Boland Blog

Mike's campaign issued the following press release.

During his campaign for Lt. Governor, Scott Lee Cohen has been very reluctant to specify what type of "Chicago Businessman" he is exactly. Cohen built his fortune as a pawnbroker targeting lower income minorities who have resorted to selling their belongings for loans and cash. Support for Cohen have slowed after accusations of racist comments made by his spokesman became public.

When asked about his businesses during his campaign for Lt. Governor, Cohen has said that he operates Cohen Green Cleaning Supplies, a company that distributes environmentally friendly cleaning products. However, the only evidence to be found online of this operation's existence is from Cohen plugging it during his campaign. With no accessible website or company information available to the public, Cohen has admitted that Cohen Green Cleaning Supplies is a recent startup that was put on hold when he began his campaign for Lt. Governor.

In late summer 2009, Cohen met with City News publisher James Taylor Sr. However, when B. J. Mason, a City News advertising representative, contacted a Cohen spokesman about advertising in the publication, an insulting racial comment was made. "He said something about 'you people' and not voting anyway," said Mason.

The Cohen campaign also has a history of challenging petition circulators and signatures made by lower-income and African American citizens. One of his political operatives challenged petitions Lt. Governor candidate Mike Boland running against Cohen. In the challenge, Cohen's operative systematically challenged petition signatures and petition circulators from predominately African American neighborhoods. The State Board of Elections found in Boland's favor dismissing the allegations from the Cohen campaign operative.

Downstate Democrat Mike Boland is a candidate for Lt. Governor who has made it his mission to create jobs and opportunities for the low income public struggling to get by in this economically depressed time. Mike Boland was one of the founders of the Citizens Utility Board which has saved consumers more than $10 billion in utility costs. Boland also was a key supporter of legislation to curtail the payday loan industry that preys on the low-income community and has been criticized for exploiting financial hardship for profit. Boland is also the only candidate for Lt. Governor with a comprehensive jobs program.

Mike Boland recently issued this press release.

Midwest Generation, a top campaign donor to both Rod Blagojevich and Terry Link, seeks weaker environmental standards

Chicago, IL - Representative Mike Boland, Democratic candidate for Illinois Lieutenant Governor , called on Terry Link to return donations from Midwest Generation, which has been a frequent target of community groups and EPA lawsuits. The company's six aging coal-fired power plants, including the Waukegan Station in Link's Senate district, are some of the worst contributors to air pollution in the Chicago area. Midwest Generation and its parent company are a top career donor to Link, giving his campaigns over $30,000.

A report by the Chicago Tribune in August, 2009 suggests politics played a role in the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency's failure to take action against Midwest Generation under Rod Blagojevich, even while thousands of environmental violations were recorded at their plants.
Midwest Generation is one of Blagojevich's top donors, giving over $100,000 to his campaign. Two of his top political aides were hired as lobbyists for the company, including a former chief of staff. Another served simultaneously as re-election campaign spokesperson and a Midwest Generation lobbyist.

With Blagojevich out of office, the Illinois Attorney General and U.S. Department of Justice recently sued Midwest Generation for frequent violations at their Chicago area plants. A coalition of environmental organizations filed a supporting suit focusing on soot (particulate matter) and other pollutants. Pollution from the plant is linked to increased rates of asthma attacks, respiratory disease, heart disease, and early deaths in the Chicago area.

"Bringing green jobs to Illinois while we move toward a new energy future will be my top priority as Lieutenant Governor," said Boland. "State office holders should fight for public health interests without regard to big money special interests. Democratic candidates must make it clear to voters that the Blagojevich era of pay-to-play politics and special favors is over. It's time for Terry Link to come clean and return those donations."

A new law goes into effect this year that requires any American flag flying at a public building in Illinois to be made in the USA. KWOC recently reported on the law introduced by Mike Boland.

The American flag is the most recognizable symbol of our country and you might assume they're all made in the USA. But one Quad City lawmaker's discovery not only shocked him, it made him take action.

State Representative Mike Boland says, "Caskets coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan had American flags on them, but they were made in China." Those Chinese-made flags draping the caskets of fallen American soldiers were enough to spur Boland into action. "To think that our soldiers were coming back and they don't even have an American flag made in America - it's just outrageous."

As a state representative, Boland can only change laws in Illinois. But the foreign-made flags gave him an idea. "There's so many things that aren't made in America anymore, but you ought to at least have the American flags that are used by the American government or state government to be American made. It's a matter of patriotism."

Other state lawmakers agreed, and as of Friday any American flag flying at a public building or in a public office in Illinois has to be made in the USA.

Mike Boland's long record of standing for real reform helped to earn endorsement by the Independent Voters of Illinois - Independent Precinct Organization. The group is "dedicated to good government activism and an idealistic vision of open, honest government in Illinois." The endorsement recognizes Mike's leading role as a progressive voice for good government and election reform.

East Moline, IL (11/15/09) - State Representative Mike Boland, a Democratic candidate for Lt. Governor, praised Governor Pat Quinn's efforts to get the federal government to use the Thomson prison. "The jobs created by a more full use of Thomson prison are welcome to the communities surrounding Thomson," Boland said.

Rep. Boland, the only downstate Democrat in the Lt. Governor's race, said that he has been trying for nearly a decade to get more use out of the maximum security prison. "This area needs the jobs that will come with a broader use of Thomson prison," Boland said. "We finally have a Governor who takes the economic development of Western Illinois as seriously as I do."

A study done by Governor Quinn's office estimates that between 2,500 and 3,500 jobs could be created by selling the prison to the federal government. News reports indicate that the Obama Administration may consider bringing prisoners to Thomson from the Guantanamo Bay detention center when it closes sometime next year.

An eight term legislator, Rep. Boland said that Republican opposition to Governor Quinn's plan is political. "Of course anyone brought to a maximum security prison is dangerous by definition," Boland said, acknowledging the violent nature of the potential new inmates. "This is why we built Thomson prison to begin with-to house dangerous individuals." Boland said he is confident that "any potential danger" can be managed by federal and state officials working together.

Rep. Boland, whose legislative member initiatives have brought hundreds of jobs to the region, said that in this tough economic time, "Jobs have to be our number one priority. While the Republicans peddle fear, we choose jobs."

Appearing with Governor Quinn at the press conference Sunday to announce the potential sale of Thomson prison to the federal government, Rep. Boland said, "I fail to see how safely housing Guantanamo Bay inmates is different than safely housing Manuel Noriega, Gangster Disciple inmates, John Gotti, or mass murderers, or other violent criminals that are or have been routinely housed in maximum security prisons in Illinois," Boland said. "Apparently Republicans do not think it is possible to chew gum and walk at the same time. We can create jobs by opening Thomson prison and do it safely, regardless of who is imprisoned there."

Rep. Boland said that over the years, he has worked with local officials, three Governors, even legislators from neighboring Iowa to try to get the prison opened. He even suggested selling it to the federal government several years ago. "I have worked my heart out to get the more use out of this prison," Boland said. "If it means jobs for my district, we would even take Stu Levine as a prisoner," Boland joked.

Check out the TV news video of Mike's campaign announcement stop in Rockford.

Mike filed candidate petitions for Lieutenant Governor today with signatures from all 102 Illinois counties!

Mike has been busy traveling the state to talk about issues that matter. In case you missed it, check out this news article about the Challenge Scholarship, and Mike's support for real health care reform. You can read about the Challenge Scholarship and other issues at the campaign website.

Mike Boland began a statewide tour to announce his campaign for Illinois Lieutenant Governor! It started with a energetic event in Chicago earlier today. Monday he'll be in Rockford, Galesburg, and Moline.

Watch for more details and news coming soon.