MAF CARE PACKAGES FOR THE TROOPS INCLUDE:

Gourmet Coffee Oreo Cookies Lip Balm Diana Nagy "Journey of Life" CD

Planters Trail Mix Candy Diplomacy Jelly Beans Wet Wipes Foot Powder Sun Block

Gatorade Premium Beef Jerky Deodorant Bug Repellant Personal note from YOU

RADIO HOST & COMEDIAN DENNIS MILLER SUPPORTING OUR MILITARY THROUGH TROOPATHON

MAF is proud to include another wonderful supporter of the troops to our Troopathon guest list.  Dennis Miller has participated in the last 3 events with recorded messages that speak to the troops in his own personal way.  He has a way of reaching people few in the media can match and we are so excited to include him in this year's lineup.

We can't stress enough how important this year's Troopathon is, not only for the continuing mission of Move America Forward, but for the morale of our troops at a very important time. For months now we've been noticing that the troops over in Afghanistan aren't getting the proper coverage in the media, as people back home are worried about the economy or elections coming up.

While these things are all important, they don't outweigh the importance of supporting our troops overseas! We sent them there on a mission and we now have a responsibility to support them and their mission until the troops all come home! So please dig deep, see if there are things in your monthly budgets that could be trimmed or cut in order to make a contribution - our troops put their lives on the line every day so it's the least we can do!

Dennis Miller is known not only for his striking political commentary and uncommon sense of common sense wisdom, but also his amazing success as a comedian. Miller's comedy shows on HBO were hugely successful for over 9 years, as well as many stand-up specials he made successful.  In the political world Miller is a master of blending comedy with political opinion and common sense understanding of the issues as the popularity of his daily radio show attests.         

But when it comes to our military and the men and women in uniform nothing is comical to Dennis.  He supports the troops through many causes and efforts and we are so proud he includes Troopathon in those causes.

Miller's staunch support of our troops and their missions is characterized by this quote:

"I respect kids who go into, you know, tough places and do the work that quite frankly, you can't even image that they have the courage to do," he said.   "So I began to look at them and heard so many people saying, 'I support the troops, but not their mission.'  I thought that's insane, their mission is the essence."

We are proud of Dennis Millers' unapologetic support for our fighting men and women, and we're happy to have him as part of our Troopathon this year!

Will you join with Dennis Miller and be a proud supporter of Troopathon?  It only takes a few minutes but the gift it gives a soldier serving far from home can last many times longer. 

As you may know, the Supreme Court announced its ruling on the President's health care reform law, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.  The Supreme Court decided to uphold the entire law, ruling that its individual mandate is a tax.  You can read through their decision by clicking here.

Simply put, our work to improve the American health care system is far from done.  Every American is impacted by the health care reform law, and will be affected by the Supreme Court's decision.  We need to continue working to ensure folks in Illinois and across the country have access to health care that's high quality, patient-centered, convenient, and affordable.  

I truly believe that the best ideas often don't come from Washington, but from the folks in Illinois I have the privilege of representing.  I understand that your health care is very personal, and I want to hear from you how it can be improved.  Your input is important to me, and I appreciate your taking the time to share your thoughts.

What do you think our next steps should be?  Please select as many options as you'd like.

• Repeal it.
• Immediately pass another massive health care reform package.
• Take up-or-down votes on individual improvements to the health care system.
• Meet with health care providers and patients to discuss different reforms they would like to see.
• Work to ensure health insurance coverage for Americans under the age of 26 or with preexisting conditions.
• Vote on legislation to allow individuals to buy health insurance across state lines.
• Consider proposals to advance common-sense liability protections.
• Look at plans to ensure seniors of today and those of tomorrow have access to Medicare.
• Advance policies that lower health care costs and improve its quality.
• Other.

Click here to take the survey.
*By filling out this survey, you are subscribing to receive my e-mail updates.

Remember that you can always send me a more detailed message with your thoughts or questions on this survey topic or any other issue that is important to you by clicking here.

It is an honor to serve you in Washington, and I value your engagement and input.  Don't hesitate to contact me if I can answer questions or help you in any way.  I encourage you to visit my Facebook and Twitter pages for other ways to stay up to date with what I'm doing in Washington and in our neighborhood, or to share your thoughts.

Thank you for placing your trust in me.  It is an honor to serve you.

Sincerely,
Bobby Schilling
Member of Congress

To send Congressman Schilling an e-mail, click here

Washington, D.C. - Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) today released the following statement after President Obama proposed extending tax cuts for Americans making less than $250,000:

"The Bush tax cuts for the rich are a big reason why our nation is facing record budget deficits today.  Extending middle class tax cuts will keep money in the pockets of more Iowa families, helping to drive job creation and economic growth.  Rolling back the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans will help close the deficit.  This is a fiscally responsible compromise that deserves bipartisan support."

 

According to the Iowa Department of Revenue, in tax year 2010, 99.2 percent of Iowa taxpayers reported income under $250,000.

The cost of extending the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans (those making over $250,000 per year) is estimated at $850 billion over 10 years.

 

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Hollywood Director Offers Tips for Hopeful Writers, Actors, Cameramen

From the box-office smash "The Avengers" to the summer hit "Madagascar 3" reigniting the 3-D craze, movie lovers are more enthralled than ever with film magic, and many fantasize about becoming a part of it. Their annual Westward migration from every film and acting and writing school in the country is as active as ever as they seek their chance to wield the Hollywood wand.

In such a competitive and crowded circus tent, how can a person ensure they catch that elusive trapeze?

Here are five tips from film director Guy Magar, picked up over 30 years making movies and TV shows and teaching through Action/Cut Filmmaking Seminars, the educational course he founded. Magar is also the author of the new Hollywood memoir and love story, Kiss Me Quick Before I Shoot, about his years in Hollywood which is a must-read for all who love movies (www.kissmequickbeforeishoot.com).

· Find out if you really love it. "The movie business demands passion and dedication; the work is difficult and exhausting, the journey fraught with disappointments and financial stress," he says. "So you better find out if this is truly something you want and you're ready to sacrifice whatever it takes." The best place to do that is at a film school or a university filmmaking program. "This is where I fell in love with the cinema and forged my commitment to the craft," he says.

· Find out if you're any good at it. When you discover that less than 5 percent of the 125,000 actors in the Screen Actors Guild ever make a livable wage in any one year, the reality check about how competitive this business is can be quite intimidating, Magar says. So it's not enough to love it - you have to have an aptitude for the craft if you want a chance at bat. "You better be one of the very best directors or writers or cameramen or actors wherever you're studying and developing your work, so you can gain the self-confidence to throw your talent in a very crowded ring," he says.

· Get your showreel ready! No one is going to hire you unless they can see what you can do. For a director, you better have an award-winning "wow" short. If you're a writer, have some dazzling, unique screenplays. Actors need a great reel with diverse scenes showing range from comedy to drama. Cameraman? You need a reel that sizzles with cinematic visuals. Don't come to Los Angeles without a reel. It shows who you are, what you can do ? and why you're worth paying to do it.

· Networking! Networking! Networking! "The movie business is first and foremost a people business," Magar says. "Regardless of your talent, you better be good at schmoozing and an extrovert at heart." It's all about who you know, who can introduce you to whom, who likes you, who is willing to help you move forward, he says. If you're a great networker, you have a better chance at a career than if you're talented with no social skills. Introverts do not apply!

· Enjoy your journey or the dream will be a nightmare. Don't put off having a life until you "get there," he says. The big secret is to enjoy the journey and to have a life in the industry, regardless of the amount of work and accolades that may or may not come your way. You must commit to making a fulfilling life for yourself if you're to find happiness in Tinseltown. Family, friends and a soulmate are as important and fulfilling as career gains. "They will sustain you in much deeper emotional ways than winning a spot on a softer toilet paper commercial," he says.

Magar says his career in Hollywood was an exciting, gratifying one. "Between the words 'action' and 'cut', I get to make my magic ... my visual storytelling," he says. "I fell in love with making movies and have continued loving it for more than 100 production credits in my career."

"If you share that passion to make film, have a terrific sense of humor to balance the obstacles, and can manage the five tips above, then welcome to Hollywood. Break a leg!"

About Guy Magar

Film and TV director/writer/producer Guy Magar has worked for more than 30 years in the motion picture industry. He recently published his Hollywood memoir, "Kiss Me Quick Before I Shoot: A Filmmaker's Journey into the Lights of Hollywood and True Love." His TV credits include "La Femme Nikita," "The A-Team," "Dark Avenger" and "Blue Thunder." His feature films include "Lookin' Italian," "Stepfather 3," "Children of the Corn: Revelation," and the cult thriller "Retribution," to be rereleased on DVD for its 25th anniversary this summer 2012. Magar has taught and inspired thousands of students through his Action/Cut Filmmaking Seminar, and his Action/Cut Short Film Competition is designed to discover and encourage new talent annually. He is a popular public speaker who inspires young filmmakers.