If you have something to say...
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If you have something to say...
Say it on the Huffington Post
As thousands of undocumented immigrant students in California and Illinois enter and return to college this fall, they will have new hope about their futures because of legislation providing them access to privately-funded college tuition assistance.
Every day LGBT people around the country are forced into hostile situations with religious organizations providing public services or worse turned away from getting these tax-payer funded services altogether.
Every day, as I talk to people in the 39th District, I'm reminded that we all share the same concerns about the way things look these days. It's those shared concerns that I will advocate for every day.
Latino-Americans can no longer afford to let other people vote for them. We cannot sit back and watch things happen to America, when we have the votes to achieve a better outcome for the nation.
Illinois has decided to end its involvement and financial contracts for Catholic Charities' adoption and foster services in the wake of the religious organization's refusal to follow the state's new civil unions law and existing anti-discrimination policies.
Four states -- Illinois, New Mexico, New Jersey and New York have renounced capital punishment in the past five years. The handwriting is on the wall -- the death penalty is a failed, antiquated experiment on its way out.
Illinois alone empowers its Supreme Court with absolute authority to fill judicial vacancies. Given that it grants one nominating body sole discretion over these appointments, transparency is especially important.
In Springfield, our representation is free to debate a bill however they choose, but that doesn't include making public the fact that there is a very clear conflict of interest. Think about that for a second.
It's now up to Gov. Pat Quinn to decide whether the state gets more casinos to help jumpstart the local economy. Quinn told reporters the bill, which passed the state Senate on Tuesday, was "excessive."
Understanding the conditions that give rise to false confessions will help prevent a phenomenon that implicates innocent people.
A dozen or so leading citizens, backed by local and national philanthropy, put Illinois on this path to becoming a national leader in education reform.
While the broken state of our immigration system, and its desperate need for reform, might not be a part of your daily life, there are many for whom it is. It's time we all start following this story.
In the face of Illinois' $6 billion budget deficit, the state says there is no alternative but to continue to cut public services. Meanwhile, Wall Street and big banks are foreclosing on hundreds of thousands of Illinois families and neglecting to pay their fair share.
To truly honor motherhood, we must do more than buy a box of chocolates. In that spirit I want to recognize the local leaders who aim to change policies and systems that affect mothers and their families.
As a pastor, the scene reminded me of the chaos that must have been present when Jesus made his triumphal entry into Jerusalem just days before his death.
Thanks to Illinois, we now have more proof: ending the death penalty saves money -- a lot of money -- and quickly. So what is California waiting for?
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