Cook County

Budget - Chicago - Congress - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Government - Health - House of Representatives - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Liberals - Melissa Bean - Taxes - Tea Party - Warner Todd Huston

Melissa Bean’s Healthcare101 – Part 4 of 13

May 4, 2010 by

From the Palatine Tea Party…

(Palatine, Illinois) – In response to the letter Melissa Bean wrote to the constituents in district 8 dated April 16, 2010. We will respond to each of her statements Melissa Bean made based on emotion with factual responses where she stated the following:

“Across the district, I’ve heard of countless health care challenges families have been struggling with: A mother fearing for her son’s life because he’s hit his lifetime cap on benefits at age 14, contemplating bankruptcy to provide him care. A man unable to start his own company because his pre-existing condition makes it impossible to afford health insurance in the individual market. Moms and dads who have been laid off from work, dreading the expiration of COBRA benefits and access to health insurance for their families. I’m proud to have voted to end these uniquely American stories.
Continue reading “

Melissa Bean’s Healthcare101 – Part 4 of 13″

Chicago - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - Government - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Liberals - Scott Lee Cohen - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Scott Lee Cohen Runs for Ill. Gov. as Independent

May 3, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Well, it seems to be official. Former Democrat Lt. Gov. primary winner, Scott Lee Cohen, is running for governor as an independent.

Cohen told Fox News that he is “tired of waste and mismanagement” in Illinois government. and that is why he’s running. He told the media that he may not be perfect, but he’s been honest with the people.

Cohen needs to get 25,000 signatures on his petition by June 21 to have his name added to the ballot.

It ought to be interesting, eh?

Campaign Finance - Chicago - Congress - Cook County - Elections - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Joe Walsh - Republicans - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Troubles Mount for Walsh Campaign (R, 8th District) — Walsh MUST Step down NOW!

May 2, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Last December Joe Walsh, the primary winner for the GOP nomination for the 8th District Congressional seat, lost his campaign manager Keith Liscio. Liscio quit the Walsh campaign over unpaid consulting fees adding up into the thousands. Now two more top campaign operatives are quitting Walsh’s campaign adding to worries of financial problems, missed filing dates for federal paper work, and other questions of Walsh’s suitability for office.

Richard Cape and Ted Livengood, the campaign manager and field director respectively, have announced that they are quitting the Walsh campaign. In a recent email to supporters and media both the pair have also said they no longer endorse his candidacy. In the email are listed quite a few questions that have come to trouble Cape and Livengood about candidate Walsh.
Continue reading “

Troubles Mount for Walsh Campaign (R, 8th District) — Walsh MUST Step down NOW!”

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

5th District Ratowitz: Where Does Rep. Quigley Stand on Taxing Retirement Savings?

April 30, 2010 by

From the Ratowitz for Congress campaign (5th District)…

David Ratowitz, Republican Candidate for Illinois’ 5th Congressional seat, demands to know: where does Mike Quigley (D IL-5) stand on taxing retirement savings?

U. S. Congressional Candidate, David Ratowitz (IL – 5), wants to know: “where does Mike Quigley stand on taxing retirement savings? Just this week, Democrats in Congress said they wanted to tax IRA and 401(k) retirement accounts. Obviously, Mike Quigley doesn’t care about us, otherwise he would oppose tax increases that target our retirement savings and destroy jobs in the District.”
Continue reading “

5th District Ratowitz: Where Does Rep. Quigley Stand on Taxing Retirement Savings?”

Budget - Cook County - Economy/Finances - Elections - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Joe Walsh - Republicans - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Walsh: Not a Perfect Candidate, but the Perfect Candidate to Defeat Melissa Bean

April 30, 2010 by

From the Walsh for Congress Campaign (8th District)…

8th District Republican Congressional Nominee spent an hour last night speaking with, listening to, and answering questions from more than 100 Eighth District residents at a candidate forum last night.

“I am not a perfect candidate,” Walsh said, “But I am the perfect candidate to defeat Melissa Bean,” he said to great applause from the audience.

“I wasn’t the establishment choice,” Walsh said. “And the fact that I am neck-and-neck with Rep. Bean in the polls makes those who benefit from the status quo nervous. That’s okay. I’m not going to make the same mistakes Melissa Bean has made by putting her political party ahead of her district. You elected me and it is your interests that will fight for and your values that I will represent in Congress.”
Continue reading “

Walsh: Not a Perfect Candidate, but the Perfect Candidate to Defeat Melissa Bean”

Budget - Capitalism - Chicago - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Education - Elections - Government - Illinois - Illinois State Government - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Illinois School Fund ‘Money Laundering’ Bill Passed by Both Houses

April 29, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Unfortunately a bill that will allow schools to pull a bait-and-switch and pilfer funds that are supposed to go for other things and apply those funds to unapproved building projects has now passed both houses in Springfield. This means that schools might now be able to take funds that are supposed to be used for specific things and pour them into building projects (or any other use) for which the schools did not get voter’s approval. I wrote about this bill on April 28.

The way our system is supposed to work is that schools that want major new building projects or other such high ticket needs must go before the voters for a bond issue, for taxes to be raised. The voters say yes and taxes are raised or bonds issued to satisfy the school’s needs. But if voters say no, then the schools are supposed to do without. That is they way democracy is supposed to work.

But lo and behold special interests and consultants that make their living off our schools by consulting them on bond issues and spending plans wrote HB6041 that convinced lawmakers to allow schools to raid specified funds any time they feel like doing so and use those funds for whatever they want to use them for. This is now misappropriation of funds made legal.
Continue reading “

Illinois School Fund ‘Money Laundering’ Bill Passed by Both Houses”

Cook County - Elections - GOP - Government - Illinois - Illinois State Government - SB600 - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Call the neighbors and wake the kids, it’s SB600 time!

April 29, 2010 by

-By Doug Ibendahl, Republican News Watch

The Illinois General Assembly is tentatively scheduled to adjourn by May 7th (a week from this Friday). That’s an early date, and it may not happen, but that’s the goal.

It’s a good time to make another push for final passage of SB600. Recall the bill passed overwhelmingly in the State Senate last year. We still need House passage.
Continue reading “

Call the neighbors and wake the kids, it’s SB600 time!”

Budget - Chicago - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Government - Health - House of Representatives - Illinois - Melissa Bean - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Melissa Bean’s Healthcare101 – Part 2 of 13

April 29, 2010 by

From the Palatine Tea Party…

(Palatine, Illinois) – In response to the letter Melissa Bean wrote to the constituents in district 8 dated April 16, 2010. We will respond to each of her statements Melissa Bean made based on emotion with factual responses where she stated the following:

“After deliberate review of the final legislation in relation to (the concerns of the people of the 8th district) I supported it (the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act) because it will provide the health care security, affordability and choice families and businesses seek, while utilizing the private market-not a government takeover-and yielding a significant federal deficit reduction of $1.3 trillion…”
Continue reading “

Melissa Bean’s Healthcare101 – Part 2 of 13″

Budget - Chicago - Cook County - Cook County Board - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - GOP - Government - Illinois - Illinois State Government - State Government - Taxes - Tony Peraica - Warner Todd Huston

Cook County Spending Over $200,000 for ‘Fresh Rolls and Pastries’

April 28, 2010 by 2 Comments

-By Warner Todd Huston

Last week we discovered through the Cook County online check register that the county spent $300,000 for coffee services from the ACE Coffee company. (See here, and here). This week The Prairie Stater has discovered that the county is spending more than $200,000 additional budget dollars on “fresh rolls and pastries” from Chicago’s Alpha Baking Company.

So, not only do county workers make more than you on the job and far more than you in retirement, now we find out they even eat better than you on the job.

It must be like a party to go to work everyday in county government.
Continue reading “

Cook County Spending Over $200,000 for ‘Fresh Rolls and Pastries’”

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

Schools Fund Building Projects With Pilfered Tax Money

April 28, 2010 by 1 Comment

-By Warner Todd Huston

Schools that want tax dollars to fund major new building or refurbishing projects are supposed to go before the voters, hat in hand, to ask for a tax increase. A referendum then goes on a ballot for tax payers to approve or deny. This prevents abuse of tax money and is how the system is supposed to work. But an investigation finds that millions of dollars in building funds have been raised through questionable bonds issued by schools without getting legal approval from the taxpayers.

Schools have been caught floating bonds to fund their unapproved building projects despite that the courts have ordered them to stop this shady practice. And now, instead of punishing these lawbreakers, state legislators plan to just change the rules to make this questionable wild spending legal in a grandfathered law to be considered in the state senate perhaps as early as this week.

Worse than that, the legislation was written by private companies that specialize in assisting schools to rape the taxpayers by helping them figure ways around the law. This bill wasn’t even written by our elected officials but by special interests that make their living skimming tax money from schools.
Continue reading “

Schools Fund Building Projects With Pilfered Tax Money”

2nd Amendment - Chicago - Constitution - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Foreign Countries - Government - Guns - Illinois - Illinois State Government - International Criminal Court - Liberals - Mayor Richard Daley - State Government - Warner Todd Huston - World Criminal Court

The Left’s Lies About ‘Peaceful’ Immigration Protesters

April 28, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

HotAir.com posted an excellent side-by-side video from Fox News that shows the lengths that the left goes to in order to excuse the common every day violence, hate and criminal actions of folks from their own side.

Take a look at this excellent report…

This ignoramus, hypocrite that Fox News dredged up to represent the left is typical of the back bending gymnastics indulged by the Old Media and the left — one in the same, I know. This is typical in the way they denigrate the perfectly peaceful Tea Party protests while excusing the lawless, criminal actions of the left’s protesters — in this case the recent pro-illegal immigrant criminal protesters in Arizona.
Continue reading “

The Left’s Lies About ‘Peaceful’ Immigration Protesters”

2nd Amendment - Anti-Americanism - Chicago - Constitution - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Foreign Countries - Government - Guns - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Law - Mayor Richard Daley - Warner Todd Huston

Mayor Daley Wants Foreign Kangaroo Court to Rule in Chicago

April 27, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Mayor Richard “King” Daley has just earned his monarchical (or is that maniacal) nickname by announcing his desire to have a European “court” invade the U.S. and begin prosecuting American citizens for doing a legal, Constitutionally protected business in America.

The despicable, mob-infested mayor of Chicago’s newest harebrained scheme in his fight against the U.S. Constitution is to have the so-called World Criminal Court at the Hague to begin prosecuting gun manufacturers and gun dealers here in America.

It’s bad enough that this Eurocrat wannabe thinks that this kangaroo court in Europe has legal jurisdiction in the USA, but he’s teaming up with a foreign plutocrat in Mexico to try and pursue this idiot’s scheme.

Mayor Daley again proves his essential hate for his own country. First by wallowing in his mob connected lifestyle, next by his surrounding himself with criminal Democrats that rob the city blind, then by siding with foreigners against his own country.

Maybe we would be better off with Rahm Emanuel in the big chair at City Hall? At least Rahm is just an average crook!
Continue reading “

Mayor Daley Wants Foreign Kangaroo Court to Rule in Chicago”

Campaign Finance - Chicago - Congress - Conservatives - Cook County - Elections - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Joe Walsh - Liberals - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Chicago Fox Attacks 8th District Candidate Joe Walsh

April 27, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Fox News Chicago ran a piece on 8th Congressional District Republican candidate Joe Walsh who topped a field of five candidates in the primary. They found that Walsh’s campaign never filed his financial disclosure forms as required by federal election law. The Fox correspondent pointedly asked Walsh, “how come you didn’t file your personal financial disclosure forms as obligated by federal election laws?”

Fox News also found a couple of local pols that said they would ask Walsh to resign his primary win if these things were not figured out. Of course, neither of the guys they found supported Walsh during the primary, so it shouldn’t be surprising that they’d immediately jump to calling for Walsh to quit the race.

But my biggest problem with these stories about Walsh’s financial troubles is that they never came before the primary. They’ve all come after the primary. Even I wrote about Walsh’s financial troubles before the primary and I don’t have the investigative tools that TV and newspapers do! Yet all these high falutin’ Old Media outlets in Chicago ignored the issue until Walsh won the primary.

It is hard not to imagine that the Chicago media waited to “report” these matters until after the primary specifically so that they could hurt the Republican pickup of this seat.

Walsh’s campaign did file the disclosure forms and paid a $200 fine after Fox News brought it to their attention. Walsh says it was but an oversight. Here I’ll make no judgment, you decide.
Continue reading “

Chicago Fox Attacks 8th District Candidate Joe Walsh”

2nd Amendment - Constitution - Cook County - Crime - Democrats/Leftists - Government - Guns - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Mayor Richard Daley - Rights - Security/Safety - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Ill. Lawmakers: Bring in the Army to Kill Chicagoans

April 26, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

The second I hear the facile ideas of our elected officials to bring in the Army to start cracking down on “crime” I get visions of jack-booted legions of the Wehrmacht goosestepping through the city, machine guns at hand, knocking over old people and making little kids cry.

But, I guess Representative John “Twitchy” Fritchey is wholly unaware about the rules and philosophies of the American system. You see comrade Fritchey, there is a reason why the Commissars aren’t allowed to bring the Army down upon a city. It’s because our U.S. armed forces are supposed to protect us against foreign enemies. Our laws and police agencies are supposed to protect us from internal crooks, criminals and thugs. And if our police are failing, “Twitchey” Fritchey, it is your fault (yours and your fellow “lawmakers”) Not the police’s.

Further it is not the job of the Army to harass citizens into cowering inside their homes for fear of being cut down in the streets by or own soldiers.
Continue reading “

Ill. Lawmakers: Bring in the Army to Kill Chicagoans”

Chicago - Congress - Cook County - Elections - GOP - House of Representatives - Illinois - Joe Walsh - Republicans - Warner Todd Huston

8th District: Meet GOP Candidate Joe Walsh

April 26, 2010 by

Some Lake County Republicans are sponsoring a meet the candidate event on Wednesday 28 from 7PM to 9PM. There you can meet candidate for the 8th District Joe Walsh.

Illinois 8th Congressional District Republican Challenger Joe Walsh Talks Back

JOE WALSH “Talks Back”

No Holds Barred on the issues .. Have Questions? Ask Joe!

Is Congress Really Representing “We The People”?

Date: Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Time: 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Location: The South Barrington Club
Street: 3 Tennis Club Lane
City/Town: South Barrington, IL

For Information Call Carol Ann Parisi 847-496-5400 or email Hangnloose@comcast.net

Directions: http://www.mapquest.com/mq/2-Xz1b

Andy Stern - Barack Obama - Budget - Business - Chicago - Cook County - Crime - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - Government - Jobs - Media - Media Bias - President - Public Employees Unions - Rod Blagojevich - SEIU - Senate - Taxes - Unions - Warner Todd Huston

Andy Stern: Union Chief Fleeing Ahead of Illinois Indictment?

April 26, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Until recently, Andy Stern was the President of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), a union that has served as one of President Obama’s biggest donors as well as filling the ranks of his ground troops. In a surprise move, Stern resigned his post this month and no one is really sure why at this point.

Andy Stern has been one of the closest union chiefs to a president in history. Along with SEIU treasurer Anna Burger, he was one of the most frequent visitors to the White House. He was even chosen by President Obama to serve on his Deficit Reduction Commission — a sort of contradiction in terms that.

Upon his resignation, it has been learned that Andy Stern’s leadership of the SEIU has not brought financial solvency. As F. Vincent Vernuccio reports in the Washington Times, Stern has left the SEIU in pretty shabby shape.
Continue reading “

Andy Stern: Union Chief Fleeing Ahead of Illinois Indictment?”

Budget - Chicago - Cook County - Cook County Board - Democrats/Leftists - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Liberals - State Government - Taxes - Tony Peraica - Warner Todd Huston

Gov’t Waste: $300,000 for Coffee in Cook County Government?

April 22, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Tony Peraica has chimed in on the “Coffee Czar” controversy as reported here earlier this week.

“Yes, despite the political insiders’ claims that government is bankrupt and their calls for tax increases — we’ve learned that the county taxpayers spent more than $75,000 on a local coffee company in the first three months of the current fiscal year alone. That adds up to some $300,000 a year for coffee and snacks!

As I told the reporter for that story, I’ve long said that we have “corruption on steroids” here in Cook County — but now we learn it might also be fueled by coffee!

Are these really the types of wasteful “projects” on which our hard-earned tax dollars should be spent?

As your commissioner, I will continue to fight to expose these instances of abuse, and to fight for sensible spending reform and tax relief.”


Continue reading “

Gov’t Waste: $300,000 for Coffee in Cook County Government?”

Barack Obama - Chicago - Cook County - Crime - Democrats/Leftists - Illinois - Rod Blagojevich - Warner Todd Huston

Did Obama LIE?

April 22, 2010 by 1 Comment

-By Warner Todd Huston

Did the President lie? Blago thinks so. Rod Blagojevich’s team asked the court to issue a rial subpoena to President Obama to get him to answer some key questions in Blagojevich’s trial. The ex-guv is accused of attempting to sell Obama’s vacant Senate seat.

The motion was made public but was supposed to have been heavily redacted. Unfortunately for the prosecution, the computer file released to the press was easily restored to an un-redacted state through simple computer features. So, here is the un-redacted subpoena:
Continue reading “

Did Obama LIE?”

Budget - Chicago - Congress - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - House of Representatives - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Joe Walsh - Melissa Bean - State Government - Taxes - Tea Party - Warner Todd Huston

More of Melissa Bean’s Hypocritical Ways

April 22, 2010 by

From the Palatine Tea Party…

(Palatine, Illinois) – Since Melissa Bean voted yes on January 28, 2009 for the $787B stimulus bill the unemployment rate in Lake County continues to rise. While Bean spent the last year ignoring her constituents and the American people she continued down a path of the takeover of our healthcare industry while ignoring the jobs which are disappearing at an alarming rate in Lake County. Bean’s stance to support the Obama Administration’s failed policies is hurting businesses and individuals which live and work in Lake County.
Continue reading “

More of Melissa Bean’s Hypocritical Ways”

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

Chicago Radio: the Laughing Stock of the Midwest

April 22, 2010 by 2 Comments

-By Warner Todd Huston

Welcome to Chicago Con the Air!

What the heck is going on with Chicago’s AM radio stations? For some ungodly reason… and I DO mean ungodly… convicts are turning up all over the place as radio hosts. No, I mean real convicts. Not just your average car-jacker or B&E guy, I mean political convicts. It’s no wonder Chicago is the laughing stock of the country. The city is so crooked that crooked politicians even infest the radio, fer cripes sakes!

Just announced by WVON a Monday morning radio show will be hosted by convicted Cicero Mayor Betty Loren-Maltese. Maltese just got out of jail for misappropriation of city funds.

As Chicago Radio maven Larz notes, “It should be noted that the man Betty Loren-Maltese is filling in for, Cliff Kelley, is himself a disgraced former politician.”
Continue reading “

Chicago Radio: the Laughing Stock of the Midwest”

Chicago - Cook County - Crime - Democrats/Leftists - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Rod Blagojevich - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Blago-a-go-go: Suckin’ Up to Da Man

April 21, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

In the ongoing Blago-a-go-go, the sage of the Governor whose aborted attempts to sell a U.S. Senate seat for money, profit and high falutin’ job opportunities for himself and his family, we see ex-Governor Rod Blagojevich taking a little time out from his busy radio and TV star schedule to visit the court rooms of the Richard J. Daley building in beautiful downtown Chicago.

Blago has been yelling from the rooftops that the prosecution should “play all the tapes” to prove that he, Blago, is innocent as the driven snow. Today Judge James B. Zagel (Reagan appointee, 1987) shot down Blago’s demands and said that he is the one that will determine what tapes will be played and what won’t.

“I will not allow the time of these jurors to be needlessly consumed,” Zagel said. Zagel also scolded Blago saying he would not allow any “legal head butts” to take place in his courtroom.
Continue reading “

Blago-a-go-go: Suckin’ Up to Da Man”

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

Congressman Eric Cantor Visits Chicago and Praises Bob’s Campaign

April 21, 2010 by

From the Dold for Congress campaign (10th District)…

Virginia Congressman and House Minority Whip, Eric Cantor, came to Chicago on Sunday 4/18 to meet with friends of the Pro-Israel Community. Congressman Cantor is the highest-ranking Jewish member of Congress. Bob first had a chance to talk with Congressman Cantor on Sunday night, at a Republican Jewish Coalition program in Skokie. Prior to the event, Bob, Congressman Cantor, and two of the area’s other Republican congressional candidates met privately to discuss the various issues impacting Israel’s security. The program that followed included remarks from Congressman Cantor, to an audience of 250 people. During his speech, the Congressman spoke glowingly about Bob and his campaign, and urged those in attendance to work hard to get Bob elected.
Continue reading “

Congressman Eric Cantor Visits Chicago and Praises Bob’s Campaign”

Congress - Cook County - Elections - GOP - House of Representatives - Illinois - Republicans - Warner Todd Huston

Walsh Speaks with More Than 500 on Illinois’ Manufacturing Industry

April 20, 2010 by

From the Walsh for Congress campaign (8th District)…

(Oakbrook Terrace, IL)– “Illinois manufacturers are job creators, wealth creators, and they are the sector that will lead the economic recovery in Illinois,” said Republican challenger Joe Walsh on Monday afternoon while speaking to representatives from some 500 manufacturing companies at Metals Services Institute conference.
Continue reading “

Walsh Speaks with More Than 500 on Illinois’ Manufacturing Industry”

Budget - Chicago - Cook County - Cook County Board - Democrats/Leftists - Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Coffee Break Costs Cook County $76,291

April 20, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

A cuppa Joe, we all love it — well, I don’t drink coffee at all, but most people do, anyway. You might spend a few bucks a day on your coffee, right? Well, add a few more dollars to that daily bill if you are a resident of Cook County, Illinois. A recent review of the county’s expenditures shows that it spent $76,291 on coffee products from the ACE Coffee vending company.

But, it wasn’t just coffee and snacks that the ACE company provided. No, it was one hand washing the other as the ACE Coffee company has given tens of thousands of dollars in political contributions to Cook County Democrats, 14th Ward Alderman and Democrat Committeeman Ed Burke in particular. Burke and his various committees and associates got $20,250 of ACE’s $30,000 in political contributions made last year.

  • $11,250 to Friends of Edward M. Burke
  • $3,000 to The Burnham Committee (of which Burke is listed as chairman)
  • $3,000 to the Democratic Party of the 14th Ward (of which Burke is committeeman)
  • The company’s CEO, Bernard E. Cavitt, also made $10,500 in contributions to Burke-related committees since 2000.

If a private company wants to buy coffee for its employees, well, that is fine. They have a right to decide how to spend their own profits. But what we have here is the taxpayers paying for county employees to sit around drinking coffee and eating snacks on OUR dime. And the coffee company is hip deep in the pockets of county and city officials to boot!

We can thank Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraica for his efforts to make sure that the Cook County check register is on line for all to see so that this sort of unsavory relationships can see the light of day. We’d never be able to find such things without the Cook County transparency effort, so thanks to Peraica for his work here.
Continue reading “

Coffee Break Costs Cook County $76,291″

Chicago - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - Illinois - Mayor Richard Daley - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Rahm Emanuel: ‘I Would Like to Run for Mayor of Chicago’

April 19, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

On PBS’ Charlie Rose show, Rahm Emanuel finally admitted what has been rumored in hushed voices throughout the city of Chicago: He wants to run for Mayor.

Emanuel told host Rose that if Mayor Daley decides not to run again, he would like to throw his own hat in the ring and run for the big seat at City Hall.

But if Mayor Daley doesn’t, one day I would like to run for mayor of the City of Chicago. That’s always been an aspiration of mine even when I was in the House of Representatives.

Now the pressure is on Mayor Daley to decide if he wants another term and to wonder if Emanuel will run against him despite his claim to want to support Da Mayor if he runs again.

The diminutive, oft times profane Emanuel reiterated a few times that he’s not looking to knock Richard Daley out of the office, but one really does have to wonder. Few Presidential Chiefs of Staff last long and one can be pretty sure that Emanuel will be gone for that position sooner rather than later. So, is he really, really sure that he won’t run to beat Daley?

This is a question that Daley would be foolish not to be asking himself.
Continue reading “

Rahm Emanuel: ‘I Would Like to Run for Mayor of Chicago’”

Chicago - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Pat Quinn - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Is Scott Lee Cohen Eyeing Guv’s Chair, Now?

April 18, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Former candidate for Comptroller William Kelly reported to Chicago News Bench that Scott Lee Cohen is thinking of running for the Governor’s seat. Could it be? Could the guy that the Democrat Party forced off the ticket when he won the Lt. Guv’s spot now be looking to take his revenge out against the Party by opposing them for Governor?

And if he does run, will he run as a Democrat or will he run as an independent? How will he do it? Or is he really thinking about the next run, not the 2010 run? There’s a ton of questions with this one, that’s for sure.

One thing is sure, though. Scott Lee Cohen has said to various members of the media, both new and old, that he will be running for something in the future… though to date he has not officially said what that office might be.

It would be a hoot if he decided to run for governor against Quinn and the Democrats both. It would be Chicago politics at its most circus-like. Political life under the big top, is what we have.

Tom Mannis has some other hot Cohen gossip at his Chicago News Bench site, so go on over and take a look.
Continue reading “

Is Scott Lee Cohen Eyeing Guv’s Chair, Now?”

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

Peraica’s Push for Transparency Reveals Waste

April 18, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Commissioner Peraica sponsored a transparency measure that formed the basis for a recent ABC 7 report on waste in county government. Cook County government has started to put its check register online for all to see thanks to Peracia’s efforts.

Of course, we need more stories like the one seen here, ABC 7’s Chuck Goudie who usesd the online check register to identify questionable expenditures of your tax dollars.

One of the worst examples of waste by the County was its expenditures to C.R.O.E., the Coalition for the Remembrance of the Honorable Elijah Mahammad. Mahammad was the former leader of the militant Nation of Islam, a religion now run by Louis Farrakhan. The County is supposedly paying C.R.O.E. for “consulting” services. But no one really knows what sort of “consulting” they really do for the County.

In any case, with the County check register on line for everyone to see, the possibility of more easily finding the waste and graft by Cook County government is a good thing for eventually holding County officials accountable. We should see such efforts at every level of government.

Budget - Chicago - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Illinois - Liberals - President - Taxes - Tea Party - Warner Todd Huston

Chicago Tax Day Tea Party Video: Ballad of the Tea Party

April 15, 2010 by

During the tea party protest downtown Chicago at Daley Plaza, 9th District Republican candidate for Congress Joel Pollak debuted his new song, “Ballad of the Tea Party.”

Pollack himself performed the tune. It has the ring of a good old Irish diddie.

“Hey, hey, what do we say? Don’t tax our freedom away!”

Lyrics:
Continue reading “

Chicago Tax Day Tea Party Video: Ballad of the Tea Party”

Budget - Chicago - Cook County - Cook County Board - Democrats/Leftists - GOP - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Republicans - State Government - Taxes - Tea Party - Tony Peraica - Warner Todd Huston

Cook County Commissioner Peraica at the Chicago Tax Day Tea Party

April 15, 2010 by

Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraica produced this video of his attendance at the Tax Day Tea Party event held in Daly Plaza, in beautiful, corrupt downtown Chicago!

Tony is right to mention the “corruption tax” we in Crook County pay every day. Let’s hope that in November of 2010 these tea party efforts will help bring about the real hope and change that this country needs.