Gill, Goetten Pick Up Endorsements in Dem. Congressional Race

The two Democrats running for Congress in Illinois' new 13th District announced new endorsements on Wednesday.

Dr. David Gill of Bloomington is being endorsed by the political action committee of the National Organization for Women. At a news conference in Champaign, the emergency room physician said that NOW recognized his strong pro-choice stance --- and support of contraception coverage under the federal health care law. Gill accused his Democratic primary rival, Matt Goetten of Carrollton, of being silent on such issues as access to contraception, women's health screenings and women's access to legal abortions.

"We need a Democratic candidate in this race who will forcefully address Tim Johnson," said Gill. "Who will turn to him and say, 'Mr. Johnson, get out of our bedrooms and keep your hands off of our bodies?' I intend to be that candidate."

Goetten spokesman Vlad Gutman said that while the Greene County State's Attorney is focusing on the economy in his campaign, he has stated publicly that he is "a pro-choice Catholic who has always chosen life." Gutman said Goetten backs the Obama administration's compromise move to use insurance companies to cover contraception for employees of Catholic institutions. He said Goetten believes medical decisions should be made by patients and their doctors, not by members of Congress.

Meanwhile, Goetten has picked up the backing of the political action committee for VoteVets.org, a progressive veterans group that focuses on supporting veterans for public office. Goetten serves in the Illinois National Guard, and he was deployed to Afghanistan in 2009 as a judge advocate general.

A Goetten news release quotes VoteVets.org PAC Chairman John Stoltz endorsing him as "just the kind of person we need in Washington. He served, and he knows veterans issues well. He also has the experience needed to make a real difference."

Goetten and Gill are competing to run against Congressman Tim Johnson (R-Urbana), who himself faces challenges from Metro East residents Michael Firsching and Frank Metzger in the GOP primary in the new 13th District.