U.S. Congressman and gubernatorial candidate Glenn Poshard is urging fellow Democrats to stick together and work to change the Illinois legislature.

If we stick together as Democrats, we can change the face of the legislature, said Poshard, D-Ill. We can not shrink in the shadows because the roots of this party go deep.

Poshard was in Carbondale for a campaign rally at the Civic Center Friday night. Almost 500 supporters were in attendance for the rally.

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Poshard not only called upon the members of the Democratic Party to support him, but to support fellow Democratic candidates.

Democratic candidates Barb Brown, Don Strom, and Jim Fowler were also in attendance and Poshard also called for support of these candidates.

I am convinced I can make a difference in this state, but I need help, he said. I am running on the same basic principle on which I have stood my entire life. We must always remember our roots from where we have come.

Unity is the basic bedrock principle on which the Democratic Party has stood.

Poshard said that every two years he takes a few days to sit down and write his beliefs about life. After he determines this, he writes down his philosophy of government.

I believe the government is about principles not projects, programs or policy, Poshard said.

Poshard said that his first priority is to balance the budget.

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We must balance the checkbook every day, week and year. Pay as you go. We must stop Republican borrowing and spending, he said.

Poshard said that the United States was $5 billion in debt when Ronald Reagan took office and $4 trillion in debt when George Bush left office.

He said U.S. Speaker of the House of Representatives Newt Gingrich wants more tax breaks for the wealthy, reasoning that they will spend more and invest more and improve the economy.

We have been hearing about the trickle down effect for 12 years, he said. We know what that means now.

Poshard said he is proud to stand as a Democrat six years into the Clinton presidency because this year the administration has balanced the budget.

Poshard also said that if he is elected governor he will make sure that there is equal access to education for all children.

He said right now that two-thirds of Illinois children have less than $4,000 spent on their education a year, while one-third have $12,000 to $15,000 spent on their education.

Something in this state must change, Poshard said. This problem has grown for almost 20 solid years. If we owe are children anything, it is equal access to education.

Poshard said building another prison is not he answer.

I have more prisons in my district than community colleges, right now, he said.

Poshard also supports organized labor, saying it will have a place beside the governor.

He also said that he wants to restore the people’s trust in the government.

If I cannot restore the trust in the government between the representatives and the represented, I will feel I have failed, he said.

Poshard said he feels that money is overwhelming the system and if elected he wants to enact serious reform of campaign financing.

People are buying access to government office and access influences policy, he said. For every single citizen of Illinois, irrespective of economic background, the door will be open for them, and they will have equal access to the state government.