#ILCD11 Candidate Darlene Senger Launching "Listening Tour" Across Illinois District

As posted on her Facebook wall and on her Congressional Campaign site, Darlene Senger is getting out and digging in with real voters in each of the communities in the 11th Congressional District:

State Representative and Republican Candidate for the 11th Congressional District, Darlene Senger, announced the beginning of her districtwide listening tour today. The tour will allow Darlene to gain firsthand knowledge of the issues facing residents and municipalities within the district. 

“The objective of this listening tour is to get to know each community in the district and understand the issues and problems being faced by residents,” said Senger. “I want people throughout the district to know that if I am elected I will be open and available to meet with them on any issues they are facing.” 

Senger’s listening tour will start in Will County and take her throughout the 11th congressional district to events in New Lenox, Joliet, Plainfield, Romeoville, Bolingbrook, Aurora, Downers Grove and Woodridge. The tour will continue in more municipalities throughout the district in upcoming weeks.

Ron Sandack Stands Up for Suburban Commuters: Takes on Metra

State Representative Ron Sandack - the former Mayor of Downers Grove (and current resident of DG) is doing what all of us everyday commuters wish we were in a position to do:  standing up to Metra.

Ron Sandack has a primary race against a hard-charging (and likely well-funded) opponent.  The State of Illinois can only turn itself around if we have MORE folks like Ron Sandack working for us in Springfield.  Not less.

Sandack's district is on the BNSF and he has a keen understanding of how important mass transit is to the life of his community.  Every morning, thousands of his constituents board their Metra trains and head downtown for work.

With the epic cold weather we experienced earlier this year, Metra fell on it's face.  Sandack is wants to understand why.  From his site:

State Representative Ron Sandack (R-Downers Grove) sent a letter to House Speaker Mike Madigan today requesting a hearing to get to the bottom of the near-total shutdown of the Metra commuter rail system during last week’s extreme cold weather. 

“The extreme wind chills associated with last week’s cold weather was a big test for Metra, and unfortunately Metra failed,” said Sandack. “I heard from people who were stranded for hours on trains, who had their trains cancelled, or who stood in sub-zero weather with dangerous wind chill factors for trains that were either significantly delayed or that never showed up. Metra’s breakdown posed a serious health risk for a lot of people.” 

In the letter, which was also shared with members of the House Transportation and Mass Transit Committees, Sandack requested that a committee hearing be scheduled before the legislative session resumes in February so that legislators can ask questions about service reliability- weather-related or otherwise, and learn about the protocol for communicating service interruptions to customers. 

“I also believe legislators would benefit a great deal from a comparison study that measures the various commuter rail lines’ success rates for on-time trains so that priorities for potential infrastructure upgrades or repairs can be identified,” Sandack said.

We here at the Truth Team ride the Metra downtown and are standing behind Ron Sandack and his work to get to the botton of the mess.  Good on you, Ron.

Those of you folks who are regular reads of the Truth Team know that Ron Sandack is pitched in a battle in the GOP Primary in March.  We're supporting Ron.  You should to.  Read our post on Sandack's campaign launch here.

Julie Eggers on Illinois Insurance, Pensions

State Representative Candidate Julie Bigham Eggers laid out her 'no perks plan' where she has signed a pledge stating that if elected to the Statehouse, she'd refuse the taxpayer-funded pension and healthcare program that all Illinois State Representatives and State Senators receive.  She went a bit further and even said she'd refuse the salary.

Then, she pressed her opponent Jerry Costello Jr. to do the same thing.

“The State of Illinois is broke and in desperate need of repair. Illinois’ deficit is $43.8 billion. Illinois’ pension debt is $83 billion. $126 billion – That’s how much Illinois is in debt thanks to our elected officials at our state capitol. Illinois legislators haven’t earned nor deserve the lavish Pension and Cadillac healthcare benefits paid for by the taxpayers. By signing this pledge, I will refuse to accept any taxpayer funded pension and healthcare benefits." 

“The state is broke and we cannot afford benefits like these for elected officials,” said Julie Bigham Eggers. “I will also refuse the part-time salary of $67,836 offered to me if elected State Representative. I ask my opponent Jerry Costello II (A.K.A Jerry Costello Jr.) to join me in signing the ‘No Perks Pledge’ to refuse to accept any taxpayer funded pension and healthcare benefits. I await his response.”

You can see the story on her site and download the signed pledge here.

Others Are Catching on to Stephanie Kifowit's Plan

Openlineblog - which covers the City of Aurora - has a post up that demonstrates the contrasts between Democrat Stephanie Kifowit and her opponent Pat Fee.

There are two dramatically different candidates for new 84th District State Rep (Aurora/Naperville) in 2012. 

Pat Fee of Aurora is serious about protecting taxpayers and changing Illinois so there's a path of jobs and growth instead of the current path off the fiscal cliff. She doesn't need Springfield...the General Assembly needs people like her. 

Stephanie Kifowit, who doesn't even live in the district, is a flip-flopping, wild spending, taxpayer exploiting stooge for the political mafia and Michael Madigan, the person in Illinois most responsible for the mess and wants to keep it that way. Kifowit is running for political power and personal wealth...she wants to buy a new house.

Pat Fee is a taxfighter:  www.feethetaxfighter.com.  Stephanie Kifowit is (apparently) waiting to hear from her boss, Chicago Speaker Mike Madigan, as to how to answer a simple question about taxes?

Dem Watch: But What About The Pension, Natalie Manley?

Natalie Manley - who is running for Illinois State Representative in the 98th House District pulled a typical campaign stunt:  make a claim that no one will argue with, but avoid talking about the *real* issue.

In this case, Natalie Manley said that - if elected - she'd vote to cut her own pay by 10%.

Well...isn't that nice.  She'd vote to do something that would never like me see the light of day?  Come on, now.  Call me a cynic, but I'm guessing that there isn't ever going to be a bill that calls for a 10% reduction in legislator pay.  They already vote to skip their cost-of-living adjustments.  But reduce the pay?  Please.  She'll never have the chance to vote for it.

But...the bigger question is:  What about the legislative pension, Natalie Manley?  If you're so keen on doing your part to solve the fiscal crisis in Illinois, what about saying that you'd give up your generous legislative pension if you are elected?

Not so forth-coming on something that effects you personally, eh Natalie?  

Fire Fighter Neil Anderson up with New Video in 72nd House District

House Republican Candidate Neil Anderson is a member of the Moline Fire Department.  He also was a member of the University of Nebraska football team.  Pretty neat stuff.  He's now up with a new video touting his credentials to 'put the fire out' in Springfield.

The 72nd District includes: all of western Rock Island County, including Rock Island, Milan, Coal Valley and parts of Moline, and the northern part of Mercer County.

State Representative Candidate Bob Kalnicky Picks up Mayoral Endorsement

In one of the potential 'pick-ups' that could lead to the 'retaking of the Illinois House candidate Bob Kalnicky - who is running in the 98th District - got a nice boost from Romeoville Mayor John Noak this week. The Illinois Review had the story.

"I've had the opportunity to work with Bob while he was chairman of the Romeoville Chamber of Commerce, and it's clear to me that Bob has the knowledge, the skills, and the courage to fight back against bad Springfield policies that have hurt our economy and cost us jobs," Noak said. "Bob is exactly the kind of fighter I want representing my family and our community in Springfield. 

"We can turn this ship around, but not without elected leaders that will stand up against Mike Madigan, Pat Quinn, and the policies that are destroying our state," Noak said.

Bob Kalnicky Launches "Tax Repeal" Site

If you live in Bolingbrook or Romeoville, you're in luck!  Bob Kalnicky, the Republican candidate for the 98th Illinois House District announced his intentions to vote to "repeal the Pat Quinn Income Tax Hike" with the launch of his new website:  http://www.bob-backs-the-tax-repeal.com/.  

Bob Kalnicky, candidate for State representative in the 98th district is taking his commitment to repealing the massive 67% corporate and personal income tax hikes signed by Governor Quinn last year one step further. This weekend, Kalnicky’s campaign launched a website that memorializes the pledge – www.Bob-Backs-The-Tax-Repeal.com. 

“This website puts the pledge I’m making front and center so that the people of the 98th district can hold me accountable to that when I get to Springfield. There will be no ambiguity on this issue,” said Kalnicky of the website.

You can read Bob's tax repeal pledge here.

Susan Sweeney Spot: "Solution to Springfield"

Susan Sweeney, who is running for the Illinois House in the 55th District against a guy named Marty Moylan is up with a strong commercial for her campaign.  She's a former IBM executive and wants to bring some business-sense to Springfield.

Go find out more about Susan Sweeney and her pledge to repeal the tax hike!

Stephanie Kifowit Supports Tax Increases

Stephanie Kifowit - Hasn't seen a tax increase she won't vote for!

Stephanie Kifowit, a Democrat from Aurora is running for election in the 84th Legislative District in Illinois.  Her opponent, Pat Fee has come out and pledged to vote to repeal the Pat Quinn 67% Income Tax increase that Kifowit won't support.  Why?  Because she's heavily supported by Chicago Mike - House Speaker Mike Madigan - and as one of his cronies, Kifowit doesn't do anything that Mike Madigan doesn't want.

From Pat Fee's Tax Repeal Site:

Democrat Stephanie Kifowit is supported by Pat Quinn and Chicago Speaker Michael Madigan and that’s why she opposes an immediate repeal of the 67% income tax increase.
And unfortunately, there’s more to this taxing story.
During Kifowit’s 9 years on the Aurora City Council, property taxes have increased by 49% and she even increased the taxes on emergency medical care.

Do you live near Aurora?  Get involved with Pat Fee by signing her Tax Repeal Petition today!

Repeal the Illinois Income Tax Hike - Candidates for State Representative

Have you had enough with high taxes?  Looking for candidates for the Illinois House of Representatives who support the rolling back of the 67% Pat Quinn income tax hike?  These candidates all want to "Repeal the Tax" and want to make it the law of the land. Do you live in one of these districts? Find out how you can get involved and help elected these leaders.

Candidates who will vote to repeal the 67% income tax increase from 2012:

Bob Kalnicky - Candidate for 98th District Illinois General Assembly

• Learn about Bob Kalnicky - www.Bob-Backs-The-Tax-Repeal.com
• District includes: Bolingbrook, Romeoville, Crest Hill, Plainfield, and Joliet.
• Sign Bob's Petition to Repeal the Pat Quinn Income Tax Hike

Pat Fee - Candidate for 84th District Illinois General Assembly

• Learn about Pat Fee - www.FeeTheTaxFighter.com
• District includes:  Aurora, Naperville, Oswego
• Sign Pat's Petition to Repeal the Pat Quinn 67% Income Tax hike in Illinois

Kathy Smith - Candidate for the 111th District Illinois General Assembly

• Learn about Kathy Smith - www.SmithSaysRepealTheTax.com
• District includes:  Alton, Bethalto, East Alton, Roxana, South Roxana, Hartford, Wood River, Elsah, Pontoon Beach, Godfrey, Granite City.
• Stand with Kathy and sign her petition to repeal the tax hike!
• Read Kathy Smith's pledge to vote to repeal the Quinn-Beiser Tax Hike
• Find out more about Kathy's opponent, Dan Beiser, and how he cast the deciding vote

Susan Sweeney - Candidate for the 55th District Illinois General Assembly

• Learn about Susan Sweeney - www.SweeneySaysRepealTheTax.com
• District includes: Elk Grove, Des Plaines, Norwood Park, Park Ridge
• Stand with Susan and sign her petition to repeal the tax hike!
• Read Susan Sweeney's commitment to repeal the tax hike
• Learn more about Susan's opponent, Marty Moylan, and why your vote matters!

John Lawson - Candidate for the 56th District Illinois General Assembly

• Learn more about John Lawson - www.LawsonTheTaxFighter.com
• District includes Schaumburg, Hoffman Estates, Roselle, Bloomindale
• Join John Lawson by signing his tax repeal petition
• Check out John Lawson's pledge to repeal the tax increase
• Find out more about John's opponent - Michelle Mussman - and where she gets her support

Glenn Nixon - Candidate for the 79th District Illinois General Assembly

• Learn about Glenn Nixon - www.NixonNoTaxes.com
• District includes: Bourbonais, Wilmington, Peotone, Bradley, Kankakee, Union Hill, and Herscher
• Sign Glenn's Petition to Repeal the Income Tax Hike passed by the Chicago Democrats
• Volunteer for Glenn Nixon's campaign

Illinois Concealed Carry Candidates 2012 - State House of Representatives

Looking for candidates for the Illinois House of Representatives who support YOUR 2nd Amendment rights?  These candidates all support 'Concealed Carry' and want to make it the law of the land.  Do you live in one of these districts?  Find out how you can get involved and help elected these leaders.

You can see the list on the Illinois House Republican Organization site.

• Neil Anderson - Candidate for 72nd District Illinois House of Representatives
• Learn about Neil Anderson
• District includes: all of western Rock Island County, including Rock Island, Milan, Coal Valley and parts of Moline, and the northern part of Mercer County.
• Volunteer for Neil's campaign

• Kathy Smith - Candidate for 111th District Illinois House of Representatives
• Learn about Kathy Smith
• District includes: Alton, Bethalto, Wood River, East Alton, Roxana, South Roxana, Hartford, Mitchell, Pontoon Beach, Elsah and parts of Godfrey and Granite City.
• Volunteer for Kathy's campaign

• Julie Bigham Eggers - Candidate for 116th District Illinois House of Representatives
• Learn about Julie Eggers
• District includes: all of Monroe and Randolph counties and parts of St. Clair and Perry counties
• Volunteer for Julie's campaign

• Glenn Nixon - Candidate for 79th District Illinois House of Representatives
• Learn about Glenn Nixon
• District includes: Bourbonais, Wilmington, Peotone, Bradley, Kankakee, Union Hill, and Herscher
• Volunteer for Glenn's campaign