15 Feb 2013

REP. SMIDDY REWARDS SAFE TEEN DRIVING, ATTENDS RIVERDALE IMPACT COLORING CONTEST AWARDS

By Rep. Mike Smiddy
PORT BYRON, IL?State Rep. Mike Smiddy (D-Hillsdale) handed out awards on Tuesday for Riverdale Impact, an organization sponsored by Riverdale Crime Stoppers to promote teenage safe driving.

"Programs that warn against distracted driving?especially for our teen drivers?are vital to lowering automobile accidents and fatalities here in Illinois," said Smiddy, "This program is a great way to get students to start thinking about how to be a positive influence in their communities."

Students participated in a coloring contest to raise awareness of dangerous driving habits as part of a peer-to-peer program that trains teens to be advocates for safe driving. According to Riverdale Impact, motor vehicle-related injuries are the leading cause of accidental death for young people aged 1 to 34.

Operation Safe Teen Driving, a program designed to help teens learn about driver safety and encourage teens to be proactive to prevent dangerous driving habits, awarded a $2,000 grant to Riverdale Impact to implement the program.

For more information, contact Smiddy's constituent services office at RepSmiddy@gmail.com, (309) 848-9098, or toll-free at (855) 243-4988.
15 Feb 2013

REP. SMIDDY ENCOURAGES STUDENTS TO ENTER GOOGLE DOODLE CONTEST, COMPETE FOR CHANCE AT COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP

By Rep. Mike Smiddy
PORT BYRON, IL - State Rep. Mike Smiddy (D-Hillsdale) invites local K-12 students to participate
in Google's Doodle 4 Google contest for the opportunity to have their artwork featured on the
Google homepage and receive a $30,000 college scholarship and a $50,000 technology grant
for his or her school.

Google doodles are the fun versions of the Google logo that appear on the Google homepage
to recognize special events and people. The theme for this year's contest is "My Best Day
Ever..." and students are invited to submit their entries by mail or online by the March 22, 2013
deadline. On May 1, 2013, the 50 state winning designs will be opened up for a public vote.
State winners will be flown to New York City for a national awards ceremony on May 22, 2013,
where the National Winner will be announced.

"Doodle 4 Google is an innovative and fun way to encourage students to be creative," said
Smiddy. "As a parent, I appreciate Google's commitments to stimulating young imaginations
and helping to support schools and families with the grant and scholarship money available
through this contest."

Doodles will be judged by Google users and a panel of guest judges, including journalist Katie
Couric, musician Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson of The Roots, Chris Sanders, writer and director
of Lilo & Stitch and How to Train Your Dragon, and Pendleton Ward, creator of Adventure Time.

Entry forms, contest rules, an educator's guide, and more information can be found at
www.google.com/doodle4google. Smiddy's constituent services office can be reached at
RepSmiddy@gmail.com, (309) 848-9098, or toll-free at (855) 243-4988.

###
14 Feb 2013

Smiddy Announces Full-Time Constituent Services Office Opening, Satellite Office Hours

By Rep. Mike Smiddy
PORT BYRON, IL - State Rep. Mike Smiddy (D-Hillsdale) announced the opening of his full-time
constituent services office, located at 201 N. Main Street, Unit 2, in Port Byron, IL.

The office will be open from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and
Fridays and from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm on Wednesdays. To increase his accessibility for working
families, Smiddy is offering weekend office hours from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm on Saturdays.
Members of the community are invited to visit the office to receive assistance on state issues or
give feedback on proposed legislation.

"My top priority is to be accessible and for residents to feel comfortable bringing issues to my
attention," said Smiddy. "My staff and I are always here to be a resource."

Beginning on Wednesday, February 20th, a representative from Smiddy's office and a
representative from State Senator Mike Jacobs' (D-Moline) office will be available to assist
constituents at the Morrison Public Library in Whiteside County, located at 307 South Madison,
every Wednesday from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. Smiddy plans to hold additional satellite office
hours in the coming months.

"Satellite office hours are a way to bring resources directly to local residents and make it easier
for them to interact with our office," Smiddy said. "The 71st District encompasses many towns
and parts of four counties, making it even more important to reach out to residents in all
corners of the district."

The 71st District includes the towns of Albany, Cleveland, Coal Valley, Colona, Como, Cordova,
Deer Grove, Erie, Fulton, Hampton, Hillsdale, Lyndon, Morrison, Port Byron, Prophetstown,
Rapids City, Rock Falls, Savanna, Sterling, Tampico, and Thomson and portions of Carbon Cliff,
East Moline, Moline, and Silvis.

For more information, contact Smiddy's constituent services office at (309) 848-9098 or
RepSmiddy@gmail.com. Residents can also call toll-free at (855) 243-4988.

###
12 Feb 2013

Smiddy Invites Residents to Join Citizen Advisory Committees, Attend Upcoming Meeting

By Rep. Mike Smiddy

PORT BYRON, IL - State Rep. Mike Smiddy (D-Hillsdale) invites residents to attend an upcoming meeting
of his Education, Economic Development, or Senior Citizen Advisory Committees. Advisory committee
meetings are open to all 71st District community members, and residents are encouraged to attend and share
their thoughts. Meetings are held in a roundtable format.

"These committees are an opportunity for me to hear firsthand from the community about the issues that affect
them the most," said Smiddy. "The insight and perspective I gain from these committee meetings will be
invaluable in helping me best serve this community in Springfield."

For more information or to RSVP, contact Smiddy's constituent services office at (309) 848-9098,
RepSmiddy@gmail.com, or toll-free at (855) 243-4988.

WHO: 71st District State Rep. Mike Smiddy

WHAT: Citizen Advisory Committee Meetings

WHEN: Tuesday, February 12th - 11:00 am: Senior Citizen Advisory Committee, Rock Falls Living Center, 2202 12th Ave.
1:00 pm: Economic Development Advisory Committee, Air Play Sports & Espresso, 115 E. 3rd St., Sterling, IL
4:30 pm: Education Advisory Committee, IEA Hall, 3307 E. Lincolnway, Suite 3, Sterling, IL

Thursday, February 14th - 10:00 am: Senior Citizen Advisory Committee, Coe Township Building, 9327 239th St., Port
Byron, IL

06 Feb 2013

Smiddy Committee Appointments Focus on Local Needs, Strengthening Business

By Rep. Mike Smiddy
PORT BYRON, IL - State Rep. Mike Smiddy (D-Hillsdale) was named to several key House committees last week, focusing on public safety, transportation, small business, and higher education.

"These committee assignments reflect the 71st District and give me another avenue to better represent local residents," said Smiddy. "Creating jobs, building a strong infrastructure, and educating the next generation are the foundations to any thriving community."

Furthering his commitment to improving the economy and putting people back to work, Smiddy's appointment to the Small Business Empowerment & Workforce Development Committee affords him the opportunity to focus on strengthening the state's business
environment for locally owned small business.

"While there are many state issues important to residents, I hear most often about the need to create and keep jobs here in our region," Smiddy said. "People are very concerned about finding and keeping a job that pays well enough to support a family. Small business is the backbone of our economy and the key to creating long-term jobs."

For more information, contact Smiddy's office at (309) 848-9098 or RepSmiddy@gmail.com.

Residents may also call his office toll-free at (855) 243-4988.

###
01 Feb 2013

Smiddy Joins Gun Task Force, Co-Sponsors Concealed Carry Bill

By Rep. Mike Smiddy
SPRINGFIELD, IL - To ensure that law-abiding gun owners have a voice to defend their Second
Amendment rights, state Rep. Mike Smiddy (D-Hillsdale) has joined a new legislative working
group designed to lead the conversation about gun rights in Illinois. Smiddy has also signed
on as a co-sponsor for HB 997, a bill that would provide guidelines for the concealed carry of
firearms in Illinois.

"For too long in Illinois, law-abiding citizens have been denied their basic Second Amendment
rights because of a vocal and influential minority," said Smiddy, a critic of the state's gun
control laws. "This is an opportunity for gun rights advocates to finally play a role in shaping
firearms policy in Illinois.

In December, a federal appeals court ruled Illinois' ongoing ban on concealed carry
unconstitutional and gave the state a 180 day deadline to pass a concealed carry bill. While the
state's Attorney General is appealing the decision, gun rights supporters are confident that the
ruling will be upheld.

The bipartisan firearms working group, led by Lt. Governor Sheila Simon, is comprised of new
lawmakers from all regions of the state and all sides of the gun rights debate. The group will
meet with stakeholders and be a vital part of the debate in Springfield.

"Gun owners who have followed the law and played by the rules deserve to have a voice in
any proposed changes, "said Smiddy. "I intend to be that voice. I will be a strong activist in this
working group to make sure that we're not left with a watered down version of a concealed
carry law."

For more information, contact Smiddy's office at (309) 848-9098 or RepSmiddy@gmail.com.
Residents can also call toll-free at (855) 243-4988.

###
26 Jan 2013

Smiddy Encourages Residents in Need to Apply for Heating Assistance

By Rep. Mike Smiddy

PORT BYRON, IL - Winter is in full swing, and state Rep. Mike Smiddy (D?Hillsdale) isencouraging residents struggling to pay their heating bills to apply for assistance through thestate's Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Eligible households couldreceive reconnection assistance, emergency furnace assistance, or a one-time payment or regularassistance in paying a gas or electric bill.

"LIHEAP is a lifesaving resource for families that need a little extra help to make it through thewinter," said Smiddy. "Residents need to know that there is help out there to prevent having theirheat shut off, especially as temperatures continue to drop."

To be eligible for the program, household monthly incomes must be no greater than $1,396 for ahousehold of one, $1,891 for a household of two, $2,386 for a household of three, or $2,881 fora household of four.

Additional income guidelines can be found at www.LIHEAPIllinois.com orby calling (877) 411-9276.

Applicants must provide proof of income for the 30-day period before the application date, acopy of their heat or electric bill issued within the previous 30 days, proof of Social Securitynumber for every resident in the house, and documentation of assistance received through otherpublic programs such as TANF or SNAP. Grants are issued until available funding runs out, andresidents are encouraged to apply early.

To begin the application process, residents must make an appointment with a community agencythat administers the LIHEAP program. Whiteside and Carroll County residents should contactthe Tri-County Opportunities Council, with 8 locations including offices in Savanna, Rock Falls,and Sterling, by calling (815) 625-7830 or the toll free number at (800) 323-5434. Henry andRock Island County residents should contact the Project NOW administrative office at (309)793-6391. In addition to 4 outreach offices in Rock Island, Moline, Kewanee, and Aledo, ProjectNOW hosts occasional satellite office sites in the community.

For more information, contact Smiddy's constituent services office at (309) 848-9098 or RepSmiddy@gmail.com.

###

23 Jan 2013

SMIDDY PROMOTES FIRE PROTECTION GRANT, ENCOURAGES LOCAL COLLABORATION FOR LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS

By Rep. Mike Smiddy
PORT BYRON - State Rep. Mike Smiddy (D–Hillsdale) notifies local governments of a grant offered by
the state of Illinois that could provide local fire departments with up to $15,000 in matching funds.

Fire departments serving populations of less than 10,000 people are invited to participate in the
Volunteer Fire Assistance Grant Program. The money can be used to purchase eligible items and
equipment, with priority given to water-handling and communications equipment. The program is highly
competitive and local funding must be secured before applying for this matching funds grant.

"Well-equipped, prepared fire departments are essential to keeping our families safe," said Smiddy.
"Unfortunately, local governments - just like everyone else - are feeling the pressure of tightened
budgets and strained resources. I encourage our local fire departments to take advantage of every
opportunity to put much-needed public safety dollars in to our communities."

Applications for the Volunteer Fire Assistance Grant Program are due by March 15. More information
on the grant can be found online at www.dnr.state.il.us/orc/habitat_resources/forestry/vfa/
program_info.html or by contacting the Illinois Department of Natural Resources at (618) 498-1627 or
(217) 785-8772.

With the new legislative session underway, Smiddy is seeking the community's input on state legislation
and proposals. Residents with legislative ideas are encouraged to contact his office.

"Some of the best ideas for new bills and laws originate in the community," Smiddy said. "I want to
maintain an open and honest dialogue with my constituents, and collaborating on solutions to problems
in the community and in the state is a vital part of that partnership."

For more information or to discuss a legislative idea, contact Smiddy's constituent services office at
(309) 848-9098 or RepSmiddy@gmail.com.

###
15 Jan 2013

Smiddy Begins Term Serving Quad Cities, Sauk Valley Regions in Illinois House

By Rep. Mike Smiddy

SPRINGFIELD - Mike Smiddy (D-Hillsdale) began his first term as the 71st District's State Representative on Wednesday.  Smiddy will serve as a full time legislator for the district that includes portions of Carroll, Henry, Rock Island and Whiteside counties.

Raised in a working class family in the 71st District, Smiddy knows the value of a dollar.  He places economic development and creating good-paying jobs at the top of his legislative agenda, knowing that bolstering economic opportunities for working families is the key to solving the state's dire financial crisis.

"People should not have to worry about whether or not their full time job will pay enough to raise their families," Smiddy said. "We have to work together to strengthen our education system, invest in effective job training programs, and build a solid infrastructure that will support an economy that fosters the kind of job creation that gives families a fair chance at financial security."

Smiddy has spent his time since the November election traveling the 71st District and meeting with residents, business owners, and community leaders.  He plans to continue his commitment to accessibility by hosting events, town hall meetings, and satellite office hours throughout the district.

"It is crucial that residents and business owners are able to access state government easily and hassle-free," Smiddy said.  "It is an honor to represent the 71st District, and it will remain my top priority to make state government accessible and keep residents engaged in the legislative process."

For more information, contact Smiddy's off at RepSmiddy@gmail.com

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