Quinn for Illinois

Governor Pat Quinn today announced that construction will begin this April to completely reconstruct the north-south section of Chicago’s Wacker Drive. The three-year, $366 million project will result in more than 4,000 jobs to the area and will be maintained through the Chicago Department of Transportation.  Funding for the project comes through Illinois Jobs Now!, a job-generation and capital improvement program that will revive the state’s ailing economy by creating and retaining over 439,000 jobs over six years.

Today, My Fox Illinois had an interesting piece about New Media in the 2010 Gubernatorial Primary election.  Since the Obama campaign nearly perfected online campaigning in 2008, Netroots activity has become an essential part of any legitimate political operation.  Online activism helps candidates reach as many voters as possible in the shortest amount of time.  Right now, Governor Quinn is working hard to talk to as many voters possible, but he can’t be everywhere at once.  Enter our new media team.

With a little over one week to go before Election Day, we were thinking about how much can be accomplished in a week.  Last week, Dan Hynes debuted a series of nasty negative ads.  Governor Quinn was working hard for you.  He announced $3.5 million in capital funding for Erie Elementary Capital Charter School. This money will allow the school to expand to add students from 6^th, 7^th, and 8^th grade.  He signed a bill into law that creates the “Gateways to Opportunity” program, which provides credentials for exceptional teachers.  He extended Keystone Steel & Wire’s utility tax exemption, which will save hundreds of manufacturing jobs.

Responding to increasing community outrage over the Hynes campaign’s divisive television ads, Governor Pat Quinn will speak on Saturday at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition Saturday Forum, led by the Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. They will be joined by U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., who has endorsed Governor Quinn in the Feb. 2 Democratic primary election.  The latest ad by the Hynes campaign, which misappropriates decades-old footage of the late Mayor Harold Washington, has ignited an emotional response from the African-American community and progressives throughout Illinois.

As the February 2 primaries approach, Teamsters are taking to the streets to remind working families of the strong labor record of Gov. Pat Quinn.  Members of Teamsters Locals 700 and 727 volunteered last week to reach out to voters in the Franklin and Schiller Park neighborhoods. The Weekend Walk gave Teamsters the opportunity to speak on Quinn’s positive approach and commitment to labor with as many hardworking men and women as possible.  “The more Teamsters come together within our communities to serve the common good, the longer labor issues will remain a priority,” said John T. Coli, President of Teamsters Joint Council 25.

The late, great Mayor Harold Washington is spinning in his grave today.  It is outrageous that Dan Hynes is now invoking the name of Mayor Harold Washington in a blatant maneuver to mislead voters. That Dan Hynes would use a 24 year-old news clip of a beloved figure to attack Governor Quinn shows there is no limit to his negative campaigning.  There also is no limit to his hypocrisy.

Those who support the University of Illinois and realize its local and international importance should vote Pat Quinn Governor of Illinois.  Quinn is the only candidate with the courage to support a realistic tax system.  In 1867, the people of Urbana and Champaign spent $40,000 to fund a brilliant campaign to get the state's land grant university located here. It was a very wise investment of local tax dollars.  Quinn is a man who understands the wise investment of state tax dollars.  In one year, Quinn broke a decade-long stalemate by getting a capital bill passed for much needed roads, bridges and high-speed rail. Without his leadership, Illinois would have forfeited billions of dollars in federal grants.

Today, Governor Quinn stood before the General Assembly and delivered the State of the State Address.  He described the accomplishments and challenges of the past year, and he laid out his vision for Illinois in 2010.  Nearly one year ago, Governor Quinn took the oath of office and was sworn in as the 41^st Governor of the State of Illinois.  Since that time of crisis, the Governor has signed over 800 bills into law, and has restored honor, integrity, and efficiency to the governor’s office.

Dan Hynes’ hypocrisy is jaw-dropping.  After making prison release programs his signature campaign issue, he now admits that he gave a $60,000-a-year part-time consulting job in his own campaign to a felon who was released after serving nine months of a two-year sentence.  Even worse, the felon in Hynes’ campaign was convicted of stealing $100,000 in state grant money – tax dollars that were intended to help inner-city businesses expand and create new jobs.

For all voters who are planning to vote early or by absentee ballot, this information should be helpful:

REGISTRATION:

• Absentee ballot applications are available by mail, in person, or online
  • Visit your County Clerk’s office or Board of Elections office,
  • Download form at www.chicagoelections.com, or
  • Call 1.312.269.7967 to get a form by mail

• Return your absentee application either,
  • By mail: Accepted until January 28
  • In-person: Accepted until February 1