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IL-10
Quick Hit
by Aricka Flowers
5:43pm
Thu Aug 26, 2010

Seals Slams Dold's Social Security Stance

When U.S. Rep. Sandy Levin (D-MI) endorsed Dan Seals, the Democratic candidate in the 10th Congressional District race, yesterday's announcement of the decision quickly turned to the future of Social Security. Seals's GOP candidate Robert Dold has backed Social Security privatization in the past and more recently flirted with supporting Wisconsin Republican Paul Ryan's radical "Roadmap" plan, which would cut Social Security benefits. Levin, who is chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means and has fought against such proposals in Congress, said that although he hasn't met Dold, he has "met the positions that he proposes and that he believes in." Levin went on to explain why no plan for Social Security privatization would work:

There can always be slight differences in privatization plans, but if you tear them apart, they are all the same. At the heart of it, it would move younger people away from insured benefit plans and put poeple in a substanial way dependent upon the stock market. And we've learned these last years how much in jeopardy this places a trust fund and also how much it places in jeopardy the people who have to rely on it. If those who are now on social security all had, instead of social security, 401(k)s, they would be in, frankly, difficult straits.

Seals echoed that sentiment and voiced his concern about the impact Social Security privatization would have on the federal deficit:

If you were to privatize Social Security, you would actually add trillions of dollars to the debt - and outstanding debt already stands at $13 trillion, so the notion that we can add another two trillion or more to it is simply unacceptable. I support protecting Social Security and I'm happy to have the endorsement of a committee looking to protect and preserve Social Security and Medicare and I'll continue to work to make sure this is a program that's solvent for years to come.

Considering the fact that Republicans have been filibustering any and every bill that would add to the federal deficit, like the recently-passed state aid bill, does Dold's support of such an expensive and unproven initiative make any sense?

Quick Hit
by Aricka Flowers
4:59pm
Tue Aug 24, 2010

Stem Cells: Where Does Dold Stand?

Tenth Congressional District Democratic nominee Dan Seals was quick to voice his disapproval of a federal judge's ruling to stop the use of government money for embryonic stem cell research. Where does his opponent, GOP candidate Robert Dold, stand on the issue?

Dold hasn't commented on the stem cell ruling (or the issue as a whole), so the best we can do is postulate on where he might fall in the debate based on related topics. When it comes to abortion rights, Dold is telling the media he is pro-choice, although his interaction with Planned Parenthood tells a different story. According to the organization, Dold failed to apply for endorsement consideration until after they named Seals the only pro-choice candidate running in the district. Planned Parenthood even highlighted Dold's endorsement by the right-wing Eagle Forum, which has subsequentially disappeared from that group's website. The anti-choice Illinois Federation for Right to Life is backing the GOP nominee, as well.

Considering his dodgy behavior surrounding the issue of choice, Dold might be keeping mum about the stem cell ruling because he supports it and knows the sentiment wouldn't bode well in the northern suburbs.

Quick Hit
by Micah Maidenberg
3:26pm
Mon Aug 23, 2010

Americans For Prosperity To Target Key Illinois Races

Voters in Illinois' 10th, 11th, and 14th Congressional Districts can expect activists organized by the right-wing Americans For Prosperity to arrive in their neck of the woods next month, Chicago Magazine's Carol Felsenthal recently noted, with "anti-spending" voter education guides in hand. Backed by the billionaire businessmen Charles and David Koch, Americans For Prosperity promotes libertarian policies, and has been at the fore of attacking Obama Administration positions on climate change, health care and combating the economic downturn, according to a profile of the Koch brothers available in the the latest edition of the New Yorker. The piece describes the brothers' personal philosophy thusly:

The Kochs are longtime libertarians who believe in drastically lower personal and corporate taxes, minimal social services for the needy, and much less oversight of industry—especially environmental regulation. These views dovetail with the brothers’ corporate interests.

Besides the September arrival of Americans For Prosperity activists, the Koch brothers, through their company's political action committee, have raised their profile in Illinois politics of late. For the current election cycle, the Koch Industries PAC has thus far made separate donations of $5,000 to Republican candidates Robert Dold and Adam Kinzinger; $5,000 to Republican Congressman Peter Roskam; $6,000 to Republican Congressman John Shimkus; and $10,000 to U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk, the Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate. The numbers all come from the Center for Responsive Politics.

Quick Hit
by Adam Doster
1:06pm
Mon Aug 16, 2010

Social Security: A Hot Button Issue In 10th CD Race

What is Robert Dold's position on Social Security? In late July, the Republican's 10th District Congressional nominee encouraged his campaign followers to familiarize themselves with U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan’s (R-WI) Roadmap for America’s Future, a budget plan that would largely privatize the government's retirement system while lowering benefit payments. Hours later, he pulled the message down from his Facebook account. On Saturday, the 75th anniversary of Social Security's creation, members of the New Trier Democrats delivered a "Social Security birthday cake" to Dold's Winnetka office. Dold celebrated by asking what Democratic opponent Dan Seals' "plan is to save Social Security from future bankruptcy."

Bankruptcy? The Social Security Trust Fund (PDF) is in surplus and will pay out (PDF) full benefits through 2037. Persistent unemployment threatens its long-term solvency, but the program is not in serious danger. (Indeed, one could make a strong case that benefits should be strengthened.) Dold should be forced to elaborate on that assertion during the campaign.

Quick Hit
by Adam Doster
10:41am
Fri Aug 13, 2010

"Independent And Impressive"

Now begins the time of year where residents of Illinois' 10th Congressional District are deluged with political ads. In one of the hottest congressional races of the season, both GOP nominee Robert Dold and Democratic nominee Dan Seals released television ads this week. Below is Seals' introductory spot, titled "Independent and Impressive."

Quick Hit
by Adam Doster
9:32am
Tue Jul 27, 2010

Dold's Radical Budget Plan

Republican 10th Congressional District candidate Robert Dold took to Facebook recently and encouraged his campaign followers to bone up on Rep. Paul Ryan’s (R-WI) Roadmap for America’s Future. That's the GOP budget plan that would raise taxes on 90 percent of Americans while generating $2 trillion annually less in revenue. Guess who grabs the windfall? The rich! Ryan also would cut domestic programs and Social Security benefits dramatically while (irrationally) privatizing (and "rationing" care) for Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP patients. Even after all of that, the plan wouldn't even erase the entire long-term budget deficit. In other words, it's not really a political winner.

That might explain why Dold's campaign removed the post a few hours later. Dan Seals' campaign has more on the topic here.