**For Immediate Release**
Contact: Anna Valencia Release date: Thursday, January 31, 2008
217-419-4090 www.McMenaminforCongress.com
joetocongress@aol.com STATEMENT ATTACHED
Springfield, Jan. 31st 2008: Today Joe McMenamin, Democratic candidate in the 19th Congressional District, held a press conference to denounce the Department of Energy’s decision to pull funding for the FutureGen project in Mattoon, IL. Joe McMenamin remarked how disappointed he was to learn the news and went on to say, “It is very important at this time to invest in our future and clean energy as a way to attempt to eliminate the effects of greenhouse gases on global warming.” McMenamin believes that this project would have been a step in the right direction for clean energy. McMenamin also commented on how this would impact the local economy stating, “The people in the State of Illinois have already invested countless time, energy and resources to secure this project, which will provide 3,000 construction jobs plus another 150 permanent jobs. This project will also invest 1.8 billion dollars into the local economy.”
McMenamin questioned Representative Shimkus’ motives and leadership when he refused to join the bi-partisan effort to encourage the Bush Administration to move forward with this project, “This again illustrates how out of touch Representative Shimkus is with the working women and men of his district. He continues to protect the Bush Administration policies even to the detriment of the people in the 19th District.” McMenamin believes that he has the integrity and leadership ability to be an independent advocate for the people in the 19th Congressional District stating, “This is politics at its worse and we need new leadership and a new direction. I will be an independent voice for the working men and women of the 19th Congressional District.
Joe McMenamin is running in the Democratic Primary on Tuesday February 5th. For more information contact McMenamin for Congress spokesperson Anna Valencia 217.419.4090