Today, while President Barack Obama traveled through Poland, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05) applauded the President’s strong support of his bill to ease restrictions for Polish citizens wanting to travel to the United States. Earlier today, President Obama endorsed legislation introduced by Rep. Quigley to reform how countries qualify for the visa waiver program to ensure that strong allies like Poland are included.  This legislation requires that aspirants to the visa waiver program commit to enhanced counter-terrorism cooperation with the United States.

Congressman Mike Quigley (D-Ill.) and Senator Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) met yesterday with Poland's Ambassador Robert Kupiecki to discuss the US-Poland partnership, including advancing the bicameral, bipartisan legislation to include Poland in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program (VWP) prior to President Obama's inaugural visit to Poland on May 27-28.

Illinois State Treasurer Dan Rutherford is thankful for the honor to participate in Chicago’s 120th Annual Polish Constitution Day festivities.

Illinois State Treasurer Dan Rutherford is reminding Southern Illinois citizens about aide available to them from the treasurer’s Disaster Recovery linked deposit program.

SPRINGFIELD – April 19, 2011 – Illinois State Treasurer Dan Rutherford is announcing a comprehensive list of office improvements he has instituted for the benefit of taxpayers during his first 100 days in office. The accomplishments include areas of both cost savings and good government practices. “I promised the people of Illinois and the taxpayers when I was inaugurated, that I would search for ways to streamline and cut costs,” Rutherford said. “We have found ways to save thousands of dollars, and more importantly, instill trust that office holders can do the right thing.”

BLOOMINGTON – April 18, 2011 – Illinois Treasurer Dan Rutherford has announced a low-interest loan program for farmers in conjunction with the Illinois Farm Bureau. The program, Ag Invest, has the treasurer’s office partner with eligible lenders to offer farmers low-interest loans they can use for operating costs, equipment purchases, construction related expenses and livestock purchases.

CHICAGO – April 8, 2011 – Illinois State Treasurer Dan Rutherford is announcing significant enhancements to the treasury’s various linked deposit programs to better serve the people of Illinois while also helping to stimulate the state’s economy.

 Illinois Treasurer Dan Rutherford has eliminated half of the vehicle fleet owned by the State Treasurer’s Office and almost three-quarters of office cell phones. These spending reductions continue Rutherford’s mission to streamline the office, control the use of taxpayer dollars, and find creative ways to make state government work more efficiently.

As the Illinois state treasurer, I strongly support legislation which would allow taxpayers to vote on a consolidation of the state’s two fiscal offices of the Treasurer and the Comptroller in 2012. This common sense merger saves taxpayers more than $12 million annually through operational efficiencies and improved cash management.

John Garrido, candidate for alderman in the 45th Ward, formally announced today an endorsement by the Chicago Journeyman Plumbers Union, LU130 UA.