Issue 12 IDCCA NEWSLETTER January 2017 IDCCA January 2017 Newsletter

Issue #12

NEWS FROM AROUND THE ASSOCIATION IN THIS ISSUE

Presidents Message —Page 1 President’s Message A Workers Comp Updates—Page 2 By: Doug House, President IDCCA Chairman, Rock Island County Democratic Party Keith Ellison Endorsement—Page 3

2017 IDCCA Training Plan —Page 4 Are you ready? But there it is… President Elect Trump and Governor Bruce Rauner. So, what Because 2017 is not an “Off Year” and do I do? Throw up my hands? Hide my because 2018 is too damn important!! face in sand? Pretend it never happened? None of that is in my DNA, The IDCCA has never been more ready! I like most of you I am an activist, so I will recently went through all the stages of ACT! dealing with the grief of the General Election Presidential loss as the rest of I will organize like I have never done you did. before. I will talk to and register voters as many voters as possible. I will travel But there were two of the stages that I our state representing the IDCCA to have been hung up on, the first that has help with Party Building and recruiting given me a great deal of trouble was new partners to our fight. I will anger. That is because I cannot stop being strategize with the very best to make angry about what this new President says certain that all we can possibly do as a about our Country. Precinct Committeeman Recruiting Party, and as an Organization, will in We are recruiting Democratic Precinct The second stage that I have had trouble fact be done! Committeeman statewide to assist with with is acceptance, and that is because, I need all of you to commit to the same the grassroots effort to build the Demo- somehow while we were all working with intensity and with a sense of cratic Party in Illinois. If you are interested together, President Elect Trump still in being a part of this grassroots effort, urgency! I am willing to do this because happened on our watch. Sure, Illinois as a please email [email protected] with you I am angry and I am unable to accept state… we did our part this past name, address, phone, email, county and what has happened. precinct. Your County Democratic Party November. [Continued on Pg. 2] Chairman will contact you immediately!

The Illinois Democratic County Chairman’s Association is a state wide, grassroots Democratic political organization. It is made up of the elected Democratic County Chairman in all 102 counties in Illinois. The mission of the IDCCA is to help elect Democrats in each county while continuing to grow the Democratic Party in the State of Illinois. Rock Island County Chairman Doug House is the President of the Illinois Democratic County Chairman’s Association.

Paid for by the Illinois Democratic County Chairman’s Association. A copy of our report is (or will be) available for purchase from the Illinois State Board of Elections, Springfield IL

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[Continued from Pg. 1] Workers Comp Update doctors and hospitals by a whopping 30 By Sean Stott percent. As a result, the benefits that I will work to do my part to change it and to insurers pay to injured workers and medical help build our Democratic Party. providers have been plummeting. You know all the issues and everything that is at stake. For me, I have had an opportunity at The average workers’ comp medical bill in Illinois – which represent nearly half of all a decent middle class living in a beautiful The Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act is comp payouts – is now 23 percent lower state that I am raising my children in. They every Republican’s favorite scapegoat. deserve that same opportunity that I had and than in neighboring Indiana, 18 percent Governor Bruce Rauner is no different, but he I see it slipping away. I couldn’t live with lower than Wisconsin and 10 percent lower has taken it to another level. Rauner has made myself if I didn’t do all that I could to stop the than Iowa. carnage that Bruce Rauner is causing to our the political calculation that he can hold the state and that Donald Trump is causing to our state budget hostage until lawmakers – This has helped lead to a 29 percent Democracy. specifically, Democrat lawmakers – pay a reduction in insurance rates in Illinois, “ransom” of law changes that make it harder including the second largest drop in the So, I am ready, I am angry, I am not accepting for legitimately injured workers to receive the nation for 2017. of the status quo and I am going to use both medical treatment and other benefits they as personal motivation to effectuate change. need to get back on their feet and back to The real problem with Illinois law is that the I share all of this with you in hopes of work. 29 percent reduction is only a preparing you for what it will be like to deal recommendation; insurers don’t have to with me for the better part of the next two But just as he chooses find the cloud around follow it. In fact, only 61 cents of every years. I will be demanding and at times every silver lining when the truth doesn’t dollar collected in workers’ comp insurance uncompromising because this is a fight that support his anti-middle class, anti-worker premiums is used to pay injured workers’ we cannot afford to lose. agenda, Rauner consistently ignores benefits. It’s no surprise, then, that insurer undeniably good news about Illinois’ workers’ I am committing my life to electing a profits are up 3600% since 2011. Democrat to the Governor’s Office because comp system. That’s why Illinois Democrats are fighting to we cannot let Illinois fall further behind like Illinois’ workers’ comp law represents a 100 Wisconsin did under their Republican have Illinois follow the lead of 25 other year-old compromise. Workers injured on the Governor Scott Walker. states (including neighboring Indiana, job before the law passed faced a long and Wisconsin and Iowa) and rein in the We are better than that! I cannot do this uncertain road to recuperation. Unable to insurance industry. alone anymore than any other one person work, they lost all income leaving them unable can. I need everyone’s help and I will not be to put food on the table or keep a roof over The state should review insurers who don’t afraid to ask for it. I assure you that as your their heads, let alone pay the medical follow recommended rate cuts. Employers ally in this effort, that if you ask for my help, I treatment needed to get healthy and return to should be given the ability to challenge will freely give it. It is that important that we work. Many workers ended up in poverty as a excessive premiums. And, Illinois should do win! result of their injuries. what 27 other states do: inject some added So, as we embark on this noble quest to take competition into our workers’ comp system back our state from the Uncompromising Their only option was suing their employer in by creating a public-private partnership to Billionaire Tyrant Bruce Rauner, I ask that you court. Success was uncertain, but when found compete with the big insurance companies commit yourself to do more. Not for yourself it could be significant enough to bankrupt the and give Illinois employers a real choice – but for Illinois’ future. Commit yourself to do company. and real savings – on their insurance needs. more for your children, for the seniors and for countless others who need your help. Give In this compromise, injured workers gave up more of yourself to the IDCCA, more time, their right to sue their employer in return for Sean Stott is the Director of Governmental more money, more door knocking, and more treatment for their injuries and a partial wage Affairs, LiUNA—Midwest Region training. Commit to making this necessary while unable to work. Employers benefitted @LIUNAmidwest change happen. from knowing that a workplace accident wouldn’t drive them out of business. Please don’t leave this work to others to do. If we learned nothing from the last election, we Today, 99.9 percent of Illinois employers pay have learned that we can never take anything injured workers’ benefits by acquiring for granted…Never! insurance. So when Bruce Rauner complains about Illinois’ workers’ comp costs he is really complaining about the price insurance Doug House companies are charging Illinois employers. IDCCA President Rock Island County Democratic Party And insurance companies deserve every bit of Chairman criticism they get. @ILDCCA @RICoDemocrats In 2011, legislators passed a series of law changes that cut the benefits workers receive (Continued on page 3) for their injuries and cut the fees paid to

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 Chairman Bob Peickert (Democratic Party We are proud to stand with and endorse of DuPage County) Keith Ellison.” Illinois Democratic County  President (Cook County Chairmen’s Association Board of Commissioners) Congressman Ellison is a proven organizer endorses Congressman Keith  Alderman Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (Chicago, throughout the United States. His Ellison for DNC Chairman, 35th Ward) platform of grassroots organizing, a state Paves way for growing list of  Alderwoman and local focus on party building, standing Illinois Endorsements (Chicago, 10th Ward) with Organized Labor, accountability and  Alderman (Chicago, 4th technology are a comprehensive Springfield, IL – The 2016 General Ward) approach that the Democratic Party must Election sent a clear signal to the  Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (IL-9) embrace. Democratic Party. Voters are calling for  Chairwoman Ellie Sylvan (West Deerfield change. Focusing on growing the middle Township Democratic Organization) IDCCA President House said “The IDCCA class and addressing economic issues,  Recorder of Deeds Karen Yarbrough is a grassroots organization that focuses such as living wages for the underpaid (Cook County) on Party Building throughout Illinois. and underemployed, needs to be at the  Alderman (Chicago, Congressman Ellison’s ideas for building core of what the Democratic Party 32nd Ward) the DNC are exactly what we need right stands for. That is why the Executive  Democratic Party of DuPage County now. All eyes will be on Illinois in 2018 as Board of the Illinois Democratic County  Kankakee County Democratic Party we take on millionaire Governor Bruce Chairmen’s Association has voted to Rauner. We are looking forward to endorse Congressman Keith Ellison for IDCCA President Doug House said working with Congressman Ellison as we Chairman of the Democratic National “Congressman Ellison has the experience, take back the Governor’s office in 2018 Committee. ability to unify, the vision and fundraising and in 2020 take back the White House.” experience with grassroots and large Along with the IDCCA endorsement, donors to lead the Democratic National there is a growing list of leaders from Committee. His plan of grassroots Illinois who believe Congressman Keith organizing and training at the local level Ellison is the right person for the job. are at the core of what the IDCCA does. ______Including:

 Councilmember Aaron Ammons (Urbana, Ward 3)  State Rep. Carol Ammons (District 103)  Alderman John Arena (Chicago, 45th Ward)  State Senator Omar Aquino (District 2)  Chairman Joe Berrios (Cook County Democratic Party)  State Senator Daniel Biss (District 9)  US Senator Tammy Duckworth  City Clerk Nyota Figgs (Calumet City)  Commissioner Jesus “Chuy” Garcia (Cook County Board of Commissioners)  Congressman Luis Gutierrez (IL-4)  State Rep. Will Guzzardi (District 39)  Chairman Nasr Jahangir (Wayne Township Democratic Committee)  Chairman Gary Kleppe (York Township Democratic Committee)  Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-8)  State Rep. Theresa Mah (District 2)  Alderwoman Deb Mell (Chicago, 33rd Ward)  Alderman Ricardo Munoz (Chicago, 22nd Ward)  County Clerk (Cook County)  Alderman Ameya Pawar (Chicago, 47th Ward) (Continued on page 4)

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The Precinct Committeemen Training will trainings statewide throughout the year. This training will cover all the 2017 IDCCA Training Plan continue like last year. Our goal will be to hold at least one training a month bells and whistles that each local By Dan Kovats, IDCCA Executive Director throughout the state. This training will Votebuilder Administrator will need to assist Precinct Committeemen and Part of the long-term plans of the IDCCA include What are the duties of being a candidates. We will then be asking is that there are no longer any off years. Precinct Committeemen, how to influence these local Votebuilder Administrators We are planning extensive training voters (depending on location), basic to schedule training in their home statewide starting this month. We will be Votebuilder training, Get Out The Vote Counties that we will help promote. focusing on two main areas of training. training and a guest speaker. We are also in the planning stages of Precinct Committeemen Training and The next focus will be on Votebuilder something I hope will become a yearly Votebuilder Administrator Training. Administrator training. We will be asking all County Parties to send at least one person resource from the IDCCA. In late to these trainings. There will be six Spring, we are planning on hosting a