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Question of the day * Updated x1 *

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Illinois

OK, campers, we need to come up with a charity that will benefit from our t-shirt and button sales.

First, let me say that I’d appreciate it if you’d actually buy some of the stuff so the charity that’s chosen will get more than a few bucks. The markup is not huge, so we need to move these items.

Yesterday, quite a few of you suggested donating the money to the Illinois Military Family Relief Fund. The fund helps out the families of Illinois National Guard and Reserve soldiers deployed to our conflicts overseas.

The grants are “intended to help families defray the costs of food, housing, utilities, medical services, and other expenses that become difficult to afford when a wage-earner has temporarily left civilian employment to be placed on active military duty.”

Another option mentioned was a program for the homeless, although more than one was nominated. If you want this option, we’ll narrow it down again tomorrow if it “wins.”

Yet another favorite seemed to be Sojourn Women’s Center in Springfield, which helps victims of domestic violence.

Have at it.

[I just noticed that we had quite a few orders yesterday. Thanks for that.]

*** UPDATE *** As suggested by some friends, two new products have been added.

A golf shirt with just the cartoon Capitol Fax logo on it, as well as one of those “baby doll” t-shirts (another special request)…

And a new button with a different logo…

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jun 12, 07 @ 9:43 am

Comments

Since this session appears to have been thrown into overtime over the issue of expanding healthcare for the uninsured and it seems a likely casualty of the overtime, perhaps a good use of the funds would be to support a charity that provides healthcare for the uninsured.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jun 12, 07 @ 10:20 am
Let’s stick to the three choices at hand, please.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jun 12, 07 @ 10:28 am
I would like to again throw my support behind the Sojourn Women’s Shelter. They do good work and help people that really need it.

Comment by St. Nick Name Tuesday, Jun 12, 07 @ 10:29 am
I too go with the Sojourn Women’s Shelter. A very worthy cause that struggles for financial support.

Comment by Justice Tuesday, Jun 12, 07 @ 10:32 am
Sojourn! perfect choice.

Comment by mommytobe Tuesday, Jun 12, 07 @ 10:34 am
My vote is with the Sojourn Women’s Shelter

Comment by OverUnderUnderDone Tuesday, Jun 12, 07 @ 10:35 am
My vote is for Sojourn!

Comment by Mastemind Excello Tuesday, Jun 12, 07 @ 10:37 am
The last three votes for Sojourn came from the same IP address. I’m not sure if it’s a group of workers sharing the same line or what, but stop it please, or contact me if you’re innocent.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jun 12, 07 @ 10:39 am
Sojourn is my vote too. And, we’re innocent Rich. It’s a good charitable organization that many of us have worked hard to support in the past.

Comment by SIUC 7 Tuesday, Jun 12, 07 @ 10:46 am
Having purchased a shirt and a mouse pad, I cast my vote for the Military Family Relief idea. It’s what Pat Quinn would want us to do.

Comment by Old Time Springfield Tuesday, Jun 12, 07 @ 10:46 am
I vote for a program that benefits the homeless (of Springfield).

Comment by Shallow Pharnyx Tuesday, Jun 12, 07 @ 10:49 am
Sojourn

Comment by Napoleon has left the building Tuesday, Jun 12, 07 @ 10:49 am
Illinois Military Family Relief Fund because the hardhsips that some of these militray families have to go through because of repeat and extended tours of duty in Iraq are unbelieveable.

I appreciate the sacrifices that our soldiers and their families have made for their country even though the Iraq War has become a boondoggle and the greatest foreign policy debacle in American history.

Comment by Captain America Tuesday, Jun 12, 07 @ 10:54 am
I would like to see proceeds go to the Sojourn Women’s Shelter.

Comment by Bue Tuesday, Jun 12, 07 @ 11:05 am
Please, The Military Relief Fund would be the best idea. We are sending fathers over to fight for us. . .and leaving wives and children without much support. (And in some cases, leaving husbands and children without support) It really shouldnt be hard to figure it out. . .

Comment by NEd Tuesday, Jun 12, 07 @ 11:13 am
I would like to cast my vote for the Sojourn Women’s Shelter. They do great work and a number of us here in the community have supported them for years.

Comment by Jake Blues Tuesday, Jun 12, 07 @ 11:18 am
I’m not familiar with that specific organization but I support helping victims of domestic abuse.

Comment by anon Tuesday, Jun 12, 07 @ 11:27 am
IMFRF

Comment by 6'2" Yeti Tuesday, Jun 12, 07 @ 11:29 am
When a family member gets called up to serve their country, they should not have to worry about how their family is going to pay the bills while they are dodging bullets. Military service is the most noble service a man or woman can give their country and yet we often don’t mumble so much as a thanks and we leave the families to suffer alone. My vote IMFRF.

Comment by Leigh Tuesday, Jun 12, 07 @ 11:40 am
NEd - Tuesday, Jun 12, 07 @ 11:13 am:

Please, The Military Relief Fund would be the best idea. We are sending fathers over to fight for us. . .and leaving wives and children without much support. (And in some cases, leaving husbands and children without support)

DITTO!

Comment by Fan of the Game Tuesday, Jun 12, 07 @ 11:50 am
Sojourn

with all due respect to the military families, there are a lot more resources within the State and without to help out. There is very little available for Sojourn

Comment by Ghost Tuesday, Jun 12, 07 @ 12:15 pm
The Sojourn was the charity chosen by the Sullivan Caucus for their event. I hear it’s a great place. Why can’t you split the proceeds with Sojourn and the Military family help. Both are very deserving causes. Good job, Rich!

Comment by charity Tuesday, Jun 12, 07 @ 12:20 pm
Sojourn-definately Sojourn.

Comment by grad student Tuesday, Jun 12, 07 @ 12:22 pm
Sojourn

Comment by schenked Tuesday, Jun 12, 07 @ 12:25 pm
How about we use the funds to buy new curtains for the governor’s office in the mansion , even though Blago is never there…

All kidding aside, Rich, it doesn’t really matter. But please keep the money local.

Comment by pickles!! Tuesday, Jun 12, 07 @ 12:25 pm
The military families charity for the win.

Comment by Levois Tuesday, Jun 12, 07 @ 12:26 pm
Sojourn

Comment by anonymous Tuesday, Jun 12, 07 @ 12:58 pm
Since three men and their egos put us in the overtime session, how about sending the money to an organization that helps women in need. Sojourn is my vote.

Comment by Baltimoron Tuesday, Jun 12, 07 @ 1:13 pm
Sojourn

Comment by Ferdy Tuesday, Jun 12, 07 @ 1:44 pm
C’mon, no contest…give the money to Tim Nieukirk for Governor.

Comment by Working downtown Tuesday, Jun 12, 07 @ 1:45 pm
I vote for “Boys and Girls Clubs of Springfield”. The youth are our future.

Comment by Jechislo Tuesday, Jun 12, 07 @ 1:54 pm
Please stick to the three finalists. Thanks.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jun 12, 07 @ 1:57 pm
Hmm… two button designs? Looks like the cork board’s going to see a few new additions.

Comment by Kiyoshi Martinez Tuesday, Jun 12, 07 @ 2:14 pm
Sojourn.

Comment by And the Winner is... Tuesday, Jun 12, 07 @ 2:23 pm
I have volunteered once or twice to help Sojourn during my time so my vote goes to them.

Comment by long forgotten days Tuesday, Jun 12, 07 @ 2:47 pm
Sojourn gets my vote.

Comment by politicaljunkie Tuesday, Jun 12, 07 @ 2:49 pm
i get a kick out of all you lazy state types acting like what you do is actually work. Most of you don’t have the slightest clue what an honest days work entails. Kissing ass at the capital or the golf course or the sangamo club is not work it is kissing ass. This does not include Rich. He has worked to get where he is. Most of the folks just kiss more ass. It is a sad and corupt culture. Overtime in Hell, what a joke. You get all dressed up and go to an air conditioned historic building then stand around the rail acting like you think you are somebody. The fact is you don’t see anybody with real power at the capital. They don’t get their hands dirty in that way. They hire someone without any morality to stand there and act on their behalf. When was the last time you saw an actual person at the capital? Almost everybody who walks in the door is blinded by the inside baseball of it all. Real people think the whole lot of them is crooked and they are right.
Vote Independent or green or anything but D or R and end the 2 party cycle of stupidity.

Comment by nino Tuesday, Jun 12, 07 @ 2:52 pm
Oh, please. We’re trying to have a little fun here.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jun 12, 07 @ 3:01 pm
hey rich, what are you lookin for on that babydoll tee? haha.

Comment by nice work if you can get it Tuesday, Jun 12, 07 @ 3:04 pm
What can I say? It was a special request.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jun 12, 07 @ 3:06 pm
Military Relief Fund

Comment by Goofus Tuesday, Jun 12, 07 @ 3:16 pm
Jim Thompson often stays at the Executive Mansion when in town — I wonder how many bedrooms they have. There are plenty of legislators and lobbyists who were thrown out of their apartments as of May 30th.

How about lobbyists on the third floor, and legislators on the second?

As long as they don’t have to listen to a lecture on the GRT in the late afternoon, as the Salvation Army has its religious lecture once a day for its residents…

Comment by capitol view Tuesday, Jun 12, 07 @ 3:31 pm
I’d buy the tank top if it came in other colors, particularly navy blue or black. White is death for me.

Comment by Ferdy Tuesday, Jun 12, 07 @ 4:20 pm
I vote for the split between the Sojourn and Military

Comment by Reddbyrd Tuesday, Jun 12, 07 @ 4:24 pm
Hey Nino,
The Capitol has only been air conditioned for 6 months. Before that, man it was hot in there. Also, have you ever touched the rail. You can really get your hands dirty on that thing, not to mention a nice white, pressed, tailored shirt, while your leaning. Finally, inside baseball is nice, but I prefer the old fashioned kind outside, and during the day.

I vote for the military families, because I already do a couple of things to support sojourn. Whichever wins is deserving.

Comment by Jaded Tuesday, Jun 12, 07 @ 4:32 pm
Wow, it looks like Nino needs to get out from behind their desk or out from under their rock and come to Springfield.

Comment by Blah Blah Blah Tuesday, Jun 12, 07 @ 4:34 pm
Sojourn

Comment by Just a Citizen Tuesday, Jun 12, 07 @ 6:27 pm
Illinois Military Family Relief Fund

Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Jun 12, 07 @ 7:53 pm
Military Relief fund sounds the best of the 3 to me.

Comment by Jechislo Tuesday, Jun 12, 07 @ 8:00 pm
I just ordered my golf shirt. I can’t wait to get it. I vote for Sojourn.

Comment by Bill Tuesday, Jun 12, 07 @ 8:04 pm
I would split the cash between Sojourn and Military Relief.
BTW, Rich, old AA is highly impressed with CapFax Products’ outstanding responsiveness to customer needs. The Fortune 500 have nothing on you, man. Just don’t grow too big too fast without some of AA’s tax advice.You wouldn’t want to become GRT-eligible, you know.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Tuesday, Jun 12, 07 @ 9:47 pm
Sojourn Women’s Shelter

Comment by dirty rail hanging soul-less jerk Tuesday, Jun 12, 07 @ 10:36 pm
I vote for Sojourn as a former Senate Dem staffer and Springfield resident. Furthermore, more legisaltive staffers need to get back to volunteering time for these local not-for-profits instead of killing off their livers at the local bars.

Comment by North Shore Liberal Tuesday, Jun 12, 07 @ 10:55 pm
sojourn gets my vote

Comment by uisposstudent Tuesday, Jun 12, 07 @ 11:40 pm