Orders State Facilities to Keep Lights Off Across State

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today urged Illinois residents and businesses to participate in Earth Hour 2014 by turning off their lights for one hour on Saturday, March 29. He also ordered "lights out" from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. that day at many state facilities, including the James R. Thompson Center, Michael A. Bilandic Building, Illinois State Fairgrounds and other state facilities in Springfield, Peoria, Rockford, Champaign, Carbondale and Marion.

"Turning out our lights for Earth Hour will not only conserve energy, it will shine a light on the need to protect our planet," Governor Quinn said. "We can help preserve our planet for generations to come by being thoughtful about how much power we use. One person can make a difference - especially in addressing climate change."

Launched in 2007 by the World Wildlife Fund, Earth Hour is a global effort to encourage responsible energy practices by turning off non-essential lights for an hour. Hundreds of millions of people from more than 7,000 cities on seven continents went dark for 60 minutes during the 2013 Earth Hour observance. 

By going dark March 29, state of Illinois buildings will join Chicago's John Hancock Center and Willis Tower, plus the cities of Chicago, Edwardsville and Orland Park as Earth Hour participants. Chicago was recently recognized as one of three Earth Hour Capitals, earning a $30,000 grant from World Wildlife Federation to kick-start a residential solar purchase program.

Under Governor Quinn, the Illinois Executive Mansion has become one of nation's greenest governor's residences. It features solar panels, LED lighting, an electric vehicle charging station and on-site composting.

Through the Illinois Green Governments Coordinating Council, the state saves energy day-in and day-out. The U.S. Green Building Council has ranked Illinois number one among all 50 states in the sustainable building design movement with more than 29 million square feet of certified green buildings, or 2.29 square feet for every Illinois resident. Sustainable building designs utilize less energy and water, which save money for families, businesses and taxpayers; reduce carbon emissions; and contribute to a healthier environment for residents, workers and the larger community.

To learn more about Earth Hour, visit www.worldwildlife.org. For more on Illinois' other environmental initiatives, visit Green.Illinois.gov.

###

Postseason Tickets Start at Just $2

MOLINE, Ill. (March 27, 2014) - The Quad City Mallards will host games three and four of their best-of-seven opening round Central Hockey League playoff series Wednesday night, April 9 and Friday night, April 11 at 7:05 p.m. and, if necessary, will play the fifth game of that series on home ice on Saturday evening, April 12 at 7:05 p.m., the Mallards announced today.

Playoff tickets go on sale tomorrow at the iWireless Center box office, online at ticketmaster.com, at Ticketmaster outlets or through Ticketmaster charge-by-phone toll free at 1-800-745-3000.  All tickets (other than glass seats) for the April 9's game three will be available for just $2.  Glass seats for all playoff games are $25.  Seats for games four and, if necessary, game five will be available for $7, $10 and $25.

The Mallards, who clinched a playoff berth last weekend, are in fifth place in the CHL with three regular season games remaining.  The Mallards can still finish anywhere between fifth and eighth and are guaranteed they will play the first two games of round one and, if necessary, games six and seven on the road.  The Mallards will open the postseason next week on a date to be determined against one of four potential opponents- the Missouri Mavericks, Denver Cutthroats, Allen Americans and Rapid City Rush. 

Should the Mallards advance to the second round, all tickets (not including glass seats) for any weeknight home games will be available for just $3 while seats for any round two home tilts played on Friday, Saturday or Sundaycould be had for $10, $12 and $25.  

The Mallards close out the regular season this weekend.  They meet the Chill in St. Charles tomorrow night andSaturday evening before returning home for their regular season finale Sunday at 4:05 p.m. against the Missouri Mavericks.  Sunday is Fan Appreciation Day at the iWireless Center featuring prize giveaways, a postgame skate with the Mallards, free popcorn and a game worn jersey auction.

About the Quad City Mallards
A proud affiliate of the National Hockey League's Minnesota Wild and the American Hockey League's Iowa Wild, the Quad City Mallards are in the midst of their seventeenth season their fourth in the Central Hockey League.  One of the winningest teams in all of minor league hockey, the Mallards competed in the United Hockey League from 1995 through 2007 and in the International Hockey League in 2009-10.  The Mallards' proud history has seen them capture the UHL's Colonial Cup Championship three times (1997, 1998, 2001) and secure that league's Tarry Cup four times (1998, 2000, 2001, 2002) for the best overall regular season record.  In 2001, the Mallards made professional hockey history, recording their sixth consecutive season with 50 or more wins, a feat that has yet to be matched.  The iWireless Center provides a unique environment for hockey and features one-of-a-kind seating areas such as the Nest for groups and functions and the exclusive Drake Club.  For more information on the Quad City Mallards or for Mallards tickets go to www.myqcmallards.net.  Fans can also follow the Mallards via Twitter at twitter.com/myqcmallards and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/quadcitymallards.

-### Quad City Mallards ### -

Revenue, citizens from every corner of Illinois rally and lobby legislators to pass the bill, letting voters decide in November

Springfield, IL - Nearly 1,000 citizens gathered at the Capitol Building in Springfield today, loudly denouncing a House committee vote in progress that stalled Fair Tax legislation in the short term, while standing with Sen. Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) and a dozen other legislators to demand Springfield politicians pass the Fair Tax Act. With less than 40 days until the May 4th deadline, citizens from every corner of Illinois rallied in the Rotunda and later met with their representatives to demand a chance to vote on a Fair Tax in November.

"Do not despair the action in the House today," Sen. Harmon declared to thundering applause. "This fight has just begun!"  Harmon promised the Senate would continue to lead on the Fair Tax Amendment, while Speaker Madigan's proposed millionaire's tax advanced to a full House vote. Harmon and others stressed the need to pass a Fair Tax to ensure tax relief for 94% of Illinois families, in addition to the higher rates for higher incomes in a millionaire's tax.

A Fair Tax, with lower rates for lower incomes and higher rates for higher incomes, is supported by 77% of Illinois voters.  Currently, Illinois lawmakers are prohibited ? constitutionally barred?from enacting a Fair Tax.  The Fair Tax Act allows citizens to vote on whether to not they want a Fair Tax in the upcoming November election. On Tuesday Harmon unveiled a Fair Tax rate structure that cut taxes for 94% of Illinoisans, including everyone earning up to $200,000.

"The choice we have is to extend the flat tax or to cut 13,400 teachers from the classroom, to take 95,000 kids off of early childhood education, to say 'no' to 30,000 college students wishing to get a MAP grant, to close 11 prisons and release 15,000 prisoners, to lay off 3,000 corrections officers, to cut the state police by 30%," said Sen. Harmon. "This is a third way. This is a way to provide the services people need and to do so in a way that provides tax relief for 94% of Illinois families."

"It's not right that a home care worker like me who makes on average $13,000 a year should pay the exact same tax rate as a CEO who makes $1.3 million dollars every year," said Yvette Anderson. "We all know there is something very unfair about that."

Anderson, a home care provider from Chicago, was joined by Faith Arnold, who owns her own child care business in Chicago's west suburbs. "Critical programs like child care are constantly under threat of devastating cuts, and access has already been reduced for a number of Illinois families who need quality care so they can go to work and support themselves and their children," said Arnold.

Mark Garrity, owner of Garrity Equipment Company of Downers Grovetold the crowd that a Fair Tax is essential for Illinois' small businesses.  "There's no surer way to grow Illinois' small businesses and create jobs than a Fair Tax that puts more money in the hands of lower and middle income taxpayers, empowering them to spend that money supporting my business and businesses throughout Illinois," said Garrity.

Arne Waltmire, a high school automotive teacher from McHenry County, noted that good schools draw people and businesses to communities in Illinois.  He cited a news article about citizens in the Quad Cities moving to Iowa, a Fair Tax state, because their schools receive better support from the state.  Waltmire noted that Illinois ranks dead-last in state support of education and often the state is late paying its bills to local school districts.

"We can't rely on the Springfield to provide stable funding for our schools.  Local school districts don't know where their funding will come from and when," said Waltmire. "I expect my teenage students to turn in their homework in on time. Why do I expect more from teenagers than adults in Springfield?"

For months, the large and growing statewide coalition known as A Better Illinois has been advocating for a Fair Tax.  It has drawn support from every single legislative district - Republican and Democrat - including nearly 250,000 petition signatures, nearly 500 community and civic organizations, including both business and labor alike.

###

IOWA CITY, IA (03/27/2014)(readMedia)-- Approximately 60 University of Iowa students will participate in the 2014 Hawkeye Caucus, held on April 2 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines.

The annual Hawkeye Caucus is a major gathering of UI students, university leaders, and state legislators, demonstrating the university's commitment to statewide service. The event connects UI students with state leaders while showcasing the people and programs from the UI that are making an impact across the state.

The following UI students from your area will be participating in the event:

Elizabeth Baer of Bettendorf

Mackenzie Leonard of DeWitt

Saad Ansari of Clinton

Drew Lakin of Clinton

Tyler Finchum of Muscatine

Alyson Wennlund of Bettendorf

Dexter Golinghorst of Walcott