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Congress
Quick Hit
by Ellyn Fortino
2:50pm
Thu May 9

Lisa Madigan, Female Leaders Discuss The Political 'Year of the Woman'

Hemlines, husbands and hairdos.

Despite this year being coined the "Year of the Woman" by some political pundits, those characteristics continue to define women seeking a run for public office or who are already in power, said Bev Perdue, former Democratic governor of North Carolina.

But as America's demographic profile continues to shift, and as today's young women enter the workforce, bias against female politicians will eventually dissipate, Perdue added.

"I think you're going to bring about all this change we've been fighting about," Purdue said at a Women In Politics panel discussion at the University of Chicago (U of C) Wednesday evening. "I'd like to live long enough to see a real year of the woman, and actually a year of the gay man and a year of people not worrying about sex or race."  Read more »

PI Original
by Ashlee Rezin
1:11pm
Wed May 8

Online Retailers May Soon Lose 'Unfair Advantage' As Marketplace Fairness Act Heads To House, Proponents Say

Congress

The U.S. Senate voted to approve the Marketplace Fairness Act, a bill that would require online retailers to comply with sales tax laws of states where they sell and ship goods. According to proponents of the measure, Internet shoppers are one step closer to losing the “unfair advantage” over consumers who choose to support local merchants. Progress Illinois takes a closer look at the bill and what it could mean for the Prairie State.

Quick Hit
by Ellyn Fortino
7:46pm
Tue May 7
1 comment

Advocates For Women’s, Workers' Rights Say Congress Must Reject The Working Families Flexibility Act

More than 150 women’s, worker and civil rights organizations sent a letter to members of the U.S. House of Representatives Monday urging them to reject the Working Families Flexibility Act of 2013.

The measure, H.R. 1406, sponsored by U.S. Rep. Martha Roby (R, AL-2), is expected to go up for a full House vote Wednesday.

Opponents of the bill, which has 168 Republican cosponsors, say it is an empty promise that would do more harm than good for working families.

“The very fact that this is entitled the Working Families Flexibility Act is a joke,” U.S. Rep. Donna Edwards, a Democrat from Maryland, said on a conference call with reporters Monday. “It’s a lot of flexibility for employers and zero flexibility for working families. In fact, you could call it the ‘working families to death act,’ because that’s what would result.”

Read more »

PI Original
by Ashlee Rezin
10:17pm
Wed May 1
1 comment

Thousands Attend Chicago May Day Rally, Push For Comprehensive Immigration Reform (VIDEO)

Labor

Thousands of protesters took part in Chicago's May Day events Wednesday to stand for workers’ rights, demand a simplified pathway to citizenship and call for the end of deportations while a new immigration law is being hashed out in Congress. Progress Illinois was there for the day's events.

PI Original
by Ashlee Rezin
3:01pm
Wed May 1

Quigley Goes On Climate Change Tour, Hopes Increased Awareness Can Result In Legislative Action (VIDEO)

Environment

Too few congressional delegates fully grasp — or even believe in — the adverse effects of climate change on the environment, according to U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley (D, IL-5). In the hopes of broadening his understanding and equipping himself to translate the message of climate change adaptation strategies, Quigley hosted a two-day Climate Tour across Chicago this week.

PI Original
by Ashlee Rezin
1:03pm
Fri Apr 26

CISPA Could Be The End Of Online Privacy, Internet Activists Say

Congress

Privacy advocates condemning the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA) as the end of online confidentiality experienced a triumph this week as the legislation will likely be shelved by the U.S. Senate.