Issues

Gun Ownership is Declining

Gun Ownership is Declining

The loud voices of gun-rights extremists make it seem as though they have the majority of Americans on their side. To the contrary, they represent a smaller and smaller percentage of households in America and in Illinois. The University of Chicago’s National Opinion Research Center (NORC) has been asking this question every two years since 1973: “Do you happen to have in your home (or ... »

Elect Laddi K. Singh State Representative

Elect Laddi K. Singh State Representative

GPAD strongly supports Laddi K. Singh, who is running for State Representative for the 54th Legislative District. Click here for a comparison of her positions on major issues with those of her opponent, State Rep. Tom Morrison. »

Quinn vs. Rauner: The Choice is Clear

Quinn vs. Rauner: The Choice is Clear

The media have not publicized the accomplishments of Governor Quinn. He took office in a crisis and has restored sanity to the state’s finances. He has made tough choices, from raising the income tax to stopping legislators’ paychecks until they enacted pension reform. He has devoted his life to making life better for working people. In contrast, Bruce Rauner has spent his career enriching himself... »

Fewer than 1% want concealed carry

Fewer than 1% want concealed carry

AN OPEN LETTER TO THE DAILY HERALD (published August 21, 2014) The title of your August 11th story (“Illinois concealed carry process getting easier”) ignores the most important fact contained in that story. Only 84,000 applications for concealed carry permits have been filed in the entire state of Illinois. The Illinois State Police had said they expected to process 300,000 to 400,000 application... »

Not such a bad year

Not such a bad year

Conventional wisdom is that President Obama had a “bad year” in 2013. You hear it on talk shows and read it in newspaper columns. People cite the government shutdown, problems with the Obamacare rollout, and disclosures about the NSA. But was it really a bad year? Consider these facts: 1.  The Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare) went into effect October 1st, despite the determined effo... »

Good Daily Herald series on FOID cards

Good Daily Herald series on FOID cards

The Daily Herald recently ran an excellent three-part series on Firearms Owners Identification (FOID) Cards. About 10% of people in the suburbs have FOID cards, which means that 90% of us don’t. Even among those who have FOID cards, most are hunters or people who have  a family heirloom or a gun for protection in their home. Most of them support reasonable regulation of privately-owned firea... »

Good news, part 2 – Marriage Equality Comes to Illinois

Good news, part 2 – Marriage Equality Comes to Illinois

Yesterday, the Illinois General Assembly voted for marriage equality. Governor Quinn will sign the bill into law. This is the kind of “good news” that shows us our society is moving in the right direction. Of course, there will always be dissenters like my State Representative, Tom Morrison (who defeated me in the 2010 general election). Tom is of the mistaken belief that allowing gay ... »

The Beginning of the End of Right-Wing Control

The Beginning of the End of Right-Wing Control

Tonight’s vote to end the government shutdown represents a watershed moment. The New York Times headline, “Republicans Back Down, Ending Budget Crisis,” understates the importance of this vote. The extreme right wing has controlled the Republican Party for too long. Using the so-called “Hastert Rule,” the most extreme members of Congress forced the rest of the party t... »

The conspiracy to deny Americans health care

The conspiracy to deny Americans health care

The New York Times published an extensively-researched article about the “blueprint for defunding Obamacare” created “shortly after President Obama started his second term.” The plan was devised by the usual right wing conspirators: Tea Party Patriots, Americans for Prosperity, Freedom Works, the Club for Growth, and Heritage Action. Where did the money come from? Charles a... »

Signing the Document

Signing the Document

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