SPRINGFIELD - Governor Pat Quinn today released the following statement regarding the Illinois House and Senate's passage of a proposed constitutional amendment to prohibit voter discrimination in Illinois.

The bill is House Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 52. It will appear on the ballot in November to be approved by Illinois voters.

"The right to vote is the foundation of our democracy. No voter should have to face the suppression tactics that we see in other states across the nation.

"I commend Speaker Madigan and Senator Raoul for sponsoring this important amendment and congratulate the Illinois House and Senate for its nearly unanimous passage.

"I encourage everyone to support this amendment to our constitution that will protect our democracy."

The proposed amendment states that "No person shall be denied the right to register to vote or to cast a ballot in an election based on race, color, ethnicity, status as a member of a language minority, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or income."

Republican Gov. Branstad Leads in Bid for Reelection to 6th Term

For U.S. Senate, Democrat Braley Leads Field, as Ernst Rallies in GOP Primary

BOSTON - With the January 2016 Iowa presidential caucuses on the horizon, Hillary Clinton is the far-and-away favorite among self-described Democratic caucus-goers, according to a Suffolk University statewide Iowa poll. And while some Republicans have begun visiting the Hawkeye State, the survey shows no favorites among prospective GOP presidential candidates.

Meanwhile, the Suffolk University poll of likely general-election Iowa voters shows Republican Gov. Terry Branstad with a strong advantage heading into the June 3 Republican gubernatorial primary, and he leads the sole Democrat in the race, State Sen. Jack Hatch, by 10 points in a general-election match-up. Branstad, the longest serving governor in U.S. history, is seeking his sixth four-year term.

In the race for U.S. Senate, Democratic Congressman Bruce Braley leads all five potential Republican opponents by between 6 and 13 points.

2016 presidential caucuses

A subset of self-described Iowa caucus goers were asked their first choice for their party's nomination for president, 63 percent of Democrats indicated former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, 12 percent chose Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and 10 percent favored Vice President Joe Biden.

The picture was much cloudier on the Republican side, with former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee at 11 percent, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (10 percent each), Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and medical professor emeritus Ben Carson (9 percent each), and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie (7 percent). Six others had 6 percent each: Congressman and 2012 vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.), former Alaska Gov. and 2008 vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), former Sen. Rick Santorum, and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker.

Gubernatorial race

Branstad led Republican Tom Hoefling 71 percent to 8 percent with 19 percent undecided in the primary race. A general-election matchup shows him ahead of Hatch 42 percent to 32 percent, with 24 percent undecided.

"Although his ballot test number is under fifty percent, Republican Governor Terry Branstad's overwhelming support in the northwest counties as well as his comfortable lead among independents statewide is significant," said David Paleologos, director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center in Boston. "However, over a third of independents are undecided, so the race is fluid."

Republicans aren't faring as well in the U.S. Senate race, though the race is much closer. Braley's lead over his Republican opponents is buoyed by wide positive margins in his home northeast area as well as in the central counties, including Polk.

In the smaller subset of June Republican Primary voters, State Sen. Joni Ernst, who has been tagged the "castration candidate" due to her TV ad that includes a matter-of-fact reference to growing up on an Iowa hog farm, is leading businessman Mark Jacobs 25 percent to 23 percent. Radio show host Sam Clovis (7 percent), former U.S. Attorney Matt Whitaker (4 percent), and Navy veteran Scott Schaben (1 percent) trail the front-runners, while 40 percent of primary voters remain undecided. Although within the statistical margin of error, this is the first public poll showing Ernst leading in the GOP Primary.

President's approval ratings and Obamacare

Slightly more voters viewed President Barack Obama unfavorably (49 percent) than favorably (45 percent), and his job disapproval rating widened to 50 percent, with 40 percent approving. When likely voters were asked about the Affordable Care Act, 48 percent said it is generally bad for Iowa, and 38 percent said it is generally good.

Upbeat on Iowa economy

Nearly 43 percent of voters polled said that the Iowa economy has improved over the past two years, while 14 percent said it has gotten worse, and 39 percent said it has stayed the same.

"Voters are clearly saying that the worst is over when it comes to the Iowa economy. That's an opportunity for Democrats as they try to fight through the negative poll numbers of Obama and Obamacare."

Methodology

The statewide Suffolk University survey used a split sample of landline and cell phone numbers and a screen to filter out low voter intensity.  The field of 800 likely voters was conducted Thursday, April 3, through Tuesday, April 8. The margin of error is +/-3.5 percent at a 95 percent level of confidence. The subset of 224 likely Republican primary voters carries an error rate of +/-6.55 percent. The margin of error is +/-8.7 percent for the 127 GOP caucus-goers and +/-8.4% for the 135 Democratic caucus-goers surveyed.

Results are posted on the Suffolk University Political Research Center website. For more information, contact David Paleologos at 781-290-9310, dpaleologos@suffolk.edu.

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Suffolk University, located in historic downtown Boston, with an international campus in Madrid, is a student-centered institution distinguished by excellence in education and scholarship. Suffolk University offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs in more than 90 areas of study. Its mission is to empower graduates to be successful locally, regionally, and globally.

WASHINGTON–Today Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), senior Democrat on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, announced new subcommittee ranking Democrats, a new Democratic committee member, and subcommittee assignments for the remainder of the 113th Congress.

Committee Democrats held an organization meeting Monday evening, during which they elected Rep. John Tierney (D-Mass.) as the ranking member of the Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Subcommittee and Rep. Dave Loebsack (D-IA) as the ranking member on the Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education Subcommittee.

"I would like to congratulate Congressmen Tierney and Loebsack on their new senior committee positions," said Miller. "Their work on behalf of America's students and working families is exceptional, and I am confident that their valued leadership will continue to help our committee advance our shared goals."

At the meeting, Democrats also welcomed Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) as the newest Democrat on the committee, where he fills a vacant seat. Takano will sit on the Higher Education and Workforce Training Subcommittee and the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections.

"I am pleased to welcome Congressman Mark Takano, who has worked as a public school teacher and a community college trustee, to the committee," said Miller. "His passion for education and labor issues, combined with his real-world experience in K-12 and higher education, will serve this committee well."

Miller continued: "The rest of this session of Congress will surely bring new challenges, but committee Democrats will not lose sight of our responsibility to ensure that workers are treated fairly on the job and students can be successful in the classroom and in life. I look forward to working with all our members in order to grow and strengthen America's middle class."

The new subcommittee assignments for Education and the Workforce Committee Democrats are as follows:

Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education

David Loebsack, Iowa (Ranking Member)

Robert C. "Bobby" Scott, Virginia

Carolyn McCarthy, New York

Susan A. Davis, California

Raúl M. Grijalva, Arizona

Marcia L. Fudge, Ohio

Jared Polis, Colorado

Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan, Northern Mariana Islands

Subcommittee on Workforce Protections

Joe Courtney, Connecticut (Ranking Member)

Raul Grijalva, Arizona

Timothy H. Bishop, New York

Marcia L. Fudge, Ohio

Mark Pocan, Wisconsin

Mark Takano, California

Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training

Rubén Hinojosa, Texas (Ranking Member)

Timothy H. Bishop, New York

Frederica Wilson, Florida

Suzanne Bonamici, Oregon

Mark Takano, California

Carolyn McCarthy, New York

John Tierney, Massachusetts

Rush Holt, New Jersey

Susan A. Davis, California

Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions

John Tierney, Massachusetts (Ranking Member)

Rush Holt, New Jersey

Mark Pocan, Wisconsin

Robert C. "Bobby" Scott, Virginia

Rubén Hinojosa, Texas

David Loebsack, Iowa

Joe Courtney, Connecticut

Jared Polis, Colorado

Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan, Northern Mariana Islands

Frederica Wilson, Florida

Suzanne Bonamici, Oregon

Committee on Education and the Workforce Democrats

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today the Susan B. Anthony List Candidate Fund, a national pro-life political action committee, announced its endorsement of State Senator Joni Ernst for U.S. Senate in Iowa.

"Joni Ernst is an exceptional pro-life leader in the mold of Susan B. Anthony herself. The SBA List Candidate Fund is thrilled to endorse her campaign for U.S. Senate," said Susan B. Anthony List Candidate Fund President Marjorie Dannenfelser. "As an Iowa state Senator, Joni co-sponsored legislation to stop taxpayer funding of abortion and to protect women from dangerous 'telemed' abortions. We know she will continue leading for life in Washington.

"Having served in the U.S. Army National Guard as well as in the Iowa legislature, Joni understands what it means to be a bold leader and to protect lives. She knows that protecting the vulnerable and building up women as leaders are not only compatible choices, but essential to the well-being of society. Her courageous leadership will make her an excellent addition to the growing number of pro-life women in the U.S. Senate."

Joni Ernst was first elected to the Iowa Senate in 2011 and serves as Assistant Minority Leader. State Senator Ernst is a Lieutenant Colonel in the Iowa Army National Guard and served one tour of duty during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Joni Ernst has received the endorsements of incumbent Iowa Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds and former Gov. Sarah Palin. Reynolds and Palin were both previously endorsed by the SBA List Candidate Fund.

The Iowa Senate primary will be held on June 3. The seat is being vacated by retiring Sen. Tom Harkin (D).

The Susan B. Anthony List and its affiliated Political Action Committees, the SBA List Candidate Fund and Women Speak Out PAC, are dedicated to pursuing policies and electing candidates who will reduce and ultimately end abortion. To that end, the SBA List emphasizes the education, promotion, mobilization, and election of pro-life women at all levels of government.  The SBA List is a network of more than 365,000 pro-life Americans nationwide.

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