Send courage and compassion to Congress

I support State Senator Michael Noland for Congress in Illinois's 8th District. As a state senator, Mike has a strong track record of supporting worker's rights, women's rights, human rights, and the environment.

Now he has introduced a bill (SB 2177) that would establish a Single Payer Health Care system here in Illinois, and another bill (SB 2199) that would create a Financial Transaction Tax, (also called the LaSalle Street Tax).

These two bold ideas bring to Illinois progressive proposals that presidential candidate Bernie Sanders has introduced into the U.S. Senate. Each of them would, if enacted, bring genuine economic relief and security to the poor and the middle class. Each of them is strenuously opposed by the Illinois's own 1 percent and the mainstream media. SB 2199, would, in fact, go a long way toward easing the state's deficit, and make it possible for Illinois to begin paying its bills by modestly taxing those who can afford to pay.

It would take a tremendous fight to actually pass these measures in Springfield, given Republican party hostility and Democratic Party timidity about breaking out of the current austerity mindset which claims that Illinois is broke and the only question is which services we must cut. But Mike Noland has been courageous enough to propose them on behalf of his constituents, and I believe he would bring the same courage and compassion to Congress.

Mary Shesgreen

Elgin