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Illinois State Government
Illinois Parents of Fat Kids Losing Tax Exemption Story Misreported
-By Warner Todd Huston
All across the web today (even in England, for cripes sakes) a story about an Illinois lawmaker who supposedly wants to remove the tax exemption of parents of fat kids is making the rounds. It is being presented as a serious idea. Unfortunately for the Old Media this story is being misreported. The story is simply not true.
As the story is being (mis)reported, Republican State Senator Shane Cultra of Onarga, Illinois, said on the House floor that the parents of obese kids should lose their tax exemption because obesity is rampant in Illinois.
Senator Cultra’s comment came during a debate on a policy proposition by the Senate Public Health Committee in Springfield that sugary drinks should be taxed at a penny an ounce. What this is supposed to do for obesity is anybody’s guess.
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Illinois Parents of Fat Kids Losing Tax Exemption Story Misreported”
Captain Quinn Navigates Illinois’ Economy
-By Dan Proft
If Governor Pat Quinn had been CEO of the White Star Line in April of 1912 I suspect his reaction to the Titanic’s sinking would have been to report that he had successfully transported 705 people from England to New York City. Never mind the 1,517 who didn’t make it.
This is Captain Quinn’s approach to stewarding the business climate in Illinois. When major employers begin making noise about leaving, Quinn secures for them a spot on one of the state’s few remaining lifeboats and declares them another satisfied customer.
So Caterpillar is staying in Peoria and Motorola Mobility is staying in Libertyville and undoubtedly enough tax relief will be provided for Sears to remain in Hoffman Estates.
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Captain Quinn Navigates Illinois’ Economy”
Wanted: A Commonsense U.S. Energy Policy
By Congressman Peter Roskam (R, Ill.)
Americans have weathered one economic storm after another over the last few years. Yet, time and again, Washington policies have only made our families’ woes worse. From a failed trillion dollar stimulus to a healthcare overhaul that costs jobs and makes healthcare more expensive, Washington policies keep making it harder when Americans need the help most.
The latest: gas. Just as our economy is showing signs of recovery, gas prices are skyrocketing. In Chicagoland, a gallon of gas already costs over $4.50. That means pain for family budgets and employers trying to control costs and hire new workers. But smart federal policies can help. If we choose wisely, we can help lower energy costs for families with an all-of-the-above energy approach.
Taking advantage of America’s natural resources is a commonsense way to lower gas prices, reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and create jobs here. Unfortunately, many refuse to listen to commonsense.
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Wanted: A Commonsense U.S. Energy Policy”
Thanks Governor Quinn: Illinois Loses Another Business and One More (Sears) on the Way Out
-By Warner Todd Huston
Wisconsin is celebrating over the stupidity of the political class in Illinois, a state that is steadily destroying its business climate and mounting some pretty high tax rates. The town of Menasha, Wisconsin, though, loves Illinois because Prolamina Corp. has chosen it for a new flexible-packaging plant, one it is moving from the Land of Lincoln to Wisconsin.
Prolamina Corp. will begin building its new facility in Wisconsin in August. The facility will be serving the needs of the “tobacco, cheese, pouch materials, pet food, medical, produce and snack food markets.”
“The location offers lower operating costs, improved response times and lower freight costs to customers,” said Bevis, who started the company last year as Packaging Solutions Holdings Inc., Lake Forest, Ill.
So, Illinois has lost yet one more business. There has been a steady stream of business fleeing from Illinois.
This news comes as a prelude to reports that Sears is shopping for a new state to move to, as well.
Sears has its Headquarters in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, a western suburb of Chicago but is now considering a move out-of-state.
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Thanks Governor Quinn: Illinois Loses Another Business and One More (Sears) on the Way Out”
11 Illinois Republicans That Support Illegal Immigrant DREAM Act
-By Warner Todd Huston
When a communist newspaper celebrates the actions of Republicans, well, what more do you need to know how far off base a vote is? The People’s World is all excited about the fact that 11 Illinois State Senators voted to give freebie “scholarships” to illegal aliens to attend Illinois universities and schools.
Last week State Senate President John Cullerton’s Illinois state DREAM Act (SB 2185) passed with a 45 to 11 vote. This program sets up privately funded scholarships to upwards to 95,000 children of illegal immigrants so that they can attend schools in the Land of Lincoln.
Supporters claim that this was a no-brainer vote because no state money is used for this program. This, however, seems to be a falsehood. For one thing SB 2185 sets up a state commission which surely will cost the state to administer. Not only that but the law forces High School counselors to get special sensitivity training on the needs of illegal immigrants. Who the heck is going to pay for all that nonsense if not the local schools that will have to hire consultants to come in for these time wasting training sessions?
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11 Illinois Republicans That Support Illegal Immigrant DREAM Act”
Pension Reform in Illinois: A Hard Job That Springfield Wants to Ignore
-By Warner Todd Huston
Americans for Prosperity – Illinois has launched an effort to goad our lawmakers in Springfield to tackle the single most vexing problem the state faces: pension obligations.
AFP has launched a website called “Fix Illinois Pensions Now” to help inform and empower voters so that they might encourage their representatives to do the right thing and fix this mess now!
A second website to find important information can be seen at: www.illinoisisbroke.org.
AFP has partnered with The Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago and they have jointly produced an informative video on the effort.
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Pension Reform in Illinois: A Hard Job That Springfield Wants to Ignore”
Important Information About Ill. GOP Reform Bill
-By Warner Todd Huston
Doug Ibendahl of RepublicanNewsWatch.com has been a leading advocate of the current iteration of a bill that would give Illinois’ Republican voters the opportunity to actually vote in the leaders of their own party. It is currently called SB35 but has been for sometime identified as SB600.
SB35 would reverse the way the members of the Illinois Republican State Central Committee are placed on the governing body of the state party. Currently these folks are appointed to their positions by the affirmation of all the state’s local committeemen. The actual voters have no direct say. Curiously enough, the Democrats do have direct elections of their central committeemen but Republicans do not.
Recently a state representative contacted Mr. Ibendahl for some info about the bill. This is Ibendahl’s letter, which can be seen HERE.
Dear Representative,
I’m sure you must be as amazed as I am regarding the lengths a few selfish players will go to protect a corrupted system that’s been a disaster for Republicans and for our Party. It’s sad that a few are so obsessed with trying to make sure Republican voters have inferior rights compared to every Illinois Democrat.
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Important Information About Ill. GOP Reform Bill”
Reps. Kinzinger, Biggert Tour Eleventh Congressional District Power Plants
From the office of Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R, 11th District)…
Washington, D.C. – Congressman Adam Kinzinger (IL-11), a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, and Congresswoman Judy Biggert (IL-13), a member of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee this week toured together the Dresden Generating Station as well as the General Electric (GE) facility in Morris, IL. In addition, Kinzinger toured the Lyondell Basell Plant, also in Morris.
Congressman Kinzinger represents a congressional district that is home to three nuclear power plants, hydropower plants, ethanol and biodiesel plants, and two oil refineries. The Eleventh District embodies the all-of-the-above approach to energy that Kinzinger says we must stand for. Nuclear energy production plays a critical role in our local economy by employing more than 2,500 people through the Illinois Valley resulting in an annual payroll of $177 million and over $54 million going to local taxing bodies. Kinzinger says the key to making the U.S. energy secure is by continuing and expanding the use of nuclear power.
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Reps. Kinzinger, Biggert Tour Eleventh Congressional District Power Plants”
Illinois Going to Pot? GOP Leader Now Supporting Medical Marijuana Bill
-By Warner Todd Huston
The Illinois Family Institute is a bit worried over the sudden about face that House GOP Leader Tom Cross has made on HB 30, a bill that includes legalizing medical marijuana sales in Illinois.
On April 15, Fox News Chicago reported that Cross switched from a “no” vote to “yes” because he had talked to people who use medical marijuana, “including one man who is a disabled veteran.”
Cross said the key to the legislation is that it limits marijuana use to particularly painful diseases such as cancer, Multiple Sclerosis, Lupus and Crones’ Disease.
Cross told Fox that he supports the bill because it has “tight restrictions” on how medical marijuana can be used and sold.
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Illinois Going to Pot? GOP Leader Now Supporting Medical Marijuana Bill”
House Redistricting Hearings Underway Around State
From the office of Tom Cross, Ill. GOP leader…
A series of public hearings on the redrawing of Illinois House district boundaries are underway this week, including today in Aurora, East St. Louis and Elgin (see below for a list of locations, dates and times). The hearings will provide residents with a platform to provide testimony about the map’s impact on their community. If you are unable to attend, Twitter and Facebook updates from the hearing will be available through the U-Map IL Facebook page.
Illinois State
We are also making our mapmaking software, computer, census data and staff available for the public to draw their own maps. Call 312-814-2053 to set up an appointment.
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House Redistricting Hearings Underway Around State”
Obama’s Media Passover: Rep. Walsh Takes it To The Media
-By Warner Todd Huston
Joe Walsh (R, 8th District), a Tea Party backed Congressman from Illinois, slams the Old Media on why Obama has been allowed to present not one, but two budgets without the media saying a word about it.
Exactly right, Joe. If any Republican president had issued a budget that failed to win any support and then was forced to make a second run at it, the media would be talking about nothing else but “the president’s first failed budget plan.” The media would be repeating this drumbeat over and over until even the second budget would be DOA because the president would have been so undermined.
But in this case, Obama failed miserably with his first budget offering and has come back to the table with a second one and the media has been wholly silent on the first failure, giving Obama a total pass on the debacle and treated as if his second proposal is the only one he’s ever presented.
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Obama’s Media Passover: Rep. Walsh Takes it To The Media”
Tax Freedom Day – Action Alert
From the office of GOP Minority Leader Tom Cross…
Congratulations! Today is the first day of 2011 that earnings you make can start going towards meeting the needs of you and your family. That’s right – we’ve worked the first 105 days of the year just to pay our federal, state, and local tax obligations for the year, more than a quarter of the way through 2011.
In recognition of this sobering fact, today is Tax Freedom Day in Illinois; a reminder of just how much we must pay in taxes each year before our hard-earned dollars can finally start working for us.
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Tax Freedom Day – Action Alert”
April 15th Tax Rally in Springfield!
From the almost government shut-down to the tragedy in Japan, these are truly treacherous times. What makes them even more dangerous is the lack of leadership, wisdom, and courage and Washington and…in Illinois.
Even with a $1.6 trillion deficit, our Spender-in-Chief President Obama and the Democrats in Congress did not even want to cut $4 billion out of the budget. Meanwhile our debt increases $4 billion a day! (Here’s my article about Obama and the other “trolls” of the almost government shut-down in this week’s Washington Times). Top 5 Biggest Trolls of the Almost Government Shutdown
Back in Illinois, Pat Quinn breaks promise after promise, spends what he doesn’t have with hopes that he can just borrow it like a college kid with a credit card. Quinn has raised taxes 67%. He wants to borrow $110 million to buy 2500 acres in Peotone. He wants to borrow another $2 billion to pay off the state’s backlogged bills. What the heck?!
But we can do something to stop them. If we stand up. Together.
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April 15th Tax Rally in Springfield!”
Act Now to Support Workers Comp Reform in Illinois!
From Americans for Prosperity – Illinois…
Americans for Prosperity has learned that one of the most comprehensive workers compensation packages (SB 1349) is moving through the State Senate at an aggressive pace.
It’s essential that lawmakers reform the workers compensation system in Illinois. Illinois’ system of workers compensation is one the most generous systems in the nation. For this reason and more, the cost factors of the workers comp laws in Illinois place our businesses and our state at a great disadvantage with other states.
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Act Now to Support Workers Comp Reform in Illinois!”
Wasteful Referendum Defeated in Suburban Lamont
-By Warner Todd Huston
One of the election day success stories enjoyed by Americans for Prosperity, Illinois, occurred in nearby Lamont. A wasteful school referendum was defeated in Lamont and AFP was at the forefront of educating voters on the facts as they went to the polls.
Residents of Lamont had become tired of seeing their taxes go up every single year while the District constantly cried poor, so due to requests from residents, AFP – Illinois began an effort to understand exactly why the budget and the taxes for Lamont’s School District 113a have been constantly rising for every one of the last eleven years.
Upon investigation, AFP discovered that while revenues for the district have risen 50% over the last eleven years, the District’s spending has risen 77% during the same time.
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Wasteful Referendum Defeated in Suburban Lamont”
Chicago School Accuses Parents of Poisoning Children
-By Warner Todd Huston
The nanny state in the people’s republic of Chicago rears its ugly head once again where a school principal has accused parents of trying to poison their own children with “unhealthy” bag lunches. And so, in her infinite wisdom, Principal Elsa Carmona had banned all lunches brought from home. I guess it’s just a coincidence that the school gets more federal money for lunches served by the school, eh?
Little Village Academy Principal Carmona, you see, is better and smarter than the vile parents of the children for whom she is the keeper… at least she thinks she is, anyway. She has determined that kids are not getting healthy lunches from parents, so she’s decided that kids can only eat the bland pabulum she serves in her school cafeteria.
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Chicago School Accuses Parents of Poisoning Children”
House Votes to Curb FCC’s Internet Power Grab
-By Warner Todd Huston
We’ve been writing about Obama’s attempt to take over control of the Internet for some time, now, and there is at last a bit of good news on that front. The House of Representatives has passed Congressional Resolution, H.J. Res. 37 aimed at preventing the FCC’s wild, unconstitutional powergrab.
Chief Deputy Whip Congressman Peter Roskam was in favor of this move and released a statement that said:
The FCC’s decision to prohibit America’s Internet providers from managing content on their own networks is a colossal mistake that will hurt job creation and innovation in one of our most vibrant industries. These new regulations are a solution in search of a problem. America’s Internet companies – from large enterprises to tiny garage start-ups – are examples of what can happen when government stays out of the way. The Internet is an engine of innovation and economic growth essential to America maintaining its qualitative edge. Net Neutrality rules will only stifle competition, hurt job creation and provide huge disincentives to innovate – so I urge the FCC to rescind these rules immediately.
Likewise, Congressman Adam Kinzinger voted yes on the resolution.
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House Votes to Curb FCC’s Internet Power Grab”
Ill. Policy Institute: Tax Day Rallies
From the Illinois Policy Institute…
The Illinois Policy Institute will participate in Tax Day rallies next week in Springfield, Peoria, Geneva and Chicago.
Since 2009, Tax Day rallies have been held across Illinois to raise awareness about out-of-control government spending, high taxes and unbalanced budgets. Now, more than ever, Illinoisans are feeling the pain from bad public policies that have emerged from Springfield.
With the 2012 election on the horizon, participating in a Tax Day rally is one way you can send a message to elected officials that you didn’t – and won’t – forget about the 67 percent tax hike passed this year.
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Ill. Policy Institute: Tax Day Rallies”
IL House Repubs: Pay Cuts, Murder Registry and More
From GOP House Minority Leader Tom Cross…
10 % Pay Cut for Lawmakers Clears House
House Republicans this week helped pass legislation requiring lawmakers to take a 10 percent pay cut in Fiscal Year 2012 – a $1.2 million savings for taxpayers, said House Republican Leader Tom Cross.
“We must lead by example. We have been pushing tirelessly for state government to live within its means—when looking at reductions in our budget, we must look at ourselves-first,” said Cross.
Illinois state representatives and senators receive the fifth highest paid salary in the country. Only California, New York, Pennsylvania and Michigan pay their legislators more than Illinois. The current annual salary for an Illinois legislator is $67,836; if HB 2891 becomes law, the annual salary will be $61,052.
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IL House Repubs: Pay Cuts, Murder Registry and More”
SB35 (SB600), Republican Vote Reform Unanimously Passes Ill. Senate
-By Warner Todd Huston
Well, we’ve been talking about this bill for years here on the blog, but SB35 has unanimously passed the Illinois Senate.
SB35 was formerly SB600 and this bill provides for Republicans in Illinois to at last be allowed to vote for the members of their own State central Committee, the body that plans policy and runs the state Republican Party.
Currently the Republicans that run the party are not voted onto the state central committee by the state’s Republican voters (though Democrats do vote their committee members onto their own state central committee). The folks that are so instrumental in setting the agenda of the Illinois GOP are appointed by their fellows, not voted onto the committee by the voters.
SB35 will return the responsibility of filling the committee to the voters like it once was.
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SB35 (SB600), Republican Vote Reform Unanimously Passes Ill. Senate”
Illinois Teachers Pay Nothing or Little into Their Pensions
-By Larry Snow
Illinois teachers qualify for a full 75 percent pension after working only 27 years. Most adults work for 27 years before they turn age 50.
Democrats want retail and construction workers to think that the majority of Illinois teachers are seriously paying into their pensions. The truth is, ordinary workers are made to do this for them, big time.
First, teachers have no Social Security taken out of their paychecks. Ordinary workers get hit with a 6.2 percent deduction for Social Security. It’s a deduction they have to pay federal and state income taxes on. Democrats gave teachers a huge loophole of not paying income taxes on any of their pension deductions. This enormous no-tax handout to teachers amounts to billions of dollars each year.
Over 51,000 of the total 132,502 teachers in Illinois contribute nothing from their K-12 paychecks into their pensions. Illinois law says it is to be 9.4 percent.
About an additional 32,000 teachers pay little into their pensions. It is 1.81 percent to be precise for these 31,956 teachers. Paying less than 2 percent is little unless you want to bamboozle ordinary working people into thinking the opposite…
Read the rest at ChampionNews.net.
Roskam Awarded Highest Honor by U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
From the office of Congressman Peter Roskam (R, ILL, 6th District)…
Roskam honored for his Leadership on Behalf of Job Creators
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Peter Roskam (IL-06), was recently awarded the “President’s Award” by the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Roskam accepted the award at the Hispanic Chamber’s Annual Legislative Summit on March 30th.
Roskam was honored for his work on behalf of job-creators, including his leading advocacy for fundamental tax reform, cutting Washington’s spending and debt, and his tireless efforts to pass the three free trade agreements being stalled by Democrats – no-cost job creation.
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Roskam Awarded Highest Honor by U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce”
Illinois Legislature Violates U.S. Constitution to Implement U.N. Treaty
-By Warner Todd Huston
The Illinois State Senate will soon be considering State Resolution 92. This resolution would have the state recognize the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and force Illinois to observe its wholly un-American provisions. This move would, in fact, be illegal, but State Senator Kimberly Lightford (D, Westchester) thinks she has the power to obviate the Constitution anyway.
Lightford’s conceit is a perfect example of the arrogance of the left. This woman imagines that not only can she go around the president of the United States and deal with a foreign power of her own volition, but she thinks she can deal with this foreign power in violation of the law of the land. Imagine the arrogance.
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Illinois Legislature Violates U.S. Constitution to Implement U.N. Treaty”
Kinzinger Statement on the Government Shutdown Prevention Act
From the office of Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R, 11th, Illinois)…
Washington, D.C. – Today, on the 41st day since the House passed H.R. 1, Congressman Adam Kinzinger (IL-11) spoke out in support of H.R. 1255, urging the Senate to cut $61 billion in government spending.
“Last year, when our friends on the other side of the aisle had the Majority in Washington, they failed to do the most basic thing — pass a budget. No budget was passed because they didn’t want to have to make the tough choices that would hurt them in re-election. Instead, Washington Democrats kicked the can down the road and passed a Continuing Resolution.
“As a result, the American people spoke up in November. They said the big, bloated, bureaucratic government is crowding out the free market.
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Kinzinger Statement on the Government Shutdown Prevention Act”
The Joke is On Illinois Taxpayers
From the Illinois Policy Institute…
Happy April Fools’ Day, indeed! While last Friday was meant to be a fun day for trickery, sometimes it seems like every day in Illinois politics is April Fools’ Day. Over the past three months, there has been an abundance of foolish policies and every time the joke is on taxpayers: the largest tax hike in state history, $1.7 billion in spending increases and a proposed $8 billion in borrowing. The only way to stop all this foolishness is by taking the message that there is a better way to one person at a time. One conversation, one phone call, one letter, one email: that’s how we will save our state. But we need your help! Our message is appealing and our solutions are real. The people of Illinois are ready to pursue a better path; they just need a little nudge from you!
Help us fight foolishness in Illinois. Forward this info to ten people today!
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The Joke is On Illinois Taxpayers”
Roskam Statement on March Jobs Report
From the Office of Rep. Peter Roskam, (R, ILL)…
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Peter Roskam (R-IL), Chief Deputy Whip, issued the following statement after the Department of Labor released their March jobs report:
“These numbers continue to show that our economy is moving in the right direction but not recovering nearly fast enough. For the millions of Americans still out of work, today is just one more painful reminder that Washington’s rampant borrowing and spending has grown our debt, but not jobs. Yet even as the borrow, tax, and spend policies severely hurt our economy, Senate Democrats continue to put politics ahead of policy – refusing sensible spending cuts – and rooting for a shutdown.
“That spending mentality, coupled with a constant drive to raise taxes, is a recipe for sustained economic disaster. It’s evident in Illinois where major employers – most recently Caterpillar and Jimmy John’s – signal that Illinois’ new job-crushing tax increases may force them to relocate to better business environments. We can’t expect the private sector to create jobs when faced with the highest corporate tax rate in the world, a $14 trillion national debt, and the constant threat of new Washington regulations and taxes. That’s why Republicans are focused on removing barriers to job creation by stopping Washington from spending money it doesn’t have, and implementing policies like fundamental tax reform, no-cost free trade agreements, and reform of harmful bureaucrat-driven regulations.”
Chris Lauzen: Direct Election of Republican State Central Committeemen
From the office of State Senator Chris Lauzen (R, 25th District)…
“You Decide . . . .” That’s what SB35 (the old SB600) is all about.
If you think it’s “OK” for Republican State Central Committeemen to give thousands of dollars and serious support to Mayor Daley, Governor Blagojevich, and other Democrat politicians . . . if you think it makes any sense at all to have Jim Oberweis, who has spent more than $10,000,000 to lose five (5) major elections, advising Republicans about how to win political campaigns . . . and, if you think it is in any way appropriate for the Republican State Central Committee to threaten Republican precinct committeemen with punishment for not supporting every single Republican candidate on the ticket, no matter how corrupt or opposed to the Illinois Republican Party Platform they are . . . do not support fundamental reform and change. No need to read further.
SB35 provides for direct election of Republican State Central Committeemen. Proponents want the right to vote for their leaders just like Republicans had for more than fifty (50) years, before Governor Thompson and his allies took it away through legislation. We want what Democrat primary voters have continued to enjoy.
If Republicans were in good shape in Illinois, I would say it doesn’t make any difference how we elect our leaders. However, Democrats have been slaughtering us with nine (9) years of corrupt or incompetent Governors and nearly veto-proof majorities in the State House and Senate. This gross mismanagement has led to a staggering 67% personal income tax increase, a redefinition of marriage in homosexual “unions”, constant threats to our right to self-defense, the obvious bankruptcy of our state through crippling spending and debt, and now the protection of murderers, terrorists and rapists from the death penalty.
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Chris Lauzen: Direct Election of Republican State Central Committeemen”
Ill GOP House News
From Ill. GOP House Leader Tom Cross…
Years of advocating for fiscally conservative and responsible budgeting by members of the House Republican caucus finally seems to be resonating with leading Democrats in the House. Wednesday, House Republican Leader Tom Cross testified alongside House Speaker Michael Madigan before the House Elementary and Secondary Appropriations and the General Services Appropriations Committees on legislation they are co-sponsoring that reinforces the concept that the state cannot spend more money than it takes in.
House Bill 3639, House Bill 3697, and House Bill 116 require the state to fully fund the public pension systems in FY12 and House Bill 117 which passed the Public Safety Committee, requires the state to allocate $2.137 billion to pay debt service on bonds.
Cross_Madigan_HB117 from Illinois House Republicans on Vimeo.
The House also passed on Wednesday a bi-partisan, House Resolution 158, which specifies that any revenue the state receives exceeding $33.2 billion, the estimate adopted in House Resolution 110, should be used to pay down bills. This estimate is $2 billion less than the Governor proposed spending in his FY12 budget plan.
Last week the House passed House Resolution 156 establishing the percentage of general revenue funds each appropriations committee would have available to work with as they develop their budgets.
The allocation is as follows:
- Elementary and Secondary Education – 28.742%
- General Services – 5.158%
- Higher Education – 8.761%
- Human Services – 50.631%
- Public Safety – 6.978%
“This series of legislation is putting the legislature on the right path to passing a state budget that is balanced and does not exceed what we can afford – that helps ensure the tax increases passed in January will be temporary,” said Cross. “It also provides schools, human service providers and others with some certainty knowing how much money will be available as they prepare their own budgets. That is something they haven’t had for years with the Democrats’ lump sum budgets. It’s good to see our persistence is finally paying off and we are going to continue to hold the Democrats’ feet to the fire to reduce spending and balance the budget.”
Rep Joe Walsh on a Gov’t Shut Down
Newly minted Republican Congressman Joe Walsh of the 8th Illinois District recently spoke to CBS News about the possibility of a government shut down due to the Democrat’s reticence to come up with their own budget policies.
It should be remembered that the Democrats never DID pass a budget in 2010 and the House of Representatives newly taken over by the GOP is playing catch up.