Candidates in Dixon: We must take action for a better tomorrow

Daily Gazette (Sterling, IL)

July 13--DIXON -- Two Democratic candidates came to town looking to turn the partisan tide in upcoming state and national races Wednesday.

The Action for a Better Tomorrow Sauk Valley chapter, a political advocacy group that formed in the wake of the November presidential election, is working to promote civic engagement as Democratic parties are experiencing a resurgence in the area.

During the past few months, the group has brought in hopefuls looking to unseat Republicans in 2018.

Gubernatorial candidate Daniel Biss, a state senator from Evanston, and Neill Mohammad, a healthcare management consultant from DeKalb running for the 16th Congressional District, spoke to a packed house of about 3 dozen people on policy and concerns.

Both emphasized the importance of organizing on the local level to start conversations about issues and work to institute change.

"There's no substitute for having an organization on the ground," Mohammad said.

Biss said the key issue facing the state is its flat income tax system, which is weighing Illinois down like an anchor.

Taking the steps to amend the state constitution and switch over to a graduated tax system could be the answer to fixing a variety issues, ranging from being able to feed more revenue into the budget and school funding to growing the middle class by shifting the tax burden to the wealthy, he said.

That measure would require a three-fifths majority from lawmakers to put a referendum before voters.

Mohammad said the American Health Care Act being passed around Congress is guaranteed to harm Americans, bankrupt families and fill the pockets of private insurance companies.

"Insurers have carte blanche by design to hit you as hard as they can," he said.

It is crucial to keep Medicaid fully funded and continue access for the majority of nursing home care, mental health treatment and care for the severely disabled, he said.

Chapter President Sarah Bingaman said they consistently draw about 30 people during their weekly meetings, and their Facebook group has grown to about 500 throughout the Sauk Valley.

"We're growing constantly, and the enthusiasm has stayed extremely high," she said. "The Lee County Democratic Party has kept a fire burning here, and because they did that, we're able to exist."

The group has organized five marches and has three more in the works.

Mohammad and Nathan Arroyave, a Rockford candidate also looking to unseat U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger's, joined about 135 Action for a Better Tomorrow members on April 15 in Dixon for their "Show Us Your Taxes" march.

Arroyave spoke to the local chapter last month, and the group plans to have gubernatorial candidate Ameya Pawar, a Chicago alderman, visit at 2 p.m. July 27 at the Lee County Democratic Party office, 77 S. Hennepin Ave.

TO GET INVOLVED

The Action for a Better Tomorrow Sauk Valley Chapter meets at noon on Wednesdays at the Lee County Democratic Party headquarters, 77 S. Hennepin Ave. in Dixon.

Go to a meeting, find the chapter on Facebook, email [email protected] or go to actionforabettertomorrow.org for more information or to get involved.

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