Save Illinois Map Grants

Funding has been cut for the 2010 Spring semesters MAP Grants in Illinois.

This is a huge hit to our states students and funding must be reinstated.

You can check out the support site for getting these MAP Grants back in place here at: www.SaveIllinoisMAPgrants.org

Their mission states:
"The mission of Save Illinois MAP Grants is to rally public support and urge students and parents to take immediate action to spur state lawmakers to restore full-year awards made under the Monetary Award Program (MAP) for the 2009-10 academic year and to preserve and expand future funding for MAP."

This is an integral piece of funding that assists a staggering number of students afford attending college every year.

Thank You!

John Bracamontes

Re-Election Ideas

Re-Election Ideas for Madison County

As far as votes and participation go our State Legislators out of Madison County have represented the people. So I would say give them all another term.
Some of our other legislators in the state you could say are performing at a sub-par level.

We also need to have a strong Democratic Candidate run against John Shimkus, because this guy is nothing but trouble for our State and Country. Check out this wild post where people are really speaking out against Shimkus: http://209.157.64.201/focus/f-news/1854028/replies?c=9

February Primary - Politics and You

The 2010 Election Cycle has begun.

There are many candidates up for election and re-election. Many politicians are fighting for the same seat and many have different ideas and platforms.

But through all of this craziness I implore you to take interest in the leaders looking to represent you and explore what they are all about.
What are they really looking to do and how will they do it?

Make an effort to read the paper and online articles, send them a letter, call them on the phone. Get all the facts and make a decision.

Then please one of the most important things to remember is to go vote!

Illinois Takes on a Temporary Budget

So Governor Quinn approved a temporary budget that was proposed.

This budget is based on more borrowing and does not include the massive cuts to government programs or any tax hikes according to previous proposals. But later this year the budget will be revisited and more choices will have to be made on cuts and taxes.

As far as tax hikes go, word is that due to the need for more votes to pass a tax increase it will not happen until January when only a majority is needed. This is seen as a strategy for incumbents who if raised taxes now or later this year would get pummeled by the media and voters would be angry. But if done in January then the primary is right around the corner and has less of an impact.

Governor Quinn Signs a Capital Bill

This $31 billion bill is expected to create thousands of jobs and help rebuild the State’s crumbling infrastructure.

Approximately $200 Million is going to Southwestern Illinois Road and Bridge Projects.



Quinn is putting off his tax increase request, but is definitely a maneuver.

Quinn is hurting himself as he tries to push off negative attention to the House Members and the House Members are also hurting themselves as they try to push off negative attention at Governor Quinn. It really is a lose lose currently and these guys need to step up and figure out something that will work.

People are not going to be very happy when an unbalanced budget last throughout the remainder of the year and continues to threaten and harm vital programs. And leads to more jobs cuts in certain industries.

Still No Budget for Illinois

The House was unable to present the Governor with an acceptable budget proposal and has now extended this even longer. Bad show GA.

Understandably both sides have their worries and wants, but it is about the people now. We're facing possible tax increases, cuts to funding for vital programs, capital projects suffering and schools are struggling all over Illinois. We need to get a resolution through NOW!

Quinn is throwing his power around and Madigan is throwing his around, Everyone is afraid of ticking off a fellow legislator or their constituents and it is not only making Illinois look bad, but is making it worse for the citizens.

It may mean a temporary tax increase, it may mean cuts to some programs, it may mean a look into government waste. It's should not be about party right now, but strictly for the benefit of the people.

We need real leadership and legislators who will stand up for what is right and get things done!

Madigan Speaking his side:


Quinn Speaking his side:

The Granite City Steel Mill Set to Re-Open

Granite City Steel Mill Set to Re-Open

100 maintenance workers will return to U.S. Steel's Granite City steel mill this week to prepare for the plant to restart production.

Jeff Evans stated that as many as 600 steel workers who work in the plant's blast furnace could be back in three to four weeks.

"I was told others would return soon, but they didn't give me a time frame," Evans said.

He has also heard that workers could be converting hot liquid steel strip into slabs in four weeks.

"It take a couple weeks to warm up the blast furnace," he said. "If they don't warm them up, that could cause damage."

U.S. Steel Corp. announced Monday that the Pittsburgh-based company plans to recall about 800 laid-off workers at a plant in Canada this summer. The Hamilton, Ontario, plant will restart production at its coke ovens to produce coke that will be shipped to Granite City Works.

The Canadian mill employed about 1,700 people when it was idled in October. About 700 workers elected to retire early. and more than 800 were laid off in waves starting in November.

Dowling said the reopening of the Granite City Steel mill represents a "glimmer of hope," though "we don't know how prolonged this increase will be. We're certainly hopeful that it's a sign of a more general recovery in manufacturing."

Let's hope this thing gets up and going so that our community can get back to business as usual.