Rich Whitney Green Party Candidate for Governor of Illinois shut out of debates
The Illinois Green Party is running a full slate of candidates for statewide offices in 2006, along
with several legislative and local offices across the state: Rich Whitney for Governor, Julie Samuels
for Lt. Governor, David Black for Attorney General, Dan Rodriguez-Schlorff for Treasurer, Karen Young for
Secretary of State, and Alicia Snyder for Comptroller.
“We believe that everyone in Illinois should have the chance to vote for someone that reflects his or
her values. If you believe in grassroots democracy, social justice, ecological wisdom, and nonviolence,
the Green Party offers you a chance to see your values reflected in your state’s government,” said Phil
Huckelberry, state party co-chair.
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Rich Whitney |
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The Paul Simon Public Policy Institute of Southern Illinois University, WSIU Public Television and The
Southern Illinoisan, who are trying to facilitate a debate, have extended invitations to Blagojevich,
Topinka and Green Party nominee Rich Whitney.
Whitney was invited to the debate in southern Illinois when he attained 5 percent in a major poll,
which was the criteria they had established. But then the Blagojevich campaign backed out when they found
out Whitney was going to be included, and suggested an alternative date that Topinka couldn't meet. As a
result the sponsors gave up and the debate will not happen. So far there is a debate scheduled for Oct. 2
in which Whitney has definitely NOT been in included. It seems like Blagojevich would rather have no
debates at all than have one with Whitney included.
The Whitney campaign is working on alternative strategies to take advantage of the Governor's refusal
to debate. One possiblity is to investigate legal options to see if the refusal to include Rich violates
equal time access laws.
For more information on the Whitney campaign: click here.
Maryland Green Party helps get passage of the Healthy Air Act
The Maryland Green Party mobilized its largest ever lobbying effort during the 2006 legislative
session. Our most significant success was the passage of the Healthy Air Act, working together with the
Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN) and other groups. This act requires Maryland's oldest and
dirtiest power plants--which were exempted under the federal Clean Air Act--to cut back on carbon
dioxide, the leading cause of global warming, as well as mercury, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide.
Power plants are the largest industrial source of air pollution in Maryland, responsible for 77% of
sulfur dioxide, 66% of mercury, 31% of nitrogen oxide, and 40% of carbon dioxide emissions released in
the state every year.
These pollutants are harming the health of the environment and area residents. Maryland has an
unusually high incidence of autism, in part due to the mercury released by these coal fired power plants.
In addition, our fishing industry has been hurt because fish caught in the Chesapeake Bay have shown a
high level of mercury.
The most significant achievement of the act was the regulation of carbon dioxide for the first time.
The state will join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a cooperative effort by Northeastern and
Mid-Atlantic states to reduce carbon dioxide emissions using a cap-and-trade program. Virtually all
scientists agree that global temperatures are rising due to human activities like the burning of fossil
fuels. A growing number believe we have a limited amount of time if we are to reverse the problem. We
are already seeing the first effects of climate change: hotter temperatures, devastating hurricanes,
rapidly disappearing glaciers, and the death from heat stress of large areas of forests in northern
latitudes. By addressing carbon dioxide in addition to other pollutants, the Healthy Air Act takes a
first step in the right direction.
Maryland legislators remarked that the Healthy Air Act passed because of strong, well-organized
grassroots pressure. The Maryland Green Party was a key part of this effort. Greens wrote, called, and
visited legislators; submitted official testimony to the State House of Delegates and Senate; put up yard
and business signs; arranged meetings; wrote numerous letters to local newspapers; and recruited large
numbers of citizens to help. This grassroots activism overcame determined resistance from a multi-billion
dollar power industry with an army of lobbyists, state officials formerly on their payroll, and
Republican and Democratic politicians funded by their campaign contributions. As a result, Marylanders
can breathe easier in the future.
For more information about the Maryland Green Party, please visit http://www.mdgreens.org/.
Green Party Candidates Arrested at Congressman’s Office
Brookfield, WI -- Wisconsin Green Party candidate for Congress Bob Levis and
candidate for Lieutenant Governor Leon Todd were arrested today outside the
entrance to Congressman Sensenbrenner’s office at Bishop’s Way and Blue
Mound Road. Bob Levis is on the ballot opposing Congressman Sensenbrenner
in the upcoming November election. Levis and Todd were participating in a
rally organized by Peace Action Wisconsin to protest Congressman
Sensenbrenner’s support of the war in Iraq as a part of the national
activities organized around the Declaration of Peace. They took part in a
one-half hour long protest with dozens of others before they were arrested.
Three others were also arrested.
Wisconsin Green Party candidate for lieutenant governor, Leon Todd, was one of the other three each
received a $487 fine Monday.
They were accused of disobeying a police officer after they blocked an exit from Sensenbrenner's
office during the noon-hour protest, according to a Brookfield police department news release.
The Wisconsin Green Party has opposed the war since before the invasion of
Iraq, and has worked hard to end the war and bring the troops home. The
party kicked off the Bring the Troops Home ballot initiative last spring,
giving citizens a say on the war in Iraq in 32 towns, cities and villages
around the state.
For the complete story go to http://wisconsingreenparty.org/index.php
JOIN THE GREEN PARTY IN TAKING ACTION
You can easily write your congressperson or Senator or how about a letter to the editor of your local
newspaper? The latest issue on the action page is "Electronic Voting Machines Threaten to Destroy
Democracy" and other issues include real health care reform, hold Bush accountable and impeach Bush
amoung other important issues.
The Green Party is proud of its history of active participation in bringing change and you can easily
join and support these efforts by participating in these projects at the following link: http://www.gp.org/action/index.shtml.
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