Similar -- Yet Different
A comparative analysis of John Shimkus (IL-19) and Judy Biggert (IL-13) gives the appearance that they are the same person just in different congressional districts. An anonymous visitor to the cyber world proves otherwise and corrects a past comment:
Actually, in 2004, Ms. Biggert 65% of the vote against a candidate who only spent $42,000. Can you imagine what would happen if a well-funded campaign challenged her?At the very beginning, the anonymous person provides Gloria Andersen’s financial information and vote totals from her 2004 campaign against Rep. Biggert and an excellent question regarding a well-funded campaign (e.g., DCCC support similar to the Tammy Duckworth (IL-06) campaign). Therefore, gerrymandering does not hurt in keeping the congresswoman in office. It is the price of doing political business.
I too shudder at the "conspiracy theorists", but I still want to be represented by someone other than Ms Biggert.
Let me count the reasons . . .I believe the exact opposite -- there is no conspiracy here, just common sense about what is the correct tack for the bulk of the people. Ms. Biggert is not representing ME. Please support Bill Reedy.
- She consistently votes and believes in "Faith Based Funding" without the usual amendment forbidding the recipient from delivering services or hiring using religion as a criterion. This means Federal funds can go to support specific religions. Hmmmm -- Some first amendment difficulties.
- She believes people should have more of a say where to invest their Social Security taxes (AKA she believes in privatizing Social Security).
- She co- wrote the impossible-to-be-compliant No Child Left Behind Act. Even her beloved Hinsdale schools failed -- school systems who believe in educating all students will ultimately fail.
- Leading to vouchers and charter schools which Ms. Biggert does believe in.
- She was one of the authors of the bill that would have taken away overtime for emergency workers like policeman, fireman, nurses, etc. I do not expect unions love her.
- She was very proud of obtaining a $2 million Port Security Grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), for the CITGO Lemont Refinery received in June 2004. I recall 400 plus companies from around the country received the 2 million. That money should have gone to the New York Port authority. I am more concerned about what is coming into our major cities via shipping containers.
- Check the Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) site for her record on environmental issues.
- She truly believes in the importance of us being in Iraq.
- She also believes tax breaks to those in the upper 1% will spur on the economy and the estate tax is too high.
- Do we mention September being made Life Insurance Awareness month? Do we mention her hubby’s investments in the industry and that Ms. Biggert sits on the Finance committee? (see Mother Jones September 2005)
- She votes the way she honestly believes . . .
There are close similarities between the two members of congress, yet they are two different people. The final statement proves that difference. The congresswoman’s true belief in her Calvinist legislation is so destructive to the quality of life for her constituents and all U.S. residents.
John Shimkus has a different motive: John Shimkus.