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"As President Bush prepares to address
the nation and outline his plans to move our country in the right
direction, I will be listening carefully to hear how he will support
states like Illinois as we take action to help and protect working
and middle class families that are too often forgotten by their
government.
"States are leading the charge to
expand access to affordable health care for families who earn too
much for public programs, but can't afford private coverage. We've
already extended access to all children in Illinois, and will soon
announce our plans for extending access to every Illinoisan. How
will the federal government support those efforts?
[to top of second column]
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 "Last year the President said it
was time to end America's addiction to foreign oil. Here in
Illinois, we're embarking on an aggressive and comprehensive effort
to use our own resources -- like corn, soybeans and coal -- to meet
half of our energy needs by 2017. The federal government can and
should play a major role in helping plans like ours become a
reality.
"And while the war in Iraq wages
on, and the President prepares to increase the United States'
presence in the Middle East, I want to hear how he will ensure that
the National Guard has the equipment and resources it needs to
fulfill its crucial security and emergency response obligations here
at home."
[News release from the governor's office] |
