Chicago

Chicago - Conservatives - Cook County - Elections - GOP - Illinois - Republicans - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Former Ill. GOP Chair McKenna Announces Bid for Guv

October 29, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Well, he’s done it. Yesterday former State GOP Party Chairman Andy McKenna formally announced his bid to snare the GOP nomination for governor.

McKenna has launched his campaign with a video he is calling “Hair Today,” a slam on former Governor Rod Blagojevich’s well-known, finely-coiffed hair. The ad also highlights the governors that have ended up in prison for their corruption.

Yucking it up, for sure.

Ask me, McKenna is no solution to Illinois’ troubles. As the past GOP party chairman, McKenna presided over the loss to the party of every major state office and he led the party to a new level of irrelevancy in the Land of Lincoln. And the way he’s handled this campaign is already suspect.
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Former Ill. GOP Chair McKenna Announces Bid for Guv”

Anti-Americanism - Chicago - Cook County - Crime - Illinois - Islam - Islamofascism - Security/Safety - Society/Culture - Terrorism - Warner Todd Huston

2 Chicago Men Charged With Terror Plot

October 29, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Fox News is reporting that two men from Chicago are being charged by the FBI for planning terror attacks against overseas targets.

David Coleman Headley, 49, and Tahawwur Hussain Rana, 48, were charged in separate complaints filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Chicago. Headley told FBI agents that the initial plan called for an attack against the newspaper building in Copenhagen, but he later proposed just killing the paper’s cartoonist and former cultural editor, according to an FBI affidavit released Tuesday.

These charges came after an Islamic slaughterhouse operation in Kinsman, Illinois was raided by federal officials. The meat business is owned by Tahawwur Hussain Rana.

Headley was arrested at O’Hare airport where he was to meet with Pakistani terrorists. Headley has an extensive record of travels to Pakistan and told Joint Terror Task Force officials that he had received training from the terror group Lakshar-e-Taiba.

Rana is charged with funding Headley’s travels and plans.
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2 Chicago Men Charged With Terror Plot”

Anti-Americanism - Barack Obama - Budget - Chicago - Congress - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Free Trade - Health - Liberals - Society/Culture - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Senator Dick “Turbin” Durbin’s Helathcare Poll

October 28, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Illinois’ senior Senator, Dick “Turbin” Durbin is sponsoring a poll on the so-called public option on his website this week.

Durbin, who made himself notorious for saying during the Bush years that our troops were just like Nazis, wants to know what you think about the “public option” socialistic government healthcare plans he and his pals in the left-wing, Euroized Senate want to force upon us all.

Ranking your feelings from “0” meaning no support, to “10” meaning greatest support, Durbin wants to know if you want a 50-State public option, an opt-out option, an opt-in option, a trigger plan, or no public option at all.

You can guess which one I chose (hint it’s the last one).

If you are an Illinois citizen, you need to go to this site and tell “Turbin” Durbin that you do NOT want any public option at all.

Chicago - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Illinois - Liberals - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Chicago Alderman: The Dope Sheet

October 28, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

The Chicago Reader launched a very useful and interesting site with a map of Chicago’s city wards that links to each alderman’s bio and other information.

All you have to do is click on your ward and voila, you are taken to a page about your alderman.
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Chicago Alderman: The Dope Sheet”

ACORN - Anti-Americanism - Budget - Chicago - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Illinois - Liberals - Republicans - State Government - Taxes - Unions - Warner Todd Huston

Durkin and Connelly move to overturn Quinn’s EO 09-15

October 28, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Illinois Review has some great news on the Gov. Quinn/ACORN/SEIU front. As we’ve discussed many times here, Gov. Quinn authored Executive Order 9-15 that tried to unionize in-home healthcare workers that get a stipend from the state to care for their own family members. I’ve been working with Americans for Tax Reform to sponsor an investigation into the millions of state dollars that end up with the unions and ACORN. Our effort can be seen at SayNoToACORN.com.

It looks like several state pols have finally taken notice of Gov. Quinn’s stealth sop to unions and ACORN and are sponsoring a resolution to begin the process to stop it. Illinois Review takes it from here….
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Durkin and Connelly move to overturn Quinn’s EO 09-15″

ACORN - Barack Obama - Budget - Business - Chicago - Congress - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - House of Representatives - Illinois - Liberals - SEIU - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Why do We Need YOUR Voice Against ACORN? Because Gov’t Cannot Be Trusted!

October 28, 2009 by 4 Comments

-By Warner Todd Huston

Not long ago I posted a piece with news that the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) had decided to cut off its association with the Association for Community Activists for Reform Now (ACORN). I also reported that the RIS and several other Federal agencies had stopped their dealings with ACORN, essentially defunding them of federal dollars.

But that was then…

On October 22 Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D, Calif) was sadly successful in getting an amendment passed in the House Financial Services Committee that would allow ACORN to become an official government actor in setting regulations for financial institutions.

You read that right. Rep. Waters thought it would be a great idea to give federal power to an organization that has repeatedly broken multiple state election laws in nearly every state in the union and an organization that has been guilty of covering up the embezzlement nearly five million dollars of its own funds by one of its highest ranking members.
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Why do We Need YOUR Voice Against ACORN? Because Gov’t Cannot Be Trusted!”

Chicago - Cook County - Elections - House of Representatives - Illinois - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

17th State Rep Race: Phil Collins Celebrates Endorsements

October 27, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Chicagoan Phil Collins, a candidate for the State Rep seat from the 17th District, is reporting that he’s garnered a few endosements for his candidacy.

  • Randy White, a Hancock Co. commissioner and lt. gov. candidate
  • Raymond True, the Chairman of the Republican Assembly of Lake Co.
  • Bob Cook, the President of the Wauconda Park District Board and Chairman of the Wauconda Township Republican Organization
  • Rosanna Puldio, the founder and director of the Illinois Minuteman Project and a congressional candidate, in the 5th District
  • Frank Napolitano, a Bartlett village trustee

A pretty good haul of endorsements for Phil. Good Luck with the race.

Phil Collins Campaign Website

Collins’ FaceBook page

Abortion - Chicago - Conservatives - Cook County - Elections - GOP - House of Representatives - Illinois - Republicans - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Ill. Repub. Assembly Endorses Candidate That Quit Weeks Ago

October 27, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

The Illinois Republican Assembly proudly announced today, October 27, that it is endorsing DuPage County resident Peter Breen in his race for the Illinois House seat in the 41st District.

Great.

One problem: Breen quit the race on October 6.

The IRA was enthused by Breen’s candidacy because he “has been involved in pro-life issues to enforce the Parental Notice of Abortion Act of 1995.” I was also heartened to hear of Breen’s positions and with his role as the executive director of the Thomas Moore Law Society I also felt he was an attractive candidate.

Unfortunately, we won’t get a chance to vote for Mr. Breen… at least not this time. Breen announced on October 6 that he has decided not to give up his work with the Thomas Moore Law Society and is, therefore, abandoning his campaign for the 41st District House seat. He explained why on his campaign blog:
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Ill. Repub. Assembly Endorses Candidate That Quit Weeks Ago”

Budget - Business - Chicago - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Illinois - Liberals - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Ill Policy Institute: Let’s Stop Gov. Quinn’s Massive Tax Hike

October 27, 2009 by

A message from John Tillman, CEO of the Illinois Policy Institute:

With Governor Quinn’s $3.2 billion tax hike now in the dustbin, everyone claims it was always headed for defeat. But last spring, it was a different story—legislators, activists and the media all said the tax hike was a “done deal.”

Not so fast. First, we issued our report, “Who will really pay for Governor Quinn’s tax hike?on television, on the radio and in the papers.
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Ill Policy Institute: Let’s Stop Gov. Quinn’s Massive Tax Hike”

Chicago - Congress - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - House of Representatives - Illinois - Joe Biden - Liberals - Society/Culture - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

(11th District) Kinzinger Asks How Much VP Biden’s Visit for Halvorson Fundraiser Cost Taxpayers?

October 27, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Republican Candidate for the 11th District House seat Adam Kinzinger is still trying to find out how much Vice President Joe Biden’s August 20 appearance at a Democrat fundraiser for Rep. Debbie Halvorson (D) cost the taxpayers for police protection and city services.

Along with Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraica (R), Kinzinger, a U.S. Air Force pilot, has filed several Freedom of Information Act requests with Chicago and Cook County to discover the costs of Biden’s fly-by visit at least to those two municipalities.

Police interrupted travel from the airport, cleared city streets, monitored protesters and helped the vice president’s motorcade of unmarked squads and the Secret Service snake through Chicago’s West Side and South Loop.

Biden took care of other business while here during the August 20 visit, but the chief reason he came was for the Halvorson fundraiser. Kinzinger wants to know how much Halvorson’s fundraiser cost the taxpayers?
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(11th District) Kinzinger Asks How Much VP Biden’s Visit for Halvorson Fundraiser Cost Taxpayers?”

Chicago - Cook County - Crime - Democrats/Leftists - Education - Journalism - Judges - Liberals - Media Bias - State Government - The Law - Warner Todd Huston

Why Is Cook County AG Looking Into Students Studying the Wrongly Convicted?

October 27, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

The work of the Medill Innocence Project has already led to the exoneration of 11 inmates in Illinois. In 2000 Governor George Ryan cited the Medill Innocence Project of Northwestern University as one of the reasons he suspended the death penalty in the Land of Lincoln. It has yet to be fully reinstated.

The Medill Innocence Project has recently set its sites on the case of Anthony McKinney, convicted of murdering a security officer in 1978. The students of the Project feel that they have successfully proved that McKinney was wrongly convicted and have also succeeded in getting a judge to review the case.

One might think that thanks and accolades should be the student’s reward for their efforts to repair justice in Illinois. But for some reason Cook County prosecutors have subpoenaed the grades, grading criteria, class syllabus, expense reports and e-mails of the students of the Project. You heard that right. Prosecutors seem to be investigating the students!
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Why Is Cook County AG Looking Into Students Studying the Wrongly Convicted?”

Budget - Business - Capitalism - Chicago - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Free Trade - Illinois - Liberals - Society/Culture - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Illinois Lawmaker Gets ‘Tax Villain’ Award

October 26, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Illinois Senator James Clayborne wants to raise the Illinois State Income tax a whopping 67 percent on the citizenry and 33 percent on businesses. It amounts to thievery by the state and has earned Clayborne the title of “Tax Villain” for the month of October from the watchdog group National Taxpayers United of Illinois.

In this day when Illinois is almost bankrupt from its profligate spending, Clayborne wants to give this irresponsible government even more of the taxpayer’s money to waste. Of course, the out-of-control spending isn;t Illinois’ only problem.
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Illinois Lawmaker Gets ‘Tax Villain’ Award”

Budget - Business - Chicago - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Illinois - Liberals - Mayor Richard Daley - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Mayor Daley’s Empty Property Tax Rhetoric

October 26, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Paul Kroenke wrote a great piece on the empty bravado of Mayor Richard Daley and his populist claims that he won’t raise property taxes. Kroenke pretty much shows that because of the tax zones that Daley has set up across the city, he really can’t raise property taxes even if he wanted to do so.

Back on October 14, Daley played the populist by claiming that he was ruling out property tax hikes.

“You can’t [raise property taxes] … That would hurt people tremendously,” Daley said.

“You can only take so much. People are being laid off on a daily basis. People are getting cut back. They don’t have the money anymore. Government has to look at itself and find out what they can live with and what are their priorities. Simple as that.”

Don’t you feel all warm and fuzzy inside already?

It’s not an easy story to relate because of how convoluted the legal situation is, but Kroenke does fairly well putting it all out there. What the final take seems to be is that Daley has created what are called Tax Increment Financing zones across 30% of the city where property taxes are frozen at current rates for a 24-year period so, as it turns out, he can’t raise property taxes there anyway.
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Mayor Daley’s Empty Property Tax Rhetoric”

Chicago - Cook County - Crime - Illinois - State Government - Unions - Warner Todd Huston

Chgo. Police Union Members Throw Fund Raiser for Officer Involved in Fatal DUI

October 25, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Chicago Police Detective Joe Frugoli was charged with Drunk Driving in an April accident that killed two people. Despite that, Chicago Police union members are throwing a fund raiser at their union facilities for Frugoli’s criminal defense fund despite that they found him at three times the legal limit during the accident.

Police said Frugoli’s blood-alcohol content was more than three times the legal limit when his Lexus SUV struck a car that had pulled over on the Dan Ryan Expressway north of 18th Street. The car exploded into flames and killed Andrew Cazares, 23, and Fausto Manzera, 21.

The Union’s president said that the union itself was not the sponsor of the fundraiser and that it was just planned by some members who “have a right” to use the facilities.

One would think that the union would be smart enough to tell its members that a fundraiser for a criminal cop responsible for the deaths of several young people through his negligence is not such a good idea, especially at union facilities. It casts way too much color of authority and support by the union on behalf of this criminal cop.

Not to begrudge his friends from donating money to him to help him out with his defense fund, but to hold this soiree? That is a step too far. After all, I am not an anti-cop sort of fellow, but this? This is just a little gauche, don’t you think?
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Chgo. Police Union Members Throw Fund Raiser for Officer Involved in Fatal DUI”

Anti-Americanism - Budget - Business - Chicago - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Illinois - Liberals - Mayor Richard Daley - Society/Culture - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Now Mayor Daley is Floating a Water Sale?

October 24, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

To save his bloated city budget Mayor Daley sold the Chicago Skyway toll road. Then he sold the city parking meters. And now? Now Daley wants to sell the city water system in order to keep paying all his broken nosed pals their monthly stipend.

CBS Channel 2 is reporting that that Chicago is considering leasing its water system.

Apparently there is a local precedent for this idea already in the Will County city of Homer Glen that leased its city water services to a German-owned company.

Amusingly enough, the mayor of Homer Glen is also named Daley (no relation) and he told Channel 2 that his residents pay about three times more for their water than neighboring communities. Just imagine what Chicago’s residents will end up paying if Richard Daley sells off the city water contract!
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Now Mayor Daley is Floating a Water Sale?”

Chicago - Congress - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - GOP - Illinois - Liberals - Socialism - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Stealth Daley Taxation: Paying for Parking ‘Thru the Nose’

October 24, 2009 by

Local artist Jeff Strong is obviously not a big fan of Chicago’s new, higher parking meter rates.

He’s designed a T-shirt to communicate his anti-meter feelings.

Strong has taken creative license with the new “Pay to Park” signs for the new pay and display meters that have gone up all around the city.

Chicago - Congress - Cook County - Elections - GOP - Illinois - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Mark Vargas: Is a decision on Afghanistan above President Obama’s pay-grade?

October 23, 2009 by

-By Mark Vargas

The President said that his decision on Afghanistan could take weeks. Mark Vargas, candidate for the 14th District Congressional seat, recently asked the President to make the decision based facts and the observations of commanders on the ground, not politics. Instead of bending to the whims of special interest groups, the President needs to honor his promise to win the war in Afghanistan or bring our troops home. The year of 2009 has already been the bloodiest year of the Afghanistan operation.

“The President is playing a game with our soldier’s lives.” Mark Vargas noted to supporters. While the President is procrastinating in Washington, the job market in towns like Dixon, Aurora, Elgin, and Sycamore is getting worse. Rep. Foster and the Democrat agenda of hidden taxation, regulation, and nationalizing companies are hurting American’s here and abroad.

Mark Vargas proposes to put pressure on the President and House leadership to follow the advice of General McCrystal concerning Afghanistan. Vargas also calls for Rep. Foster focus on lowering unemployment here in the 14th. “Jobs will be my number 1 priority as your Congressman.” Mark Vargas plans on launching a Jobs Task Force when elected.

Mark Vargas for Congress, 14th District. www.vargas4congress.com

Chicago - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - GOP - Illinois - Republicans - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Rasmussen Shows Dems Down in Illinois

October 23, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

A recent Rasmussen poll shows that incumbent accidental Governor Democrat Pat Quinn is not doing so well with Illinois voters. It also shows that Illinois voters favor a generic Republican over a generic Democrat.

Former Lieutenant Governor Pat Quinn, who succeeded to the state’s top office following Blagojevich’s impeachment, is expected to seek a full term as governor next year. Forty-five percent (45%) of Illinois voters approve of the job Quinn has been doing in his short time in office, but 53% disapprove, including 25% who strongly disapprove. In August [LINK], 47% approved of Quinn’s job performance while 49% somewhat or strongly disapproved.

Just 16% of Illinois voters share a very favorable opinion of their governor, while 18% view Quinn very unfavorably. Those numbers are a slight improvement from August, when only 11% viewed Quinn very favorably and 20% shared a very unfavorable opinion.

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Rasmussen Shows Dems Down in Illinois”

Chicago - Cook County - Elections - GOP - Illinois - Republicans - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

IL District 5 Challenger David Ratowitz Statement on Congressional Countrywide Scandal:

October 23, 2009 by

IL Rep. Mike Quigley is Faking Reform

CHICAGO – October 23, 2009 – Republican challenger for U.S. Congress in Illinois District 5 David Ratowitz released the following statement today with regard to the Countrywide Financial scandal currently under investigation in Congress:

“Once again Mike Quigley fakes a stand on reform. As a member of the House of Representatives, Quigley’s statement on an internal Senate investigation has no force or relevance. Quigley’s refusal to weigh in on similar investigations of House members, such as Charlie Rangel (D-NY), where his voice would make a difference, is a stark demonstration of Mike Quigley’s insincerity when it comes to good government.”

Attorney, Army veteran and conservative activist DAVID RATOWITZ is running for U.S. Congress (IL-5) in February’s Republican primary on a platform of limited government, fiscal discipline and accountability, and individual liberty. Learn more about his campaign at www.ratowitzforcongress.com.

Chicago - Congress - Cook County - Elections - GOP - Illinois - Republicans - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Ditka NOT Supporting Hughes? What The…

October 23, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Looks like candidate Patrick Hughes has made a big UhOh when he claimed that former Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka endorsed him at a fund raiser last month. Hughes put out a press release touting the purported endorsement and featured the announcement on his website, too. In fact, Hughes even claimed that Ditka was ready to serve on the Hughes for Senate finance committee.

As it turns out, Ditka’s office is denying that da coach agreed to serve on any finance committee nor that he even officially endorsed Hughes. A blog called Team America’s 10th District Blog does a good job assembling all the disparate sources and claims of the story.
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Ditka NOT Supporting Hughes? What The…”

ACORN - Budget - Campaign Finance - Chicago - Cook County - Crime - Democrats/Leftists - Illinois - Liberals - Society/Culture - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

New Stop ACORN TV Ad

October 22, 2009 by

Illinois state government is so mixed up with AORN and the SEIU but the people are left in the dark about the truth. One group wants to launch an investigation into just how much state money these corrupt politicians are giving to ACORN and the SEIU.

SayNoToACRON.com has launched a new TV ad to inform Illinoisans on the threat to their government and taxes.

Budget - Chicago - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Free Trade - Freedom - GOP - Illinois - Liberals - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Institute for Truth in Accounting: Chicago TV on Illinois Budget Woes

October 21, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Sheila Weinberg, Institute for Truth in Accounting founder & CEO, joined WTTW-TV’s Chicago Tonight reporter Elizabeth Bracken on an October 15th panel to discuss the proposed 2011 $32 billion budget, which includes a possible $12 billion deficit. When asked about the exact size of Illinois budget shortfall, Ms. Weinberg stated, “There are a lot of numbers floating around.We want transparency, and they want to continue the accounting gimmicks. “One gimmick identified is when the state “borrows $2 billion and then claims it as revenues.”

Ms. Weinberg’s recommendation is for Illinois to switch from cash based to FACT based, or accrual accounting methods. “Cash based accounting worked when Illinois was each year paying for current services, but when longer-term services such as government employee pensions were added, the accounting became an absolute mess.”
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Institute for Truth in Accounting: Chicago TV on Illinois Budget Woes”

Chicago - Congress - Cook County - Elections - GOP - Illinois - Republicans - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

One Down in the 14th District Race

October 21, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Former Aurora alderman Bill Cross has decided to withdraw from the 14th Congressional District race for Congress. Apparently Cross thinks that the race has gotten too crowded and with a list of five other Republican candidates, I don’t blame him.

With Cross dropping his bid, that leaves the following candidates:

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One Down in the 14th District Race”

Chicago - Congress - Conservatives - Cook County - Elections - GOP - House of Representatives - Illinois - Republicans - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Steve Rauschenberger Endorses Bill Cadigan for Ill. 10th

October 21, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Bill Cadigan is running for the 10th Congressional District and former State Senator Steve Raushcenberger was kind enough to make a little YouTube video to express his support for Cadigan’s candidacy.

The 10th District is north of O’Hare airport and encompasses Arlington Heights, Glenview and Wilmette on its southern edge and Waukegan and North Chicago in its northern part.

Cadigan’s campaign website is cadiganforcongress.com.

He also has a FaceBook page.
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Steve Rauschenberger Endorses Bill Cadigan for Ill. 10th”

ACORN - Anti-Americanism - Budget - Business - Chicago - Congress - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Free Trade - House of Representatives - Illinois - Liberals - SEIU - Society/Culture - Taxes - Unions - Warner Todd Huston

Illinois Rep. Biggert Introduces Defund ACORN Bill

October 20, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

U.S. Representative Judy Biggert (R, Hinsdale, IL) introduced legislation last week intended to prevent misuse of federal housing counseling funds.

“It’s abundantly clear that ACORN and its affiliates cannot be trusted as a federally certified entity,” said Biggert, a senior member of the House Financial Services Committee. “Given the group’s clear links to illegal and inappropriate activities, how can we knowingly give them federal certification to divert precious resources from legitimate housing counselors working overtime to help struggling homeowners?”

For years federal funds have flowed into ACORN’s coffers for services given to low-income home buyers across the country. These services are intended to counsel low-income buyers on how to go about the mortgage process, to inform them of subsides and government services, and to assist the purchase.
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Illinois Rep. Biggert Introduces Defund ACORN Bill”

ACORN - Anti-Americanism - Business - Chicago - Communism - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Free Trade - Freedom - Health - Jobs - Liberals - Society/Culture - State Government - Taxes - Unions - Warner Todd Huston

Union Plans Voted Down by Home Healthcare Workers

October 20, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

If CBS News has it right, the majority of in-home healthcare workers in Illinois voted not to join a union despite the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and Governor Quinn’s best efforts to force the issue.

Earlier in the year, Governor Quinn signed Executive Order 09-15 that gave away the private information of every in-home healthcare worker in the state to several unions so that they might begin a campaign to cajole these workers into joining a union by calling them on the phone and visiting them at their homes.

In-home healthcare workers receive a stipend from the state in order to help them care for developmentally disabled or medically at risk family members.
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Union Plans Voted Down by Home Healthcare Workers”

Budget - Business - Chicago - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Illinois - Liberals - Society/Culture - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Union Fees Might Cause Another Trade Show to Exit Chicago

October 19, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

One of Chicago’s top five trade shows may be leaving the gigantic McCormick Place Convention Center and taking up business with Orlando, Florida. Why? Because the extremely high costs forced on Chicago by the various unions that have a hammer lock on the service side of the trade show business are driving trade shows to other states.

Crain’s Business reports that the Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc. is considering the move to sunny Florida as a cost cutting measure. The show has been held in Chicago since 1971 but organizers are considering the move because of a “need to maximize the return on investment for both exhibitors and attendees.”

That means that setting up a trade show in Chicago is not worth the expense. And that expense means union fees.
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Union Fees Might Cause Another Trade Show to Exit Chicago”

Afghanistan - Anti-Americanism - Chicago - Congress - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - GOP - Illinois - Islam - Islamofascism - Journalism - Liberals - Media Bias - Military - Republicans - Security/Safety - Society/Culture - State Government - Terrorism - Warner Todd Huston

Where I Come to Mark Kirk’s Aid

October 18, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

I am not a Mark Kirk fan. For me he is and always has been far too “moderate” on social issues and his now (maybe) retracted Cap and Tax vote sticks in my craw pretty badly. But Steve Benen of the Washington Monthly blog Political Animal unfairly and illicitly slammed Kirk on something he said in an interview with The News Gazette of Danville, Illinois.

Benen was ticked at Kirk’s answer about the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy of the U.S. Military. In an effort to show all his LGBT, or BLGT, or BLT fans… whatever they call themselves this week… Benen jumped on Kirk’s claim that DADT works well and that “keeping that all out of the workplace makes common sense.”

But, Benen’s pandering to the fringe, militant gay lobby isn’t my concern here. Benen’s other jab at Kirk was as follows:
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Where I Come to Mark Kirk’s Aid”

Budget - Capitalism - Chicago - Cook County - Crime - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - Illinois - Liberals - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Suddenly, Mayor Daley is Pandering Against Taxes?

October 18, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

The Olympics was going to save the day. Then President Obama and wife Michelle made fools of themselves telling the Olympic committee how the Olympics would make them happy because they love sports, and they sat on their daddy’s laps watching sports, and they really, really, really love the Olympics. One vote and out was the president’s reward for wasting millions of the taxpayer’s money flying them to Copenhagen.

This presented a major problem for Mayor Daley, soon to run for reelection. He was hoping against hope that the Olympics would sweep into Chicago and save his floundering budget. The infusion of cash stolen from the American taxpayers and state taxpayers both would have floated King Daley’s criminal enterprises for another few years at least and make his election a dream.

But that pipe dream has gone up in smoke, hasn’t it?
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Suddenly, Mayor Daley is Pandering Against Taxes?”