IDCCA President’s Message
by Kristina Zahorik, IDCCA President
@ILDCCA @McHenryDems
Dear County Chairs and Friends,
December is the start of the holiday season. The season of reflecting, celebrating, and giving.
Trump twisted the season.
Because of Trump, we get to reflect on a disturbing video released by ProPublica showing the tragic death of 16-year-old Carlos Gregorio Hernandez Vasquez while in custody of the U.S. Border Protection Agency. A video, which you can see by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2PFg2Pz, contradicts the narrative provided by the government.
Because of Trump, we get to celebrate that the mythical war on Christmas is over. Trump won it. America First Policies, a group created to support the Trumpian agenda by former Trump aides, declared he did. While the world burns, Trump can celebrate this non-victory with a round of golf. Although he stated in 2016, “I’m going to be working for you. I’m not going to have time to go play golf”, he actually has had time. A lot of time. And it has cost us. You can click here to find out just how much: https://trumpgolfcount.com/ . Of course, he may have already celebrated the fake-war on Christmas being over by cutting people from the federal food stamp program. The recently announced cuts amount to between 90,000-140,000 people in Illinois.
Because of Trump, we get to give the super wealthy more money in their pockets at our expense. As reported in this month’s Rolling Stone, “When it came to tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy, Trump and Republicans felt the nation’s finances were firm enough to give up more than $1,500,000,000,000. When it’s time to spend a fraction of that to help poor people eat, that’s when the well has supposedly run dry.” You can read the article by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2PfP42g.
The Illinois Democratic County Chairs Association is committed to untangling the harm and damage done by Donald Trump and the Republicans. We have a plan for 2020 and beyond to continue building a strong Democratic Party in Illinois where every Democrat, everywhere counts.
This December, we reflect on the vision of America our forefathers and mother had of creating a welcoming country. A vision where, with opportunity and hard work, you can get ahead and make a good life for yourself and your family.
We celebrate our strong Democratic leaders like IDCCA Party Builder Awardee U.S. Speaker Nancy Pelosi who are working to defend our constitution. Earlier this week, she received a rousing standing ovation at the Kennedy Center Honors. She and our Illinois delegation are working to improve the lives of working families. The Republicans want you to believe no work is getting done in Congress; however this is not true. In a letter she sent to her colleagues, Pelosi makes it clear there are hundreds of important pieces of legislation that have been sent to the Senate, only to die in Moscow Mitch’s Senate graveyard. There are even more pieces planned to come to the House floor for debate and votes, legislation like H.R. 3, the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act, and H.R. 4, the Voting Rights Advancement Act. Click here to read her letter: http://bit.ly/2RLo9gr.
Finally, we give praise and thanks to our Democratically controlled Illinois House and Senate, as well as our Illinois Democratic Governor, for swiftly taking action to put Illinois back on the right path. The Blue Wave created an historic 2019 legislative session. The Illinois General Assembly worked hard to pass meaningful legislation and policies to help working families, to stabilize government, and to attract business. For example, the 2019 session closed with passage of SB 667, legislation to cap out of pocket costs for insulin for Illinoisans sponsored by State Senator Any Manar. See the announcement of its passage by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2EhoY8t
This holiday season, I am optimistic because people like you all over Illinois and our country are reflecting, celebrating, and giving to ensure democracy prevails. Thank you.
Happy Merry everything!
Best wishes,
Kristina
