsense.

Of particular note is that Senator Steans is the chief cosponsor of SB1768 which would enact campaign contribution limits in IL.

Currently, Illinois is the the wild west of campaign finance, with very little restrictions on who can give and how much. According to current law, a single person, a corporation, or a political action committee can bankroll a political campaign to the tune of endless millions of dollars. The only requirement is that contributions over $150 must be reported to the Illinois State Board of Elections. I'm sure I don't need to illustrate the problems this creates.

Next week, along with State Rep. Harry Osterman, Senator Steans will be hosting a town hall meeting on ethics reform at Loyola University.


It's a Golden Opportunity... For Reform
A town hall meeting on ethics

Host: State Senator Heather Steans, State Representative Harry Osterman, and Loyola University

Date: Thursday, April 16th, 2009 at 7:00 p.m.

Location: Mundelein Center at Loyola University (1020 W. Sheridan Ave)

Featured Speakers
* Scott Turow, Best-selling author, current member and first chair
of the Illinois Executive Ethics Commission
* Cindi Canary, Executive Director of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform

Join State Representative Harry Osterman and Senator Heather Steans
for a discussion on ethics reform in Illinois and learn what you can
do to get involved in passing ethics reform legislation in Illinois.

Co-sponsoring organizations include: Northside Democracy for America, Independent Voters of Illinois - Independent Precinct Organization, Jane Addams Senior Caucus, League of Women Voters Chicago, Citizen Action/Illinois, Loyola University, Emanuel Congregation, Rogers Park Community Council, Edgewater Community Council, Loyola Inside Government, Loyola College Democrats, AARP, Alderman Joseph Moore, and more

Congressman Quigley and Rosána Pulído

As if you haven't heard already, Cook County Commissioner Mike Quigley won the special election Democratic primary to replace Rahm Emanuel for the 5th CD.

Everybody's favorite Minutemen spokeswoman, Rosána Pulído, won the Republican primary.

Say it with me, folks:

"roh-SAH-nuh - poo-LEE-doh"

And remember to roll that "r". She really loves that.

5th CD Forum Fun

On Sunday, I briefly went to the 5th CD Forum sponsored by Northside DFA, DePaul Democrats, and WCPT Chicago's Progressive Talk Radio. I say "briefly" because I had to leave almost right away. My friend had been parking the car and by the time she came in they were over capacity and wouldn't let her in! There was tremendous turnout! And on Superbowl Sunday to boot. Amazing. Northside DFA did a ton of promotion for the event and I'm sure the other groups did as well.

The general consensus seems to be that the large number of candidates hindered the amount of information being presented. I'm all for only inviting only the viable candidates, but I suppose that wouldn't be very democratic, would it? Northside DFA is a lot more fair than I am! ;)

Mike Fourcher has a recap of the frum on Mechanics here.
You can download a podcast of the event here.

I hear there's going to be YouTube video of the forum, but I haven't found it yet.