"A NATION THAT CONTINUES YEAR AFTER YEAR TO SPEND MORE MONEY ON MILITARY DEFENSE THAN ON PROGRAMS OF SOCIAL UPLIFT IS APPROACHING SPIRITUAL DOOM."

- MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.

"IF CIVILIZATION IS TO SURVIVE, WE MUST CULTIVATE THE SCIENCE OF HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS - THE ABILITY OF ALL PEOPLES, OF ALL KINDS, TO LIVE TOGETHER, IN THE SAME WORLD AT PEACE."

- FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT

"I LOOK FORWARD TO A FUTURE IN WHICH OUR COUNTRY WILL MATCH ITS MILITARY STRENGTH WITH OUR MORAL RESTRAINT, ITS WEALTH WITH OUR WISDOM, ITS POWER WITH OUR PURPOSE."

- JOHN F. KENNEDY

“WHAT IS OBJECTIONABLE, WHAT IS DANGEROUS, ABOUT EXTREMISTS IS NOT THAT THEY ARE EXTREME, BUT THAT THEY ARE INTOLERANT. THE EVIL IS NOT WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT THEIR CAUSE, BUT WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT THEIR OPPONENTS.”

- ROBERT KENNEDY

"MANKIND MUST PUT AN END TO WAR OR WAR WILL PUT AN END TO MANKIND."

- JOHN F KENNEDY

"THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH AMERICA THAT CANNOT BE CURED BY WHAT IS RIGHT WITH AMERICA."

- WILLIAM J. CLINTON

"IT IS TO BE REGRETTED THAT THE RICH AND POWERFUL TOO OFTEN BEND THE ACTS OF GOVERNMENT TO THEIR OWN SELFISH PURPOSES."

- ANDREW JACKSON

"I HAVE LONG ENJOYED THE FRIENDSHIP AND COMPANIONSHIP OF REPUBLICANS BECAUSE I AM BY INSTINCT A TEACHER, AND I WOULD LIKE TO TEACH THEM SOMETHING."

- WOODROW WILSON

"HAVE WE NOT COME TO SUCH AN IMPASSE IN THE MODERN WORLD THAT WE MUST LOVE OUR ENEMIES - OR ELSE? THE CHAIN REACTION OF EVIL - HATE BEGETTING HATE, WARS PRODUCING MORE WARS - MUST BE BROKEN, OR ELSE WE SHALL BE PLUNGED INTO THE DARK ABYSS OF ANNIHILATION."

- MARTIN LUTHER KING JR

Recent News - 12/6/06

Dems Clean Up From Top to Bottom

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                                  Contact: Ryan Canney; ryan@citizenaction-il.org
Date: December 7, 2006                                             Phone: 773-304-7532                                       

***Media Advisory for Saturday, December 9th, at 10:30 a.m.***

Illinois Groups to Launch Major National Campaign in Peoria to Pass 100 Hour Agenda in New U.S. Congress Called Change America Now! (CAN)

CAN Campaign to Call On U.S. Rep. Ray LaHood to Support CAN 100 Hour Agenda, including Raising the Minimum Wage, Making College Affordable, Repealing Big Oil Tax Breaks/Investing in Alternative Energy, and Allowing Medicare to Negotiate Lower Rx Drug Costs for Seniors

Peoria, IL - At 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 9th at the Holiday Inn City Centre in Peoria, William McNary, President of USAction, will be joined by newly elected Congressman Phil Hare (IL-17) to unveil an historic new campaign called Change America Now (CAN) -- a national effort being mounted by nearly 40 organizations in 31 states to pass through Congress the economic elements of the '100 Hour Agenda' as outlined by incoming House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). The following elements, which comprise the CAN 100 Hour Agenda, are to be voted on during the first 100 legislative hours of the 110th Congress in early January:

• Increasing the Minimum Wage
• Repealing Tax Breaks for Big Oil and Investing in Alternative Energy
• Eliminating the Prohibition on Medicare Negotiating with Drug Companies for Lower Prices
• Cutting the Interest Rates on Student Loans in Half

Under President Bush and conservative rule in Washington, a reverse Robin Hood effect has dramatically shifted the distribution of wealth and power in America from the poor and the middle class to the wealthiest of Americans and corporate America. Recent polls show the American public supports efforts to reverse those policies which have harmed the poor and the middle class and to advance new initiatives to return the nation to the type of broad economic prosperity that gave rise to the concept of the 'American Dream.' CAN will utilize high intensity 'grass roots' campaign tactics to convince Members of Congress, including U.S. Rep. Ray LaHood to support the progressive agenda.

Hundreds of Citizen Action/Illinois affiliates and supporters will be gathered for the national launch of the Change America Now. This includes the following organizations: Alliance for Retired Americans, AFSCME, United Auto Workers, IL AFL-CIO, Metro Seniors in Actions, Planned Parenthood of Illinois, Community Renewal Society, Champaign County Health Care Consumers, Illinois Education Association, Amalgamated Transit Union, ACLU IL, Latinos United, Chicago Federation of Labor, National Association of Social Workers, University Professionals of Illinois, Protestants for the Common Good, Peoria NAACP, Illinois Federation of Teachers, Access Living.

What:   National Roll-out of Change America Now! campaign

Who:    William McNary, President of USAction

        Newly Elected Congressman Phil Hare (IL-17)

When:   Saturday, Dec. 9th, at 10:30am

Where:  Holiday Inn City Centre, 500 Hamilton Blvd., Peoria IL