TRUE STORIES ABOUT MARK KIRK'S GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS

In the House of Representatives there are two types of legislators -- those that get things done and those that talk about getting things done. Mark Kirk is the latter. These are his stories.

LAS ABUELITAS - THE GRANDMOTHERS' PROJECT

  • Congressman Kirk's District Office helps undocumented Mexicans in Waukegan reunite with their families from 3 different cities in Mexico.
    • Because the Waukegan residents do not have "papers", they cannot return home to see their families because they would not be allowed to return to Waukegan.
  • According to members of the Hispanic community in Waukegan, the Congressman has visited Tonatico, met with residents in churches there, and asked for a show of hands as to who has family in Waukegan. He then arranges their visits to the U.S.
  • If the Sensenbrenner bill that Kirk approved last December became law, his "project" might subject him to a 5-year prison term for aiding illegals.
  • These reunions endear Mark Kirk to the immigrant community - they are indebted to him. The photo ops with Latinos enhance his "centrist" credentials, and the underlying story is largely ignored by the mainstream media.

See the 2 english-language newspaper articles from earlier this year.

En español, página 1, 2, 3


SAVING THE VETERANS HOSPITAL

  • 2/27/2000, Chicago Sun Times: N. Chicago VA hospital won't close

    • Sens. Dick Durbin, Peter Fitzgerald, and three Illinois representative appealed to Defense Secretary William S. Cohen to explore collaboration between the 2 facilities

    • Naval Hospital signed a sharing agreement with VA Hospital 3/1/2000...8 months before Kirk was elected

  • Project was planned for years, and is not unique - there are dozens of DoD-VA sharing agreements around the country. Both agencies have been under White House and legislative pressure to cut costs since 2001.

  • Merger will not be complete until 2010 - provided construction of the new facility begins next year and proceeds on schedule.

CLEANING UP WAUKEGAN HARBOR

  • Kirk uses a 3-year old, EPA-funded consultant study to support his claim of over $800 million in economic development. The figure comes from estimates of appreciated home values IF the Harbor is cleaned up and the entire area redeveloped. The $800 million is NOT revenue for Waukegan, nor is it assured

  • Waukegan must raise $12 million by July, 2007 to be eligible for limited federal funds - and will compete with 30 other Great Lakes clean up sites. IF funding is secured, Army Corps estimates the work could be completed by 2010.

  • On Oct. 13, Kirk told the Lake County Board they needed to contribute $3 million. County Chair Suze Schmidt said We really don't have $3 million extra in the budget.

DOUBLE-TRACKING THE NORTH CENTRAL LINE

  • 5/22/2000 Chicago Tribune: "A transportation funding bill that includes $35 million for Metra including double tracking of the North Central LIne, was approved this week."...6 months before Kirk was elected.

  • Porter sat on the Transportation Sub-Committee of Appropriations, and Daniel Lipinski was a senior member of the House Transportation Committee. Together with Dennis Hastert, they were given credit for making it a priority and securing the project's funding.