CHICAGO - February 15, 2013. Governor Pat Quinn today joined President Obama at Hyde Park Academy to discuss the need to strengthen the middle class and prevent gun violence. The president laid out a bold agenda during his State of the Union address to drive job creation and economic growth, close the skills gap, raise the federal minimum wage and protect public safety. Governor Quinn laid out many proposals last week during his State of the State address consistent with the President's agenda.

"I strongly support the president's mission to strengthen the middle class and protect the people of our state and country," Governor Quinn said. "We must all be committed to driving economic growth in Illinois and making sure that gun violence does not threaten our children's bright futures. I look forward to working together across party lines in the coming months to find common-sense, common ground to make Illinois more prosperous."

Last week in his State of the State address, Governor Quinn laid out an ambitious agenda to put people back to work and strengthen the Illinois economy. He announced a partnership between the state, the University of Illinois and the National Center for Supercomputing Applications to create the Illinois Manufacturing Lab, which will help better equip Illinois' workforce and make manufacturers in our state more competitive. The governor also proposed raising the minimum wage in Illinois to, at least, $10 an hour over the next four years to reduce poverty and increase local consumer spending. He also called for continued investment in transportation and public works, to create jobs and pave the way for more economic growth.

In addition, the governor addressed the need to end gun violence in Illinois by calling for a ban on the sale of assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines, as well as mental health reporting and common-sense public safety legislation that includes stronger background checks and new requirements to report lost and stolen guns. Governor Quinn also called for marriage equality to make Illinois a more welcoming place for all people. Yesterday, marriage equality legislation passed the Illinois Senate.

 

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At a time when our economy continues to struggle and we face an unsustainable debt, it is more important than ever to hold Washington accountable.  Yet while far too many Iowa families are struggling like mine did when I was growing up, Members of Congress have not seen a pay cut since the Great Depression.  This is simply unacceptable.

That is why I authored the Congressional Halt in Pay Increases (CHIP IN) and Cut Congressional Pay Act.  This initiative would cut Members of Congress' pay by 10 percent.  It would also repeal the automatic pay increases that currently take place unless Congress votes to stop them.  In these difficult times, it is unacceptable that Members of Congress can automatically receive a pay raise while Iowans continue to struggle and Washington is gridlocked. 

I have long advocated for reforms to force Congress to get its work done and to hold Washington accountable.  That is why I'm fighting to end the pay system that has prevented any cut in Congressional pay since 1933 - eight decades ago. 

I will always fight for Iowans and will continue to work to create jobs, get the economy moving, and reduce the deficit.  There is no better place to start than with Members of Congress' own pocketbooks.

BOURBONNAIS, IL (02/15/2013)(readMedia)-- Olivet Nazarene University congratulates those students named to the dean's list during the recently completed fall 2012 semester. To qualify for inclusion on the dean's list, a student must have been enrolled as a full-time undergraduate student and must have attained a semester grade point average of 3.50 or higher on a 4.00 grading scale.

Local residents named to the list are:

Molly Anderson of Rock Falls

Emily Arnold of Prophetstown

Lydia Bilyeu of Fulton

Derek Delgado of Sterling

Liza Dollenbacher of Bettendorf

Miranda Geever of Moline

Jordan Hirl of Clinton

Kaitlin Loos of Sterling

Hannah Milby of Sterling

Nicholas Mizeur of Moline

Hannah Rowen of East Moline

Olivet Nazarene University is an accredited Christian, liberal arts university offering more than 100 areas of undergraduate and graduate study, including the Doctor of Education in ethical leadership. Olivet has one main campus in Bourbonnais, Ill. - just 50 miles south of Chicago; three sites: Rolling Meadows and Oak Brook, Ill., and Hong Kong; and more than 100 School of Graduate and Continuing Studies learning locations throughout Chicagoland and the Midwest. From Oxford to Tokyo, hundreds of Olivet students also experience the global classroom each year, whether through study abroad opportunities or worldwide mission trips.