NEED $28,539 MORE TO GET 
CARE PACKAGES TO AFGHANISTAN

GREAT NEWS! Thanks to a very generous donor who wishes to remain anonymous, we are able to raise our goal to get care packages to more of our troops in Afghanistan. We set a modest goal of $250,000 because contributions had been dropping as our economy stalls.

We're now in a position to get care packages to most of the troops that are in harm's way. To get that many care packages, we raised our goal to $400,000 and are now only $28,539 short of hitting that mark. Can you help push us over the top so our military men and women will know they are not forgotten?

Combined with all the other money that has come in overnight, we're now at a total of $371,461 raised for the Troopathon. That means we've achieved our initial goal, thanks to the generosity of many awesome patriots like yourself! 

HUGE THANKS to everyone who has donated thus far! Now let's see if we can accomplish something really spectacular this year and see if we can raise up to $400,000 to make sure that none of our troops overseas are forgotten! 

We've worked so hard to get where we are now, but if we just keep going a little longer, I know we can raise another $28,539! It would be an amazing morale boost to our troops if they could receive $400,000 in support this summer.

Don't our troops deserve it?

 
MAF CARE PACKAGES FOR THE TROOPS INCLUDE:

SPRING ARBOR, MI (07/13/2012)(readMedia)-- Spring Arbor University is pleased to announce that Anthony Liston from Davenport was granted a degree during commencement exercises on Saturday, May 12.

Anthony Liston of Davenport received a Master of Arts in Communication .

Spring Arbor University is a private, four-year, Christian liberal arts university located eight miles west of Jackson, Mich. With a total enrollment around 4,200, the University is affiliated with the Free Methodist Church of North America and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

In this overheated political season, Republican leaders are claiming that President Barack Obama is not a strong enough leader and is too willing to apologize. But a quick look at American history shows that Republican presidents have a long tradition of apology.

Republican President Abe Lincoln once had doubts about the ability of Ulysses S. Grant to lead the army at Vicksburg, notes political humorist Steven Sarshik (www.sarshik.com), New York attorney and author of the satirical novel, The Apology, a humorous look at policy blunders as former President George W. Bush gets arrested for war crimes while in Greece.

"When events showed that Lincoln was wrong, he wrote to the general: 'I now wish to make the personal acknowledgement that you were right and I was wrong.' "

Grant himself offered an apology at the end of his turbulent presidential years in office, Sarshik says.

"He told Congress that it had been his 'misfortune to be called to the Office of Chief Executive without any previous political training,' and apologized for his 'errors in judgment.' "

Republican icon Ronald Reagan apologized in 1988 for the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II more than 40 years earlier. He even signed legislation opening the way for reparation payments, Sarshik says.

"So, apologies from presidents are as American as apple pie," the author says, and offers Bush an opportunity to eat up.

Top 10 Reasons Bush Should Apologize!

10.  He was the first president in more that 200 years to have his vice president shoot someone (while still in office).  It happened one time before in 1804 when Vice President Aaron Burr, serving under Thomas Jefferson, shot Alexander Hamilton.

9.  He set back the cause of reading 300 years.  He read My Pet Goat and had trouble with the big words.  Bush reportedly said in 2000:  "One of the great things about books is sometimes there are some fantastic pictures."

8.  He set back the cause of science 200 years when he proclaimed to a crowd in 2005, "The jury is still out on evolution."

7.  He appointed John Ashcroft as attorney general.  One of Ashcroft's first tasks was to cover up the exposed breast of the Spirit of Justice statue at the Department of Justice.

6.  Kim Kardashian first came to prominence during his administration.

5.  He was responsible for hanging chads, swinging chads and the Florida election count, and ultimately for the lame Supreme Court decision in Bush v. Gore.

4.  He spent more than 400 vacation days at his ranch in Crawford, Texas.

3.  He said in all seriousness:  "Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job."

2.  He unfurled the "Mission Accomplished" banner seven years too soon.

1.  He couldn't find Osama Bin Laden.

Sarshik, for his part, makes no apology for pointing out any politician's blunders.

About Steven Sarshik

Steven Sarshik has been a New York City trial lawyer for more than 30 years, handling all sorts of politically charged cases - much like the fictitious one he paints in "The Apology." He is also the author of "Wrongful Death," a novel about an NYC police shooting.

CHICAGO - July 13, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today took action on the following bills:

Bill No.: HB 3329

An Act Concerning: Liquor

Permits grocery stores to sell liquor in cities with a population over 1 million and within 100 feet of a school if the store meets certain criteria.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

Bill No.: HB 4031

An Act Concerning: Criminal Law

Extends the sunset repeal of the Illinois Sentencing Policy Advisory Council from Dec. 31, 2012 to Dec. 31, 2015.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

Bill No.: HB 4063

An Act Concerning: Firearms

Exempts airsoft guns from the definition of a firearm.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

Bill No.: HB 4076

An Act Concerning: Regulation

Defines cosmetology school so that students can apply for student aid and expands licensing for barbers.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

Bill No.: HB 4126

An Act Concerning: Regulation

Extends the Naprapathic Practice sunset an additional 10 years and streamlines the existing act.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

Bill No.: HB 4145

An Act Concerning: Local Government

Authorizes a county board to declare by ordinance all inoperable motor vehicles, whether on public or private property and in view of the general public, to be hazardous dilapidated motor vehicles.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

Bill No.: HB 4324

An Act Concerning: Liquor

Make a technical correction to statutory language to allow the sale of alcohol at a restaurant that is near a church in the city of Chicago.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

Bill No.: HB 4440

An Act Concerning: Public Transportation

Streamlines data sharing between the Illinois Department of Public Health and the RTA to ensure that free and reduced fare transit cards

belonging to deceased individuals are deactivated.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

Bill No.: HB 4545

An Act Concerning: Local Government

Ensures that employees Office of the State Fire Marshal who meet certain requirements, are not prohibited from receiving training certifications on the grounds that they are not employed or otherwise engaged by an organized Illinois fire department.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

Bill No.: HB 4592

An Act Concerning: Government

Exempts from the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), records requested by persons committed to the Department of Corrections if those materials are available in the library of the correctional facility; include records from staff members' personnel files, staff rosters, or other staffing assignment information; or are available through an administrative request.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

Bill No.: HB 4691

An Act Concerning: Transportation

Adds public and private ambulances engaged in an emergency service or duty that necessitates the use of the toll highway system to the list of vehicles that are not required to pay a toll.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

Bill No.: HB 5234

An Act Concerning: State Government

Removes the Illinois Register of Historic Places and instead provides for all historic places to be registered on the National Register of Historic Places.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

Bill No.: HB 5321

An Act Concerning: State Government

Extends the sunset date for the Capital Development Board to charge contract administrative fees from June 30, 2012 to June 30, 2016, and provides that these fees are put into the Capitol Restoration Trust Fund for use by the Architect of the Capitol.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

Bill No.: HB 5336

An Act Concerning: State Government

Transfers the Safety Consultation Program from the Department of Commerce and Economic

Opportunity (DCEO) to the Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL), including the transfer of specified staff,

records, unexpended moneys, and rules.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

Bill No.: HB 5444

An Act Concerning: State Government

Creates the Economic Data Task Force to assess the potential uses and users of state data generated by Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) and the application of the data for economic development and other public uses.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

Bill No.: HB 5452

An Act Concerning: State Government

Gives the Illinois Finance Authority the authority to make discretionary changes, instead of mandatory in regards to certain provisions.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

Bill No.: HB 5616

An Act Concerning: Local Government

Increases the amount of bonds the Will-Kankakee Regional Development Authority may issue to $250 million.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

Bill No.: HB 5632

An Act Concerning: Employment

Removes obsolete language, redirects payments to Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) previously made to the director of IDES, and conforms with federal law.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

Bill No.: HB 5656

An Act Concerning: Finance

Allows all unused federal funds in the Capital Development Board Contributory Trust Fund to remain in the

Fund, and be used only for other capital projects.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

Bill No.: HB 5679

An Act Concerning: Health

Allows the Department of Human Service (DHS) to redirect funds when its developmental disabilities facilities decline in enrollment.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

Bill No.: HB 5780

An Act Concerning: Transportation

Exempts fees allowing police departments to transfer license plates from one vehicle to another vehicle.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

Bill No.: SB 968

An Act Concerning: Transportation

Updates the definition of "commercial motor vehicle" to comply with federal standards.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

Bill No.: SB 1286

An Act Concerning: Revenue

Allows animated film production tax credits to be applied beginning when the productions begin.
Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

Bill No.: SB 1900

An Act Concerning: Revenue

Changes the deadline for the return of assessment books and workbooks to the supervisor of assessments in order to allow additional time for the proper completion of the appeals process. Allows the supervisor of assessments in counties with less than 600,000 residents to take possession of assessment books and work books that are not submitted within the required time.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

Bill No.: SB 2578

An Act Concerning: Health

Amends qualifications of the director of the Department of Public Health.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

Bill No.: SB 2818

An Act Concerning: State Government

Changes definitions to allow more youths to be eligible for scholarships through the Department of Children and Family Services.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

Bill No.: SB 2819

An Act Concerning: Corrections

Eliminates specific mandates requiring the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) to public and furnish various reports.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

Bill No.: SB 2839

An Act Concerning: Transportation

Requires floatation devices on sailboats and exempts sailboards.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

Bill No.: SB 2844

An Act Concerning: Corrections

Amends bond rating standard for vendors who seek to enter into medical contracts with the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC).  Also further restricts waivers for medical co-pays at DOC and adds revisory language regarding HIV testing.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

Bill No.: SB 2849

An Act Concerning: Children

Expands the definition of "neglected child."

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

Bill No.: SB 2935

An Act Concerning: Regulation

Extends the Wholesale Drug Distribution Act for an additional 10 years.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

Bill No.: SB 3242

An Act Concerning: Insurance

Provides that no insurer may issue a service provider contract that requires a dentist to provide services to the insurer's policyholders at a fee set by the insurer unless the services are covered under the applicable policyholder agreement.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

Bill No.: SB 3262

An Act Concerning: Liquor

Allows for the issuing of a liquor license to certain premises within 100 feet of a school following certain stipulations.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

Bill No.: SB 3277

An Act Concerning: Local Government

Extends the Glenwood tax increment financing redevelopment project.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

Bill No.: SB 3318

An Act Concerning: Transportation

Gives the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) quick take power for the Illiana Expressway Project. Makes technical changes.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

Bill No.: SB 3450

An Act Concerning: Gaming

Provides that investigators appointed by the Illinois Gaming Board shall have authority to conduct investigations, searches, seizures, arrests and other duties imposed under the act and the Riverboat Gambling Act, as deemed necessary by the board.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

Bill No.: SB 3484

An Act Concerning: Government

Increases the membership of the State Board of Health from 19 to 20 and adds an optometrist as a member of.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

Bill No.: SB 3530

An Act Concerning: Transportation

Defines and provides for registration of former military vehicles with the Secretary of State (SOS).

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

Bill No.: SB 3607

An Act Concerning: Revenue

Eliminates tiers of complaint dates for assessments under the Property Tax Code.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

Bill No.: SB 3798

An Act Concerning: State Law

Makes technical corrections, stylistic changes, and compile sections affected by multiple public acts.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately