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Congress
Quick Hit
by Ellyn Fortino
1:46pm
Thu Apr 11

New Report Explores The Political Impact Of Immigration Reform In Key States

As Congress works toward the final stages of an immigration reform plan, a new issue brief from the Center for American Progress explores how immigration and the growing Latino population could impact the future political landscape in key states.

Immigration issues among Latino voters were crucial in swinging the 2012 presidential election.

And the rapid growth and voting power of the Latino population also ensured key swing states such as Florida, Colorado and Nevada voted for the current Democratic president, according to the brief.

Key states such as Arizona and North Carolina are also reaching demographic tipping points that could shift the states reliably blue, said Philip Wolgin, senior policy analyst for immigration at the Center for American Progress.

“These are states that are becoming swing states in a way that I think nobody really envisioned would have happened in the past,” he said.

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Quick Hit
by Ashlee Rezin
4:38pm
Wed Apr 10

Internet Advocacy Groups Call For Reform Of The Computer Fraud And Abuse Act

Internet advocacy groups Demand Progress and the Internet Defense League have united to campaign for reform and updates to the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA) with the launch of a week of action.

Participating organizations, which include members of the Internet Defense League such as Reddit and Wordpress, have asked their users to contact Congress this week to express their support for reform of the CFAA.

A 1986 law designed to reduce Internet hacking, the CFAA allows the federal government to prosecute Internet users for various computer-related offenses.

“The CFAA is punishing too much of our behavior online and too much of our activity,” said Matt Wood, policy director for Free Press Action Fund. The Free Press is a member of the Internet Defense League (IDL). Approximately 30,000 websites participate regularly in the organization’s Internet freedom campaigns.

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Quick Hit
by Ashlee Rezin
4:38pm
Tue Apr 9

Fellow 2nd Congressional District Candidates Have Strong Words For Robin Kelly

Fellow candidates in the race to fill the vacant seat in Illinois’ 2nd Congressional District had strong words for Democratic nominee Robin Kelly today, as the polls opened at 6 a.m. and voters are poised to cast their ballots throughout the day.

Republican candidate Paul McKinley called Kelly “insignificant.” Green Party candidate, LeAlan Jones, said she was a “puppet.” Independent candidate, Elizabeth Pahlke, questioned Kelly’s New York roots and suggested the people need a Chicago-native. Marcus Lewis, another Independent candidate, said voting in favor of Kelly was “essentially giving away your vote to an outside billionaire.”

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Quick Hit
by Ashlee Rezin
12:28pm
Tue Apr 9

Catching Up With Robin Kelly On Election Day (VIDEO)

It’s no mystery who former State Rep. Robin Kelly voted for this morning.

At 6:15 a.m., Kelly, the Democratic candidate in the race to fill the vacant seat in Illinois’ 2nd Congressional District, was the first to cast her ballot at the Matteson Community Center, precinct 30.

“I feel great,” said Kelly in an interview with Progress Illinois just after she voted. “I’m encouraged, of course, but a little tired; it’s been a long road.”

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Quick Hit
by Ashlee Rezin
4:39pm
Mon Apr 8

Schneider Launches Initiative To Support Small Businesses

Freshman lawmaker U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider (D, IL-10) met with constituents in Gurnee today in an effort to better understand the needs of small business owners in his district.

“If I’m going to represent the district, I have to understand what makes up the district” said Schneider, who has visited 17 small businesses since taking office earlier this year.

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Quick Hit
by Ellyn Fortino
3:28pm
Fri Apr 5

2nd Congressional District Candidates Offer Their Solutions To Neighborhood Violence At NAACP Forum

Until urban communities become accountable for their children and actions, gun violence is always going to be hot in Chicago, said LeAlan Jones, one of the six candidates on Tuesday’s ballot in the race to fill Jesse Jackson Jr.’s empty seat in Congress.

Green Party candidate Jones lives in the South Shore neighborhood. He said he often sees children walking to school alone in the morning.

“How is it that momma can’t wake up or daddy can’t wake up to go with their kid to school, and they don’t even have a job,” Jones said at last night’s 2nd congressional district election forum sponsored by the Chicago South Side and Far South Suburban chapters of the NAACP. Read more »