Yesterday Tammy Duckworth won the Democratic Congressional primary in the Illinois 8th district. Duckworth defeated Raja Krishnamoorthi with 67 percent of the vote and will now face freshman Republican Representative Joe Walsh in November.
Duckworth, who lost both of her legs during a helicopter crash while serving in Iraq, stated, "We are on our way to take on Joe Walsh. I'm only here today because of my buddies in Iraq, and now every day I strive to be worthy of their effort...Tea Party members like Joe Walsh are breaking a promise to the American people. They want to pull the rug out from under seniors so they can protect tax cuts for wealthy Americans."
Duckworth lost a bid for the 6th Congressional district in 2006 by 29 percent. She was subsequently appointed by President Obama to the Associate for Public and Intergovernmental Affairs as the US Deputy of Veterans Affairs.
Duckworth's campaign in the Illinois primary was backed by Mayor Rahm Emanuel, US Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), and David Axelrod, as well as large unions.
Media Resources: Chicago Tribune 3/21/12; Chicago Sun Times 3/20/12
5/20/2013 Afghan Violence Against Women Law Blocked in Parliament - On Saturday, the Speaker of the Lower House of Afghan Parliament delayed a vote on the Elimination of Violence against Women law after two hours of vociferous debate between conservative religious and more liberal members of Parliament. . . .
5/20/2013 Walmart, American Retailers Refuse to Join Bangladesh Accord - Walmart, along with 13 other major North American companies, refused to sign a legally binding agreement to improve working conditions for overseas factory workers that manufacture their clothes after a garment factory collapsed in Bangladesh killing an estimated 1300 workers, the New York Times reports.
The agreement requires retailers pay $500,000 to improve worker safety measures over a five year period. . . .
