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Politics 101 In This Issue: Politics 101................1&3 Congress Watch ...........11 Politics 101 by Steven Steiner & Education Reform ........ 2 The Real Dope .......12 13 It was an ideal day in Buffalo Grove, perfect Hightower Event ......... 3 Drink Starbuckst....14 & 15 Republican Fantasies...4 Not Running for Congress fall weather, not too hot, not too cold. A slight Event Photo Album...5-10 .....................................16-18 breeze made for a comfortable Labor Day For information or to volunteer: Parade. Hundreds of families and friends Email us at [email protected] from the Buffalo Grove community came Or visit our website at www.tenthdems.org Or call us at 847.266.VOTE (8683) together to enjoy the yearly celebration. I Or write to Hon. Lauren Beth Gash, Chair, have always found politics interesting, and Tenth Dems, P.O. Box 523, Deerfield, IL 60015 my family has encouraged the interest. Two Editors: Barbara Altman, Susan Friedman, Democratic candidates for Congress running Allan Sperling in the 10th Congressional District participated Editorial Staff: Jack Altschuler, Joan in this parade. Will Rivlin, a friend of mine, Attenberg, Eleonora di Liscia, Hon. Lauren Beth Gash, Adrienne Kirshbaum, Ron volunteered his support to Brad Schneider, a Levitsky, Leslie Lipschultz, Karim Pakravan, businessman from Deerfield, and I volunteered Sharon Sanders, Steve Sheffey, Laurie to help Ilya Sheyman of Waukegan, formerly Kaplan Singh, Steven Steiner, Ellie Sylvan of Buffalo Grove. Even though we were Design: Tom Peltier supporting different candidates, we were, Photo Gallery: Ravi Ganapathy overall, on the same team. Although I am 15 Distribution: Glenn Stier, Dave DuBordieu, Cosette Winter years old and, therefore, ineligible to vote, The opinions expressed are those of the I am old enough to be involved in some way writers, and not necessarily endorsed by in the political system. Passing out candy, Tenth Dems continued on page 3 www.tenthdems.org OCTOBERTenth 2011 Illinois Tenth Congressional District Democrats News Newsletter Volume 9, Edition 10 LARGE CROWD CELEBRATES TENTH DEMS AWARDS There were so many highlight moments during were Adrienne Kirshbaum (Founders Award), the Tenth Congressional District Democrats by Adrienne Kirshbaum Terry Blaurock (Volunteer of the Year Award), Annual Awards Dinner it would be hard to and Hon. Susan Garrett (Ab Mikva Political pick out just one. Maybe it was the reading Courage Award). Hon. Abner Mikva, the last by the young authors of three touching and “It was great!” Democrat to represent the 10th District in evocative pieces that were winners of our Congress and himself an example of political May Poetry Slam. Or maybe it was the display courage, was proud to present the award that of genuine affection by friends and colleagues was named for him. of retiring State Senator Susan Garrett. Perhaps it could have been Illinois Senator Many Democratic office holders and Dick Durbin’s top ten list of things we should candidates were introduced, and the three know about Amy Klobuchar. Or the delightful men vying for the 10th Congressional District Minnesota Senator Klobuchar, herself, whose nomination spoke. Vivek Bavda, Brad entertaining keynote speech had us laughing Schneider, and Ilya Sheyman each took his and applauding to the very end. This eighth turn on the podium to express his views to the edition of our annual celebration was an crowd of over 200 attendees. evening to remember. Ravi Ganapathy, Tenth Dems photographer, Held on Sunday, September 18th, at the took the wonderful pictures displayed Highland Park Country Club, the event on these pages. The wide smiles of the featured a silent auction that included an participants are evidence of the good time array of exciting items, the raffle of an iPad, a had by all at this outstanding event! delicious pasta buffet, and the presentation of Event Photo Gallery Pages 5 - 10 three annual Tenth Dems awards. Honorees )5(( Event Oct. 9th Jim Hightower in Northbrook See Page 3 FNEE YES, WE DID! RACE TO THE TOP and EDUCATION REFORM by Eleonora di Liscia To the inner city kids at Wilmington, Delaware’s Howard High School of Technology, President Obama’s Race to the Top has meant renewed pride in their school and their performance. Capone says he supports Race to the Top “After testing this year, kids were excited because it focuses on what’s important: about their scores. They were excited about ensuring students are performing at a higher their performance. They wanted to represent rate and providing the resources to do it. their school in a positive manner,” said Principal Timothy C. Capone. “This is a high needs school. About 70 percent In March 2010, President Obama signed of our students live at the poverty rate. The landmark legislation overhauling the student Delaware was one of the first two states to importance of education is it allows students loan program. The new law eliminated fees win a Race to the Top award in 2010 with its to change their socioeconomic status,” said paid to private banks as intermediaries. This Vision 2015 Plan. Race to the Top allows states Capone. savings will then be used to expand Pell grants to compete for dollars to improve their schools. and to make it easier for students to repay Under Delaware’s Plan, low-performing Race to the Top is not perfect. The application loans. Beginning July 2014, students can schools, such as Howard, were designated takes a long time, and there have been cap student loan repayments to 10 percent of Partnership Zones (PZ). The Plan requires concerns about its focus on charter schools their basic living allowance instead of 15. If that the principal of a PZ school be replaced, and its ability to help rural communities. The payments are maintained, loan balances can which enabled Capone to take the helm last administration last February tweaked the be forgiven after 20 years instead of 25, and January. While many of the Plan’s other program to include a rural focus and to apply after 10 years if a student goes into public reforms are only now being implemented, the to school districts rather than states. Still, service, such as teaching, nursing, or the army. school’s designation as a PZ has already fired Randi Weingarten, President of the American The new law also invested in community up students, leading test scores to increase by Federation of Teachers, initially stated that colleges to help retrain workers who have lost a third. if done right, Race to the Top could promote their jobs due to industry closures. innovation and promising ideas (www. “We talk to students about the importance education.com/print/pros-cons-race-to-the- As of June 2011, President Obama issued new of the year before when the test scores were top). rules that require career colleges or certificate in the 40s. We tell them we think you can do programs to better prepare students for better than that. You’re smarter than that. President Obama’s education agenda does not gainful employment or risk losing access to You’re going to have this national recognition. end with high school. Last fall, he called for federal student aid. The new rules address You can be the first in the nation to be a an extension of the $2,500 college tuition tax the problem of for-profit programs that Partnership Zone School that comes out of credit, which the Lame Duck Congress passed promise careers but leave students jobless school improvement,” said Capone. in December. and mired in debt. At least 25 percent of these programs receive 80 percent of their funds from federally-financed student aid. Under the new law, a school must show that its program leads to gainful employment by using certain student loan repayment criteria. 2011 OCTOBER ISSUE 2 TDU Brings Jim Hightower to Northbrook by Sharon Sanders the Willowfest Shopping Mall. Do not miss this newsletter, giving rousing speeches coast special occasion, which is brought to you by to coast, and otherwise speaking out for the Tenth Dems and Tenth Dems U. in conjunction American majority that’s being locked out with the MoveOn Councils of Greater Chicago economically and politically by the elites. and Chicago Progressive Talk Radio, WCPT. As the late great political columnist Molly Ivins said, “If Will Rogers and Mother Jones In case you’re unfamiliar with Mr. Hightower, had a baby, Jim Hightower would be that he has written seven books, including Swim rambunctious child—mad as hell, with a Against The Current: Even A Dead Fish Can sense of humor.” Go With The Flow, which will be available for purchase on October 9. Jim has spent three For those of you who would like to have dinner decades battling the Powers That Be on behalf with Mr. Hightower in the main dining room of of the Powers That Ought To Be—consumers, Pinstripes following his speaking engagement, working families, environmentalists, there will be a cost of $130.00. The food small businesses, and just-plain-folks. He is excellent, and the conversation will be broadcasts daily radio commentaries that enlightening and funny. Reservations are Tenth Dems University is fortunate to have a are carried on more than 150 commercial and required, and seating will be limited. Checks very special guest on October 9, 2011—and it’s public stations, on the web, and on Radio for for the dinner portion of the evening can be free! Jim Hightower of Texas, national radio Peace International, and has been a frequent made out to Tenth Dems and either mailed to commentator, writer, public speaker, and New guest on the Bill Moyers show. Currently, he the organization c/o PO Box 523, Deerfield, IL York Times best-selling author, has agreed to is seen on MSNBC.
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