Citizen Action Policy & Politics (Blog)

Your Voice in Government
Top 10 Reasons to Vote Against Trump and Candidates Who Support Him -- Curated by Lynda DeLaforgue, Co-Director Citizen Action/Illinois
This post, curated by Co-Director Lynda DeLaforgue, is a quick scan of online news and opinion pieces from around the country that make the case for why voters should stop Trump and candidates who seek to further his extreme agenda in 2018.
Health Care Justice for the Long Haul
"Millions of our citizens do not now have a full measure of opportunity to achieve and to enjoy good health. Millions do not now have protection or security against the economic effects of sickness. And the time has now arrived for action to help them attain that opportunity and to help them get that protection."
Those were the words of President Harry Truman when he sent a message to Congress on the need for national health care. He delivered his message on November 19, 1945.Statement from William McNary, Co-Director, on Workers Compensation, HB 4248
Statement by William McNary, Co-Director, Citizen Action/Illinois on HB 4248
Statement from William McNary, Co-Director, on the Results of the 2016 Elections
We were not prepared for Donald Trump to become the next President of the United States. Many of our friends, our neighbors and our members have feelings of fear, sadness that are real. We want to acknowledge that and let you know that you're not alone. We are clear about the values that undergird this organization and we will not compromise on these values.
Why Right to Work Zones Are Bad for Small Business
WHY RIGHT TO WORK ZONES ARE BAD FOR SMALL BUSINESSES
By David Borris – Owner Hel’s Kitchen Catering
Small businesses are the driving engine of our economy. We produce more than half of all the jobs and economic output of the U.S. Small business has created two out of every three net new jobs in this country since 1995.
Sign our petition today!
Please take a moment to sign our petition, add your name to a growing list of Illinoisans who believe that the Governor needs to work in the truly cooperative manner he promised when he took office:
Lifting Up Working Families, Labor Day 2015
LIFTING UP WORKING FAMILIES – LABOR DAY 2015
By William McNary Co-Director Citizen Action/Illinois
Let me tell you the story of an African-American man who left Tennessee to come to Chicago in the 1950s where he met and married a woman who had come to Chicago from Alabama. They gave birth to five children. One child died when he was two days old.
The Truth About So-Called "Right to Work" Laws
We are pleased to feature a guest blog post by Tom Suhrbur. Tom grew up in a union family in Cicero, Illinois. He received a BA and MA in U.S. history at the UIC and a Certificate of Advanced Studies in labor history from NIU. Tom is co-author of a book "Union Brotherhood, Union Town: The History of the Chicago Carpenters' Union, 1863-1987." He also taught social studies for 17 years. His last teaching job was at Geneva HS (Illinois). He is a recently retired union organizer for the Illinois Education Association and is currently the Vice-President of the Illinois Labor History Society.
ILLINOIS RIGHTS AT WORK CAMPAIGN LAUNCH
New blog from Citizen Action/Illinois Co-director Lynda DeLaforgue on Governor Rauner's crusade to crush organized labor and the middle class in Illinois