Washington, DC - As millions of Americans pay their 2010 taxes today, the Populist Caucus is leading the charge to make sure big corporations do the same. Populist Caucus Chair Bruce Braley (IA-01) and Vice Chairs Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Peter DeFazio (OR-04), Betty Sutton (OH-13) and Donna Edwards (MD-04) wrote a letter to President Obama urging him to close corporate tax loopholes and make sure big companies like General Electric pay their fair share of U.S. taxes.

According to a recent New York Times article, General Electric (GE) reported billions of dollars in profit in the U.S. but paid no federal taxes for 2010 and claimed a $3.2 billion tax benefit - all while GE Chairman and Chief Executive Jeffrey Immelt heads the President's Jobs Council and advises the President on tax reform.

Rep. Bruce Braley, Chair of the Populist Caucus, said: "Corporations who don't pay U.S. taxes have no place advising the President on corporate tax reform. We've heard a lot of talk about shared responsibility and shared sacrifice, but so far that's amounted to middle class families paying more while giant corporations like GE hire armies of experts to avoid paying any federal taxes. That's just not right, and I strongly urge the President to reconsider taking tax advise from corporations that don't pay their fair share of taxes."

Rep. Rosa DeLauro, Vice Chair, said: "I urge President Obama to pursue corporate tax reform that puts an end to the practice that allows multinational corporations to avoid paying U.S. taxes and requires them to act as responsible corporate citizens. For this reform to be a success, it is critical that we create a tax system that is both fair and addresses our nation's high level of unemployment. I do not believe that asking for tax advice from heads of corporations that do not pay taxes is in our best interest, and that relying on such leaders will prevent the Jobs and Competitiveness Council from reaching its full potential to strengthen the economy, create jobs, opportunity, and prosperity for Americans."

Rep. Peter DeFazio, Vice Chair, said: "Many of the largest corporations, while making huge profits and shipping American jobs overseas, pay little to nothing in taxes. The deck is stacked against American consumers, American taxpayers and American workers while these multinational corporations lay off U.S. workers, pay huge bonuses to executives, and avoid U.S. taxes. I look forward to working with my colleagues to make huge, profitable corporations pay their fair share and I hope the administration advocates for tax policies that treat small businesses as well as it treats corporations like GE."

Rep. Donna Edwards, Vice Chair, said: "I agree with President Obama and the Jobs Council that it is time to redesign the corporate tax code in an effort to create jobs, strengthen our economy, and improve the competitiveness of U.S. companies. It's unacceptable for corporations that reap enormous benefits from the current system, like GE, to be at the table assisting the Administration in this process."

Rep. Betty Sutton, Vice Chair, said: "In evaluating ways to move America forward, including overhaul of our corporate tax system, it is disturbing that Administration is being advised by the same multinational corporations that hire expensive lawyers and accountants to avoid paying taxes and pursue loopholes to ship jobs overseas. We must pursue policies that ensure our economy is working for all Americans, putting people back to work, and leveling the playing field."

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Lynchburg, VA - Attendees of The Awakening 2011 participated in a straw poll of possible Republican primary candidates for President in 2012. Rep. Michele Bachmann won the straw poll with 23%, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee came in just behind her at 22% and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich received 21% of the votes.

The complete results were: Bachmann, 23.30%; Huckabee, 22.82%; Gingrich, 21.36%; Ron Paul, 11.65%, "Other," 8.26%; Sarah Palin, 5.34%; Tim Pawlenty and Rick Santorum tied at 2.91%, Mitt Romney at 0.97% and finally Haley Barbour at 0.49%. The poll was conducted by ccAdvertising using a telephone call-in option that allows the user of the phone number to make one selection for a range of potential candidates. The poll was not intended to be an endorsement of candidates.

The Awakening 2011 is sponsored by the Freedom Federation, which is a federation of multiracial, multiethnic, and multigenerational faith-based and policy leaders and organizations representing over 40 million people who are united by one or more core values expressed in the Declaration of American Values.

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IEPA Director Doug Scott to Lead Commerce Commission, Manny Flores to Lead IDFPR Division of Banking

CHICAGO - February 28, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today announced several top appointments to his executive cabinet. Today's actions are the next step in a series of appointments Governor Quinn will continue making throughout the first quarter of 2011 as he continues to fulfill his commitment to creating jobs, recovering our economy and making state government more efficient and accountable to the people of Illinois.

Today Governor Quinn named Doug Scott as chairman of the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) and Manuel "Manny" Flores as director of the Division of Banking of the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Scott has served as director of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) since 2005 and Flores has chaired the ICC since January 2010. Governor Quinn also named Andrew Ross as the state's chief operating officer and Lisa Bonnett as interim director of IEPA.

"Throughout their careers, Doug Scott and Manny Flores have proven themselves to be strong advocates for the interests of Illinois' working families," said Governor Quinn. "Today's appointments will allow them to keep fighting for Illinois' consumers by ensuring proper oversight and regulation of utility companies and banks throughout our state."

As director of the IEPA, Scott has protected Illinois' consumers by working to significantly reduce emissions from the state's power plants. He has also worked to support low-emission coal technology, wind power, and other alternative energy and fuel sources. Prior to leading the IEPA, Scott served as mayor of Rockford, and from 1995 to 2001 he served as state representative from Illinois' 67th District. Scott has a bachelor of arts from the University of Tulsa and a juris doctorate from Marquette University.

As chairman of the ICC, Flores worked to ensure consumers received efficient, reliable, safe and fairly-priced utility services. Before leading the ICC, Flores served on the Chicago City Council and as a prosecutor in the Cook County State's Attorney's Office. He received his undergraduate degree in political science from Dominican University and juris doctorate from George Washington University Law School.

Lisa Bonnett will serve as the interim director of the IEPA. Bonnett is currently serving as the agency's acting deputy director and previously served at its chief fiscal officer. Bonnett has worked in state government for more than 30 years and lives in Springfield. She has a bachelor's degree and master's degree from the University of Illinois at Springfield.

Today Governor Quinn also named Andrew Ross as the state's chief operating officer. Ross, who for the last two years has served as a deputy chief of staff in the governor's office, will lead efforts to promote continued job growth in Illinois. He will manage efforts in the governor's office and across state government to keep and attract new companies, encourage expansion of the green economy, and spur entrepreneurship and innovation across Illinois. In his previous position, Ross worked on an incentive package to keep Navistar and 3,000 jobs in Illinois, aided implementation of the state's $31 billion capital program and helped overhaul the regulation of the Illinois cemetery industry following the tragedy at Burr Oak Cemetery in Alsip.

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Names Two Senior Advisors and Five Agency Heads to Continue Efforts to Boost Illinois' Economic Recovery, Address State's Fiscal Challenges

CHICAGO - February 7, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today named two senior members to his administration and re-appointed five members of his executive cabinet. Today's actions are the second step in a series of appointments Governor Quinn will make over the first quarter of 2011 as he continues to fulfill his commitment to creating jobs, recovering our economy and making state government more efficient and accountable to the people of Illinois.

Today Governor Quinn named Cristal Thomas to serve as his Deputy Governor for Public Policy and Sean Vinck to serve as Chief Information Officer. Governor Quinn also re-appointed Secretary Brent Adams to the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, Director Arthur Bishop to the Department of Juvenile Justice, Director Dan Grant to the Department of Veterans' Affairs, Director Michael McRaith to the Department of Insurance and Director Marc Miller to the Department of Natural Resources.

"Continuing our mission of recovering Illinois' economy and addressing our budget challenges requires hard work by a team of dedicated and talented individuals," said Governor Quinn. "These seven appointees have an ethic of service and I am confident that they will work collaboratively and creatively to address our problems and move Illinois forward."

As Deputy Governor for Public Policy, Cristal Thomas will help develop and implement the Quinn administration's public policy priorities. Thomas previously served as Region V Director for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), acting as the official representative of Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. Previously, Thomas was Executive Director of the Ohio Executive Medicaid Management Administration, serving as a member of Governor Ted Strickland's cabinet. Thomas previously served as Assistant Director of the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS), Director of Strategic Planning for HFS, and Policy Analyst in the White House Office of Management and Budget. She holds a Master's Degree in Public Policy from the University of Chicago.

As Chief Information Officer, Vinck will direct the state's information technology policies, focusing on improving and updating IT infrastructure. Additionally, he will oversee information technology officers throughout state government. Since January 2010, Vinck has served as Special Administrator for the Department of Corrections, where he was tasked with overhauling and modernizing the agency's electronic Offender Tracking System. Previously, he served as Governor Quinn's Chief Legislative Counsel and Chief of Intergovernmental Affairs. Vinck also served then-Lieutenant Governor Pat Quinn as his Legislative Counsel. He holds a Master's Degree in Political Science and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Notre Dame.

Secretary Brent Adams partnered with legislative leaders, industry experts, and consumer advocates to develop and pass the Cemetery Oversight Act, one of the most pro-consumer cemetery laws in the country. He also chaired the Mortgage Fraud Task Force and coordinated the Mortgage Relief Project, a statewide program that has helped thousands of homeowners take advantage of programs that can help them save their homes. He drafted and served as a lead negotiator for consumers on the Homeowner Protection Act, the Payday Loan Reform Act, the Consumer Installment Loan Reform Act, and regulations to protect consumers from predatory auto title loans.

Director Arthur Bishop brings more 35 years of experience in administering child welfare, community mental health and substance abuse programs including 15 years serving in the Department of Child and Family Services where he led several initiatives requiring interagency collaboration between public, private and community-based partners, including family advocacy centers, paternal involvement centers and the Fatherhood Initiative. Bishop has also represented DCFS on the Governor's Task Force on the Condition of African American Males.

Director Dan Grant, a graduate of West Point, has led the Department of Veterans' Affairs since 2009. Grant has worked with members of the Illinois legislature and testified at hearings to help secure passage of a bill that ensured interest payments were made on delayed Line-of-Duty Benefit payments to bereaved military families (SB 2489.) He also spearheaded legislation to establish the Task Force on Service Member and Veterans Education and the Military Family Interstate Compact Implementation Statute Drafting Advisory Committee (HB 5368). Grant is also a captain in the U.S. Army and led 28 men in a combat arms platoon during a year-long deployment in Operation Iraqi Freedom. He served throughout the Sunni Triangle in Bayji, Samarra, Balad, and Tikrit in a wide range of roles, including leading a 120 person team of soldiers, local Iraqi's, U.S. contractors, and coalition allies in the excavation, collection and destruction of 3 million pounds of enemy ammunition during a 120 day mission.

Director Michael McRaith is leading the state's implementation of federal health care reform and serves as chairman of the board of directors for the Illinois Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan (a high risk health insurance pool). He also supervises the state's Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP), and has actively participated in developing, drafting and advocating for statewide and national health insurance modernization, including boosting reporting requirements to guard against unreasonable premium hikes by Illinois health insurance providers. McRaith also serves on the executive committee of the board of directors for the AIDS Foundation of Chicago and serves on board of directors for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Chicago Chapter.

Director Marc Miller has led the Department of Natural Resources since 2009 after serving on then-Lieutenant Governor Quinn's staff since June 2004. Miller was instrumental in the development and implementation of many environmental programs including the Dam Safety Initiative and the Mud-to-Parks program, which promoted the beneficial reuse of river settlement. He has also been instrumental in dozens of park development and land acquisition projects throughout Illinois. Miller is also an avid outdoorsman with an interest in fly fishing, hunting, canoeing, wildlife viewing, camping and hiking.

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