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I learned from Joseph Shannon, Democratic Candidate for the 13th Congressional District, tonight that he received the AFL-CIO endorsement this past week. I’ve been holding off mentioning Joe Shannon’s website because it was in development - but while it’s still in progress, there’s enough there for people get useful information. Joe’s listed two issues, energy and healthcare, that he’s running on:

Renewable Energy

Shannon emphasizes the need to develop renewable energy and the unique research/business/employment prospects for the district with Argonne National Laboratory and the Route 88 technological and research corridor.

Healthcare

Shannon supports a universal healthcare system that is state-based:

“The federal government would provide states with the financial help, technical assistance and oversight necessary to accomplish this goal. In return, a state would have to make sure that every resident has coverage at least as good as the health insurance of members of Congress.

There are a number of options for the states to fashion their universal system, including, but not limited to, partnering with neighboring states to provide a regional health plan, the use of state tax incentives and credits, a single-payer system in the state, and the use of the Medicare and Medicaid system models for the states. The federal government will work with the states to insure universal health coverage for all our citizens.”

Joe told me that he has looked at a lot of national healthcare plans and settled on this one patterned after Wisconsin Senator Russ Feingold’s proposal, because he found it the most realistic. Ultimately Shannon does see universal, single-payer as desirable, but he believes a state-based approach is the way to get there.

Joe mentioned that he thinks national security is one of the more important issues - and we can look for more on that and other issues from him in the future.

Campaign Updates

I haven’t written as much about Joe Shannon’s campaign as I’d like to, so here are some updates:

- Last Tuesday Joe held a fundraiser at Gatto’s in Tinley Park with State’s Attorney Dick Devine, Orland Park Mayor Daniel McLaughlin and Dean Vallas, former gubernatorial candidate Paul Vallas’ brother, attending. The event attracted 170 people.

- On March 9th at Shaw’s Crab House in Chicago Joe will be holding a fundraiser. Contact the campaign for more information.

Joe Shannon is running in the primary against Bill Reedy. You can see both of them at tomorrow night’s debate at the IBEW. Both campaigns have signs and other materials for you now - pick your candidate and show them your support! Display their signs and, if you can make the time (and I know you can), volunteer!

You can get signs and/or volunteer for Joe by contacting him here.

You can get signs and/or volunteer for Bill by contacting him here.

Let’s paint the 13th Congressional District blue this year!