Victory Today, March on Saturday, and No Work on May Day

Today roughly 2,000 women, men and some children, gathered at the Women’s Rally in the state Capitol Building in Springfield, Illinois. It is a long haul to make it to Springfield from most of the state. Many people, like me and my son, took the day off from work and school. It was worth it. Unlike the Science March Chicago  and the Tax Day March Chicago (which were awesome by the way) this rally was directly aligned for legislative impact. Today HB40 was passed in the House 62-55. This bill is intended to protect women and doctors from an automatic trigger to criminalize abortion and abortion counseling the moment Roe v, Wade is overturned (a real possibility now that Gorsuuch was confirmed for the US Supreme Court). The Senate will likely pass it, but Governor Rauner flipped his position, balking at one piece on state employee and insurance coverage for abortions, even though he has personally donated thousands to Planned Parenthood. Please put pressure on Rauner to sign.

Meanwhile, there are many other bills pending that deserve attention, such as the Equal Rights Amendment, important language changes to Equal Pay Act (to stop the common practice of employers to ask job candidates to disclose past salary), Learning with Dignity (feminine products in schools), etc.

I met Daniel Biss at the rally today, a state senator who spoke eloquently at the Tax Day March, and again today. Based in near north suburbs of Chicago, he seems to have the right mix of integrity, compassion and political savvy and activism. He is one to watch in the next race for Governor.

Coming up: This Saturday, April 29 at Noon in Federal PLaza, Chicago is the People’s Climate March. Spread the word, people don’t know much about this one. We are going after all. Hope to see you there!  Also May 1 is the Labor March.

Keep writing to your US Senators and Congressmen to demand an independent investigation of Trump-Russia collusion. This is criminal to the point of high treason, way beyond the “lock her up” pay for play Trump activities. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, you are watching Fox propaganda/whitewashing or not reading news at all, so get busy triangulating your news sources or give me a ring for a jumpstart.