Democracy for IL: Out of Hibernation

Written by: Toscha on May 29, 2008 4:17 PM EDT

“What is DFI up to these days?” you may be wondering.  “What is going on now that the Primary season is drawing to a close?  Assuming it ever draws to a close.  It can’t go on forever.  Can it?”  (Who needs Samuel Beckett when we have the Democratic Party?)  “The weather is improving -well, as much as can be hoped for in these times of climate crisis- and I’d like to get out and try to take my country back.  But I’m stuck in IL because gas is too expensive to drive out of town.  What am I to do?”

I’m glad you asked!  There are several issues and events that we at DFI would like to tell you about, including the Illinois Single Payer Coalition initiative, the launch of David Sirota’s new book “The Uprising,” and the First Annual Illinois Progressive Conference.*

I. Illinois Single Payer Coalition

Several local groups, including Downstate Democrats for Change, have joined the Illinois Single Payer Coalition in an effort to provide all in Illinois access to affordable healthcare.  From their website:
“We are a coalition of groups and individuals throughout Illinois working to enact a single-payer system for financing health care. We seek coverage that is universal, equitably financed, not-for-profit, and publicly accountable, offering comprehensive health care and free choice of providers”

Among their efforts, Illinois Single Payer Coalition is promoting the passage of H.B 311, the “HEALTHY ILLINOIS ACT,” sponsored by Representative Mary Flowers.  Public hearings for H.B 311 have been tentatively scheduled:

WHEN: Saturday, June 7
WHERE:  Tentative site: Simeon Career High School, 8147 S. Vincennes Ave. Chicago, IL
WHEN:  Saturday, June 28 
WHERE:  McHenry County College
Likely times: 11am to 2 pm

For more information on these events and Illinois Single Payer Coalition, visit:
http://www.ilsinglepayercoalition.org/site/index.php

For more information about the bill:
http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocTypeID=HB&DocNum=311&GAID=9&SessionID=51&LegID=27071

II.  David Sirota and "The Uprising"

Progressive journalist and New York Times best selling author David Sirota will participate in not 1, not 2, not 3 but 4 upcoming events co-sponsored by Chicago’s  Northside DFA as part of the launch of his new book, “The Uprising.”

Book Signing at Borders
This event includes a speech and a Q&A session

WHEN:  Thursday, June 19th, 12:30 pm
WHERE:  Borders on State Street, 150 North State St., Chicago IL
RSVP:  http://democracyforamerica.com/events/29307-david-sirota-book-signing-at-borders

Panel Discussion at In These Times
Sirota will be joined by fellow authors Thomas Geoghegan and Rick Perlstein in a panel discussion about the history of populist politics and its roots in Chicago's activist politics.

WHEN:  Thursday, June 19th, 7:30 pm
WHERE:  In These Times, 2040 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago IL
RSVP:  http://democracyforamerica.com/events/29308-david-sirota-and-in-these-times-panel-discussion

Backyard Reception with David Sirota
Fundraising event; proceeds benefit Northside DFA

WHEN:  Friday, June 20, 6:00 pm
WHERE:  The home of Jim and Lisa Ginsburg, Chicago, IL
Admission:  $50 for NDFA voting members, $250 sponsors, $100 all others
Donate:  https://actblue.com/page/sirota
RSVP:  http://www.democracyforamerica.com/events/29290-backyard-reception-with-david-sirota-for-northside-dfa

Forum: "Money and Power”

WHEN:  Saturday, June 21, 2:00 p.m.
WHERE:  Loyola University, Simpson Multipurpose Room, 6333 N. Winthrop (Winthrop and Sheridan), Chicago, IL
RSVP:  http://democracyforamerica.com/events/29309-david-sirota-at-loyola-money-power

For more information on David Sirota, “The Uprising” and a full list of his tour event, visit:
http://www.davidsirota.com/uprising/

"The Uprising" is a new book by New York Times bestseller David Sirota about the re-emergence of populist politics on both the Right and Left in America. The book, published by Crown, will be released on May 27th, 2008. The Uprising is all new, firsthand investigative reporting from across the country, showing how populism has become a dominant political force in both national and local politics. Sirota, a nationally syndicated newspaper columnist, takes us far from the media spotlight into the trenches where real change is happening - from the headquarters of the most powerful third party in America to the bowels of the U.S. Senate; from the auditorium of an ExxonMobil shareholder meeting to the quasi-military staging area of a vigilante force on the Mexican border.
David Sirota is a political journalist, New York Times bestselling author and nationally syndicated newspaper columnist living in Denver. His daily blog can be found at Credo action (his old blog was at this site, but moved). He is a senior fellow at the Campaign for America's Future and a board member of the Progressive States Network - both 501(c)3 nonpartisan research organizations. He writes a weekly, nationally syndicated column for Creators Syndicate which now appears in newspapers with a combined daily circulation of more than 1.6 million readers. Newspapers running Sirota's column weekly include The Denver Post, The San Francisco Chronicle and The Seattle Times. Sirota's first book, Hostile Takeover (Crown 2006), was a New York Times bestseller. He has been profiled in Newsweek and the Rocky Mountain News.

III.  Illinois Progressive Democrats Conference

PDA of Illinois will be holding their first annual conference, “More and Better Democrats: Working Together for a Progressive Future in Illinois!”
The Rockford Progressive Meetup DFA/PDA will be among those gathering for a day of discussion, planning and inspiration on how to win.  You are invited to attend.

WHEN:  Saturday, June 28, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
WHERE:  Marvel Davis Farm, 477 W. 066 Jericho Rd., Big Rock Township, IL 
Admission:  $15 in advance, $18 at the door (includes lunch)
For more information or to RSVP, visit:
https://www.thedatabank.com/dpg/309/donate.asp?formid=meet&c=3222094

Etc.

As always, you can find more groups and events in your area by going to http://www.democracyforamerica.com/.  If you have not had a chance to check out the new DFA website, go take a look.  And if your DFA group has events you would like to see included in future DFI e-mails, please drop us a line.

Lastly, a shout out to Daniel Biss, our grassroots, DFA-endorsed (and might I add brilliant) candidate for Illinois House of Representatives.  You don't need me to tell you why we need more progressives in Springfield.  So if you have not done so already, check him out, make a donation and do whatever else you can to help us get him elected.
http://danielbiss.com/dfa.html

Thanks for all you do!

~Toscha
Organizer, Democracy for Illinois
 

* The candidates and events mentioned in this e-mail have been endorsed or sponsored by one or more Democracy for America affiliated groups in Illinois. Democracy for Illinois is a coalition of active DFA affiliated groups throughout the state, and at this time does not endorse or sponsor candidates or events.

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Location: IL