Cook County

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

Indicted Gov. Blagojevich to be Re-Indicted

December 7, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

I suppose I should report this story since this is an Illinois centric blog, but I have to say following the corruption of former Governor Rod Blagojevich is more like a chore than anything else.

Anyway, it seems like federal prosecutors are going to bring new indictments against Blago in order to “avoid issues connected to an appeal before the U.S. Supreme Court on the scope of the federal ‘honest services’ statute under which Blagojevich has been charged.”

In a filing today, prosecutors said they would handle the honest services question in the new filing against the former governor. The high court is expected to hear arguments tomorrow related to the limits of the federal statute.

Honest services fraud criminalizes schemes that deprive the public or the government of the right to have public officials perform their duties honestly.

My eyes are glazing over already. One is tempted to wonder if there is any such thing as “honest services” from any Illinois pol?

It seems that this will push any trial dates even further out into 2010.

Just another wrinkle in the Blago saga. And the whole thing just makes me tired.

Chicago - Congress - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - GOP - House of Representatives - Illinois - Liberals - Republicans - Senate - Society/Culture - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

11th U.S. Congressional and U.S. Senate Candidate Forum “Tea Party Style”

December 7, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

One of our local Tea Party groups is sponsoring a candidate’s forum On Dec. 9th. I find it a bit telling that these folks invited the local Democrats to participate in the forum and they all declined, yet all the republicans accepted the invitation. So, uh, what are the Dems afraid of?

Here is the press release for the event:

Sponsored by Joliet Tea Party & Homer/Lockport Tea Party
Wednesday – Dec 9th 6:00 – 9:00 pm
The Holiday Inn (Louis Joliet Ballroom) 411 S. Larkin, Joliet IL.

The Joliet Tea Party & Homer/Lockport Tea Party are joining forces once again and holding a “Tea Party” Forum for the 11th US Congressional and US Senate Candidates. Tea Partiers have asked the candidates to “hear their voices” and they have responded. Congressional and Senate Candidates are coming to our area for a Town Hall /Forum to answer some important questions and meet the people. The event is free, with live music, tea party slide show, Candidate Forum, Meet & Greet the Candidates, Streaming Video Live on the Internet, Cash Bar, and Fellow Patriots.
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11th U.S. Congressional and U.S. Senate Candidate Forum “Tea Party Style””

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

14th District: Jeff Danklefsen Endorsed by NTUI

December 7, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

The Denklefsen campaign is reporting that Tax Accountability, the political action arm of National Taxpayers United of Illinois, is endorsing Jeff Danklefsen in his effort to take the GOP nomination for the 14th District Congressional seat.

In making the endorsement, president Jim Tobin cited Jeff’s “exceptional desire to fight taxes and support economic growth.”

Founded in 1976, NTUI is the largest taxpayer protection organization in Illinois with more than 30,000 members and supporters. For more information, see www.ntui.org.

For more information of Jeff Danklefsen, see his campaign website.

Chicago - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Illinois - Illinois Policy Institute - Liberals - Socialism - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

ISI: Is Ayn Rand Bad for the Market? Institute in the News‏

December 7, 2009 by

From the Illinois Policy Institute:

In case you missed it, Heather Wilhelm, our vice president of marketing and communications, was featured in the Wall Street Journal today. Her article, “Is Ayn Rand Bad for the Market?”, has drawn a tremendous response from both fans and critics. You can read the full article in the Wall Street Journal here. If you’d like to see Heather’s response to the critics of her piece, you can visit our blog here.

Also, last night, the Institute was featured on “The Political Grapevine” on Fox News’ Special Report show. You can watch the feature here, which includes a blog post written by our executive vice president Kristina Rasmussen.

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

New Illinois Conservative FaceBook Group Makes Endorsements

December 6, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

A new FaceBook effort to rally conservative Illinoisans to the state’s electoral process was launched by several youngsters out of the Rockford area and they’ve decided to make a few endorsements for some of the statewide races coming up soon in the February primary. The group is calling itself “Illinois Conservatives” and can be found on FaceBook.

Here are their endorsements thus far:

  • Adam Andrzejewski – Governor of IL
  • William J. Kelly – Illinois Comptroller
  • Don Manzullo – U.S. House of Reps 16th Dist
  • Phil Collins – Illinois 17th district
  • Paul Mitchell – Illinois 62nd district

The new group says in its mission statement that they are trying to support candidates for “the betterment of Illinois.”

The Illinois Conservatives Facebook group believes in conservative ideologies and supports political candidates who share in those beliefs for the betterment of the State of Illinois

I have to thank Tom Mannis of Chicago New Bench for alerting me to this group. On his site, Tom says of this effort, “Frankly, endorsements like the one from Illinois Conservatives means a lot more than those from the inbred, cloistered little Republican groups around the state.” I couldn’t agree more.
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New Illinois Conservative FaceBook Group Makes Endorsements”

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

Sandy Wegman: Team Player or Self-Interested Opportunist?

December 6, 2009 by 1 Comment

-By Warner Todd Huston

Incumbent Kane County Recorder of Deeds Sandy Wegman has before claimed that she is a “team player” for the GOP. Her actions, however, make that out to be a lie. The last time Wegman tried to get out of her dead end clerk’s job was when she ran for Lt. Governor in 2006 despite that she had no party backing. In fact, her run then likely took votes away from State Senator Steve Rauschenberger who also ran for Lt. Governor that election, the only candidate that had a chance to beat Joe Birkett for the nod. (She got a measly 13% to Steve’s 30%)

A team player in 2006 would have dumped her own effort in order to back either Rauschenberger or States Attorney Joe Birkett the only two in the race with any party backing at all. Instead she stayed in causing the race to look uncompetitive.

Now we get another example of Wegman’s party averse opportunism, once again seemingly intended to hurt former Senator Steve Rauschenberger. She has inexplicably launched a late “write-in” bid for the State Senate seat of the 22nd District in opposition, once again, too a Rauschenberger candidacy.

Wegman’s cynical opportunism comes just as Rauschenberger faces an odd but vexing petition challenge forced upon him by the Democrat Party aimed at keeping him from appearing on the primary ballot as a Republican.
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Sandy Wegman: Team Player or Self-Interested Opportunist?”

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

Purcell Says no to 14th District Run

December 5, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Looks like Jim Purcell, a solid conservative, has decided not to run for the 14th District seat after all. That still leaves four Republicans in the race.

Still in:

Here is the Purcell press release:
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Purcell Says no to 14th District Run”

Abortion - Anti-Americanism - Chicago - Congress - Cook County - Elections - GOP - Illinois - Republicans - Society/Culture - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

8th District: Joe Walsh ‘Sets Record Straight’ On Pro-Life Issue

December 4, 2009 by

There has been some question on candidate Joe Walsh’s pro-life stance, so here is his “setting the record straight” message to try and settle the question:

You may have heard some rumor and innuendo over the past few days, writtennand spoken, trying to distort my position on the life issue. I would like to set the record straight.

For seven years, I have been pro-life without exception. I believe in the
sanctity of all human life from conception to natural death. There is no
candidate in this race who is more pro-life than I am.
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8th District: Joe Walsh ‘Sets Record Straight’ On Pro-Life Issue”

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

Illinois Policy Institute Update

December 4, 2009 by 1 Comment

Nothing to See Here, Folks…
The leaked e-mails of the Climategate scandal have been nothing short of stunning—except, of course, to the true believers in the White House. You can watch Obama’s press secretary Robert Gibbs in full denial mode by clicking the image above. Meanwhile, stay tuned for our newest report, set for release next week, which shows the direct consequences of cap and trade schemes for Illinois.

That Better Be Some Spicy Hot Sauce!
In 2008, Illinois state government spent $7,875 on “bird testing,” $20,692.24 on “subscriptions” for the Governor’s office, $3,770 for golf carts, $2,822 on hot sauce, and $280 on soy crayons – all funded by Illinois taxpayers.
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Illinois Policy Institute Update”

Anti-Americanism - Budget - Chicago - Congress - Cook County - Economy/Finances - Elections - GOP - House of Representatives - Illinois - Republicans - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

5th District Race: David Ratowitz Signs AFP’s “No Climate Tax” Pledge

December 3, 2009 by

Several Illinois candidates have been signing no-tax pledges of late and 5th District candidate David Ratowitz is the latest. This from the campaign…

“Cap and Trade is a disaster that will sacrifice jobs and increase energy costs.”

CHICAGO – December 3, 2009 – U.S. House candidate David Ratowitz (IL-5) this week signed Americans for Prosperity’s “No Climate Tax Pledge, vowing to “oppose any legislation relating to climate change that includes a net increase in government revenue.” He is one of only nine Illinois state or federal candidates to sign the pledge to date.
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5th District Race: David Ratowitz Signs AFP’s “No Climate Tax” Pledge”

Anti-Americanism - Chicago - Cook County - Elections - Illinois - Liberals - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Is Your Right Not to Vote Endangered in Illinois?

December 3, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Well, Illinois voter, say you go to the polls and you decide you don’t like any of the candidates for lt. governor or secretary of state but you are all fired up about your choice for governor. So, you just don’t want to vote for the ones you don’t like but you darn sure want to vote for the ones you DO like. Guess what? If certain authorities in Illinois have their way your vote won’t count at all. It’ll be flagged as an undervote, kicked out of the machine, and you’ll be urged to complete the ballot whether you want to or not.

As a result of Public Act 95-699, passed in 2007, a ballot that is fed into the voting machine that has any of the Constitutional offices left un-marked will be kicked out as an undervote. At this point the voter will be informed in front of everyone that they didn’t chose a candidate for all the major offices and will be informed that he should complete the ballot. In fact, the vote cannot even be counted unless the judge depresses a special button to allow the vote to go through with an undervote.

Critics say that these hoops that must be jumped through denies the voter the right not to vote for whatever office they don’t want to vote for. Further, it sets up the situation where voters can be strong armed by unscrupulous election judges into voting for candidates for whom they do not really want to vote. It sets up the possibility that the voter can be intimidated into going back to the booth and continue voting when they really don’t want to. Just imagine, for instance, the intimidation and control a connected Chicago election judge will likely impose on voters unsure of their rights.
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Is Your Right Not to Vote Endangered in Illinois?”

Budget - Business - Chicago - Cook County - Cook County Board - Entertainment - GOP - Hollywood - Illinois - Movies - Republicans - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Cook Commissioner Tim Schneider: Cut Cook County Film Office

December 2, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Last month Cook County Commissioner Timothy O. Schneider (R, western suburbs) co-sponsored a budget amendment to axe the Cook County Film Commission from fiscal year 2010.

Quoth Schneider, “The creation of the Cook County Film Commission stands as a prime example of government spending run amok.”

The Film Commission is budgeted at $251,611 for 2010. Schneiber pointed out that there is already a Chicago Film Commission as well as an Illinois Film Commission, s the existence of a Cook County version is unnecessary redundancy.

Earlier in the year, Schneider sponsored and saw passed a campaign finance bill that lowered the personal political contribution allowance from $1,500 to $750 per person for those that have done business with the county, including registered lobbyists.

“This legislation can begin the process of restoring confidence and ensuring that influence peddling is eradicated from Cook County,” Schneider said in his recent newsletter.

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

McHenry County County Votes Down Video Gambling

December 2, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Cal Skinner of the McHenry County Blog has reported his shock that the County Board has voted down video gambling by a 13 to 10 (with one abstention) victory.

Skinner reports that all ten Republicans voted for the ban and three Democrats crossed the aisle to join them.

This is good news for McHenry County.

Video gambling was passed by the State Legislature to raise needed revenue, but the bill included an opt out clause where each county board can decide if they want to allow gambling or not.

Skinner has the complete roll call if you are interested in seeing who voted what way in his blog report on this issue.

For more information on what towns, villages, and counties in Illinois that have already put a ban on video gambling, see the Illinois Church Action website.
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McHenry County County Votes Down Video Gambling”

Budget - Business - Capitalism - Chicago - Congress - Cook County - Economy/Finances - Elections - GOP - House of Representatives - Illinois - Republicans - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Americans for Prosperity: U.S. House Candidate Joe Walsh Signs No Climate Tax Pledge

December 2, 2009 by

8th District Congressional candidate Joe Walsh has signed the AFP no tax pledge…

CHICAGO-The Illinois chapter of the free-market grassroots group Americans for Prosperity (AFP-IL) today applauded U.S. House candidate Joe Walsh (8th District) for signing the group’s “No Climate Tax Pledge.” By doing so, Walsh joins over 285 lawmakers and candidates on the federal, state and local levels pledging to “oppose legislation relating to climate change that includes a net increase in government revenue.”

“The one thing elected officials should all be able to agree on is that global warming shouldn’t be used as an excuse to hike taxes on citizens and businesses,” said AFP-IL State Director Joe Calomino. “We encourage all of Illinois’ elected officials and candidates for elected office to sign.”
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Americans for Prosperity: U.S. House Candidate Joe Walsh Signs No Climate Tax Pledge”

Afghanistan - Barack Obama - Chicago - Congress - Cook County - GOP - House of Representatives - Illinois - Military - Republicans - Security/Safety - Society/Culture - State Government - Terrorism - Warner Todd Huston

2nd District Isaac Hayes: Obama’s 30,000 Boost a Step in the Right Direction

December 2, 2009 by

From the Isaac Hayes campaign:
 

CHICAGO – December 1, 2009: The following statement was released today by Rev. Isaac C. Hayes, the GOP nominee for Congress in IL-2, and opponent of Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.) regarding President Obama’s announcement to send 30,000 more soldiers to Afghanistan:
 

“President Obama’s decision to send 30,000 additional troops into the theatre of Afghanistan is a good step in the right direction” said Hayes. “His decision to not cut-and-run despite opposition to the buildup by members of his own party is commendable. However, I am disappointed that he has chosen not to deploy the minimum number of troops requested by General McCrystal of 40,000. As Congress debates funding for the troop buildup, it is important that the Republican Party work to ensure our soldiers have the best chance of success by heeding the firsthand assessment of Gen. McCrystal.”


For more information, go to:http://www.isaac4honesty.com.

2nd Amendment - Anti-Americanism - Chicago - Constitution - Cook County - Elections - GOP - Illinois - Republicans - Security/Safety - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Ill. Rifle Assoc.: Oh, No We Didn’t Endorse Jim Ryan in 2002

December 2, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

On the Ryan FaceBook page the claim was recently made that Jim Ryan was endorsed by the Illinois State Rifle Association’s political action arm for his 2002 race against Rod Blagojevich for governor. Au contraire, says the ISRA-PVF. They didn’t endorse anyone in 2002, they say.

The ISRA-PVF issued a news release to correct the record:

ISRA-PVF Calls Upon Illinois Gubernatorial Candidate Jim Ryan to Retract Endorsement Claims

CHICAGO, Nov. 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The following was released today by the ISRA Political Victory Fund (ISRA-PVF):

The ISRA-PVF is today calling upon Illinois gubernatorial candidate Jim Ryan to retract claims that he received the group’s endorsement during his failed 2002 run for governor against Rod Blagojevich. Such misleading claims have surfaced on Ryan’s social networking internet sites in recent days. Additionally, individuals have made reports to the ISRA-PVF that Ryan campaign staffers have made similar endorsement claims when questioned about Ryan’s stands on issues important to law-abiding Illinois firearm owners.

The fact of the matter is, the ISRA-PVF declined to make an endorsement in the 2002 race for Illinois governor as neither the Republican candidate, Jim Ryan, nor his Democratic opponent, Rod Blagojevich, were deemed suitable for endorsement.

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Ill. Rifle Assoc.: Oh, No We Didn’t Endorse Jim Ryan in 2002″

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

Lt. Guv Candidate Jason Plummer: Still think the Illinois Lt. Governor doesn’t matter?‏

December 1, 2009 by

From the Plummer for Lt. Guv campaign (and yes, I want to stress that HIS release spelled Lieutenant wrong several times)…

If you think the office of Illinois Leiutenant Governor doesn’t matter — just wait until now-Governor Pat Quinn passes his massive income tax hike.

For seven years, Pat Quinn played loyal second fiddle to Rod Blagojevich — remaining silent while Rod plundered the state and destroyed our economy.

As governor, Pat Quinn has continued the Blagojevich legacy — padding the state budget to pay off political special interests at our expense.
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Lt. Guv Candidate Jason Plummer: Still think the Illinois Lt. Governor doesn’t matter?‏”

Budget - Censorship - Chicago - Conservatives - Cook County - Cook County Board - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Illinois - Liberals - President - Republicans - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraica Tweets The Veto Session (Tax Roll Back Succeeds)

December 1, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Here is a really fascinating series of tweets from Commissioner Tony Peraica as he participated in the latest Cook County Board meeting. Today (Dec. 1) Board President Todd Stroger tried to cajole the board into upholding his veto of the roll back of his implementation of the highest tax rate in the country. Peraica is against the tax and since the State Legislature ended the four-fifths rule, lowering it to three-fifths to overturn the president’s veto, the fight was on.

Anyway, here are the tweets that Peraica posted during the debate and they are a fascinating peak inside a board meeting during this important vote. Luckily, the final outcome is victory for the tax roll back. It’s only a roll back of half a penny, but it is a start and it is the first time a board president’s veto has been rolled back in anyone’s memory.

  • Chairman Daley has now started the Finance Committee meeting and has started the process WITHOUT Todd Stroger. This is novel.
  • Stroger and Collins are still holed up in his office. Major arm twisting is going on. We’ll have to look at Com. Collin’s face upon entry.
  • It”s now over ONE hour since the time for meeting of the Board to start, but, Stroger and Collins are STILL NOT HERE. Highly Suspect!
  • Storger and Collins are still talking in his office. It’s been now ONE HOUR and FIFTEEN minutes. This is beginnig to look very fishy.

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Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraica Tweets The Veto Session (Tax Roll Back Succeeds)”

Children - Conservatives - Constitution - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - Illinois - Liberals - Republicans - Society/Culture - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Put Back Amendment News

December 1, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

John Bambeneck is making headway with his Put Back Amendment and recently appeared on WCIA 3 News.

CHAMPAIGN–John Bambeneck says the state capitol is hopelessly broken. He says we send 177 legislators to Springfield, but power is only vested in the four leaders at the top. That’s why he’s proposing a package of reforms and calling on citizens to back him up. There’s a running list of petitions on his website called “The Putback Amendment.” He wants more transparent government. That means 7-day public viewing of all legislation before lawmakers vote. Plus he’s setting out to do away with a centralization of power. No more house and senate: Just one chamber. And no more than eight years in office. “They stagnate,” he said of lawmakers who’ve held the same post year after year after year. “They stop solving problems and start having more of a factory mindset.” “It’s not healthy from an organizational prospective to have the same person doing the same thing for decades on end,” he added.

Bambeneck references the Speaker of the House who’s held his post for almost 30 years. He says there’s a reason why we’ve term-limited positions like the presidency.

Representative Bill Black appreciates voters coming up with ideas for change. He says what Illinois has gone through is depressing. We have one governor in prison and possibly one on the way, but he says it isn’t the House of Representatives that got our state into trouble. In fact, it’s the House that brought about Blagojevich’s impeachment.

Budget - Business - Capitalism - Chicago - Congress - Cook County - Economy/Finances - Elections - Health - Illinois - Jobs - Liberals - Socialism - Society/Culture - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

10th District, Robert Dold: Government Run Health Care is Bad Medicine‏

November 30, 2009 by

From the Dold campaign…

The end of 2009 is almost here, and as Election Day, February 2nd, quickly approaches, it is time to look forward to electing a new Congressional leader who will bring your concerns and ideas to Washington. I believe that healthcare, an issue at the forefront of our minds this election season, needs to be reformed the right way—without a government takeover.

The current Democrat-backed health care plan will increase government health expenditures by an estimated $1 trillion over a ten year period. While the consequences of the enormous bill will affect us on a national level, it will also make things worse for Illinois. A recent report released by the Illinois Policy Institute revealed the nationalized health care plan will lower economic growth by costing Illinois 169,000 jobs, impose $57 billion in costs for Illinois taxpayers to bear, and shrink our state’s economy by 5.1 percent.
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10th District, Robert Dold: Government Run Health Care is Bad Medicine‏”

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

Cook County Board President Race: John Garrido Responds to Claims He’s a Dem. Plant

November 30, 2009 by

Is it the Chicago dirty tricks squad at work? From the Garrido campaign…

SCHILLER PARK – John Garrido addressed rumors being circulated among Republican circles that he’s a Democrat “plant”. He issued the following statement:

Attempts to try and make me look like a Democrat based on my primary voting record are laughable. I am a Republican, have always been a Republican, and will always remain a Republican.

I have voted in two Democratic primaries. In 2008, I joined over 100,000 Republicans in Ohio, 119,000 in Texas, and 38,000 in Mississippi who voted for Hillary Clinton to put Republicans in the best position to win in the general election. I also voted for an Assistant State’s Attorney and friend running as a Democrat who was more than qualified for judge.
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Cook County Board President Race: John Garrido Responds to Claims He’s a Dem. Plant”

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

Constitution Party: Randall Stufflebeam for Ill. Governor

November 30, 2009 by

From the Stufflebeam campaign…

We had a great time in Alton yesterday (Saturday, November 28) and I am really proud of the organizers of this tea party that had a focus on the youth. You can read the Alton Telegraphs report below.

I had the opportunity to speak, not as a candidate, but as a “Constitutionalist.” I opened my speech with this phrase, “In just a little over three years from now, we will be celebrating the 100th year anniversary of the day that tyranny got it’s foothold here in America.” On February 3, 1913 the 16th Amendment (Known to most people as the “Income Tax Amendment”) was declared to have been ratified. Then on April 8, 1913, the 17th Amendment was declared to have been ratified. Interestingly, in October of the same year, the Federal Reserve Act was ratified. Can you connect the dots?
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Constitution Party: Randall Stufflebeam for Ill. Governor”

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

Chgo Trib: Remembering Why the ILl. GOP Backed Blago

November 30, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

John Kass, he of the rail against “the combine,” has another column reminding us of why the Illinois GOP has become the laughing stalk of the GOP nation wide. It’s because up until this very day, the Illinois Republican Party has been but a weaker arm of the Illinois Democrat Party. Too many in the state GOP have been so intertwined with the criminal Democrats that they are indistinguishable one from the other, hence why Kass calls them “the combine.”

Kass reminded us of how the Illinois GOP establishment under past Party Chair Andy McKenna worked hand in glove with the corrupt Democrats. As Kass interviewed Jim Ryan, GOP candidate for Governor, he detailed just some of combine’s nefarious actions in 2006 when Ryan faced now indicted ex-Governor Rod Blagojevich.
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Chgo Trib: Remembering Why the ILl. GOP Backed Blago”

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

Truth in Accounting TV Appearance

November 29, 2009 by 1 Comment

On Nov. 12th, WTTW 11, Chicago’s PBS station, did a roundtable segment about Illinois’ C minus grade on managing its money. The panel featured Sheila Weinberg of The Institute for Truth in Accounting, and Illinois non-profit think tank that we’ve discussed here many times.

This is a warning that Illinois has a budget disaster that will sink it unless addressed, and soon.

(cross posted at RedCounty.com)

Anti-Americanism - Budget - Business - Capitalism - Chicago - Congress - Conservatives - Cook County - Economy/Finances - Elections - GOP - House of Representatives - Illinois - Republicans - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

10th District: Bob Dold Supports Bank Bailouts

November 28, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Of the Republicans running for the 10th District seat, Bob Dold is one of four, the others being Beth Coulson (the party favorite), Bill Cadigan (endorsed by former State Senator Steve Rauschenberger), and Dick Green.

Dold recently participated in a short phone conversation with Jeff Berkowitz of the Public Affairs Show the upshot of which seems to show that Dold supports the Bush/Obama bank bailouts.

Dold told Berkowitz that he thinks government needs the “ability to make sure that we’re stabilizing the banks.” Now, a conservative would far more likely say that no bank or business is “too big to fail” and that the only way to truly stabilize the banking system is to let banks that make bad choices suffer the consequences of their choices, not buoy them up and give them free money from the taxpayers so that they are insulated from those bad choices.
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10th District: Bob Dold Supports Bank Bailouts”

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

Rep. Sacia Guarding Party Chief Privilege Since 2003

November 27, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Republican Representative Jim Sacia represents the 89th District (Map) which encompasses the most north western corner of the state including the cities of Galena and Freeport. Galenas is General Grant’s old stomping grounds and Freeport is the home of one of President Lincoln’s famous debate stops with Senator Douglas.

With Galena and Freeport, Sacia’s District is home of cities that were touched by two of the state’s most famous self-made men, Lincoln and Hiram Ulysses Grant — his real name was never Sam. Yet, representative Sacia is doing his level best to safeguard the privilege of Party bigwigs and prevent the people from having a say by being an opponent of SB600.

SB600 would return the Republican party system to the people and allow the voters to chose its party leaders by vote, just as the Democrats already do. I say return because it used to be that Illinois’ Republican voters were allowed the opportunity to chose their party leaders. But this system was changed by the state legislature to a system whereby party committeemen, not voters, decide who becomes the party leaders. In other words, it is a system of pure powerbrokering as opposed to one of democratic balloting.
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Rep. Sacia Guarding Party Chief Privilege Since 2003″

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

The Illinois Township: A Layer of Govt That is Pure Waste

November 27, 2009 by 1 Comment

-By Warner Todd Huston

This week ABC 7’s Chuck Goudie aired a report made in conjunction with the Better Government Association that explored the efficacy of the Illinois Township and what they discovered is just more waste and ripoffs of the Illinois taxpayer.

Townships were originally created for two main purposes: raising taxes to take care of roads in unincorporated areas and to provide temporary aid to the poor. Unfortunately the I-Team and the BGA have discovered that this extra layer of government is collecting large amounts of taxes, spending only a fraction on the two purposes for which they were created, and banking all the rest amassing huge surpluses all the while hiring friends and family members for false, make-work jobs that create no wealth for the community.

This report finds that most of the money that these townships take in goes to salaries for township employees.
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The Illinois Township: A Layer of Govt That is Pure Waste”

Budget - Business - Capitalism - Chicago - Cook County - Economy/Finances - Elections - GOP - History - Republicans - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Jim Dodge for Comptroller: First Video Commercial

November 25, 2009 by

“Jim Dodge has the qualifications,” says the commercial. But the funniest part is that it ends saying, “we can vote for a blast from the past or begin a new, winning chapter for Illinois Republicans.”

Why is that last bit funny? Because it is a slap at Judy Baar Topinka, the former, former of the Illinois Good ‘ol Boy GOP network, who is also running (again) for a state-wide office, this time comptroller.