**Friday, November 18, 2011**

CHICAGO - November 18, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today took action on the following bills:

Bill No.: SB 72

An Act Concerning: Insurance

Allows the state to issue revenue bonds to strengthen the Illinois Unemployment Trust Fund (UTF), avoiding federal penalties for businesses. Also provides for an average 16 percent unemployment insurance tax reduction for companies that have not laid off workers, and provides for increased unemployment fraud prevention.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

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Friday, December 09, 2011

Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa today made the following comment on disclosure that Philip Falcone and Harbinger Capital Partners have received a Wells Notice from the Securities and Exchange Commission. For months, Grassley has questioned the Federal Communications Commission's fast-tracking of the firm's LightSquared project. Grassley is blocking consideration of two FCC nominees over the agency's refusal to provide information on why it fast-tracked the project.

"In my initial letter to the FCC on its decision to fast-track the LightSquared project, I noted that the hedge fund owner behind the project, Philip Falcone, faced ongoing SEC investigations.  On July 5, 2011, I followed up by writing a letter that asked FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski if he was concerned about these multiple SEC investigations of Mr. Falcone, especially since the FCC had granted Mr. Falcone's company a $10 billion victory following a shortened comment period.

"Today, documents have been released showing that Mr. Falcone and his hedge fund, Harbinger Capital, received a Wells Notice from the SEC.  While this does not mean the SEC definitely will take action against Mr. Falcone and his hedge fund, it does show that the SEC staff believes there is sufficient evidence to consider recommending an enforcement action.  Now the FCC is faced with the real possibility that it made a multi-billion-dollar grant of valuable spectrum to someone who could be charged with violating securities laws.  I raised this concern seven months ago.  Chairman Genachowksi was dismissive.  Now, more than ever, the FCC chairman should lead the effort to provide documents and offer insight into how the agency decided to give Mr. Falcone, Harbinger Capital and LightSquared this multi-billion-dollar grant."

 

"Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship."  This classic line from "Casablanca" captures the essence of the relationship between American audiences and motion pictures.  That love affair, protecting the nation's cinematic heritage, and the Library of Congress' role in film preservation are examined in the documentary, "These Amazing Shadows"  (www.pbs.org/independentlens/these-amazing-shadows/).

Written and directed by Paul Mariano and Kurt Norton, "These Amazing Shadows" will air nationally on the award-winning PBS series "Independent Lens," hosted by Mary Louise Parker, on Thursday, Dec. 29, at 10:00 p.m. (check local listings). This critically acclaimed documentary has also been released on DVD and Blu-ray and will be available through the Library of Congress Shop (www.loc.gov/shop/).

Since 1989, the Library of Congress selects 25 films each year for preservation in the National Film Registry.  These films are selected for their cultural, historical or aesthetic significance and reflect the rich and diverse landscape of the American experience through a wide spectrum of genres.  They include Hollywood blockbusters, home movies, independent films, shorts, the avant-garde, documentaries and animated films.

"These Amazing Shadows" examines the creation of the Library's congressionally mandated preservation initiative and explores the nation's love of movies through rich imagery and insightful commentary. The documentary artfully blends together popular-to-obscure registry film clips and interviews with directors, actors, producers, critics, scholars, archivists, Library staff and members of the National Film Preservation Board (NFPB).

The producers highlight more than 165 film clips from such movie classics as "Casablanca" and "The Wizard of Oz" to provocative documentaries and historic home movies.  Discussing the power of cinema and the need to preserve it are such notables as Christopher Nolan, Rob Reiner, John Singleton, John Waters, Tim Roth, Debbie Reynolds, Leonard Maltin and the Librarian of Congress, James H. Billington.

As part of his mission to preserve the nation's film legacy, the Librarian of Congress names the 25 annual selections to the registry after reviewing hundreds of titles nominated by the public and conferring with Library staff and NFPB members.  The number of selections in the registry currently totals 550.  The 2011 selections for the National Film Registry will be announced on Wednesday, Dec. 28.

Described as a "valentine" to motion pictures, "These Amazing Shadows" showcases compelling moments and poignant examples of the power and influence of film on American culture.  Among them are:

•  "Boyz N the Hood" director John Singleton commenting on why he supported the controversial inclusion to the registry of D.W. Griffith's racially biased masterpiece "The Birth of a Nation";

• "Star Trek" actor George Takei recounting the experience of Japanese-Americans in relocation camps during World War II, which is authenticated by revealing scenes from "Topaz," Dave Tatsuno's home movie about the internment camps;

• Stephen Peck's emotional insight into the value of such war films as "The Deer Hunter" and "Best Years of Our Lives";

• Before-and-after restoration work on "The Godfather" negatives left in tatters from overuse;

• The Library's discovery and restoration of the uncut 1933 drama, "Baby Face," starring Barbara Stanwyck;

• The role of women filmmakers and the pioneering work of Dorothy Arzner and Lois Weber, who was Universal's top director before 1920.

Founded in 1800, the Library of Congress is the nation's oldest federal cultural institution. It seeks to spark imagination and creativity and to further human understanding and wisdom by providing access to knowledge through its magnificent collections, programs and exhibitions. Many of the Library's rich resources can be accessed through its website at www.loc.gov and via interactive exhibitions on a personalized website at myLOC.gov.

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On February at 4pm, the film, "Sophie Scholl: The Final Days" will be shown at the Figge Art Museum in the John Deere Auditorium. The Figge is located at 225 W. 2nd St. Davenport, IA. Admission for the film is $5 or free for students.

2005 Academy Award Nominee for Best Foreign language Film, Sophie Scholl: The Final Days is the true story of Germanys most famous anti-Nazi heroine brought to thrilling dramatic life. Sophie Scholl stars Julia Jentsch in a luminous performance as the fearless activist of the underground student resistance group, The White Rose.

Using historical records of her incarceration, the film re-creates the last six days of Sophie Scholl's life: a journey from arrest to interrogation, trial and sentence in 1943 Munich. Unwavering in her convictions and loyalty to her comrades, her cross-examination by the Gestapo quickly escalates into a searing test of wills as Scholl delivers a passionate call to freedom and personal responsibility that is both haunting and timeless. -IMDB review

This film is shown in conjunction with the exhibit The White Rose at the German American Heritage Center located at 712 W. 2nd St. Davenport, IA. Sponsored by GAHC, The Jewish Federation of the Quad Cities and the German Consulate of Chicago.