"Kids Don't Have Lobbyists: Part I" is Latest Installment of Thanks in Advance Campaign

 

CHICAGO - December 11, 2012. The impact of the pension squeeze on future generations of Illinois children is the focus of a new video posted today as part of Governor Quinn's "Thanks in Advance" Internet campaign to educate Illinoisans about the urgent need for pension reform. A two-part video - "Kids Don't Have Lobbyists: Part I" - goes behind-the-scenes at a children's focus group about breakfast cereal which turns into a serious discussion of pension reform. As the gravity of the pension problem becomes clear and the kids realize their voices are not always heard, they decide to hire a lobbyist.

View the first part of the "Kids Don't Have Lobbyists" video at ThisIsMyIllinois.com or the "Thanks in Advance" Facebook page.

"Nobody has more at stake in fixing the pension problem than the children of Illinois," Governor Quinn said. "In the past decade, the pension squeeze has forced lawmakers to make deep cuts in early childhood education, after-school programs and grants for college-bound students. Tomorrow's children face a difficult future unless we act responsibly to ease the pension squeeze."

According to the Governor's Office of Management and Budget, state spending on public pensions is projected to exceed education spending by 2016. The state's pension payments - which made up just 6 percent of the state's budget in 2008 - have soared to 16 percent of the budget in 2013. That increase has "squeezed" the education portion of the budget from 30 percent down to 26 percent. The "squeeze" by pension payments on essential state services is the focus of "Thanks in Advance," which has attracted more than 30,000 unique visitors since its launch to the website.

The "Kids Don't Have Lobbyists: Part I" video joins three videos on the "Thanks in Advance" website, including one launch video and two videos by legendary "explainer" and founder of the Khan Academy, Salman Khan. Khan was named by Time Magazine as one of the World's 100 Most Influential People for his commitment to offering a "world class education for everyone everywhere". Part II will be launched in the coming days.

In April, Governor Quinn proposed a plan that would rescue the pension systems, ensure employees have access to benefits and prevent skyrocketing pension costs from eating up core services like education and healthcare. The governor's plan would fully fund the pension system by 2042. "Thanks in Advance" aims to build public awareness about the need for legislative action on pension reform in Springfield and empower citizens to make their voices heard. The legislature is scheduled to work January 3 - 8.

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The children of Danville (Iowa) schools are collecting postcards in remembrance of the 1.5 million Jewish children who perished in the Holocaust.  They would like people to send cards from all around the world.  Anne Frank collected postcards so she inspired the children in Iowa who just launched this outreach a week ago.  It's all new!

About Us: My great-grandfather opened Al VanCamp Agency in Davenport in the early 1900's and my grandfather continued to run the family insurance business until the early 2000's. I always had a desire to start the family business back up, so after much research, education and licensing, I opened VC Insurance in August 2012.

We're a small, independent agency owned and operated out of Davenport, IA and we offer home, auto, business (commercial) and life insurance throughout all of Iowa and Illinois. Because we're an independent agency, we work with multiple insurance carriers (currently up to about 50 different carriers) to offer our clients a diverse choice in their search for the right insurance. We are also a Trusted Choice Independent Agency through The Big I.

Mission Statement: VC Insurance is dedicated to serving the greater Quad City Area by providing financial and insurance services, as well as educating our clients about what their insurance means to them and how valuable it truly is. VC Insurance strives to be a reputable insurance agency that cares about their clients on a personal level rather than thinking of them as simply a policy number. We are reinventing the way you experience insurance and are bringing back the personal touch that has been lost by most of the bigger companies. Forming relationships and proper care of our clients is a family tradition that we plan on continuing.

Our website is www.vc-insurance.com and we also have a Facebook account at www.facebook.com/VCInsurance.

Our fine troops overseas deserve a big congratulations on the great work they are doing for our sake. U.S. Troops in Afghanistan continue to fight the Taliban while training and working with Afghanistan's emerging Army and police forces to eventually take over security responsibilities for their own neighborhoods.

By Jim Michaels - USA Today
Monday Dec 10, 2012

"The number of U.S. deaths in Afghanistan is on track to decline sharply this year, reflecting the drawdown in U.S. forces and an expanded Afghan army that is playing a larger role in fighting the Taliban.

This year, 301 Americans have died in Afghanistan, down from a peak of 500 American deaths in 2010, a USA Today database shows. It is the second consecutive yearly drop.

"A year ago we were taking larger amounts of casualties than they were," said Marine Maj. Gen. Charles "Mark" Gurganus, referring to Afghan security forces in the former Taliban stronghold of Helmand region in southern Afghanistan. "It is absolutely 180 (degrees) out now," said Gurganus, head of Regional Command Southwest."

For just a small donation, you can send our troops in Afghanistan a box filled to the brim with goodies and supplies they can USE to help make their deployment a little easier. Sponsor a Christmas and Holiday Care Package today! 

We're always getting letters back from the troops thanking our donors for the generous packages. Some letters we get back are almost sad in a way, as some troops reveal that the packages they receive through Move America Forward donors are the only mail they receive all year long. 

Can you imagine spending 9-12 months deployed in a foreign land and never once receiving anything so much as a letter from home to see how you're doing? Imagine how great, then, it would feel to know that some stranger back home, who has never even met you, took the time and care to think about you and send a care package full of goodies your way!

Send our Troops a Care Package to Show your Thanks and Support!  They Really Make and Impact and Can Change a Troop's Entire Deployment Experience!  Click Here to Send Support Now!