Giannoulias Stresses Need to Bring New Jobs to Central Illinois

Press Release

Joined by U.S. Senator Dick Durbin as part of his second Illinois Jobs Tour, U.S. Senate nominee Alexi Giannoulias highlighted the stark contrast between his record of standing up to corporate special interests to save Illinois jobs, and Congressman Mark Kirk's continued support of the Bush economic policies that led to the loss of 8 million jobs.

"Unlike my opponent, I have stood up to corporate special interests and Wall Street banks and helped save hundreds of jobs in Illinois," said Giannoulias. "After 20 years in Washington, Congressman Kirk has lost touch with what Illinois. Families are going through and said that unemployment isn't a big issue. People need fresh leadership, not more of the same typical Washington politicians who can't be trusted."

Giannoulias and Durbin stops today included a tour of the EcoGrove Wind Farm in Lena before they hosted an economic roundtable at the Aldrich Guest House in Galena and talked about job losses and unemployment outside the National Manufacturing plant in Rock Falls, IL. Giannoulias is the only candidate in this race with a plan to create the next generation of good-paying jobs, help small businesses access capital so that they can grow, and root out the corporate special interests that plague Washington. Giannoulias' Future Works plan can be read in full at www.alexiforillinois.com

"Illinois families can trust Alexi to fight every day to keep their jobs here in Illinois while Congressman Kirk will only continue to support the failed Bush policies that have led to jobs bleeding out of the United States to countries like China," said Senator Durbin.

The Giannoulias Jobs Tour will hit 20 towns in four days. It started Tuesday in Champaign with a Veterans Town Hall in Champaign/Urbana, IL.

KIRK PROTECTS CORPORATE SPECIAL INTERESTS OVER AND OVER - VOTED FOR BILLIONS TO COMPANIES THAT SHIP JOBS OVERSEAS

* Kirk voted for billions in tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas and for oil companies. [HR1586, Vote 518, 8/10/10; HR4213, Vote 324, 5/28/10; HR6, Vote 445, 7/28/05; HR 4297, Vote 109, 4/27/06; Vote 258, 6/17/04; HR3090, Vote 404, 10/24/2001; HR3529, Vote 509, 12/19/01]

* Kirk voted to give benefits to corporations that locate offshore to dodge U.S. taxes. [HR4520, Vote 258, 6/17/04]

* Kirk voted against prohibiting corporate inversion. [HR4931, Vote 247, 6/21/02]

* In May 2010, Kirk voted against HR4213-the American Jobs, Closing Tax Loopholes and Preventing Outsourcing Act, which would extend unemployment benefits and Recovery Act provisions and close loopholes for companies that ship jobs overseas. [HR4213, Vote 324, 5/28/10]

* Kirk voted against penalizing companies that lay off a greater percentage of their U.S. workers than workers overseas. [HR2871, Vote 120, 5/1/02]

* Kirk voted to give billions in tax breaks to financial corporations that have overseas operations. [HR3529, Vote 509, 12/19/01]

* Kirk voted against providing extra assistance to individuals who have lost their jobs to outsourcing. [HR27, Vote 47, 3/2/05]

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