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MoveOn Plans 'Fiscal Showdown' Picket Monday at Hultgren's Geneva Office

The MoveOn political action group plans a "Tax the Wealthy" event at 10 a.m. Monday at 14th District Congressman Randy Hultgren's Geneva office at 1797 W. State St.

A political action group is planning to picket Monday in Geneva as part of 162 "Fiscal Showdown" events nationwide asking legislators "to vote to raise taxes on the wealthy to fix the deficit."

MoveOn.org, one of the largest political action committees in the country, is making a local lobbying effort at 10 a.m. Monday, Dec. 10, at the Geneva office of Republican 14th District Congressman Randy Hultgren. The office is located at 1797 W. State St.

"Congress faces a fiscal choice—not a 'cliff'—about whether to end tax cuts for the rich or cut vital programs and delay tax extensions for working and middle class people," the MoveOn.org website says. "The GOP is holding us hostage again, and we could slide back into a recession if they win."

The group is asking local advocates to sign up for the gathering "to share our stories and let Congress know we won't settle for a bad deal."

"We voted to end tax cuts for the wealthy in November, not let Republicans push us back into a recession by standing in the way and demanding cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security," the website says. "We need to unite Senate Democrats against any cuts to those programs and put the heat on House Republicans for opposing extending tax breaks for 98 percent of us."

The lobbying effort also seeks:

  • No cuts to Medicare, Medicaid or Social Security.
  • Cut the bloated Pentagon budget.
  • No cuts to our already tattered social safety net.

A local MoveOn member, identified as "Mary S.," is organizing the rally in Geneva.

"We need a massive crowd so that our elected officials and the local press get the message," the website suggests.

According to a CNN report, President Barack Obama and House Speaker John Boehner met Sunday, but no major breakthroughs were made regarding the "fiscal cliff" decision facing Congress prior to the new year, when automatic tax hikes and spending cuts take effect.

In broad terms, Republicans say Democrats aren't willing to move on entitlement reform while Democrats say Republicans have refused to consider additional taxes on the wealthiest Americans.

"The latest news reports indicate that Republicans are still willing to raise taxes on working families by as much as $2,000, and are proposing devastating benefit cuts to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid," the MoveOn website said.

Jon Azavedo December 10, 2012 at 05:54 pm
Diane, OK, so if I have a capital loss instead of capital gain, do I get a dollar for dollar government reimbursement? Wouldn't that be "fair?" 401k is is a tax sheltered investment, and will be taxed at a presumably lesser rate when you retire. Of course, what you don't realize is Nobama wants dividends taxed as ordinary income-good luck with that retirement.
John Walsh, educate yourself-$10 trillion deficit at end of bush Nobama increased by 60% in less than 4 years. With a dem congress. WAHHHHH, let's blame everything on Bush, spoken like a true Obama-ite.
Jon Azavedo December 10, 2012 at 06:05 pm
Kelli, your comment only serves to show how jealous you are of life's achievers. What "special breaks" do drs. lawyers, etc. get that you or I can't if we earn a higher income? Are you referring to investment income? THEN MAKE MORE MONEY AND INVEST! How long do you think you can ride the coattails of the successful? Here's what you'll have-raise my taxes, I won't invest-I won't expand my business, I won;'t hire anyone else, I'll cut everyone down to 30 hours and avoid paying healthcare, and if need be, I'll simply close the doors. No more charitable contributions, no more anonymous donations to the school. Think in terms of actual contributiion, actual dollars paid, not "percentages," that makes you simply sound bitter that you have failed.
Kelli Trejo December 10, 2012 at 06:10 pm
I think GM was going under for a lot of reasons, not the "idiot" union workers. Those that you are blaming are the laborers. They are on an assembly line piecing together the products that were designed by someone else, coming off die machines manufactured by someone else.
John Walsh December 10, 2012 at 07:23 pm
Jon, tough. The government taxes at many levels. My income is taxed. What's left over pays additional sales taxes, gasoline taxes, protperty taxes, etc. Your argument is full of holes. There's no reason why someone who earns a living off of capital gains and dividends, should pay a lesser percentage than a salaried or hourly worker.
Our fiscal problem's greatest origin came from two unfunded Bush/Republican tax cuts, two Bush/Republican unfunded wars and the single biggest expansion of the entitlements in over 40 years you dispise - the Medicare Prescription Drug program. NEVER in the history of the USA did the federal government cut taxes in time of war. But the Republicans and Bush did. Every other Congress increased taxes to fund war. Those actions are what put our nation in a Depression.
Jon Azavedo December 10, 2012 at 07:53 pm
Typical wackjob reasoning from one of life's losers. The money has already been taxed, period. Sales taxes are a cost of doing business. What I do with my residual income is up to me, and I should not be penalized for successful investing. I do agree, however, lets go off the "cliff." Lets see how many Obama disciples in the middle class like what's coming. Oh, and the beginning of the end came under Clinton and expansion of the CRA, when owning a house somehow became a "right."
John Walsh December 10, 2012 at 09:15 pm
Poor Jon. You have my sympathy. When you start reverting to name calling -"wackjob" and "losers", you know you've lost the argument.
Money in our society is taxed at multiple levels. People want services and taxes and user fees are used to pay for them. Yes a cost of doing business and living in our modern society that you don't want to pay. Tough. If you invested in the S & P 500 during the Bush administraion, you would have lost money. if you had invested in the S & P 500 on the day President Obama took office, you'd have doubled that investment in less than 4 years. Yes, lets go off the "cliff." This is what the Republicans set up to happen. It's Congress, led by the Republican House that Randy Hulgtren serves, that has put you in whatever position you seem to be concerned about. You lose credibility by just posting odd stuff, like the CRA, which regulated red-lining and had nothing to do with the housing bubble. That housing bubble was caused by Republican legislation signed by Bush that degregulated the mortgage process so bankers could create mortgage backed financial derivatives I'm certain you can't comprehend. News to Jon, you lost the election. Get over it.
Jennifer December 10, 2012 at 09:43 pm
I was at the demonstration today and Andrea you'll be horrified to know most of these people live in your town. I'm not sure if you want them to move? But they are among you, they are probably people you know and like.
Jennifer December 10, 2012 at 09:46 pm
Mike, at the protest today everyone took turns stating where they live, they were all locals. The media was there and seemed to take note of this information.
Pam December 10, 2012 at 10:31 pm
What??? Democrats in Geneva???
Better hide your kids...hide your wives.
Diane December 10, 2012 at 11:17 pm
Jon: The top 2 percent have already cut jobs down to 30 weeks and cut out benefits so a very signifigant portion of those in the labor force do not have enough income to cover the cost of living, do not have employer sponsered health care and make very little above the minimum wage. My question is this-why?? Why did so much of corporate America over the past several years decide to either cut wages and benefits, layoff workers, or fire them for no reason? I believe the answer is corporate greed. The government is by no means innocent either raising the costs of doing business in the US to the highest in the world so corporations outsource. The Free Trade agreement signed by Clinton was the beginning of the end. Both Democrats and Republicans have their hand in the taxpayer's pockets as do the top 2 percent taking in most of this country's wealth. Unless a miracle happens that reverses the greed and entitlement culture of our country, none of us will have the United States as we used to know it. We can debate class warfare and Democrat/Republican all we want but our country is headed down a steep slope that can only be stopped by allowing the Bush tax cuts to expire forcing us into austerity, higher taxes on the wealthy, cuts in entitlements and a shrinking of the federal deficit. The spending party and gravy train has to end. China already owns much of our wealth. Should we just hand over what is left to a communist country and allow socialism to take over.
Jon Azavedo December 10, 2012 at 11:41 pm
CRA regulated red-lining? CRA forced banks to lend to individuals w/ no credit, in areas w/ distressed housing. In other words, forced banks to make bad loans. Red-lining is racism, not selling a home in a predominantly ethnic area to someone "different." Typical dem response, illogical and illiterate and misleading to other, under-educated dems..
Your "rationale" of taxation is equally absurd. Why should anyone pay more than their neighbor for the same services? Let's use the idiotic "percentage" argument. I make a million bucks, and, using all available deductions, pay 100,000 in taxes=an effective 10% rate. You, never achieving success in life, make $20,000 and pay $3000 in taxes, a higher percentage , but $97000 LESS than me. We live in the same community. We drive the same roads, get the same schools, get the same PD and FD protections. Rather than complain, you should be ecstatic that I don't call you a leach on society, failing to pay YOUR "fair share." Now, I have to eat my ribeye and enjoy an expensive bottle of wine and cigar while you open a can of ravioli. Knock yourself out with another ridiculous response, Bon apetite!
Jon Azavedo December 10, 2012 at 11:45 pm
Corporate greed? Try survival of the fittest. BTW, want to bring up Solyndra, Fisker and GM? Failed Obama attempts at competing in the marketplace. Even w/ govt backing, the first two failed, the third owes the taxpayers $35 BILLION. Want to know what is driving us toward bankruptcy? Unions, especially the teachers union.
John Walsh December 11, 2012 at 04:40 am
poor Jon. Your grasp of facts is weak. The Community Reinvestment Act is intended to encourage depository institutions to help meet the credit needs of the communities in which they operate, including low- and moderate-income neighborhoods, consistent with safe and sound operations. It was enacted by the Congress in 1977 and is implemented by Regulation. The regulation was substantially revised in May 1995 and updated again in August 2005.
The CRA requires that each depository institution's record in helping meet the credit needs of its entire community be evaluated periodically. That record is taken into account in considering an institution's application for deposit facilities. Neither the CRA nor its implementing regulation gives specific criteria for rating the performance of depository institutions. Rather, the law indicates that the evaluation process should accommodate an institution's individual circumstances. Nor does the law require institutions to make high-risk loans that jeopardize their safety. To the contrary, the law makes it clear that an institution's CRA activities should be undertaken in a safe and sound manner. http://www.federalreserve.gov/communitydev/cra_about.htm I use logic and facts. Jon, you drink way too much RW kool-aid, Randy Hultgren must be service it up to you. He's part of the problem you have a problem with.
Jon Azavedo December 11, 2012 at 01:31 pm
John, don't know about the Kool Aid, but your mind is permanently disabled from too many vodka martinis. In fact, CRA was used as a hammer by regulators, forcing banks to lend within certain distressed neighborhoods, knowing full well the borrowers didn't meet minimum credit criteria and that the loans would likely be written off. Why do you think so many banks opened locations on the south and west sides of Chicago in the early 2000's? Feds told them that their "lending area" had strangely expanded to include areas arbitrarily chosen for increased home "ownership." The specific criteria used to measure compliance utilized zip code analysis w/ total loans written annually. If loan total were less in the distressed areas, regulators threatened to pull the banks charter. Educate yourself-talk to a banker about CRA instead of copying and pasting drivel from a website.
You know nothing about CRA, economics, history. I can take solace in the fact that your state-funded pension will soon be cut or done away w/ entirely, and you'll be greeting me at the door of Wal-Mart.
John Walsh December 11, 2012 at 04:35 pm
Jon, I am a capitalist, working in the free market. An entrepreneur who earns income soleley on my personal efforts. Educated. I know my history. I know my economics, banking, real estate and politics. I know the CRA. Dad was an auditor. My brothers are: a banker, a bank auditor for FDIC, equity brokers and real estate brokers. Please don't insult me or my intelegence. I've seen practically every angle of CRA that there is. It wasn't government regulation or over-regulation that caused the real estate bubble. It was pure greed and bankers behaving like lemmings. The morgage backed security derivatives, had absolutely no government or market-place oversight. S & P and Goldman Sachs gave AAA ratings to those bond derivatives, when they were junk quality. Stop blaming the poor. They got the shaft, and the bankers got bailed out and made whole.
The protest was over the inaction of our Congressman, Randy Hultgtren. Hultrgen is part of the biggest "do-nothing Congress" in over 60 years. The phony "fiscal cliff" crisis has its origins as a result of incompetent Republican governance, and Hultren is the poster child for incompetence.
What a Deal! December 11, 2012 at 04:57 pm
The US Government was downgraded by S&P due to lack of spending restraint....better read your history on that. You can Google that and see why Obama caused the downgrade.
What a Deal! December 11, 2012 at 05:01 pm
Like when you said teabagging associates. Or are your adjectives allowed to be used first because yours are not offensive (in your mind)...looks like you lose John Walsh. I am sure it's "different"!
Jon Azavedo December 11, 2012 at 05:11 pm
John Walsh has his head in the sand. First, no one cares about your pretend business, brothers, Dad, whatever. The fact is you are defending the most corrupt President in our history, erroneously placing blame on Republicans. If you need a history lesson on the entitlement society, I suggest you start with a book about FDR, move to LBJ and complete the trilogy w/ Clinton. All bought votes with freebies to the "disenfranchised," now opening the floodgates to illegals who will receive SS, Medicare, Medicaid, and pandering to unions, particularly the teachers union.
The protesters want to "save" all of these entitlements, while decreasing the defense budget. The blame is squarely on gay Barny Frank and his dem buddies who raided these funds. BTW, your brother must be proud to be a banker-what small businessman did he pull a loan from today?
Jon Azavedo December 11, 2012 at 05:30 pm
A little truth in advertising here-John Walsh is a sales rep for the Chicago Tribune-company bankrupt-and has probably had his pension affected. Hot tip, John-Sam Zell is a dem.
John Walsh December 11, 2012 at 07:17 pm
Jon, Sam Zell is as Conservative and as Republican as one can be. http://www.businessinsider.com/sam-zell-explains-mitt-romneys-economic-viewpoints-2012-10 Just goes to show how little you know. You keep digging an argumentative hole. One can not address deficit spending without increased revenues. End our war in Afghanastan. Bring our sons and daughters home from war. That will save Billions.
John Walsh December 11, 2012 at 07:39 pm
jon, Aren't you a testy one. I believe in the American Dream. I believe in the American Worker. I support unions. I believe in the importance of the middle class in America. I vote. I believe in the Social Security Stystem. Social Security has not added one penny to the deficit. I believe in Medicare and Medicaid is a social contract that we must support. I am as progressive a free market capitalist as you can get without being a community organizer. :)
You are full of RW talking points, aren't you? Yes, cut the defense budget. By all means. The Soviet Union is dead. Time for our democratic allies to pick up a bigger share of their security costs. Why should Japan, Korea and Germany get a free ride on US taxpayers? Bring our sons and daughters home from the war in Afghanastan. You may recall...the single biggest expansion of entitlements in the last 45 years. That would be the Medicare Prescription Drug Program - enacted in 2003 by a Republican Congress and signed into law by Geroge W. Bush, with no additional revenue (tax) to fund it. Do you recall? That was a bunch of goodies to buy votes for Republicans in 2003. Or don't you know your history. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A9328-2005Feb8.html
Jon Azavedo December 11, 2012 at 09:08 pm
John, the American Dream is not relying on government, becoming self-sufficient and providing for your family. You aren't family. I can say w/ great confidence that I pay substantially more in taxes, income and property, than you. You are a leach, willing to have me and others who took a risk be forced to share the spoils. I have no social contract w/ you or the protesters who want to whine about "fairness." And I'm not alone. You want to bite the hand that signs your checks, that pays 90% of the taxes in this country, while your man Nobama gives billions to favored businesses? Then the gravy train will simply end. Your bitterness towards "the man" is simply due to your lot in life. John, grow up-life is unfair, loaded w/ winners and losers. What's different today is that the losers don't want to take the risks, they simply want the rewards re-distributed. Your point about the U.S. pulling back from foreign aid is one I share. But quoting the Washington Post? Actually, the biggest entitlement in the last 45years was LBJ Great Society, including enactment of the food stamp act, the same act Nobama is revising by not making a job search mandatory. Oh, and expanding public housing and SOCIAL SECURITY, and MEDICARE, John, the hole you've dug for yourself is now covered with a rock.
Jennifer December 11, 2012 at 11:20 pm
I regret the day I signed up for alerts on this post. Please, John and Jon step away from the computer and go get a chai tea at Starbucks. (Not together) Both of you need to calm down and please know that this back and forth will not end until someone with a level head ends it and just walks away. Jon Azavedo... the name calling of the President, the unnecessary pointing out of a mans sexual preference and the cyber stalking of John disturbs me. I think both of you have had your say and now it's time to put it to rest.
Jon Azavedo December 12, 2012 at 12:07 am
Thanks Jennifer. Just like a true lib, mentioning Starbucks, a guy's proclaimed sexual preference and "cyberstalking" in one sentence. Calling conservatives "teabaggers" isn't derogatory? Well, then Jen, I think you are a "teabagger" and perhaps not in the political realm. Not that there is anything wrong with that......
Jennifer December 12, 2012 at 01:24 am
I refuse to be baited into your negative cyber bullying but just to clarify, I never used the term teabagger. Your post seems to imply that.
What a Deal! December 12, 2012 at 02:02 am
@ Jennifer....what Jon is saying is that you tell them both to walk away...but, you called Jon out on all those things, (cyber stalking/bullying, name calling, etc.), but, you give John a free ride, when John started it all by calling Jon a teabagger. If you step back and look at it with open eyes, and mind it should be obvious....like scolding two boys. But you only discipline one, the least favorite boy, while the favorite boy stands in the corner with his hands wagging in his ears and sticking his tongue out at the boy who gets in trouble......nah, nah...you are the teacher no one liked....
Jennifer December 12, 2012 at 03:12 am
When Jon inserted gay slander he lost my respect. It's hard to stifle that. They are adults not children though not acting so and my heart was in the right place... Trying to get them to stop the bickering was my only purpose.
Jon Azavedo December 12, 2012 at 01:38 pm
Jennifer is a poster child for the mind-numbing hyperbole used by libs. Lets see, I referenced that Barney Frank is gay---HE IS!!! Then the references to cyber-bullying and cyber-stalking and maintaining that her heart is in the "right place." All tactics used by those with absolutely no defense of their positions, and no cogent thought. Kinda like calling all those who despise Obama and what he has done to our country as "racist." Sickening.
What a Deal! December 13, 2012 at 12:15 am
Jon, when a liberal is losing an argument and has no defense they usually result to saying something to the effect that you are unreasonable and they refuse to argue with you. Jennifer came to John's rescue and then used the "your a bully" defense and exits, a the same time pointing out she is the Judge of what is acceptable and what isn't...teanagger = OK, gay comments = not OK. Her bias is obvious. I bet John was happy to see her come rescue him from his sorry arguments.
What a Deal! December 13, 2012 at 12:16 am
I must say I am glad we didn't have the riotous thugs that showed up in Michigan. Though not all these moveon'ers are local. This I know for a fact.

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Tom Brown June 14, 2013 at 10:18 am
I notice that too! Wonder where the actual polling place will be.
Jessica Chipkin June 13, 2013 at 10:58 pm
Martha -- please email us if you aren't on our list. turn14blue@gmail.com
Martina Natoma June 18, 2013 at 06:56 am
Hope all of you Dem's have your Obamaphones, welfare checks, and unfunded Illinois pensions workin'Read More for you. Democrats are destroying IL. Business and real estate is rockin' in Republican states. Get it?
Martha Hanna June 18, 2013 at 08:55 am
Martina, were you upset when Cheney and Bush implemented the NSA programs? The real estate isRead More booming in CA, last time I checked it was a BLUE state. Fracking, oil, and shale are booming in RED states, so is that a good thing? Not really, I would like to get off of all fossil fuels.
Basale
Geneva Vikings June 10, 2013 at 10:28 am
We have 24 hours to find a foster for these babies! We are pulling 8 from this Animal ControlRead More Facility and would love to rescue these 5 tiny pups too. Fostering is an amazing experience for your entire family and Casey's SAfe Haven pays all of the costs to foster. We provide food, vet care, crate, puppy playpen, toys, etc. You provide plenty of love, socialization and since they are puppies we hope you have a lot of newspaper! Please email Kathy at caseysdogs@yahoo.com
Fred Cregier June 11, 2013 at 02:11 pm
I have to agree with the others who are disappointed with the new format of Patch. The old versionRead More had more zip and more interesting topics. Now it has become very blah! I am sorry but change is not always a good thing. Fred Cregier
Arthur Dietrich June 12, 2013 at 08:23 am
The link provided by LW Sagan explains why the Patch is becoming irrelevant and that is a shame. IRead More don't even think Rick Nagel can save it.
Fred Cregier June 12, 2013 at 08:52 am
Chris, I have another story of waste in the County to add to your fix-it lists: We received,Read More yesterday, our new voters registration cards from John Cunningham's office, telling us that our polling place will be Coultrap School (which has been the case previously for many years). The problem is that Coultrap School is currently being demolished! So, who pays for having to send out corrections on this? Is Cunningham's office that insulated from what is going on in the real world? Fred Cregier