Poll: Americans Opposed to‘Outside Money’ In Elections

Posted on 27. Oct, 2010 by admin in Uncategorized

by Lisette Livingston
A survey of 1,000 Americans nationwide suggests a wide majority believe it is unacceptable for groups to spend heavily on political
advertising in districts where they are not located, a phenomenon dubbed “outside money.”

Two-thirds of those polled say they oppose this practice, while 26 percent support it.

Recent published reports in The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and other major media outlets have noted that television spending by outside groups has more than doubled from what was spent at the same time in the 2006 midterm elections.

An analysis published earlier this week in Politico.com reported that, “Never in modern political history has there been so much
secret money gushing into an American election. By Election Day, independent groups will have aired more than $200 million worth of campaign ads using cash that can’t be traced back to its original source.”

“While it might be true that outside groups have the legal right to flood these races with ads, many Americans are concerned
that it distorts the democratic process,” said Daniel M. Shea, director of the Center for Political Participation at Allegheny College,
which developed and commissioned a poll, “Nastiness, Name-calling & Negativity: The Allegheny College Survey of Civility
and Compromise in American Politics,” in spring 2010.

Shea expressed concern with the volume of money being spent by outside pressure groups in local races. In Pennsylvania’s 3rd
Congressional District, where Allegheny is located, numerous outside groups have hammered the airwaves with ads for and against
both the Democratic and Republican candidates.

“On one level, outside money is not entirely new. We’ve seen this before. But the amount of money that is being spent by national groups is unprecedented. As the head of an organization designed to promote grassroots campaigning, I worry that outside money will lead all citizens, but especially young citizens, to question the value of their own engagement,” said Shea.

Much of Allegheny’s spring poll centered on issues related to the tone of politics, and its results have been widely circulated in the news media. But the poll also queried about the outside money issue. “We knew it would be a big issue this fall, and, sure enough, it
is one of the most important issues of this campaign season,” said Shea.

Group spending has become the focus of attention since a January U.S. Supreme Court ruling in the case of Citizens United
v. Federal Election Commission. The High Court lifted restrictions on corporate spending in elections. Corporations, including
nonprofit ones like labor unions, are no longer restricted when it comes to financing radio and television commercials that focus
on voters and identify a political candidate.

The New York Times reported that in the weeks leading to this November’s hotly contested House and Senate races, many
nonprofit advocacy organizations have begun to be more aggressive, explicitly asking voters to cast their ballots for or against candidates. “The vast majority of these political commercials are billed as ‘issue advocacy,’” said Shea, “but they are more easily recognized as attack ads.”

According to Shea, this latest twist on campaign financing laws speaks to the
incivility permeating politics today. An overwhelming majority of Americans polled last spring said they perceived an increasing
rancor and hostility in politics. A second survey, conducted two weeks ago by the CPP, indicates that the majority of Americans
believe civility has gotten worse, in large part due to the nature of campaigning.
“It’s no wonder”, Shea noted, “that four times as many Americans see the tone of campaigning as much more negative this year, than those those who see the election as more positive. The floodgates are open, and we’re a torrent of nastiness and negativity.”

Self-described independents expressed the most opposition to outside election spending, at about 72 percent. Self- described Democrats and Republicans both oppose the practice, at about 65 percent, respectively.
Self- described conservative, liberals, and moderates oppose outside spending by about 65 percent, while a full 75 percent of Americans aged 50 and older oppose it, too. About 63 percent of Americans who earn more than $100,000 and 69 percent of those making less than $25,000 oppose outside spending.

PLANS TOPIC: 377 The Business Check-up

Posted on 27. Oct, 2010 by admin in Uncategorized

It’s that time of year again.

For most businesses that file annual year end December 31st financial statements, you have entered the third quarter of your business cycle. At this time of the year, for all businesses start-up or existing, it’s a good practice to perform a business check-up evaluation to determine if your company has reached milestones you set for your business at the beginning of the year. Due
to the economy, this year has been particularly challenging or most small businesses. Compare your beginning of the year budget
with where you are right now and see how actual profit and loss stands up to your beginning of the year budgeted profit
and loss projections. This also is a good opportunity to evaluate staff and key management personnel in your organization to make sure everyone is on the same page understanding the focus and direction of the company. Customer relationships
should be reviewed to determine if the business is addressing the needs of its existing customers and properly marketing to new
clients. Key questions should be considered when performing the business checkup. Some of these questions are:

1. Are the products and services the company provides generating the necessary income and profit?
2. Should certain products or services be added or subtracted to increase the company’s overall profit margins?
3. When providing our product and services do we deliver on time keeping customers happy and maintaining good customer relations?
4. Is management focused on the task at hand and generating the positive energy necessary to make the company
successful?
5. Does ownership and management treat their employees and support staff fairly to establish a solid and loyal employee base?
6. Does the company meet weekly or monthly to discuss strategy and planning to better perform and market the company’s products and services?
7. Are relationships with vendors and trades managed properly, maintaining credit and business relationships?
8. Does everyone in the company understand the goals, objectives and mission of the company?
9. How does the business currently stack up to the competition and industry?
10. Has the company’s marketing strategy been successful through the first three quarters of the year?

As you perform the business check-up and evaluate some of the aforementioned questions, the focus, determination,
objectives and goals of the company should be reviewed from ownership to employee making sure everyone in the
company knows their role, and realizes that each individual person creates the whole team when building and maintaining
a successful business.

Vincent C. Ragland is
President and CEO of PLANS.
PLANS can be reached at (312)
286-6886 and by Email at
Vncnt599@sbcglobal.net.

Something Snazzy

Posted on 26. Oct, 2010 by admin in Uncategorized

$100 Million to go towards reducing recidivism rates

Posted on 20. Oct, 2010 by admin in Uncategorized

By Lisette Livingston

Speaking at the European Offenders Employment Forum recently, Attorney General Eric Holder said $110 million in funding will go towards the Second Chance Act reentry grants and the Justice Reinvestment Initiative for fiscal year 2010. The two efforts focus on reducing recidivism rates and state and local spending on corrections through the
use of evidence-based, smart-on-crime approaches implemented by state, local, tribal and non-profit
partners. The department’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP) is administering the grants, research,
and training and technical assistance.

“Today’s Department of Justice is dedicated to being smart, not only tough, on crime – and our reentry efforts are no exception,” said Holder. “It’s vital that we help ensure that people who want to improve our society, as well as their own circumstances, have opportunities to grow, to learn, and to contribute. By joining together, I believe that we can
realize our shared vision of safe, thriving communities,” he added.

There are more than 2.3 million people incarcerated in the United States, according to OJP’s Bureau
of Justice Statistics. Ninety-five percent of all people incarcerated today will eventually be released and will return to their communities. The conference, held recently in Washington, D.C., was convened by the National Transitional
Jobs Network and the Center for Economic and Social Inclusion to discuss promising practices, policies, and strategies for prisoner reentry.

“We have a responsibility to partner with communities to keep the public safe and to ensure ex-offenders are fully equipped to become productive, law-abiding citizens,” said Laurie O. Robinson, Assistant Attorney General for OJP, who also spoke at the conference. “This includes supporting community-based programs that are successful, and backed by evidence of effectiveness,” she said.

CPAAIG endorses Quinn

Posted on 20. Oct, 2010 by admin in Uncategorized

by Thelma Sardin

On Oct. 13, a coalition of black leaders held a press conference announcing their endorsement of Gov. Pat Quinn’s re-election
campaign. The Coalition to Protect African American Interests in Government (CPAAIG) cited their endorsement of Quinn
as a sign of progression for the black community.
Jay Travis, a member of CPAAIG, said the coalition is, “harnessing collective voting power” of African Americans. Acknowledging the power of the black vote, Travis continued by saying African Americans have a potentially definitive voice
in the election of Illinois’ next governor. “Fifteen percent of voters in Illinois are black,” she said. In addition to Travis, several other CPAAIG members addressed reporters including Shantiel Simon, Dr. Patricia Watkins and Dr. Conrad Worrill.

The press conference served as a public platform to inform members of the press and the black community at large. The CPAAIG cited four target areas Gov. Quinn will address if he is re-elected: (1) job creation and workforce development; (2) restoration of justice to the criminal justice system; (3) comprehensive education preforms; and (4) adequate funding for essential human
services programs.

CPAAIG members at the presser represented communities of the greater Chicago land area, Shantiel Simon of Robbins addressed the press saying, “… [Quinn]is what we need today.”

Should Quinn win on Nov. 2, his second term will symbolize,“protecting [the black interest] and eradicating poverty [in
the black community],” said Simon. “Pat Quinn understands change must happen from the top down,” Simon said.

With a sense of urgency, Dr. Conrad Worrill warned members of the press that African Americans are not waiting patiently as dire
situations facing black communities intensify. “We don’t want the press to think black people are sleep,” he said. In the CPAAIG release the organization cited, it is essential that African Americans unite around core issues that are destabilizing our neighborhoods and families.

In a recent press release, the CPAAIG noted some of Gov. Quinn’s initiatives that have supported the black community: (1) equitable school funding; (2) early childhood education; (3) Grown Your Own Teacher training program; (4) Cease Fire and Safety Networks to quell community violence; (5) Put Illinois to Work employment program; and (6) the Fresh
Food Fund to eliminate food deserts. In regards to his opponent, “[Bill] Brady will fight to lower the minimum wage,”
said Worrill.

As part of the effort to inform blacks about the voting process in general, Dr. Patricia Watkins said the CPAAIG is, “buzzing
people three times a week [to participate in early voting].” Watkins briefly touched on the violence sweeping Chicago communities. “We cannot allow 303 people in our neighborhoods [to] be shot down…,” she said. Watkins was referring to the
number of shootings in Chicago during the month of July. Additionally, Watkins acknowledged the potential of people of color
statewide, “We have power…not just African Americans but all people of color and we influence people all over the state,” she
said.

Funded by private donations, many people have volunteered their time and services to CPAAIG. Travis noted several people in the coalition have worked together previously but decided to pool their efforts to create a united front. Simon said the coalition is “accountable to African American communities” in making sure the black interests are upheld in government and decision making. Watkins shared a similar view with Simon. “[We] are here to amplify the black voice,” she said.

The CPAAIG is a grassroots organization working on behalf of the black community in Chicago and surrounding suburbs. The CPAAIG’s goal is to maintain the vital needs of blacks are addressed by public policies, government agencies
and elected officials. In an attempt to support Quinn’s campaign, the CPAAIG is mobilizing more than 100,000 voters. Up until election day, the CPAAIG is reaching out to the black community to inform citizens of Quinn’s advocacy of
African Americans. The coalition plans to reach black voters by “targeting specific areas and by having face-to-face conversations,” she said.

PLANS Topic : 376 Finding funding for your new small business

Posted on 20. Oct, 2010 by admin in Uncategorized

By Vincent Ragland
Wouldn’t you love to have a few million dollars to start your business? Me too! With a great idea and a great business
plan, you probably feel almost entitled to get the funding you’re seeking. Realistically, for most entrepreneurs,
you must prove your concept first before anyone will put up that kind of money. But most businesses require some sort of initial
capital for things like inventory, marketing, physical facilities, incorporation expenses, etc.While poor management is cited
most frequently as the reason businesses fail, inadequate or ill-timed financing is a close second.

When exploring your funding options, there are several factors to consider:

Are your needs short-term or long-term? How quickly will you be able to pay back the loan or provide return?

Is the money for operating expenses or for capital expenditures that will become assets, such as equipment or real estate?

Do you need all the money now or in smaller pieces over several months? Are you willing to assume all the risk if your company doesn’t succeed, or do you want someone to share the risk?

Fundamentally, there are two types of business financing:

Debt financing – You borrow the money and agree to pay it back in a particular time frame at a set interest rate. You owe the
money whether your venture succeeds or not.

Equity financing – You sell partial ownership of your company in exchange for cash. The investors assume all (or most) of the risk–if the company fails, they lose their money. But if it succeeds, they typically make much greater return on their investment
than interest rates. In other words, equity financing is far more expensive if your company is successful, but far less expensive if it isn’t.

Let’s take a closer look at the many options available for start ups.

Friends and family are still your best source for both loans and equity deals. They are typically less stringent regarding your credit and their expected return on investment. Prepare a business plan and formal documents—you’ll both feel better, and it’s good practice for later.

Credit cards are a great tool for cash flow management,assuming you use them just for that and not for long term financing. Keep one or two cards with no balance on it and pay it off every month to give yourself a 30 to 60 day float with no interest.

Bank loans come in all shapes and sizes, from micro loans of a few hundred dollars, typically offered by local community banks, to six figure loans by major national banks. These are much easier to obtain when backed by assets (home equity or an IRA) or third-party guarantors (government-sponsored SBA loans or a cosigner). If you obtain a line of credit rather than
a fixed-amount loan, you don’t start paying interest until you actually spend the money.

Vincent C. Ragland is
President and CEO of PLANS.
PLANS. can be reached at (312)
286-6886 and by Email at
Vncnt599@sbcglobal.net.

Black Vote Crucial to Stopping briefs Conservative Takeover in 2010

Posted on 20. Oct, 2010 by admin in Uncategorized

by STEPHON JOHNSON
(NNPA)- It’s been a trying year for the Democratic Party; a year when even its collective achievements have been dampened by public relations disasters. Despite Democrats’ fright at the thought of losing seats in Congress to the
Republican Party, there are several groups that can help them sustain its power, if it can get them to the polls.

One of those groups: Black folks. All over the country, Black voters have a chance to make a significant
impact in major elections. From Senate races in Kentucky, Nevada, and Missouri to gubernatorial
races in Georgia, Florida, California, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, the Black vote could be the key to Democrats
holding down the fort come November. But does that mean candidates, incumbents, and newcomers alike will alter their message to cater to Black voters?

“Tailor a message for Black voters? By and large, no,” said David Bositis of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies. “In part because the issue, with respect to Black voters, is going to be turnout, and the Republicans, they basically are viewed by African- Americans as the party of the people who opposed the Civil Rights Movement. It’s a party dominated by White southerners like Jim DeMint and African-Americans are never going to support anybody who represents the views of White southerners.”

Some were shocked that Washington, D.C., Mayor Adrian Fenty lost a re-election bid to City Council Chair
Vincent Gray. Allegedly, Fenty, who is Black, lost his election because of the perception that he left the Black
vote behind in favor of gaining White voters.

It would behoove candidates around the country to not ignore the Black vote any longer. They’re on
the clock.

Action Now Demands Halt to Foreclosure Evictions

Posted on 20. Oct, 2010 by admin in Community Focus

The multi-issue grassroots community organization Action Now held a press conference outside of Sheriff Tom Dart’s office downtown to demand that Dart put a moratorium on all foreclosure evictions effective immediately. “Action Now invited Sheriff Dart to rally with them because they admired the strong stands he’s taken in the past when families were being wrongfully evicted due to foreclosures. We only carry out lawful evictions that have been approved by a judge. When evidence is presented to our office of specific improper evictions, we have a strong history of quickly acting on it,” Liane Jackson, Press Secretary for the Cook County Sheriff ’s Office said in an emailed statement to the Citizen. The group took the action because of
recent announcements by JP Morgan Chase,Bank of America and GMAC Mortgage that they are halting foreclosure proceedings
because of alleged problems with their legal practices. Recently, employees of lending institutions have testified that they signed hundreds of affidavits daily for foreclosure cases without allegedly reading or verifying the information. These faulty mortgage foreclosures have been forcing Chicago families out of their homes and leaving a wake of vacant buildings that bring crime to communities. Action Now member and foreclosure victim Marilyn Smith said in a press release, “Banks are illegally foreclosing on homeowners and it must stop now!“Families are being forced out of their homes everyday and it is ruining our communities. In our neighborhoods there are several vacant homes on one block, which increases crime and illegal activity.“Now we hear that banks cannot even prove that they own the mortgage note for the homes that they are foreclosing on! Banks are
committing widespread foreclosure fraud and it is time that they are held accountable. Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart must halt all foreclosure evictions now until lenders can prove that they have the right to foreclose,” she said.

Biden Stumps in Chicago for Quinn

Posted on 20. Oct, 2010 by admin in Uncategorized

by Wendell A. LaGrand
Vice President Joe Biden was in Chicago last week campaigning for Illinois Governor
Pat Quinn. During a “Putting Illinois to Work (PIW) Rally,” Biden told several hundred
union workers at the Chicago Journeyman Plumbers Local 130 that, “These guys are
playing for keeps. This is for all the marbles man… they did pretty well while the rest of
us suffered,” he said, in blasting Republicans.

Vice President Joe Biden was in Chicago last week campaigning for Illinois Governor Pat Quinn.

During a “Putting Illinois to Work (PIW) Rally,” Biden told several hundred union workers at the Chicago Journeyman Plumbers
Local 130 that, “These guys are playing for keeps. This is for all the marbles man… they did pretty well while the rest of us suffered,” he said, in blasting Republicans.

When Biden stepped on stage inside the building, located on 1340 W. Washington Blvd, it was filled with energized union members, public officials and others as green, black and gold signs waved and chants of, “We need jobs,” rang out.

The vice president criticized the policies of former president George W. Bush, and the poor record of the Republican Party in balancing the national and Illinois state budgets and he accused the party of blocking legislation.

“Don’t let them tell you about balancing the budget. They have never, never, never, never, balanced the budget,” Biden said repeatedly to the joy and cheering of a somewhat raucous crowd, adding that, “He [Brady] says he’s going to cut 10 percent off school, fire, police [budgets]; that type of anti-middle class has been par for the course,” he said. “I don’t’ know
where these guys were raised,” Biden stated.

The Vice President was there to also rally support for other Democrats, including Senator, Dick Durbin, Congressman
Danny K. Davis, Democratic Nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Illinois and Secretary of State, Jessie White.

Mayor Richard Daley was on hand as well as several union officials to greet the vice president, who is canvassing the country to support his party leading up to the November 2 election. “I’m confident Pat Quinn is the right choice,” Biden said to a roaring crowd. Quinn who is in a tight race for governor with Republican nominee, Senator Bill Brady said, “We’ve gotta get our people to vote. It’s our job to stand forward, make sure we get all our people to the polls. We believe in helping people. This is the
most important election we are ever going to be involved in. I’m gonna fight hard for people who work from paycheck to pay check,” the governor said.

Earlier during the event Tiffany Henyard, a small business owner who benefited from an extension of the PIW was invited by Quinn to speak.“(PIW) helps you to grow your business. It gives you and your business the reliable help you need to survive. With the Put Illinois to Work program doors open, there is more opportunity,” she said.

Octavia Jones, who was hired by Henyard through the PIW program said, “I had never had a job. Every time I went to any employer they said “no, I’m not hiring,” when I went to Tiffany, she gave me a chance. If it were not for him [Quinn], a lot of people wouldn’t be employed,” Jones said.“

Quinn also acknowledged the PIW program would not have been possible without the help of President Obama saying, “I want to
be the Jobs governor. We would not be able to put all these people to work had it not been for our president. Barack Obama led the charge to raise minimum wage,” Quinn told the cheering, shouting supporters inside the near West Side facility.

Early voting offers greater convenience

Posted on 06. Oct, 2010 by admin in Uncategorized

by Thelma Sardin

In Chicago and suburban Cook County, early voting begins on October 12 through October 28th and polls open from 9 am to 5pm. Chicago sites are open Monday- Saturday and on Sunday
from 9 am-3pm at specified locations. Additionally, for Chicagoans, early voting is available at any of the city’s 54 early voting sites.

Jim Allen, spokesperson for the Chicago Board of Elections, cites convenience among the advantages of early voting. “People get to vote when and where they want,” he said. Allen also
noted political campaigns benefit when campaign workers can get their own voting out of the way and dedicate themselves to the campaign for election day. He suggested that the numbers of individuals who vote early are, “a reflection of people who [have] made up their minds weeks in
advance.”

For the 2008 Presidential Election, Allen indicated, “a lot of people had made up their minds by August.” Once early voting began for the 2008 General Election, Chicagoans participated in
record numbers.

Since their debut during the 2006 Primary Election, touch screen machines have made voting in Chicago effortless. The touch screens store voter information that would otherwise be available at their neighborhood polling places on election day. The touch screens include every precinct’s ballot, style, an audio component for the blind and several language options. With early voting,
“everyone can vote independently and in private,” said Allen. People of all ages have embraced the new technology. Paper ballots are only used at polling places on election day.

On Sep.30, the Chicago Board of Elections held a training class for individuals recently hired as Polling Place Administrators (PPA). PPA’s are not election judges; rather they perform technical
support duties where they manage equipment on election day. Though the touch screen machines have been successful through two election cycles,they are not error proof. According to Colin Loftin, a training consultant,there is always a small chance something will go wrong. [PPA’s are there] just in case that happens and try to troubleshoot issues with machines.

The deadline for voter registration in Illinois was Oct. 5. However, Chicago and Cook County voters still have time to register during the voter registration grace period from October 6 through October 26th. For more information contact, cookcountyclerk.com.