Carbondale, IL— Green Party candidate Rich Whitney will participate in a gubernatorial debate on Chicago radio station WVAZ this evening. According to the station, Whitney is scheduled to be joined by Pat Quinn, Scott Lee Cohen, and Bill Brady. The event will be moderated by Ty Wansley and will begin at 7 PM. It can be heard on 102.7 FM and also at http://www.v103.com/main.html.

Sunday, October 31
Who: Green Party gubernatorial candidate Rich Whitney
What: Candidate Debate
When: 7 PM
Where: WVAZ 102.7 FM

Carbondale, IL— Rich Whitney, the Green Party gubernatorial candidate, participated in a debate with all four of the other ballot-qualified competitors for governor today before the Chicago Tribune editorial board. The spirited and at time rancorous debate pointed out significant differences between all five candidates.

Before an audience of 42 people, topics such as the budget deficit and remedies, taxes, education, ethics and governing philosophy were discussed. Rich Whitney focused on the need to restructure the state’s system of taxation to increase revenues, bring fairness to middle-and-lower-income taxpayers, institute a new tax on derivative trading, establish a state bank and implement a forensic audit to eliminate wasteful spending. Whitney emphasized that this was the only realistic approach to restoring health to the budget, schools, colleges and vital social services — and thereby create the foundation for economic recovery and real job opportunities for all.

In sharp contrast, none of the other candidates for governor would squarely deal with the need to close the $10+ billion structural budget deficit. Senator Bill Brady, Scott Lee Cohen and Libertarian candidate Lex Green each claimed that the deficit could be closed without raising taxes of any kind, while Governor Quinn weighed in with “fuzzy math”, indicating that a one percent income tax increase and unspecified cuts would somehow close the gap. In response, Whitney blasted his rivals, declaring that “any candidate who claims that he can close a $10-plus billion deficit without raising new revenues is delusional, disingenuous or deliberately destructive.” Whitney added that “if the budget were literally to be balanced by spending cuts alone, it would cost an estimated 128,000 jobs during a deep recession.”

Whitney described himself as the “only candidate in the race providing real substantive answers to the state’s dire fiscal emergency and it’s obvious that I’m the only candidate who is not mathematically challenged.”

The Whitney for Governor campaign publicly thanks the Chicago Tribune for performing a civic service by inviting all ballot-qualified candidates to participate in the debate. We also look forward to the debate being made available to voters online, so that they can see for themselves how each candidate performed and thereby choose the best candidate — the way things should work in a democratic republic.

Carbondale, IL— Green Party gubernatorial candidate Rich Whitney will participate in three events this Thursday, September 23.  Mr. Whitney will begin his day by addressing the Civic Federation at 8:30 AM. This event will also include fellow challengers Bill Brady and Pat Quinn. Whitney will then attend a voter education event at the Will-Grundy Center for Independent Living at 2 PM. The day will conclude with Mr. Whitney attending the Lewis University candidate forum at 6 PM.

Thursday, September 23

Who: Green Party gubernatorial candidate Rich Whitney

What: Civic Federation Meeting

When:  8:30 AM

Where: Second Floor

155 N. Wacker Dr.

Chicago, IL

Who: Green Party gubernatorial candidate Rich Whitney

What: Will-Grundy Center for Independent Living Voter Education Event

When:  2 PM to 4 PM

Where: 3000 W. Jefferson

Joliet, IL

Who: Green Party gubernatorial candidate Rich Whitney

What: Lewis University Candidate Forum

When:  6 PM to 8 PM

Where: Lewis University Field House

Romeoville, IL

Carbondale, IL— Green Party gubernatorial candidate Rich Whitney called on Illinois anti-poverty programs to stay in place to provide essential assistance to low-income people in the state. Whitney explained that “fighting poverty and assisting people without access to health care, food or even basic subsistence income is an essential function of state government.”

Whitney’s statement comes just as a new Census Bureau report says one in seven Americans are now living in poverty. The Census Bureau annual report for 2009 said 14.3 percent or 43.6 million Americans are in poverty. In 2008, 13.2 percent or 39.8 million people were in poverty. The new figures are the highest since the 1960s for the United States. Illinois weighed in at a 13.2 percent poverty rate.

Whitney added that “now is not the time to be cutting vital social programs as Bill Brady has advocated or Pat Quinn has done as governor. Instead, we need a public sector that can help people get on their feet and help them find gainful employment. We need a public sector that can provide some job opportunities directly, but more importantly, help the private sector create additional opportunities that also serve the public good. For that to happen, we must fix our regressive, broken tax and budget system in Illinois and fix it fast.”

“This means that those who have not shouldered their fair share of the burden for funding social services, education, public safety and other core functions of government have to begin doing so. We also need a state bank to extend credit where needed to get the productive parts of our economy moving, and a Green Capital Bill to provide new employment opportunities in clean energy and sustainable transportation — which will also help businesses and consumers save money.”

Carbondale, IL— Green Party gubernatorial candidate Rich Whitney issued the following statement today in reaction to Governor Quinn’s selection of Northstar Lottery Group to run the Illinois Lottery system. Whitney is critical of the privatization of the system, the secrecy of the selection process as well as the Lottery itself.

Quinn has taken pride in his improvements to transparency in government — and to be fair, he has made some. But that makes his invocation of secrecy in this case all the more questionable. I don’t see how he can defend it. He certainly hasn’t provided a rational explanation yet.

A huge amount of taxpayer funds are at stake. The public has a right to know what offers were made and by whom. The administration’s explanation that making information on the bidders public would somehow ‘taint the outcome’ makes no sense, not after all the bids are in. This can only fuel suspicion that the governor is hiding something. It creates an appearance of impropriety. And given that our state’s reputation for ethics in government is not exactly deserving of a gold star right now, I think the governor has once again exercised poor judgment.

It is disturbing to me that the General Assembly and the governor saw fit to privatize lottery operations in the first place. This is another example of how their stubborn refusal to deal with the causes of the current budget crisis keeps leading them to make bad decisions that will only compound that crisis in the future. For some immediate cash, the State is giving away the store. In the long run, our taxpayers will still be paying to administer the lottery but now they will be paying for the private profits of the operators as well. There are also questions regarding how much control over operations — and potential abuses — that the State will retain. This is not a rational system that is being created.

Once again, my own position is that we never should have had the lottery in the first place and I would fight to abolish it as soon as we can afford to do so. Gambling is a hidden tax on the poor, the ignorant and the desperate. We never should have gone down this road. Just because other states were foolish enough to go jump in the lake, it doesn’t mean that we should do so. But now that it’s a fact, privatizing it just makes things worse. And keeping the process of selecting the private profiteer that will benefit from this corporate welfare — courtesy of Illinois taxpayers — is worse still. This entire story keeps getting more sordid as each chapter is written.

Carbondale, IL— Green Party gubernatorial candidate Rich Whitney called today for fair taxation in Illinois.

“Pat Quinn, Bill Brady and Scott Lee Cohen all refuse to say exactly how they would deal with the burning issue of the budget crisis and taxation until after the election,” said Whitney. “This is disrespectful, if not insulting, to Illinois voters. How can voters make an informed choice when they are ducking the issue? In contrast, I provide voters with a clear and detailed road map for solving the crisis, attacking both the spending and the revenue side of the equation.”

Rich Whitney added that “the issue is not whether we need an income tax increase; the issue is how we make our tax system fairer. The tax burden needs to be shifted to those most able to pay.”

“Our state government today is failing to perform its most essential functions adequately: public safety, education, health care for those most in need, and services for the disabled, the mentally ill, children, the elderly, veterans, and preservation and protection of the environment,” Whitney stated. “It is clear that Bill Brady’s “just say no” campaign and Pat Quinn’s slow muddle-through to oblivion are not the answers.”

Whitney supports measures like SB 750, which would raise the individual rate to 5 percent and the corporate rate to 8 percent – but would protect the bottom 60 percent of income earners from actually paying the higher tax. It would also fund education more through the state rather than local property taxes – and provide badly needed property tax relief.

“Illinois can continue to sink into a sea of red ink or it can sail toward the safe harbor of responsible budgeting and effective, responsive government. I am giving Illinois voters a clear choice,” Whitney concluded.

Carbondale, IL— Green Party gubernatorial candidate Rich Whitney will appear on News Views on Chicago’s WLS ABC Channel 7 at 9:10 AM this Sunday, September 12th.

Quotable Whitney Sound Bites:

“Gambling is a hidden tax on the poor, ignorant and desperate.”

“Gambling is not such a bargain after all the social costs are factored in.”

“We would have a healthier economy if we roll back gambling in Illinois.”

“If we fix our broken tax system, we can fix the budget and pension crises.”

“We can minimize abortion by building a stronger economy and better education system, to prevent most unwanted pregnancies. That will reduce the frequency of abortion far more effectively than criminalizing it.”

Sunday, September 12

Who: Green Party gubernatorial candidate Rich Whitney

What: 11 minutes on a Sunday morning news talk show. Whitney discusses fair taxation, proposed new taxes on risky financial transactions, gambling, the Illinois budget and pension crises and abortion

When:  Broadcast is at 9:10 AM in two segments lasting 11 minutes

Where: WLS ABC Channel 7

Chicago, IL

Carbondale, IL— Green Party gubernatorial candidate Rich Whitney will march in the 26^th Street Mexican Independence Day Parade this Sunday, September 12^th.  Mr. Whitney will be joined by other Green Party candidates including LeAlan Jones. The parade is a celebration of Mexican culture and allows for different communities to come together to march for equality and understanding.

Sunday, September 12

Who: Green Party gubernatorial candidate Rich Whitney

What: 26^th Street Mexican Independence Day Parade

When:  11:30 AM

Where: Corner of 26^th Street and Sacramento

Chicago, IL

Carbondale, IL— Green Party gubernatorial candidate Rich Whitney will spend this Saturday, September 11^th, attending two events in Chicago, Illinois. Mr. Whitney will first attend the Lakeview Arts Festival. The festival features works from different genres including paintings, sculptures, jewelry, ceramics, and photography. Mr. Whitney will greet attendees at the event from 10 AM to 12:30 PM. Following the Lakeview Festival, Mr. Whitney will attend the German-American Fest from 4 PM to 9 PM. The festival is a celebration of German American heritage.

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Carbondale, IL— Green Party gubernatorial candidate Rich Whitney blasted the latest proposal by his Republican challenger State Senator Bill Brady today. In one of the few times that he has given any insight into his budget plan, Brady suggested that if elected governor, he would press for greater tax cuts for businesses.

“Brady is now trying to bring back ‘Reaganomics’ at the state level, forgetting that Ronald Reagan gave us the highest federal deficits in our nation’s history at the time,” Whitney commented. “We can’t afford any of Bill Brady’s fuzzy math and a new experiment in ‘trickle down economics’ when we know that doesn’t work. We need real solutions to the budget crisis.”

Whitney elaborated that “one problem is that Brady will be destroying even more public sector jobs due to the higher deficit and his proposed spending cuts, which will have a spillover effect on private sector retailers, causing even more job losses. There is no reason to believe that the plan will create more jobs than it will destroy.”

“Second, we know from experience at the federal level that some employers will game the system by either claiming the tax credit for jobs they were going to create anyway, or by firing permanent employees and then rehiring ‘new’ employees, or in some cases, every couple of months repeating the process and hiring new temporary employees to fill the same positions and grab as many of the tax credits as they can. Thus, they will not really be creating a net increase in employment. It will be next to impossible to police such practices to stop abuses, especially by a state government that is already strained to the breaking point.”

Whitney concluded that “from start to finish, this is a horrible proposal. It is bad for the budget, bad for the economy and bad for working people. Under the guise of being a jobs plan, this really amounts to another taxpayer subsidy for private profiteering and big business. That’s Bill Brady’s real agenda. Working people shouldn’t fall for this snake oil. I remain the only candidate who actually has a plan.”

Carbondale, IL—Green Party gubernatorial candidate Rich Whitney released a statement today on this week’s Rasmussen’s Poll that only referred to Whitney as an “other” candidate.

“Such polling is plainly not legitimate and is apparently aimed at persuading voters to follow a favored candidate, not inform voters about their collective opinions. There is a sizeable difference between asking a respondent whether he or she will vote for ‘Rich Whitney, Green Party,’ or asking the respondent if he or she will vote for ‘other’. Real voters respond to names and party affiliations. That’s one reason why a Rasmussen poll can find that there is only 6 percent support for ‘other,’ while a Public Policy Polling poll  shows 11 percent for Rich Whitney. Obviously, only the more complete poll is accurately gauging voter support.

“This polling can only further Rasmussen’s reputation for inaccuracy and bias toward more right-leaning candidates. It apparently has an agenda and is not being objective. No reputable media source should use their polling or report their so-called ‘findings’ until they clean up their act.

“At best, Rasmussen is completely out of touch with what is really happening in the Illinois race for governor. At worst, they are intentionally trying to bias voters in favor of the Republican candidate.”

Carbondale, IL— Green Party gubernatorial candidate Rich Whitney reacted with suspicion to the recent staff changes in Governor Pat Quinn’s administration. On August 13,  Quinn terminated the employment of Executive Inspector General James Wright. On Sunday, August 22, Quinn’s Chief of Staff Jerry Stermer resigned after using his state email address for campaign correspondence.

“I applaud Chief of Staff Stermer for acting appropriately. Anyone can make a mistake and he did the right thing by recognizing that he had committed an ethical violation, and reporting it promptly” Whitney remarked.

“However, this now raises questions about the timing of Governor Quinn’s termination of Inspector General Wright ten days ago, since that occurred on the same day that Wright recommended that the Attorney General file a complaint against Stermer with the Executive Ethics Commission. Governor Quinn owes the people of Illinois an explanation for the firing of James Wright.”

Whitney concluded that “Illinois is still suffering from both the practice and the reputation of being a state in which ethics is a new concept. Firing one of the state’s top ethics enforcers on the same day that he takes action against one of the governor’s top aides doesn’t help matters. At a minimum, it appears to be another example of poor judgment on the part of the incumbent governor. I’m not sure how Quinn can keep running for office at this point. It’s kind of hard to run after you’ve shot yourself in the foot as many times as he has.”

Carbondale, IL—Green Party gubernatorial candidate Rich Whitney today released a position briefing on 20 crucial issues in Illinois. The positions include (they follow this release):

State Budget                       Taxation                    Economy & Job Development

Education                             Public Pensions     Government/Public Sector

Gambling                              Death Penalty          Legalization of Marijuana

Conceal & Carry                 Public Safety           Campaign Finance Reform

Ethics in Government       Redistricting            Running the Executive Branch

Reproductive Rights         Immigration              LGBT Rights

Environment                        Militarism and War

Whitney poll numbers are rising in the latest Public Policy Polling that came out last week. He registered 11 percent in that poll showing Republican Bill Brady ahead of incumbent governor Pat Quinn.

Rich Whitney said, “This issue briefing covers some of the most crucial issues that Illinoisans care about. For instance on the controversial issue of taxes, Whitney asserts, “The issue is not whether we need an income tax increase; the issue is how we make our tax system fairer.”

On the issue of ethics in government, Whitney said, “…that all non-policy-making state jobs be selected on the basis of objective criteria by an independent bureau. I also promise to appoint an Inspector General from an opposition party, to prevent and root out illegal job patronage and help remove the cloud of corruption over our state.”

On the very crucial issue of education, Whitney was forthright in stating, “I want to go beyond the current budget dilemma and make a major public investment into education, so that we can achieve the goal of providing high quality educational opportunities for all, not only from pre-K – 12, but beyond.”

Rich Whitney makes his and the Green Party’s agenda clear in this briefing. Some items are more controversial than others, but the briefing document clearly draws a line in the sand between Whitney and the Republican and Democratic candidates for governor.

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Carbondale, IL—Green Party gubernatorial candidate Rich Whitney will hold two events this Monday, August 23^rd, with representatives from the organization Move to Amend in Springfield. Move to Amend is a consortium of over fifty organizations that are rallying against the creation of the classification of corporate personhood.

The day will begin with a meet and greet with supporters from Noon to 1 PM at the Trout Lily Café. During the event, Mr. Whitney will address the crowd regarding the current campaign and touch on such topics as campaign finance reform and the Blagojevich trial. Mr. Whitney will be joined by Laird and Robin Monahan. They are two brothers who are walking across the United States to raise awareness about the need for a constitutional amendment to abolish corporate personhood. Mr. Whitney will then hold a joint press conference with members of Move to Amend from 1:30 PM to 2 PM in the Blue Room at the Illinois State Capitol.

“I am delighted to be able to participate in these two events with the Monahan brothers” Mr. Whitney explained. “This presents a great opportunity for my campaign to highlight the fact that we don’t accept corporate campaign contributions in any form. This is especially timely given the recent attention on the issues facing Illinois politics that were highlighted by the Rod Blagojevich trial. Move to Amend is helping to shed light on the dangers of too much corporate power in the political arena and I am happy to be able to hold these two events with them.”

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Carbondale, IL—Green Party gubernatorial candidate Rich Whitney will celebrate the opening of his newest campaign office this Saturday, August 21^st, in the historic Bronzeville neighborhood of Chicago.  The grand opening celebration will take place from 2 PM to 4 PM at 516 E. 47^th Street. The Whitney campaign also has offices in the Logan Square area of Chicago and in downstate Carbondale. Members of the media and the general public are invited to attend.

Dubbed the “Black Metropolis” in the early part of the 20^th century, the area has been referred to as the center of African-American culture in the city of Chicago.  For Whitney, the location for the new facility made perfect sense. “The new office on 47^th street addresses a number of needs for both the campaign and the residents of Bronzeville. Currently, we have very little name recognition in this part of the city. By basing our South Side operations in this office, we will be able to effectively increase our presence in a large part of the city. Furthermore, we will be able to contribute to the revitalization of the neighborhood by opening this office.”

Whitney concluded that “this historic part of Chicago has been ignored for too long by the politicians of Illinois. These residents are an energetic and valuable part of Illinois. This new office will allow them to voice their concerns to our campaign directly and give them the valuable tools that will empower them to help change Illinois politics for the better.”

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Carbondale, IL— Green Party gubernatorial candidate Rich Whitney was selected by 11 percent of those who responded in the latest poll by Public Policy Polling. Republican State Senator Bill Brady and incumbent Governor Pat Quinn weighed in at 39 and 30 percent respectively.

Mr. Whitney stated that “I am encouraged by the latest polling numbers, which demonstrate that we continue to make steady progress as Illinois voters begin paying more attention to the race and the issues that affect them. This also demonstrates that other polling organizations, which continue to omit my name and party as a choice for respondents, are not conducting a legitimate poll. Such polls would have the effect of biasing the outcome of the election, not predicting it.”

“We still have a lot of work to do. But our campaign is working very hard, and as we open a second office on Chicago’s South Side, and begin preparing media advertising to supplement our other outreach, we can expect our numbers to continue to rise” Whitney added.

The candidate made a pledge of bringing in the “best and brightest” people to work in his administration.

Whitney pointed out yesterday’s conviction of former Democratic Governor Rod Blagojevich and a looming second trial as a major reason why he would make a better governor. Whitney said, “I will play it by the book and not succumb to pay to play politics.”

He reiterated that “In my administration there will be a change for the good of Illinois politics.”

Carbondale, IL— Green Party gubernatorial candidate Rich Whitney reacted to the outcome of former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich’s trial today by calling for reform of the Illinois political system. For Whitney, the actions of Blagojevich are a result of a corrupt political system that fosters such behavior. He explained that “Rod Blagojevich’s conduct is a symptom of a much more widespread disease. There is a pervasive mentality—in the corporate media and in the two corporate-sponsored parties—that politics and political success is all about raising money and almost nothing else.”

Mr. Whitney believes this same system encouraged the attitude of the former governor. He stated that “Blagojevich’s other unethical behavior—rewarding supporters with jobs or contracts, i.e. pay-to-play, ultimately including a U.S. Senate seat as a golden prize—all flows from that same premise. The issue for Illinois voters today is not whether Blagojevich was found guilty or innocent. There is no question that he engaged in unethical behavior: trafficking in the awarding of political favors in exchange for campaign cash.”

Whitney continued that “This is verdict is not exoneration. That Blagojevich was not convicted of these particular crimes at this time does not mean he is innocent. Corruption is still corruption. Pay-to-play is still wrong and unethical. And a political system completely overrun by an overwhelming and obscene focus on raising tons of cash, above all else, is still a disease that we must combat and overcome.”

He continued that “we have to stop this and through the Green Party and my campaign, we can stop this. This is a systemic problem that demands a systemic solution. And the way to do that is by building a grassroots political party that is beholden and accountable only to the people. It is the Green Party that has stood up for the principle of not accepting any corporate campaign contributions whatsoever and that has stood firmly on a platform of making serious campaign ethics reform a top priority. This devotion to grassroots democracy is what makes me and the other Green Party candidates the best choice for voters who seriously want to clean up Illinois government.”

Carbondale, IL—Green Party gubernatorial candidate Rich Whitney will attend the Illinois State Fair this Friday, August 20^th. The theme for the fair that day is “Futures for Kids Day”. Acknowledging this theme, Mr. Whitney will interact with families throughout the fairgrounds from 1 PM to 4 PM to discuss with them why a vote for the Green Party is a vote for a better future for our children. The candidate will then have dinner in the fair’s Ethnic Village to help celebrate the diverse nature of the state of Illinois. Mr. Whitney will conclude his evening by arriving at the Grandstand at 7 PM to talk with fairgoers before attending the “Cheap Trick” and “Blondie” concert at 8 PM.

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Chief buddy-anam-tay-say and Chief Deputy Jimmy.ya-ik-te Robinson and all of the elders of the Cherokee tribal council of Illinois have endorsed the following for the for the November 2 election:

-    Rodger Jennings for US Congress, Illinois District 12 of the Green Party

-    Rich Whitney for Illinois Governor of the Green Party

-    Don W. Crawford for Illinois Lt. Governor of the Green Party

-    David  Black for Illinois Attorney General of the Green Party

-    R. Erika Schafer for Illinois Comptroller of the Green Party

-    Scott Summers for Illinois Treasurer of the Green Party

-    Charlie Howe for the 115th State Representative in Illinois.

For more information about the candidates please visit their web sites.  For more information from the Cherokee Tribal council of Illinois, you can email Chief buddy-anam-tay-say at algotto06@yahoo.com.