CHICAGO - October 17, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today released the following statement regarding Senate Bill 744.

 

"Over the past several months, my administration has conducted a thorough review of Senate Bill 744. After decades of fiscal mismanagement and ethical problems, a quick fix with significant and long-lasting consequences for our state is not the answer. My office has spent months examining the proposed bill's potential economic, ethical, revenue and regulatory impacts. We studied the effects of gaming here and in other states. And I have met - at length - with both the bill's supporters and opponents.

 

"Following this comprehensive review, I have determined this bill falls well short of the best interest of the people of Illinois. I will not sign SB 744 as it is currently proposed.

 

"To promote and protect the interests of the people of Illinois, I can only support a smaller, more moderate expansion that prevents corruption and provides adequate revenue for education.

 

"Illinois cannot expand gambling at all without ensuring proper oversight and full integrity. The Illinois Gaming Board must be equipped with ultimate oversight authority and the necessary tools to continue its exemplary record of keeping corruption out of our gaming industry.

 

"To prevent conflicts of interest, I also ask the legislature to take the additional step of banning campaign contributions to elected officials by gaming licensees and casino managers, as lawmakers in other states have done. If we allow any gambling expansion in Illinois, we should do so in good conscience, without the excessive influence of those that may benefit from such an expansion.

 

"Second, as I have said repeatedly, I believe the current bill is top-heavy with too many new gambling locations. I will only support a smaller, more balanced and modest expansion. As long as I'm Governor, Illinois will not become the Las Vegas of the Midwest.

 

"Lastly, I feel it is critical for any expansion to provide adequate revenue for state education and infrastructure. Any unfair tax breaks for lucrative casinos buried into this bill must be scaled back to ensure that the revenues generated go where they should - to statewide education and infrastructure.

 

"The attached framework represents a way forward on this issue, and I look forward to working with members of the General Assembly."

 

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Join the celebration at the Eastern Avenue Branch Library on Tuesday, October 18 at 1:00 p.m. as the library celebrates receiving the LEED Silver designation by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC).

 

Bruce Hamous from the Eastern Iowa Branch of the Iowa Chapter of the United States Green Building Council will present the award to the library.  Representatives involved with designing and constructing the beautiful, environmentally friendly library will be present, as well as the mayor and members of the city council.

 

For more information on the library's celebration, contact LaWanda Roudebush at 563.326.7832.

Northbrook, IL - October 13, 2011

Revolution PAC has secured three 60-second national prime time spots to air its acclaimed ad "Plastic Men" in conjunction with next week's CNN Western Republican Presidential Debate. Featured by USA Today and The Wall Street Journal when it launched in mid-September and logging more than 100,000 YouTube views since that time, the video sharply differentiates limited government champion and fiscal hawk Congressman Ron Paul from his establishment-driven GOP rivals.

The CNN Western Republican Presidential Debate will be broadcast live from Las Vegas at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on October 18.

Revolution PAC expects the airing of "Plastic Men" to further diminish Rick Perry, who has plummeted in the polls and failed to impress in recent debates, as a viable option for conservative leaders. Perry's Texas executive order requiring HPV vaccinations, Mitt Romeny's Massachusetts health care mandate and the economic miscues of a host of Republican candidates are spotlighted in the ad.

"'Plastic Men' is an exercise in distinguishing Ron Paul's consistent, principled record from those of the GOP field's many pretenders," explains Revolution PAC Advisory Board member Gary Franchi. "Unabashed TARP supporters Mitt Romney and Herman Cain, for instance, stand in stark contrast to Ron Paul, who began warning of the housing collapse in 2001 and who has never voted for a bailout. The media consistently downplays Dr. Paul's prescience on this and other vital issues; Revolution PAC aims to correct any misperceptions."

Timing of the ad, Franchi continues, could not be better. "Cain was caught this week brazenly denying his criticism of Ron Paul's Audit the Fed push. Now that the investigation has proven fruitful, revealing $16 trillion in previously undisclosed loans by the Federal Reserve to foreign and domestic banks, Cain claims to support transparency."

The bottom line message of "Plastic Men" is clear, insists Franchi. "Regardless of slick packaging, political expediency will not win votes in 2012."

Rep. Paul's strong states' rights outlook engenders strong support for his campaign throughout the West. In September, Paul won the California GOP Straw Poll by a wide margin. In the 2008 GOP presidential primaries, he earned second place-finishes in Nevada, Montana, Idaho and New Mexico.

A recent Harris Poll showed Ron Paul prevailing over Barack Obama 51 percent to 49 percent in a general election race.

Revolution PAC is bolstering Ron Paul's consistent, constitutional message with targeted TV advertising campaigns complemented by billboards and radio ads in key primary states. Unlimited donations by individuals, businesses and organizations are being accepted by Revolution PAC to support that effort.

http://RevolutionPAC.com

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October 17, 2011

Quad City Arts is proud to announce the participation of Moline native, John Getz in their prestigious Cary Grant Residency program. The residency was established in 1986 when Cary Grant died while in Davenport for the inaugural Festival of Trees. The purpose of this residency is to encourage the growth of the theatrical arts in the Quad Cities through the presentation of artists whose careers in acting, or the professional development of actors, parallel the level of commitment to the theatrical arts as exemplified by Mr. Grant.

Previous participants in the Cary Grant Artists-in-Residence include :

Joan Benny

Colleen Dewhurst

Lawrence Luckenbill

Robert Cohen

Robert Falls

Seattle Mime Theatre

Guy Davis

Anna Deavere Smith

Edward Albee

B.D. Wong

 

John Getz is a stage-trained actor who studied at the University of Iowa and the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco after growing up in Moline, IL and graduating from Moline High School. Recently, he portrayed "Sy", the attorney to Mark Zuckerburg's character in the academy award winning Social Network movie. He starred on Broadway in M. Butterfly and They're Playing Our Song, and had leading roles in the Coen brothers' Blood Simple which lead to feature film roles in The Fly, The Fly II, Born on the Fourth of July, Curly Sue, A Day Without A Mexican among others; he is also remembered for his series regular roles on "MacGruder" and "Loud".

In addition to his educational work in the schools, John will have a narrative role during the Holiday Pops concert, November 19, 2011, 7:30 at the iwireless; tickets go on sale October 15, 2011. Tickets are available by calling the Symphony Office, 563-322-0931.