U.S. Rep. Don Manzullo, who is facing U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger in the GOP primary for the 16th Congressional District, issued the following news release Monday:

Rep. Manzullo Endorsed by Illinois Tea Party

[ROCKFORD] Congressman Don Manzullo (IL-16) gained another major conservative supporter Monday when the Illinois Tea Party endorsed him for re-election to Congress.

"In our opinion, Don is the true fiscal conservative in this race," announced Barb Offill, President of the Iroquois County TEA Party. "Don is an ethical man and a passionate conservative who always votes in-line with his values. His 19 years of experience in manufacturing, creating jobs, cutting wasteful spending, and reducing the deficit in Washington is a strength. He hasn't been named 'Mr. Fix it' for nothing, the Congressman just gets things done in Washington."

The Illinois Tea Party noted that the choice for Illinois voters in the 16th district could not be clearer. In 2011, Rep. Manzullo voted 79 more times to cut $209 billion more in federal spending than his opponent, Rep. Adam Kinzinger, which is why Manzullo is receiving all the awards and endorsements from conservative organizations that are serious about cutting wasteful spending and reducing debt. Manzullo holds a huge 21% lead in conservative ranking from Heritage Action for America, the political arm of the Heritage Foundation.

"I thank the members of the Illinois Tea Party for their endorsement and recognition that I am the candidate in this race most serious about cutting wasteful Washington spending, reducing our massive debt, and helping employers put Americans back to work," Manzullo said. "We will never improve our economy as long as we continue to borrow 42 cents of every dollar our government spends. We must get serious about cutting spending and shrinking the role of government in our lives."

The endorsement from the Illinois Tea Party is the latest in a string of endorsements Manzullo has received from conservative organizations in this year's primary election. He was endorsed last month by Illinois Citizens for Life, the Illinois Conservatives (a group of about 4,000 young conservatives throughout the State of Illinois), and Family-PAC Federal, Illinois' leading pro-family organization.

Local lawmakers released the following statements Thursday regarding the addition of jobs by Chrysler at its Belvidere plant:

U.S. Rep. Don Manzullo (R-16):

[BELVIDERE] – U.S. Rep. Don Manzullo (R-IL) today congratulated Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne and all the employees at the Belvidere Assembly plant on the production launch of the new 2013 Dodge Dart that will create thousand of jobs in northern Illinois.

Manzullo, co-Chairman of the House Automotive Caucus, praised Chrysler’s decision to invest $700 million in upgrades to the building, tooling and equipment at the Belvidere plant, including constructing a new 638,000-square-foot body shop as well as upgrades to the body sealer lines, paint facilities and the trim/chassis/final assembly operations. The new body shop was dedicated today by Marchionne and will produce the new 2013 Dodge Dart that is drawing rave reviews and will get 40 mpg. The Belvidere plant will be the first of the Chrysler Group to incorporate Fiat-derived architecture, similar to that used in the Alfa Romeo Giulietta.

The upgrades and investment will create 1,800 direct jobs at the Belvidere plant by this summer, as well as many more in the local industries that supply the plant. Hiring at the plant will begin immediately. Applicants must have a minimum of a high school diploma. Those interested should visit www.hourlychryslerjobs.com. Salaried and skilled trades positions can be found at www.chryslercareers.com.

“We welcome Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne to Belvidere today to launch production of the new 2013 Dodge Dart and to thank him and his board for building it here in Belvidere. This significant investment will mean 1,800 direct jobs at the Belvidere plant this summer and many more at its neighboring suppliers, and will ensure this tremendous job engine for the Rock River Valley will be utilized for many years to come,” Manzullo said. “I sat in the Dart at the Washington Auto Show last week, and it’s a great car. Chrysler’s decision to build the 40-mpg Dart here is a testament to the fine workers at the Belvidere Assembly Plant, who have consistently received high efficiency reviews from industry experts. Without their commitment, training, and flexibility, we might not be here today.”

Manzullo has continually fought back efforts in Congress to raise taxes on foreign direct investment in America that would have hurt Chrysler – owned by Italy’s Fiat – and many other companies in northern Illinois. Manzullo, who has worked to open overseas markets to U.S. exports, added that the Belvidere Assembly plant in 2010 exported 42 percent of total production to markets all around the world, including 8,545 vehicles to Mexico alone.

State Rep. Joe Sosowski (R-69):

Belvidere, IL... State Rep. Joe Sosnowski (R-Belvidere/Rockford) attended a special

event at Chrysler’s Belvidere Assembly Plant for the announcement of production of

the new energy efficient Dodge Dart.

“It is an exciting time to see Chrysler keeps its presence in our region and continue

to grow its line of new products. I am very pleased to see the Dodge Dart begin

production here in Belvidere and the additional jobs that will be created. We’re

looking forward to continuing a great relationship with the Chrysler company for

many years to come.”

The White House issued Tuesday night the following text of the State of the Union:

Office of the Press Secretary
________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release                           January 24, 2012

 
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT IN STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS

United States Capitol
Washington, D.C.

9:10 P.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT:  Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice President, members of Congress, distinguished guests, and fellow Americans:

Last month, I went to Andrews Air Force Base and welcomed home some of our last troops to serve in Iraq.  Together, we offered a final, proud salute to the colors under which more than a million of our fellow citizens fought -- and several thousand gave their lives.

We gather tonight knowing that this generation of heroes has made the United States safer and more respected around the world.  (Applause.)  For the first time in nine years, there are no Americans fighting in Iraq.  (Applause.)  For the first time in two decades, Osama bin Laden is not a threat to this country.  (Applause.)  Most of al Qaeda’s top lieutenants have been defeated.  The Taliban’s momentum has been broken, and some troops in Afghanistan have begun to come home.

These achievements are a testament to the courage, selflessness and teamwork of America’s Armed Forces.  At a time when too many of our institutions have let us down, they exceed all expectations.  They’re not consumed with personal ambition.  They don’t obsess over their differences.  They focus on the mission at hand.  They work together. 

Imagine what we could accomplish if we followed their example.  (Applause.)  Think about the America within our reach:  A country that leads the world in educating its people.  An America that attracts a new generation of high-tech manufacturing and high-paying jobs.  A future where we’re in control of our own energy, and our security and prosperity aren’t so tied to unstable parts of the world.  An economy built to last, where hard work pays off, and responsibility is rewarded.

We can do this.  I know we can, because we’ve done it before.  At the end of World War II, when another generation of heroes returned home from combat, they built the strongest economy and middle class the world has ever known.  (Applause.)  My grandfather, a veteran of Patton’s Army, got the chance to go to college on the GI Bill.  My grandmother, who worked on a bomber assembly line, was part of a workforce that turned out the best products on Earth.

 

The two of them shared the optimism of a nation that had triumphed over a depression and fascism.  They understood they were part of something larger; that they were contributing to a story of success that every American had a chance to share -- the basic American promise that if you worked hard, you could do well enough to raise a family, own a home, send your kids to college, and put a little away for retirement. 

 

The defining issue of our time is how to keep that promise alive.  No challenge is more urgent.  No debate is more important.  We can either settle for a country where a shrinking number of people do really well while a growing number of Americans barely get by, or we can restore an economy where everyone gets a fair shot, and everyone does their fair share, and everyone plays by the same set of rules.  (Applause.)  What’s at stake aren’t Democratic values or Republican values, but American values.  And we have to reclaim them.

 

Let’s remember how we got here.  Long before the recession, jobs and manufacturing began leaving our shores.  Technology made businesses more efficient, but also made some jobs obsolete.  Folks at the top saw their incomes rise like never before, but most hardworking Americans struggled with costs that were growing, paychecks that weren’t, and personal debt that kept piling up.

 

In 2008, the house of cards collapsed.  We learned that mortgages had been sold to people who couldn’t afford or understand them.  Banks had made huge bets and bonuses with other people’s money.  Regulators had looked the other way, or didn’t have the authority to stop the bad behavior.

 

It was wrong.  It was irresponsible.  And it plunged our economy into a crisis that put millions out of work, saddled us with more debt, and left innocent, hardworking Americans holding the bag.  In the six months before I took office, we lost nearly 4 million jobs.  And we lost another 4 million before our policies were in full effect.

 

Those are the facts.  But so are these:  In the last 22 months, businesses have created more than 3 million jobs.  (Applause.)

 

Last year, they created the most jobs since 2005.  American manufacturers are hiring again, creating jobs for the first time since the late 1990s.  Together, we’ve agreed to cut the deficit by more than $2 trillion.  And we’ve put in place new rules to hold Wall Street accountable, so a crisis like this never happens again.  (Applause.)

The state of our Union is getting stronger.  And we’ve come too far to turn back now.  As long as I’m President, I will work with anyone in this chamber to build on this momentum.  But I intend to fight obstruction with action, and I will oppose any effort to return to the very same policies that brought on this economic crisis in the first place.  (Applause.)  

No, we will not go back to an economy weakened by outsourcing, bad debt, and phony financial profits.  Tonight, I want to speak about how we move forward, and lay out a blueprint for an economy that’s built to last -– an economy built on American manufacturing, American energy, skills for American workers, and a renewal of American values.

Now, this blueprint begins with American manufacturing.

On the day I took office, our auto industry was on the verge of collapse.  Some even said we should let it die.  With a million jobs at stake, I refused to let that happen.  In exchange for help, we demanded responsibility.  We got workers and automakers to settle their differences.  We got the industry to retool and restructure.  Today, General Motors is back on top as the world’s number-one automaker.  (Applause.)  Chrysler has grown faster in the U.S. than any major car company.  Ford is investing billions in U.S. plants and factories.  And together, the entire industry added nearly 160,000 jobs.   

We bet on American workers.  We bet on American ingenuity.  And tonight, the American auto industry is back.  (Applause.)  

What’s happening in Detroit can happen in other industries.  It can happen in Cleveland and Pittsburgh and Raleigh.  We can’t bring every job back that’s left our shore.  But right now, it’s getting more expensive to do business in places like China.  Meanwhile, America is more productive.  A few weeks ago, the CEO of Master Lock told me that it now makes business sense for him to bring jobs back home.  (Applause.)  Today, for the first time in 15 years, Master Lock’s unionized plant in Milwaukee is running at full capacity.  (Applause.)  

 

So we have a huge opportunity, at this moment, to bring manufacturing back.  But we have to seize it.  Tonight, my message to business leaders is simple:  Ask yourselves what you can do to bring jobs back to your country, and your country will do everything we can to help you succeed.  (Applause.)  

We should start with our tax code.  Right now, companies get tax breaks for moving jobs and profits overseas.  Meanwhile, companies that choose to stay in America get hit with one of the highest tax rates in the world.  It makes no sense, and everyone knows it.  So let’s change it. 

First, if you’re a business that wants to outsource jobs, you shouldn’t get a tax deduction for doing it.  (Applause.)  That money should be used to cover moving expenses for companies like Master Lock that decide to bring jobs home.  (Applause.)  

Second, no American company should be able to avoid paying its fair share of taxes by moving jobs and profits overseas.  (Applause.)  From now on, every multinational company should have to pay a basic minimum tax.  And every penny should go towards lowering taxes for companies that choose to stay here and hire here in America.  (Applause.)    

Third, if you’re an American manufacturer, you should get a bigger tax cut.  If you’re a high-tech manufacturer, we should double the tax deduction you get for making your products here.  And if you want to relocate in a community that was hit hard when a factory left town, you should get help financing a new plant, equipment, or training for new workers.  (Applause.)  

So my message is simple.  It is time to stop rewarding businesses that ship jobs overseas, and start rewarding companies that create jobs right here in America.  Send me these tax reforms, and I will sign them right away.  (Applause.)     

We’re also making it easier for American businesses to sell products all over the world.  Two years ago, I set a goal of doubling U.S. exports over five years.  With the bipartisan trade agreements we [Marker]signed into law, we’re on track to meet that goal ahead of schedule.  (Applause.)  And soon, there will be millions of new customers for American goods in Panama, Colombia, and South Korea.  Soon, there will be new cars on the streets of Seoul imported from Detroit, and Toledo, and Chicago.  (Applause.)     

 

I will go anywhere in the world to open new markets for American products.  And I will not stand by when our competitors don’t play by the rules.  We’ve brought trade cases against China at nearly twice the rate as the last administration –- and it’s made a difference.  (Applause.)  Over a thousand Americans are working today because we stopped a surge in Chinese tires.  But we need to do more.  It’s not right when another country lets our movies, music, and software be pirated.  It’s not fair when foreign manufacturers have a leg up on ours only because they’re heavily subsidized.

Tonight, I’m announcing the creation of a Trade Enforcement Unit that will be charged with investigating unfair trading practices in countries like China.  (Applause.)  There will be more inspections to prevent counterfeit or unsafe goods from crossing our borders.  And this Congress should make sure that no foreign company has an advantage over American manufacturing when it comes to accessing financing or new markets like Russia.  Our workers are the most productive on Earth, and if the playing field is level, I promise you -– America will always win.  (Applause.) 

I also hear from many business leaders who want to hire in the United States but can’t find workers with the right skills.  Growing industries in science and technology have twice as many openings as we have workers who can do the job.  Think about that –- openings at a time when millions of Americans are looking for work.  It’s inexcusable.  And we know how to fix it.  

Jackie Bray is a single mom from North Carolina who was laid off from her job as a mechanic.  Then Siemens opened a gas turbine factory in Charlotte, and formed a partnership with Central Piedmont Community College.  The company helped the college design courses in laser and robotics training.  It paid Jackie’s tuition, then hired her to help operate their plant.

I want every American looking for work to have the same opportunity as Jackie did.  Join me in a national commitment to train 2 million Americans with skills that will lead directly to a job.  (Applause.)  My administration has already lined up more companies that want to help.  Model partnerships between businesses like Siemens and community colleges in places like Charlotte, and Orlando, and Louisville are up and running.  Now you need to give more community colleges the resources they need to become community career centers -– places that teach people skills that businesses are looking for right now, from data management to high-tech manufacturing.

And I want to cut through the maze of confusing training programs, so that from now on, people like Jackie have one program, one website, and one place to go for all the information and help that they need.  It is time to turn our unemployment system into a reemployment system that puts people to work.  (Applause.)

   

These reforms will help people get jobs that are open today.  But to prepare for the jobs of tomorrow, our commitment to skills and education has to start earlier.

 

For less than 1 percent of what our nation spends on education each year, we’ve convinced nearly every state in the country to raise their standards for teaching and learning -- the first time that’s happened in a generation.

 

But challenges remain.  And we know how to solve them.

 

At a time when other countries are doubling down on education, tight budgets have forced states to lay off thousands of teachers.  We know a good teacher can increase the lifetime income of a classroom by over $250,000.  A great teacher can offer an escape from poverty to the child who dreams beyond his circumstance.  Every person in this chamber can point to a teacher who changed the trajectory of their lives.  Most teachers work tirelessly, with modest pay, sometimes digging into their own pocket for school supplies -- just to make a difference.

 

Teachers matter.  So instead of bashing them, or defending the status quo, let’s offer schools a deal.  Give them the resources to keep good teachers on the job, and reward the best ones.  (Applause.)  And in return, grant schools flexibility:  to teach with creativity and passion; to stop teaching to the test; and to replace teachers who just aren’t helping kids learn.  That’s a bargain worth making.  (Applause.)

 

We also know that when students don’t walk away from their education, more of them walk the stage to get their diploma.  When students are not allowed to drop out, they do better.  So tonight, I am proposing that every state -- every state -- requires that all students stay in high school until they graduate or turn 18.  (Applause.)

 

When kids do graduate, the most daunting challenge can be the cost of college.  At a time when Americans owe more in tuition debt than credit card debt, this Congress needs to stop the interest rates on student loans from doubling in July.  (Applause.)

 

Extend the tuition tax credit we started that saves millions of middle-class families thousands of dollars, and give more young people the chance to earn their way through college by doubling the number of work-study jobs in the next five years.  (Applause.)

Of course, it’s not enough for us to increase student aid.  We can’t just keep subsidizing skyrocketing tuition; we’ll run out of money.  States also need to do their part, by making higher education a higher priority in their budgets.  And colleges and universities have to do their part by working to keep costs down.

Recently, I spoke with a group of college presidents who’ve done just that.  Some schools redesign courses to help students finish more quickly.  Some use better technology.  The point is, it’s possible.  So let me put colleges and universities on notice:  If you can’t stop tuition from going up, the funding you get from taxpayers will go down.  (Applause.)  Higher education can’t be a luxury -– it is an economic imperative that every family in America should be able to afford.

Let’s also remember that hundreds of thousands of talented, hardworking students in this country face another challenge:  the fact that they aren’t yet American citizens.  Many were brought here as small children, are American through and through, yet they live every day with the threat of deportation.  Others came more recently, to study business and science and engineering, but as soon as they get their degree, we send them home to invent new products and create new jobs somewhere else. 

That doesn’t make sense.   

I believe as strongly as ever that we should take on illegal immigration.  That’s why my administration has put more boots on the border than ever before.  That’s why there are fewer illegal crossings than when I took office.  The opponents of action are out of excuses.  We should be working on comprehensive immigration reform right now.  (Applause.)

But if election-year politics keeps Congress from acting on a comprehensive plan, let’s at least agree to stop expelling responsible young people who want to staff our labs, start new businesses, defend this country.  Send me a law that gives them the chance to earn their citizenship.  I will sign it right away.  (Applause.)

You see, an economy built to last is one where we encourage the talent and ingenuity of every person in this country.  That means women should earn equal pay for equal work.  (Applause.)  It means we should support everyone who’s willing to work, and every risk-taker and entrepreneur who aspires to become the next Steve Jobs.  

 

After all, innovation is what America has always been about.  Most new jobs are created in start-ups and small businesses.  So let’s pass an agenda that helps them succeed.  Tear down regulations that prevent aspiring entrepreneurs from getting the financing to grow.  (Applause.)  Expand tax relief to small businesses that are raising wages and creating good jobs.  Both parties agree on these ideas.  So put them in a bill, and get it on my desk this year.  (Applause.)

 

Innovation also demands basic research.  Today, the discoveries taking place in our federally financed labs and universities could lead to new treatments that kill cancer cells but leave healthy ones untouched.  New lightweight vests for cops and soldiers that can stop any bullet.  Don’t gut these investments in our budget.  Don’t let other countries win the race for the future.  Support the same kind of research and innovation that led to the computer chip and the Internet; to new American jobs and new American industries.

 

And nowhere is the promise of innovation greater than in American-made energy.  Over the last three years, we’ve opened millions of new acres for oil and gas exploration, and tonight, I’m directing my administration to open more than 75 percent of our potential offshore oil and gas resources.  (Applause.)  Right now -- right now -- American oil production is the highest that it’s been in eight years.  That’s right -- eight years.  Not only that -- last year, we relied less on foreign oil than in any of the past 16 years.  (Applause.)

 

But with only 2 percent of the world’s oil reserves, oil isn’t enough.  This country needs an all-out, all-of-the-above strategy that develops every available source of American energy.  (Applause.)  A strategy that’s cleaner, cheaper, and full of new jobs.

 

We have a supply of natural gas that can last America nearly 100 years.  (Applause.)  And my administration will take every possible action to safely develop this energy.  Experts believe this will support more than 600,000 jobs by the end of the decade.  And I’m requiring all companies that drill for gas on public lands to disclose the chemicals they use.  (Applause.)  Because America will develop this resource without putting the health and safety of our citizens at risk.

 

The development of natural gas will create jobs and power trucks and factories that are cleaner and cheaper, proving that we don’t have to choose between our environment and our economy.  (Applause.)  And by the way, it was public research dollars, over the course of 30 years, that helped develop the technologies to extract all this natural gas out of shale rock –- reminding us that government support is critical in helping businesses get new energy ideas off the ground.  (Applause.)          

Now, what’s true for natural gas is just as true for clean energy.  In three years, our partnership with the private sector has already positioned America to be the world’s leading manufacturer of high-tech batteries.  Because of federal investments, renewable energy use has nearly doubled, and thousands of Americans have jobs because of it. 

 

When Bryan Ritterby was laid off from his job making furniture, he said he worried that at 55, no one would give him a second chance.  But he found work at Energetx, a wind turbine manufacturer in Michigan.  Before the recession, the factory only made luxury yachts.  Today, it’s hiring workers like Bryan, who said, “I’m proud to be working in the industry of the future.”

 

Our experience with shale gas, our experience with natural gas, shows us that the payoffs on these public investments don’t always come right away.  Some technologies don’t pan out; some companies fail.  But I will not walk away from the promise of clean energy.  I will not walk away from workers like Bryan.  (Applause.)  I will not cede the wind or solar or battery industry to China or Germany because we refuse to make the same commitment here. 

 

We’ve subsidized oil companies for a century.  That’s long enough.  (Applause.)  It’s time to end the taxpayer giveaways to an industry that rarely has been more profitable, and double-down on a clean energy industry that never has been more promising.  Pass clean energy tax credits.  Create these jobs.  (Applause.)

 

We can also spur energy innovation with new incentives.  The differences in this chamber may be too deep right now to pass a comprehensive plan to fight climate change.  But there’s no reason why Congress shouldn’t at least set a clean energy standard that creates a market for innovation.  So far, you haven’t acted.  Well, tonight, I will.  I’m directing my administration to allow the development of clean energy on enough public land to power 3 million homes.  And I’m proud to announce that the Department of Defense, working with us, the world’s largest consumer of energy, will make one of the largest commitments to clean energy in history -– with the Navy purchasing enough capacity to power a quarter of a million homes a year.  (Applause.) 

 

Of course, the easiest way to save money is to waste less energy.  So here’s a proposal:  Help manufacturers eliminate energy waste in their factories and give businesses incentives to upgrade their buildings.  Their energy bills will be $100 billion lower over the next decade, and America will have less pollution, more manufacturing, more jobs for construction workers who need them.  Send me a bill that creates these jobs.  (Applause.)  

 

Building this new energy future should be just one part of a broader agenda to repair America’s infrastructure.  So much of America needs to be rebuilt.  We’ve got crumbling roads and bridges; a power grid that wastes too much energy; an incomplete high-speed broadband network that prevents a small business owner in rural America from selling her products all over the world. 

 

During the Great Depression, America built the Hoover Dam and the Golden Gate Bridge.  After World War II, we connected our states with a system of highways.  Democratic and Republican administrations invested in great projects that benefited everybody, from the workers who built them to the businesses that still use them today.

 

In the next few weeks, I will sign an executive order clearing away the red tape that slows down too many construction projects.  But you need to fund these projects.  Take the money we’re no longer spending at war, use half of it to pay down our debt, and use the rest to do some nation-building right here at home.  (Applause.)

 

There’s never been a better time to build, especially since the construction industry was one of the hardest hit when the housing bubble burst.  Of course, construction workers weren’t the only ones who were hurt.  So were millions of innocent Americans who’ve seen their home values decline.  And while government can’t fix the problem on its own, responsible homeowners shouldn’t have to sit and wait for the housing market to hit bottom to get some relief.  

 

And that’s why I’m sending this Congress a plan that gives every responsible homeowner the chance to save about $3,000 a year on their mortgage, by refinancing at historically low rates.  (Applause.)  No more red tape.  No more runaround from the banks.  A small fee on the largest financial institutions will ensure that it won’t add to the deficit and will give those banks that were rescued by taxpayers a chance to repay a deficit of trust.  (Applause.)

 

Let’s never forget:  Millions of Americans who work hard and play by the rules every day deserve a government and a financial system that do the same.  It’s time to apply the same rules from top to bottom.  No bailouts, no handouts, and no copouts.  An America built to last insists on responsibility from everybody. 

 

We’ve all paid the price for lenders who sold mortgages to people who couldn’t afford them, and buyers who knew they couldn’t afford them.  That’s why we need smart regulations to prevent irresponsible behavior.  (Applause.)  Rules to prevent financial fraud or toxic dumping or faulty medical devices -- these don’t destroy the free market.  They make the free market work better.

 

There’s no question that some regulations are outdated, unnecessary, or too costly.  In fact, I’ve approved fewer regulations in the first three years of my presidency than my Republican predecessor did in his.  (Applause.)  I’ve ordered every federal agency to eliminate rules that don’t make sense.  We’ve already announced over 500 reforms, and just a fraction of them will save business and citizens more than $10 billion over the next five years.  We got rid of one rule from 40 years ago that could have forced some dairy farmers to spend $10,000 a year proving that they could contain a spill -- because milk was somehow classified as an oil.  With a rule like that, I guess it was worth crying over spilled milk.  (Laughter and applause.)

 

Now, I’m confident a farmer can contain a milk spill without a federal agency looking over his shoulder.  (Applause.)  Absolutely.  But I will not back down from making sure an oil company can contain the kind of oil spill we saw in the Gulf two years ago.  (Applause.)  I will not back down from protecting our kids from mercury poisoning, or making sure that our food is safe and our water is clean.  I will not go back to the days when health insurance companies had unchecked power to cancel your policy, deny your coverage, or charge women differently than men.  (Applause.)

 

And I will not go back to the days when Wall Street was allowed to play by its own set of rules.  The new rules we passed restore what should be any financial system’s core purpose:  Getting funding to entrepreneurs with the best ideas, and getting loans to responsible families who want to buy a home, or start a business, or send their kids to college.

 

So if you are a big bank or financial institution, you’re no longer allowed to make risky bets with your customers’ deposits.  You’re required to write out a “living will” that details exactly how you’ll pay the bills if you fail –- because the rest of us are not bailing you out ever again.  (Applause.)  And if you’re a mortgage lender or a payday lender or a credit card company, the days of signing people up for products they can’t afford with confusing forms and deceptive practices -- those days are over.  Today, American consumers finally have a watchdog in Richard Cordray with one job:  To look out for them.  (Applause.)   

 

We’ll also establish a Financial Crimes Unit of highly trained investigators to crack down on large-scale fraud and protect people’s investments.  Some financial firms violate major anti-fraud laws because there’s no real penalty for being a repeat offender.  That’s bad for consumers, and it’s bad for the vast majority of bankers and financial service professionals who do the right thing.  So pass legislation that makes the penalties for fraud count. 

 

And tonight, I’m asking my Attorney General to create a special unit of federal prosecutors and leading state attorney general to expand our investigations into the abusive lending and packaging of risky mortgages that led to the housing crisis.  (Applause.)  This new unit will hold accountable those who broke the law, speed assistance to homeowners, and help turn the page on an era of recklessness that hurt so many Americans. 

 

Now, a return to the American values of fair play and shared responsibility will help protect our people and our economy.  But it should also guide us as we look to pay down our debt and invest in our future.

 

Right now, our most immediate priority is stopping a tax hike on 160 million working Americans while the recovery is still fragile.  (Applause.)  People cannot afford losing $40 out of each paycheck this year.  There are plenty of ways to get this done.  So let’s agree right here, right now:  No side issues.  No drama.  Pass the payroll tax cut without delay.  Let’s get it done.  (Applause.)

 

When it comes to the deficit, we’ve already agreed to more than $2 trillion in cuts and savings.  But we need to do more, and that means making choices.  Right now, we’re poised to spend nearly $1 trillion more on what was supposed to be a temporary tax break for the wealthiest 2 percent of Americans.  Right now, because of loopholes and shelters in the tax code, a quarter of all millionaires pay lower tax rates than millions of middle-class households.  Right now, Warren Buffett pays a lower tax rate than his secretary.  

 

Do we want to keep these tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans?  Or do we want to keep our investments in everything else –- like education and medical research; a strong military and care for our veterans?  Because if we’re serious about paying down our debt, we can’t do both.  

 

The American people know what the right choice is.  So do I.  As I told the Speaker this summer, I’m prepared to make more reforms that rein in the long-term costs of Medicare and Medicaid, and strengthen Social Security, so long as those programs remain a guarantee of security for seniors. 

 

But in return, we need to change our tax code so that people like me, and an awful lot of members of Congress, pay our fair share of taxes.  (Applause.)

 

Tax reform should follow the Buffett Rule.  If you make more than $1 million a year, you should not pay less than 30 percent in taxes.  And my Republican friend Tom Coburn is right:  Washington should stop subsidizing millionaires.  In fact, if you’re earning a million dollars a year, you shouldn’t get special tax subsidies or deductions.  On the other hand, if you make under $250,000 a year, like 98 percent of American families, your taxes shouldn’t go up.  (Applause.)  You’re the ones struggling with rising costs and stagnant wages.  You’re the ones who need relief.   

 

Now, you can call this class warfare all you want.  But asking a billionaire to pay at least as much as his secretary in taxes?  Most Americans would call that common sense. 

 

We don’t begrudge financial success in this country.  We admire it.  When Americans talk about folks like me paying my fair share of taxes, it’s not because they envy the rich.  It’s because they understand that when I get a tax break I don’t need and the country can’t afford, it either adds to the deficit, or somebody else has to make up the difference -- like a senior on a fixed income, or a student trying to get through school, or a family trying to make ends meet.  That’s not right.  Americans know that’s not right.  They know that this generation’s success is only possible because past generations felt a responsibility to each other, and to the future of their country, and they know our way of life will only endure if we feel that same sense of shared responsibility.  That’s how we’ll reduce our deficit.  That’s an America built to last.  (Applause.)

 

Now, I recognize that people watching tonight have differing views about taxes and debt, energy and health care.  But no matter what party they belong to, I bet most Americans are thinking the same thing right about now:  Nothing will get done in Washington this year, or next year, or maybe even the year after that, because Washington is broken.

 

Can you blame them for feeling a little cynical? 

 

The greatest blow to our confidence in our economy last year didn’t come from events beyond our control.  It came from a debate in Washington over whether the United States would pay its bills or not.  Who benefited from that fiasco?

 

I’ve talked tonight about the deficit of trust between Main Street and Wall Street.  But the divide between this city and the rest of the country is at least as bad -- and it seems to get worse every year.

 

Some of this has to do with the corrosive influence of money in politics.  So together, let’s take some steps to fix that.  Send me a bill that bans insider trading by members of Congress; I will sign it tomorrow.  (Applause.)  Let’s limit any elected official from owning stocks in industries they impact.  Let’s make sure people who bundle campaign contributions for Congress can’t lobby Congress, and vice versa -- an idea that has bipartisan support, at least outside of Washington. 

 

Some of what’s broken has to do with the way Congress does its business these days.  A simple majority is no longer enough to get anything -– even routine business –- passed through the Senate.  (Applause.)  Neither party has been blameless in these tactics.  Now both parties should put an end to it.  (Applause.)  For starters, I ask the Senate to pass a simple rule that all judicial and public service nominations receive a simple up or down vote within 90 days.  (Applause.)  

 

The executive branch also needs to change.  Too often, it’s inefficient, outdated and remote.  (Applause.)  That’s why I’ve asked this Congress to grant me the authority to consolidate the federal bureaucracy, so that our government is leaner, quicker, and more responsive to the needs of the American people.  (Applause.)  

 

Finally, none of this can happen unless we also lower the temperature in this town.  We need to end the notion that the two parties must be locked in a perpetual campaign of mutual destruction; that politics is about clinging to rigid ideologies instead of building consensus around common-sense ideas. 

 

I’m a Democrat.  But I believe what Republican Abraham Lincoln believed:  That government should do for people only what they cannot do better by themselves, and no more.  (Applause.)  That’s why my education reform offers more competition, and more control for schools and states.  That’s why we’re getting rid of regulations that don’t work.  That’s why our health care law relies on a reformed private market, not a government program. 

 

On the other hand, even my Republican friends who complain the most about government spending have supported federally financed roads, and clean energy projects, and federal offices for the folks back home. 

 

The point is, we should all want a smarter, more effective government.  And while we may not be able to bridge our biggest philosophical differences this year, we can make real progress.  With or without this Congress, I will keep taking actions that help the economy grow.  But I can do a whole lot more with your help.  Because when we act together, there’s nothing the United States of America can’t achieve.  (Applause.)  That’s the lesson we’ve learned from our actions abroad over the last few years.

 

Ending the Iraq war has allowed us to strike decisive blows against our enemies.  From Pakistan to Yemen, the al Qaeda operatives who remain are scrambling, knowing that they can’t escape the reach of the United States of America.  (Applause.)

 

From this position of strength, we’ve begun to wind down the war in Afghanistan.  Ten thousand of our troops have come home.  Twenty-three thousand more will leave by the end of this summer.  This transition to Afghan lead will continue, and we will build an enduring partnership with Afghanistan, so that it is never again a source of attacks against America.  (Applause.)

 

As the tide of war recedes, a wave of change has washed across the Middle East and North Africa, from Tunis to Cairo; from Sana’a to Tripoli.  A year ago, Qaddafi was one of the world’s longest-serving dictators -– a murderer with American blood on his hands.  Today, he is gone.  And in Syria, I have no doubt that the Assad regime will soon discover that the forces of change cannot be reversed, and that human dignity cannot be denied.  (Applause.)

 

How this incredible transformation will end remains uncertain.  But we have a huge stake in the outcome.  And while it’s ultimately up to the people of the region to decide their fate, we will advocate for those values that have served our own country so well.  We will stand against violence and intimidation.  We will stand for the rights and dignity of all human beings –- men and women; Christians, Muslims and Jews.  We will support policies that lead to strong and stable democracies and open markets, because tyranny is no match for liberty.

 

And we will safeguard America’s own security against those who threaten our citizens, our friends, and our interests.  Look at Iran.  Through the power of our diplomacy, a world that was once divided about how to deal with Iran’s nuclear program now stands as one.  The regime is more isolated than ever before; its leaders are faced with crippling sanctions, and as long as they shirk their responsibilities, this pressure will not relent.

 

Let there be no doubt:  America is determined to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon, and I will take no options off the table to achieve that goal.  (Applause.)

 

But a peaceful resolution of this issue is still possible, and far better, and if Iran changes course and meets its obligations, it can rejoin the community of nations.

 

The renewal of American leadership can be felt across the globe.  Our oldest alliances in Europe and Asia are stronger than ever.  Our ties to the Americas are deeper.  Our ironclad commitment -- and I mean ironclad -- to Israel’s security has meant the closest military cooperation between our two countries in history.  (Applause.)

 

We’ve made it clear that America is a Pacific power, and a new beginning in Burma has lit a new hope.  From the coalitions we’ve built to secure nuclear materials, to the missions we’ve led against hunger and disease; from the blows we’ve dealt to our enemies, to the enduring power of our moral example, America is back. 

 

Anyone who tells you otherwise, anyone who tells you that America is in decline or that our influence has waned, doesn’t know what they’re talking about.  (Applause.)

 

That’s not the message we get from leaders around the world who are eager to work with us.  That’s not how people feel from Tokyo to Berlin, from Cape Town to Rio, where opinions of America are higher than they’ve been in years.  Yes, the world is changing.  No, we can’t control every event.  But America remains the one indispensable nation in world affairs –- and as long as I’m President, I intend to keep it that way.  (Applause.)  

 

That’s why, working with our military leaders, I’ve proposed a new defense strategy that ensures we maintain the finest military in the world, while saving nearly half a trillion dollars in our budget.  To stay one step ahead of our adversaries, I’ve already sent this Congress legislation that will secure our country from the growing dangers of cyber-threats.  (Applause.) 

 

Above all, our freedom endures because of the men and women in uniform who defend it.  (Applause.)  As they come home, we must serve them as well as they’ve served us.  That includes giving them the care and the benefits they have earned –- which is why we’ve increased annual VA spending every year I’ve been President.  (Applause.)  And it means enlisting our veterans in the work of rebuilding our nation.

 

With the bipartisan support of this Congress, we’re providing new tax credits to companies that hire vets.  Michelle and Jill Biden have worked with American businesses to secure a pledge of 135,000 jobs for veterans and their families.  And tonight, I’m proposing a Veterans Jobs Corps that will help our communities hire veterans as cops and firefighters, so that America is as strong as those who defend her.  (Applause.)

 

Which brings me back to where I began.  Those of us who’ve been sent here to serve can learn a thing or two from the service of our troops.  When you put on that uniform, it doesn’t matter if you’re black or white; Asian, Latino, Native American; conservative, liberal; rich, poor; gay, straight.  When you’re marching into battle, you look out for the person next to you, or the mission fails.  When you’re in the thick of the fight, you rise or fall as one unit, serving one nation, leaving no one behind.

 

One of my proudest possessions is the flag that the SEAL Team took with them on the mission to get bin Laden.  On it are each of their names.  Some may be Democrats.  Some may be Republicans.  But that doesn’t matter.  Just like it didn’t matter that day in the Situation Room, when I sat next to Bob Gates -- a man who was George Bush’s defense secretary -- and Hillary Clinton -- a woman who ran against me for president. 

 

All that mattered that day was the mission.  No one thought about politics.  No one thought about themselves.  One of the young men involved in the raid later told me that he didn’t deserve credit for the mission.  It only succeeded, he said, because every single member of that unit did their job -- the pilot who landed the helicopter that spun out of control; the translator who kept others from entering the compound; the troops who separated the women and children from the fight; the SEALs who charged up the stairs.  More than that, the mission only succeeded because every member of that unit trusted each other -- because you can’t charge up those stairs, into darkness and danger, unless you know that there’s somebody behind you, watching your back.

 

So it is with America.  Each time I look at that flag, I’m reminded that our destiny is stitched together like those 50 stars and those 13 stripes.  No one built this country on their own.  This nation is great because we built it together.  This nation is great because we worked as a team.  This nation is great because we get each other’s backs.  And if we hold fast to that truth, in this moment of trial, there is no challenge too great; no mission too hard.  As long as we are joined in common purpose, as long as we maintain our common resolve, our journey moves forward, and our future is hopeful, and the state of our Union will always be strong.

 

Thank you, God bless you, and God bless the United States of America.  (Applause.)

 

                             END                10:16 P.M. EST
 

The following statements were issued Tuesday night following President Obama's State of the Union address:

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Illinois

[WASHINGTON, DC] – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement in reaction to President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address. 

“Tonight we heard the President lay out a plan for an American economy that values hard work, promotes fairness and rewards responsibility. He spoke about an economy based on American energy and manufacturing and built by the highest skilled workers in the world.”

“I support that plan and the President’s vision for an America that helps those who are suffering, emboldens those who are working hard and playing by the rules and levels the playing field for everyone – not just the privileged few.”
 

U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren, R-Winfield
 
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren (IL-14) tonight released the following response to President Obama’s State of the Union address.

“I had high hopes for the President’s speech tonight – that he would put the country and the American people ahead of his own reelection and his liberal base; but unfortunately his priority tonight was divisive rhetoric, rather than working across the aisle for a better America,” said Hultgren. “Moreover, the President once again decided to chase straw men. The efforts of the House Republicans are not, as he suggests, acts of obstruction, but rather we are remaining true to the principles of smaller government, less spending, and lower taxes, which are fundamentally incompatible with the taxing, spending, borrowing, and government-growing policies of his administration.

“It is also deeply disingenuous for the President to claim that he supports American energy, just days after he rejected a pipeline that would have immediately created at least 20,000 good-paying jobs for hard-working Americans, and had the support of groups across the ideological spectrum. Like this speech, the President’s decision on the Keystone XL pipeline put his liberal base and his reelection efforts before the interests of the American people. 

“In addition, I was astounded to hear the President imply that Congress has attacked our nation’s investment in basic scientific research. Nothing could be further from the truth – I, along with many of my colleagues, have fought for robust funding for basic scientific research and high-energy physics. In contrast, it is the President and his Administration that have chosen to emphasize politically-motivated research and government boondoggles, such as the loan guarantees to Solyndra; the money wasted on that green crusade could have instead funded Fermilab’s Tevatron for the next thousand years. 

“I am also disappointed by what the President did not say. After 1,000 days of outrageous inaction, I had hoped that he would call on the Senate to do their duty and pass a budget. A budget is not only a statement of principles and a governing document, it also forces us to make tough choices about our priorities and what we can and cannot afford. The Senate’s refusal to pass a budget, and the President’s refusal to call them to account, once again shows his commitment to politics over governing.”

Rep. Hultgren's guest for the State of the Union address was Marine Corporal William Becker, of Sycamore. Corporal Becker served two tours of duty in Afghanistan and has recently completed his four year enlistment in the Marine Corps.
 

U.S. Rep. Don Manzullo, R-Egan

WASHINGTON  –  Congressman Don Manzullo (R-Egan) tonight issued the following statement responding to President Obama’s State of the Union Address:

“If the President is serious about wanting to help our employers put Americans back to work, he must stop talking about the two things that will keep Americans on the unemployment lines and extend our difficult times – tax increases and excessive government regulations. Employers are not going to create jobs when they could face huge tax increases and unnecessary regulatory burdens in the near future. We need to reduce the cost of doing business in this country and help make our employers more competitive so they can expand and create jobs. My American Jobs Agenda offers solutions that would put our great nation back on the path to prosperity.

“The President also needs to get serious about cutting wasteful Washington spending and shrinking the size of government so we can strengthen our economy and give our employers the confidence they need to invest in their businesses. Today marks the 1,000th day the Senate has gone without passing a budget. That’s unacceptable. I strongly encourage the President and Senate Democratic leaders to take a look at a budget I supported last year – the Republican Study Committee budget – that would have cut $9.1 trillion over the next 10 years while strengthening Social Security, saving Medicare, reforming the tax code, and balancing the budget in 9 years. It’s time for Washington to start living within its means and end the massive borrowing from China and other countries that is saddling future generations of Americans with massive debt.”


U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Manteno

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.”

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn (D)

CHICAGO – January 24, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today released a statement regarding President Barack Obama’s fourth State of the Union Address.

“We in Illinois applaud President Obama for the vision he laid out in tonight’s State of the Union. The President put forth a blueprint for a growing economy that gives all Americans equal access to the success through hard work that has always made this nation great. We agree with the President that we can’t wait – we need to keep pushing to restore our economy and the American middle class.

“In Illinois, we are focused on the same issues that the President laid out tonight: creating manufacturing jobs and training our workforce for the 21st century; making education more accessible; modernizing our roads and bridges; and prioritizing housing for our families.

“And as the President said, an America built to last calls for responsibility from each of us and fairness for all. We commend the President on his vision, and look forward to working together as a nation to restore our economy and create opportunities for all Americans.”

Illinois Lt. Gov. Shelia Simon (D)

CARBONDALE - January 24, 2011. Lt. Governor Sheila Simon pledged to work with President Obama and Illinois schools to send more students into the workforce with college credentials that qualify them for in-demand jobs.

"President Obama's blueprint for our economy is built on a strong, skilled American workforce," Simon said. "A growing number of jobs require employees to hold more than a high school education, but not necessarily a bachelor's degree. Illinois community colleges are poised to help more students earn career certificates and associate degrees that translate to good-paying jobs. I will work with the colleges, state leaders, and President Obama to ensure that we offer clear paths to employment. If our students work hard in school, we want them to find a job here in Illinois that will enable them to raise a family, own a home, and save for retirement. Our focus on college completion will help create an America that's built to last."

The following statements regarding the health of U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) were released Monday:

A spokesperson for Sen. Mark Kirk today released the following statement regarding the Senator's medical condition: 

"On Saturday, Senator Kirk checked himself into Lake Forest Hospital, where doctors discovered a carotid artery dissection in the right side of his neck.  He was transferred to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, where further tests revealed that he had suffered an ischemic stroke.  Early this morning the Senator underwent surgery to relieve swelling around his brain stemming from the stroke. The surgery was successful. Due to his young age, good health and the nature of the stroke, doctors are very confident in the Senator's recovery over the weeks ahead."
 
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.):

"I was stunned to learn that Mark suffered a stroke. He is young and in good physical condition and I have no doubt he will make a speedy recovery. I have reached out to his staff and offered to do anything I can to help with his Senate duties. Loretta and I will keep Mark and his family in our prayers.”

U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren (IL-14):

“My thoughts and prayers are with Senator Kirk and his loved ones. I hope that he makes a complete and speedy recovery and quickly returns to serving the people of Illinois.”

Gov. Pat Quinn (D):

“Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers go out to the senator and his family as we wish him a swift and strong recovery. We can all take comfort knowing that as a Navy commander, Sen. Kirk knows how to fight and he will fight through this to return to his work on behalf of the people of Illinois as quickly as possible.”

Illinois Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka (R):

"Like anyone who knows Senator Kirk, I am stunned and saddened to hear about his recent stroke. But if there is one thing I have learned about Mark over the years, it's that he is a fighter and relentless in his efforts to accomplish a goal. Those attributes will serve him well in working toward a rapid recovery. My thoughts and prayers are with him."

Illinois Treasurer Dan Rutherford (R):

“My heartfelt prayers go out today for a full recovery for my friend, U.S. Senator Mark Kirk. I have confidence that the doctors and nurses treating him will provide the best possible care allowing him to quickly return to serve the people of Illinois.”

U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren, R-Winfield, issued the following news release Monday:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                        
Monday, January 23, 2011                                                                                                                            
Hultgren Announces State Of The Union Guest, Seating Arrangement

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren (IL-14) today announced his seating arrangement and special guest for tomorrow night’s State of the Union address by President Barack Obama.

“I am proud to announce that during tomorrow night’s State of the Union address, I will be sitting with my friend and colleague Congressman Dan Lipinski. Although Dan and I do not share a common party affiliation, we do share much in common when it comes to working hard for our constituents and protecting the lives of unborn Americans. Congressman Lipinski is a hardworking member of the Transportation & Infrastructure, and Science, Space & Technology Committees, and he and I have worked together on several important initiatives in both committees.

“I am also proud to announce that Marine Corporal William Becker, of Sycamore, will be joining me as my guest tomorrow night. Corporal Becker has served his country honorably, doing two tours of duty in Afghanistan. He has recently completed his four year enlistment in the Marine Corps. Corporal Becker is a true American hero, and I am pleased that he’ll be with us tomorrow night.”

 

Congressman Don Manzullo, who is facing Congressman Adam Kinzinger in the GOP primary for the 16th Congressional District, issued the following news release Thursday:

"Over the last several months, my freshman classmates and I have been fighting to shake things up in Washington and change the conversation from how much to spend to how much to cut."
                                                                           U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger -- Dec. 15, 2011

IF THE FRESHMEN ARE CHANGING THE CONVERSATION ON SPENDING, REP. KINZINGER HASN'T BEEN LISTENING

Rep. Don Manzullo votes more often with freshmen conservatives

[WASHINGTON] – U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-11), who often touts the power of the conservative freshman class to "change the conversation" on spending in Washington, has actually opposed his classmates on many of the conservative votes they have taken to cut spending, a vote analysis shows.

Based on the 2011 legislative scorecard from Heritage for America (the political arm of the conservative Heritage Foundation), Kinzinger ranks #65 out of 85 GOP freshmen in the strength of his conservative rating. Rep. Don Manzullo (R-16), whom Kinzinger is challenging in the March primary, is ranked #14 in the same analysis and compares much more similarly to the strong, conservative freshmen that Kinzinger claims to be.

The Heritage rankings that give Manzullo a much higher conservative score than Kinzinger confirm a previous analysis of all 949 roll call votes last year that shows Kinzinger voted 79 more times to spend an additional $209 billion more than Manzullo in 2011. It also confirms why Manzullo was recently endorsed by the Illinois Conservatives, a group of 4,000 conservatives under age 35, and Illinois Family PAC, the largest conservative pro-family group in Illinois. Manzullo also received a higher conservative score than Kinzinger in the 2011 legislative scorecard released last week by Americans for Prosperity, the premier free market grassroots organization committed to smaller government and free enterprise.

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., issued the following news release Wednesday:

DURBIN TRAVELS TO CUBA AND HAITI

Plans to Focus on Economic and Social Reforms in Cuba, Earthquake Recovery and International Aid Projects in Haiti

[WASHINGTON, DC] – Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) is in Havana, Cuba where he been holding two days of high-level meetings with Cuban officials.

The trip has focused on changes in Cuba - including Cuba’s substantial offshore drilling proposal - as well as discussions on improved relations between the US and the island nation. Durbin also pressed the Cuban government to release Alan Gross, a USAID contract worker who has been jailed since 2009. Gross was arrested and sentenced to 15 years in prison for providing Cuba’s small Jewish community with communications equipment to help them access the internet.

Durbin, the second-highest ranking member of the Senate and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, met Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez, President of the National Assembly Ricardo Alarcon de Quesada, Archbishop Jamie Ortega, Members of the International Diplomatic Community, the staff of the US Interests Section and Cuban reformers.

Following his meetings in Cuba, Senator Durbin will travel to Haiti where he will meet with Haitian officials, aid workers and locals, to monitor US and international efforts to rebuild after the country was devastated by an earthquake. Durbin plans to focus on the new Haitian government’s rebuilding efforts, assess the effectiveness of non-governmental aid work as well as US foreign assistance programs and urge continued efforts toward improving water and sanitation systems.

While in country, Durbin will meet with Haitian President Michel Martelly, Prime Minister Gerry Conille, local Haitian officials, US Government officials and international aid workers. Durbin also plans to tour neighborhoods affected by the 2010 earthquake, visit aid camps, and an orphanage.

Durbin has visited Haiti in the past and has worked on legislation that would help the country improve its access to clean water and sanitation. He is the author of the Paul Simon Water for the World Act which would make access to clean water and sanitation a pillar of US foreign assistance programs. He’s also the author of the Haiti Reforestation Act, which would provide US aid and expertise in reforesting much of the island nation. Deforestation has left the country vulnerable to hurricane damage, landslides and unclean water.

Durbin will return to Illinois on Friday, January 20th.
 

The following news releases were issued Wednesday by Illinois Congressmen regarding the Obama Administration’s decision on the Keystone XL Pipeline

U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren, R-Winfield, 14th District

Hultgren Statement on President's Rejection of Keystone XL Pipeline

Washington, DC – U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren (IL-14) today released the following statement after the Obama administration announced that they will formally reject the permit for the Keystone XL pipeline.

"With today's disappointing decision by the Obama administration, the President has shown us that he is more concerned about getting re-elected than he is about putting Americans back to work," said Hultgren. "This decision will deny Americans 20,000 new jobs at a time when unemployment has been higher than 8 percent for 35 straight months, and will perpetuate our reliance on oil from unstable regions. Even more surprising is that just this week, President Obama's jobs council endorsed the type of energy infrastructure projects that Keystone XL pipeline represents.

"The President is running out of time to prove that he's serious about putting Americans back to work, and not just scoring points on the campaign trail. He should immediately adopt his job council's plan for expanded domestic energy production, corporate tax reform to improve American competitiveness, and regulatory reforms that are burdening our job-creators and small business owners. Better still, the President need only embrace the commonsense legislation we have already passed in the House. Many of the 27 bills awaiting Senate action would address the council’s proposals, and would help create the pro-growth environment we need to get the American economy moving again."

 
 

U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Manteno, 11th District

Kinzinger Statement on the Obama Administration’s Decision on the Keystone XL Pipeline

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following statement after the Obama Administration's  announcement to reject the construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline project:

"It's appalling 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.

"The report stated: 'The Council recognizes the important safety and environmental concerns surrounding these types of projects, but now more than ever, the jobs and economic and energy security benefits of these energy projects require us to tackle the issues head-on and to expeditiously, though cautiously, move forward on projects that can support hundreds of thousands of jobs.'

"The Keystone XL Pipeline would have done just that. 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.

"The Keystone XL extension has bipartisan support in Congress and across the country. Manufacturers and union organizations alike are also supportive.  And, last summer, the State Department announced this extension passed environmental reviews.

"Unfortunately, this missed opportunity 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."  

U.S. Rep. Don Manzullo, R-Egan, 16th District

Manzullo: President Kills Jobs with Keystone Denial

WASHINGTON] – Congressman Don Manzullo (R-IL) issued the following statement today responding to President Obama’s decision to deny the Keystone XL energy pipeline permit.

“The President’s decision today to kill the Keystone XL pipeline project is outrageous. The President had an opportunity to support the project and put more than 100,000 Americans to work while ensuring our nation a stable energy supply from our friends in Canada. Instead, his denial will keep those Americans on the unemployment lines and ensure the United States remains dependant on costly, foreign oil from unstable sources overseas. Two of the largest challenges standing in the way of America’s return to prosperity are unemployment and high gasoline prices, and the President denied a great opportunity to make progress on both fronts today.

“As the Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific and the Chairman of the U.S.-Canada Interparliamentary Exchange, I am also concerned that the President’s denial today will push Canada to partner with China on this additional energy source. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper previously warned President Obama that his denial of Keystone would force the Canadians to seek new customers in Asia, and that would be a disaster for American manufacturers trying to compete with their Chinese competitors.”  


 

U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger, who is facing Congressman Don Manzullo in the GOP primary for the 16th Congressional District, issued the following press release Wednesday:

For Immediate Release                                        
Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Congressman Adam Kinzinger: Town Halls First Step Toward Restoring Representation to
New 16th Congressional District

Manzullo constituent welcomes new representation

New Lenox, Ill. – In less than two weeks, Congressman Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) held seven town hall meetings and met with folks all across the newly drawn 16th Congressional District.  The town hall meetings are just one of the numerous ways Kinzinger plans to restore representation to the people and provide them with an open and direct line of communication to Washington.  

“Over the last several days, I’ve heard from Illinoisans who are frustrated with the ‘Washington knows best attitude’ from Congress,” said Kinzinger.  “One of the most important roles a Congressman has is to ensure that the people’s voice is heard in Washington. My primary goal is hear your thoughts, ideas and concerns and put them into action in Congress.”

Tom Curtis, a ten-year resident of Ogle County and neighbor of Congressman Manzullo, believes the newly drawn 16th District needs someone who will restore representation to the area:

“After 20 years in Congress, we hardly see Congressman Manzullo around here,” said Curtis.  “The times that he is here, it appears to me that Congressman Manzullo is pretending to listen just to appease his constituents. Congressman Manzullo initially ran on a term-limits platform - it's time that he finally lived up to the concepts that got him elected the first time.  Congressman Kinzinger has been holding town halls in the new District and meeting with folks all across our county.  He offers a new and energetic approach.  I like that Congressman Kinzinger is stirring things up in Washington and is able to get the career politicians to quit talking about how much of my money to spend and to start cutting the overspending coming out of Washington for years.”

“North central Illinoisans deserve a Representative in Congress who will fight tooth and nail to stop the reckless mistakes of the past by both parties. Over the last twelve months, my freshman colleagues and I have changed the conversation on Capitol Hill from how much to spend to how much to cut,” Kinzinger continued. “However, like Tom and the majority of folks I’ve met, I believe there is a lot of work left to be done.

“I’m encouraged by the strong, widespread support and momentum our campaign has received early on throughout the district.  Thanks to the hard work and dedication of so many supporters who are committed to changing the way Washington does business, we will send strong, fresh conservative voices back to Congress to fight against the status quo.”

In just twelve days, Kinzinger has held seven open town hall meetings in Boone, Bureau, DeKalb, LaSalle, Lee, Ogle, and Winnebago.

Adam Kinzinger is a freshman serving in the United States Congress.  He was sworn into Congress in January 2011 and was named to the Energy and Commerce Committee, the House Transition Team and is a Republican Deputy Whip.  Kinzinger also serves in the Air National Guard, while in Congress, with the current rank of Captain.