Illinois State Government

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

Sunshine Review Launches Premier Online Government Transparency Wiki

January 25, 2011 by

From sunshinereview.org…

Website gives the State of Illinois an “B” transparency grade, counties get “D”

ALEXANDRIA, VA – State and local government transparency champion Sunshine Review has announced a relaunch of its award winning transparency website, sunshinereview.org. The bold, innovative design provides users easy access to a database just under 60,000 articles while simultaneously building a social media platform for citizen researchers, activists, journalists, and anyone interested in government transparency and accountability. Attracting over fourteen million total page views and boasting nearly 1,200 members, Sunshine Review allows thousands of online users to build data and grade their local and state governments on transparency. According to the President of Sunshine Review, Michael Barnhart, “Sunshine Review is a community of citizens who have worked tirelessly to open up their governments. From exposing state checkbooks to ensuring that school board and county board minutes are posted publicly online, our community is advocating for transparency – the simplest function of government.”
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Sunshine Review Launches Premier Online Government Transparency Wiki”

Carol Moseley Braun - Chicago - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - Gery Chico - Government - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Rahm May Have until Feb. 15 To File as Write In Candidate

January 24, 2011 by 1 Comment

-By Warner Todd Huston

As reported earlier, Rahm Emanuel has been thrown off the ballot by a decision by an Illinois Appellate Court stating that Emanuel did not satisfy the residency requirement since he did not live in Chicago over the last year. This presents several major problems for Emanuel’s candidacy.

First of all, it seems pretty sure that his name will not be actually printed on the ballot no matter what the Ill. Supreme Court does with this case. The ballot printing deadline is supposed to be next Monday, January 31 and it is highly doubtful that the Ill. Supreme Court can hear the case and make a decision in time to get his name printed on the ballot.

But, while it seems highly likely that his name won’t actually be printed on the ballot, Emanuel might just have enough time to register as a write-in candidate.
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Rahm May Have until Feb. 15 To File as Write In Candidate”

Carol Moseley Braun - Chicago - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - Gery Chico - Government - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Liberals - Warner Todd Huston

BREAKING: Rahm Emanuel OFF The Chicago Ballot for Mayor

January 24, 2011 by 2 Comments

-By Warner Todd Huston

An appellate Court has decided that Rahm Emanuel did not satisfy the residence requirement in order to qualify to run for Chicago mayor. The court has ruled that Emanuel be removed from the ballot in the coming election which is only a month away.

Emanuel will certainly take this case to the Illinois Supreme Court with the hopes that they can get an expedited case.

Rahm had won two other cases in lower courts. The Chicago Board of Elections and a Cook County court sided with Emanuel in previous decisions.

This will make the mayor’s race a very different animal at this point. This gives Gery Chico and Carol Moseley Braun the room to really ramp up their campaigns.

UPDATE

The Gery Chico camp has released a quick statement on this news:

“From day one, Gery Chico’s campaign has been about putting Chicagoans back to work, making our neighborhoods safer and giving our children the education they deserve.

“Today’s news is a surprise but it will not impact how we run our campaign. Gery will continue to work for every vote and lay out his plans to take Chicago in a whole new direction.”

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BREAKING: Rahm Emanuel OFF The Chicago Ballot for Mayor”

Chicago - Chicago Sun-Times - Chicago Tribune - Christianity - Democrats/Leftists - Gay Marriage - Gays - Government - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Journalism - Liberals - Media - Media Bias - Religion - Rights - Society/Culture - Warner Todd Huston - Western Civilization

Chicago Media Ignores African-American Rally Against Same-Sex Marriage

January 24, 2011 by 1 Comment

-By Warner Todd Huston

I suppose we shouldn’t be surprised that a rally held by a coalition of Chicago-area black pastors that gathered to warn Illinois against same-sex marriage and civil unions was ignored by the Old Media in Chicago. Still, as unsurprising as it it, it’s a bit galling that this event went unreported on.

The Illinois Family Institute posted a January 19 article on the snubbing by the Old Media that charges the Chicago media with an anti-Christian bias. It’s nearly impossible to deny the charge, too.

The press conference was held to call upon Illinois to oppose SB 1716, a civil unions bill now being considered 9n the state capitol in Springfield. But their conference was completely ignored. Worse than ignored, some media outlets were there yet all stories were killed by the bosses back at the studios and newspapers from which they came. So, this story was not just ignored, it was suppressed.
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Chicago Media Ignores African-American Rally Against Same-Sex Marriage”

Anti-Americanism - Banks - Budget - Business - Capitalism - Cook County - Crime - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - Financial Reform - Gery Chico - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Liberals - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Rahm Emanuel ignores Hard Truth about Freddie Mac

January 22, 2011 by 1 Comment

From the Gery Chico For Chicago Mayor campaign…

Facts suggest Emanuel ignored scandal but mayoral candidate continues to ignore questions

(CHICAGO) Several hours ago, Rahm Emanuel was asked about Gery Chico’s charge that when Emanuel was informed of scandal on the Freddie Mac board, he sat on his hands and took the cash.

Emanuel didn’t deny it. Instead, he said he was never mentioned “by name” in any of the wrongdoing. Here’s the hard truth – Rahm won’t answer the hard questions about Freddie Mac.
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Rahm Emanuel ignores Hard Truth about Freddie Mac”

Barack Obama - Budget - Congress - Conservatives - Democrats/Leftists - GOP - Government - Health - House of Representatives - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Liberals - Nancy Pelosi - Peter Roskam - President - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Roskam: Votes Have Been Cast‏

January 21, 2011 by

From Congressman Peter Roskam (Ill., 6th District)…

Last night the House of Representatives passed the Repealing the Job-Killing Health Care Law Act, 245 – 189. The “yea” votes included every House Republican and three Democrats. Read more about the vote from the Wall Street Journal by clicking HERE.

This is a victory for all Americans who believe that lowering health care costs and easing taxpayers’ burdens are critical to a sustainable health care system and economic prosperity in our country. However, the work is far from over – we still need to provide real solutions to meet those objectives.
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Roskam: Votes Have Been Cast‏”

Carol Moseley Braun - Chicago - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - Gery Chico - Government - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Liberals - Warner Todd Huston

Rahm’s Operative and Union Each Trying to Buy Chicago City Council

January 20, 2011 by 1 Comment

-By Warner Todd Huston

A political operative tied directly to Rahm Emanuel has raised $1 million to back Emanuel friendly candidates for City Council, reports The New York Times. The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) is investing over $2 million also to buy candidates that favor their issues. Both are struggling to buy a City Council loyal to them in hopes of emulating outgoing Mayor Daley’s lock on power.

The Emanuel effort is being led by former Daley aide and Emanuel congressional campaign manager Greg Goldner. Goldner is grandiosely calling his fundraising effort For a Better Chicago. By “better” he means for a Chicago that will be at Rahm Emanuel’s beck and call.

Amusingly — nay perhaps insultingly — Goldner is insisting that his new effort has no connection with Rahm Emanuel. Emanuel’s campaign has also said that For a Better Chicago is not connected to his campaign.

… And I’ve got a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you.
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Rahm’s Operative and Union Each Trying to Buy Chicago City Council”

Budget - Democrats/Leftists - Ethics - For The Good Of Illinois - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Liberals - Michael Madigan - Pat Quinn - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Big Bonding‏

January 20, 2011 by

From For The Good Of Illinois…

“You can’t be for big government, big taxes, and big bureaucracy and still be for the little guy,” Ronald Reagan.

Springfield just hiked your taxes while increasing spending and ignoring any spending cuts.

Even after the largest tax hike in Illinois history, the budget still has an estimated $2 billion shortfall. What’s the plan to cover this shortfall? A pay day loan – $14.2 billion of new government debt. If you want to see significant cuts in Illinois spending, make sure you stop the massive “Big Bonding”. Click here to find out why.

Don’t let them stick you with their bill.
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Big Bonding‏”

Anti-Americanism - Budget - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois State Government - Indiana - Liberals - Republicans - Taxes - Tea Party - Warner Todd Huston

Do We Need ‘Civil Disobedience’ In Illinois? One Blogger Thinks So

January 19, 2011 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Tom Mannis of Chicago News Bench says the time has come for civil disobedience in Illinois. With the recent steep climb in income taxes bequeathed us by Illinois Democrats it is painfully obvious that our politicians in Illinois don’t care much about us. It is obvious, too, that they have a single-minded intention to destroy every last job in the state… well, except, perhaps, the jobs offered by state government and the odd union and ACORN office, anyway.

Sure the Illinois GOP voted against the giant tax hike. But some feel that was just a smoke screen and that they are secretly happy with the move.

For his part Mannis wonders where the heck the Tea Party was during this recent wild tax hike. “In Illinois,” he says, “they seemed to be asleep at the wheel in the days leading up to voting in the State Legislature for one of the worst tax hikes ever.”

But civil disobedience?
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Do We Need ‘Civil Disobedience’ In Illinois? One Blogger Thinks So”

Banks - Barack Obama - Capitalism - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Gery Chico - Government - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Liberals - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

‘Hard Truth’: Emanuel and Freddie Mac

January 19, 2011 by

Mayoral candidate Gery Chico has some “hard questions” about Rahm Emanuel’s connection to failed financial giant Freddie Mac…

Time for Emanuel to tell “hard truth”

Chico: “Chicago can’t afford a mayor who looks the other way!”

(CHICAGO) With former president Bill Clinton stumping in Chicago for Rahm Emanuel today, mayoral candidate Gery Chico asked Emanuel to tell the truth about his tenure on the Freddie Mac board, to which Clinton appointed Emanuel in 2000. Under Emanuel’s watch, an Enron-type scandal took place costing taxpayers more than half a billion dollars, according to news reports.
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‘Hard Truth’: Emanuel and Freddie Mac”

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

Chicago: Dumped Mayor Candidate Gets Injunction to Stop Ballot Printing

January 18, 2011 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Here is an interesting little story in the Chicago Mayor race, one it seems that the Old Media is ignoring. It involves a candidate who was improperly thrown off the ballot getting awarded an injunction to stop the printing of the election ballots.

In December Chicago businessman Tom Hanson was kicked off the ballot by election officials because they claimed he never filed his Statement of Economic Interest. Hanson, however, has the receipt for that filing and the clerk that took his filing also claims she filed it. Apparently the filing was “lost.”

In Chicago, a lot of things that Democrats don’t like seem to get “lost.”

Hanson is a Chicago businessman and heads Hanson Commercial Real Estate company. He is also on the board of directors for numerous not-for-profit foundations that help inner city school children. Hanson ran against Rahm Emanuel for Congress in 2008.

Now a court has agreed that the printing of the election ballots should be halted until his filing can be cleared up and his status as a candidate can be properly decided.

Visit www.hansonformayor.com for more info on the candidate.
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Chicago: Dumped Mayor Candidate Gets Injunction to Stop Ballot Printing”

Children - Democrats/Leftists - Education - Government - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Journalism - Liberals - Media - Media Bias - Newspapers - Teachers Unions - Unions - Warner Todd Huston

Newspaper Ignores Facts in Teacher’s ‘Vagina Dance’ Song Controversy

January 18, 2011 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

It isn’t just national issues that the Old Media misreports. As we focus on the “big” stories of the day, we often overlook the local scene and the left-wing excuse for “reporting,” therefrom. This is a perfect example of that.

Imagine you are a sophomore in high school and your sex ed teacher forces you to prance about your classroom singing and dancing to “The Vagina Dance” in a puerile attempt to teach the parts and functions of the female sex organ. Worse, imagine you are a male student in a classroom of such an unhinged teacher? Well, we don’t have to imagine it too hard because this exact situation has happened in a classroom in the Chicago, Illinois suburbs. But don’t worry. Chicago’s Old Media is all about reporting this incident honestly. Well, if honestly means to ignore relevant facts and shore up support for the out of control teacher and smooth things over for the school, that is.

Early this month, parent Robert King, whose son goes to Crystal Lake’s Prairie Ridge High School, complained to school authorities over the inappropriate teaching methods of health teacher Jacqulyn Levin. As a teaching tool Levin used “The Vagina Dance,” a song replete with dance steps and arm movements, and required her entire co-ed class to participate in it – all to the tune of The Hokey Pokey, no less. As it happens King’s son was uncomfortable being required to prance about the room, arms emulating fallopian tubes, and singing about vaginas, so the parents complained.
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Newspaper Ignores Facts in Teacher’s ‘Vagina Dance’ Song Controversy”

Budget - Chicago - Democrats/Leftists - Government - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Liberals - Taxes - Truth in Accounting - Warner Todd Huston

Illinois Truth in Accounting Workshop Educates Legislators‏

January 18, 2011 by

From the Institute for Truth in Accounting…

Illinois Reps. Karen May & and Tom Morrison Support The Truth in Accounting Act

Illinois Rep. Karen May (D-58th District) and Rep. Tom Morrison (R-54th District) joined Sheila Weinberg, CEO and founder of Institute for Truth in Accounting at a December Legislative Workshop in Highwood. The group discussed the Illinois budget, governmental accounting rules and the use of ‘political math’ to balance the budget.

Weinberg highlighted how ‘political math’ is used to disguise Illinois’ true ‘Financial State of the State.’ ‘Over the years budget shenanigans have been used to hide more than over $120 billion of state employees’ retirement and other costs,’ Weinberg added.
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Illinois Truth in Accounting Workshop Educates Legislators‏”

Budget - Business - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Government - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Liberals - Michael Madigan - Pat Quinn - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Update on the Tax Increase

January 18, 2011 by

From the Raise Your Hand for Illinois Public Education Coalition…

Thanks to all of you who helped to send over 5,500 emails via our “No Taxation Without Education” campaign. Unfortunately, we got taxation without education and just a “promise” from our Governor to include $250 million for education in this year’s budget. Of course, we won’t believe that until it’s in writing. There was some support for increased money for education in the state senate, led by the Black Caucus, but we were told in Springfield that Mike Madigan and the House were not supporting additional money for education or anything else and wanted new revenue to go towards paying off our roughly $15 billion in debt and $8 billion in late bills, and that’s what we got. There was another opportunity for education money through the cigarette tax which would have generated $377 million for education but this was voted down in the House as well with only 51 legislators in support, and 60 votes needed to pass. While this isn’t the outcome we wanted, this $6 billion in new revenue to pay down our debt will likely result in fewer cuts to CPS next year. Clearly, we can’t be content with this and we need to continue to do everything we can to advocate for improved and sustainable funding for education in Illinois.

As you all know, we are currently 49th in the nation in terms of state spending on education. Our state covers roughly 30% of the cost of educating a child, as compared to about 50% on average. Local municipalities are left to fund the rest through property taxes, resulting in unsustainable and inequitable funding.
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Update on the Tax Increase”

Budget - Chris Lauzen - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - Ethics - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Liberals - Republicans - Senate - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Happy New Years from Downtown Chicago Democrats

January 15, 2011 by

From the office of State Senator Chris Lauzen (25th District)…

Majorities in 99 out of 102 counties voted for his opponent, however Governor Pat Quinn declares that he has a mandate to raise our taxes. If the State of Illinois spent what we currently sacrifice in taxes prudently and ethically, the Governor and his enablers in the Legislature might be able to make their case against my assessment that we are “taxed enough already”.

Illinois Medicaid eligibility levels substantially higher than averages, grants for favorite pork projects like Oswego Park District’s purchase and bulldozing of perfectly good and property-tax-paying homes, and unsustainable public employee pensions are all examples of cuts to unnecessary government spending that have not been made. It is no secret that public employee unions provided the money and manpower to get Quinn elected; now “to the victors to the spoils” . . . at your expense . . . during already difficult times for most taxpaying families in Illinois.

During the election, Pat Quinn claimed that he had cut state spending by $3 Billion. This is false – – some people would say it is a deliberate campaign lie. According to a report (that I would be happy to provide you) that his own Budget Office sent last summer to New York bankers and bond rating agencies, Quinn has actually increased spending $1 Billion. I would think that he would be embarrassed by a $4 B error, and that the Establishment Press would scold him every time he lied. Did you know that Quinn promised the state’s employee union that there will be no layoffs for them for the next two years? He did accept their endorsement and did cash their campaign contribution check.
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Happy New Years from Downtown Chicago Democrats”

Budget - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - Ethics - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Liberals - Michael Madigan - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Crook County, Illinois: Fake State Rep Casts Deciding Vote to Raise Our Taxes

January 14, 2011 by 1 Comment

-By Warner Todd Huston

She didn’t know anything about the bill. She never read it. She hadn’t been given any cheat sheets, facts sheets, talking points, or mass emails on the bill. But in true, corrupt Chicago fashion, she voted “yes” on it just as she was told to do by her corrupt party bosses.

Even worse, she was only a “state rep” because someone told her to drive to the state capitol for a week to “be” one. As Andy Shaw joked, Williams became the “somebody that somebody sent.”*

It is business as usual for Illinois, the most corrupt state in the Union.

You see, fake State Rep Kathy Moore of Lincoln Park was drafted by Illinois Democratic Party bosses to fill out the last week of elected State Rep John Fritchey’s term in office. Fritchey was elected to a spot on the Crook County Board and left his state rep seat to take that chair last November. So, Democrats fretted that Fritchey’s 11th District seat would be empty during this important vote to wildly raise everyone’s taxes.
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Crook County, Illinois: Fake State Rep Casts Deciding Vote to Raise Our Taxes”

Budget - Business - Dan Proft - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Ethics - Government - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Jobs - Liberals - Michael Madigan - Pat Quinn - Taxes

Illinois: Death by Taxes

January 14, 2011 by

-By Dan Proft

During the Illinois General Assembly’s lame duck session, Democrat leaders have moved to abolish the death penalty at the same time as signing the economic death warrant for state’s economy.

In Illinois, it is law-abiding, working families who have been condemned.

Despite lllinois’ leading exports being its residents and businesses, the General Assembly has proposed raising the state income and corporate income taxes by 75% each. If this tax monster passes, at least two things are certain: one, Illinois businesses would pay the highest corporate income taxes in the free world; two, Illinois would see the largest mass exodus of productive people since the Israelites fled Egypt.

The data points about Illinois’ economic death spiral have been repeated so often as to have been stripped of their shock value. Bottom line: Illinois is a bigger default risk than Bernie Madoff and has created fewer jobs in the last decade than record stores.
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Illinois: Death by Taxes”

Children - Democrats/Leftists - Education - Elections - Government - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Lake County - Liberals - Warner Todd Huston

Grayslake: Insider Deal Gets Plum Job for Retiring School Board Member

January 13, 2011 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

It must be nice to be School Board Member Michael Linder of Grayslake, Illinois. He seems awfully lucky to have landed a plum new job, paid for by the taxpayers of Lake County. Awfully lucky, indeed. In fact, he’s so lucky that one suspects an insider deal was made to get him that plum job.

Could it be? An insider political deal in Illinois?

As it happens, Linder was an elected member of the Grayslake School Board, District 46. But he suddenly found that he could no longer serve in that capacity. He resigned his term on November 10 of last year in the middle of a meeting. Then he up and left mumbling something about not wanting to be a lame duck.
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Grayslake: Insider Deal Gets Plum Job for Retiring School Board Member”

Budget - Democrats/Leftists - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Liberals - Michael Madigan - Pat Quinn - Senate - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

90 Democrats – and No Republicans – Voted to Raise Your Taxes

January 13, 2011 by

From the Illinois GOP…

In the remaining hours of the lame duck Illinois General Assembly last night and early this morning, ninety (90) Democratic State Legislators – and NO REPUBLICANS – voted for the largest tax increase in Illinois history, including a 67% income tax increase.

The tax hike now goes to Democratic Governor Pat Quinn, who, despite having promised in his recent campaign to veto any increase above 1%, will sign it into law.

Below is a list of the 90 Democratic State Legislators who voted to raise your taxes and their legislative office phone numbers.

State Representatives
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90 Democrats – and No Republicans – Voted to Raise Your Taxes”

Budget - Democrats/Leftists - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Illinois Policy Institute - Illinois State Government - Liberals - Pat Quinn - Republicans - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Repealing and Eliminating the Tax Hike‏

January 13, 2011 by

From the Illinois Policy Institute…

On the same day the General Assembly abolished the death penalty for capital crimes in Illinois, lawmakers also implemented the death penalty on Illinois’s economy and taxpayers by passing a 67 percent income tax hike in the face of overwhelming public opposition. The good news is that the citizens of Illinois have the power to overturn this effort during the 2012 elections, now just over a year away.

This tax hike tells the working and middle class voters of Illinois where they stand with the Democratically controlled state government – on the outside looking in. At the front of the line are the public employee unions, their leaders and all who benefit from state government spending at the expense of average citizens (who pay for state government with their private sector jobs).

Today’s study on taxpayer migration shows that the negative Illinois environment is not just driving out job creators and workers, but also the income and tax revenue they represent. Between 1991 and 2009, one Illinois citizen left the state every 10 minutes – that’s 1.2 million residents in all. But these folk didn’t just take their friendships with them; they took $163.6 billion in income and $16.9 billion in state and local tax revenue – gone forever.
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Repealing and Eliminating the Tax Hike‏”

Americans For Prosperity - Budget - Democrats/Leftists - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Liberals - Pat Quinn - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Democrats approve massive bail out of state government‏

January 13, 2011 by 1 Comment

From Americans for Prosperity, Illinois…

6% tax hike passes, goes to governor for signature

Democratic Illinois lawmakers beat a looming deadline during the last hours of the lame-duck session and approved a 66 percent income-tax increase. Corporate taxes will also be raised 46 percent.

The proposal passed the House on Tuesday night 60-57, the bare minimum. No Republicans backed the measure there or in the Senate, where the measure passed 30-29.

The budget plan is coupled with strict 2 percent limit on spending growth. Allegedly, if officials spend above those limits, the tax increase will automatically be canceled. The new tax money will balance the state’s annual budget and let officials begin chipping away at the backlog of unpaid bills.
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Democrats approve massive bail out of state government‏”

Budget - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Elections - Ethics - Government - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Liberals - Pat Quinn - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Chicago Sun-Times Giddy for Giant Illinois Tax Hike

January 12, 2011 by 3 Comments

-By Warner Todd Huston

Dear Chicago Sun-Times readers,

Your paper of wreck-ord wants you to know that it is pleased as punch that your Illinois state legislature is ripping you off, bleeding you for over 60% more in income tax. The Sun-Times is giddy that your dwindling salaries are to be raided even further by profligate government.

The Sun-Times editorial department placed its fingers, trembling with joy, to a keyboard to celebrate their glee. They are “cheering for a tax hike,” they admit. They are “embracing” the raising of the income and corporate income tax. The Sun-Times is slobbering all over itself that “Wednesday’s tax hike marked an important victory…”

So, if you got a raise this year, guess what? The Chicago Sun-Times is happy that your state government is going to steal it away from you with a massive tax hike.

So, if you got your salary cut this or last year, the Chicago Sun-Times is orgasmic that you will lose even more of your family’s vital sustenance to the government.

So, if your company is on the verge of fiscal collapse due to this bad economy, the Chicago Sun-Times is happy to note that your company will face even harder economic times with a massive corporate tax hike, silly over the fact that your jobs are put further at risk.

That’s right Illinois. The Chicago Sun-Times couldn’t be happier that you, the voters and citizens of Illinois, are going to lose more money than ever to a state legislature that wastes money hand over fist and refuses to cut back on its wild spending and union kickbacks and payoffs.

But remember Sun-Times readers. The Chicago Sun-Times is looking out or your interests.

Riiiiiiiight.

Perhaps, though, there is one place where Chicagoans can save some money. That would be by NOT buying the Chicago Sun-Times.
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Chicago Sun-Times Giddy for Giant Illinois Tax Hike”

Congress - Conservatives - DuPage County - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Joe Walsh - Lake County - Republicans - Warner Todd Huston

Congressman Joe Walsh (8th District) Townhall Meeting

January 12, 2011 by 1 Comment

From the office of Congressman Joe Walsh (8th District)…

Congressman Walsh of Illinois’ 8th District will be holding an open to the public town hall Wednesday night, January 12th from 7-8:30pm in Wauconda, IL. Walsh will discuss his first week in Congress, the upcoming House agenda, and the events in Arizona over the weekend. Walsh looks forward to answering constituent questions on these and any topics.

“What happened in Arizona Saturday was tragic. I’d like to honor Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords by doing what she loves to do and what I love to do, which is meeting with and speaking with my constituents” said Walsh.

All are welcome. The town hall will be held at the Wauconda Township Hall, located at 505 W. Bonner Road from 7-8:30pm Wednesday night.

GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Republicans - Senate - Warner Todd Huston

Illinois: Strange Case of the State Rep for One Day

January 11, 2011 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Russell Geisler was an Illinois State Representative from the 105th District… for one day.

You see, when the 24-hour stint occurred Geisler was an aide to State Rep Shane Cultra of the 105. Cultra was appointed by the party to fill State Senator Dan Rutherford’s vacated seat because Dan was elected to the State Treasurer’s office. Since Cultra left his seat to take his appointed Senate seat, that left the 105’s state rep seat empty until the new legislature was sworn in and the next man could that the 105’s seat.

So, Cultra thought that instead of leaving the 105 unrepresented for the last day of the session, he’d appoint his aide to the seat. And that is exactly what he did.

This isn’t a sudden story, though. Cultra announced that he had plans to do this weeks ago.

His plan did not meet with the approval of everyone in his party, however. Some Republicans have been grumbling that the idea is a slight to the voting process and treats the State Rep’s seat in a trivial manner.

Geisler’s big vote was to take away from seniors the free rides on the CTA.
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Illinois: Strange Case of the State Rep for One Day”

Anti-Americanism - Budget - Chicago - Children - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Education - Elections - Government - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Liberals - Public Employees Unions - Taxes - Teachers Unions - Unions - Warner Todd Huston

Emanuel Pushing Anti-Teachers Union Line in Race for Chicago Mayor?

January 11, 2011 by 1 Comment

-By Warner Todd Huston

Rahm Emanuel is not the union’s favorite man. He has had union detractors since his days pushing the North American Free Trade Act (NAFTA) during the Clinton administration. Since then there have been other clashes between Emanuel and unions even as he served President Obama as his Chief of Staff. Now, as he takes after the Chicago teachers union, he seems to be tweaking unions yet again as he runs for the top seat in City Hall here in Chicago.

At least he’s consistent!

On January 10, while campaigning for Mayor, Emanuel laid out a few of his positions on Chicago’s failing schools. What he said is sure to upset the unions — not just that of teachers, either.
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Emanuel Pushing Anti-Teachers Union Line in Race for Chicago Mayor?”

Budget - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Republicans - Senate - Taxes - United Republican Fund - Warner Todd Huston

URF to Primary Illinois Republican Legislators That Vote for Tax Increase

January 11, 2011 by

From the URF…

WINFIELD, IL – The United Republican Fund (URF) has announced that they will aid in the recruiting and support of primary challengers to any Republican member of the Illinois General Assembly that votes in favor of raising taxes during this lame duck session.

“The problem is not a lack of revenue,” said Mike Uremovich, President of the URF. “The problem is spending, which the Governor and Legislature continue to increase.” According to the non-partisan Illinois Policy Institute, real spending by the Illinois General Assembly rose more than 26% between 2000 and 2009 after adjusting for inflation. “We don’t need to raise taxes; we need to cut spending from a budget that has exploded. Raising taxes as this state struggles to come out of a recession is economic suicide.”
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URF to Primary Illinois Republican Legislators That Vote for Tax Increase”

Budget - Chicago - Conservatives - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - GOP - Government - Government, Ill. County - House of Representatives - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Liberals - Michael Madigan - Pat Quinn - Republicans - Senate - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Illinois: Our Last Chance to Stop the Highest Taxes in the World‏

January 10, 2011 by

From the Chicago Tea Party…

We can stop it…….

The Democrats don’t have the votes yet to pass their economy crushing, job killing, freedom stealing 75% tax increase. Governor Quinn, House Speaker Madigan and Senate President Cullerton came to an agreement last week on the proposed tax increase, but they’ve been unsuccessful in convincing enough Democrat members of the House and Senate to support this man caused disaster. Here’s what has taxpayers and businesses across Illinois looking up moving companies:

  • Your personal state income taxes will go up by 75%, increasing to 5.25% of your income.
  • State corporate tax rates will increase to 10.9%, making the taxes on Illinois businesses the highest in the industrial world.
  • Cigarette taxes will go up by $1 to $1.98 per pack. Even if you’re not a smoker, this will cause more people to cross the border into Indiana, Wisconsin & Missouri to buy their cigarettes (and other products while they’re there), costing the state more revenue. Keep in mind that Chicago is the state’s largest border city.

We have a structural budget gap in Illinois. The total budget gap is running at a staggering 40%, but the solution is not raising taxes by 75%. The only approach we can count on to solve Illinois’ budget crisis is to stop spending. We need to tell our representatives that we want them to vote NO to tax increases, NO to more spending, NO to more borrowing and NO to new government programs.

Representatives you should target
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Illinois: Our Last Chance to Stop the Highest Taxes in the World‏”

Budget - Chicago - Cook County - Cook County Board - Dan Patlak - Government - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Law - Property Rights - Property Taxes - Regulation - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Board of Review Opens Six Townships for Appeal

January 10, 2011 by

From the Office of Commissioner Dan Patlak…

CHICAGO— The Cook County Board of Review has announced dates for filing assessment appeal complaints for property owners in Barrington, Berwyn, Bremen, Calumet, Lakeview, and Evanston Townships. The filing dates for property assessment appeals begin on Tuesday, January 11, 2011 and will end on Thursday, February 10, 2011.

Property owners may appeal their assessments to the Board if they believe that their assessment is too high. A lawyer is not required to file an appeal on behalf of a residential property owner.

Anyone interested in receiving an assessment appeal complaint form can call the Cook County Board of Review at 312-603-5542. Appeal complaint forms can also be picked up in person at the Board, 118 N. Clark in Chicago or printed from our website at www.CookCountyBoardofReview.com.
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Board of Review Opens Six Townships for Appeal”

Dan Proft - Democrats/Leftists - Education - Government - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Liberals - Teachers Unions

The Case Against ‘Experience’

January 10, 2011 by

-By Dan Proft

“Experience,” Oscar Wilde observed, “is simply the name we give our mistakes.” I was reminded of Wilde’s maxim while watching the recent Cathleen Black drama play out in New York City.

Black, the chairwoman of Hearst Magazines, tapped by Mayor Michael Bloomberg to be the city’s public schools chancellor, has no experience in education apart from serving on the board of a charter school. Thus, according to United Federation of Teachers President Michael Mulgrew, Black has “no qualifications to be the chancellor of the New York City school system.”

Education establishment figures such as Mulgrew are the same people who think University of Chicago economist Gary Becker shouldn’t be allowed to teach an Intro to Economics course in a public school without a teaching certificate. His Nobel Prize in the field just isn’t good enough.
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The Case Against ‘Experience’”

Budget - Chicago - Democrats/Leftists - For The Good Of Illinois - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Liberals - Pat Quinn - Senate - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

A 75% tax hike? Make Democrats Own It!‏

January 9, 2011 by

From For The Good of Illinois…

“The taxpayer: That’s someone who works for the government but doesn’t have to take the civil service examination.”
– Ronald Reagan.

Do Illinois Democrats hate the private sector? Yesterday, they put their cards on the table. They want to hike our taxes by 75%- a NEAR DOUBLING of the income tax! They will increase the corporate tax rate to 10.9% the second highest in the country! On top of all this, they plan to increase spending and borrow up to $20 Billion more!

Call your state representatives. Look up their name and phone number.

No Republicans should vote for the tax hike! Click here to read our message to all Republican legislators- MAKE DEMOCRATS OWN IT.
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A 75% tax hike? Make Democrats Own It!‏”