Pat Quinn
Patrick Joseph Quinn III is the current Democratic governor of Illinois. He became governor on January 29, 2009 following the impeachment of previous governor, Rod Blagojevich.
IPA endorsement
As Chicago Democratic Socialists of America's representative to Illinois Public Action, Ron Baiman drove to Peoria for the IPA's 20th annual convention, held on the weekend of December 8th and 9th, 1995. Illinois Public Action is the Illinois affiliate of Citizen Action.The conference had to choose between endorsing two candidates for the US Senate. They heard from Dick Durbin, the Congressman from the 20th District, endorsed by Paul Simon, and a representative from Patrick Quinn's campaign. The Quinn / Durbin endorsement choice was the major issue of the board. Durbin ultimately got the endorsement despite Dr. Quentin Young's eloquent speech in favor of Quinn.[1]
Working with communists to Lower Gas Bills
In the winter of 2001, the gas bills for heating Chicago homes rose. Members of Bea Lumpkin's South Side Communist Club were angry too when they saw their huge gas bills. We agreed, anger is not useful unless it leads to effective action.So on February 7, 2001, the Communist club took the first step to start the fightback. They talked to their coalition partners and together acted fast. Within a week they had a rally of 130 people to demand lower gas prices.
On February 13, 2001, USWA and Save Our Jobs Committee co-sponsored a rally in the steel union hall in South Chicago. They formed a new group, "Angry Utility Consumers." They included presidents of three USWA locals, Bea Lumpkin , Frank Lumpkin of Save Our Jobs Committee, Katie Jordan of Chicago Coalition of Labor Union Women; community leaders included Rev. Winfield Phillips, Free Salvation Missionary Baptist Church, Rev. Bill Hogan, Saint Bride Roman Catholic Church, and many block club presidents and members.
The next month (March) they brought a busload of protesters to a demonstration against Peoples Gas, a company owned by Peoples Energy. The company claimed they were not profiting from the rise in gas prices. At a later date, the Illinois attorney general proved the company had lied. Peoples Gas was forced to pay back the overcharge to their gas customers.
That demonstration was organized by Pat Quinn, later elected Illinois lieutenant governor. He became governor after Rod Blagojevich was removed. Other community groups came from Bridgeport, Back of the Yards (stockyards) and South Austin. That same evening, at our coalition strategy meeting, they were joined by State Senator Donne Trotter, who was asked to introduce a bill to extend the moratorium on gas shutoffs until the gas crisis ended. He promised to "look into" it. [2]
After changing its name to the more positive Utility Consumers United for Justice, on April 12th, , the group joined with Rev. Al Sampson and Pat Quinn to present a combined 12,000 petition signatures asking the Illinois Commerce Commission for relief. These demands included a 150-day moratorium on gas shutoffs. But the commission, appointed by the governor, failed to act. [3]
Quinn appointment
In April 2009 Illinois Gov. Quinn appointed Dr. Quentin Young, as Chairman of the scandal-plagued Health Facilities Planning Board[4].Communist funeral
On April 24, 2011, Congressmembers Jan Schakowsky and Danny Davis, addressed the funeral service of Communist Party USA member Frank Lumpkin, whose ashes were interred next to the famous Haymarket Memorial in nearby Forest Home Cemetery. Among those who paid tribute to Lumpkin's lifelong work were congresspeople, state legislators, the governor of Illinois Pat Quinn, union and community leaders.Communist Party leaders in attendance included Scott Marshall, Roberta Wood, Pepe Lozano, Rudy Lozano, Jr. and Jarvis Tyner.[5]
External links
References
- ↑ Rallying the Troops in Peoria: Illinois Public Action Convention, New Ground 44, January - February, 1996
- ↑ Joy in the Struggle, Bea Lumpkin, page 220]
- ↑ Joy in the Struggle, Bea Lumpkin, page 222]
- ↑ http://jeffberkowitz.blogspot.com/2009/04/gov-pat-quinn-appoints-dr-quentin-young.html
- ↑ PWFrank Lumpkin always brings a crowd, by: Peoples World May 14 2010, and included youtube video
