Manzullo Urges Illinois Officials to Oppose Bills That Woud Undermine the Rights of Gun Owners

[ROCKFORD]  –  Congressman Don Manzullo (R-IL) today urged Illinois leaders to oppose gun control legislation working its way through the Illinois General Assembly and instead join our nation’s 49 other states and pursue viable conceal-carry legislation.
                                                                                          
 In a letter to Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-IL) and Republican Leader Tom Cross (R-IL), Manzullo called on the leaders to oppose legislation that would ban and increase penalties on semi-automatic firearms (HB 1294 and HB 1599), impose a 2 percent tax on ammunition (HB 5167), and create a firearms registry supported by a new fee (HB 5831).

“Illinois already has some of the nation’s strictest firearms laws, including a requirement for gun owners to possess the Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) card. These bills are nothing but an assault on the constitutionally-protected right to bear arms,” Manzullo said. “I respectfully urge you to not adopt these bills but instead to work towards passage of viable conceal-carry legislation for all of Illinois.”
A strong supporter of the 2nd Amendment, Manzullo co-signed a letter last summer authored by U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren (R-IL) encouraging Illinois officials to enact a conceal-carry firearms law. Illinois is the only state in the nation that does not allow conceal-carry. Manzullo also voted last November for the National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act of 2011 (HR 822) that would unfortunately have little effect on Illinois until the state joins the other 49 states and adopts a conceal-carry law.

“The United States Supreme Court affirmed in McDonald vs. Chicago that states cannot violate an individual’s right to bear arms for lawful purposes under the Second Amendment,” Manzullo added. “There is no evidence that gun registration does anything to keep illegal firearms out of the hands of criminals.  Banning semi-automatic firearms, which are used in the biathlon competition in the Winter Olympics, and adding a $65 firearms tax, a 2 percent ammunition tax, and a gun registry only punishes law abiding citizens.”

Pat McGuire to Replace AJ Wilhelmi as 43rd District State Senator

Pat McGuire has been chosen to replace AJ Wilhelmi as the State Senator for the Illinois 43rd State Senate District.  McGuire is the current Braidwood City Clerk and former Will County Treasurer.

Wilhelmi won the 43rd State Senate Seat 37,876 to 24, 276 over Republican Challenger Cedra Crenshaw in the 2010 election.

Here is a map of the current 43rd District, including which precinct went Democrat or Republican in 2010:

Map of 43rd State Senate District and 2010 election results by precinct

After the 2010 Census, the Illinois 43rd State Senate District was realigned and will look like this for the 2012 election:

Congressman Adam Kinzinger Holding Press Conference on Keystone

Illinois 11th Congressional District Congressman Adam Kinzinger will hold a press conference this morning on the Keystone XL Pipeline.

Info on the press conference from a Kinzinger Media Advisory:

WHO:          U.S. Representative Adam Kinzinger (R-IL)

                       Russ Slinkard, Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce and Industry

                       Jerry Caamano, 3 Rivers Manufacturers Association

                       Tom Wolf, Illinois Chamber Energy Council
                       Pat Young, International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 150

                       Tom Gross, Director of Pipeline and Gas Distribution, Pipefitters Local 597,

WHEN:         Thursday, February 23 at 9:15 am CT

WHERE:      Joliet Junior College

                        Campus Center on the Main Campus

                        1215 Houbolt Rd in Joliet

                        Presentation Room A-1061

WHAT:           Congressman Kinzinger, a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, will host a press conference along with prominent industries and organizations in support of the Keystone XL Pipeline.  Each representative will explain what this pipeline would mean specifically for their organization and the community.

Kinzinger, Manzullo Debate in Watseka

Congressman Adam Kinzinger and Congressman Don Manzullo participated in a debate in Watseka tonight sponsored by the Iroquois County Republican Women's Club. 

Congressman Adam Kinzinger in Watseka

Congressman Don Manzullo in Watseka

Both Kinzinger and Manzullo are running in the March 20, 2012 general primary election to be the Republican candidate for the newly realigned 16th Congressional District:

Map of Illinois 16th Congressional District

Topics discussed at the debate included: the appropriate role for the federal government, energy policy, spending, immigration, and the new 16th Congressional District:


Congressmen Manzullo and Kinzinger both expressed that they were forced into running against each other by the Congressional redistricting.  Manzullo stated he had encouraged Kinzinger to run in the Illinois Second Congressional against Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.:

Kinzinger Response to State of the Union Address

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), tonight issued the following remarks in response to President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address: 

“Tonight, folks around the country turned their focus to Washington and looked to the Leader of the Free World for direction.  However, rather than laying out a blueprint for our nation’s future, President Obama took advantage of an opportunity to advance his own re-election agenda.  The president offered more of his same failed policies - higher taxes, more spending and onerous regulations; which has lead to record-high unemployment rates, mounting debt and an overreaching government.

“These policies have hurt our economy and it’s time to hold Washington accountable for its actions. 

“Under the Obama Administration, our national debt has increased by $4.6 trillion – which means every man, woman and child’s share has increased by nearly $14,000 since Obama took office. 

“In his 2011 State of the Union speech, President Obama warned that ‘at stake is whether new jobs and industries take root in this country, or somewhere else.’  This is a fear I hear nearly every day in Illinois.  That’s why I was deeply disappointed to see the President's Administration block the Keystone XL Pipeline - particularly after his own jobs council yesterday called for an 'all-in approach' to energy policy that incorporates expanded oil and gas drilling in addition to advancing energy projects such as pipelines.

“This pipeline would directly create 20,000 manufacturing and construction jobs and 118,000 total jobs. In addition, we would see 830,000 barrels of safe and secure oil each day from our friends to the North, which means we will need less oil from countries we can no longer rely on and are not friendly to the interests of the United States.

“Unfortunately, like tonight’s State of the Union address, the Keystone pipeline is a missed opportunity and is yet another major example of the President placing politics before the people. The fact is that someone will benefit from the oil out of Alberta.  If it’s not the United States, it will be China - and it will be American businesses and consumers who will suffer the consequences from our inaction.

“We can’t continue to follow the same failed agenda that has driven job creators further into doubt and uncertainty.  The road to refueling our economy and creating jobs means tackling our debt head on, simplifying the tax code, reducing onerous regulations, and increasing domestic energy production, making our nation more energy secure, which would help lower costs at the pump and create jobs here at home.

“In just one year, the new House Republicans have fought to put the brakes on the Obama Administration’s spending spree.  We’ve changed the conversation from how much to spend to how much to cut.

“We've also made clear to the president that it is high time that we cut up the government's credit cards and draw a hard line to stop the government from overspending, which is hampering our economy's ability to grow and thrive. We must get the government to stop spending more money than we take in and focus our efforts toward growing the private sector, where jobs are created.”

Ron Paul Sign in Joliet

A few Ron Paul signs have sprouted up in Will County, including this sign in Joliet on Route 59 and Caton Farm Road:

Ron Paul sign at the corner of Route 59 and Caton Farm Road in Joliet, Illinois

Wilhelmi Announces He Will No Longer Participate in Legislative Scholarship Program

Joliet - State Senator AJ Wilhelmi (D-Joliet) has decided that he will
no longer participate in the Legislative Tuition Waiver Program.

"For the past several months, I have been debating whether to continue
awarding legislative scholarships to college-bound students who live in
the 43rd District," Wilhelmi said.  "In the end, I decided that the
problems with the program outweigh its benefits."

The Legislative Tuition Waiver Program allows each member of the General
Assembly to send residents of their districts to Illinois' public
universities.  Legislators can award eight one-year waivers, four
two-year waivers, or two four-year waivers each year.  Although often
referred to as a scholarship program, in reality, the state universities
receive no extra funding to cover the cost of students who receive
tuition waivers.

"I'm frustrated that our attempts to reform this program have failed,
and I'm concerned about removing critically important funds from our
public universities," Wilhelmi explained.  "Though I regret taking this
opportunity away from the children who live in this district, I think it
makes the most financial sense for the State to use its resources on
financial aid programs that can't be abused.  I also think the whole
issue has become so politicized that people have lost sight of the
program's original purpose-to help young people afford a college
education."

"Our economic situation has changed," Wilhelmi continued.  "Many state
universities are struggling with funding issues, despite the fact that
families are coping with ever-higher tuition rates.  It's hard to
reconcile providing free rides to some when it's the universities and
ultimately other students who have to pick up the tab."

In recent years, investigative reporters have uncovered evidence that
the program has been repeatedly abused.  The General Assembly has sent
several bills to the governor attempting to prevent these abuses, but
the governor has repeatedly vetoed the bills, saying he prefers to
abolish the program entirely.

"I do believe that the tuition waiver program has merit for young adults
who simply cannot afford college," the senator said.  "It also serves as
a vehicle to ensure that state-sponsored college tuition assistance
reaches every corner of Illinois.  But in the end, I feel a more
comprehensive approach to college tuition assistance, such as the
Monetary Award Program, is the best way to accomplish that worthy goal
while also ensuring recipients demonstrate financial need."