McHenry County Blog

A press release from Congressman Don Manzullo:

Rep. Manzullo Earns Another Endorsement from Major Conservative Group in Illinois

[ROCKFORD] – Touting his lifetime 100% pro-life voting record, the Illinois Citizens for Life, federal PAC has endorsed Congressman Don Manzullo (R-Egan) over his opponent in the March 20 primary election.

Ralph Rivera

“We are aware that throughout your years in the U.S. House of Representatives, you have had a 100% pro-life voting record.

“Additionally, we know that you have been a sponsor or co-sponsor of numerous pro-life and child sexual abuse protection legislation,” said Ralph Rivera, Chairman of the Illinois Citizens for Life, federal PAC, in a letter of endorsement to Manzullo.

“All of these fine accomplishments are what leads us to a determination that you are certainly deserving of our endorsement for re-election in the 2012 elections.” Click here to read the full text of the endorsement letter.

Manzullo, a long-time member of the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus, authored legislation signed into law several years ago requiring Title X-funded family planning clinics to follow state-mandated reporting requirements for child abuse and molestation.

The law was inspired by the case of a 13-year-old Crystal Lake, IL girl who was repeatedly molested by her middle school teacher, whose crime was shielded by the confidentiality requirements of Title X.

Manzullo and his wife, Freda, were part of a small group that formed Rockford’s first crisis pregnancy center in the early 1980s. That center spawned two other centers in DeKalb and Freeport.

Don Manzullo and his wife Frieda in Crystal Lake's 4th of July Parade in 2010.

“I am extremely proud of my 100% pro-life voting record and thankful to the Illinois Citizens for Life, federal PAC for their recognition and endorsement,” Manzullo said.

“My wife, Freda, and I have always maintained that being pro-life means we must also be actively involved in the issue.

“In the early 1980s, we joined with a group of friends to create Rockford’s first crisis pregnancy center, which spawned two other centers in DeKalb and Freeport.

“The centers provide assistance to women in difficult situations and provide counseling and a host of other services for the mother and father involved, including the babies.”

The endorsement from the Illinois Citizens for Life, federal PAC is the latest in a string of endorsements Manzullo has received from conservative organizations in this year’s primary election. He was endorsed earlier this month by the

• Illinois Conservatives, a group of about 4,000 young conservatives throughout the State of Illinois, as well as
• Family-PAC Federal, Illinois’ leading pro-family organization.

In addition, Manzullo

• received a perfect grade of A+ from Americans For Prosperity (his opponent received a B) and
• maintains a score of 84 from Heritage Action (his opponent scored 62) in the latest legislative scorecards from the conservative organizations.

An analysis of all 949 roll call votes last year showed that Manzullo voted 79 more times to cut $209 billion more in wasteful Washington spending than his opponent in 2011.

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Manzullo is running against freshman Congressman Adam Kinzinger.

A roomful of Northern Illinois Pro-Lifers met at Mama Rini’s Restaurant Saturday for breakfast to hear Illinois Citizens for Life lobbyist Ralph Rivera explain what happened during the election and what how the group’s cause could be advanced.

“We have very hostile administrations in Washington and Springfield. We need to organize like in the early days. We need to dig in,”

Libertyville’s Bonnie Quirke told the crowd.

As to the situation in Springfield, Rivera said,

“In the Illinois Senate, there was a wash. State Senator Bill Peterson was replaced by Dan Duffy. He’s not as good as (State Senator Bill) Peterson, but on the bills in Springfield, he’ll be OK.”

“In the House we gained a…seat…(Democrat) Kurt Granburg’s replacement (Republican John Cavaletto) is pro-life (while the retiring incumbent wasn’t).

Rivera told of the loss of Aaron Shock’s pro-life vote when he moved to Congress, in Naperville Darlene Senger is pro-life, pro-family (while current incumbent Joe Dunn wasn’t a solid vote).

“We’re actually going into Springfield in better shape.

Except for the new Senate leaders.

Rivera pointed out that new Senate President John Cullerton is “very smart. He’s more dangerous in my opinion than Jones was.

With regard to Senate Republicans, Rivera reported that of the 22, only one is pro-choice.

She is Christine Radogno, the newly-elected Senate GOP Leader.

“She got both of our senators,” McHenry County Right to Life godmother Irene Napier observed.

(The third area senator, Kane County’s Chris Lauzen, seconded Kirk Dillard’s nomination.)

When someone asked how she knew, Rivera explained that the vote

“is secret, but it’s not secret, secret.”

Two GOP senators cast “present” votes.

The vote of one, former GOP gubernatorial aspirant Bill Brady of Bloomington, elicited this comment:

“At least he didn’t go with her.”

Rivera explained that Radogno’s challenger in the leadership fight, Dillard,

“did a commercial saying nice things about Obama,”

which hurt him in the contest. Dillard is pro-life.

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In the top photo Bonnie Quirke of Libertyville can be seen asking a question. Crystal Lake Paul Weyna is standing in the background.

Below is a head shot of Ralph Rivera. A smiling Irene Napier is below right.

Finally, there is a shot of part of the crowd.

A roomful of Northern Illinois Pro-Lifers met at Mama Rini’s Restaurant Saturday for breakfast to hear Illinois Citizens for Life lobbyist Ralph Rivera explain what happened during the election and what how the group’s cause could be advanced.

“We have very hostile administrations in Washington and Springfield. We need to organize like in the early days. We need to dig in,”

Libertyville’s Bonnie Quirke told the crowd.

As to the situation in Springfield, Rivera said,

“In the Illinois Senate, there was a wash. State Senator Bill Peterson was replaced by Dan Duffy. He’s not as good as (State Senator Bill) Peterson, but on the bills in Springfield, he’ll be OK.”

“In the House we gained a…seat…(Democrat) Kurt Granburg’s replacement (Republican John Cavaletto) is pro-life (while the retiring incumbent wasn’t).

Rivera told of the loss of Aaron Shock’s pro-life vote when he moved to Congress, in Naperville Darlene Senger is pro-life, pro-family (while current incumbent Joe Dunn wasn’t a solid vote).

“We’re actually going into Springfield in better shape.

Except for the new Senate leaders.

Rivera pointed out that new Senate President John Cullerton is “very smart. He’s more dangerous in my opinion than Jones was.

With regard to Senate Republicans, Rivera reported that of the 22, only one is pro-choice.

She is Christine Radogno, the newly-elected Senate GOP Leader.

“She got both of our senators,” McHenry County Right to Life godmother Irene Napier observed.

(The third area senator, Kane County’s Chris Lauzen, seconded Kirk Dillard’s nomination.)

When someone asked how she knew, Rivera explained that the vote

“is secret, but it’s not secret, secret.”

Two GOP senators cast “present” votes.

The vote of one, former GOP gubernatorial aspirant Bill Brady of Bloomington, elicited this comment:

“At least he didn’t go with her.”

Rivera explained that Radogno’s challenger in the leadership fight, Dillard,

“did a commercial saying nice things about Obama,”

which hurt him in the contest. Dillard is pro-life.

= = = = =
In the top photo Bonnie Quirke of Libertyville can be seen asking a question. Crystal Lake Paul Weyna is standing in the background.

Below is a head shot of Ralph Rivera. A smiling Irene Napier is below right.

Finally, there is a shot of part of the crowd.

The following press release has been received from 14th congressional district Republican primary candidate Chris Lauzen:

Lauzen Earns Endorsements from Pro-Life Leaders

(North Aurora) During this Christmas season, while we celebrate the birth of our baby Jesus, Senator Chris Lauzen has been endorsed by pro-life activists and organizations. Those supporting Lauzen include

• Sandy Rios, Former President of Concerned Women of America;

  

• Karen Hayes, Pro-Family Activist;
• Arlene Sawicki, Pro-Life/Pro-Family Activist;
• Paul Caprio, Director of Family-PAC Federal;
• Ralph Rivera, Illinois Citizens for Life Federal PAC; and



• Irene Napier, Illinois Federation for Right to Life PAC.

Lauzen’s pro-life efforts as an Illinois Senator have been recognized on several occasions. He was awarded Illinois Family Institute Leadership Award, Family PAC Legislator of the Year Award, and Illinois Federation for Right to Life Pro-life Voice Award.

Lauzen successfully sponsored the Ban on Partial Birth Abortion in the Illinois Senate in 1997, although it was eventually struck down by the U.S. Supreme court in 2000 when the Nebraska ban was nullified. He is also in favor of Parental Notification and currently sponsors legislation that would require abortion clinics to have at least the same regulatory standards as ambulatory out-patient procedure centers.

Top left is State Senator Chris Lauzen and his wife Sarah at his 900-person Porky Picnic this summer. The two women on the right are WYLL-FM radio talk show host and McHenry County Right to Life leader Irene Napier. Paul Caprio, whose political action committee sponsors an annual cruise (2006 and 2007) on Lake Michigan and the Chicago River, is the man on the left.

The following press release has been received from 14th congressional district Republican primary candidate Chris Lauzen:

Lauzen Earns Endorsements from Pro-Life Leaders

(North Aurora) During this Christmas season, while we celebrate the birth of our baby Jesus, Senator Chris Lauzen has been endorsed by pro-life activists and organizations. Those supporting Lauzen include

• Sandy Rios, Former President of Concerned Women of America;

  

• Karen Hayes, Pro-Family Activist;
• Arlene Sawicki, Pro-Life/Pro-Family Activist;
• Paul Caprio, Director of Family-PAC Federal;
• Ralph Rivera, Illinois Citizens for Life Federal PAC; and



• Irene Napier, Illinois Federation for Right to Life PAC.

Lauzen’s pro-life efforts as an Illinois Senator have been recognized on several occasions. He was awarded Illinois Family Institute Leadership Award, Family PAC Legislator of the Year Award, and Illinois Federation for Right to Life Pro-life Voice Award.

Lauzen successfully sponsored the Ban on Partial Birth Abortion in the Illinois Senate in 1997, although it was eventually struck down by the U.S. Supreme court in 2000 when the Nebraska ban was nullified. He is also in favor of Parental Notification and currently sponsors legislation that would require abortion clinics to have at least the same regulatory standards as ambulatory out-patient procedure centers.

Top left is State Senator Chris Lauzen and his wife Sarah at his 900-person Porky Picnic this summer. The two women on the right are WYLL-FM radio talk show host and McHenry County Right to Life leader Irene Napier. Paul Caprio, whose political action committee sponsors an annual cruise (2006 and 2007) on Lake Michigan and the Chicago River, is the man on the left.