Huntsman Says He’d Support an Assault Weapons Ban… Until He Won’t

-By Warner Todd Huston

On Wednesday afternoon’s Hugh Hewitt radio show GOP hopeful Jon Huntsman said that he’d support an assault weapons ban and would not support the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), the latter because he supports civil unions. Hours later the Huntsman campaign reversed its candidate’s statement saying he misunderstood the question. He would veto an assault weapons ban, they claimed.

First of all, here is exactly what Huntsman said when host Hewitt asked if he’d veto an assault weapons ban if he were president: “I would not veto an assault weapons ban.” That seems pretty clear, no?…

Read the rest at RightPundits.com


Bloomington Pantagraph Editorial: Kinzinger Strikes Blow for Curbing Defense‏

From the office of Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R, ILL)…

From the Bloomington Pantagraph

Kinzinger strikes blow for curbing defense

Adam Kinzinger was able to combine his insight as a military pilot with his relatively new role as a congressman to gain House approval of a proposal that would save taxpayers about $100 million over the next seven years.
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Bloomington Pantagraph Editorial: Kinzinger Strikes Blow for Curbing Defense‏”


Kinzinger: Washington Must Get Serious About Reducing Spending and Growing our Economy‏

From the office of Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R, ILL)…

Kinzinger: Washington must get serious about reducing spending and growing our economy

On 6/3, Congressman Adam Kinzinger joined Neil Cavuto on Fox Business to discuss the Freshman meeting with Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner on the debt ceiling.

http://kinzinger.house.gov/


New York Times Columnist Kristof’s Foolishness

-By Warner Todd Huston

The New York Times’ Nicholas Kristof is a simpleton. There is really no other way to say it, no gentler phrasing possible, to explain how childish and uncluttered his tiny little mind really is. The latest example of his utter inability to think clearly can be seen in Kristof’s screed against Americans that love America. Kristof thinks that conservatives and Republicans should look with longing at the troubled nation of Pakistan and see it as a model state. He says that they are no better than Muslim extremists that employ oppression, murder, and terrorism as a tool of the state. No, he’s serious.

How does he justify this simple-minded, hyperbolic, partisan hate-speech? Not very well, I’ll tell you that much.

He makes all sorts of idiotic charges against Republicans, but the best way to understand how unthinkingly childish his screed is, is to simply imagine that everything he says conservatives support he must imagine that liberals are against. After all, the only way to see his calumnies as such is to imagine he thinks that he stands on the opposite side of the ideas of which he accuses conservatives of being in favor.

Let’s take his points and then imagine what the opposite is and you’ll see what I mean.
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New York Times Columnist Kristof’s Foolishness”


Roskam on Job Creation‏

from the office of Congressman Peter Roskam (R, IL)…

House Republicans sent a clear to message to the White House last week: Washington must stop spending money it doesn’t have.

House Republicans were unified against increasing the country’s borrowing limit without meaningful spending cuts and reforms, and 82 Democrats joined Republicans in voting against it. This White House has added $3.5 trillion in debt over just two years, so Americans simply don’t support giving them a blank check to keep on spending.

The continued borrow-and-spend madness hasn’t helped create jobs either. Just this past Friday, the national unemployment rate rose to 9.1%, a full 27 months after the “stimulus” passed.
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Roskam on Job Creation‏”


Republican State Rep. Mark Beaubien Dies

SPRINGFIELD — Illinois Rep. Mark Beaubien Jr., a Republican lawmaker since 1996 and the former head of a family banking business, died unexpectedly Sunday afternoon.
Beaubien, 68, of Barrington Hills was at a Republican fundraising event at Arlington Park race track with family, friends and colleagues when he died.

“I am deeply saddened by the death of my close friend and colleague, Rep. Mark Beaubien,” said House Republican leader Tom Cross of Oswego. “My thoughts and prayers go out to his wife, Dee, his children, grandchildren and many friends around the state…

Read the Rest at the Chicago Tribune.


Roskam to White House: ‘Simply Hope For a Change is Not an Economic Policy’

From the office of Rep. Peter Roskam (R, ILL)…

Roskam: “The White House has to realize… simply hope for a change is not an economic policy.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Peter Roskam, Chief Deputy Whip, spoke at the House Republican Leadership press conference following the release of the May Jobs Report, which showed the unemployment rate rose to 9.1% after only 54,000 jobs were created last month:

Roskam Remarks:
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Roskam to White House: ‘Simply Hope For a Change is Not an Economic Policy’”


Cain: ‘We Have to Beat Romney’s Money, Not Romney’

-By Warner Todd Huston

Herman Cain has been known to say that he doesn’t need a campaign warchest with tens of millions of dollars in it to beat the Republican field for the GOP nomination for president. He says all he needs is a good message to win.

However, this week Cain did acknowledge that Mitt Romney’s huge campaign warchest and his well-known ability to raise funds is an advantage that will factor into beating Mitt.

…Cain has another disadvantage compared to Romney, one that neither he nor anyone else is recognizing: organization….

Read the rest at RightPundits.com.


Cook County Commissioner Summer Fun Update

From the office of Cook County Commissioner Timothy O. Schneider

Fishing Fun

Cook County Commissioner Timothy O. Schneider’s Fishing Derby

Sunday June 12, 2011 from 9am – Noon at Busse Woods Grove 25

Celebrate a summer day fishing at Busse Woods, a Cook County forest preserve, with some of your friends and family. Bring your fishing gear and fish for fantastic prizes! No fishing license needed during Illinois Free Fishing days!
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Cook County Commissioner Summer Fun Update”


Will a Lloyd Dobler Economy Save Us?

-By Beth Shaw

Will a Lloyd Dobler economy save us? That’s the question being asked around the internet today and we can surely expect more of that sort of question as we are seeing more and more headlines of looming economic disaster, both nationally and globally.

What is getting in the way of the United States creating, building, producing and hiring?
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Will a Lloyd Dobler Economy Save Us?”


Ill. Budget Cuts: Not Far Enough‏

From the Illinois Policy Institute…

The General Assembly has adjourned for the summer. A budget was passed that contained real cuts, but it was still too big. Significant school reform sits on the governor’s desk. Illinois government will be more transparent. And yet so much more remains to be done.

Here are the highlights of the spring 2011 legislative session in Illinois. Over the next few weeks, we will roll out a thorough analysis of all the legislative items, large and small, that were on the Institute’s watch list this year. Stay tuned.

Thank you,

Collin Hitt
Senior Director of Government Affairs
Illinois Policy Institute

We Don’t Want It; You Can’t Afford It
The Institute’s open letter to Congress implores lawmakers in Washington, D.C. to just say NO to any federal bailouts of spendthrift states. Voters in Arkansas, Florida, Nevada, Maine, Colorado and elsewhere shouldn’t be forced to pony up for Illinois’s self-made mess.
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Ill. Budget Cuts: Not Far Enough‏”


GOPers With Biggest Appeal Stats: Herman Cain and Mitt Romney?

-By Warner Todd Huston

It seems that the GOP field (both those formally announced and those assumed to be in it) for the nomination to run against Obama in 2012 is not exciting too many voters, at least not yet. Granted it may be too early to expect too many Americans to be worried about the next election. It’s over a year off, after all. Still Pew finds that the “Republican Candidates Stir Little Enthusiasm .”

It is interesting, however, that Pew has found that, along with Mitt Romney, Herman Cain has a good excitement factor, especially considering his lack of name recognition compared to Romney…

Read the rest at RightPundits.com.


Your Taxes Paying Government Union Members NOT to Work, Part Two

-By Warner Todd Huston

At a hearing on Capitol Hill Wednesday, it was revealed that federal employees spent nearly 3 million hours of official, taxpayer paid time on union activities in 2009. This cost the treasury $129 million, an increase of $8 million over the expenditures in 2008.

The report that fueled the hearing (see .pdf) was prepared by the Office of Personnel Management and prompted a stern comment from House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on the Federal Workforce Chairman Dennis Ross, (R, Fla).

At at time when our economy is in a recession and budget deficits are at staggering record levels, efficiency is imperative. Taxpayers should not have to continue footing the bill for union welfare, particularly when little evidence exists that official time is improving government productivity.

Of course, I spoke of this nonsensical situation, one where the American people are paying workers not to do any useful work, back in April.

Then I wrote…
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Your Taxes Paying Government Union Members NOT to Work, Part Two”


Holding the Line on Spending, Driving Cuts

From the office of Illinois GOP House Minority Leader Tom Cross…

As we wrapped up the regular spring legislative session this week, Illinois House Republicans drove the General Assembly to a balanced budget by only allowing the Governor to spend money that we estimate we will receive in revenues next year. That number is $33.2 billion—any dime we receive above that number will go to pay down our backlog of bills.

Our spending level is $2 billion less than what Governor Quinn wanted to spend and $1 billion less than what the Illinois Senate originally wanted to spend.

In fact, in a last ditch effort to spend more money, the Illinois Senate sent us legislation that would have tacked on more than $400 million. We rejected that.
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Holding the Line on Spending, Driving Cuts”


Reps. Kinzinger and Ross Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Create More Stable and Efficient Nuclear Regulatory Commission

From the office of Congressman Adam Kinzinger (R, ILL)…

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), along with his colleague on the Energy and Commerce Committee, Congressman Mike Ross (D-AR), introduced the Nuclear Regulatory Commission Continuation Act, H.R. 2068 (download .pdf). This bipartisan legislation would permit a Commissioner of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to continue to serve on the Commission until a successor is confirmed or until the end of the Congress.

Currently, NRC Commissioners serve five-year terms, or are appointed to serve out the remainder term of a Commissioner who resigns or is no longer able to complete their term of service. Upon termination of a Commissioner’s term, they must leave the Commission immediately, which creates a vacancy until a new or re-appointed Commissioner is named.

The Kinzinger-Ross bill permits a Commissioner to continue to serve on the Commission until the date on which the Commissioner’s successor has been appointed and confirmed; or the beginning of the first new Congress after the date on which the Commissioner’s term expires.
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Reps. Kinzinger and Ross Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Create More Stable and Efficient Nuclear Regulatory Commission”


Election Laws Need an Overhaul, Wisc. Case in Point

-By Warner Todd Huston

There is no doubt that our election laws are in serious disarray. So many laws and rules have been written and added to the plethora of rules and regulations that already exist that confusion is more likely the case than clarification. As several recall petitions in Wisconsin wing their way to a polling place near you (if you’re a Badger Stater), a case in point is a stupid Wisconsin rule that equates to the disenfranchisement of individual voters should things get dicey at the polling place.

Tucked away in chapter seven of the election officials duties publication from the State of Wisconsin is a rule that would essentially take away the legal vote of some undetermined number of voters if the polling place discovers that its vote count is higher than its number of registered voters in the poll book.

The idea is that if there are too many votes then the poll judges will “draw… by chance the number of ballots equal to the excess number” and put these votes aside. These votes will not count, either. That means that supposedly by random, some citizens will lose their vote because somehow or another the ballot box was stuffed with too many illicit votes!
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Election Laws Need an Overhaul, Wisc. Case in Point”


Redistricting: Democrat Infested Ill. LegisSLAYture Kills Will of the Voter

-By Warner Todd Huston

One of the worst aspects of American politics is the often blatantly partisan process of redistricting and Illinois has just clocked in with one of the worst examples in recent memory. Illinois Democrats just finished their effort to redistrict the state and have proven that the will of the voters is meaningless to them with their proposal. The map just yesterday passed by the General Assembly in Springfield is now headed for Gov. Quinn’s signature.

Naturally, the new map is a partisan slap in the face to thousands of Illinois voters. As it happens the results of the 2010 midterm election sent five new Republicans to Washington from the Land of Lincoln. Many of these were GOP upsets where freshman Republicans replaced a Democrat. But despite that the will of the voter tended toward Republicans in these five districts, the new map created by Democrats undermines nearly every GOP district and dilutes the voter’s will by adding to them portions of other districts that vote against Republicans.

Certainly the districts must be redrawn, of that there is no question. According to population stats, Illinois does not rate as many representatives as it had before and one representative was going to be lost for certain. You see, Illinois is failing, losing citizens and struggling thanks to decisions by Democrats but since the Democrats control the state, it was assumed that at least one of those Republicans might lose his district. This goes without saying and, in my opinion, seems assumed — if not a bit annoying.
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Redistricting: Democrat Infested Ill. LegisSLAYture Kills Will of the Voter”


Illinois GOP Betray Own Platform

-By Warner Todd Huston

With the latest three votes, the Illinois GOP has shown itself to be little else but Democrat lite and has shown that even planks in its own platform are meaningless when it comes to voting time.

The last Illinois Republican Party platform was produced and approved in 2008 (See .pdf here) and there hasn’t been another one since.

Lets start our scolding with the recent vote to wildly expand gambling in Illinois, a bill that 21 Republicans voted for, shall we?

SB744 passed this weekend with a 65-60 vote in the Illinois House. 21 Republicans voted “yea” on this despite what their own party platform say. That platform says…
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Illinois GOP Betray Own Platform”


Kinzinger Statement on Vote Against Raising the Debt Ceiling

From the office of Republican Adam Kinzinger (11th District)…

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Adam Kinzinger (IL-11) today issued the following statement on his vote against H.R. 1954, legislation that would increase the government’s ability to borrow by $2.4 trillion without implementing any spending cuts or budgetary reforms:

“Last November, the American people sent a clear message to Washington — cut spending. I came to Washington to do exactly that.

“Unfortunately, the President’s Administration along with more than 100 congressional Democrats did not get that message and insisted that Congress vote on a ‘clean’ extension of the debt ceiling without any spending cuts.
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Kinzinger Statement on Vote Against Raising the Debt Ceiling”


Illinois Legislature Passes DREAM Act Giving Illegals Free College Education

-By Warner Todd Huston

In a 61-53 vote in the Illinois House, an Illinois version of the DREAM Act (SB2185) has been passed and will be signed into law by accidental Governor Pat Quinn.

The Illinois DREAM Act will provide free money for the children of illegal immigrants to go to state colleges and universities.

Supporters say that this bill does not use state money, but this is obviously hogwash. While much of the money that will go to illegals for free schooling will come from private sources, the panel that will do this duty is obviously going to be funded by the state.

Once again, the State of Illinois — drowning in debt and losing businesses hand over fist — is creating yet another expensive program to aid people breaking our immigration laws.
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Illinois Legislature Passes DREAM Act Giving Illegals Free College Education”


Notes on Democracy: And to the Republic, for Which It Stands

-By Nancy Salvato

I’m fairly certain that everyone from my generation knows the words to The Pledge of Allegiance by heart.

“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic, for which it stands, one Nation, under God, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all.”

When reciting the pledge, we should focus on the meaning attached to these words, most of which were written by Francis Bellamy, commemorating our history in honor of the 400th anniversary of Columbus Day at Chicago’s World’s Fair. I say “most” because the original pledge, as written by Bellamy, was altered. Nevertheless, each word in this final version provides our citizenry an appropriate lens through which we may view our world.
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Notes on Democracy: And to the Republic, for Which It Stands”


Tom Cross Runs out of Lies on SB35

-By Doug Ibendahl

Are you upset about Illinois redistricting? Yeah me too.

But frankly I’m a lot less upset with the Democrats for doing the same thing Republicans would have done had we been in charge. We would have drawn maps favorable to our side too. We’ve done it before. Republicans shouldn’t kid themselves.

I’m a lot more disgusted with the awful GOP management that got us here. The new maps are the natural end result of all the rigged party conventions, endless lying to the rank-and-file, selfish misuse of the party franchise, and general unprofessionalism.

So much destruction has been done over the years by the likes of Tom Cross, Skip Saviano, Pat Brady, Randy Pollard, Andy McKenna, Judy Baar Topinka, Bob Kjellander, etc., etc., trying to prevent Republicans from voting – there was finally no party around to win the races necessary to give the GOP a seat at the map drawing table this year.
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Tom Cross Runs out of Lies on SB35″


RIP Chicago Conservative Icon, Tom Roeser

-By Warner Todd Huston

Over the weekend Thomas Roeser passed from us. For decades, Roeser was one of Chicago’s most visible and versatile conservatives. Roeser was 82.

Roeser had a long career in politics once serving in the Nixon administration as an assistant commerce secretary. He left that position over a disagreement over his advocacy of the program meant to help minority owned small businesses.

From this point he came back to Chicago as the quintessential Republican reformer that he remained to his last days.

Roeser was a key member of the City Club of Chicago and was a long time talk radio host of WLS AM as well as a columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times. Additionally, Roeser was the publisher of the Chicago Daily Observer.

Tom Roeser was also a stalwart defender of the Catholic faith.

The Chicago Daily Observer has a round up of memorial articles.
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RIP Chicago Conservative Icon, Tom Roeser”


Bait-and-Switch: Democrats Unveil New Map

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

Dems Deny Vote on Fair Map Proposal; Shun Public Input in Favor of Partisan Map

In a stunning reversal of their oft-repeated pledge to lead an open and transparent redistricting process, House and Senate Democrats introduced a brand new partisan legislative map late yesterday which was different from the one publicly released last week. This bait-and-switch follows weeks of public hearings held throughout the state to obtain local citizen input on how Illinois’ new map should be drawn; a mere days after three public forums held within the past week on the original publicly-released map.

So much for transparency.
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Bait-and-Switch: Democrats Unveil New Map”


Kinzinger Statement on Reauthorization of Expiring Provisions in the PATRIOT Act

From the office of Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R, ILL)…

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Adam Kinzinger (IL-11) issued the following statement in support of the reauthorization of the three national security provisions in the PATRIOT Act which are set to expire on Thursday, May 26th. These provisions will be extended for an additional four years.

“As a military officer, I have seen the PATRIOT Act provide invaluable legal tools to detect, disrupt, and prevent potential terrorist plots. These legal tools have been available to investigators of organized crime and drug traffickers for years; surely they should be available for use against terrorists. We must have the authority to defend our nation from future attacks, while ensuring American’s fundamental rights are protected under the Fourth Amendment.

“The PATRIOT Act has played an important role in disrupting potential attacks and keeping our country safe since 9/11. Three essential national security provisions of the PATRIOT Act are set to expire tonight; therefore Congress must act to ensure these constitutional and commonsense safeguards remain intact against potential terrorist attacks on U.S. soil.
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Kinzinger Statement on Reauthorization of Expiring Provisions in the PATRIOT Act”


U.S. Rep. Roskam Marches in Wheaton Memorial Day Parade

-By Warner Todd Huston

Memorial Day Parade, Wheaton, Ill– Illinois Congressman Peter Roskam (R, 6th District) walked in the Wheaton Memorial Day Parade to some applause and ended the exercise by speaking to those assembled at the Wheaton Cemetery to commemorate those that have served us in peace and war and those who gave their last full measure so that we could remain the last best hope of the world.

The weather could not have been better as the parade stepped off this morning. The skies were clear and Summer temperatures had finally arrived. As the route rolled on the heat did tend to rise, though. Still, compared to the dismal weather we’ve seen the last few months, this Memorial Day was a welcome respite.

Rep. Roskam had a group of about fifty supporters march with him and I joined them to document the event. As we walked the distance from downtown Wheaton to the Wheaton Cemetery it was obvious that the congressman had many fans along the route. There were surprised smiles and a healthy amount of applause as the congressman and his lovely wife led the contingent.
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U.S. Rep. Roskam Marches in Wheaton Memorial Day Parade”


Democrat’s Redistricting Plan: ‘A Disgraceful Insult to the 12.8 Million People of Illinois’

-By Warner Todd Huston

The Democrats Party of Illinois has released its plans to destroy the current districts and instead dish up a mangled, contorted mess of a redistricting plan meant only to erode every GOP stronghold in the state.

Why did the Illinois Democrats feel so threatened in a state that seems solidly Democrat anyway? Because Illinois sent five new Republican congressmen to Washington D.C. in 2010. This will of the voters is something the Democrats are desperate to quash.

As the official statement of the Illinois Republican Party says, “This proposal appears to be little more than an attempt to undo the results of the elections held just six months ago and we will take whatever steps necessary to achieve a map that more fairly represents the people of Illinois – they deserve nothing less.”
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Democrat’s Redistricting Plan: ‘A Disgraceful Insult to the 12.8 Million People of Illinois’”


Chicago Tea Party: Do You Have Time for a $90 Billion Phone Call?‏

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Please contact your legislators today to tell them to support critical pension reform in the state of Illinois. A vote may happen this week, before the May 31 deadline. Illinois is broke with an estimated public debt of $210 billion. Our debt was downgraded 9 times in 2010. Governor Quinn and the Democrat politicians in Springfield raised your income taxes by 67% in January, yet we still have an $8 billion budget gap. The main cause is exorbitant pension and healthcare promises made to public employees. Thousands of public employees have been promised million or multi-million dollar pensions.

Contact your State Representative and your State Senator and let them know you want them to vote “Yes” on public pension reform.

Click below to find the phone and email address of your own:
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Chicago Tea Party: Do You Have Time for a $90 Billion Phone Call?‏”