McHenry County Blog

In one of the first tangible indications that Illinois Tea Party leaders intend to take an active part in congressional primary elections is the press release below from Rockford Tea Party leader David Hale:

TEA PARTY CONSIDERS 16TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT CANDIDATES

Illinois Tea Party leaders from county and area Tea Parties throughout the proposed 16th Congressional District met in LaSalle on Saturday to consider their choices for 16th District Congressman. The leaders discussed incumbents and prospective candidates and what they’re looking for in a candidate.

Don Manzullo

It is rumored that current 11th District Congressman Adam Kinzinger may consider a run against longtime Conservative (20 year most conservative Congressional voting record in the lllinois delegation), and very highly-regarded Don Manzullo in the 16th.

Redistricting placed Kinzinger’s home in Chicago’s 2nd District, a seat held by Democrat Jesse Jackson, Jr.

Unlike state representatives who must live in their districts or move their residence within a certain time of being elected, congressmen are not required to live ‘in district’ and it’s not clear whether Kinzinger, if elected, would move to where his constituency lives.

Attendees of the Tea Party meeting majority voted Kinzinger was not their first choice for the 16th District seat.

The turmoil attending the remap has motivated Tea Party organizations to be proactive in considering preferences in the race, not waiting for decisions from the twelve Republican County Chairmen involved. Chris Arndt, Co-Chair of Bureau-LaSalle Tea Party led the meeting and commented: “If anyone is out there and giving serious thought to representing the 16th as a free market, constitutional fiscal conservative, please identify yourself!”

The new 16th Congressional District in Illinois

The Democrat-drawn 16th District map greatly alters the old boundaries of the district removing Stephenson and Jo Daviess Counties to the northwest, dipping south and west to include Bureau and LaSalle Counties and southeast to Putnam, Iroquois, Livingston and Ford Counties.

To the northeast, portions of Grundy and Will Counties are included.

Kept within the boundaries of the 16th are Lee, Ogle and parts of Winnebago and Boone Counties.

The new 16th District juts east at its southernmost point to the Indiana line.

The western half of the City of Rockford was “deeded” to the 17th Congressional District which includes the Quad Cities.

The aim of the Democrat redistricting process is to reverse the 2010 election which gave Republicans a 25 seat majority in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Democrats are hopeful the new Gerrymandered district map will permit Democrats to win 5 of the 25 needed national congressional seats from Illinois in the 2012 election.

The coalition of 16th Congressional District Tea Parties may be reached at this email address:  ilbltp@gmail.com

–
David Hale
Coordinator, RockfordTeaParty
www.rockfordteaparty.org

Did you know that each congressional district but two in Illinois have 712,813 people?

The other two have 712,812.

The newly-approved congressional map, awaiting Governor Pat Quinn's signature.

So, as far as making them of equal size, Illinois Democrats did a superb job.

The current congressional map for Illinois.

Although the ethnic concentration requirements, which have never held much interest for me, even though they will be the basis of any challenge by Republicans, how the electorate was rearranged does pique my curiosity.

The following table shows this information for each of Illinois’ congressional districts:

Where people were under the 2002 Illinois congressional districts and where they will be starting ni 2012. Click to enlarge.

Let’s take a closer look at the three districts into which McHenry County is or will be.

First, Don Manzullo’s 16th congressional district.  Here’s where the 718,791 people in the current 16th District ended up.

Most remained in the 16th District.

314,072, to be exact.

209,889 were placed in the 17th District.

That’s a district that goes to the Mississippi River hooking around the new 16th District’s north-south portion as it pretty much rings the collar counties from the Wisconsin border on its way to the Indiana border south of Kankakee.

It also hooks around the upper part of the 18th District like a cloud forming into a tornado.

The vast majority live in the City of Rockford.

106,441 were from Alden, Chemung, Coral, Dunham, Grafton,Hartland, Marengo, Nunda, Riley and Seneca Townships in McHenry County.

Basically, the western half of McHenry County, plus Grafton Township and the Crystal Lake part of Nunda Township.

88,389 gave been assigned to the 6th congressional district.

That is the Algonquin Township part of the current 16th District.

They will presumably be represented by Congressman Peter Roskam after the next election.

Congressman Joe Walsh’s current 8th District is split asunder.

104,825 go into the District numbered 6.

That’s the one where House Republican Deputy Whip Peter Roskam now resides.

Most of that population comes from McHenry County’s Algonquin Township, but some is from the lower tiers of townships in southwestern Lake County.

185,195 of the most Democratic parts of the 8th District that could be found were kept in the new 8th District, which is based in Schaumburg, which is no longer the solid Republican territory it was when Don Totten was Republican Township Committeeman.

So the new 8th is less than one-third of the old 8th.

233,771 people in the 8th were assigned to the 10th district.  That’s the part in the upper part of Lake County.  It actually contains Joe Walsh’s Fox Lake congressional office.

Almost as many people–215,049–ended up in the new vertical McHenry-Kane-DuPage County district.  Incumbent 14th District Congressman Randy Hultgren resides just inside its eastern border in DuPage County.  Joe Walsh lives near its northern border–the Wisconsin-Illinois state line, in McHenry.

With more of Joe Walsh’s district’s population going to the new 10th District, which has no resident incumbent, it occurs to me that Walsh might decide to run there, instead of in the 14th.  (The 6th with GOP Leader Peter Roskam in it, is pretty much out of the question, although Walsh has significant connections in the Barrington portion.  That’s where he grew up.)

But, 60% of the voters in the new 10th District were in the old 10th District, which Robert Dold took over from now-U.S. Senator Mark Kirk.

The 431,609 people being carried over from the old 10th District are pretty far from Dold’s home.

As you can see, 1,508 people are shunted to the 14th District.

Finally, let’s take a look at the 14th District.

Randy Hultgren is its congressman and it now butts up against the McHenry-Kane County line.

Similar havoc can be expected in states controlled by Republicans.  See if you can pick them out from the map below, which shows which states got extra congressional seats and which, like Illinois, lost one or more.

The largest portion–293,306 people–are still in the same numbered district.

But 293,306 out of 712,813 is only a bit over 40%.

The next largest contributor of constituents to the 14th District is number 11.   There are 184, 335 from there.

That’s fellow freshman Adam Kinzinger.

The 8th contributes 93,602 from McHenry County.

88,879 come from Congressman Don Manzullo’s district, also primarily from McHenry County.

Finally, 33,641 are now represented by freshman Bobby Schilling.

States who won and lost the population game.

Joe Walsh on ABC News telling high school students the same thing he tells adults.

In the Elgin House Reapportionment Committee hearing on April 28 , 2011, a member of the Schaumburg Area Democratic Organization called for the elimination of the 8th Congressional District.

Roger Bianco thinks this would result in “a more representative form of government.

You can read why below:

MR. BIANCO: My name is Roger Bianco. It’s R-o-g-e-r, B-i-a-n-c-o. I’m a resident of Elk Grove Village living in the Schaumburg Township.

As a matter of full disclosure, I am a member of the Schaumburg Area Democratic Organization. I’m the deputy committeeman and a member of the board of that organization…

As a suggestion and as our concern as an organization, our concern lies mainly with the congressional districts; that is, the 8th Congressional District. [Congressman Joe Walsh's] And what we would like to see done is the following or at least propose this as a solution.

And this might catch a lot of people by surprise, but essentially, we would like to see the elimination of the 8th Congressional District and combine that with the 9th Congressional District.

We would like to see the top northeast portion of the current 8th Congressional District moved into the 10th Congressional District [Robert Dold's].

We would like to see the taking of the top northwestern portion of the 8th Congressional District and combine that with the 16th Congressional District [Don Manzullo's].

The current Congressional map for Northern Illinois. Click to enlarge.

We would like to see taking the 8th Congressional– I’m sorry, the eastern portion of the 14th Congressional District [Randy Hultgren's] and move that into the new 8th Congressional District, and move the northeastern and northwestern spurs –

There’s two areas that spur up on the 6th Congressional District [Peter Roskam's] and have them moved into the 9th Congressional District [Jan Schakowsky's].

The current Congressional map for District 8, plus surrounding areas.

This is all based on statistical and demographic information that we have researched and looked at.

All that basically means is that we feel that this will result in a more
representative form of government. It will allow all people of all demographic makeups.

It’s welcoming the southeast Asian, Indian and Hispanic/Latino communities into our districts.

We feel that this truly represents –

We come from a district that has had some very close racism. We think that this makeup will continue to make close racism.

And by close racism, we have had, in the last election, hundreds of people and differences in votes that significantly lead to one vote per person and we would like to see that continue. That represents an equal balance.

= = = = =
Maybe someone can explain what “close racism” is.

As leaders of China are visiting Chicago, this press release came Don Manzullo, Illinois’ 16th District Congressman:

Manzullo: China Must End Unfair Trade Practices
to Give Americans Chance to Compete for Jobs

(WASHINGTON) Congressman Don Manzullo (R-IL) today said the Obama Administration needs to get tougher in enforcing trade rules on China to give American manufacturers a chance to compete on a level playing field for jobs.

Manzullo, co-chair of the House Manufacturing Caucus, made his remarks during a Foreign Affairs Committee briefing this morning on China’s rise and its impact on the United States. Manzullo is Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific and is planning to hold several hearings this year examining our enforcement of trade rules with China and other countries in Asia.

Don Manzullo

“On one hand, China’s remarkable economic growth provides export opportunities to a market of over 1.3 billion consumers.”However, as experience has shown, China’s unfair trade practices, including currency manipulation, illegal subsidies, and lax enforcement of intellectual property theft, make it difficult for the hardworking people of America to compete on a level playing field and benefit from this relationship,”

Manzullo said.

In the northern Illinois Congressional district Manzullo represents, there are more than 1,400 manufacturers that support more than 51,000 jobs, according to the National Association of Manufacturers. Manzullo continually hears from manufacturers in northern Illinois and throughout the country about their difficulties trying to compete on a level playing field with manufacturers in China.

“These hardworking men and women want to know what their government is doing to enforce our trade laws with China and preserve America’s industrial base,” Manzullo said.

“My experience with the Chinese Government is that it is in fact capable of stopping violators when they see it is in their interests to do so.

“With so many Americans out of work, now is the time for the Administration to work with Congress to hold China responsible and give American manufacturers a chance to compete with China on a level playing field so they can create jobs.”

A press release from 16th congressional district U.S. Representative Don Manzullo:

Don Manzullo

Rep. Manzullo Condemns Shooting of  Rep. Giffords, Others at Arizona Market

(WASHINGTON) Congressman Don Manzullo (R-Egan) issued the following statement today in response to the shooting of Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and many others during an open house she was hosting at a supermarket in Tuscon.

Giffords is listed in critical condition at an Arizona hospital and at least five are dead, including U.S. District Judge John Roll and a 9-year-old girl.

“We are shocked and saddened by the shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and others this morning during a meeting she was hosting with her constituents at a local supermarket,” Manzullo said.

“Congresswoman Giffords and I serve together on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and she is well liked and well respected by all who know her.

“We pray for a speedy recovery for Congresswoman Giffords and the other injured as we mourn those who lost their lives today in this senseless tragedy.”

Don Manzullo at his 2009 Health Care Town Hall Meeting at McHenry County College.

The new Congress has been sworn in and 16th congressional district U.S. Representative Don Manzullo has sent out a press release outlining his goals for the next two years. It appears below:

Manzullo to Focus on Putting Americans Back
to Work, Strengthening Our Economy in 2011

(WASHINGTON) Congressman Don Manzullo (R-Egan) was sworn in to a new 2-year term of office today, vowing to continue his ongoing efforts to strengthen our economy and put Americans back to work in 2011.

Manzullo will also join the new Republican House majority in its mission to rein in wasteful Congressional spending, make big government smaller, and reduce the federal deficit.

As incoming Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, Manzullo will lead the panel with jurisdiction over one of the most important economic, geopolitical, and emerging sectors of the world. The Asia-Pacific region accounts for more than 40 percent of world population, over 50 percent of world trade, and 60 percent of the world’s gross domestic product. Manzullo plans to hold several hearings this year focused on leveling the playing field for U.S. manufacturers competing with companies in China and other Asian countries.

Manzullo was also re-appointed to the important House Financial Services Committee that will have a direct impact on America’s economic recovery.

Specifically, the committee deals with legislation and regulations surrounding the financial markets, insurance companies, banks and credit unions, housing, and Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac.

Manzullo will also continue to co-chair the House Manufacturing Caucus, which he founded in 2003 to bring together Members of Congress who share Manzullo’s mission to strengthen manufacturing in America.

In Illinois, Manzullo represents 730,000 people who reside in the 16th Congressional District, which includes the counties of Boone, Winnebago, Stephenson, Jo Daviess, Ogle, Carroll, two-thirds of McHenry County, the top half of DeKalb County, and the top third of Whiteside County.

“The people of northern Illinois and throughout our great country are hurting in these difficult economic times,” Manzullo said.

“I will continue this Congress to lead the mission to strengthen U.S. manufacturing, kick-start our economy and put Americans back to work. As Chair of the Asia-Pacific subcommittee, I will focus on leveling the global playing field so our manufacturers can compete fairly with their counterparts in China and the other Asian nations.”

With bullets flying between North and South Korea, McHenry County’s 16th District Republican Congressman Don Manzullo has been named Chairman of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific. His press release follows:

Manzullo Named Chairman of House Foreign

Affairs Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific

Will also continue to serve on House Financial Services Committee

[WASHINGTON] Congressman Don Manzullo (R-Egan) will have new avenues to help bolster job creation in northern Illinois and strengthen manufacturing in America in 2011 through his appointment as the Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific.

Lead Republican on the Asia subcommittee the last 4 years under Democratic control, Manzullo is excited to chair the subcommittee with jurisdiction over one of the most important economic, geopolitical, and emerging regions of the world. It is a region of contradictions that offers the United States tremendous export opportunity while posing serious national security threats.

The Asia-Pacific region accounts for more than 40 percent of world population, over 50 percent of world trade, and 60 percent of the world’s gross domestic product.

Don Manzullo

“I want to thank our incoming Foreign Affairs Chairman, Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, for appointing me to chair the critical Asia-Pacific subcommittee that will help implement our nation’s trade and political agenda in this key region of the world,” Manzullo said. “This appointment will complement my prior service on the subcommittee as well as my efforts to level the playing field for U.S. manufacturers competing in the global marketplace so they can grow and put Americans back to work.”

“Congressman Manzullo’s strong support for our ally, South Korea, in wake of North Korea’s string of unprovoked aggression is just the latest example of the strong leadership he has provided for our Committee on U.S. policy toward Asia,” Rep. Ros-Lehtinen said.

“He also understands the critical role of our relationship with Japan in providing stability and security in this region, as well as the need to hold China accountable for its economic policies and its assistance to the proliferation efforts of North Korea, Iran, and other rogue regimes. Don is a tremendous asset to our Committee and I am very pleased that he will be chairing the Asia-Pacific subcommittee in the next Congress.”

Manzullo was also re-appointed to the important House Financial Services Committee that will have a direct impact on America’s economic recovery. Specifically, the committee deals with legislation and regulations surrounding the financial markets, insurance companies, banks and credit unions, housing, and Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac.

Manzullo will also continue to co-chair the House Manufacturing Caucus, which he founded in 2003 to bring together Members of Congress who share Manzullo’s mission to strengthen manufacturing in America.

16th District Congressman Don Manzullo’s reaction to Federal Court’s ruling against the Democrats’ health care plan:

Manzullo Responds to Federal Judge’s Ruling
that New Health Care Law is Unconstitutional

(WASHINGTON) Congressman Don Manzullo (R-Egan) issued the following statement today responding to U.S. District Court Judge Henry Hudson’s ruling that a major part of the new health care law is unconstitutional. The ruling found that Congress lacks the authority to impose the individual mandate, which requires all Americans to purchase health insurance.

STATEMENT

Don Manzullo answering questions at his 2009 Town Hall meeting on health care reform held at McHenry County College.

“Today, a federal judge confirmed what we have known for a long time – it is unconstitutional to require Americans to purchase health insurance.

“This ‘individual mandate’ was a centerpiece of the President’s health care bill that was to help offset the massive cost of insuring everyone with pre-existing conditions. In fact, the loss of this individual mandate delivers a fatal blow to the future of the health care bill.

“There’s a better and constitutional way to reform health care. When Republicans take over the House in January, we will vote to repeal this unconstitutional new health care law.

“We hope the President and our Democratic colleagues will join us in repealing the law so we can replace it with real reforms that make health care more accessible and affordable to Americans without increasing taxes, cutting Medicare, raising insurance premiums, and putting more Americans on the unemployment lines.”

In early June, this tee shirt was found in front of old St. Thomas Church in Crystal Lake the day of the march from Chicago to the Woodstock ICE Dentention Center at the McHenry County Jail refers to the Dream Act.

Using her lame duck status to the max, 8th District Congresswoman Melissa Bean voted for the Dream Act, a bill opponents claimed was a form of amnesty.

Other Illinois Democrats voting for the bill were

• Lame Duck Bill Foster
• Luis Gutierrez
• Lame Duck Phil Hare
• Lame Duck Deb Halvorson
• Jesse Jackson Jr.
• Mike Quigley
• Bobby Rush
• Jan Schakowsky.

Voting against the bill from Illinois were

• Judy Biggert (R)
• Jerry Costello (D)
• Tim Johnson (R)
• Dan Lipinski (D)
• Donald Manzullo (R)
• Peter Roskam (R)
• Aaron Schock (R)
• John Shimkus (R)

The bill passed the U.S. House 216-198.

Illinois Review had comments under an article by former State Senator Mark Rhoads Saturday suggesting that Metro East Congressman John Shimkus (R) would be put in the same district with Democrat Jerry Costello.

Don Manzullo applauded Joe Walsh's comments at the McHenry County Tea Party co-sponsored candidates' night at McHenry County College.

Commenter “The Oncoming Storm” disagrees with emphasis on the two congressional districts covering McHenry County.

The scenario I believe will be in motion will be to target Congressman Don Manzullo of the 16th district. Manzullo won his 10th term last month and is the dean among Republican House members from Illinois.

I see the Democrats drawing Walsh’s new district to combine him with Congressman Manzullo, which will quickly force the retirement question on Manzullo, who will complete his 20th year of congressional service in 2012. [Walsh did speak to a Tea Party function in Rockford, which is way out of his 8th congressional district.]

If Manzullo decides not to retire, then Manzullo and Walsh fight for the Republican nomination in the primary. If Manzullo retires, then Walsh will be nominee.

Jack Franks, but not from the Tea Party candidates' night, which he ducked, as did Melissa Bean.

Enter State Representative Jack Franks (D, Marengo) into the congressional race in 2012 against Walsh. Franks has won 7 terms as state representative in northern and western “Republican” McHenry County, is a proven fundraiser in state campaigns, was one of the most vocal Democratic critics throughout Governor Blagojevich’s tenure, and has consistently brought state funding into projects across McHenry County.Combine the new Walsh district with the McHenry County, Boone County, and heavily union Rockford/Winnebago area with the Cook County, heavily minority populations of Elgin, as well as Aurora and Carpentersville in Kane County, and you have a Democratic fertile congressional district for Franks to unseat Walsh.

Phil Collins added this:

The most conservative Illinois congressman is Manzullo, so the Democrats will probably give parts of his district to the districts of Walsh, Hultgren, and Schilling.

Manzullo would probably retire, and Democrats will think that they would defeat at least two of those other three Republicans, since all of them will be in their first terms.

There is also another comment from Pete Speer which perceptively addresses the Lake County part of Walsh’s district.