* Press release…

Today, Betsy Dirksen Londrigan, Democratic candidate for the Illinois 13th congressional district, announced raising over $530,000 in the fourth quarter and goes into 2020 with over $1.1 million cash on hand. This follows The Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, and Politico all upgrading Betsy’s race to a Toss Up.

Betsy’s campaign continues to be powered by thousands of grassroots donors, with almost 90% of her contributions coming from individual donors

“The support for our campaign from across Central Illinois is truly inspiring” said Dirksen Londrigan. “While our current representative takes hundreds of thousands of dollars from big pharma PACs then votes against lowering the cost of prescription drugs, I am rejecting corporate PAC money in this campaign and when I’m elected to Congress. I am running for Congress to represent the working families of Central Illinois, not big corporate donors”.

Betsy also added the endorsement of the United Steelworkers to her previous endorsements from EMILY’s List, IBEW, UFCW, League of Conservation Voters Action Fund, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, End Citizens United, Bend the Arc Jewish Action, JStreet, and many others.

* Press release…

Building on his reputation as a problem solver who gets things done for the municipalities he represents, Congressman Dan Lipinski today announced endorsements from 28 mayors across Illinois’ Third Congressional District as he gears up for his 2020 Democratic Primary re-election campaign.

The mayoral endorsements cover nearly every region in Lipinski’s district, which sprawls from the Bridgeport neighborhood in Chicago to southwest suburban Lockport. Among the mayors and village presidents endorsing Lipinski, several of whom have supported him in each and every election, include La Grange Village President Tom Livingston, Lemont Mayor John Egofske, Oak Lawn Mayor Dr. Sandy Bury, Romeoville Mayor John Noak and Western Springs President Alice Gallagher.

Oak Lawn Mayor Bury said Lipinski has been a partner and leader in helping to deliver major developments and improvements to local and regional infrastructure and transportation, including securing more than $4 million to improve local roads, pedestrian walkways and to construct a public parking facility.

“I am proud to have worked with Congressman Lipinski to tackle significant issues for the residents of Oak Lawn and all of the Southland,” said Bury. “He is a tireless supporter of our Veterans and makes sure their benefits are preserved and utilized. Dan Lipinski is someone who brings people together and represents the values of our community and I am proud to endorse his re-election”

Lipinski, who serves as the most senior member from Illinois on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, said the support from the local leaders of his home district is the best possible endorsement he could receive.

“I am honored to have the continued support of so many elected officials in my district who work so hard every day to make their communities great places to live,” said Lipinski.

“We all share a calling to public service that benefits the residents we represent and I have made it my highest priority to work to resolve local issues and to make sure our communities have the best possible access to the federal resources they need.”

Lipinski also serves as Chair of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials and he has focused significant attention to secure federal funding to improve public transit and infrastructure across the communities that he represents. Over the course of his career he has secure more than $700 million in federal funds for local transportation projects for roads, bridges, public transit, rail, and bikes/pedestrians. This Congress he inserted a provision into a transportation funding bill directing the Federal Railroad Administration to identify potential issues contributing to the frequency and length of delays on Metra trains, and develop recommendations on addressing these challenges.

Other Mayoral Lipinski Endorsements Include:

LaGrange Village President Tom Livingston:

“Congressman Lipinski is a proven leader who continues to deliver for the residents of La Grange and the western suburbs. He has been very responsive and thoughtful in securing critical support for parking improvements, train station modernization, and enhancements to public safety,” said Livingston. “

He has been tuned into many of our important non-profits with measurable support including Aging Care Connections and Pillars Community Health. Most recently, he helped La Grange come to a much-needed agreement to pave the way for improved flood control in our community. Congressman Lipinski is someone who is consistently there to help us get things done and solve problems.”

Lemont Mayor John Egofske:

“As someone who knows Dan Lipinski personally and for all the support he has provided to our local issues here in our town of Lemont, I’m proud to support Congressman Lipinski.” said Egofske.

“The Congressman’s common-sense approach to addressing problems has benefited our region and the Village of Lemont and he has led the way in obtaining additional Metra service on the Heritage Corridor and continues to fight for additional commuter train service. He’s actively working with the village and the Army Corps of Engineers to provide sorely-needed federal resources for our local water infrastructure. In Congress, Dan Lipinski is a voice of reason and I look forward to continuing to work with him in the years to come.”

Palos Hills Mayor Gerald Bennett:

“Congressman Lipinski has proven himself to be a workhorse rather than a show horse and he makes things happen to improve the quality of life for his constituents,” said Bennett.

“As Chairman of the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning and President of the Southwest Conference of Mayors, I understand the critical importance of having an advocate like Dan Lipinski working for us in Congress to secure federal funding for our highways, the CTA, PACE and Metra. In the City of Palos Hills, he has consistently been there for our seniors, veterans, first responders, and all of our residents. I’m proud to support his re-election.”

Romeoville Mayor John Noak

“Dan Lipinski is a champion for the hard-working families of Will County,” said Noak.

“He was instrumental in helping our efforts to construct a new Romeoville Metra station on the Heritage Corridor Line, which helps provide access to quality careers. He also recently secured $6 million for construction of a new air traffic control tower at Lewis University, which will significantly improve safety. He’s someone that’s deeply committed to the improvement of the I-80 Des Plaines River Bridge and to making additional investments along historic corridors, such as Route 53. Given what’s he’s done and will continue to do for us, I strongly believe we need Dan in Congress.”

Western Springs Village President Alice Gallagher:

“Dan Lipinski is always there for the residents of Western Springs and those in our surrounding communities to address issues both great and small,” said Gallagher.

“When it became clear Sterigenics was causing serious health concerns to residents, he led the successful charge to help close that facility. When Metra’s BNSF service experienced significant delays last year, he brought BNSF and Metra together in a public forum and held a hearing that resulted in significant improvements along the line. He’s also someone focused on bringing federal dollars back to Western Springs, including more than $3.5 million for walkways, bike paths, and streetscaping projects, and $2.5 million to help reconstruct our new Metra platform. As Dan’s village president and friend, I am standing with him on March 17th.”

The full list of mayors and village presidents in the Third Congressional District endorsing Lipinski includes:

Alice Gallagher of Western Springs
Bob Lovero of Berwyn
Bob Straz of Palos Heights
Chuck Tokar of Chicago Ridge
Dan Foy of Burbank
Dave Brady of Bedford Park
Dennis McGee of Merrionette Park
Jacob Vandenberg of Tinley Park
Jeff Walik of Stickney
Jerry Bennett of Palos Hills
John Carpino of Willow Springs
John Egofske of Lemont
John Mahoney of Palos Park
John Noak of Romeoville
John Ryan of Alsip
Kevin Casey of Hometown
Kris Wasowicz of Justice
Kyle Hastings of Orland Hills
Mary Werner of Worth
Mike Howley of Hickory Hills
Noel Cummings of Hodgkins
Ray Soliman of Crest Hill
Sandra Bury of Oak Lawn
Steve Landek of Bridgeview
Steve Streit of Lockport
Tom Heller of Forest View
Tom Hinshaw of Indian Head Park
Tom Livingston of LaGrange

* Press release…

Mary Miller, candidate for Congress in the 15th District, has officially signed a pledge committing to supporting term limits for members of Congress.

The U.S. Term Limits amendment pledge reads, “I pledge that as a member of Congress, I will co-sponsor and vote for the U.S. Term Limits amendment of three (3) House terms and two (2) Senate terms and no longer limit.”

“Public service should be about service – not a career move,” Miller said. “The longer people stay in Congress, the more their focus shifts from serving the people they represent to making sure they hold onto their seats. Career politicians continue to spend money we do not have and mortgage our children’s and grandchildren’s future. It is time to return to being represented by citizen legislators – not career politicians.”

U.S. Term Limits has the support of nearly 70 pledge signers in Congress. According to US Term Limits, more than 82 percent of Americans support term limits.

“This strong support of term limits shows that there are individuals who are willing to put self-interest aside to follow the will of the people,” stated USTL President Philip Blumel. “America needs a Congress that will be served by citizen legislators, not career politicians.”

The term limits amendment resolutions would require a two-thirds majority in the House and Senate, and ratification by 38 states, in order to become part of the U.S. Constitution.

Congressional term limits is the one bipartisan issue supported by both President Trump and former President Obama.

*** UPDATE *** Press release…

Jim Oberweis is hosting several events with 1st Lt. Clint Lorance who was just recently pardoned by President Donald Trump after serving time in Fort Leavenworth military prison for alleged war crimes.

“The story of Clint Lorance is a compelling one,” Oberweis said. “What he had to endure is shameful. President Trump did the right thing pardoning him. I think everyone who comes out to the events we are hosting will enjoy having the opportunity to meet him.”

In March of 2012, Clint Allen Lorance deployed to Southern Afghanistan as the Squadron Liaison Officer to the Commander for the 4th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division. In June 2012, Clint was selected to replace an Infantry Platoon Leader who was medically evacuated dues to shrapnel wounds to his eyes, face, and abdomen incurred from the blast of an IED. Three days after taking charge as the Platoon Leader, on July 2, 2012, Clint directed the men of his platoon to open fire on three Afghan males speeding toward his platoon on a motorcycle.

Just after a year later, Clint was convicted of two counts of murder and one count of attempted murder. Evidence surfaced showing a direct link between the motorcyclists to known terrorists. Eventually, President Trump agreed with the evidence and gave Clint a full pardon.

*** UPDATE 2 *** Stickney Mayor Jeff Walik just called to say that he did not give permission to be on the Dan Lipinski endorsement list. He said he told them he was remaining neutral and he wasn’t happy at all about being included. “I asked them to leave me out of it this time, Walik said after some expletives. “Mr. Lipinski hasn’t spoken to me in two years,” he said with no small amount of bitterness in his voice.

* Related…

* Protesters take over Rep. Dan Lipinski’s office after he takes stand against abortion