Democrats Deliver……

Information Resources Recommended by Pro-Democracy Citizens of Jo Daviess County At our recent Jo Daviess Democrats Coffee and Conversation meeting attendees recommended these resources for valuable information: 1) Heather Cox Richardson - https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/podcast and on Facebook 2) The MeidasTouch Network - podcasts and MeidasTouch+ substack 3) Local Radio out of Monroe, WI, WBGR FM93.7 morning show 6-9am 4) XM Radio Channels 124, 127 5) National Public Radio (NPR) 6) Reuters and the Associated Press 7) Pod Save America. These sources of information break through traditional news that caters to extreme MAGA politics.

Trump's Project 2025 Project 2025 was created for Trump by the people who know him best. According to CNN reporting, nearly 240 people have ties to both Project 2025 and Trump, at least 140 of whom worked in his administration, including six of his former Cabinet members. The Project 2025 agenda was created for Trump, by those closest to him – and it should scare every single American. If you don’t know what it is, you should look it up – but here’s a brief overview: 1) Guts checks and balances to give Trump virtually unlimited power to use the presidency for revenge and retribution and be a dictator on “day one.” 2) Bans abortion nationwide and punishes women who get an abortion. 3) Consolidates executive power in the Oval Office and defunds government agencies like the Department of Education. 4) Raises taxes for the middle class while giving handouts to billionaire donors and cutting Social Security. 5) Allows employers to stop paying many workers overtime. 6) Ends health care protections for people with preexisting conditions. A second Trump presidency is even more dangerous than the first because he purging the government of those who are not loyal to him and filling it with those who indulge his dangerous instincts. Trump’s conservative Supreme Court majority has already given him a blank check to do virtually whatever he wants with no regard for the rule of law. Now that he is President again, there is no question Trump will use the Supreme Court to push his Project 2025 agenda.

SAFETY: The Protect Illinois Communities Act (formally known as Public Act 102-1116) is an assault weapons ban signed into Illinois law on January 10, 2023, by Governor JB Pritzker. The Act bans the sale and distribution of assault weapons, high-capacity magazines, and switches in Illinois. On August 11, 2023, the Illinois Supreme Court upheld the law, stating that it is constitutional and does not "deny equal protection nor constitute special legislation".

RIGHTS and PRIVACY: Democrats Protect Reproductive Rights and Privacy in Illinois In January 2023 Governor JB Pritzker signed HB4664, a reproductive rights and gender affirming care omnibus bill that protects health care providers and their patients from legal attacks by neighboring states and expands health care access and options across the state. The bill takes historic action to protect Illinois providers and their patients, thousands of whom have travelled to Illinois to access essential reproductive health care now banned in their home states. “Here in Illinois, we hold certain ideals: abortion is health care. A medical decision should be made between a patient and their doctor — no one else," said Governor JB Pritzker. "Last summer, when Roe v. Wade was overturned, I made a promise that Illinois would remain a beacon of hope and an island for reproductive justice for all who seek it. This bill fulfills that promise."

CLIMATE ACTION: "Climate action has brought investment and jobs to Illinois" Chicago Tribune 8/24/23 - One year after a major federal climate bill was passed (by President Biden and the Democratic controlled Congress in 2022) Illinois is making progress in the battle against climate change thanks to an influx of clean energy investments. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) signed into law August 2022, combined with Illinois state clean energy programs, unleashed a stream of clean energy projects from Illinois companies. Illinois added 3,773 clean energy jobs over the past year, bringing the Illinois total to 126,806 clean energy jobs, a 3.1% increase in a year. Deerfield’s LanzaJet is tapping the IRA’s tax credits and aviation grants to make sustainable, ethanol-based, aviation fuel to lower carbon emissions and create jobs….Manner Polymers announced in June 2023 a $54 million investment in Mount Vernon to manufacture materials for use in electric vehicles and solar panels… TCCI Manufacturing in Decatur broke ground on a $45 million project to support EV manufacturing research and worker training….Verde Energy Efficiency Experts in Chicago will use IRA funding to accelerate decarbonizing older Illinois buildings with very high efficiency HVAC systems to reduce energy consumption in commercial buildings by 50%.

LIVING WAGE: Democrats Increase Minimum Wage There have been five increases in the state minimum wage since Governor JB Pritzker signed historic legislation in 2019 that establishes a schedule of wage increases, putting Illinois on the path to a $15 an hour minimum wage by 2025. Prior to the first of these minimum wage increases in 2020, the last time workers in Illinois received an increase in the minimum wage was more than a decade ago in 2010. "Illinois workers deserve a minimum wage that keeps up with the rising costs of living," said Governor JB Pritzker. "That is why, during my first year as Governor, we raised the minimum wage with a gradual ramp to $15 an hour." Starting January 1, 2024, workers will see an increase of $1 per hour from $13 to $14. The minimum wage for tipped workers will rise to $8.40 per hour and youth workers (under 18) working fewer than 650 hours per calendar year will see their hourly wage increase to $12 per hour.

RESEARCH: A Decade of Illinois Migration Patterns - ILEPI Study Right-wing media has spread misinformation regarding population trends in Illinois. The Illinois Economic Policy Institute researched the subject and issued a factual report that reveals the truth. Illinois population trends are holding steady and are predictable. The report is available on line here: