Latest news with #D-Chicago
Chicago Tribune
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Lake County's congressmen weigh in on Iran bombing; ‘The right decision by an administration and president that usually make the wrong one'
Members of the U.S. House of Representatives who represent parts of Lake County agree that Iran should never have a nuclear weapon, but disagree to varying extents about President Donald Trump's failure to go to Congress before bombing three Iranian nuclear facilities on Saturday. U.S. Rep Brad Schneider, D-Highland Park, who was in the Middle East last week talking to leaders of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, discussing paths to peace, said if the ceasefire Trump brokered after the bombing works, it could lead to a more peaceful region. 'We looked at ways we could further the Abraham Accords. We talked about the ability of the parties in the Middle East to find a path to security and prosperity,' Schneider said. 'It will make relief, recovery and renewal in Gaza easier,' he added, referring to a potential ceasefire there. Both U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Evanston, and U.S. Rep. Bill Foster, D-Naperville, said Trump's withdrawal from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal during his first term set in motion the events that led to the bombing of three Iranian nuclear sites Saturday. 'This successful diplomatic agreement cut off every pathway to an Iranian nuclear weapon until Trump withdrew from it in 2018,' Schakowsky said in an email. 'Under that agreement, we maintained adequate oversight over Iran's nuclear program such that if they backed out, the U.S. and our allies would have at least a full year to respond militarily before Iran had enriched uranium for their first nuclear weapon,' Foster added via email. U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley, D-Chicago, said in an email that Trump's actions placed the U.S. in a less-safe position, which puts members of the American armed forces in the Middle East in danger and is 'increasing the likelihood of an attack on U.S. soil.' 'Iran is one of the largest state sponsors of terrorism in the world, and I believe preventing them from developing a nuclear weapon is critical to global security,' Quigley said in the email. 'The way to accomplish this goal is through diplomacy.' Foster, Quigley, Schakowsky and Schneider were scheduled to participate in a classified briefing about the war now involving the United States, Israel and Iran on Tuesday in Washington, which was abruptly cancelled, leaving them without needed information. 'I'm indignant how Trump did not inform Congress, or at least leadership of both parties,' Schneider said. 'We need to know the extent Iran's nuclear program was destabilized and how our people in the region and around the world are impacted. We need to be informed about the intelligence on which these decisions were based.' While Congress has the sole authority to declare war under the Constitution, Schneider said the president is charged with keeping Americans safe both at home and around the world. It is part of his constitutional authority. 'There is a tension there,' Schneider said, 'That prerogative exists not only as a matter of law, but as a safeguard,' he added in a statement Saturday night. 'The administration must immediately engage with Congress and urgently provide a bipartisan, classified briefing so we can assess the intelligence, legal justifications, objectives and consequences of this action.' From the time Iran stopped cooperating with international nuclear inspectors, Foster said the president had sufficient time to seek Congress's permission to use powerful bombs that only America has to strike Iran. 'There has been more than enough time for the Trump Administration to brief Congress on the situation and seek the permission constitutionally required for military action,' Foster said in a statement. 'It is also inexcusable that Trump did not inform Congressional leadership before military action was taken.' Quoting an article from the Atlantic, Schneider said Trump's decision to bomb Iran 'was the right decision by an administration and president that usually make the wrong one.' He questioned the ability and experience of people advising the president, like Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem. 'All of these people now make important decisions,' Schneider said. 'I have grave concerns about their ability to do so.' Foster, a nuclear scientist who worked at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory before being elected to Congress, said in the email that he has heard a number of inaccurate statements about nuclear weapons from Vice President JD Vance. 'Based on the technically ignorant statements from people like JD Vance, it's clear that relevant knowledge of nuclear weapons is completely absent in this administration,' Foster said in the email.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Field grows for successors to Robin Kelly, 5 either running or exploring options
The field of potential successors to Robin Kelly as 2nd Congressional District representative is growing, with five people either announcing their candidacy or exploring a possible run. This week, Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller said she's formed an exploratory committee comprised of south suburban mayors to study her options. Yumeka Brown, a commissioner with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District and Matteson village clerk, said Tuesday she is a candidate after initially forming a group to explore a run. She is also president of the Rich Township Democrats. Lynwood resident Eric France, whose father worked for several Chicago mayors, plans to announce his candidacy at a news conference Saturday in Burnham. With Kelly running to replace U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, who's not seeking reelection, Kelly's representative seat in Washington appears up for grabs, but with the primaries still nearly a year away the field of contenders could grow or shrink. Kelly served in the Illinois House and won a special primary in 2013 for her seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. State Sen. Robert Peters, D-Chicago, had previously said he is a candidate for Kelly's House seat. Matteson Mayor Sheila Chalmers-Currin has formed an exploratory committee to consider a run. Miller, a Lynwood resident in her second term as 6th District commissioner, was elected to the Cook County Board in November 2018 after winning the Democratic primary that March. Miller is vice president of the Illinois Democratic Women organization and former president of the Democratic Women of the South Suburbs. She said Wednesday her exploratory committee is comprised of Dolton Mayor Jason House, Flossmoor Mayor Michelle Nelson, Homewood Mayor Rich Hofeld, Lynwood Mayor Jada Curry, Markham Mayor Roger Agpawa, Olympia Fields Mayor Sterling Burke and South Holland Mayor Don DeGraff. The oddly shaped 2nd Congressional District stretches about 140 miles along the Lake Michigan shoreline and the Indiana border, from 43rd Street on Chicago's South Side to south of Danville in central Illinois. The district includes all or parts of Blue Island, Calumet City, Chicago Heights, Country Club Hills, Dolton, Flossmoor, Glenwood, Harvey, Hazel Crest, Homewood, Markham, Matteson, Monee, Olympia Fields, Park Forest, Thornton and University Park. If Kelly, a seven-term Democratic congresswoman from Matteson, stays in the Senate race, she would be unable to run for reelection in the House. She previously told the Chicago Tribune she won't circulate petititions later this year to run for another congressional term. Chalmers-Currin, sworn in for her third term earlier this month, said she was working with business leaders and elected officials to study a possible bid for Kelly's job. Peters took office as state senator in January 2019 to succeed Kwame Raoul, now state attorney general. Peters' district is entirely in Chicago, taking in all or parts of communities including the East Side, Hyde Park, Kenwood and South Chicago. France, of Lynwood, heads up The France Group, a management consulting firm started by his father, Erwin France. Erwin France spent nearly 20 years in public service beginning in 1967 when former Mayor Richard J. Daley brought the St. Louis native to Chicago as one of his administrative assistants, according to a Chicago Tribune obituary. He worked in consulting jobs with city agencies during the administrations of former Mayors Michael Bilandic, Jane Byrne and Harold Washington, according to the obituary.
Chicago Tribune
29-05-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Field grows for successors to Robin Kelly, 5 either running or exploring options
The field of potential successors to Robin Kelly as 2nd Congressional District representative is growing, with five people either announcing their candidacy or exploring a possible run. This week, Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller said she's formed an exploratory committee comprised of south suburban mayors to study her options. Yumeka Brown, a commissioner with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District and Matteson village clerk, said Tuesday she is a candidate after initially forming a group to explore a run. She is also president of the Rich Township Democrats. Lynwood resident Eric France, whose father worked for several Chicago mayors, plans to announce his candidacy at a news conference Saturday in Burnham. With Kelly running to replace U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, who's not seeking reelection, Kelly's representative seat in Washington appears up for grabs, but with the primaries still nearly a year away the field of contenders could grow or shrink. Kelly served in the Illinois House and won a special primary in 2013 for her seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. State Sen. Robert Peters, D-Chicago, had previously said he is a candidate for Kelly's House seat. Matteson Mayor Sheila Chalmers-Currin has formed an exploratory committee to consider a run. Miller, a Lynwood resident in her second term as 6th District commissioner, was elected to the Cook County Board in November 2018 after winning the Democratic primary that March. Miller is vice president of the Illinois Democratic Women organization and former president of the Democratic Women of the South Suburbs. She said Wednesday her exploratory committee is comprised of Dolton Mayor Jason House, Flossmoor Mayor Michelle Nelson, Homewood Mayor Rich Hofeld, Lynwood Mayor Jada Curry, Markham Mayor Roger Agpawa, Olympia Fields Mayor Sterling Burke and South Holland Mayor Don DeGraff. The oddly shaped 2nd Congressional District stretches about 140 miles along the Lake Michigan shoreline and the Indiana border, from 43rd Street on Chicago's South Side to south of Danville in central Illinois. The district includes all or parts of Blue Island, Calumet City, Chicago Heights, Country Club Hills, Dolton, Flossmoor, Glenwood, Harvey, Hazel Crest, Homewood, Markham, Matteson, Monee, Olympia Fields, Park Forest, Thornton and University Park. If Kelly, a seven-term Democratic congresswoman from Matteson, stays in the Senate race, she would be unable to run for reelection in the House. She previously told the Chicago Tribune she won't circulate petititions later this year to run for another congressional term. Chalmers-Currin, sworn in for her third term earlier this month, said she was working with business leaders and elected officials to study a possible bid for Kelly's job. Peters took office as state senator in January 2019 to succeed Kwame Raoul, now state attorney general. Peters' district is entirely in Chicago, taking in all or parts of communities including the East Side, Hyde Park, Kenwood and South Chicago. France, of Lynwood, heads up The France Group, a management consulting firm started by his father, Erwin France. Erwin France spent nearly 20 years in public service beginning in 1967 when former Mayor Richard J. Daley brought the St. Louis native to Chicago as one of his administrative assistants, according to a Chicago Tribune obituary. He worked in consulting jobs with city agencies during the administrations of former Mayors Michael Bilandic, Jane Byrne and Harold Washington, according to the obituary.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
3 look to follow Robin Kelly in U.S. House as she seeks bigger profile in Washington
With U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly looking to take the place of Dick Durbin in the Senate, others are looking to compete for her job in Washington. In the wake of Kelly's announcement of her plans, after Durbin said he would not seek reelection, those who've announced or are looking to follow her in the 2nd Congressional District include two Matteson officials and a South Side state senator. Assuming that Kelly, a seven-term Democratic congresswoman from Matteson, stays in the Senate race, she would be unable to run for reelection in the House. The primaries won't take place until next March, giving plenty of time for others to look at their possible campaigns for the 2nd Congressional District. Yumeka Brown, Matteson village clerk and a commissioner with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, has formed an exploratory committee for a potential run, as has Matteson Mayor Sheila Chalmers-Currin. State Sen. Robert Peters, D-Chicago, said he is a candidate for Kelly's House seat. Both Brown and Chalmers-Currin said they will do listening tours to take the temperature of voters and potential support as part of their exploration of potential candidacies. The oddly shaped 2nd Congressional District stretches about 140 miles along the Lake Michigan shoreline and the Indiana border, from 43rd Street on Chicago's South Side to south of Danville in central Illinois. The district includes all or parts of Southland communities including Blue Island, Calumet City, Chicago Heights, Country Club Hills, Dolton, Flossmoor, Glenwood, Harvey, Hazel Crest, Homewood, Markham, Matteson, Monee, Olympia Fields, Park Forest, Thornton and University Park. The list of those potential candidates includes just about every known name on Chicago's South Side and south suburbs, including Chicago aldermen and local state representatives and senators. Those who've been mentioned as potential candidates in the heavily Democratic district include Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller of Lynwood, and state Sen. Napoleon Harris of Harvey. Harris is the new supervisor in Thornton Township after one-term supervisor Tiffany Henyard, also the former Dolton mayor, was not slated by Democrats in the recent election. Brown was elected to the MWRD Board in November 2022 and first elected Matteson's clerk in April 2017. She wasreelected to a third term last month. 'Over the past twelve years, Representative Robin Kelly has served the Second Congressional District well. We have all lauded her accomplishments and fight for the middle class, the underserved, and the voiceless,' Brown said in announcing her interest in succeeding Kelly. 'As she now steps forward to take that fight to the United States Senate, our district faces a pivotal moment.' 'We must elevate the mission in Congress to protect Medicaid, Social Security, the rights of women, and to guard against Donald Trump's planned destruction of the Affordable Healthcare Act.' Brown said. Chalmers-Currin, sworn in for her third term Tuesday, said she is working with business leaders and elected officials to study a possible bid for Kelly's job. 'Given her recent announcement, it is imperative someone fills the possible void,' Chalmers-Currin said. 'I love being the mayor of Matteson so this was not on my radar.' 'I cannot not look at this,' she said. Chalmers-Currin said she's not yet making a formal announcement to run, and doesn't have a timetable for when she might decide. 'When it's something exploratory, there are moving pieces going on right now,' she said. 'You don't want to go out and make an announcement until you know if there is a track and a desire.' While testing the water at this point, Chalmers-Currin said she wants to be ready should Kelly stay committed to the U.S. Senate run. Kelly told the Chicago Tribune she doesn't plan to circulate nominating petitions later this year for an eighth term in the U.S. House. 'Right now it looks like she's all in,' Chalmers-Currin said of Kelly. Peters took office as state senator in January 2019 to succeed Kwame Raoul, now state attorney general. Peters' district is entirely in Chicago, taking in all or parts of communities including the East Side, Hyde Park, Kenwood and South Chicago. 'I'm running for Congress to take on the billionaires in charge of Washington and to build a government that delivers for the people,' Peters said Tuesday in announcing his candidacy. 'Donald Trump and Elon Musk are taking a wrecking ball to our fundamental rights, and we need a proven fighter in Congress to stand up to them and their extremist followers.' Along with Kelly, declared Democratic candidates for Durbin's seat are Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton and Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi. Stratton is being backed by billionaire Gov. JB Pritzker and is also endorsed by Sen. Tammy Duckworth, and Krishnamoorthi is a five-term congressman from Schaumburg sitting on more than $19 million in campaign cash. Kelly had more than $2 million in her campaign war chest at the start of April, campaign records show. Chicago Tribune contributed
Chicago Tribune
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
3 look to follow Robin Kelly in U.S. House as she seeks bigger profile in Washington
With U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly looking to take the place of Dick Durbin in the Senate, others are looking to compete for her job in Washington. In the wake of Kelly's announcement of her plans, after Durbin said he would not seek reelection, those who've announced or are looking to follow her in the 2nd Congressional District include two Matteson officials and a South Side state senator. Assuming that Kelly, a seven-term Democratic congresswoman from Matteson, stays in the Senate race, she would be unable to run for reelection in the House. The primaries won't take place until next March, giving plenty of time for others to look at their possible campaigns for the 2nd Congressional District. Yumeka Brown, Matteson village clerk and a commissioner with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, has formed an exploratory committee for a potential run, as has Matteson Mayor Sheila Chalmers-Currin. State Sen. Robert Peters, D-Chicago said he is a candidate for Kelly's House seat. Both Brown and Chalmers-Currin said they will do listening tours to take the temperature of voters and potential support as part of their exploration of potential candidacies. The oddly shaped 2nd Congressional District stretches about 140 miles along the Lake Michigan shoreline and the Indiana border, from 43rd Street on Chicago's South Side to south of Danville in central Illinois. The district includes all or parts of Southland communities including Blue Island, Calumet City, Chicago Heights, Country Club Hills, Dolton, Flossmoor, Glenwood, Harvey, Hazel Crest, Homewood, Markham, Matteson, Monee, Olympia Fields, Park Forest, Thornton and University Park. The list of those potential candidates includes just about every known name on Chicago's South Side and south suburbs, including Chicago aldermen and local state representatives and senators. Those who've been mentioned as potential candidates in the heavily Democratic district include Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller of Lynwood, and state Sen. Napoleon Harris of Harvey. Harris is the new supervisor in Thornton Township after one-term supervisor Tiffany Henyard, also the former Dolton mayor, was not slated by Democrats in the recent election. Brown was elected to the MWRD Board in November 2022 and first elected Matteson's clerk in April 2017. She wasreelected to a third term last month. 'Over the past twelve years, Representative Robin Kelly has served the Second Congressional District well. We have all lauded her accomplishments and fight for the middle class, the underserved, and the voiceless,' Brown said in announcing her interest in succeeding Kelly. 'As she now steps forward to take that fight to the United States Senate, our district faces a pivotal moment.' 'We must elevate the mission in Congress to protect Medicaid, Social Security, the rights of women, and to guard against Donald Trump's planned destruction of the Affordable Healthcare Act.' Brown said. Chalmers-Currin, sworn in for her third term Tuesday, said she is working with business leaders and elected officials to study a possible bid for Kelly's job. 'Given her recent announcement, it is imperative someone fills the possible void,' Chalmers-Currin said. 'I love being the mayor of Matteson so this was not on my radar.' 'I cannot not look at this,' she said. Chalmers-Currin said she's not yet making a formal announcement to run, and doesn't have a timetable for when she might decide. 'When it's something exploratory, there are moving pieces going on right now,' she said. 'You don't want to go out and make an announcement until you know if there is a track and a desire.' While testing the water at this point, Chalmers-Currin said she wants to be ready should Kelly stay committed to the U.S. Senate run. Kelly told the Chicago Tribune she doesn't plan to circulate nominating petitions later this year for an eighth term in the U.S. House. 'Right now it looks like she's all in,' Chalmers-Currin said of Kelly. Peters took office as state senator in January 2019 to succeed Kwame Raoul, now state attorney general. Peters' district is entirely in Chicago, taking in all or parts of communities including the East Side, Hyde Park, Kenwood and South Chicago. 'I'm running for Congress to take on the billionaires in charge of Washington and to build a government that delivers for the people,' Peters said Tuesday in announcing his candidacy. 'Donald Trump and Elon Musk are taking a wrecking ball to our fundamental rights, and we need a proven fighter in Congress to stand up to them and their extremist followers.' Along with Kelly, declared Democratic candidates for Durbin's seat are Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton and Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi. Stratton is being backed by billionaire Gov. JB Pritzker and is also endorsed by Sen. Tammy Duckworth, and Krishnamoorthi is a five-term congressman from Schaumburg sitting on more than $19 million in campaign cash. Kelly had more than $2 million in her campaign war chest at the start of April, campaign records show.
