Politicians Illinois

Budget - Congress - Conservatives - Economy/Finances - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Paul Ryan - Peter Roskam - Republicans - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston - Washington D.C.

Rep. Peter Roskam: Did you hear about Paul Ryan’s Path to Prosperity?‏

April 13, 2011 by

From the office of Rep. Peter Roskam (Ill, 6th District)…

When House Republicans released our 2012 budget last week, newspapers called it the “most comprehensive and most courageous budget reform proposal any of us have seen in our lifetimes,” “a welcome blast of truth-telling among the grown-ups,” and “what real leaders do.”

It comes in very stark contrast to the White House’s failed budget, which heaps $1.5 trillion in new job-crushing taxes and allows both Medicare and Social Security to go bankrupt — so they wouldn’t be around for future generations.

Our fact-based budget puts our country on a path to prosperity, spurring job creation, saving crucial programs for future generations, and relieving the crushing burden of our national debt. Read more from Budget Chairman Paul Ryan in the Wall Street Journal.
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Rep. Peter Roskam: Did you hear about Paul Ryan’s Path to Prosperity?‏”

Adam Kinzinger - Barack Obama - Budget - Business - Capitalism - Communism - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Ethics - FCC - Free Trade - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Inernet - Liberals - Net Neutrality - Peter Roskam - Policy - President - Republicans - Socialism - Taxes - Technology - Warner Todd Huston

House Votes to Curb FCC’s Internet Power Grab

April 11, 2011 by

-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”

Adam Kinzinger - Budget - Congress - Conservatives - Economy/Finances - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Republicans - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston - Washington D.C.

Kinzinger Statement on FY 2011 Spending Cuts

April 9, 2011 by

From the office of Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R, IL, 11th District)…

Washington, DC – Congressman Adam Kinzinger (IL-11) issued the following statement on the agreement to fund the federal government through the remainder of fiscal year 2011 while cutting $78.5 billion below the President’s 2011 budget proposal.

“Our country has come a long way since the President asked Congress two and a half months ago for a spending freeze, which translates to no spending cuts. In just a matter of months, we negotiated historic cuts of $38.5 billion through the remainder of the 2011 fiscal year.
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Kinzinger Statement on FY 2011 Spending Cuts”

Budget - Conservatives - Economy/Finances - GOP - Government - Government, Ill. County - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Republicans - Taxes - Tom Cross - Warner Todd Huston

IL House Repubs: Pay Cuts, Murder Registry and More‏

April 9, 2011 by

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”

Adam Kinzinger - Air Force - Army - Budget - Coast Guard - Congress - Economy/Finances - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Marines - Military - National Guard - Navy - Peter Roskam - President - Republicans - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston - Washington D.C.

Ill. Reps. Roskam and Kinzinger on Troop Funding Bill

April 8, 2011 by

Two of Illinois’ Congressmen have released statements on the Troop Funding issue that has arisen with this looming government shutdown. The White House has claimed that our soldiers — many of whom are currently at war — won’t get paid.

Congressman Peter Roskam, 6th District Representative and the Chief Deputy Whip of The House Republicans, and Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger, he of the 11th District, have each released a statement on the paying of our troops.

Congressman Peter Roskam

“A full 47 days after the House first passed H.R. 1 – and a year after House Democrats failed to even introduce a budget – the House has once again acted to keep the government open, cut spending, and fund the troops for the rest of the year. It is astonishing that President Obama is threatening to veto a bill to fund our troops – without stating a single policy objection – particularly when our troops are now in three different foreign conflicts. I’m disheartened the White House and Senate Democrats are putting politics ahead of funding our troops and keeping the government open. We owe it to our troops to make sure they are getting paid when in harm’s way.”

http://roskam.house.gov/

Congressman Adam Kinzinger

Today, on the 47th day since the House passed H.R. 1, Congressman Adam Kinzinger (IL-11) spoke out in support of the Troop Funding Bill which would fund the Department of Defense through the remainder of FY2011, while cutting $12 billion in federal spending and keeping the government running for one week so a long-term solution will be reached, avoiding a government shutdown.

“As a military pilot, I have friends serving our country who are wondering if they’re going to get paid if the government does shutdown. I say, ‘Ask Harry Reid; we’ve tried to make sure you continue to get paid.’

“I’m disappointed by the news that our Commander-in-Chief has threatened to veto this legislation that would ensure members of the military receive their paychecks and avoids a government shutdown. I urge the Senate to stand up for the men and women who put their lives on the line and make certain they receive funding while making real spending cuts.

“I was sent here to cut spending and make government efficient and effective, not just in the short term, but in the long run for our children and grandchildren. I don’t think it’s any secret that we cannot continue down this reckless trajectory. We’ve kicked the can down the road for too long and now, there’s no more road left.

“It’s time to tackle the spending to ensure the fiscal soundness of this country for future generations.”

http://kinzinger.house.gov/

Adam Kinzinger - Budget - Capitalism - Coal - Congress - Economy/Finances - Energy - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Nuclear Power - Oil - Peter Roskam - Republicans - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston - Washington D.C.

Roskam and Kinzinger Applaud House Passage of Energy Tax Prevention Act

April 8, 2011 by

Bill prevents EPA from instituting job-crushing energy taxes

Congressman Peter Roskam, Chief Deputy Whip, and Congressman Adam Kinzinger have issued statements after the House passed the Energy Tax Prevention Act, 255 – 172, to block the EPA from imposing cap-and-trade by regulation:

Congressman Peter Roskam

“I applaud the House for blocking new job-crushing energy taxes on families and employers. Americans have already overwhelmingly rejected a national energy tax by cap and trade, and the EPA’s proposal is just a back-door effort to accomplish exactly that by regulation. Unilaterally regulating greenhouse gases would increase energy costs in every home and every business, meaning higher bills and less jobs. It would cripple manufacturers – job creators – who use roughly one-third of our nation’s energy. For my manufacturers in the western and northwestern suburbs of Chicago, I’m glad the House acted to stop this job-crushing regulation.”

http://roskam.house.gov/

Congressman Adam Kinzinger

“Twenty-one months ago, Washington Democrats forced passage of the controversial cap and trade legislation through the House of Representatives. While cap and trade failed in the Senate, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is still attempting to enforce a backdoor cap and trade system on the American people.

“Today, the House approved the Energy Tax Prevention Act of 2011. Without this legislation, we are simply stepping to the side while the EPA imposes a cap-and-trade agenda which could mean even higher gas prices, increased utility rates, manufacturing jobs being sent overseas, and hampering our overall economic recovery.

“The Energy Tax Prevention Act is an effective, bipartisan approach to stop the EPA’s cap and tax agenda. It takes necessary steps to protect jobs and restores the Clean Air Act to its original purpose by repealing action already taken by the EPA to impose a bureaucratic climate change agenda.

“Manufacturers and energy producers at the local and national level, such as Edison Power in the Eleventh Congressional District and the National Association of Manufacturers, have made it clear that the Energy Tax Prevention Act is necessary in order to curtail the EPA’s overreaching regulations and create the certainty job creators need to grow their businesses and get more folks back to work here at home.

“Congress must focus on removing these regulatory obstacles in order to create long-term economic growth.”

http://kinzinger.house.gov/

Business - Capitalism - Conservatives - Economy/Finances - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Peter Roskam - Republicans - Warner Todd Huston

Roskam Awarded Highest Honor by U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

April 7, 2011 by

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”

Adam Kinzinger - Budget - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Kane County - Republicans - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Kinzinger Statement on the Government Shutdown Prevention Act

April 4, 2011 by

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”

Illinois - Tom Cross - Warner Todd Huston

Ill. House GOP Leader Tom Cross: It Was a Good Week for Illinois Taxpayers‏

April 3, 2011 by

From the Office of GOP House Leader Tom Cross…

It was a good week for Illinois taxpayers. Due to our persistence over the years to control spending, leaders in the Illinois House are now working together in a bi-partisan manner to enact a series of bills that make tremendous strides towards crafting a responsible state budget that forces state government to live within its means.

House Republican Leader Tom Cross and House Speaker Michael Madigan worked together to lead the House in passing a number of measures that build off of House Resolution 110 which establishes a revenue estimate of $33.2 billion, nearly $2 billion less than Governor Quinn has proposed spending in FY12.
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Ill. House GOP Leader Tom Cross: It Was a Good Week for Illinois Taxpayers‏”

Budget - Economy/Finances - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Jobs - Peter Roskam - Republicans - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Roskam Statement on March Jobs Report

April 2, 2011 by

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.”

http://roskam.house.gov/

Chris Lauzen - Conservatives - Elections - GOP - Government - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Republicans - SB600 - State Central Committee - Warner Todd Huston

Chris Lauzen: Direct Election of Republican State Central Committeemen

April 1, 2011 by

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”

Budget - Chicago - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Government - Mayor Richard Daley - Public Employees Unions - Taxes - Unions - Warner Todd Huston

Chicago’s City Worker Union Members Get Free Chauffeur Perks

March 31, 2011 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Let’s say your job is as a traveling salesman or a construction worker and you work at different locations throughout the year. Wouldn’t it be nice to get your own free chauffeur service to get back and forth to work? That way you could just drive yourself to one location a day and then have your chauffeur take you back and forth to your work site. Nice, huh? Well, apparently that is what’s going on in Chicago for city worker union members and taxpayer’s are paying $18 million a year for this union perk.

According to an investigation by Inspector General Joe Ferguson, at least 200 city truck drivers only duty is to drive other city workers back and forth to work sites. Outside of that one duty, these truck drivers sit and do nothing for the rest of the day as they wait for workers that are actually working to finish their jobs. These “workers” are essentially paid chauffeurs.

Ferguson recommended that one of the city workers actually involved in working at the work site could drive the trucks instead of having highly paid union members sitting around while other workers actually worked.
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Chicago’s City Worker Union Members Get Free Chauffeur Perks”

Budget - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Liberals - Peter Roskam - President - Republicans - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston - Washington D.C.

Rep. Peter Roskam: High Taxes Have Consequences

March 31, 2011 by

-By Illinois Congressman Peter Roskam, GOP Chief Deputy Whip

Note: Caterpillar CEO Doug Oberhelman will testify before the Ways & Means Trade Subcommittee today.

Illinois and other states have recently made headlines for their declining populations. Whether they realize it or not, what states like Illinois are learning the hard way is that over-taxing and over-regulating has consequences. And Illinois is now learning that one painful consequence is job loss.

Caterpillar, a Fortune 500 company that employs 23,000 workers in Illinois, currently finds itself dealing with a new tax increase in an already over-taxed state. Their CEO, Doug Oberhelman, sent a warning shot on March 21st with a letter to Illinois’ new Democrat Governor Pat Quinn:
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Rep. Peter Roskam: High Taxes Have Consequences”

Budget - Conservatives - Democrats/Leftists - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Liberals - Republicans - Taxes - Tom Cross - Warner Todd Huston

Ill GOP House News

March 31, 2011 by

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.”

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

Rep Joe Walsh on a Gov’t Shut Down

March 30, 2011 by

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.

Budget - Congress - Conservatives - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Liberals - Peter Roskam - President - Republicans - Senate - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston - Washington D.C.

Roskam on MSNBC’s Daily Rundown: Senate Must Act

March 30, 2011 by

From the Office of Representative Peter Roskam (R, 6th District)…

38 Days Later: Senate Has Failed to Act:

“We’re 38 days away from when the House acted an d passed something over to the Senate and we haven’t seen any substantive Senate action in that entire time. So before the House is asked to come back and take another position, the Senate has to act, and we’ve seen absolutely nothing.”
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Roskam on MSNBC’s Daily Rundown: Senate Must Act”

Budget - Democrats/Leftists - Government - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Liberals - Pat Quinn - Public Employees Unions - SEIU - Taxes - Unions - Warner Todd Huston

While Illinois Citizens Lose Jobs, More Government Workers Get Union Protection

March 30, 2011 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

If this isn’t just the way the most corrupt state in the country works, there’s nothing that will show it. As the state of Illinois loses businesses and her citizens lose their jobs by the thousands, government workers in Illinois get richer and government unions are even adding members. Now there’s more government union members in Illinois than ever leaching off a dwindling base of taxpayers.

As the state sinks in red ink, government unions have grown to the point where nearly 97% of the state’s government workers have become unionized with better pay, more lucrative pensions, and richer healthcare than every other average citizen who is forced to pay the government union member’s exorbitant pay.

According to the AP, more than 10,000 state employees have joined unions. This is a four-fold increase over the previous eight years.
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While Illinois Citizens Lose Jobs, More Government Workers Get Union Protection”

Crime - Democrats/Leftists - Government - Hate Crimes - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Liberals - Pat Quinn - Police - Race - Warner Todd Huston

A Political Cover Up: Gov. Quinn’s Racist Security Man

March 29, 2011 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Several news sources have been working for days to get to the bottom of a story that might end up revealing that the head of one of Democrat Illinois Governor Pat Quinn’s police security details was involved in a racist attack on several black students in downstate Carlinville. Worse, the story seems to be undergoing a political cover up as news agencies are being stymied in rooting out the details.

Several Illinois newspapers have already printed stories on the alleged incident, but to date no one seems to have been able to pin down all the details. But one thing is sure, Kenneth Snider, a trooper with the Illinois State Police, definitely and rather suddenly resigned from all his political jobs last week.

Until he resigned on March 23, Snider was the head of Democrat Governor Pat Quinn’s southern security force, a $132,000 a year state-paid job. Snider had other political jobs, too, until he resigned from all of them. Up to last week he was chairman of both the Carlinville school board and the Macoupin County Democratic organization. Macoupin County is just north east of St. Louis in Illinois’ south western corner.
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A Political Cover Up: Gov. Quinn’s Racist Security Man”

Adam Kinzinger - Anti-Americanism - Barack Obama - Bobby Schilling - Congress - Conservatives - Democrats/Leftists - GOP - House of Representatives - Illinois - Liberals - Libya - Mark Kirk - Military - Peter Roskam - President - Randy Hultgren - Republicans - Senate - Warner Todd Huston

Peter Roskam, Ill. Delegation Mostly Disappointed With Obama’s Libya Policies

March 29, 2011 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Despite initially intending to skip a public address, President Obama finally came before the nation last night to speak about his plans and ideas for America’s engagement in Libya. Unfortunately there are more questions than answers still and members of the Illinois congressional delegation are less than satisfied with Obama’s Libya policies.

For one, Peter Roskam (R, 6th), Chief Deputy Whip of the GOP led House, is less than happy with Obama’s televised appearance.

Even though it comes nine days after our military became engaged in Libya, I am pleased President Obama took the opportunity to address the country tonight. Unfortunately many questions still remain. Even with a nationally-televised, widely-promoted speech, Americans still don’t have the answer to a basic and essential question: what is the benchmark for success in Libya?

Illinois Congressman Adam Kinzinger (R, 11th) went a step farther yesterday and said that, even though he is not advocating sending troops at this time, we should not automatically rule out sending in American ground troops. “What you end up seeing is when you say we’re never going to send in American troops–you take away that ability to use that as a trump card or leverage.”
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Peter Roskam, Ill. Delegation Mostly Disappointed With Obama’s Libya Policies”

Budget - Census - Chicago - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Government - Illinois - Liberals - Mayor Richard Daley - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Mayor Emmanuel To Cut Number of Aldermen in Half! Self-Serving or Cost Savings?

March 25, 2011 by 1 Comment

-By Warner Todd Huston

For his first controversy, Mayor Elect Rahm Emanuel has floated the trial balloon of all trial balloons. He wants to fire half the city’s alderman and replace them with… no one. That’s right, he wants to eliminate half of the city’s aldermen. How’s that for chutzpah?

The Chicago Sun-Times reports that Emanuel has had some private meetings with Chicago’s sitting aldermen and has point blank asked them what they thought of slashing the number of aldermen from 50 to 25 as a cost-cutting measure.

Naturally everyone knows that if this idea goes through, Emanuel will endeavor to save the jobs of all those aldermen loyal to him. That goes without saying. This would be Emanuel’s way of creating his own rubber stamp city council like the two Mayors Daley did for 60 years with their own bought-and-paid-for city council.
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Mayor Emmanuel To Cut Number of Aldermen in Half! Self-Serving or Cost Savings?”

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

Mayor Daley: Failed Mayor of Failing City?

March 25, 2011 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

As his last year in office winds down, Mayor Richard Daley is hailed as one of the country’s most successful big city mayors. Yet the 2010 census reveals that the city lost 200,000 citizens, the city’s budget is millions in the red, and businesses are abandoning the city with alarming frequency. How this equates to success is anyone’s guess.

Steve Bartin who writes for newgeography.com, a website that tracks information about America’s demographic statistics, notes that there are only nine U.S. cities that have more than one million citizens and the 2010 census data shows that only Chicago lost population. Yet, as Bartin notes, stories across the Old Media can’t bestow enough kudos on Mayor Daley’s long tenure as Chicago’s mayor.

It isn’t just the loss of population that marks Daley as a failure, though.
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Mayor Daley: Failed Mayor of Failing City?”

Budget - Congress - Energy - GOP - Government, Ill. County - House of Representatives - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Jobs - Peter Roskam - Republicans - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Roskam Meets with IL-06 Based Company in Ghana

March 24, 2011 by

From the office of Peter Roskam (R, IL)…

Discusses economic development as part of African fact-finding mission

ACCRA, GHANA – Congressman Peter Roskam (IL-06) traveled to Ghana earlier this week, leading a fact-finding mission focused on trade, energy, and other economic and social issues in Africa. Monday in Accra, Roskam met with Oak Brook, Ill.-based Opportunity International, a leader in providing financial services to people living in extreme poverty in the developing world.

The group met with Teresa Effie Cooke, head of human resources at Opportunity International Savings & Loan, Ghana. Roskam is leading the bipartisan fact-finding mission, including Congressman Bobby Rush (IL-01), which is being privately sponsored by the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.
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Roskam Meets with IL-06 Based Company in Ghana”

Budget - Business - Capitalism - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Jobs - Republicans - Taxes - Tom Cross - Warner Todd Huston

Restoring Fiscal Sanity, Putting Illinois Back to Work‏

March 22, 2011 by

From the office of Illinois Republican House Leader, Tom Cross…

As the legislative session continues in Springfield, I wanted to take a quick moment to update you on some of the key legislation introduced by House Republican members.

House Republicans are committed to restoring fiscal responsibility and ending the reckless spending in Springfield. We are fighting for meaningful spending caps, researching opportunities to cut spending and working to substantial reforms to save significant taxpayer dollars.

Listed below are some of the measures we are working on and I would like your thought on these so please let us know if you support or oppose these measures.

Repeal the Democrat Income Tax
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Restoring Fiscal Sanity, Putting Illinois Back to Work‏”

Adam Kinzinger - Budget - Congress - Conservatives - Economy/Finances - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Republicans - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Fighting to Tighten Washington’s Belt

March 21, 2011 by

An Op Ed by Congressman Adam Kinzinger (R, ILL)…

Last year, for the first time in nearly 40 years, the House of Representatives — under then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi — failed to pass, or even propose a budget for Fiscal Year 2011. This left Americans without a budget and Democrats without any restraints.

As a result, the American people sent a clear message to Washington last November– cut spending. I came to Washington to do exactly that.

In February, House Republicans passed a long-term CR with $100 billion in cuts. The Senate rejected this proposal, refusing to side with the taxpayers to get our fiscal house in order – leaving Congress to pass a short-term CR with another $4 billion in cuts over two weeks.

On March 15th, the House passed an additional $6 billion in cuts over the next three weeks. The Senate passed this short-term CR two days later for a total of $10 billion in spending cuts. This achievement of permanently cutting $10 billion is a good start, but the cuts will not stop here.

We cannot give up, shutdown and simply hope Senate Democrats will cave. The House only controls one stem of the legislative branch and it’s time for Senate Democrats to work together with the House on a long-term CR that contains significant spending cuts needed to fund the government for the remainder of the fiscal year.
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Fighting to Tighten Washington’s Belt”

Budget - Business - Capitalism - Congress - Economy/Finances - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Jobs - Peter Roskam - Republicans - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Rep. Peter Roskam: Want a Fresh Start?

March 18, 2011 by

From the office of Congressman Peter Roskam (R,IL)…

The American people gave House Republicans some very clear priorities last November, like focus on creating jobs, stop spending money we don’t have, and work to end the Democrats’ job-destroying health care law.

That is the message I heard from my district, and that is exactly what I am working on in Washington.

When the Democrats failed to pass a budget in the last Congress, House Republicans took the challenge of funding the government as an opportunity to begin our cost-cutting work. We voted to pass a long-term continuing resolution (CR) to fund the government through the end of the fiscal year – cutting $100 billion from the President’s budget request.
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Rep. Peter Roskam: Want a Fresh Start?”

Chicago - Cities - Cook County - Crime - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - Ethics - Government - Illinois - Illinois Policy Institute - Illinois State Government - Liberals - Lisa Madigan - Michael Madigan - Warner Todd Huston

Criminal Element: Ill. Democrat Was Convicted Felon Before Being Elected

March 17, 2011 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

It has been revealed that Illinois State Representative Robert Rita was a convicted felon before he ever ran for office for the fist time, a violation of state law. Being a convicted felon should have barred him from even running for office.

Lee Williams of the Illinois Policy Institute tells us that Rita, a Blue Island Democrat and a five-term state rep., has always been ineligible to seek elected office, absent a pardon.

Rita was convicted of DUI and attempted bribery in Nye County, Nevada in 1991. Lee Williams reports that this was confirmed by Jamie Kostiuk, a Nye County records clerk. Hard copies of the files, though, could not be located.

Lee Williams, however, tracked down some other sources of the conviction.
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Criminal Element: Ill. Democrat Was Convicted Felon Before Being Elected”

Budget - Conservatives - Constitution - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Elections - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Liberals - Peter Roskam - President - Republicans - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Rep. Roskam: Remember We’re Still Cleaning Up the Dems Failure to Pass Last Year’s Budget!

March 16, 2011 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

On Wednesday afternoon I had a chance to talk to Chief Deputy Whip Peter Roskam (R, IL) about the budget and these continuing resolutions (CRs) that the House is laboring to pass and he reminded me of a point that we are not discussing quite enough. The fact is that these CRs have become necessary because the Democrats spent all of last year not proposing and passing a budget at all!

The Democrats fiddled around for the whole of last year never passing a full budget. Now the GOP led House is trying to play catch up with these few sort term CRs so that they can get the full budget written and passed.

“No one wants to vote on short term CRs,” Roskam told me, “but this is where the Senate Democrats must come up with a plan. We’ve done our part and it’s their turn. But they have offered nothing.”
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Rep. Roskam: Remember We’re Still Cleaning Up the Dems Failure to Pass Last Year’s Budget!”

Adam Kinzinger - Budget - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Liberals - Republicans - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston - Washington D.C.

Kinzinger Statement on Three-Week Continuing Resolution Vote

March 16, 2011 by

From the office of Congressman Adam Kinzinger (IL, 11th District)…

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Adam Kinzinger (IL-11) today issued the following statement on the House passage of the three-week Continuing Resolution (CR) that will cut additional spending, while keeping the federal government running:

“Last November, the American people sent a clear message to Washington — cut spending. I came to Washington to do exactly that.

“House Republicans passed a long-term CR with $100 billion in cuts. The Senate rejected this proposal, refusing to side with the taxpayers to get our fiscal house in order – leaving Congress to pass a short-term CR with another $4 billion in cuts over two weeks. Today, we passed an additional $6 billion in cuts over the next three weeks. If the Senate passes this short-term CR, it will be a total of $10 billion in spending cuts. This achievement of permanently cutting $10 billion is a good start, but the cuts will not stop here.
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Kinzinger Statement on Three-Week Continuing Resolution Vote”

Budget - Business - Capitalism - Congress - Economy/Finances - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Jobs - Peter Roskam - Republicans - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Roskam Previews Tomorrow’s Forum on Job Creation at House GOP Stakeout

March 15, 2011 by

From the office of Congressman Peter Roskam (Ill, 6th District)…

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Peter Roskam (R-IL), Chief Deputy Whip, previewed tomorrow’s Forum on Job Creation at today’s House Republican Leadership Stakeout. The video and transcript are below:

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Roskam Previews Tomorrow’s Forum on Job Creation at House GOP Stakeout”

Bobby Schilling - Budget - Business - Capitalism - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Elections - Free Trade - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Jobs - Liberals - PLA - Public Employees Unions - Regulation - Republicans - Taxes - Unions - Warner Todd Huston

Why Did 17th District’s Schilling Vote For 2 Pro-Union Amendments?

March 14, 2011 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Newly minted Republican Representative Bobby Schilling from Illinois’ 17th district recently voted in favor of two pro-union amendments in Congress and the votes have caused some folks to go scratching their heads in trying to figure out why he did it.

Schilling ran as the business-oriented candidate against long-time Democrat incumbent Phil Hare, so his two pro-union votes are odd in light of his late campaign rhetoric. So, the Quad-City Times contacted Schilling’s office to find out what was going on.

Schilling’s office replied that one of the votes was simply a mistake. But the second vote Schilling stands up for unapologetically.
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Why Did 17th District’s Schilling Vote For 2 Pro-Union Amendments?”