McHenry County Blog

Word of the speaker at next Tuesday’s McHenry County Democratic Party Central Committee meeting has arrived. It’s the party’s challenger to incumbent Congressman Don Manzullo, George Gaulrapp.

The party press release, which points out this is the third time in a row that Manzullo has faced off against a mayor, follows:

CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE GAULRAPP TO SPEAK TO McHENRY DEMS

CRYSTAL LAKE—Freeport Mayor George Gaulrapp will be a special guest at the Democratic Party of McHenry County meeting at 7 PM on Wednesday, November 18, at the McHenry County Farm Bureau Building, 1102 McConnell Road in Woodstock. Gaulrapp has announced his candidacy for Congress in the 16th District, a seat now held by Republican Don Manzullo.

Gaulrapp is in his second term as mayor of the western Illinois city, a manufacturing hub in an agricultural region. He cites jobs as the major reason for challenging the incumbent.

“Jobs will solve the problems with unemployment, jobs will solve the reduction in good housing stock, jobs will solve problems for the social service agencies who have been drained economically,” Gaulrapp recently told a Rockford television station.

Prior to his election as mayor, Gaulrapp served as a Freeport alderman for eight years and has been a long time community leader. His business experience includes 29 years in the dental laboratory and supply industry and several years with E*Trade Solutions Group.

This is the third time in three elections that Manzullo has been challenged by Democratic mayors in his district.

In 2006 former Galena Mayor Richard Auman mounted a challenge. In 2008 Barrington Hills Mayor Robert Abboud made a run.

“It is a telling indictment when responsible municipal leaders from all corners of his congressional district challenge a powerful incumbent,” said McHenry County Democratic Chair Kathleen Bergan Schmidt.

The public is invited to attend the meeting. For further information see www.mchenrydems.org.

With the campaign successfully completed, 16th district GOP Congressman Don Manzullo points to “free-market strategies” to restore America’s economic health. The congressman voted against the $700 billion bailout, which U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson can’t seem to figure out what to do with.
Manzullo’s press release follows:

Manzullo Proposes New Free-Market Strategies to Strengthen America’s Struggling Economy

[WASHINGTON] Congressman Don Manzullo (R-IL) today proposed several new strategies Congress can pursue to ease America’s credit crunch, strengthen our economy and create jobs without sticking taxpayers with the bill. Manzullo offered his suggestions during a Financial Services Committee hearing called to discuss the state of the U.S. economy.

Manzullo, who opposed the $700 billion taxpayer bailout of Wall Street in favor of several proven free-market alternatives, said one strategy — accelerating the domestic manufacturing tax deduction — would give our companies a cash infusion they could use to sustain and create new jobs in America.

The American Jobs Creation and Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 (HR 5101), which Manzullo authored with Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-IL) earlier this year, would speed up the domestic manufacturing tax deduction to give manufacturers a larger tax break on the goods they produce in the United States.

The tax deduction – which Manzullo helped create in 2004 – currently provides a 6 percent tax rate reduction for manufacturers on the goods and services they produce in the United States. The tax rate reduction is scheduled to increase to 9 percent by 2010, but the bill would accelerate the phase-in to 9 percent retroactively to Jan. 1, 2008.

“This legislation gives our manufacturers an extra 3 percent cut in their tax rate immediately that they can use to sustain and create jobs in America,” Manzullo said. “It also provides a greater incentive for our manufacturers to keep jobs in the United States and actually bring some jobs back from overseas because they would pay a 9 percent tax premium on any work they send offshore.”

Manzullo supports several other free-market strategies to strengthen our economy, including:

• Allowing companies to repatriate their overseas profits back to the United States tax free for one year if the money is used to pay off distressed debt or support business expansion or job creation.
• Suspending the capital gains and recapture taxes for two years to encourage Americans to invest in America and encourage corporations to sell unwanted assets and acquire the capital they need to sustain and create jobs.
• Allowing companies to carry back losses an additional two years, generating a tax refund and immediate capital.
• Directing the Securities and Exchange Commission to suspend the mark-to-market regulatory rules until the agency can issue new guidelines that will allow firms to mark these assets to their true economic value.
• Reducing the corporate tax rate from 35 to 15 percent.

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Shown during a Rockford TV debate is Don Manzullo on the right and Democratic Party challenger Robert Abboud to his right. With only his left arm in the screen is Green Party candidate Scott Summers.

With the campaign successfully completed, 16th district GOP Congressman Don Manzullo points to “free-market strategies” to restore America’s economic health. The congressman voted against the $700 billion bailout, which U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson can’t seem to figure out what to do with.
Manzullo’s press release follows:

Manzullo Proposes New Free-Market Strategies to Strengthen America’s Struggling Economy

[WASHINGTON] Congressman Don Manzullo (R-IL) today proposed several new strategies Congress can pursue to ease America’s credit crunch, strengthen our economy and create jobs without sticking taxpayers with the bill. Manzullo offered his suggestions during a Financial Services Committee hearing called to discuss the state of the U.S. economy.

Manzullo, who opposed the $700 billion taxpayer bailout of Wall Street in favor of several proven free-market alternatives, said one strategy — accelerating the domestic manufacturing tax deduction — would give our companies a cash infusion they could use to sustain and create new jobs in America.

The American Jobs Creation and Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 (HR 5101), which Manzullo authored with Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-IL) earlier this year, would speed up the domestic manufacturing tax deduction to give manufacturers a larger tax break on the goods they produce in the United States.

The tax deduction – which Manzullo helped create in 2004 – currently provides a 6 percent tax rate reduction for manufacturers on the goods and services they produce in the United States. The tax rate reduction is scheduled to increase to 9 percent by 2010, but the bill would accelerate the phase-in to 9 percent retroactively to Jan. 1, 2008.

“This legislation gives our manufacturers an extra 3 percent cut in their tax rate immediately that they can use to sustain and create jobs in America,” Manzullo said. “It also provides a greater incentive for our manufacturers to keep jobs in the United States and actually bring some jobs back from overseas because they would pay a 9 percent tax premium on any work they send offshore.”

Manzullo supports several other free-market strategies to strengthen our economy, including:

• Allowing companies to repatriate their overseas profits back to the United States tax free for one year if the money is used to pay off distressed debt or support business expansion or job creation.
• Suspending the capital gains and recapture taxes for two years to encourage Americans to invest in America and encourage corporations to sell unwanted assets and acquire the capital they need to sustain and create jobs.
• Allowing companies to carry back losses an additional two years, generating a tax refund and immediate capital.
• Directing the Securities and Exchange Commission to suspend the mark-to-market regulatory rules until the agency can issue new guidelines that will allow firms to mark these assets to their true economic value.
• Reducing the corporate tax rate from 35 to 15 percent.

= = = = =
Shown during a Rockford TV debate is Don Manzullo on the right and Democratic Party challenger Robert Abboud to his right. With only his left arm in the screen is Green Party candidate Scott Summers.

16th congressional district Democratic Party candidate for U.S. Representative Don Manzullo’s seat has sent this communication:

Thank You!!!

We knew from the beginning that this was going to be an uphill battle. Unfortunately, we did not make it over the top of the hill on Nov 4, 2008. We knew that going up against a 16 year incumbent on the first shot was a very long climb. As we look across the state of Illinois, despite a historic victory by President Elect Obama, many centrist Democrat candidates were unsuccessful. However, yesterday’s negative result is not the end. It must be the beginning.

Patricia and I want to thank all of the hundreds of volunteers and those who worked so hard on this campaign. We want to thank the hundreds of people who came out to knock on doors and make phone calls, the thousands of supporters that entrusted me with their vote, and the many organizations that supported us faithfully through this difficult contest. We will never forget all the hard work and support you gave to the campaign and to us. Let me assure you that your efforts are not wasted.

Unfortunately, we did not have a chance to thank many of you on the evening of Nov 4th. The size of the district made it difficult to thank everyone in person, but I assure you that our work together will continue and we will have a chance to spend some time together in the very near future.

I congratulate Mr. Manzullo on his re-election and hope that our contest moves him to being more accessible and responsive to the needs of everyone in the 16th District.

I am proud of the campaign we ran together because it was a campaign of ideas and issues. We came together behind a common purpose, to fundamentally change the direction of our country and our communities. The issues that existed on November 3rd still exist on November 5th. We still have the highest unemployment in Illinois, our economy is still on the ropes, manufacturing will continue to struggle, and we have yet to confront issues of transportation congestion, energy, health care and foreign policy. That must change. In this moment we must renew our resolve and continue our campaign for the issues we know to be critical to the prosperity of our families, our communities and our nation.

I promise to continue fighting for the issues and ideas that we all believe in, and I will remain active in the district so we may continue working together to confront our most trying challenges.

Thank you all for all your support. I am forever grateful. Please continue to contact me directly so we can work together to make the 16th District and our country the world leader we know it should and can be.

Bob Abboud

16th congressional district Democratic Party candidate for U.S. Representative Don Manzullo’s seat has sent this communication:

Thank You!!!

We knew from the beginning that this was going to be an uphill battle. Unfortunately, we did not make it over the top of the hill on Nov 4, 2008. We knew that going up against a 16 year incumbent on the first shot was a very long climb. As we look across the state of Illinois, despite a historic victory by President Elect Obama, many centrist Democrat candidates were unsuccessful. However, yesterday’s negative result is not the end. It must be the beginning.

Patricia and I want to thank all of the hundreds of volunteers and those who worked so hard on this campaign. We want to thank the hundreds of people who came out to knock on doors and make phone calls, the thousands of supporters that entrusted me with their vote, and the many organizations that supported us faithfully through this difficult contest. We will never forget all the hard work and support you gave to the campaign and to us. Let me assure you that your efforts are not wasted.

Unfortunately, we did not have a chance to thank many of you on the evening of Nov 4th. The size of the district made it difficult to thank everyone in person, but I assure you that our work together will continue and we will have a chance to spend some time together in the very near future.

I congratulate Mr. Manzullo on his re-election and hope that our contest moves him to being more accessible and responsive to the needs of everyone in the 16th District.

I am proud of the campaign we ran together because it was a campaign of ideas and issues. We came together behind a common purpose, to fundamentally change the direction of our country and our communities. The issues that existed on November 3rd still exist on November 5th. We still have the highest unemployment in Illinois, our economy is still on the ropes, manufacturing will continue to struggle, and we have yet to confront issues of transportation congestion, energy, health care and foreign policy. That must change. In this moment we must renew our resolve and continue our campaign for the issues we know to be critical to the prosperity of our families, our communities and our nation.

I promise to continue fighting for the issues and ideas that we all believe in, and I will remain active in the district so we may continue working together to confront our most trying challenges.

Thank you all for all your support. I am forever grateful. Please continue to contact me directly so we can work together to make the 16th District and our country the world leader we know it should and can be.

Bob Abboud

Green Party candidate for the 16th District congressional district has issued this statement:

November 5, 2008

Dear Friends:

Thank you for your encouragement and support of my candidacy for U.S. Congress. Please join me in congratulating and thanking Mr. Abboud and Congressman Manzullo.

So what’s next?

I expect to remain engaged in the public interest. And I expect that this will manifest itself in multiple ways.

I’ll continue to serve as a community college trustee.

I’ll continue to blog on matters of politics and public policy at www.SummersTimes.com.

I’ll continue to develop and articulate some of my public policy ideas through writing and advocacy. Watch in the coming months for me to elaborate on my concepts of

(1) “microcapitalism” (that is, grassroots economic development through new home-based businesses) and

(2) community-based business cooperatives in the style of the old time general store.

I’ve already reserved a couple of domain names: www.microcapitalism.info and www.OurGeneralStore.info. (See you there early next year!)

Might I turn now to litigating in the public interest? I’ll have to think about that.

Will I run for office in 2010? I’ll have to think about that, too.

Finally — I’ll actually combine civics with a bit of fun during 2009 as I work with the McHenry County Lincoln Bicentennial Birthday Committee (www.alincoln200.com). I’ll be authoring a regular “Thinkin’ of Lincoln” column and – yes – occasionally impersonating the man at community events, and reciting excerpts from his speeches.

In short – I’m going to keep on going.

Stay in touch at this e-mail address: Scott (at) SummersTimes.com.

Thanks again.

Sincerely,

Scott

Green Party candidate for the 16th District congressional district has issued this statement:

November 5, 2008

Dear Friends:

Thank you for your encouragement and support of my candidacy for U.S. Congress. Please join me in congratulating and thanking Mr. Abboud and Congressman Manzullo.

So what’s next?

I expect to remain engaged in the public interest. And I expect that this will manifest itself in multiple ways.

I’ll continue to serve as a community college trustee.

I’ll continue to blog on matters of politics and public policy at www.SummersTimes.com.

I’ll continue to develop and articulate some of my public policy ideas through writing and advocacy. Watch in the coming months for me to elaborate on my concepts of

(1) “microcapitalism” (that is, grassroots economic development through new home-based businesses) and

(2) community-based business cooperatives in the style of the old time general store.

I’ve already reserved a couple of domain names: www.microcapitalism.info and www.OurGeneralStore.info. (See you there early next year!)

Might I turn now to litigating in the public interest? I’ll have to think about that.

Will I run for office in 2010? I’ll have to think about that, too.

Finally — I’ll actually combine civics with a bit of fun during 2009 as I work with the McHenry County Lincoln Bicentennial Birthday Committee (www.alincoln200.com). I’ll be authoring a regular “Thinkin’ of Lincoln” column and – yes – occasionally impersonating the man at community events, and reciting excerpts from his speeches.

In short – I’m going to keep on going.

Stay in touch at this e-mail address: Scott (at) SummersTimes.com.

Thanks again.

Sincerely,

Scott

Any hopes of Democrats sweeping away lots of Republicans in McHenry County seem to be dashed from early returns.

With one-third of the vote counted, John McCain is leading Barack Obama by just over one percentage point.

That should buoy Democratic Party hopes, wouldn’t you think?

But look at the congressional race between incumbent Republican Don Manzullo and challenger Robert Abboud.

It’s 63% to 33% with Green Party candidate Scott Summers scoring 3 1/2%.

No coattails there.

State Rep. Mark Beaubien is cleaning Democrat Rich Garling’s clock 69% to 30%.

Much was made of Democratic Party state representative candidate Robert Kaempfe’s getting more votes in the primary election than incumbent Mike Tryon.

No carryover can be noticed this fall.

Tryon is winning 64% to 36%.

McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi is leading challenger Tom Cynor almost 2-1.

McHenry County Auditor Pam Palmer, another Republican incumbent is not leading her opponent by as much as Bianchi, but she is still topping 61%.

Four term incumbent Coroner is getting 63% over Democrat Dave Bachmann. Not quite as high as Bianchi, but quite close.

So, at the legislative and countywide levels, there is no sign McHenry County voters are defecting to the Democrats.

The only potential crack in the Republican wall appears in county board races. More on that later.

Any hopes of Democrats sweeping away lots of Republicans in McHenry County seem to be dashed from early returns.

With one-third of the vote counted, John McCain is leading Barack Obama by just over one percentage point.

That should buoy Democratic Party hopes, wouldn’t you think?

But look at the congressional race between incumbent Republican Don Manzullo and challenger Robert Abboud.

It’s 63% to 33% with Green Party candidate Scott Summers scoring 3 1/2%.

No coattails there.

State Rep. Mark Beaubien is cleaning Democrat Rich Garling’s clock 69% to 30%.

Much was made of Democratic Party state representative candidate Robert Kaempfe’s getting more votes in the primary election than incumbent Mike Tryon.

No carryover can be noticed this fall.

Tryon is winning 64% to 36%.

McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi is leading challenger Tom Cynor almost 2-1.

McHenry County Auditor Pam Palmer, another Republican incumbent is not leading her opponent by as much as Bianchi, but she is still topping 61%.

Four term incumbent Coroner is getting 63% over Democrat Dave Bachmann. Not quite as high as Bianchi, but quite close.

So, at the legislative and countywide levels, there is no sign McHenry County voters are defecting to the Democrats.

The only potential crack in the Republican wall appears in county board races. More on that later.

Here’s what Democratic Party 16th congressional district candidate Robert Abboud is running on McHenry County radio this weekend:

Transportation Jeopardy – 60 – Radio

Bob: I’m Robert Abboud and I approve this message.

VO: Welcome to a special edition of Transportation Jeopardy, I’m your host John Q. Taxpayer… Lets get started…

Bob Abboud is a candidate for U.S. Congress… Bob.

Bob: I’ll take Broken Promises for 200 John.

VO: He promised to deliver federal money for 62 and 31, but tied the money to state matching funds when he knew Springfield was broken so the money never came.

Bob: Who is Don Manzullo

VO: Correct! Choose Again.

Bob: How about Road Rage for 400

VO: His failure to deliver road money for Rt 47 and 176 caused our County to have one of the longest commute times in the Nation.

Bob: Who is Don Manzullo?

VO: He’s on a roll ladies and gentlemen.

Bob: Give me Common Sense for 1000

VO: Yep. It’s time for double jeopardy. What do you wager Bob?

Bob: I’ll wager a seat in the U.S. Congress John.

VO: OK… For a seat in Congress – They need real transportation solutions and real results.

Bob: Who are the voters in the 16th district?

VO: Congratulations Bob! You’ve won the chance to go to Washington to keep promises Don Manzullo couldn’t.

Bob: This is election is anything but trivial… I am asking for your vote on November 4th.

Paid for by Citizens for Robert Abboud.

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As one who has been waiting for the improvement that State Rep. Jack Franks got $500,000 for at the intersection of Route 176 and Walkup Avenue and that House Minority Leader promised another $500,000 on behalf of his 2000 GOP Franks’ challenge Dr. Tom Salvi, it surprises me not a bit that road projects take a long time.

But, maybe that’s because I know too much about the process. Most voters won’t have that problem.

Picture supplied by the McHenry County Democratic Party.