U.S. Rep. Don Manzullo (R-16) issued the following news release Tuesday:

Manzullo: Shortage of Skilled American Workers Threatens Future of Advanced U.S. Manufacturing

Sixteenth Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Robert Spence issued the following news release Thursday:

Chief Judge Robert B. Spence announced today that, based on the recommendation of the 16th Judicial Circuit Courtroom Media Committee, the 16th Judicial Circuit will apply to join the Illinois Supreme Court’s pilot program, which would allow cameras in the courtroom.

“I’m pleased that the 16th Judicial Circuit Media Committee has recommended to Chief Judge Spence that we apply to join the Supreme Court’s pilot program, which will allow the media greater access to trial courtrooms,” said Judge Timothy McCann, Presiding Judge of Kendall County and Chairman of the Media Committee.

“I appreciate the Media Committee’s work on this, and based on its recommendation, the 16th Circuit will apply to join the pilot program,” Judge Spence said. “The Committee will continue in its work on this, as we will need some rather detailed rules concerning the plan’s logistics. We want to be thoughtful about it and try to anticipate issues that might arise. The application will be submitted after the local rules are written.”

The Courtroom Media Committee, which studied the Supreme Court pilot rules, will now draft local rules, which will be implemented upon approval by the Supreme Court.

“We want to have as detailed a plan as possible, and we have many things to consider, so I anticipate that it will be several months before we are ready to submit this plan to the Supreme Court,” Judge Spence said. “After that I do not know how long the Supreme Court will need to approve our application. In the end, however, we certainly expect that the news media will have greater access to our courtrooms.”

The Committee members:
Circuit Judge Timothy McCann, Chairman
Circuit Judge Robbin Stuckert
Circuit Judge John Noverini
Circuit Judge John Barsanti
Kane County State’s Attorney Joseph McMahon
Kane County Public Defender Kelli Childress
DeKalb County State’s Attorney Clay Campbell
DeKalb County Public Defender Regina Harris
Kendall County State’s Attorney Eric Weis
Kendall County Public Defender Victoria Chuffo
Attorney Gary Johnson
Attorney Patrick Kinnally
Attorney Timothy Reuland

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) issued the following news release Tuesday:

DURBIN ANNOUNCES NEARLY $117 MILLION IN HUD FUNDING FOR ILLINOIS COMMUNITIES AND HOUSING AGENCIES

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that Illinois communities and housing agencies will receive $116,966,851 in grant funding through four programs administered by Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Community Development Block Grants

The Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) program provides annual grants to states and local governments to develop viable urban communities by providing decent housing and a suitable living environment and by expanding economic opportunities principally for low and moderate income persons. CDBG funding is an important tool for helping local governments to tackle serious challenges facing their communities. The following communities will receive CDBG funding:

Aurora, $1,180,710; Chicago, $71,873,523; Dekalb, $412,064; Evanston, $1,587,064; McHenry County, $1,274,467; Moline, $663,669; Mount Prospect, $243,754; Normal, $409,223; Oak Lawn, $235,896; Oak Park, $1,489,086; Peoria, $1,589,868; Rock Island, $904,514 and Rockford, $1,917,939.

Emergency Shelter Grants

The Emergency Shelter Grants program provides annual grants to state, local and private entities to improve the quality and number of emergency homeless shelters. ESG funds are available for the rehabilitation or remodeling of a building used as a new shelter, operations and maintenance of the facility, essential supportive services and homeless prevention. The following communities will receive ESG funding:

Chicago, $6,565,495; Evanston, $151,839; Oak Park, $149,456; Peoria, $151,023 and Rockford, $166,572.

HOME Program

The HOME program helps to expand the supply of decent, affordable housing to low and very low income families by providing grants to state and local governments to fund housing programs that meet local needs and priorities. HOME is the largest Federal block grant to State and local governments designed exclusively to create affordable housing for low-income households. Each year the HOME program allocates approximately $2 billion among the States and hundreds of localities nationwide. The following communities will receive HOME program funding:

Aurora, $455,018; Chicago, $17,226,156; Evanston, $228,411; McHenry County, $422,911; Peoria, $481,835; and Rockford, $768,479.

Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS (HOPWA)

The HOPWA program provides housing assistance and related supportive services to local units of government, States and non-profit organizations for projects that benefit low-income persons medically diagnosed with HIV/AIDS and their families:

Chicago, $6,417,879.

U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren (R-14) issued the following news release Friday:

Hultgren Applauds Farmers for Speaking Out Against Regulation

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren (IL-14) today released the following statement after the Department of Labor withdrew a proposal to ban children from working on farms.

“Family farmers spoke up on this issue, and the Administration heard them loud and clear. Illinois is losing farmers every year and had the original rule from the Department of Labor gone through, it would have been even more difficult to start an agriculture career in our state.

“As I stated last December with several other cosigners in a letter to Secretary Solis, ‘Training the next generation of farmers and ranchers is necessary to ensuring a stable food supply for our nation.’ For this reason, I’m very relieved to see that the rule was withdrawn, and I invite Illinois farmers to continue communicating with me when Washington is holding them back. This is how the system is supposed to work, and in this case, it did.”

U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren (R-14) issued the following news release Thursday:

Hultgren Votes To Cut Taxes On Small Business Owners

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren (IL-14) today issued the following statement after voting for H.R. 9, legislation cutting taxes on small business owners.

“Small businesses are the engines of our economy, and today the House of Representatives voted to cut their taxes so that they can expand and hire,” said Hultgren. “Cutting the tax burden for small businesses by 20 percent will help 22 million small business owners, including almost one million in Illinois alone. In the Land of Lincoln, more than 145,000 small business jobs were lost between 2008 and 2009, and today’s tax cut will help bring some of those jobs back.”

Local businesses would benefit directly from H.R. 9; the 20 percent tax cut would help them expand their businesses and hire workers.

“The bill passed by the House would have immediate real world effects for Auto Meter, and would save our company over $500,000 on our federal tax bill,” said Kent Alcott, Chief Financial Officer of Auto Meter Products, based in Sycamore, Illinois. “These savings would enable us to make a multi-million dollar investment in an expanded product line, and would also allow us to hire additional employees. I’m glad that Congressman Hultgren and others in Congress voted for this, it’s exactly what small businesses need to grow and hire.”

“Today’s tax cut is also exceptionally timely, given that a recent survey from the National Federation of Independent Business found that small business owners are less optimistic about the future,” said Hultgren. “I have heard from small business owners across the 14th District that their optimism – and their plans for future growth – is based in part on the prospects for lower taxes and a reasonable regulatory regime. As we have proven again today, House Republicans are committed to cutting taxes and red tape, giving small businesses the certainty they need to put Americans back to work.”

U.S. Rep. Don Manzullo (R-16) issued the following news release Wednesday:

Manzullo: North Korea Remains "Just As Dangerous and Unstable" Under Kim Jong Un

[WASHINGTON] – U.S. Rep. Don Manzullo (R-IL), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, today said the miniscule glimmer of hope North Korea created in February when it announced a moratorium on nuclear activities faded dramatically with last week’s failed missile launch.

Manzullo, who spoke during a Foreign Affairs Committee hearing today on the future of the Korean Peninsula, said North Korea “will remain just as dangerous and unstable” under the new leadership of Kim Jong Un as it had under the leadership of his father, the late Kim Jong Il.

“The future of North Korea is bleak, and it is the people of North Korea that will bear the unimaginable hardship of Kim Jong Un’s tyranny,” Manzullo said. “It is my firm belief that North Korea will never give up its nuclear weapons, because it is the weapons themselves that the regime is using to maintain its iron grip there.”
Manzullo said the denuclearization of North Korea must continue to be a priority for the United States and its Six-Party partners. Manzullo was concerned, however, that last week’s failed missile launch has pushed denuclearization of North Korea “further away than ever before.”

“I commend the Administration for halting assistance to the North, and I encourage the President and the Secretary of State to stand firm against any further destabilizing actions,” Manzullo added. “Furthermore, if North Korea proceeds with testing a nuclear weapon, as it likely may do if prior behavior is any indicator, then all members of the Six-Party Talks must forcefully condemn this behavior."

Congressman Randy Hultgren issued the following news release Thursday:

Hultgren Applauds House Passage Of Path To Prosperity Budget

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren (IL-14) today released the following statement after voting for the House Republican Path to Prosperity budget proposal.

“The Path to Prosperity is a bold framework that has the potential to save America from a dismal, Greece-like future of overwhelming debt,” said Hultgren. “I’m proud to support our Path to Prosperity: It cuts spending, shrinks the federal government, gets Americans back to work, and begins the long-overdue process of reforming our byzantine tax code, all while protecting seniors, veterans, and those struggling to make ends meet. With a national debt of more than $15 trillion, and unemployment stuck above 8 percent for more than three straight years, it’s clear that the Washington policies of borrowing, spending, and taxing have failed.

“Moreover, without reforms, Medicare will be bankrupt within a few short decades. The Path to Prosperity strengthens Medicare, securing its promise for future generations while protecting today’s seniors.

“And as Americans wrap up their tax filings ahead of April 17, they’re reminded of the need for real tax reform that will simplify our code, reduce the burden on working families, and make American businesses more competitive.  The Path to Prosperity accomplishes these goals, by doing away with special interest loopholes, consolidating individual tax brackets from six to two, reducing the corporate tax rate, and broadening the base.

“It’s been more than 1,000 days since the Senate last bothered to pass a budget. I hope they’ll follow our lead, and quickly bring up the Path to Prosperity for a vote. We owe the American people a budget for the federal government, so that they understand our goals and can better hold us accountable.”

U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger issued the following news release Thursday:

Kinzinger: House Republican Budget Proposal Outlines

Clear Path to Prosperity for Generations to Come

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) today issued the following remarks after voting in support of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2013 House Republican budget proposal:

"As a military pilot, I've seen firsthand that the greatest threat to our national security is our national debt. Presently, every man, woman and child throughout Illinois and across the country has a share of national debt that exceeds $49,000 each.

"Last night, the House of Representatives unanimously rejected President Obama's budget which would mean a net $1.5 trillion increase in spending, impose $1.9 trillion in taxes, and add $11 trillion to our debt.

"The choice is clear. The House Republicans' budget for FY 2013 outlines a path to prosperity for generations to come. Washington must continue to cut spending and get our nation on track toward fiscal solvency under the Republicans' budget which cuts more than $5 trillion, while preventing President Obama's proposed tax increases.

"In addition to paving a way toward economic security and prosperity, the Republican budget also puts forward bipartisan solutions to save and strengthen Medicare for current seniors, and for our children and grandchildren.

"Under our current trajectory, Medicare will be bankrupt in just a decade. This plan preserves current Medicare plans for those in and nearing retirement while offering guaranteed coverage options for future seniors, including those with pre-existing conditions or health history. It’s financed by a premium-support payment which would provide more financial assistance to low-income and less-healthy seniors. The Medicare plans will compete against one another which will ultimately create lower costs with better quality care.

"This budget refuels our economy to create an environment for businesses to grow jobs with fundamental tax reform: lowering the corporate tax rates to spur hiring and investment, reducing and simplifying the tax code for families and small businesses, and restructuring the international tax system to make our nation more competitive globally.

"One political party is not solely responsible for this debt crisis. However, the true test lays in our next step -- How we control spending and budget to ensure the fiscal soundness of this country for future generations to come."

Illinois Treasurer Dan Rutherford issued the following news release Wednesday:

PRESS RELEASE

Illinois Treasurer Dan Rutherford Certifies State’s Portfolio Clean of Investments from Iran

CHICAGO – February 29, 2012 – Following a thorough scan undertaken at his directive, Illinois State Treasurer Dan Rutherford announced today that the entire state’s investment portfolio under his management is devoid of any holdings in companies conducting business with Iran including, but not limited to, oil, petroleum, and mineralextraction activities.

“Divestiture from Iran was a policy I supported when I served in the Illinois General Assembly and I continue to support today as the state treasurer. Keeping dollars from rogue countries like Iran helps with global security and our own state’s financial well-being. Financial prudence requires me to steer clear of any investments involved with Tehran’s energy sector. After all, this is a country that violently suppresses any political dissent within its own borders, supports international terrorism, reportedly hatched an assassination plot against foreign diplomats in our nation’s capital, and continues to foster instability throughout the Middle East,” said Rutherford.

“The state’s Iran divestment program from our state pension funds was a success, both extracting us from substantial risk and selling our assets in a manner that was profitable for the taxpayers of our state. I am proud to be able to declare that all state funds under my authority are in no way assisting Iran’s continuing drive for nuclear weapons, in flagrant violation of international law,” Rutherford said.

Jay Tcath, executive vice president of the Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago, which was at the forefront of the advocacy campaign to pass that Iran divestment law in Springfield, praised Rutherford’s initiative, saying, “While that 2007 Illinois law compelled the state’s pension funds to divest from Iran, and some $133 million ultimately was divested, there was no such obligation placed upon state funds managed by the treasurer’s office.

Nonetheless, Treasurer Rutherford committed to make any investment adjustments that were determined to be necessary. Divestment and other economic measures are essential components of efforts by the United Nations, the European Union, the U.S. Administration and Congress to peacefully prevent the terrorist-supporting state of Iran from acquiring nuclear weapon capability. It is both substantively and symbolically important that State Treasurer Dan Rutherford is advancing that noble cause.”

Rutherford also pledged to voluntarily uphold another part of the 2007 Iran divestment law: Each bid for a contract with the treasurer’s office must include a disclosure if the firm has any business dealings with the government of Iran.

This commitment to ensure that state funds are not being invested in ways that place undo risk on taxpayers’ dollars or undermine important American values or national interests is consistently upheld by Rutherford, who as a state senator co-sponsored legislation to divest all Illinois pension investments away from any companies doing business with Sudan.

The office of state Sen. Dave Syverson, R-Rockford, issued the following news release Tuesday:

Syverson condemns Gov’s proposed pay hikes

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Feb. 28, 2011

SPRINGFIELD, Ill.. –The more that comes out about Gov. Pat Quinn’s proposed budget, the more it shows his misplaced priorities, says State Sen. Dave Syverson (R-Rockford).

Under the Quinn budget plan, constitutional officers, department directors, members of executive commissions and legislators would all see their salaries go up, including Quinn himself, who stands to see a pay raise of $1,600.

“Lately the Governor has been saying Illinoisans need to sacrifice to help deal with the budget crisis. Apparently he believes that sacrifice applies to everyone except himself and top state officials,” Syverson said. “This is exactly the wrong message we need to be sending right now. The Governor and lawmakers should be leading by example as we make the tough decisions, not padding their wallets by thousands of dollars every year as the Quinn budget would do.”

During his service in the Illinois Senate, Syverson has never accepted a pay raise or Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA), and will not do so in the future. He is vowing to work with other lawmakers to pass a bill that rejects the proposed pay hikes.

“This state was founded on a principle of a citizen legislature – that idea seems to get lost every time state leaders try to increase their pay,” Syverson said.

Last year Syverson successfully sponsored legislation that reduced legislative salaries, stressing that leaders in government should lead by example and be the first to accept cuts.

“To enact a new pay hike would erode the work done last year, and send the wrong message about our state’s priorities,” Syverson warned. “The fact Gov. Quinn is even thinking about passing pay hikes during the worst fiscal crisis in our state’s history shows how out-of-touch he and some leaders in Springfield really are,” Syverson said."