July 28th, 2010 | Permalink | No Comments »

Issue Spotlight: Our National Debt

by Dan Seals

This fiscal year, the U.S. government is already running a $1.6 trillion budget deficit and our total national debt has risen to more than $13.2 trillion. That’s $42,000 of debt for every woman, man, and child in America. This is more than a bankroll problem–it is a national crisis. With this growing debt, we stand to be the first generation to leave our nation in worse shape for our children. As the father of three young daughters, I refuse to let that happen.

The federal government should use the same fundamental budgeting process as all households: you can only spend what you can afford. Millions of Americans live within their means every day, and so should our government. Read more

July 26th, 2010 | Permalink | No Comments »

DEERFIELD, IL – Yesterday, Republican Congressional Candidate Bob Dold announced his support for Rep. Paul Ryan’s Roadmap for America’s Future, a radical plan to privatize social security, eliminate Medicare and Medicaid, and raise taxes on the middle class.

“I will not support a proposal that hurts middle-class families and ends Social Security and Medicare as we know it,” said Democratic Candidate Dan Seals. “Older Americans have been investing in and counting on these programs for decades, and sticking them with the bill now is not only morally objectionable, it is fiscally irresponsible.”

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July 22nd, 2010 | Permalink | No Comments »

Despite initial refusal to respond, Dold still fails to meet Planned Parenthood’s pro-choice criteria

DEERFIELD, IL – After initially refusing to meet with Planned Parenthood or even submit the questionnaire requesting their support, Republican Congressional Candidate Bob Dold was rejected by the pro-choice organization after he finally made his positions known.

According to an update posted on Planned Parenthood Illinois Action’s blog, following a press release and news reports demonstrating his evasiveness and anti-choice support, Dold subsequently submitted his questionnaire. His responses were “not in accordance with the endorsement criteria of PPIA.”

In the original post, PPIA stated, “there is only one pro-choice candidate running in the Illinois 10th Congressional District: Dan Seals.”

“Voters deserve to hear the truth – not double-talk and brazen pandering,” said Seals campaign Communications Director Aviva Gibbs. “Bob Dold tells his base that he is ‘the clear conservative choice’ but tells moderates that he is ‘pro-choice.’ We’re glad that he finally agreed to be held accountable by Planned Parenthood, though it only exposed what we already knew: Bob Dold is not pro-choice.”

In a new radio advertisement, Dold refers to himself twice as “socially moderate,” despite actively soliciting–and receiving–the backing of far-right organizations like the Illinois Federation for Right to Life and local chapters of the Tea Party.

Planned Parenthood also pointed out that Dold opposes reform measures to close the Medicare donut hole and prohibit insurance companies from denying coverage to individuals with preexisting conditions or dropping coverage when you get sick.

Seals is proud to have the endorsements of Planned Parenthood, NARAL Pro-Choice America, the Sierra Club, League of Conservation Voters, Human Rights Campaign, Associated Firefighters of Illinois, American Federation of Teachers, and Joint Action Committee (JAC-PAC), among others.

July 19th, 2010 | Permalink | No Comments »

Calls on opponent to admonish comments of NRCC Chair Pete Sessions, refuse further support

DEERFIELD, IL – Following Republican leadership’s call to restore the destructive Bush economic policies that drove our country into the worst financial disaster since the Great Depression, Democratic Congressional Candidate Dan Seals called on his opponent to admonish the comments of National Republican Campaign Committee (NRCC) Chairman Pete Sessions and refuse further support from the NRCC as long as Sessions remains chair.

On NBC’s Meet the Press yesterday, Sessions stated, “we need to go back to the exact same agenda” of George W. Bush.

“Bush’s failed economic policies started a fire, and the Boehner-Sessions solution is to fight the fire with gasoline,” said Seals’ Communications Director Aviva Gibbs. “Bob Dold needs to reject Rep. Sessions’ statements and refuse further support from the NRCC, or explain how proven-to-fail, rewind policies could possibly move us forward.”

Seals recently called on Dold to divest his personal financial interests from BP and explain the conflict of interest created by his pledge to protect the big oil tax breaks that have cost American taxpayers billions while earning him dividends. Dold has not responded or addressed the oil spill.

“Bob Dold refuses to answer questions about his positions on critical issues, which only raises more questions,” said Gibbs. “Dan is focused on creating jobs, helping small businesses, and controlling the national debt. Meanwhile, not only does Republican leadership want to repeal new Wall Street reform legislation aimed at protecting taxpayers and controlling the damage, but they want to reinstate the same Bush policies that got us into this economic mess in the first place. The Bush agenda wiped out eight million jobs, sent unemployment to a 15-year high, and turned a record surplus into a record deficit. Voters deserve to know where Dold stands.”

July 9th, 2010 | Permalink | No Comments »

DEERFIELD, IL—Today, Democratic Congressional Candidate Dan Seals issued the following statement after a Federal District Court ruled parts of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) unconstitutional, finding that the law interfered with the rights of states to define marriage and served only to “disadvantage a group of which [Congress] disapproves”:

“I am encouraged to see that a federal court has recognized the Defense of Marriage Act’s unconstitutionality and will reiterate my support for DOMA’s full repeal,” said Seals. “It is a disappointing injustice that same-sex couples don’t have the same rights – be it healthcare, employment benefits, or tax fairness – that my family does. Our constitution sets forth fundamental human rights that must apply to all Americans equally, and this is an important step in the right direction.”

Seals is endorsed by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the largest national lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender civil rights organization with over 750,000 members and supporters nationwide. HRC President Joe Solomonese praised Seals for his leadership on LGBT issues stating, “Dan exemplifies the type of independent leadership our nation needs. A man of deep principal and integrity, Seals will fight for the civil rights of the LGBT community and all Americans.”

According to his response in a Chicago Sun-Times candidate questionnaire, Republican opponent Bob Dold “support(s) the federal Defense of Marriage Act, which defines marriage as between a man and a woman.”

According to the Illinois Family Institute Voter Guide, Dold also opposes expanding the Employee Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), a proposed bill to prohibit inequity in the workplace on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, as well as opposing the repeal of the discriminatory “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, which several prominent Republicans acknowledge is both morally flawed and counterproductive to national security.

Seals supports the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act and opposes a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. He also supports expanding ENDA, the repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’, and increasing federal funding for HIV prevention, treatment, and research.