Despite Halvorson's crass description, Bloomberg is investing in a safer Chicago

Debbie Halvorson, a struggling candidate for the 2nd Illinois Congressional district, said yesterday that New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is trying to "buy this election." What Debbie Halvorson says is a crass description of what Mayor Bloomberg is actually doing and trying to accomplish.

Don't think that Bloomberg hasn't heard as he said yesterday speaking at a press conference in New York City that "It's just an outrage, and the public I think should stand up. I'm part of the public. I happen to have some money, and that's what I'm gonna do with my money — try to get us some sensible gun laws."

Mayor Bloomberg has seen the violence in his own city and wants it stopped. He is in a position to do so. Mayor Bloomberg is not trying to buy anything. He is purported to be worth some $22B and needs little personally. Bloomberg has reached a time in his life in which he wants to give back to a world that has been good to him.

Bloomberg is not trying to "buy this election," as crassly described by Debbie Halvorson. Bloomberg is investing his money wisely in a candidate, Robin Kelly, that is now and was in the past committed to common sense gun laws.

In fact, Robin Kelly very first law introduced as a state legislator was a law to prevent the straw purchases of guns. Robin Kelly was the "chief sponsor" in the Illinois House on that legislation.

In the Illinois Senate, one of the bill's co-sponsors was a bright, up-and-coming state senator, Barack Obama. The bill passed the Illinois House 112 to 4 and became effective on Aug. 7, 2003.

It didn't stop there with Robin Kelly. Feb. 4, 2005, she proposed the "Assault Weapons Control Law." The bill sought to make the manufacture, distribution, transport, sale, import or transfer of an assault weapon a Class 2 Felony. Fourteen days later, she co-sponsored an amendment to Firearms Owners Identification Card Act to ensure that those who sell firearms first pass a background check before being allowed to sell or transfer.

In March of the same year, 2005, Robin co-sponsored the Firearms Dealer Licensing Act, making it a felony to sell or transfer firearms without a license. On May 29, 2005, Robin co-sponsored the Firearms Act, which strengthened several aspects related to Firearms Owners Identification Cards. The Act passed and became effective July 29, 2005.

So is it any wonder that Robin Kelly would receive a grade of "F" from the ISRA and the NRA.

Is it any wonder that Robin Kelly caught the attention of Mayor Michael Bloomberg with that kind of record.

With the lack of a strong "gun" record and an "A" rating from the National Rifle Association, is it any wonder that Debbie Halvorson cannot be trusted on this issue.

Bloomberg is investing on Chicago's future. Just as Bloomberg has worked diligently to make New York City a better place to live, he is working to make Chicago a better place to live.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has invested or committed to investing a little in excess of $2.1M in Chicago's future as a safer city with the anticipated result of being free of senseless gun violence. In spite of Debbie Halvorson's selfish and short-sighted criticism of Mayor Bloomberg, these dollars being spent and invested are a wise, long-term investment.

Bloomberg knows something about investing. As an undergraduate at John Hopkins University, Bloomberg worked as a parking attendant to help pay his way through college. Nothing in life was handed to Bloomberg.

He was lucky enough to become a general partner in 1973 at Salomon Brothers, but in 1981 he was laid off. He received a $10M severance package. Most people would squandered that small fortune, but Bloomberg used the money to start a company named Innovative Market Systems. The company provided high quality business information at high-speeds, as these state-of-the-art terminals were sought after all over the world by investment companies.

The company later was renamed Bloomberg and ancillary products including Bloomberg News, Bloomberg Message, and Bloomberg Tradebook were launched from there.

In 2001, Bloomberg ran and won for mayor of New York and is now serving his third and final term in office. Nobody questions whether New York City is a better place to live because of Mayor Bloomberg. It is a safer place to live.

Mayor Bloomberg is using his platform as mayor of New York City, not to make himself richer.

Money he has got.

Mayor Bloomberg is using his platform in an unselfish manner to make this world a better place.

That is a lesson that Debbie Halvorson has yet to learn.

To donate to the Robin Kelly for Congress campaign, click on the contribution page.

Send John Presta an email and your story ideas or suggestions or even to volunteer for Robin Kelly at johnpresta@att.net.

John is the author of an award-winning book, the 2010 Winner of the USA National Best Book award for African-American studies, published by The Elevator Group Mr. and Mrs. Grassroots: How Barack Obama, Two Bookstore Owners, and 300 Volunteers did it. Also available an eBook on Amazon. John is also a member of the Society of Midland Authors and is a book reviewer of political books for the New York Journal of Books. John has volunteered for many political campaigns and is currently an unpaid volunteer for the Robin Kelly for Congress campaign. Robin Kelly also has a facebook fan page.