Cook County

Anti-Americanism - Chicago - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Illinois - Liberals - Society/Culture - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Chicago Aldermen: We Are More Important Than You Lowly Citizens

November 2, 2009 by 1 Comment

-By Warner Todd Huston

Chicago’s alderman are mad and they aren’t above letting director of Administrative Hearings Scott Bruner know about it. You would be too if you had to mix with the great, unwashed masses like these poor, put upon alderman have been forced to do. Why, it’s unseemly, don’t you know?

As it happens Chicago’s aldermen are being forced to go through the metal detectors to gain entrance to the central headquarters for administrative hearings. It’s a travesty of what’s good and decent, they say.

Last week during the City Council budget hearings, director Bruner was chastised by Alderman Howard Brookins (21st Ward) and several other aldermen for being forced to go through the detectors.

“Why am I searched as an alderman and as an attorney?…I don’t want to be searched going through a city building. There’s only 50 of us and we all have gold badges,” said Ald. Howard Brookins (21st).

… Budget Committee Chair Carrie Austin (34th) was so “offended,” she warned Bruner what might happen if he fails to “take another look at your policy.”

“It’s not a matter of giving anybody any preference. But us that are aldermen—we are the ones who set your budget. If we’re the ones setting your budget maybe we’ll take an adjustment” downward, if the policy is not rescinded, Austin warned.

The Sun-Times piece reminds us of another recent incident where aldermen thought they should be afforded premium service.
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Chicago Aldermen: We Are More Important Than You Lowly Citizens”

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

Big Wigs

November 1, 2009 by

Dan Proft whacks away at newcomer to the Governor’s race, Andy McKenna:

Andy, if the wig fits, wear it

Illinois is in a quiet state of crisis. I say a quiet crisis because through years of corruption and neglect, the conditions have been created for Illinois’ financial collapse. The day of reckoning has not yet come but the numbers clearly indicate that it is coming if evasive policy action is not taken.

When it comes and those left in Illinois are forced to confront $20 billion in structural debt and $80 billion in unfunded pension obligations, the consequences won’t be quiet at all. The cacophony will be heard in every business and every home in Illinois, its percussion will be felt by every family and it will resonate through generations.

This campaign has been beating the drum to call attention to the quiet crisis that has been cultivated by Chicago Democrats and ignored or papered over by go-along-to-get-along Springfield Republicans, and I will do so again.
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Big Wigs”

ACORN - Anti-Americanism - Business - Chicago - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Elections - Illinois - Liberals - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

ACORN’s Tangled Webs

November 1, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

In one of our early postings we discovered how ACORN hides behind hundreds of different incorporated names and sets up dozens and dozens of LLCs and organizations that they hide behind in order to fool people into imagining they aren’t, indeed, doing business with ACORN. This is a story of one of those organizations, one politically active and actively attempting to undermine the trust voters have in the political system.

Some of you may have heard of the election in New York’s 23rd District where a liberal Democrat, a very liberal Republican, and a conservative Republican running on the New York conservative Party ticket all of whom are vying for the open Congressional seat there. Well, one of the organizations hip-deep in this election is a political group called the Working Families Party. Of course, the WFP is more-or-less a front for ACORN in New York and no political party at all.

The WFP is part and parcel to ACORN in New York. The “party” is run out of the ACORN offices at 88 Third Avenue in Brooklyn, its Co-chair is ACORN President Bertha Lewis, and one of its prime representatives is New York’s ACORN leader, Steven Kest. ACORN and the Working Families Party are inextricable. The two are one and the same.
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ACORN’s Tangled Webs”

ACORN - Barack Obama - Budget - Business - Capitalism - Chicago - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Illinois - Liberals - SEIU - Society/Culture - State Government - Taxes - Unions - Warner Todd Huston

ACORN’s Defenders Not Remaining Silent

October 31, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

As we at SayNoToACORN.com are fighting to help inform you about what you can do to impress upon our local and federal officials to distance themselves from ACORN, the other side — those that support the actions of ACORN — are also organizing. This fact proves that we cannot just sit idly by and hope that things go our way. We must act to make sure our politicians listen to us and defund this criminal organization. We must speak because our opponents definitely are.

Once again, Byron York reports on this story and he finds a webpage trying to cajole our lawmakers into increasing ACORN’s federal funding instead of eliminating it. York finds a site called defoxamerica.com that serves to both attack Fox News and advocate for increased funding for ACORN.

With Congress getting ready to pass a continuing resolution that might — or might not — extend the ban on federal funds for ACORN, there’s a new campaign urging lawmakers to restore federal funding for the community organizing group. The website DeFOX America, which is devoted both to attacking Fox News and defending ACORN, is asking readers to sign a petition urging Congress “to stand up to [Fox’s] McCarthyite tactics by voting against any unconstitutional legislation that singles out specific organizations. This includes the continuing resolution that cuts off Federal support to the national anti-poverty group ACORN.”

This webpage is being funded by an extremist, left-wing Hollywood filmmaker named Robert Greenwald.
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ACORN’s Defenders Not Remaining Silent”

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

Cook County Board to Level Playing Field With Presidential Power

October 30, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

One of the reasons that Cook County is among the highest in sales taxes in the country is because Board President Todd Stroger has quite a bit of power in stopping his vetoes being easily overturned. Currently it takes four fifths of the County Board to override his veto and that executive power has for many years proven very hard to overcome. Now that long-time power might be coming to an end.

The Illinois House and Senate recently voted up a measure to repeal the four-fifths rule and replace it with a three-fifths rule.The bill currently sits on Governor Quinn’s desk awaiting his signature.

The County Board has 17 commissioners, and the legislation would reduce the number of commissioners needed to override a veto to 11, three lower than the current 14. County commissioners have previously mustered 13 votes to override Stroger.

Stroger visited the Capitol earlier this week to lobby the legislature to lobby against the bill.
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Cook County Board to Level Playing Field With Presidential Power”

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

5th District: Ratowitz Picked Nationwide ‘Freedom’ Fund-Raiser

October 30, 2009 by

“ThisNovember5th” mass fund-raiser boosts nationwide slate of limited government activists seeking elected office in 2010.

CHICAGO – October 28, 2009 – David Ratowitz, Republican candidate for U.S. Congress in Illinois’ 5th District, is among 19 conservative candidates taking part in a national donation drive on November 5. The candidates, hailing from points across the United States, are seeking office at local, state and federal levels, many for the first time. All have made formal platform commitments to cutting taxes, eliminating national debt and working for a more limited federal government.

“It is certainly an honor to have been selected to participate in this collaboration,” remarks Ratowitz. “Our campaign is enjoying a warm reception here in the Chicago area. It is encouraging to see similar enthusiasm from voters across the country.”
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5th District: Ratowitz Picked Nationwide ‘Freedom’ Fund-Raiser”

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

8th District: Mr. Walsh Goes to Washington

October 29, 2009 by

Eighth District Republican Congressional Candidate Joe Walsh was invited to Washington, D.C. on October 28 to meet with top GOP officials to discuss his campaign.

Mr. Walsh was invited to the nation’s capitol by Rep. Kevin McCarthy, Chief Deputy Whip for the GOP in the House and Recruiting Chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee. In his role as Recruiting Chairman, Rep. McCarthy is tasked with identifying qualified Republican candidates who can defeat incumbent Democrats in November 2010.

While in D.C., Walsh met with Illinois Representative Peter Roskam and Indiana Rep. Mike Pence.

Walsh is running for the Illinois seat currently held by Rep. Melissa Bean.

Joe Walsh’s campaign website at www.joewalshforcongress.com.
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8th District: Mr. Walsh Goes to Washington”

Capitalism - Chicago - Cook County - Crime - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Illinois - Liberals - Mayor Richard Daley - Socialism - Society/Culture - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Chicago’s Tax Informing Rats

October 29, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Mad at your job? Torked at your neighbor? Snoop around in their tax info and if you find something damning… REPORT THEM! And the kindly folks down at Chicago’s City Hall are happy to help with their new tax rat program.

The Sun-Times reported that Daley’s Rat Line program could be added to the 2010 budget.

Mayor Daley’s tough-times, 2010 budget includes a first-ever “Tax Whistleblower Program” expected to include cash bounties for informants who deliver the goods on unpaid business taxes.

The cash reward would be a percentage of the amount recovered, but specifics are still being worked out. The dreaded employee head tax and lease tax are just two of the most frequent targets for tax cheats.

What the heck, eh? It worked for the Soviets and the East Germans in keeping their citizens in line, didn’t it?

Daley is telling us in his own inimitable way that, “Vee haf vays of making zure you pays das taxes, zitizens.”
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Chicago’s Tax Informing Rats”

ACORN - Barack Obama - Budget - Chicago - Congress - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Illinois - Liberals - SEIU - Society/Culture - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Any Minute Congress Could Re-Fund ACORN

October 29, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Earlier I noted that we need your voice to keep the pressure on our representatives to keep government funds out of the hands of the criminal organization ACORN. Today Byron York posted another reminder of this salient fact in his headlined, “Will Congress’ Defunding of ACORN Expire Saturday?”

York concludes that it is unlikely that ACORN funding will be restored on Saturday, but the simple fact of the matter is that it could be. Either this Saturday or during the very next budgeting process, ACORN funding can be easily slipped right back into a budget any time Congress feels like it’s safe to do so.

You see, Congress works by writing continuing budget resolutions — or CRs — several times a year. These CRs delineate Congress’ budget and can be added to or subtracted from at each and every session. Currently the defunding of ACORN is an idea whose time has come. But there can easily come a day when Democrats think no one is watching any longer and slip the ACORN funding right back in to any future CR.
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Any Minute Congress Could Re-Fund ACORN”

Chicago - Conservatives - Constitution - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - GOP - House of Representatives - Illinois - Republicans - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Efforts for Reform: The Put Back Amendment

October 29, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Gubernatorial candidate Adam Andrezejewski and several other key leaders joined Main Street Campaigns in endorsement of the Put Back Amendment ( www.PutBackAmendment.com) on Thursday, October 29, 2009.

“The people of Illinois have waited long enough for reform. Voters are tired of legislative loopholes and political practices that lead to unfair policies and corrupt our government,” said Main Street Campaigns Executive Director Will O’Brien, a Democrat.

“The time has come to give Illinoisans the chance to truly change and reform the infamously corrupt system we have had for far too long,” said John Bambenek, author of the amendment and Main Street Campaigns Political Director.

The amendment will feature four needed reforms to clean up state government, including:

  • Term Limits
  • Seven-Day Public Viewing of All Legislation
  • End Gerrymandering
  • Equal Ballot Access

View the amendment at www.PutBackAmendment.com.
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Efforts for Reform: The Put Back Amendment”

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

Former Ill. GOP Chair McKenna Announces Bid for Guv

October 29, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

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

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

Yucking it up, for sure.

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

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

2 Chicago Men Charged With Terror Plot

October 29, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

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

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

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

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

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

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

Senator Dick “Turbin” Durbin’s Helathcare Poll

October 28, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

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

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

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

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

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

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

Chicago Alderman: The Dope Sheet

October 28, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

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

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

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

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

October 28, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

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

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

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

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

October 28, 2009 by 4 Comments

-By Warner Todd Huston

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

But that was then…

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

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

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

17th State Rep Race: Phil Collins Celebrates Endorsements

October 27, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

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

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

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

Phil Collins Campaign Website

Collins’ FaceBook page

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

Ill. Repub. Assembly Endorses Candidate That Quit Weeks Ago

October 27, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

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

Great.

One problem: Breen quit the race on October 6.

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

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

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

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

October 27, 2009 by

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

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

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

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

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

October 27, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

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

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

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

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

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

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

October 27, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

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

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

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

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

7th District: Joe Walsh Campaign Hires Media Consultant

October 26, 2009 by

Jamestown Associates Boasts Impressive Campaign Win Rate

Lake Zurich, IL — The Joe Walsh for Congress campaign has hired Jamestown Associates of Princeton, New Jersey to provide consulting and media services in Walsh’s race for the 8th Congressional District seat currently held by Rep. Melissa Bean.

Jamestown Associates is responsible for more primary wins for Republican candidates than virtually any firm in the country, including a 7-way 2008 primary in New Jersey CD07 and a primary against an incumbent in Maryland CD01. Jamestown will be providing strategic counsel to the Walsh campaign as well as producing television, radio, direct mail, and Internet advertising.

Candidate Walsh says of his new advisors, “I am absolutely thrilled to be working with the team at Jamestown Associates. Like the rest of the 8th District, I’ve had enough of business as usual in Washington, and the folks at Jamestown understand our message and have produced some incredibly compelling messaging. I’m convinced that they can do what it takes to make sure our “had enough!” message is heard and delivered in a meaningful way in this race.”
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7th District: Joe Walsh Campaign Hires Media Consultant”

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

Illinois Lawmaker Gets ‘Tax Villain’ Award

October 26, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

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

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

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

Mayor Daley’s Empty Property Tax Rhetoric

October 26, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

October 25, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

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

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

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

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

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

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

Now Mayor Daley is Floating a Water Sale?

October 24, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

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

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

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

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

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

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

October 24, 2009 by

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

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

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

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

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

October 23, 2009 by

-By Mark Vargas

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

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

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

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

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

Rasmussen Shows Dems Down in Illinois

October 23, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

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

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

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

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Rasmussen Shows Dems Down in Illinois”