Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Better than Stephanopoulos w/Axelrod: Backpacking with State Rep. candidate Joan Solms (R) on School Choice and illegal immigrants,Cable and Streaming

Joan Solms, State Rep. Candidate (R-Aurora): Every parent should have a choice [of schools for their kids]…

Jeff Berkowitz: You give them the backpack. You take [the backpack] and you give them the backpack?

Joan Solms, State Rep. Candidate: Yes, right.

Jeff Berkowitz: The $10,000 [per year per kid.].
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Jeff Berkowitz: Your opponent, Linda Chapa LaVia, what does she have to say about that?

Joan Solms, State Rep. Candidate (R-Aurora): Oh, she is against school vouchers … …she came out against choice in education.
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John Solms: Her [Chapa LaVia’s] child goes to a private school.

Jeff Berkowitz: She said that and she said she would like to have choice [for her children] and I think it’s a religious school [that her children go to]…

Joan Solms: Yes, it is...
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This week’s Chicago metro suburban edition of “Public Affairs,” features State Rep. Candidate Joan Solms (R-Aurora, 83rd Dist.). Solms is taking on Democrat Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia. The show was taped on May 18, 2008.

The show with State Rep. Candidate Joan Solms is available 24/7 on your computer.

Public Affairs contacted State Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia a number of times in the last few months to see if she would commit to tape Public Affairs, either individually or with her opponent, Joan Solms, so that our viewers and her potential voters could learn more about her positions on the issues. Chapa LaVia did not return our calls. Joan Solms agreed weeks ago to tape the show and she kept her commitment.

State Rep. Candidate Joan Solms debates and discusses, with Jeff Berkowitz, Public Affairs show host and Executive Legal Recruiter, various state legislative issues, including backpacking on education, taxes, spending, state treatment of illegal immigrants, driver’s certificates for illegal immigrants, impeachment, recall, Gays, Guns, God and Abortion and much, much more. For a more detailed list of show topics, see below.
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The suburban airing schedule for Public Affairs is included, below.
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The show with State Rep. candidate Joan Solms (R-Aurora) will also air throughout the City of Chicago this coming Monday night, at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21 (CANTV) and in Aurora and surrounding areas on that same Monday night at 7:30 pm on ACTV, Cable Ch. 10.
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Next week's "Public Affairs," show in the Chicago Metro Suburbs features Cook County Commissioner Forrest Claypool (D-Chicago). Claypool is also a member of the Obama for President media team and Claypool is uniquely qualified, in many respects, to discuss Barack Obama, the man and the Presidential candidate. The show focuses on the Obama Presidential Campaign, but implicitly and explicitly touches on Cook County Politics, Reform and Public Policy. You can watch the show with Comm. Claypool here.
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A partial transcipt of the show with candidate Solms is included, directly, below:

Jeff Berkowitz: Mostly, the 83rd District is in Aurora [Also includes parts of North Aurora and Montgomery]. We air in Aurora, so if you are watching it in Aurora, there is a good chance you will get a chance to vote, if you like, for Joan Solms, who is the Republican candidate [for 83rd District State Rep.]. We should say the Democratic candidate, and she is the incumbent, Linda Chapa LaVia—she was here…about a year ago; she said she would come back and lately, she’s not coming back. She’s not even returning our calls. We don’t endorse candidates but we do endorse the notion that incumbents and challengers should come on shows like Public Affairs and answer tough questions…
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Chapa LaVia: Hiding from her constituents?

Jeff Berkowitz: You see her [Chapa LaVia] in the District? I mean she lives in the District?

Joan Solms, State Rep. Candidate (R-Aurora): Yes, she does.

Jeff Berkowitz: Well, maybe… she can’t take the time to come here…She doesn’t think she needs to speak with the viewers [the District’s constituents] on TV?
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Solms says no to tax increases. Chapa LaVia says Yes?

Joan Solms, State Rep. Candidate: You know she [Chapa LaVia] voted for the three bills, increases in taxes; she’s voted for all three of them to increase our taxes; one was the toll road.

Jeff Berkowitz: She supported that?

Joan Solms: Yes and the other was that bill that would have increased taxes up to six percent on people who earn $250,000, or more, annually, She voted for that.
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Jeff Berkowitz: You would have opposed that tax increase.

Joan Solms: Yes, I did.

Jeff Berkowitz: Is your slogan, “Read my lips, no new taxes.”

Joan Solms: Yes, I took the pledge [not to increase taxes].
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Solms supports School Choice, she takes the backpacks and hands them out

Jeff Berkowitz: …but, if the parents wants to send their kid to a private school, out goes the kid, out goes the backpack, out goes the cash.

Joan Solms: That’s right.

Jeff Berkowitz: Joan Solms, would you like to give the parents that school choice?

Joan Solms: I want to give it to every parent.

Jeff Berkowitz: Every parent.

Joan Solms, State Rep. Candidate: Every parent should have a choice [of schools for their kids]…

Jeff Berkowitz: You give them the backpack. You take [the backpack] and you give them the backpack?

Joan Solms, State Rep. Candidate: Yes, right.

Jeff Berkowitz: The $10,000 [per year per kid.].
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Chapa LaVia says no to School Choice for other parents

Jeff Berkowitz: Your opponent, Linda Chapa LaVia, what does she have to say about that?

Joan Solms, State Rep. Candidate (R-Aurora): Oh, she is against school vouchers … I spoke to her personally at a meeting of the university women …she came out against choice in education.
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Chapa LaVia wants school choice for her kids

John Solms: Her [Chapa LaVia’s] child goes to a private school.

Jeff Berkowitz: She said that and she said she would like to have choice [for her children] and I think it’s a religious school [that her children go to]…

Joan Solms: Yes, it is...

Jeff Berkowitz: But, she didn’t want to give [school choice to other parents]…at this point, she didn’t tell me she was opposed to school vouchers—she told you she was opposed to vouchers; for me, she said she would have to see the program [even though I outlined a proposed school voucher program to Chapa LaVia].
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Chapa LaVia votes present: a copout?

Joan Solms, State Rep. Candidate (R-Aurora): …There was a bill that was up about the smoking ban [a ban on smoking in restaurants and bars], and she voted present…I thought that was a real copout because first of all, I would not have voted for the ban but I will not vote present because I think—

Jeff Berkowitz: People are entitled to know how you are going to vote?

Joan Solms, State Rep. Candidate: Right.

Jeff Berkowitz: And what your vote is?

Joan Solms, State Rep. Candidate: Right. They are entitled to know and she [Chapa LaVia] has voted present on other bills.
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Solms for free enterprise. Chapa LaVia votes present.

Joan Solms: I would have voted against [the smoking ban in bars and restaurants] because I think it limits private enterprise.

Jeff Berkowitz: People who own that restaurant should decide and then the customers [and employees] decide whether they want to be there or not, right?

Joan Solms: …That’s right.

Jeff Berkowitz: Free market.

Joan Solms: That’s right.
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State Rep. Candidate Joan Solms (R-Aurora) [http://www.joansolms.com/], debates and discusses the issues with "Public Affairs," show host and executive legal recruiter Jeff Berkowitz. State Rep. candidate Solms is taking on six-year Democrat incumbent Linda Chapa LaVia, who has not responded to recent Public Affairs invitations to appear on the show.

State Rep. Candidate Joan Solms is a mother of two, grandmother of eight and foster parent for a dozen kids, on both a long-term and short-term basis. She is a union member who has worked in the railroad business and accounting business. Candidate Solms has been active in the public arena on behalf of "Family values," and kids. She has taken a Freedom of Information Act Request to the State Supreme Court and she won.

Topics discussed on this episode of “Public Affairs,” include whether all parents should have freedom of school choice, including access to a fully-funded school voucher and a choice of charter schools. Candidate Solms discusses her support for school choice as well as Rep. Chapa LaVia's opposition to school choice for all parents, notwithstanding Chapa LaVia's decision to opt out of the public schools for her own kids.

The concept of competition as the "Patron saint of the consumer," is also discussed and supported by candidate Solms. Candidate Solms also articulates her support for free markets and free enterprise but her opponent, Chapa LaVia, did not appear on the show to voice her position.

Also discussed is the Illinois legislation banning smoking in restaurants and bars. Candidate Solms articulates her position on the issue, indicating she would not vote "present," as she asserted Chapa LaVia had. Solms characterized Chapa LaVia's position as a "cop-out." Chapa LaVia did not respond to an invitation to appear on the show.

Candidate Solms discusses the impact of teachers unions’ contributions to legislators on their votes and specifically the impact of such contributions on her opponent, Chapa LaVia. Again, Chapa LaVia chose not to respond to an invitation to appear on the show, so her absence from the discussion is noted.

Candidate Solms discusses Chapa LaVia’s sponsorship of legislation permitting illegal immigrants to drive with State issued “driver certificates,” in contrast to Solms’ position on the issue. State Rep. Candidate Solms also questions Chapa LaVia’s support for discounted college tuition rates for illegal immigrants attending Illinois colleges and universities relative to the tuition rates Illinois charges to legal citizens from states other than Illinois.

Solms also discusses with host Berkowitz same sex marriage; laws outlawing discrimination, based on sexual orientation, in housing and employment; a statewide ban on assault weapons; parental notice and parental consent for a minor daughter to have an abortion (including Chapa LaVia’s views); laws restricting the rights of abortion protesters; the Aurora abortion clinic zoning/public hearing issues; the use of ultra-sound equipment at clinics counseling those considering having an abortion; right of recall of statewide elected officials; impeachment of Gov. Blagojevich; are there statewide spending programs that can be cut; who can strengthen families; does Chapa LaVia support increased taxes? Does Solms? Which candidate has taken a pledge not to increase taxes? Who is giving financial support to Solms? Senator Lauzen? Jim Oberweis? Where is Jim Oberweis?
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This week’s suburban episode of Public Affairs with guest State Rep. Candidate Joan Solms (R-Aurora) airs:

tonight at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Channel 19 in Buffalo Grove, Elk Grove Village, Hoffman Estates, parts of Inverness, Lincolnwood, Morton Grove, Niles, Northfield, Palatine, Rolling Meadows and Wilmette

and tonight at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Channel 35 in Arlington Heights, Bartlett, Glenview, Golf, Des Plaines, Hanover Park, Mt. Prospect, Northbrook, Park Ridge, Prospect Heights, Schaumburg, Skokie, Streamwood and Wheeling.

and this week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8:30 pm airing on Comcast Cable Channel 19 in Bannockburn, Deerfield, Ft. Sheridan, Glencoe, Highland Park, Highwood, Kenilworth, Lincolnshire, Riverwoods and Winnetka. Additionally, there is a special airing in these areas of the show with candidate Joan Solms at 9:00 pm on this Thursday night on Comcast Cable Channel 19.
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Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search can be reached at JBCG@aol.com. You may watch "Public Affairs," shows with Presidential Candidates Obama, McCain, Giuliani and Cox, Next week's show in the suburbs with Comm. Forrest Claypool (D-Chicago), This week's show in the Suburbs with State Rep. Candidate Joan Solms (R-Aurora), last week's show in Chicago and Aurora with 6th CD Democratic candidate, Colonel Jill Morgenthaler (Ret.), last night's night's show in Chicago and Aurora with with State Rep. Jim Durkin (R- Western Springs) and shows with many other pols at www.PublicAffairsTv.com
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Recently posted shows on the Public Affairs Youtube page include This week's show in the suburbs with State Rep. Candidate Joan Solms (R-Aurora), next week's show in the suburbs with Comm. Forrest Claypool (D-Chicago) on the Obama Presidential campaign, Monday night's show in Chicago and Aurora with State Rep. Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs), last week's show in Chicago and Aurora with 6th CD Democratic candidate Colonel Jill Morgenthaler (Ret.), the prior week's show in Chicago and Aurora with Sen. Dillard, and our prior shows with former Presidential Candidate John Cox, Dem. Campaign consultant Pete Giangreco, State Rep. John Fritchey (D-Chicago), Senator and Deputy Republican Senate Leader Christine Radogno (R-Lemont) and many other pols