Dallas takes on Davis again in 7th Congressional District 

By Gabija Steponenaite 

Two opponents in several previous 7th Congressional District races are competing for the opportunity to be the area's Congressional Representative. Incumbent Danny K. Davis is determined to continue working on projects he favors, and his frequent challenger Robert Dallas promises to add a more creative approach to representing the district.

            Political advisor Robert Dallas has been running for Congress in the 7th District since 2000. “I have a burning desire to serve and help people," he said. "I want to improve the lives of people in the 7th Congressional District.”

            In transportation, Dallas said, “I would promote construction of a high-speed rail terminal in the old downtown Post Office building over the Eisenhower Expressway. The train system would cover Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Iowa, and the Midwestern plains.”      Dallas believes this project would create construction and service jobs, and he noted it would help the local steel industry by using only American steel.

“Now, the U.S. is putting more money and emphasis on the war in Iraq," Dallas said. "We do not have to go to war to make money; we can continue working on our infrastructure.”

Dallas believes US troops should leave Iraq and Afghanistan as soon as possible.  

            Regarding the U.S immigration system, “I favor changing the criteria for immigration," he said. "For example, there are number of discrepancies on who is allowed political asylum in this country¾Cubans are readily granted asylum while many African citizens are not.”

Dallas also thinks every American, immigrant, or refugee in this country would benefit from greater emphasis on creating more jobs and a better educational system.

He promises to work on creating a universal health system and obtaining more funding for pre-school, elementary, secondary, and higher education while improving student-teacher ratios. “Reducing class size in the early grades significantly improves students’ achievement,” he said.

             Dallas runs Africana Kings Gallery, which displays African artifacts. Previously, he worked for the City of Chicago’s Department of Neighborhoods, was an assistant to the director of field activities for the National Rainbow Coalition in Washington, DC, and has been an advisor and manager for several political campaigns.

Originally a Republican, Dallas switched parties several elections ago. "I realize that I will be able to serve my Democrat constituency better by being a Democrat,” he explained.

Danny K. Davis has represented the 7th Congressional District since first elected in 1996, and he said the last session of Congress "was the most productive and satisfying" of his entire political career.

            Being a member of the Education and Labor Committee, Davis helped prepare the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007. Along with other changes, this act creates more opportunities for students to receive financial aid; it increases the Pell Grant amount and reduces the interest rate by half on certain undergraduate student loans.

Davis worked with U.S. Senator Barack Obama on introducing in both houses of Congress the Predominantly Black Institutions Act, which provides $15 million in annual funding for "predominantly Black institutions." In Illinois, Chicago State University, Harold Washington College, Malcolm X College, and other local schools will benefit from this program.

            Another project on Davis’s docket is the Kinship Caregiver Support Act, which would guarantee support for relatives who raise the children of dysfunctional parents.

            Davis considers his most important achievement the passage of the “Second Chance" bill. This legislation provides funding to organizations that assist ex-offenders in integrating back into society. “Our country is the most imprisoned nation on the face of the Earth," Davis asserted, "and there is a great need to change the situation.”

The U.S. has two million incarcerated individuals, and 650,000 prisoners are released every year. Statistics show 70% of former prisoners will commit further crimes if they do not get any help in readjusting to living in a free society.

Davis also suggested the Federal government should provide jobs for people with criminal records. “If the Federal government is trying to convince private employees to hire ex-offenders, then it has to find a way to hire some of them, too,” he said.

            Davis also noted, "We need a more balanced immigration system.” He does not believe in building borders around the U.S., but he underlines the importance of enforcing existing laws, strengthening border patrol, and preventing employers from hiring and exploiting illegal immigrants.

            If re-elected he would continue working on prison and child welfare issues, responsible fatherhood laws, No Child Left Behind legislation, and other projects.