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Citizen Action backs Pritzker, Evanston backs Biss, Kennedy to unveil property tax reform plan

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Illinois

* From yesterday…

Today, Citizen Action/Illinois voted to endorse JB Pritzker for Governor. Citizen Action is led by Lynda DeLaForgue and William McNary, and is the state’s largest public interest coalition, fighting social and economic justice campaigns and holding elected officials accountable at the state and national levels. Citizen Action has led progressive, grassroots campaigns to create a fair tax system, expand affordable and high-quality healthcare, reform our insurance and campaign finance system, and create stronger environmental protections. Citizen Action joins Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth, the Illinois AFL-CIO, and over 30 individual unions in support of JB Pritzker for governor.

“I’m honored to have the endorsement of Citizen Action/Illinois and the independent, progressive voices they represent,” said JB Pritzker. “For over a decade, Citizen Action has been leading grassroots, progressive campaigns to fight for critical policies that help Illinoisans build better lives. Together, I know we will be able to put Springfield back on the side of working families by expanding healthcare, raising wages, and investing in quality education for every Illinoisan, no matter their zip code. I’m proud to have Citizen Action standing with me as we bring Democrats together and build a statewide, grassroots campaign ready to take on Bruce Rauner in November.”

* Also from yesterday…

The Democratic Party of Evanston voted to endorse Daniel Biss at its endorsement meeting for the March 20 primary election. Biss overwhelmingly won the support of his hometown party, earning the support of 85 percent of the vote.

“Tonight, Evanston Democrats voted to endorse someone we’ve seen up close and personal as our Representative and Senator and who we know will make a great, progressive Governor,” said Evanston Township Democratic Committeeman Eamon Kelly. “Our grassroots members are fired up and ready to put in the work to nominate him on March 20.”

In addition to Biss, DPOE members voted to endorse Kelly Cassidy for re-election to the State House, Toni Preckwinkle for re-election as Cook County Board President, Larry Suffredin for re-election as Cook County Commissioner, and Debra Shore and Kari Steele for re-election to the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District.

In the eight-way race for Attorney General, the top vote getter was Nancy Rotering with 30 percent followed by Kwame Raoul with 23 percent. No candidate secured the 66 percent of the vote needed to earn the organization’s endorsement.

* And…

Advisory: Chris Kennedy to Release Statewide Plan to Reform the Property Tax System

Chris Kennedy will be releasing his statewide plan to reform the property tax system, protect taxpayers, and ultimately bring fairness to funding Illinois public schools.

Chris will be joined by Alderman Anthony Beale and Alderman Rick Muñoz. Ald. Muñoz recently filed a proposal that would require the city to challenge assessments on the largest commercial buildings in or near the Loop.

WHO: Democratic Candidate for Governor Chris Kennedy and his running mate, Ra Joy, along with Alderman Rick Muñoz and Alderman Anthony Beale […]

WHEN: 10:30 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 22, 2018

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Jan 22, 18 @ 2:07 am

Comments

Does Robert Creamer still control Cotozen Action?

Comment by Keyrock Monday, Jan 22, 18 @ 6:45 am
==Does Robert Creamer still control Citizen Action?==

Creamer’s not listed as a director or officer, but his consulting firm and Citizens Action have done business in the recent past.

Since Citizens Action and SEIU Healthcare share the same office, I wonder if JB will now get Biss’ or Kennedy’s coveted SEIU endorsement?

Comment by City Zen Monday, Jan 22, 18 @ 9:49 am
**Since Citizens Action and SEIU Healthcare share the same office, I wonder if JB will now get Biss’ or Kennedy’s coveted SEIU endorsement?**

yea… no.

Comment by SaulGoodman Monday, Jan 22, 18 @ 9:56 am
==Since Citizens Action and SEIU Healthcare share the same office, I wonder if JB will now get Biss’ or Kennedy’s coveted SEIU endorsement?==

Sharing an office doesn’t mean *that* much, but my sense is that a lot of the big orgs left to endorse are mulling joint endorsements or sitting the primary out.

Comment by Arsenal Monday, Jan 22, 18 @ 10:15 am
I’m confused. Isn’t Citizen Action a progressive den? Why didn’t Biss get the endorsement?

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Jan 22, 18 @ 10:18 am
**I’m confused. Isn’t Citizen Action a progressive den? Why didn’t Biss get the endorsement?**

The board is full of labor orgs that have endorsed JB.

Comment by SaulGoodman Monday, Jan 22, 18 @ 10:25 am
==Why didn’t Biss get the endorsement?==

It’s not necessarily a “Bernie” kind of “progressive den”. And even if it was, Biss has hardly run the table with those guys.

Comment by Arsenal Monday, Jan 22, 18 @ 10:30 am
“Citizen Action/Illinois voted to endorse…and is the state’s largest public interest coalition…”

How many actual individual citizens and organizations make up the ‘largest coalition’ in the state?

How many actual individual citizens ‘voted’ and/or took part in the deliberations to decide this endorsement?

Reminds of when Elizabeth Birch ran the Human Rights Campaign and claimed anyone/everyone who had ever made a donation as a “member” - with no voting authority in how the organization was run or made any of its (endorsement) decisions.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Jan 22, 18 @ 4:39 pm
Someone forgot to tell the Citizens Action/Illinois webmaster about the endorsement.

Their website’s “press release” page (http://www.citizenaction-il.org/node/47) hasn’t been updated since it endorsed Duckworth for US Senate in July 2017.

Seems like a top-notch operation.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Jan 22, 18 @ 4:44 pm