Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Summer Getaway to Washington D.C.- The Capitol
As the summer seasons comes to a close, last week some of our members took a road trip to Washington D.C. for a few days of sightseeing. A guided tour of the Capitol, visits to the Vietnam, Korean and WWII Memorials, a stroll along the reflecting pool at the Mall and a stop at the White House, a visit to Arlington Cemetary and Mount Vernon, were among the sites that were taken in.
Post here and share your summer vacation memories with us.
Post here and share your summer vacation memories with us.
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
2006 Congressional Issue Survey Results
I would like to share with you the results of a recent 10th Congressional District issue survey distributed by Congressman Mark Kirk. Constituents had the opportunity to share opnions on key issues of the day. Over 1,000 responses from every part of the district were received. These results include legislation that the Congressman is supporting.
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Out-of-State Pedophiles
Our first question concerned proposals to link interstate pedophile and criminal data bases to help schools deny employment to criminals coming from outside of Illinois. 91% of respondents supported this legislation and only four percent opposed it as potentially violating rights of school job applicants. Five percent were undecided.
Currently, most states do not have access to criminal information on individuals outside of their home state. Last week, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 4894, the School Acquiring Faculty Excellence Act -- legislation that I co-sponsored -- providing schools access to national criminal data bases to obtain criminal information when hiring teachers.
Gasoline Conservation
Congress is considering raising the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards for all cars and trucks in America. 83% of respondents supported this as a needed conservation measure, while only 14% opposed this as an unneeded burden on auto makers and unions. Three percent were undecided.
I voted to increase CAFE standards and I currently support legislation that raises these standards from 20.7 miles per gallon to 33 miles per gallon by 2014. Increasing fuel economy would save the average family $2,000 per year. Without this action, the U.S. will depend on foreign oil to cover 75 percent of its energy costs.
401 (Kids) Savings Accounts
Congress will soon debate legislation to create 401 (Kids) tax-deferred savings accounts for a child's college education or the first-time purchase of a home. 65% of respondents supported the creation of these accounts as a needed way to boost savings, while 20% opposed them for budget deficit reasons. 15% were undecided.
By 2020, college tuition is estimated to cost a quarter of a million dollars for a four-year degree. There are currently no full federal programs to help parents or children save for college tuition, or to purchase a first home. I co-authored H.R. 5314, the 401 (Kids) Family Savings Accounts Act, to provide parents and children the incentive to save for college and to purchase a first home.
Illegal Immigration
Over 11 million people are in the U.S. illegally. With regard to illegal aliens living in the United States, 19% supported granting amnesty, allowing them to become American citizens, 32% supported arresting them for deportation and 49% did not like either option.
Comprehensive immigration reform legislation will not work unless we first regain control of our borders and reduce the flow of illegal immigrants coming into the United States. Strengthening our borders should be the basis of a comprehensive immigration reform bill. The immigration debate can only begin when we gain control of our borders.
Classroom Safety
Under federal law, a teacher must show a specific suspicion before searching a student for a weapon or drugs. Congress is considering reforms to give latitude to teachers to keep their classrooms drug-free and gun-free.
With regard to this proposal, 70% supported giving teachers wider powers to search students without their permission, 23% oppose this proposal because it could violate the privacy rights of students and eight percent were undecided.
I co-sponsored H.R. 5295, the Student and Teacher Safety Act of 2006, that will give teachers more latitude and powers to keep their classrooms drug-free and gun-free.
Iraq
With regard to Iraq, 46% supported staying until the elected Iraqi government asks us to leave, 30% supported announcing a scheduled departure, regardless of what happens to the recently elected Iraqi government, and 18% supported an immediate departure of all U.S. troops. Six percent were undecided.
The death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi provided a boost to our soldiers and to the newly elected Iraqi government. I was encouraged to hear Iraq's National Security Advisor, Mouwafak al-Rubaie, say last week he believed the security situation in Iraq should improve enough to allow a large number of U.S.-led forces to leave Iraq by the end of this year.
Mercury Pollution
Studies show that Lake Michigan suffers from mercury pollution. Most of this pollution comes from coal-fired plants that produce electricity. Congress is considering mandating new pollution control equipment that could raise the cost of electricity. With regard to this proposal, 73% supported additional pollution controls, even if electricity rates rise, 20% opposed such controls because electricity already costs too much and seven percent were undecided.
Although coal-fired electric power plants are the main source of mercury pollution, they are exempt from regulations in the Clean Air Act requiring power plants to reduce mercury emissions. With approximately 14,000 babies in Illinois born every year at risk of neurological damage due to mercury, I am authoring federal pollution control legislation that will cap national mercury emissions and create even stricter standards near the Great lakes.
Medicare Prescription Drugs
The federal government recently offered seniors the option to add coverage for their prescription drugs to their Medicare Part A and B plans. Over 55,000 seniors in the 10th Congressional District signed up for this coverage.
With regard to the Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage, 38% supported implementing Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage, working out problems as they arise, 14% favored scraping the plan all together as either too expensive or complicated and 26% favored ending all options for coverage and offering only one government plan. 21% were undecided.
Over 38 million seniors signed up for Medicare's Part D prescription drug coverage. Many seniors are now saving thousands of dollars on their prescription drugs because of Medicare Part D. This is why I supported legislation updating Medicare's prescription drug coverage and am proud millions of seniors have help from Medicare with the high cost of prescription drugs.
Suburban Gangs
Gangs connected to international drug cartels are moving out of Chicago and into the suburbs. There are over 3,000 documented gang members operating north of Lake-Cook Road. With regard to this problem, Congress is considering extending federal criminal jurisdiction against gang members in schools. 83% feel this reform is needed to support suburban police departments who are now fighting urban drug gangs, 12% opposed this as an unwanted extension of federal law enforcement into local police jurisdictions and five percent were undecided.
In April, I hosted a briefing in Waukegan with federal officials and local law enforcement on new federal funding available to help suburban police departments combat gangs. I was proud to present the Waukegan Police Department with a $100,000 federal grant I secured for their work against north suburban gangs. They will offer their experience to help other police departments combat a growing suburban gang problem. I also helped write H.R. 5291, the Gang Elimination Act of 2006, a federal plan to help eliminate America's most notorious gangs.
National Security Agency
After 9/11, the President authorized the National Security Agency (NSA) to expand its international wiretaps to also monitor people who had been contacted by terrorists groups inside the United States. With regard to this program, 74% felt the program should be continued to monitor potential terrorists in the U.S., while 21% said it should be stopped and the NSA should be banned from working in the U.S. Five percent did not know.
I believe the NSA should be in charge of collecting foreign intelligence only. In my judgment, the FBI -- working under the supervision of a federal judge -- is the federal agency best suited to conduct lawful surveillance involving Americans or any American telephone. The FBI has a long history of running successful counterintelligence operations within the United States and works well within the framework of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). I am currently working in Congress to transfer the jurisdiction for these operations exclusively to the FBI and under the protections of FISA and our Fourth Amendment.
------------------------------
Out-of-State Pedophiles
Our first question concerned proposals to link interstate pedophile and criminal data bases to help schools deny employment to criminals coming from outside of Illinois. 91% of respondents supported this legislation and only four percent opposed it as potentially violating rights of school job applicants. Five percent were undecided.
Currently, most states do not have access to criminal information on individuals outside of their home state. Last week, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 4894, the School Acquiring Faculty Excellence Act -- legislation that I co-sponsored -- providing schools access to national criminal data bases to obtain criminal information when hiring teachers.
Gasoline Conservation
Congress is considering raising the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards for all cars and trucks in America. 83% of respondents supported this as a needed conservation measure, while only 14% opposed this as an unneeded burden on auto makers and unions. Three percent were undecided.
I voted to increase CAFE standards and I currently support legislation that raises these standards from 20.7 miles per gallon to 33 miles per gallon by 2014. Increasing fuel economy would save the average family $2,000 per year. Without this action, the U.S. will depend on foreign oil to cover 75 percent of its energy costs.
401 (Kids) Savings Accounts
Congress will soon debate legislation to create 401 (Kids) tax-deferred savings accounts for a child's college education or the first-time purchase of a home. 65% of respondents supported the creation of these accounts as a needed way to boost savings, while 20% opposed them for budget deficit reasons. 15% were undecided.
By 2020, college tuition is estimated to cost a quarter of a million dollars for a four-year degree. There are currently no full federal programs to help parents or children save for college tuition, or to purchase a first home. I co-authored H.R. 5314, the 401 (Kids) Family Savings Accounts Act, to provide parents and children the incentive to save for college and to purchase a first home.
Illegal Immigration
Over 11 million people are in the U.S. illegally. With regard to illegal aliens living in the United States, 19% supported granting amnesty, allowing them to become American citizens, 32% supported arresting them for deportation and 49% did not like either option.
Comprehensive immigration reform legislation will not work unless we first regain control of our borders and reduce the flow of illegal immigrants coming into the United States. Strengthening our borders should be the basis of a comprehensive immigration reform bill. The immigration debate can only begin when we gain control of our borders.
Classroom Safety
Under federal law, a teacher must show a specific suspicion before searching a student for a weapon or drugs. Congress is considering reforms to give latitude to teachers to keep their classrooms drug-free and gun-free.
With regard to this proposal, 70% supported giving teachers wider powers to search students without their permission, 23% oppose this proposal because it could violate the privacy rights of students and eight percent were undecided.
I co-sponsored H.R. 5295, the Student and Teacher Safety Act of 2006, that will give teachers more latitude and powers to keep their classrooms drug-free and gun-free.
Iraq
With regard to Iraq, 46% supported staying until the elected Iraqi government asks us to leave, 30% supported announcing a scheduled departure, regardless of what happens to the recently elected Iraqi government, and 18% supported an immediate departure of all U.S. troops. Six percent were undecided.
The death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi provided a boost to our soldiers and to the newly elected Iraqi government. I was encouraged to hear Iraq's National Security Advisor, Mouwafak al-Rubaie, say last week he believed the security situation in Iraq should improve enough to allow a large number of U.S.-led forces to leave Iraq by the end of this year.
Mercury Pollution
Studies show that Lake Michigan suffers from mercury pollution. Most of this pollution comes from coal-fired plants that produce electricity. Congress is considering mandating new pollution control equipment that could raise the cost of electricity. With regard to this proposal, 73% supported additional pollution controls, even if electricity rates rise, 20% opposed such controls because electricity already costs too much and seven percent were undecided.
Although coal-fired electric power plants are the main source of mercury pollution, they are exempt from regulations in the Clean Air Act requiring power plants to reduce mercury emissions. With approximately 14,000 babies in Illinois born every year at risk of neurological damage due to mercury, I am authoring federal pollution control legislation that will cap national mercury emissions and create even stricter standards near the Great lakes.
Medicare Prescription Drugs
The federal government recently offered seniors the option to add coverage for their prescription drugs to their Medicare Part A and B plans. Over 55,000 seniors in the 10th Congressional District signed up for this coverage.
With regard to the Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage, 38% supported implementing Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage, working out problems as they arise, 14% favored scraping the plan all together as either too expensive or complicated and 26% favored ending all options for coverage and offering only one government plan. 21% were undecided.
Over 38 million seniors signed up for Medicare's Part D prescription drug coverage. Many seniors are now saving thousands of dollars on their prescription drugs because of Medicare Part D. This is why I supported legislation updating Medicare's prescription drug coverage and am proud millions of seniors have help from Medicare with the high cost of prescription drugs.
Suburban Gangs
Gangs connected to international drug cartels are moving out of Chicago and into the suburbs. There are over 3,000 documented gang members operating north of Lake-Cook Road. With regard to this problem, Congress is considering extending federal criminal jurisdiction against gang members in schools. 83% feel this reform is needed to support suburban police departments who are now fighting urban drug gangs, 12% opposed this as an unwanted extension of federal law enforcement into local police jurisdictions and five percent were undecided.
In April, I hosted a briefing in Waukegan with federal officials and local law enforcement on new federal funding available to help suburban police departments combat gangs. I was proud to present the Waukegan Police Department with a $100,000 federal grant I secured for their work against north suburban gangs. They will offer their experience to help other police departments combat a growing suburban gang problem. I also helped write H.R. 5291, the Gang Elimination Act of 2006, a federal plan to help eliminate America's most notorious gangs.
National Security Agency
After 9/11, the President authorized the National Security Agency (NSA) to expand its international wiretaps to also monitor people who had been contacted by terrorists groups inside the United States. With regard to this program, 74% felt the program should be continued to monitor potential terrorists in the U.S., while 21% said it should be stopped and the NSA should be banned from working in the U.S. Five percent did not know.
I believe the NSA should be in charge of collecting foreign intelligence only. In my judgment, the FBI -- working under the supervision of a federal judge -- is the federal agency best suited to conduct lawful surveillance involving Americans or any American telephone. The FBI has a long history of running successful counterintelligence operations within the United States and works well within the framework of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). I am currently working in Congress to transfer the jurisdiction for these operations exclusively to the FBI and under the protections of FISA and our Fourth Amendment.
Thursday, June 08, 2006
GOP Women to Welcome County Commissioner Tony Peraica
Sunday night (June 11),Tony Peraica, our nominee for County Board President will be at HQ for the meeting of our Republican Women of Wheeling Township. All are welcome to attend and meet and hear Tony in this informal setting. The meeting starts at 7:30 (board meets at 7). This would be an especially good meeting to encourage women in your family or your neighborhood to get active with the Republican Party. (Club dues, by the way, are only $10 per year.) Tony has a real story to tell, and he’s in the news almost daily, so his name should be starting to be familiar by now. He’s an exciting speaker who delivers facts and energy. Gentlemen welcome, too.
Republican Women's Day at the Peter Roskam for Congress Campaign
Join Elizabeth Roskam and other Republican women for fellowship and good old fashioned campaigning on Saturday, June 24 beginning at 11:30 a.m. They will be knocking on doors and making phone calls to send Peter Roskam to Congress! For details call Amy at (630)221-0006 or email amy@roskamforcongress.com
Sunday, May 21, 2006
Cuba - Then and Now by Gladys Davis
At the May women's club meeting Arlington Heights resident Gladys Davis (pictured left) shared her experiences as an exile who fled Cuba at the age of 9. She was separated from her family but later reunited with them in the States. Her presentation included poignant DVD movie clips of her family in Cuba and the way they remembered their beloved homeland in the 1950's. Gladys described a happy middle class life immersed in the Cuban culture when it was ripped away by the Castro regime. Afterwards there were many changes including government rationing of food and supplies. Everything they did was monitored and her family lived in fear for their lives. They were robbed of freedom of speech, freedom of religion and under the tyrannical Castro government, left with no way to defend themselves. Under totalitarian government there was no justice or fair trials and the conditions in jails were horrible. Life in Cuba today is step back in time -now an isolated existence for the people there, with a blackmarket economy, lacking communication (there is no internet access) and modern modes of transportation. Coming to the States was a culture shock for her and her family at first but Gladys has enjoyed being a U.S. citizen. Her speech was very inspirational. The women left with a better understanding of how fragile freedom is and a heartfelt gratitude for living in democracy with the privilege to exercise rights.
Saturday, May 06, 2006
A Friendly Visit by Congressman Kirk
Republican women are among many ROWT members who welcomed Congressman Mark Kirk at the HQ office in April. A town hall type meeting took place. Energy policy and border security were the main topics of concern. 
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
What American Support Means to the Troops
The link here leads to an area of the America Supports You website where you can view messages from our troops. Continued support for the military means a great deal to the soldiers who are far from home in harm's way. You can also leave a personal message thanking the troops for defending our freedom. The site also features news articles about how Americans are supporting the military and their families. The Defense Department has designated the month of April as Month of the Military Child.
Saturday, April 01, 2006
Primary Election Night
Republican women recorded primary results on election night March 21. The GOP headquarters was active all evening and included an election party once the polls closed. The ROWT volunteers worked hard and delivered nearly 10,000 sample ballots directly to Republican voters. Just under 18,500 were mailed. Click the above link for unofficial primary results. Congratulations to Ruth O'Connell (picutred right) who officially became our new Wheeling Township Committeeman! An election recap will occur at the next ROWT meeting scheduled for April 8.
Saturday, March 04, 2006
Oberweis for Governor
Click the above clink to see the new edition of the "Illinois Reformer" reviewing Jim's plan to create jobs, reform state government, uphold traditional values and enforce immigration laws. You can find out more about the Oberweis campaign on www.oberweisforillinois.com.
Sunday, February 26, 2006
New Voting Machine Demo
The county clerk's office brough a demonstrator model of the new touch screen voting machine to the Feburary ROWT meeting. The new machine will be in all polling places in March. It is very user friendly.
President Addresses American Legion
On Friday, February 24, 2006 at the American Legion Washington Conference President Bush addressed the American legion, thanked American's veterans for their service and outliend the Administration's commitment to helping veterans. The President also discussed the war on global terrorism. Go to the link above to read full contents of the speech.
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Upcoming Events
Monday, Feb. 27 Early voting begins at village and town halls
Saturday, March 25 Eagle Forum Spring Luncheon
featuring Phyllis Schlafly at Park Ridge
Country Club
Saturday, March 25 Eagle Forum Spring Luncheon
featuring Phyllis Schlafly at Park Ridge
Country Club
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Spotlight on Dan Patlak -Wheeling Township Assessor
Dan, our newly installed Wheeling Townsip Assessor spoke at our January women's club meeting. As taxpayer advocate, he shared information about permits, assessment appeals and various other services. The link above will take you directly to Dan's own web page at the township where you will find a complete listing of taxpayer services and tips. You will also find helpful links to the Cook County Assessor's office, Cook County Board of Review and Cook County Treasurer's office .
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