Press Releases/Announcements from local sources
Sen Peter Roskam"Police impersonators traumatize their victims and do not provide any explanation for what they are doing. In many cases, these impersonators inflict physical harm on their victims."
Sen
Durbin“Senior after senior has told me this new prescription drug law is a complicated mess that has them confused and worried. For too many seniors in Illinois, the ‘D’ in Medicare Part D now stands for disappointment and disaster,”
“I write to request an explanation as to why ... you did not adhere to the processes that have been established by law for reviewing commercial transactions that might impact the national security of the United States,”
"The committee also approved an amendment offered by Illinois Democrat Richard Durbin to prevent senators from pressuring lobbying firms to hire people from one political party. Durbin said he was referring to the ``K Street Project,'' a decade-long Republican effort to get lobbying firms to hire Republicans and to contribute to Republican candidates and causes."
Sen.
Obama"But all we really need to know about the danger of our oil addiction comes directly from the mouths of our enemies: "[Oil] is the umbilical cord and lifeline of the crusader community." These are the words of Al Qaeda."
“This economy is like a heavyweight boxing champ: strong, sturdy and still swinging."
"Here's a lovely example of how it works: Just before Christmas last year, in a spectacular example of a straight power play, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and House Speaker Dennis Hastert pulled off a backroom legislative deal to protect pharmaceutical companies from lawsuits. The language was slipped into a Defense Department appropriations bill at the last minute without the approval of members of the House-Senate conference committee meeting on the bill."
GovernorBlagojevich
"It gives local voters more control over how their school districts are run, and gives them more choices for how to ensure that their districts are run efficiently.”
"The ATF has shut down a gun store in Baltimore County, Maryland for refusing to account for hundreds of guns since 1997. But this isn’t just any old gun store– it’s owned by an NRA board member."
West
ChicagoHigh School
“The WeGo 2 Africa project is not only building a school for community in rural Angola, but building a sense of community in our own school as students and staff work together to accomplish our goal.”
Preparations for Heritage Days, the successor to RailRoad Days, are beginning. Start Making plans for the first weekend after the 4th of July. Parade applications are available NOW.
ElementaryDistrict 33
"The agenda for the March 2 meeting of the Board of Education of District #33 is now posted"
City
of West Chicago"West Chicago Heritage Days – Talent Show Auditions, 7th Annual Blooming Fest Downtown Garden Festival, Gallery 200 Features Local Artist Exhibits, Public Library Hosts Events
"Now, police officers are asking residents and business owners to help replenish a scholarship fund set up after the 23-year-old was killed in the line of duty April 20, 1992."
Sen
Durbin“The situation in east Congo is one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world and most Americans don’t know it.”
Sen.
Obama"These chemical plants represent some of the most attractive targets for terrorists looking to cause widespread death and destruction. Unfortunately, at many of the chemical plants in our nation, the security is light, the facilities are easily entered, and the contents are deadly."
"Senator Obama's remarks will focus on a plan to make America independent of risky foreign sources of oil and will follow a speech by U.S. Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman."
"“It is also important for us to get a first-hand look to ensure that federal dollars are being wisely spent and that help is getting to the families, small businesses and organizations that need it."
"The final vote in the House was 220-215. But that was only after it appeared defeated, 218-216. With that public relations calamity in the offing, House Speaker Dennis Hastert refused to close the vote for more than two hours while then Majority Leader Tom DeLay went after Republican nays."
"The result has been strong performances by Democrats at all levels, particularly in Aurora, where 57 percent of the 2004 presidential vote wen to John Kerry and the relatively unknown Ruben Zamora won almost as many votes as U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert last year."
GovernorBlagojevich
“These grant funds will help preserve these communities’ heritage as well as improve the quality of life for current and future generations.”
Cable
ComChannel 17
“Hastert doesn’t represent this district,” he said. “There are cities within our district that are paying lobbyists to lobby him on their behalf. That’s his job.”
"Most recently, however, officials discovered traces of vinyl chloride in 23 Wayne Township wells. In nine of those cases, the levels of the gas, used to make plastics, were above government-recommended safety levels."
"If Frist and Hastert – party loyalists, not opposition Democrats – are the voices of sanity and pragmatism, look twice at Bush's motivation in this deal."
"You can't manage the ports without knowing what the Coast Guard and other federal agencies are doing about security. And it's precisely that information, in the wrong hands, that could be used to sneak dangerous materiel or manpower into the country. Which is why House Speaker Dennis Hastert, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and every Republican governor on the East Coast (except Jeb Bush!) opposes the port deal."
"55th District (far west suburbs): Carol Stream Trustee Pamela Joy Fenner says her strength is in consensus-building. She is endorsed over Rep. Randy Ramey, who was appointed in 2005 because of his excellent insider connections (he's former Senate President James "Pate" Philip's stepson), and attorney Matt Fuesting of West Chicago."
Sen
Durbin"Matter-of-fact, the issue is raising so much attention that U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, D-Illinois, is co-sponsoring federal legislation to improve prevention of, diagnosis and treatment of heart disease and stroke among women."
"The federal Dream Act, re-introduced last November by one of its original sponsors, Senator Richard Durbin, a Democrat from Illinois, aims to change these inequalities. After graduating from high school, students may apply for conditional status, allowing them to reside legally in the U.S. for six years and be eligible for financial aid."
"The increased scrutiny by Durbin and his staff coincides with the controversial proposed sale of terminals at six U.S. ports to Dubai Ports World, a company owned by the United Arab Emirates."
Sen.
Obama"But Giannoulias has one of the most valuable political allies a relatively unknown newcomer could ask for, superstar Senator Barack Obama, and enough money to take full advantage of the relationship in the final weeks of the Democratic primary race."
"House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., has promised lawmakers that they will be allowed to offer amendments in multiple committees before the legislation is put up for a vote. Since lawmakers will get a chance to water down any rules seen as too strict, do not expect any sweeping legislation."
"On Sunday, the Minutemen plan to rally in front of House Speaker Dennis Hastert's office on north River Street in Batavia to show their support for a House bill that would make illegal immigrants guilty of a federal crime, and would fine companies who hire them... At the same time Sunday, the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights plans to rally at Hastert's office to voice its support for the Development, Relief and Education of Alien Minors Act,"
WC
Public LibrarySelf-Defense for Women, Laughter League, and Between the Lines
| Friends of the West Chicago Library Book Sale | |||
| 118 W West Washington Street, West Chicago, Il. | |||
| Friday | March 3rd | 9 am to 4 am | |
| Saturday | March 4th | 9am to 4 pm | |
Friday potpourri...
"Michael Browning gave his life nearly 14 years ago to help make West Chicago safer. Now, police officers are asking residents and business owners to help replenish a scholarship fund set up after the 23-year-old was killed in the line of duty April 20, 1992."
Sen
JohnMillner
" This bill will allow Illinois regulators to accept their foreign training and provide a low-cost way to quickly bolster the state’s nursing rolls with qualified people,”
Sen Peter Roskam"Lawmakers were busy this week attending committees and approving a number of bills, reported State Senator Peter Roskam (R-Wheaton), but the daily legislative routine was interrupted by the Auditor General’s revelations of drastically embellished job creation numbers and gross misrepresentation in job growth by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO)."
Sen
Durbin“We all want to help United succeed. Sacrifices have been made from every corner of the United family over the course of the last several years to keep the airline strong. United’s return from bankruptcy is remarkable.”
Sen.
Obama"Obama also noted that the President's Budget cuts the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program by 80 percent. In 2005, COPS provided $7.4 million for hiring police officers in more than 60 Illinois Communities."
GovernorBlagojevich
“Our multi year plan does what it’s supposed to do: maintain roads and bridges. But we cannot rely on that alone. Last Spring, Congress passed a federal transportation bill that provides several billion dollars in new funds for Illinois."
Rep.Randy Ramey"We need to ensure disconnection is both beneficial to our children and yet safeguards the financial interests of the residents of school district U-46 in Bartlett, Carol Stream and Wayne."
“Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes and this bill outlines where we can make improvements on the state level.”
Sen
JohnMillner
“Police should have every tool they can at their disposal,” Millner said. “This bill will give police another way to fight crime and an added level of security.”
Referendum, Lit. Fest. survey, high school honor rolls, and more...
“This is our chance to show our appreciation for those who went above and beyond the call of duty to make a difference in our lives,” said Ruben Pineda, event chairman.
Sen
Durbin"The Senator introduced legislation last week designed to protect seniors and people with disabilities from the fluctuating drug prices and formulary changes that threaten to wreak havoc on their budgets."
"With hurricane season less than four months away, time is running short for the Administration to convince Americans that it has learned its lessons after the Katrina disaster.”"
Sen.
Obama"The White House is finally acknowledging just how delinquent its response to Hurricane Katrina really was."
"Over four years after the worst terrorist attack in our history, not only are we failing to inspect 95% of the cargo that arrives at U.S. ports, but now we're allowing our port security to be outsourced to foreign governments."
“"Every name should be registered, every machine should be working, and every single vote should count,” which he claimed were not fulfilled in the last two presidential elections. He emphasized the need to remove politics from the debate and urged that now is the time for election reform."
"KRAUTHAMMER: ... it looks like demagoguery on the part of the Democrats, and it surely is.
LIASSON: Well, they've got a lot of company. When you have Bill Frist and Dennis Hastert, I think don't think the Democrats are leading this charge at all."
"It’s shaping up to be a major political battle: Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, House Speaker Dennis Hastert and House Majority Leader John Boehner have all lined up against President Bush’s plan to turn over operation of six major American ports to a company based in the United Arab Emirates."
GovernorBlagojevich
"Recent tests of private wells near Bartlett and West Chicago by the DuPage County Health Department, showed 18 out of 27 contained traces of vinyl chloride, a potentially harmful chemical used to make plastics."
(It is important for WC residents to understand this involves shallow wells in unincorporated areas ... not city water. - Bob)
“We have a lot of work to do,” Cole said. “I think this is a good place to start. It’s four or five months before the board has seen (budget) numbers before.”
Sen
Durbin“There is strong bipartisan support for immediate review of the deal approved by the Bush Administration to turn over the operations of six major U.S. ports to a company based in the Middle East."
"Voinovich (R-Ohio) told The Hill that he has met with Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (Ill.) to discuss collaboration on the public-financing pitch Durbin is crafting with Sen. Chris Dodd (Conn.), the Rules Committee’s ranking Democrat. Snagging the endorsement of Voinovich, who last year bucked his party by opposing the confirmation of U.N. Ambassador John Bolton and has so far taken a supporting role in the GOP’s push for lobbying reform, could give the public-financing concept considerable momentum."
Sen.
Obama"Over four years after the worst terrorist attack in our history, not only are we failing to inspect 95% of the cargo that arrives at U.S. ports, but now we're allowing our port security to be outsourced to foreign governments."
"The topic will be pulled onto the front burner when Congress returns after this week's Presidents Day recess. The Senate rules committee plans to take up reform proposals, including Obama's, which would create a nine-member ethics commission of former lawmakers and judges to investigate complaints against members."
In late January, House Republicans, led by Speaker Dennis Hastert of Illinois, offered up a cluster of measures they said would help curb the influence of lobbyists, including tighter rules on privately funded travel and gifts - in other words, matters that when they are made public are most likely to embarrass members even if they often have little impact on legislation. The fruit doesn't hang much lower.
"The House and Senate need not pass the same bill for a version of the legislation to become law, according to Republican leaders. But that is not how the top brass viewed things three years ago, when both chambers authorized $221,000 to revise and publish a new edition of “How Our Laws Are Made,” a House parliamentarian’s report on the legislative process that originated in 1953."
GovernorBlagojevich
"Through IRMI, researchers would be able to take a closer look at these stem cells identified in tumors and hopefully make significant strides forward in the battle against cancer,” wrote the Governor and the Comptroller.
“What it shows is that we’ve put in a place a good set of procedures. We’re bringing business in and it’s working,”
Sen
Durbin“Judges, law enforcement officers and the citizens of Rockford who depend on the courthouse have made a convincing case for this investment and the construction is within reach.”
"Durbin noted a recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report showed that “there are significant gaps in federal law and agency oversight with regard to the sharing of Social Security numbers.”"
"We ended up with a system that has disapointed a lot of people. Some people say the D in Part D stands for disappointment. Others say it stands for disaster,"
"Durbin held up an orange “personal emergency device” that allows miners to receive messages from the surface and also tracks where they are in a mine. “Some of these state initiatives clearly should be federal initiatives, too,” he said."
Sen.
Obama"Earlier, Raila and US Ambassador Mr William Bellamy presided over the renaming of two schools after US senator Barrack Obama at Nyang’oma Kogelo village in the district."
"Finally, this proposal may require additional Congressional action in order to ensure that we are fully protecting Americans at home. I know we are both committed to fighting the global War on Terror."
"Hastert has promised Republican lawmakers that any reform plan would go through "regular order," allowing representatives to offer amendments in as many as five committees before legislation reaches the floor."
Sen
Durbin"U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin visited Evers Pharmacy in Collinsville to talk about legislation he introduced in the Senate Friday morning to alleviate some of the restrictions of Medicare Part D, the new prescription drug program ."
"None of the Band of Brothers has as much publicity and heavyweight backing as the one sister among them. Ms Duckworth was talent-scouted by Illinois' senior senator, Richard Durbin, and is being talked up by the state's junior senator and the Democrat's most popular rising star, Barack Obama."
Sen.
Obama"It was clear, Obama's support of Ford inspired those in the room. "I was standing there watching the two of them on the podium. I said this would be such a fantastic thing for our country," said Malak Kotbe."
"But even as Halliburton began gearing up for the daunting task, an unlikely critic of the plan, House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., questioned the wisdom of even attempting to rebuild Cheney."
"Following the Chicago training, students will stage a "Diplomas Not Death" vigil outside the district office of House Speaker Dennis Hastert in Batavia, Ill., shedding light on the numerous deaths along the border and the lack of opportunities for undocumented high school graduates."
Cable
ComChannel 17
Rep.Randy Ramey"I wanted to make sure that when we discuss emergency plans for this state, we include pets in the equation. Animals shouldn't be left to die."
Sen
Durbin"Legislation that would grant scientists the right to openly discuss their findings is pending before both houses of Congress. California Representative Henry Waxman, a Democrat, introduced HR 839 in the House, and Illinois Senator Richard Durbin, also a Democrat, introduced S 1358 in the Senate."
"This law was written by the pharmaceutical companies and the insurance companies. They wanted to make sure at the end of the day, they would do well," Durbin said. "Unfortunately, at the end of the day, senior citizens are not doing as well as they should."
Sen.
Obama"Senator Barack Obama, Democrat of Illinois, said he had introduced a bill to create an independent commission outside of Congress that could investigate possible improprieties."
"Fletcher says he is caught between two generations and sees a riff between older and younger African Americans. Not content with black leaders Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, Fletcher is a fan of Illinois senator Barack Obama, a Democrat. “I like Obama; he’s from my generation,” said Fletcher. “He speaks for me.”
"She accused House Republican leaders of knowingly sending the bill to the floor despite knowledge of the error. "Republican leaders chose to ignore House rules, precedents and even the Constitution itself," Pelosi added.
But House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., denied that he had been aware of the change before the House budget vote. "
"If such an investigation were authorized, it could end up focusing on House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill.,..."
"The Food for Peace budget has hovered around $1.7 billion the past two years. The development portion, however, has been shrinking. The Coalition for Food Aid sent House Speaker Dennis Hastert a letter this month asking for $500 million in development funds next year."
"Many Democrats in the House alleged that the difference between the two versions of the bill did not arise accidentally. They said that House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) knew of the discrepancy and chose not to correct the version of the bill because doing so might have hurt its chances of passage in the House."
Presidents' Day edition...
Rep.Randy Ramey“I feel good knowing that we’re taking another step to help protect people in our community from those who have been convicted of violent sexual crimes.”
Sen Peter Roskam"A budget plan based on higher spending, deeper debt and pension raids; a Senate Republican ethics reform package to curb state contract abuse, and legislation protecting homeowners by more strictly defining government’s use of eminent domain are among the measures considered by the Illinois Senate during the week of Feb. 13-17,"
Sen
Durbin“Emergency management officials from Illinois have told me that the priorities in the President's budget could undermine efforts to protect the people of our state,”
Sen.
Obama"If these press reports are true, the White House's plan demonstrates a startling lack of compassion for workers who sacrificed their health to provide for our national security. "
"Because for all the noise we've heard from the media about the bribes accepted by Congressman Duke Cunningham, the thousands of dollars in free meals accepted by other congressmen, and the "K Street Project" that filled lobbying firms with former Republican staffers, we've heard only silence from the very place that should have caught these ethics violations in the first place - the House Ethics Committee."
Speaker Hastert's last weekly blog entry was four weeks ago.
"The Iranian government has blatantly ignored its international obligations and the Paris Agreement and instead headed down a path of dangerous, deadly destruction."
GovernorBlagojevich
| Governor's 2006 Budget Address | ||||
| Audio | ||||
| Video | 56K | 150K | 300K | |
"Registration is going on now through April 1st for Wildcat Youth Football and Cheerleading. Flag football is available for 6 & 7 year olds"
Sen
JohnMillner
"The annual demonstration day at the Capitol is hosted by the Illinois Computing Educators and is aimed at showing legislators from across the state how students in their districts are using technology in their everyday lives and studies."
Rep.Randy Ramey"I think the Governor has some really good ideas here but the fact of the matter is we're in the middle of a financial crisis so it's difficult for me to approve of all these measures when I know already we can't afford it,"
“This is something different. This is bringing a new group of people to downtown West Chicago,” he said, also noting that an art gallery at 200 Main St. has also recently opened. “Downtown is changing rapidly to serve all people’s needs.”
"West Chicago is getting in touch with its creative side. An artists co-op in downtown is drawing a crowd, so to speak. And just down the street, dozens of photographers from West Chicago have their work on display through April 29 at the city museum, 132 Main St."
"Firefighters from West Chicago, Winfield, Addison, Wheaton and Batavia will share their zesty secret recipes for chili with anyone who isn’t afraid of heartburn."
Press
"Wayne Lofton, office manager of the West Chicago Chamber, is working on getting teams. Signed up in the team formation process are the city of West Chicago, Daniel and Associates Real Estate, Jeanne Ward and Heidi Colliander."
"After an accident, illness or stay in a hospital, persons often are faced with an overwhelming amount of bills from various sectors, confusion of what truly is owed and what portion of the bill is included in their insurance coverage."
Sen
Durbin"His timing is suspect, to be there just as the big bill came to the floor," Durbin said. "It raises questions as to whether the Republican leadership should have thought twice."
Illionois
Senators
"Obama and the bill's co-sponsor, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), said they were moved to act by a recent Tribune series on mortgage fraud, in which swindlers use high-tech identity theft and face-to-face scams to wrest control of homes, then secure hefty bank loans that go unpaid."
Sen.
Obama"Last year, we found out that the VA was short $1.2 billion dollars for 2005 because of budget tricks and accounting problems," Senator Obama said. "Given the VA's history of stunning budget shortfalls, we owe our veterans an honest accounting of this budget request."
"U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) Thursday will hold a press conference to discuss legislation he has introduced to create a congressional ethics enforcement commission to receive complaints from the public on alleged ethics violations by members of Congress, staff, and lobbyists."
"Time and time again, Hamas has shown that it prefers terrorism against innocent civilians to pursue its political aims, and the United States should play no role in assisting a majority terrorist parliament."
"Police discovered an unloaded semiautomatic handgun in the rear passenger area and charged him with the weapons violations and a misdemeanor drug charge for possessing a small amount of marijuana."
"The next day, the Minutemen plan to rally in front of U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert's office in Batavia, to show their support for a House bill that would make illegal immigrants guilty of a federal crime and would fine companies that hire them."
Sen
JohnMillner
"Millner says the Governor’s proposal to provide universal preschool to Illinois children is a laudable one, but he would like to hear more about how the Governor plans to pay for the idea."
Referendum update, state athletes, and new community column...
"Intersections in Gurnee, West Chicago, Elmhurst and Oakbrook Terrace also made the list."
"West Chicago girls basketball coach Kim Wallner received her 300th career win in an awesome way — an upset victory in the postseason."
Sen
Durbin"“What they have today is a confusing benefit, a law that prohibits Medicare from negotiating with pharmaceutical companies and a plan that guarantees drug companies billions of dollars in profits."
"Scientists often fall outside the coverage of whistleblower protection laws and thus, scientists who violate agency gag rules may be punished for insubordination. Corrective legislation (HR 839 by Representative Waxman and S 1358 by Senator Richard Durbin) that would grant scientists the right to openly discuss their findings is pending before both houses of Congress."
Sen.
Obama"Senator Obama, the only African American serving in the United States Senate, expressed his gratitude for being invited to participate this year. “With the recent passing of Rosa Parks and Coretta Scott King, it’s more important than ever to teach our children about the struggles and the progress made by the civil rights heroes who came before us,”"
GovernorBlagojevich
"Budgets are more than a series of numbers. They’re moral documents that reflect your priorities.”"
"In 2005, production revenue increased to an estimated $94 million, which led to approximately 15,000 people being hired by various film and television projects."
"Most privately funded trips, meals and gifts are intended to influence somebody for something that may or may not be in the best interests of the nation. By the way, Hastert and Boehner are both members of the same party."
- Ag Expo chairman can share hot stories - Fresno Bee
- Speaker of the US House to appear in area - Marietta Times - Marietta,OH
West
ChicagoHigh School
"Community High School will present a series of Hispanic Outreach Seminars for educators, students and parents over the next several weeks. Nationally acclaimed consultant Dr. Lourdes Ferrer will present the seminars. "
"Adults who want to learn how to speak English can take tuition-free classes from 7:00 p.m. until 9:15 p.m. on Monday and Wednesday or Tuesday and Thursday evenings at Community High School District 94..."
"Referendum update, Board synopsis, kindergarten registration, gifted program, and more..."
Sen
JohnMillner
"Senator Millner (shown at left) was joined by DuPage County State’s Attorney Joe Birkett (right) in presenting Senate Bills 2374 and 2427."
"Two bills approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee today will protect witness statements and create common sense exceptions to police video usage rules according to their sponsor, State Senator John J. Millner (R- Carol Stream). "
""They come in thinking we are going out of business, and we have to get rid of the fear factor," said John Czech, a salesman from Haggerty Ford in West Chicago who was working the Ford display."
Sen
Durbin“The administration’s insistence on billions of dollars in new tax breaks for the wealthy is driving up our national debt and forcing deep cuts in critical security and disaster preparedness programs in Illinois."
Sen.
Obama"There are a lot of good ideas in Washington and a lot of smart people in Washington. It seems like sometimes there is a disconnect between the priorities in Washington and the priorities of the folks I'm meeting back home in Illinois,"
"... today’s retail numbers show that the U.S. economy is surging forward with a strength that’s creating jobs, growing businesses and sending consumers into the stores at a record rate."
"Fueled by $250,000 in federal funding secured by Hastert, the Kane County Treatment Alternative Court will provide mental health services as an alternative to jail for select defendants charged with misdemeanors or non-violent, low-level felonies."
"Now that Tom DeLay is sidelined, will someone start digging into House Speaker Dennis Hastert's dealings with lobbyists? That's the buzz from watchdog groups and echoed in yesterday's Washington Post."
ElementaryDistrict 33
Board Briefs for Feb 2nd Meeting
Rep.Randy Ramey“I want to make sure that when we discuss emergency plans for this state, we include pets in the equation. Animals shouldn’t be left to die.”
WINFIELD
TOWNSHIP DEMOCRATIC ORGANIZATION"WINFIELD TOWNSHIP DEMOCRATIC ORGANIZATION Is pleased to Invite you to a Congressional Candidate Forum for our 3 Congressional Districts, Dist 6, Dist 13 and Dist 14."
Sen
Durbin“Today in Washington, the “W” in George W. Bush stands for White Sox. We thank the President for honoring our World Champions and hope to make this an annual visit.”
Sen.
Obama"When Oprah Winfrey has declared you "more than a politician," when you've had dinner with Bill Gates and Steven Spielberg and received 300 speaking invitations a week, things are going well for you as a freshman Senator"
" U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert recently proposed banning all such trips, an idea met by resistance from his peers... But we can and should control who pays for what when our representatives do leave their cubbyholes.
"There had been indications that he would seek a return, but his allies said that he will instead act as a superdiplomat and whip for Boehner and House Speaker Dennis Hastert."
Sen Peter Roskam“As a society, I think it is important to establish policies that allow our elder citizens to remain as independent as possible,”
"Legislation extending property tax relief to senior citizens, allowing for the creation of compost farms in Illinois, and toughening criminal sentencing standards, passed through the Senate during a busy session week, according to State Senator Peter Roskam (R-Wheaton)."
Cable
ComChannel 17
There is a new broadcast of Senator Obama's recent town hall meeting on the schedule. There are things happening at Comcast... and you could be a part of it by volunteering.
Sen
Durbin"S. Res. 320, which was introduced last November by Senator John Ensign (R-NV) and Senate Minority Whip Richard Durbin (D-IL), calls on the President to "ensure that the foreign policy of the United States reflects appropriate understanding" of the "Armenian Genocide" and to "accurately characterize the systematic and deliberate annihilation of 1,500,000 Armenians as genocide" in the President's annual message."
Sen.
Obama"Senator Barrack Obama yesterday scooped the prestigious Grammy music award for the Best Spoken Word Album."
"Lugar and Senator Barack Obama introduced a new bill in November 2005 titled the “Cooperative Proliferation Detection and Interdiction Assistance and Conventional Threat Reduction Act (S. 1949).” The legislation, modeled after the 1991 Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction Program, seeks to destroy surplus conventional weapons and to intercept conventional weapons and materials used to produce weapons of mass destruction before they reach the wrong hands."
GovernorBlagojevich
“ALL KIDS" goes into effect July 1, so the next challenge is making sure that each and every family trying to get by without coverage for their kids knows about ALL KIDS and enrolls their children in the program,”
Bush again asserted that the domestic surveillance program was legal, and he drew support from House Speaker Dennis Hastert, who told reporters, "There are adequate protections."
"The plan announced Wednesday in Washington, D.C., with the help of House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., includes working with historically black universities to teach NASCAR's technical curriculum by linking them to the Universal Technical Institute, a multi-campus program used by the racing body."
Referendum update, Board of Ed. meeting, lit. fest, and last reminder for jazz event..
Referendum forums slated, North cheerleaders, East wind ensemble, and more...
Rep.Randy Ramey" I would like to change our way of thinking and allow the public to trust that they will have the safety of their pensions to rely on when it comes time for them to retire.”
"In 1991 Morris became superintendent of Community High School District 94 in West Chicago, a post he held until 1996, when he left for Iowa to lead the Dubuque Community School District. He returned in 1999 to lead the Elmhurst district."
Sen
Durbin“The sale and fraudulent transfer of these records needs to be punishable as a true criminal offense, subject to jail time and fines."
GovernorBlagojevich
“The funds generated from Veterans Cash will help veterans get the services and benefits they have earned.”
"The train struck Hobday about a half-mile from the high school. He was not crossing the tracks at an intersection and he may have been trying to take a shortcut to downtown West Chicago, officials said."
West
ChicagoHigh School
"Community High School will present its winter play, "It Was a Dark and Stormy Night," at 7 p.m. on Thursday, February 16; Friday, February 17; and Saturday, February 18 in the Weyrauch Auditorium. Tickets are $3 for adults, $2 for students and may be purchased at the door or from cast members."
Winfield United
for a
Better Community
"Terry Pastica will speak on Comprehensive Plans, in general. This meeting is a time for citizens of Winfield to learn the value and import of municipalities comprehensive plan..."
Sen
JohnMillner
“The current law is really unfair to the families of victims. I hope the House takes up this important cause by passing the bill and sending it on to the Governor as soon as possible.”
"Millner introduced the legislation, which requires judges to base the amount of time an offender has spent in jail on the actual days spent in confinement rather then the duration of their term."
"Several Main Street representatives from across the state were in Springfield Thursday lobbying the legislature for funding, and displaying the good work they are doing on behalf of their cities. "
Press
"Community High School District 94 in West Chicago has chosen Kelly Mateas as Student of the Month for January."
Sen
Durbin“Sadly, this budget continues to provide tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans at the expense of working American families - especially those in rural areas."
“The American people will not stand for war profiteering or tragedy profiteering, nor will they tolerate the same firms that have misused Iraq construction funds being rewarded with no-bid contracts to rebuild the Gulf Coast.”
"Unless and until we stop the outrageous expense of political campaigning in America, we're going to continue to be beholden to those who are well-off and well-connected,"
Sen.
Obama