Laurel Lambert Schmidt Gets IVI-IPO Endorsement

The Independent Votes of Illinois and Independent Precinct Organization has just endorsed my candidacy for Representative to Congress in the 3rd District. It was a lengthy process that included an 8 page questionnaire and personal but extremely congenial interview. Check out all their endorsements here: http://www.iviipo.org/2010Endorsements.html.
–Laurel

Join us in Brookfield to Parade for Peace July 3

The Laurel Lambert Schmidt for Congress Campaign will be joining Near West Citizens for Peace and Justice in a peace contingent in Brookfield’s Independence Day Parade, Saturday, July 3. Meet us at Garfield (1 blk S of 31st St) and Kemman at 9:30 and put on your best Peace or Green wear. — Laurel

Laurel4Congress at the Blue Moon in Beverly!

I’ll be at the Blue Moon Coffee House in Beverly later today to talk about my candidacy at the invitation of “Mr. Grassroots,” John Presta. Join us for the discussion at 7:00 pm: 1742 W. 99th Street, Chicago.

Time to End the Age of Oil

There is only so much oil on planet Earth and the end is in sight.  We call this the problem of  “Peak Oil.”

For the last century, the gas compression engine has driven Western civilization.  Our drive to control the market has landed us squarely  into  Asian land wars we will never win.  Now the despoliation of the Gulf continues unabated as huge amounts of oil gush into the warm waters there.

If elected to Congress, I will work to ban off shore drilling and for an end to BP’s liability limit.

We need to retool before the risks we take to extract more oil destroy us all.   Let us wean our selves off of king oil and work so renewables will run our world.

Laurel Lambert Schmidt

Lipinski is Dead Wrong on Health Care

By voting “no” on the health care bill that passed the US House last night (3/21/10), Dan Lipinski has put his  personal religious values before the well-being of millions of Americans who just might be able get health care coverage when before they could not.

It seems Lipinski was the only Illinois Democrat to vote “no” on the bill because (even with an executive order to the contrary) it contained insufficient restrictions on a woman’s right to an abortion.

Don’t get me wrong.   I am not a big fan of the bill.

• It maintains and even strengthens the power relations that are to blame for skyrocketing health care costs.
• There is no viable public option.
• I advocate single payer, or expanded Medicare for all and will work to make that come about.

However, in the US Congress one has to swallow bitter pills in the name of compromise and this health care bill is the only game in town.

By voting “no,” Lipinski solidifies his record as a social conservative.    He has also voted against stem cell research; against ENDA — the bill that prohibited employment discrimination of LGBT persons –  and for the Federal suppression of medical marijuana use.

Lipinski, however, continues to vote  in favor of numerous war appropriations bills.  I think it is fair to characterize Dan Lipinski as “Pro Life before Birth only.”

Vote Green Party!  What the 3rd Congressional District needs is someone who will work to improve the new health care bill, to work for jobs right here, to create sustainable communities and to bring our troops home.   I urge you to join my campaign and dump Dan Lipinski this coming November.

Laurel Lambert Schmidt

When will we Filibuster Against War?

Sen. Jim Bunning probably imagined himself as Jimmy Stewart last week when he conducted a filibuster to block appropriations for an extension of unemployment benefits to millions of cash strapped US workers. In Mr Smith Goes to Washington, Stewart plays a courageous representative who put himself on the line before caving into the politics of corruption.

Bunning’s stunt would have been better played out in opposition of where the money really is: gargantuan spending for war including a new “defense supplemental” appropriation.

Green is the Real Deal

Green Party candidates pledge to take zero corporate or PAC money. Refreshing, isn’t it? At a time when Congress is bought and paid for and an army of corporate lobbyists write the laws that favor those who hire them, Greens rely on individual contributions alone.

This legal practice of corporate control of Congress will become even more egregious with the recent FEC vs Citizens United decision by the Supreme Court that removed any limits to corporate contributions to election campaigns.

I have heard that it take $350,000 to run a winning Congressional campaign. I won’t have that nearly that much but I will have my independence and credibility to offer voters.

What takes no money is the dedication of a group of eager volunteers.  If you are willing to contribute your time and energy to a campaign that rejects corporate domination of what should be government “for the people,” send me an email (laurel [at] ilgp [dot] org) or note your comment right here.

Thanks.

Don't Privatize Midway/Don't Privatize Our Water

I take exception to the op ed piece in the Chicago Tribune’s Feb 11 edition:  “Time to privatize Midway.”

The authors, Roper and Gannon, claim that the “great success” of privatizing Chicago’s parking meters is an argument for privatizing Midway Airport.   That’s news to me since I have heard nothing but criticism and public outrage since the parking meter sell off occurred. I wonder that the authors have the audacity to make such a claim.

The authors cite the success story of Midway and today’s interest rates as providing a “chance to capitalize on this potential investment…..”     If private firms reap the profits from the public’s investment for a short-term public payout, who will remain to oversee the interests of the public with regards to neighborhood safety and the environmental impact of continued growth in this area?

How long will the current lawmakers continue the process of selling off the public commons to finance a short term bonus to the public treasury?  I suspect this is another chance for certain interests to make a killing.

Now there are plans afoot to privatize the water we receive from Lake Michigan.    Once sold, there will be no public control of what has been a resource for all to use and private profit will trump public need.

Join the Green Party and help protect the public’s property for the public’s good.

Groundhog Primary is Over

I’d like to thank each of the 286 voters who cast a vote for me yesterday.   Congrats to Rita Maniotis (my esteemed campaign chair) and Jerry Pohlen (esteemed friend) who ran for IL State Central Committee woman and man.  The Third is turning Green.   ON TO NOVEMBER!!

Why I'm running……

For those of you who question why I’m running for Congress, here’s an excerpt from the letter I sent out this year with my holiday greetings….

…..After years of political action working for peace, I have given up on the Democrats and filed to run for the US Congress as a member of the Green Party. I will run to give voice to the concerns of the poor and all who would work for peace. I am unopposed in the primary and will appear on the ballot next November.

I thank my family for their help and support in this effort.  No matter what the outcome, however, it will make some interesting dinner table conversation in the coming year and an unparalleled life experience.

Wishing you all some unparalleled life experiences!

Peace in the New Year & happy holidays to all
Laurel & family
12/22/09

There are other reasons for my running as well.

• To provide a platform and voice for the left.
• To protect the ballot and have someone who holds to Green values available for the voters.
• To force our sitting Congressman, Dan Lipinski, to listen to and have to respond to progressive, anti-war concerns.
• To represent those who favor reproductive choice, LGBTQ rights and justice for immigrants.  Dan Lipinski is a social conservative.