Wednesday, November 15, 2023
In this Issue: Ready to Turn In Petitions? ● November is Diabetes Awareness Month ● Lake County Democratic Elected Officials Take Action – Illinois General Assembly Update ● To All Who Celebrate the Festival of Lights, Happy Diwali! ● Another Credit Upgrade for Illinois ● Lake Dems Attend Last Week’s Events ● Volunteer Spotlight ● ICYMI (In Case You Missed It) ● Upcoming Events
Ready to Turn In Petitions?
It is nearly time for petitions to be filed to get candidates on the ballot. To make that process convenient and easy, Lake Dems is co-sponsoring several events which will feature petition checks and notaries. Bring your petitions to turn in at any of these events, and Lake Dems will make sure they get to the candidates. Petitions for several candidates, including President Biden, will be available to sign or circulate. Here are this week’s events:
Warren Township Democrats November Meeting
When: Thursday, November 16 at 7pm
Where: Tacos El Norte, 401 N. Riverside Drive, #27, Gurnee, back room
What: Notaries and petition checking will be available. You can turn in petitions or sign petitions for other candidates, like President Biden. You can also pick up petitions to circulate.
Lake Dems and Moraine Township Democrats Petition Event
When: Saturday, November 18 from Noon to 2pm
Where: Highland Park Democratic Headquarters, 474 Central Ave., Highland Park
What: Notaries and petition checking will be available. You can turn in petitions or sign petitions for other candidates, like President Biden. You can also pick up petitions to circulate. Snacks will be served.
Lake Dems and Ela Township Democrats Petition Party
When: Saturday, November 18 from 3 to 4:30pm
Where: Ela Library, 275 Mohawk Tr., 2nd Floor, Lake Zurich
What: Lake Dems and Ela Township Dems cosponsor a petition party to collect petitions for Democratic candidates. Snacks and Democratic conversation will be served.
Open House (and Petition Party) at Waukegan ArtWauk
When: Saturday, November 18 from 4 to 6pm
Where: Lake County Democrats Headquarters, 228A Genesee St., Waukegan
What: Come get petitions notarized, looked over, and turned in during ArtWauk in Waukegan.
Fremont Democrats Petition Party
When: Sunday, November 19 from 2 to 4pm
Where: 1670 Valencia Way, Mundelein
What: Petitions that are turned in will be sent where they need to go. A notary will be present (picture ID needed). Petitions for President Biden will be available to sign or circulate.
For questions, email info@lakedems.org.
November is Diabetes Awareness Month
According to the CDC, diabetes affects almost 1 in 10 people in America. It is estimated that 1 in 5 diabetics do not know they have it. There are three types of diabetes – here are a few simple facts about each.
Type I, sometimes called Juvenile Onset Diabetes, or insulin dependent diabetes, is a type of autoimmune disorder where the body’s immune system attacks healthy cells that produce insulin. Without these cells, the body cannot produce the insulin it needs to process sugars.
Type II, sometimes called Adult Onset Diabetes, occurs for a variety of reasons, including a genetic predisposition. It is characterized by the body not producing enough insulin to meet its needs.
The third type of diabetes is gestational diabetes, where a pregnant person’s body does not properly process the insulin it has. This type of diabetes tends not to continue postpartum.
All types of diabetes require management by a doctor who may prescribe blood sugar testing, diet, exercise, and medications. Though Type 1 diabetics must be treated with insulin, other types may require it as well.
President Biden understands these facts. That is why he fought to cap the price of insulin for Medicare patients at $35 a month. It is why his administration has protected the ACA (Affordable Care Act), so everyone in America can go to the doctor if they need to. In fact, according to a January 2023 article in Health Affairs, ”the state of health care coverage in the United States is the strongest it has ever been.”
For more information on the symptoms of diabetes, visit the CDCs website to get the facts.
Lake County Democratic Elected Officials Take Action – Illinois General Assembly Update
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Last week the General Assembly met for the final week of the veto session. In total, 22 bills passed the General Assembly and will go to the Governor. Here are some of the bills sponsored by Lake County elected officials: | Go Blue! |
SB382 (Reps. Mary Edly-Allen/Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz): Bill to clarify definitions in the Civil Remedies for Nonconsensual Dissemination of Private Sexual Images Act.
SB584 (Reps. Daniel Didech/Rita Mayfield): Gaming bill that makes technical changes to the process for funding special cause scratch-off games, allows the Gaming Board to extend the temporary casino in Waukegan, and changes the timeline for payments to the Village of Des Plaines.
SB690 (Rep. Daniel Didech): Validates certain tax levies for community mental health boards to ensure that local referenda previously passed are effective.
SB767 (Sen. Laura Fine): Amends the Hearing Instrument Consumer Protection Act to require a 30-day return on hearing instruments.
From Lake Dems to All Who Celebrate the Festival of Lights, Happy Diwali!
Another Credit Upgrade for Illinois!
Illinois’ fiscal outlook continues to improve after receiving a ninth credit upgrade in two years. In a presentation to rating agencies last month, Illinois showed that the state’s accounts payable is down 94% in three years, it’s invested $1.965 billion in its budget stabilization fund, and it’s had a GAAP basis general fund surplus since 2022. These are important metrics for a state that was recently drowning in financial problems exacerbated by a two-year budget impasse. More here.
Lake Dems Attend Last Week’s Events
Citizen Action/Illinois Annual Dinner and Retirement Party for Long-Time Co-Chair William McNary
| Governor Pritzker, Senator Durbin, and numerous other Democratic elected officials celebrated the career and retirement of William McNary (pictured in the photo below right with Lauren Beth Gash). | |
| William McNary was the Co-Executive Director of Citizen Action/Illinois, the state’s largest consumer organization, and he served as President of US Action, the national umbrella group for 28 state grassroots affiliated organizations advocating health care, education, and environmental and consumer policy reform. |  |
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North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic Annual Meeting
Numerous Democratic elected officials joined other civic leaders, business owners, supporters, and staff at the North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic’s 2023 Annual Meeting and reception.
Fundraiser for Carissa Casbon with Mexican Food and Music
Numerous supporters joined County Board Member Carissa Casbon for an afternoon of Mexican food and music in support of her re-election.
Volunteer Spotlight
Lake Dems is grateful for our many active volunteers. Click here if you’re interested in helping.
This week, we recognize all of our amazing notaries who show up whenever we ask to notarize petitions for our candidates at past and future events throughout Lake County.
ICYMI (In Case You Missed It)
Upcoming Events
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 15
Individual Western Lake County (IWLC) November Meeting. 7-8:30pm, Lindenhurst. More.
Wauconda Township Democrats November Meeting. 7-8:00pm, online via Zoom. More.
THURSDAY, NOV. 16
Warren Township Democrats November Meeting. 7pm, Gurnee. More.
SATURDAY, NOV. 18
Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office Town Hall on Gun Violence Prevention. 11am-2pm, Waukegan. More.
Lake Dems and Moraine Township Democrats Petition Event. Noon-2pm, Highland Park. More.
Lake Dems and Ela Township Democrats Petition Party. 3-4:30pm, Lake Zurich. More.
Open House (and Petition Party) at Waukegan ArtWauk. 4-6pm, Waukegan. More.
SUNDAY, NOV. 19
Fremont Township Democrats Petition Party. 2-4pm, Mundelein. More.
For the complete list of Upcoming Events, go to lakedems.org/events.
Click here to submit your event for consideration.
How Do I Join Lake County Democrats?
Lake County Democrats is made up of people like you, people who are passionate about building better communities and a better world. We’re a grassroots political organization, working with Democrats in all parts of Lake County – from Antioch to Highland Park, Libertyville to Waukegan, Barrington to Zion. Become a member online now, (individual: $35/couples $60 – though more is always appreciated), or send a check payable to Lake County Democrats to P.O. Box 671, Lake Zurich, IL 60047. Questions? Contact info@lakedems.org..
