Since the last census of 2000, there was nearly 660,000 people that live in the southeastern section of Illinois. The 19th congressional district stretches from the southeastern part of Illinois, reaching up to the greater St. Louis area and snaking around to encompass parts of Springfield, the state capitol.
The 19th district encompasses 33 different counties. Most of these counties need coordinators. If you are interested in becoming a coordinator, please contact Greg Bishop (bishoponair@gmail.com).
The current Representative in DC for the 19th district is Congressman John Shimkus (R). Shimkus has been helpful in supporting the bill to Audit the Federal Reserve and for voting against cap and trade legislation and the healthcare reform bill. On the issue of non-interventionist foreign policy, the Campaign for Liberty will need to push a little harder on Congressman Shimkus!
Please contact Greg Bishop with any questions at 217.633.4030 or email bishoponair@gmail.com
I am happy to report some new additions to our Illinois leadership team.
Matt Phillips has agreed to work as our Legislative Liaison. Matt, who has been busy heading up our Legislative Committee - researching and zoning in on important legislation - will be available to answer your questions specific to Illinois legislation, and will provide much needed assistance in implementing our plans at the state level. Be sure to contact Matt if you would like to volunteer for the Legislative Committee, or if you have any questions or tips about Illinois legislation.
Greg Bishop, who recently agreed to step into the role of Literature Committee Lead, will also serve as our Web Assistant. As the lead of the Literature Committee, Greg will be putting together a team who will work on forming petitions, fliers, you tubes, and other items to assist us in getting the word out about our important initiatives. He will also be available as our Web Assistant to answer questions about the website, and assist members and coordinators in updating their profiles. If you need help using any tools on the site, or if you would like to volunteer for the Literature Committee, please contact Greg.
Region 11 Coordinator, Lisa Wogan, will be working as our Editorial/Media Outreach Team Leader alongside Joe Cesarone, Illinois's Media Liaison. Lisa will assist in writing blogs and press releases concerning state initiatives, and Joe will act as our primary media contact.
Hannah Landis has agreed to step into the role of Region 15 Coordinator. Hannah has been working hard as a Legislative Committee Member, and is a welcome addition to our Region 15 leadership team.
Justin Kapacinskas recently moved, and he has agreed to coordinate in Kane County. Justin brings his experience as a prior Regional Coordinator to his new position and is a valuable asset to Kane County.
I hope you will all join me in welcoming these patriots to our Illinois leadership team.
Below are highlights from Saturday's Rally for Nonintervention in Springfield. Speaking at the event were candidates from the Libertarian, Constitution, and Green Parties.
SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, February 28, 2010 - On Saturday, March 20th at noon, voices from across Illinois will gather at the steps of the Illinois Capitol Building in support of a non-interventionist foreign policy. Speakers will include citizen lobbyist/media activist Greg Bishop, Constitution Party candidate for Governor Randall Stufflebeam, Libertarian Party Candidate for Governor Lex Green, and Green Party candidate for Governor Rich Whitney. Also in attendance will be Veterans Against the War and members from the Campaign for Liberty. Local musical act Hot Bag ‘O Donuts will perform at 11 a.m. to get the crowd warmed up.
Nonintervention is defined as a policy of not interfering. In particular non-interventionism is a guiding principle of not interfering with sovereign nations' right of self-determination. On the campaign trail, then senator Obama worked to contrast himself with the Republican President of the past 8 years, saying the war was a mistake. Now, as president, Obama is making it clear the same Global War on Terror (GWOT) policies from the preceding administration will continue.
Seven years later, the reasons for invading and occupying Iraq have been forgotten and misrepresented. Iraq did not make 9/11 happen and the likelihood of Iraq attacking the US is (and was) overblown. The case has even been closed on the anthrax attacks of October, 2001. Many thought Iraq was behind those attacks but the blamed was put on a mad U.S. government scientist who committed suicide last year. Iraq is not the only focus of the seemingly ever expansive and non-ending GWOT. There is the surge in Afghanistan and news trends hint at a full-blown front in Pakistan. To what end?
This Global War on Terror has never been officially declared and is quickly spreading through the Middle East. What is termed "collateral damage" is really innocent civilians losing their lives in the most violent and bloody ways. The borders of the Middle East seem to have no meaning as the CIA and Blackwater use pilotless drone aircraft to launch missile strikes into Pakistan. A brief review of US foreign policy after World War II will show that the Central Intelligence Agency has more influence on US foreign policy through covert means than congress has through open and public means. The spoils of war benefit weapons manufacture while US citizens bear the cost.
War should be for defense only, not preemption. The Current policy must change. A rally for nonintervention will bring about awareness of these issues and call for a change in policy! President Obama promised change in Springfield. Let's begin to hold him accountable in Springfield.
Media contact for rally: Greg Bishop, phone: 217.633.4030, email: bishoponair@gmail.com
"It is time to audit the Federal Reserve" was the message Tuesday afternoon. Around 20 members of the public from around central Illinois gathered to send that clear messages in downtown Springfield, September 15th. S604, the Federal Reserve Sunshine Act of 2009, has 24 cosponsors in the Senate. Current cosponsors do not including the two Senators form Illinois: Senators Roland Burris and Dick Durbin.
A public display of "Audit the Fed" signs along with bullhorn-chants of "get the country out of the red, audit the Fed" and "no more hanky panky Bernanke, show us the money" were combined with thousands of signatures to be delivered to both Senator Burris' and Durbin's Springfield office. The rally began at the Old State Capitol Historic Plaza in the Capitol City.
After being interviewed by several different media outlets covering the start up of the rally, protestors began marching east on Adams street towards Senator Burris' Springfield office. As rally participants stood outside the building holding signs, several members entered the lobby with cameras and over 300 signatures urging Senator Burris to support S604. Staffers were called down to the lobby to pick up the petitions.
Delivering the petitions to staffers also provided the chance to share, in person, the importance of transparency within the Federal Reserve Banking System. One staffer said he was not sure if Burris is aware of the bill, but ensured he would get the signatures to the Senator.
After delivering the signatures to Burris' office, the march continued down 6th street with boisterous chants and passing cars honking in support. Marchers made their way to Jackson Street and turned east. As they continued their march towards Senator Durbin's office, which is located on the grounds of the Abraham Lincoln historic home site, they were stopped by park police.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa ...," a man came charging with hands waving. "You can't have signs here. The free speech zone is down the street," the park officer said.
"Free speech zone? This is America! We have a permit from the city ..."
"This is Federal property. You need a Federal permit"
Then, another officer stepped out of a building with a gun on his hip and an attack dog by his side. Apparently, in order to protest on Federal Property you must have a Federal protest permit. Springfield protesters only obtained a city protest permit. Lessons learned for next time!
The officer with the attack dog politely asked the marchers to not disrupt the tourists visiting Lincoln's historic site by using the bullhorn or chanting. He then escorted the group to Senator Durbin's Springfield office, which is located on Federal property.
After arriving at Senator Durbin's Springfield office, the armed escort asked the members to wait outside while he went to touch base with Durbin's staff. About five minutes later, Bill Houlihan, Durbin's scheduler, came out and was greeted with a box containing over 2000 signatures urging Senator Durbin to support the Federal Reserve Sunshine Act of 2009. Houlihan asked several questions about the bill: Who sponsored the bill in the Senate and whether it was in committee in the House? Both questions were answered and thanks were sent all around. "We worked really hard throughout the summer gathering these signatures," Brent Roos of Peoria County said.
After delivering the petitions from across the state, marchers proceeded towards the "free speech zone" and began chanting and marching back to their original starting position at the Old State Capitol Historic Plaza. Similar rallies were held in Chicago and across the country urging Senators to support S604, the Federal Reserve Sunshine Act of 2009
Video of the Springfield event will be posted soon.
Greg Bishop organized the Springfield audit the Fed rally and can be reached by phone: 217.633.4030 or email: bishoponair@gmail.com
Six short months ago, Congressman Ron Paul introduced HR 1207, the Federal Reserve Transparency Act of 2009. Since that time, the Illinois Grassroots has met the challenge of educating our neighbors by holding petition drives, manning booths at local events, writing letters to the editor and arranging meetings with our Representatives or their staff. We have seen great rewards for all of our hard work, as 75% of Americans now support this audit. Given that most Americans didn’t care about the Fed at this time last year, this is an incredible victory.
As if gaining the support of 75% of Americans is not enough, Illinois activists have also won the support of 13 of our 19 Representatives. With six Democrats and 7 Republicans from Illinois cosponsoring this bill, we can loudly proclaim bipartisan support in our state.
The time has now come to shift gears and take aim at the Senate. Introduced in the Senate by Bernard Sanders (I-VT), S 604, The Federal Reserve Sunshine Act of 2009, is the sister bill to HR 1207. Over the next 30 days, Campaign for Liberty members across the country will be taking action to shine a light on those Senators who have not yet cosponsored this legislation. Our mission is to expose those who do not support the transparency of the Fed, and apply enough pressure to bring them on board. When we succeed, we can move this debate to a whole new level - the floor of the House and Senate, with millions of Americans paying attention!
To make the greatest impact, we need every Illinois Patriot to take action, and I am not just referring to Campaign for Liberty members. With 75% of Americans supporting a full audit of the Fed, we need to open our doors and include them in this effort. Some of those that support the audit may not agree with us on every issue, so to make them feel comfortable in helping with this effort, the Campaign for Liberty has set up a new website, AudittheFed.com where people of all persuasions will feel comfortable visiting and mobilizing.
As we learn of events where our Senators will appear over the next 30 days, they will be added to the Illinois Profile and calendar. We need representation at every event, gathering signatures on our petitions, and diplomatically pressing our Senators about their lack of support for transparency of the Fed. In addition to that, we need booths at every local event so you can continue to gather signatures and find supporters who will be willing to assist us with our efforts in the final week of Mass Action Month. No time to plan a booth? Show up with your petitions anyway and work the crowd! We need members to record our efforts, blog about them, write letters to the editor, call local radio shows and make certain that every American is aware of S 604.
In order to assure ultimate impact, we are dividing Illinois into 3 regions, with a Project Lead in each region. Our Northern Illinois Project Lead will be Justin Kapacinskas, Greg Bishop will organize the efforts of Central Illinois, and Jeff Covington will lead in Southern Illinois. They can use all the help you are willing to give, so please contact them and volunteer for a lead role in this effort!
Getting our Illinois Senators on board S 604 should be reward enough, but just to make things interesting, the person that gathers the most signatures on S 604 petitions will not only win our respect, gratitude and admiration, they will also win a Campaign for Liberty silver coin and a pocket Constitution bearing Congressman Ron Paul’s autograph. But wait! That’s not all! The state collecting the most signatures (as a percentage of population) will win a $1,500.00 gift certificate to the Campaign for Liberty store.
Beginning on September 8, until we deliver petitions on September 15, our Senators will be greeted by a steady stream of calls, every 5 minutes, of every working day. We need a minimum of 480 callers for each Senator in order to keep their staffers busy answering calls about S 604 for 5 straight days. Over the next month, we all need to sign up on the website for a time-slot. Talking points will be provided by National, and you will receive an email the day of your scheduled call as a reminder. I don’t know about you, but I sure wish I could be a fly on the wall of those offices during those very intense 5 days!
Finally, as if the previously mentioned plans are not exciting enough, on Tuesday, September 15 at 4:00 P.M. local time, Liberty Lovers across the nation will be handing stacks of petitions over to local Senatorial offices.
Audit the Fed Rallies are being planned for Springfield and Chicago on September 15, leading up to the handoff of our petitions. Details for these events are still being worked out, so please check our State Profile and Calendar often for updates. Imagine having hundreds of supporters present when we deliver the thousands of petitions we have worked so hard to collect! Our project leads are working hard to organize these events, attract local media, and ensure that Senators Durbin and Burris hear the message that we demand an audit of the Fed loud and clear! Our project leads are searching for other leaders to assist them in the planning of this effort, so please be sure to contact them and volunteer. We will need people to speak to the Senator’s staff, record the event, speak with the local media, coordinate our efforts with other groups who support an audit of the Fed, and blog about all of our efforts.
The time to act is now, and with enough effort on our parts, we can push for a vote on this legislation! We’ve all worked hard to bring sunlight to this issue, and the reward for all of our efforts is near. Let’s put Illinois on the map, and ensure the biggest turn-out in the nation for Mass Action Day! You’ve worked hard for months, you deserve the recognition!
Campaign for Liberty is a 501(c)4 lobbying organization which neither supports nor opposes candidates for public office and claims no responsibility for the actions of individuals or groups of individuals who use the Campaign for Liberty logo or name or who may claim to act as representatives of the Campaign for Liberty without prior written consent of the Campaign for Liberty. [?]
Illinois Region 19's RSS Feed
Web Assistant
Local Coordinator
