DK Meetup, kicking off with Daniel Biss

We will host a series of DK meetups in Chicago to allow the netroots to mingle with our progressive candidates and get view of campaigns and current needs.

September 20: Daniel Biss (State IL-17)
October 4: Mark Pera(IL-3)
October 18:  Dan Seals (IL-10) confirm pending
Nov 1:  Bill Foster (IL-14), confirm pending

We kick off this Thursday.  Please come and join us for appetizers and beers/margaritas at the Blue Agave!  

You may have met kossack Daniel Biss, running for State Rep IL-17, at a DK meetup or YearlyKos.  Let me acquaint you with Daniel as a candidate:

Daniel Biss will find and create order out of the chaos that is Illinois legislation today.  A mathematics professor at the University of Chicago (and an alum of Harvard and MIT), he is a progressive who connects with people.

Having only turned 30 last month, Daniel brings to the table a dynamic energy and passion for the future.  He is uniquely suited to bring a progressive agenda in representation of an area that is largely Democratic, but has a Republican representative.  His opponent, Beth Coulson, attacks Daniel’s notable grassroots support on ActBlue by deliberately misleading voters on the purpose and function of ActBlue--on which he was a top five candidate.  (Others have addressed this:  read the Archpundit,  and Illinois Reason.)

So let’s keep the donations up and show Coulson that she can't scare Democrats away from democratic politics!

Daniel has identified and articulated positions that are most worrisome for Illinois residents, and approaches these issues from a clear fact-based perspective.  

Education:  He points out that IL is in the 15 wealthiest states, and ranks 48 out of 50 in per pupil expenditures.  As well, IL spends $1000 less per pupil than the minimum threshold designated by the Education Fund Advisory Board.  
Healthcare:  IL family premiums have increased 85% since 2000, and 1.7 M residents have no health insurance coverage.  Daniel cites this and points out how this is a "moral issue".  
Environment:  Daniel has pulled together an analysis of the greatest IL contributors to pollution, and has tailored a platform of positions to address key issues in IL including power plants, subsidies to the coal industry, clean water and fuel standards.
Choice:  Daniel notes the federal trend to peel away protection of women’s choice as well as Illinois’ anti-progressive legislation that he is committed to overturning.
Smart Growth:  Daniel shows vision by addressing the need for the city to support existing communities and mass transit rather than paving farmland and encouraging suburban sprawl, as in recent history.

We need Daniel in office fighting for us.  Daniel will be giving us an update on the progress of his campaign, and sharing some of the ways we can help lock down this victory.  So, please join us.  Here are details:

Date:  Thursday, September 20
Time:  8:00 pm
Place:  Blue Agave, raised level (this has been reserved)
Address:  just off intersection of State and Maple.
(Not to complicate, but two addresses are given since it's an intersection)
1 West Maple Street, Chicago IL, N. State Street, Chicago IL, 60610
Blue Agave phone:

Note: Jerry 101 will be organizing these with me; if you have any questions please contact one of us.