Rep. Joe Walsh Discusses Obamacare

-By Warner Todd Huston

Representative Joe Walsh appeared at a conference earlier this month and he was asked to address some of the troubles that this nation is going to suffer once Obamacare really kicks in.

Walsh is 100% right about his contentions over this destructive Obamacare mess.

Representative Walsh has already announced that he will run against Republican Congressman Randy Hultgren in the newly re-configured 14th District in the upcoming primaries.
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Rep. Joe Walsh Discusses Obamacare”


Lisa Fithian: Teaching Radicalism to Chicago Teachers Union

-By Warner Todd Huston

Violent, union thug comes to Chicago to fake teacher “arrests”

When people ask me, “What do you do?” I say I create crisis, because crisis is that edge where change is possible.
— Lisa Fithian

The Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) trained under radical street organizer, and leader of the anti-capitalist #occupy movement, Lisa Fithian, to stage a protest march in Chicago on 10/10/11.

During this event, more than 20+ members of the CTU were arrested.

THE NYT MAGAZINE SAYS THIS ABOUT FITHIAN
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Lisa Fithian: Teaching Radicalism to Chicago Teachers Union”


GOP to Illinois State Leaders: There Will Be No Federal Pension Bailout‏

This morning, Chief Deputy Whip Peter Roskam (IL-06), 8 House GOP Committee Chairs, and the entire Illinois GOP Delegation sent a letter to Illinois’ legislative leaders and Gov. Quinn in advance of next week’s Veto Session. Gov. Quinn wrote in his FY 2012 Budget earlier this year that his Administration was considering “seeking a federal guarantee of the debt” for Illinois’ $85 billion unfunded pension liability.

They write, “we urge you to seize the opportunity to appropriately reform the State’s public pension systems to address their massive unfunded liabilities,” but “we can say with clarity: there will be no legislative bailouts from the U.S. House of Representatives.”

Roskam was joined by the Illinois GOP congressional delegation and Appropriations Chairman Hal Rogers, Budget Chairman Paul Ryan, Education & Workforce Chairman John Kline, Energy & Commerce Chairman Fred Upton, Financial Services Chairman Spencer Bachus, Judiciary Chairman Lamar Smith, Oversight Chairman Darrell Issa and Ways & Means Chairman Dave Camp.
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GOP to Illinois State Leaders: There Will Be No Federal Pension Bailout‏”


Did a Big Dem Donor Turned Obama Medical Records Czar Hoodwink Members of Congress?

-By Warner Todd Huston

Did Obama’s medical record czar, Judy Faulkner, hoodwink five members of Congress into pushing her own medical records company as the solution for the problem of electronic medical records for all government contracts? That’s what some wonder as Obama’s search for an electronic medical records solution evolves.

In a likely earnest effort to bring jobs to Wisconsin and help improve the fortunes of a home state company, five members of Congress signed onto a letter urging the Department of Defense to seriously consider EPIC Systems medical records computer architecture. (Download PDF of letter)

The letter, signed by Wisconsin Senators Herb Kohl (D) and Ron Johnson (R), as well as Representatives Paul Ryan (R), Tammy Baldwin (D), and Ron Kind (D), was written some two years after EPIC Systems CEO, Judith Faulkner was appointed (April 3, 2009) to Obama’s Health Information Technology Policy Committee. This is a committee established by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that will, “make recommendations on creating a policy framework for the development and adoption of a nationwide health information technology infrastructure,” for electronic medical records.
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Did a Big Dem Donor Turned Obama Medical Records Czar Hoodwink Members of Congress?”


Occupy Wall Street’s Essential Hypocrisy

-By Warner Todd Huston

There are a few major reasons that this Occupy-Whatever “movement” is as hollow as a Halloween pumpkin. One is that they are employing the sort of rhetoric with their “we are the 99%” claim that they complained about from Tea Partiers and two that some of their spokesmen are not what they claim to be.

A particular hypocrisy from these leftists has been repeatedly seen over the last two years when Tea Partiers would say what “America wants” or couched their rhetoric in terms of the country as a whole should do as if all real Americans wanted what the Tea Party was working for. Liberals would immediately scold the Tea Partiers saying that Tea Party folks do not represent the left so they shouldn’t act as if “Americans” wanted what the Tea Party wanted.

Yet, here come these leftists to claim that they represent “99% of America”! Sorry, Occupiers, but you do not represent me or anyone I side with, so don’t claim you represent “99% of America.” In fact, you don’t even represent half the voting base as liberals consistently poll at less than 20% of the Democrat Party these days.

Heck, you Occupiers don’t even represent 99% of your own side of the aisle!
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Occupy Wall Street’s Essential Hypocrisy”


Steve Jobs vs. Wall St. Whiners and Teachers Unions

-By Larry Sand

Steve Jobs knew how to create wealth. The parasitic Wall Street protesters and teachers unions want to destroy it

There are many theories as to who is orchestrating the “Occupy Wall Street” protests – known in some circles as “Kamp Alinsky” and “Kamp Kvetch” – in lower Manhattan and elsewhere throughout our country. George Soros? President Obama? Could they possibly be spontaneous?

No matter. The protesters and their message of social justice, socialism and general hatred of all things corporate will not affect the great majority of Americans. The average Joe and Jill are just trying to pay their bills, raise a family and live a decent life. Hence the Wall Street rabble, a motley combination of bored teenagers, old guard lefties and hard core partiers, many armed with iPhones, digital cameras and many other luxuries produced by corporations, are badly missing the mark. As usual, the protesters’ signs tell the story – none more so than the one that says, “A job is a right. Capitalism doesn’t work.” Could any serious types associate with this fringe mentality?

Enter Michael Mulgrew – the United Federation of Teachers president. Speaking “truth to power,” his tax-the-rich talk at a Wall St. rally fit right in with the angry mob that thinks wealth is evil and that if A has more money than B, A owes B some of it. It’s the mentality that thinks that there is no moral difference between Bernie Madoff and Bill Gates.
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Steve Jobs vs. Wall St. Whiners and Teachers Unions”


Senator Kirk, Congressman Kinzinger Respond to Super Committee’s Spectrum Question: “BRAC” the Spectrum

From the office of Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R, Illinois 11th District)…

Proposal Would Use Successful Military Base Closure Process to Identify and Auction Federal Spectrum for Deficit Reduction

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last week, four members of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction (Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI), Sen. John Kerry (D-MA), Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-CA), and Sen. Patrick Toomey (R-PA)) sent a letter to President Obama, requesting a review of how Federally-owned spectrum can be used more effectively to increase public broadband access while paying down our debt.

In response, U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) and U.S. Congressman Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) urged the Joint Select Committee Chairmen Patty Murray (D-WA) and Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) to establish a process similar to the successful Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) procedure in order to identify which Federal spectrum should be auctioned for use by the private sector.
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Senator Kirk, Congressman Kinzinger Respond to Super Committee’s Spectrum Question: “BRAC” the Spectrum”


Video Spotlight: Rep. Dold on Helping Small Businesses

From the office of Rep. Robert Dold (Ill., 10th District)…

WASHINGTON, DC –U.S. Congressman Robert J. Dold (IL-10) released a video on five bills that passed through the Financial Services Subcommittee that will empower small businesses to gain more access to capital, which will in turn help them to expand and create jobs.

http://dold.house.gov/


Will Warmists Face Justice for their Deceptions?

-By Alan Caruba

When you murder someone the case is never closed. The same holds when you murder the truth. No matter how long it takes, truth is defended despite all the calumnies heaped on those who stand firm against the lies and the propaganda intended to persuade those who have been deceived.

Ultimately, truth is its own defense. There never was a shred of truth in the claim that humans were causing the Earth’s climate to heat up by using so-called “fossil fuels” and engaging in manufacturing and other activities. There was no dramatic “global warming” in the 1980s until the present.

The Earth’s climate has warmed very slightly since the end of the Little Ice Age, dated to around 1850. Five hundred years of extremely cold weather had gripped the northern hemisphere starting around 1300. The much heralded “climate change” is, unlike the weather, measured in terms of centuries, not days, weeks or years. It is used by politicians that do not know what they are talking about. It is also used by charlatans, but I repeat myself.

Under the direction of the United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) a massive fraud was engineered. The object was to turn carbon dioxide (CO2), a common though minor atmospheric gas, into a commodity that could be traded in exchanges around the world that would issue “carbon credits” to utilities, industrial facilities, and others who would be required to pay for permission to produce energy and products. It was an audacious scheme.
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Will Warmists Face Justice for their Deceptions?”


Roskam Applauds House Passage of the Coal Residuals and Management Act

From the office of Rep. Peter Roskam (R, Illinois 6th District)…

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Peter Roskam (IL-06), Chief Deputy Whip, issued the following statement after the House passed H.R. 2273 – the Coal Residuals and Management Act – a bill with bipartisan support that will allow coal combustion residuals to be used effectively and efficiently while protecting jobs:

“This bipartisan legislation is another commonsense solution to restore confidence in American businesses and workers. This is a regulatory solution that would protect jobs, keep electricity costs low, and keep construction material costs low. The construction and energy industries can’t grow and expand with regulations as these excessive these.

“Americans are looking for answers on how we can turn this economy around, and excessive regulations from Washington are only adding to that frustration. It is initiatives like these that will provide for the kind of certainty and pro-growth environment needed to get businesses hiring again and move our economy in the right direction.”

http://roskam.house.gov/


Ill. Policy Institute: Nearly 1/2 of IL teachers contribute nothing toward pensions‏

Did you know that when it comes to public school teachers in Illinois, paying their own way to retirement isn’t the norm? We took on the task to find out just how much taxpayers can save if all teachers were to pay their required share into the state pension system.

An investigation by the Illinois Policy Institute found that as the state grapples with a public pension shortfall in excess of $86 billion, teachers in nearly half of the state’s 867 public school districts contributed nothing from their weekly paychecks to their pensions. Instead, school districts – and by extension, taxpayers – paid the entire 9.4 percent employee contribution toward these teachers’ pensions, as well as the required employer contribution.

During the 2009-2010 school year alone, taxpayers across Illinois could have saved more than $400 million if teachers had paid their legally required share. Taxpayers deserve to have this $400 million back in their pockets. If you agree, go to our facebook page and like our latest post and leave a comment too. Click here and it will take you there.
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Ill. Policy Institute: Nearly 1/2 of IL teachers contribute nothing toward pensions‏”


Hultgren Statement in Response to President Obama’s Refusal to Acknowledge House GOP Jobs Plan

From the office of Rep. Randy Hultgren (R, Illinois 14th District)…

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren (IL-14) issued the following statement today in response to President Obama’s claim that he has yet to see the House Republican Plan for America’s Job Creators.

“I was surprised by the President’s claim tonight that he has not seen a jobs plan from House Republicans; clearly, he hasn’t been paying attention. Long before the President introduced his American Jobs Act – which members of its own party are keeping at arm’s length – we unveiled our Plan for America’s Job Creators.

“Unlike the President’s proposal – which is far too much of failed ‘stimulus’ recipe of more spending and higher taxes – we’re focused on cutting red tape to unleash the potential of America’s private sector, and that’s been our focus since Day One.

“If the President is serious about getting Americans back to work, he should refrain from taking baseless, juvenile potshots and instead work with Senator Harry Reid to get the dozen pro-growth, pro-jobs bills we’ve passed through the Senate.”

http://hultgren.house.gov/


Occupy Boston Ruins Food Bank Fundraiser, Conservatives Step in With $3,700 Fund Drive

-By Warner Todd Huston

The Greater Boston Food Bank intended to have a fundraising event in Boston’s Dewey Square over the weekend of the 14th of October. It was to be called the “Greenway Mobile Food Fest” and was supposed to help raise funds to feed the poor and needy. But due to the tantrums being thrown by the Occupy Boston protestors the event had to be canceled.

Despite the selfishness of these pointless, clueless protesters, though, conservative bloggers stepped in and raised over $3,000 for the food bank. An important question is, where is the media on this story? Isn’t this a perfect sort of human-interest story that media types usually love?

The media should love this. It’s got clueless, uninformed, cretins hurting an organization that helps feed the needy. It has a more caring group rising to the challenge to help replace those lost donations. Perfect story, right?

Ah, except that it is conservatives in the role of good guy and the Old Media can’t have that, now can they?
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Occupy Boston Ruins Food Bank Fundraiser, Conservatives Step in With $3,700 Fund Drive”


Government Kills… Businesses, Anyway

-By Warner Todd Huston

A small business named Nice Cream found that government wasn’t very nice to its bottom line. In fact, due to its heavy hand, government froze the company into nonexistence. So much for everyone loving ice cream!

The other day, while discussing the failures of government unions and their pliant, paid-for, lapdog politicians, one of my Publius commenters said that government should “stick to its guns” and turn a blind eye to the needs of the business sector. This commenter wanted government to continue sticking it to the business sector and maintained that business would simply stand there and take it because of the “value they receive” from government. I said that business did react to a bad business climate fostered by government regulations, taxation, and interference. He didn’t think so.

Well, here is a story of how one small business was crushed, not by the market but by government. It was crushed because of government “sticking to its guns” and slamming it with idiotic regulations and rules made for multi-billion dollar corporations that did not make sense for small business.
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Government Kills… Businesses, Anyway”


Roskam Applauds House Passage of the EPA Regulatory Relief Act

From the office of Rep. Peter Roskam (R, Illinois 6th District)…

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Peter Roskam (IL-06), Chief Deputy Whip, issued the following statement after the House passed H.R. 2250 – the EPA Regulatory Relief Act – legislation that will stop the EPA’s excessive Boiler MACT regulations from burdening employers and replace them with common-sense rules to protect jobs:

“The House has taken an important step to relieve an excessive regulatory barrier to job creation. Sensible regulations are important but the EPA’s Boiler MACT rules would force businesses to comply with unnecessarily difficult and complex standards and tests. That would cost American job creators billions and put tens of thousands of jobs at risk.

“That’s no way to get our economy moving again. We need to create an environment that promotes private-sector job creation, innovation, and growth. I strongly urge the Senate to take up this legislation and help instill confidence in American businesses.”

http://roskam.house.gov/


Ill. House GOP Update

From the office of Rep. Tom Cross, Ill GOP House Leader…

After we filed bills to address some of the gross abuses being reported by the media in regard to the Chicago Pension funds, there have been many media outlets following the story. In the last few days I’ve talked to many reporters including Roe and Roeper on WLS radio, Mike McConnell on WGN radio and Brian Byers and Co. on WSOY in Decatur. The Chicago Tribune and Chicago News Cooperative have been following the story closely as well.

If you have a few minutes, check out the media clips below. We will be working hard to pass this legislation as soon as possible.

Chicago News Cooperative: Pension Fund Bill Causes Uproar

Click here to listen to my conversation with Mike McConnell on WGN, Thursday.

‘Insane’ even by Illinois standards? Union official to get $500,000 in pensions, http://news.ilhousegop.org/


Kinzinger Supports Bipartisan Regulatory Relief Legislation to Prevent Job Loss

From the office of Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R, Illinois 11th District)…

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Adam Kinzinger (IL-11), a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, welcomed House passage of H.R. 2250, the EPA Regulatory Relief Act of 2011.

Kinzinger, a co-sponsor of H.R. 2250, says the legislation would provide businesses with adequate time to comply with the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) new rules in order to prevent rising costs and destroying jobs or sending jobs overseas.

“Enforcing these current rules could endanger hundreds of thousands of jobs and tens of billions of dollars in additional costs to manufacturers during a time of great economic uncertainty,” said Kinzinger. “The EPA Regulatory Relief Act does not repeal regulations that protect our economy or our environment. Rather, these bills extend deadlines to provide manufacturers with the time they need to comply with new regulations so they are not forced to shut down, which would in turn destroy jobs.”

In February, Congressman Kinzinger led a group of 61 freshmen in sending a letter to the EPA, expressing concern over the Maximum Achievable Control Technology rule for industrial boilers (Boiler MACT). The letter reiterates concerns expressed by a bipartisan group of 114 Representatives during the 111th Congress on the EPA’s proposed Boiler MACT.

“The retrofitting requirements necessary for operators to comply with these stringent standards, at facilities from universities to food processors, and a wide range of industries across the spectrum, will undoubtedly cause the shuttering of domestic manufacturing capacity and associated job losses,” said Kinzinger.

The EPA estimates that capital costs for implementation of these rules would amount to $9.5 billion. According to IHS Global Insight, however, the final Boiler MACT rules could mean more than $14 billion in compliance costs with over 230,000 jobs at risk.

http://kinzinger.house.gov/


The Dold-Championed ‘Supporting Economic and National Security by Maintains U.S. Leadership in Multilateral Development Banks Act’ Advances through Committee

From the office of Rep. Robert Dold (Ill., 10th District)…

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, during the Financial Services Subcommittee on International Monetary Policy and Trade, the “Supporting Economic and National Security by Maintaining U.S. Leadership in Multilateral Development Banks (MDB) Act” advanced through the committee. U.S. Congressman Robert Dold (IL-10) has helped lead this effort to ensure that the MDBs enact policies that are aligned with American interests, to encourage economic growth in developing counties, and to aid in U.S. national security.

“I am pleased to see this bill pass through Committee with bipartisan support,” said Dold. “Maintaining our nation’s leadership with Multilateral Development Banks is vital to promoting American export markets, job growth, and economic prosperity. Furthermore, our involvement ensures these MDBs implement policies that are aligned with our economic and humanitarian values while enhancing global and national security by helping to create stable countries throughout the world.”

Background Information on the Multilateral Development Banks Act:

  • By maintaining our MDB leadership, our nation’s priorities and policies will remain influential in the global economic and security system while allowing our nation’s entrepreneurs to continue playing a critical role in financial and natural resource development abroad.
  • MDBs also promote corruption-free projects in developing countries, which allow American businesses the opportunities to invest abroad and access new markets. This helps to create new jobs here at home as job creators can expand into growing markets.
  • America’s MDB leadership also strengthens global and national security by helping to other nations improve their own political stability, institutions, infrastructure, and general economic prosperity.
  • The MDB Act will increase transparency and accountability, enhance anti-corruption measures, and maintains strong standards for international competitive bidding on projects while ensuring that American favorably influences foreign country policies, including policies relating to national security, representative government, human rights, and the environment.

http://dold.house.gov/


Kinzinger Joins Willis Report to Discuss Solyndra Loan Guarantee Developments‏, Applauds Passage of the Protect Life Act

From the office of Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R, Illinois 11th District)…

Congressman Adam Kinzinger joined the Willis Report on the Fox Business Network to discuss the developments over the Solyndra loan guarantee and the upcoming hearing on the House Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.

“You have Solyndra that restructured a loan so that in case it goes bankrupt the first $75 million in assets are paid to two investors and not the American taxpayers. So the chance of us getting our money back is not looking good. The chance of us getting any of the billions of dollars we pushed out the door, coming back, is not looking good. And, we’re not even getting the jobs that the Administration promised.”

Also today Congressman Adam Kinzinger (IL-11), a member of the House Energy & Commerce, applauded passage of H.R. 358, the Protect Life Act. Kinzinger is a cosponsor of this legislation to amend the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, to ensure no health care reform funds are used to pay for abortions.

“In a time of economic hardship, I intend to do everything in my power to ensure Congress is using American taxpayers’ money efficiently and effectively. The use of our tax dollars to subsidize abortions and abortion providers is simply unacceptable. Additionally, the Protect Life Act also prohibits the federal government from requiring private insurance companies to cover abortion and protects health care providers from discrimination for refusal to participate in abortions. This legislation makes certain that taxpayers will not foot the bill for abortions or abortion coverage under the President’s health care law.”

The Protect Life Act is modeled after the bipartisan Stupak-Pitts amendment, which was added to the the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in the House in 2009, but was excluded from the final law.

http://kinzinger.house.gov/


Ancient Green History: Chevy Volt No Better Than 115-Year-Old Car

-By Warner Todd Huston

It almost seems like a cosmic joke against these greenwits, but a new report seems to show that the Chevy Volt doesn’t get any better mileage than an electric car that was invented in 1896!

The Roberts electric car, circa 1896, got a “solid 40 miles to the charge” when it debuted years before the Wrights Brothers even took their first flight. Amusingly, its the exact same number of miles that the Chevy Volt gets today…

Read the rest at RightPundits.com.


Congresswoman Schakowsky Says The Communist, Maoist, Illiterate, Hate-Filled OWS Protesters Are ‘Ordinary Americans’

-By Warner Todd Huston

Apparently, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky of the Illinois 9th District, a sitting Congresscritter, mind you, decided it was a great idea to march with the Occupy-Whatevers on Thursday.

Interestingly, a large contingent of these people sported T-Shits with Che Guevara, Mao Tse-tung, and other communist heroes emblazoned upon them. Guevara, a murderer, coward, and communist, is particularly loved by these useful idiots. But Mao is the greater mass murderer and genocidal maniac, of course.

Regardless of which mass murderer they most love, the fact is that these people hate the USA and everything it stands for an equal amount — maybe even more. And these are the sort of haters that a sitting Congresswoman is keeping company with?

For shame, Congresswoman Schakowsky.
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Congresswoman Schakowsky Says The Communist, Maoist, Illiterate, Hate-Filled OWS Protesters Are ‘Ordinary Americans’”


Nancy Pelosi Says Republicans Want to Kill Women — But Who Are Really the Killers?

-By Warner Todd Huston

Nancy Pelosi has a message for you: Republicans want to kill women. Yes, there it is, another fine example of the Democrat “new tone.”

All one can say to that is, “Nancy, you ignorant slut.” (If you’ll excuse my channeling an SNL era Dan Aykroyd?)

What’s all her hypocritical fury being directed at? The Protect Life Act that passed the House 251-172 on Thursday.
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Nancy Pelosi Says Republicans Want to Kill Women — But Who Are Really the Killers?”


Roskam Floor Speech in Support of Pro-Export FTAs

From the office of Rep. Peter Roskam (R, Illinois 6th District)…

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Earlier today, Congressman Peter Roskam (IL-06), Chief Deputy Whip, gave the following remarks on the House Floor in support of the Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with Colombia, Panama, and South Korea.

Transcript:

Thank you, Madame Speaker. Madame Speaker, as the public is listening to this, I think they’re kind of collectively going: whew. Finally there’s something that’s going on in Congress. Finally there’s something going with the other body. Finally there’s something going on with the White House that is common ground around a very simple premise and that’s this: no-cost job creation. It doesn’t cost a single dime.
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Roskam Floor Speech in Support of Pro-Export FTAs”


Hultgren Applauds House Passage Of Free Trade Agreements

From the office of Rep. Randy Hultgren (R, Illinois 14th District)…

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren (IL-14) tonight applauded the passage of Free Trade Agreements (FTA) with Colombia, Panama, and South Korea, by the House of Representatives. Hultgren voted for the three FTAs.

“Tonight’s votes are long-overdue victories for manufacturers and farmers in Illinois and across the country,” said Hultgren. “By passing these Free Trade Agreements, we have secured American exporters new markets for their goods, enabling them to expand and hire here at home. Already, exports have an enormous impact in the 14th District, supporting almost 26,000 jobs. The benefits to our agricultural sector will also be substantial – last year alone, Illinois’s agricultural exports were an estimated $5.8 billion, supporting almost 49,000 jobs statewide. I hope the Senate acts promptly on these FTAs and sends them to President Obama as soon as possible.”

“Congressional passage of the Free Trade Agreements with Panama, Columbia and South Korea is long overdue. Eliminating trade barriers and boosting U.S. export trade is key to furthering the nation’s economic recovery. The Illinois Chamber of Commerce supports passage of the Free Trade Agreements because we know that facilitating the expansion of international trade is critical to the state’s economic future. We thank Congressman Hultgren for his leadership on this issue.” – Doug Whitley, President and CEO, Illinois Chamber of Commerce

“Trade is important to Illinois and American agriculture, and passage of the FTA’s is a big step in the right direction for agriculture and the entire economy. These agreements will open new markets to Illinois’ agricultural exports, leading to job creation and economic expansion; that is critically important in these tough economic times. The Illinois Farm Bureau thanks Congressman Hultgren for his support of these agreements.” – Philip Nelson, President, Illinois Farm Bureau

Illinois employers supporting the FTAs include Boeing, Caterpillar, Kraft Foods and Navistar.

http://hultgren.house.gov/


Dold Votes to Approve Three Free Trade Agreements, 3 Agreements to Benefit Illinois Small Businesses

From the office of Rep. Robert Dold (Ill., 10th District)…

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Congressman Robert Dold (IL-10) voted to approve three free trade agreements. The three agreements with Colombia, Panama, and South Korea have bipartisan support in Congress and are part of President Obama’s jobs plan.
“Small businesses throughout the 10th District of Illinois depend on our ability to export to other countries,” said Dold. “I voted to approve these trade agreements so that we can give local job creators an opportunity to expand and create new jobs. Right here in our district over 58,000 jobs rely on exports- the approval of these agreements will help increase exports and create new business right here at home.”

Background Information on the Free Trade Agreements:

http://dold.house.gov/


Fox Bus. Network’s Cheryl Casone Broadcasts From Chicago on Friday

-By Warner Todd Huston

FOX Business Network (FBN)’s Cheryl Casone will report live from the floor of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) on Friday, October 14, 2011 at 11 AM/CST. Casone will interview a number of Chicago business leaders and CEOs to get the latest on commodities and market moves.

Cheryl dropped me a note to weigh in on why she’s leaving New York City for Chicago for the day.

Why NOT Chicago? The Chicago Metro Area is home to 27 Fortune 500 company headquarters and 34 S&P 500 company headquarters. They make Chicago their home and now Fox Business has made the CME our home. The city is crucial to Fox Business Network in so many ways.

Look at what Chicago contributes to US GDP. While it doesn’t equal New York, at $532.33 billion in 2010, Chicago is a crucial component to the United States. If Chicago does well, America does well.

The CME has been and still is the hub of US commodities trading. From grain to soybeans to cotton to what Americans pay at their table and at the clothing store begins right here. Fox Business has a unique vantage point our competition doesn’t: we are looking out for everyone not just Wall Street traders.

Chicago’s banking sector is of particular fascination. What are they doing New York is not? I am joined Friday by Stephen Calk the Chairman and CEO of Chicago Bancorp who sees a lot fear in lending right now. He also believes mortgage rates are in store for some volatility.

Personally I love coming to Chicago for the amazing food! From pizza to steak I always bring my running shoes to burn those calories. My good friend Chris Artinian (CEO of Morton’s The Steakhouse) is coming by the CME as well Friday to talk business at his chain and of course food.

Be sure to tune in Friday –DISH Channel 206; DIRECTV Channel 359.
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Fox Bus. Network’s Cheryl Casone Broadcasts From Chicago on Friday”


Don’t Be Patriotic At Olive Garden

-By Warner Todd Huston

Olive Garden restaurants seem to be hoping that its patrons might consider themselves Europeans when they walk through the door of their eateries. The restaurant chain seems to want Americans to leave their patriotism at the door because up to Wednesday, no U.S. flags were to be permitted at Olive Garden.

The story went viral yesterday because a little old lady was told by the corporate giant that no US flag was allowed at her Kiwanis meeting being held at the Olive Garden in Anniston, Alabama.

“I was so angry. I felt like I had been slapped in the face,” 80-year-old Marti Warren told CBS 12 news…

See more at Publiusforum.com


Flip Flop: Romney Now Accepting Occupy Wall Streeter’s Premise?

-By Warner Todd Huston

Only days ago Mitt Romney was saying that the Occupy Wall Streeters were dangerous. But, true to his penchant to “grow” in his opinion (“growing” is what the rest of us call flip floping), Romney is now beginning to accept the OWS theme of “the 99%.”

The OWSers — I call them the Occupy-Whatevers because they really have no idea what they want or what they are doing — have taken to calling themselves the “99%.” This class warfare battle cry casts anyone with a few shekels to rub together in the role of the eeeevil rich.

As I mentioned, during the first week of October Romney was pounding the Occupy-Whatevers as “dangerous.” He was right about these anti-Semitic, anti-American protesters, too. At the same appearance Romney also said that the whole series of protests were exercises in “class warfare.”

But that was then.
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Flip Flop: Romney Now Accepting Occupy Wall Streeter’s Premise?”


When the Greedy Feign Outrage

-By Frank Salvato

“Greedy: Excessively or inordinately desirous of wealth, profit, etc.; avaricious.”
Dictionary.com

By now, no doubt, you have heard about the “incredible” Occupy Wall Street Movement taking place on and around Wall Street; a movement whose organizers claim is “organic” and spreading across the globe, not unlike the so-called “Arab Spring.”

There are a few problems with this claim, however. First, the movement is anything but “organic.” And second, for the most part, the “Arab Spring” has facilitated the rise of radical Islamist factions to the courts of power. Incredible indeed.

The “movement” is incredible for many reasons; incredible in that what we are being asked to believe the impossible or very difficult to believe, via the reporting in the mainstream media and declarations issued from the movement’s organizers. Interviews with a credible sampling of those in attendance prove that many participants don’t even know why they are there but for it being “the place to be” for the terminally and youthfully disgruntled.

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When the Greedy Feign Outrage”


Cross Files Bill to Protect Taxpayers from Double Dipping

From the office of Rep. Tom Cross, Ill GOP House Leader…

“Can you name any place in the world where someone can get two pensions for the same job?” said state Rep. Tom Cross, a Republican from Oswego who has been pushing for statewide pension reform. “Even by our standards here in Illinois, it’s beyond belief. It’s insane.”

This was part of a story uncovered by the Chicago Tribune and WGN-TV in the last 24 hours taking a look at union leaders exploitation of a loophole created by a questionable interpretation of state statute in the Chicago pension funds.

As the media continues to uncover gross abuses in the Chicago’s pension funds, Cross filed legislation today to ensure that Chicago union officials cannot collect multiple pensions, one through the City of Chicago and one through other labor organizations for pension credit earned for the same period of service.
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Cross Files Bill to Protect Taxpayers from Double Dipping”