From the office of Ill. Republican Representative Adam Kinzinger (11th District)…
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Adam Kinzinger (IL-11), a pilot in the Air National Guard with tours in the Middle East, sent a letter to President Obama urging the institution of a no-fly zone over Libya.
Kinzinger Urges President Obama to Institute No-Fly Zone Over Libya”
-By Warner Todd Huston
Illinois’ Democrat Governor Pat Quinn has signed the so-called Mainstreet Fairness Bill brought to him by the Illinois General Assembly. The bill forces all Internet companies to charge Illinois’ 6.25% sales tax whether they are based in the state or not.
Quinn signed the bill in the last few days before it would have gone into force anyway.
The nation’s largest Internet-based business, Amazon,com, said it would cut ties with all its affiliates in Illinois if the bill became law. No word if they are following through on that threat, yet, but Amazon has cut ties in some states that have instituted similar laws — though it has stayed in other states that have done so, New York in particular.
Several Illinois-based Internet companies have warned the state that if the bill became law they would pull up stakes and leave the state.
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ILL Gov. Quinn Signs the Boot Out Internet Companies Law”
-By Warner Todd Huston
Illinois Congressman Peter Roskam (R, 6th District) has really climbed the ladder of leadership since the 2010 elections. He went from Congressman in the minority party in DC to the Chief Deputy Whip of the majority Republican Party riding the GOP wave that overtook the Hill last November.
Roskam is the go-to man for the budget debate. He handles this like an expert and, with his role of Chief Dep. Whip, is part of the leadership team. But I peg him as one of the best guys on that team where it concerns the budget.
Some of the things he’s talking about here are already in play, but the one thing I’d like to focus on are his comments on regulations and the idea of states trying to file for bankruptcy.
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VIDEO: Interview With Chief Dep. Whip, Congressman Peter Roskam”
From the Illinois GOP…
The State Central Committee of the Illinois Republican Party amended their bylaws yesterday to resolve a long-standing issue with regard to voting open precincts in the election of State Central Committeemen.
The amendment addressed the issue of allocation of votes from precincts that do not have elected Republican Precinct Committeemen. Prior to the amendment, Republican Party County Chairmen had the ability to cast the votes of the vacant precincts however they pleased. The amendment changed this rule by mandating that upon the election of State Central Committeemen, the weighted vote of the vacant precincts “shall be allocated to each candidate based on the proportion of weighted votes they received from the elected Precinct Committeemen.”
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Illinois GOP Amends Bylaws on SCC Elections”
From the office of Senator Mark Kirk (R, ILL…
Gasoline prices are up 50 cents per gallon just this month, now averaging $3.65 in Illinois. Why are prices so high?
While much of the price rise is caused by instability in Libya, another cause is an obscure federal rule that mandates little gasoline monopolies in Chicagoland and Metro East, called the “Boutique Fuels Rule.”
The federal government divides the nation’s gasoline market into 17 separate zones, each with their own recipe for gasoline. While we can buy regular gasoline in Peoria, only “N RFG with Ethanol” is available in Chicago and in Metro East, we can only buy “7.2 RVP” gas. If one region runs short, it cannot borrow from another region – is it any wonder that gas costs 10 cents less per gallon in Green Bay?
This map illustrates the isolated pockets of the country where the federal government mandates the use of the complicated boutique fuel rule. This balkanization of fuel distribution leads to supply problems and high prices. Conversely, some say the regulation is necessary for compliance with the Clean Air Act.
From the Office of Illinois Congressman Peter Roskam (R, 6th District)…
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Peter Roskam (R-IL), Chief Deputy Whip, issued the following statement after the two Senate votes on the Continuing Resolution:
“Today’s votes show a great contrast between those willing to do something meaningful for long-term job creation and those committed to Washington’s status-quo. House Republicans have already passed a serious proposal to responsibly fund the government while cutting back spending to pre-stimulus, pre-2008 levels. In contrast, Senate Democrats created a status-quo spending bill and then ‘drew a line in the sand’ against negotiating any more cuts. We need to find common ground to keep the government running while meaningfully cutting spending – it’s long past time Democrats settle their internal divisions and join the discussion with a serious proposal.”
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Roskam: Senate Continues The Status-Quo”
From the office of Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger (IL, 11th District)…
Washington, D.C. – Congressman Adam Kinzinger (IL-11) today expressed his support of the Illinois Ground Water Association and National Ground Water Association’s National Ground Water Awareness Week (March 6th-12th).
Ground water makes up more than 90 percent of accessible freshwater in the world, making it the primary water source for nearly half of all Americans. In addition, ground water provides 53.5 billion gallons of water per day for agricultural irrigation needs.
“Often times, we take our clean drinking water for granted,” said Kinzinger. “I applaud the Illinois Ground Water Association for their work on behalf of National Ground Water Awareness Week. Safe ground water requires effort on everyone’s part and is imperative in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle for our families and the conservation of our environment. Whether or not you own a well, there are roles we can all play to prevent waterborne illnesses.”
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Congressman Kinzinger Supports National Ground Water Awareness Week”
-By Warner Todd Huston
Claiming that “It is impossible to create a perfect system, one that is free of all mistakes,” Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn signed a bill that would eliminate the death penalty in Illinois, despite a campaign promise that he would keep it.
In signing the order, Quinn also commuted the sentences of 15 death row inmates converting the sentences to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
During his recent campaign to take his own full term as Governor (Quinn filled out disgraced Gov. Blagojevich’s last term), Quinn claimed that he’d keep the death penalty, but he also said he’d keep the moratorium in place as the system is reviewed. His opponent at the time, State Senator Bill Brady, said he would end the moratorium.
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Ill. Gov. Quinn Repealing Death Penalty”
From the Office of Rep. House Leader Tom Cross…
HR110 unanimously passed Illinois House today
Springfield….Rep. Tom Cross (R- Plainfield) is sponsoring House Resolution 110, which creates a framework for Fiscal Year 2012 budget negotiations based upon the adoption of realistic revenue projections; setting the table for lawmakers to identify realistic cuts and prevent excessive borrowing.
“I am pleased to sponsor this resolution. We have been saying for years that our state needs to live within its financial means, just as every family living in Illinois does,” Cross said. “This resolution will allow the legislature to know how much revenue the state can expect next fiscal year so we can create a balanced budget and put a stop to out-of-control spending.”
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Republican Leader Cross Sponsors Bi-Partisan Resolution Spending Control Measure”
From the office of Republican Congressman Peter Roskam (IL, 6th District)…
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Peter Roskam (R-IL), Chief Deputy Whip, issued the following statement after the Department of Labor released their February jobs report:
“Today’s jobs numbers indicate that our economy is showing slight signs of recovery from the failed policies of the last few years, but there are far too many Americans still out of work. Unemployment is still well above eight percent over two years after the failed ‘stimulus’ – due to the trillions in wasteful spending and debt and the constant threat of higher taxes under Democrats’ rule.
“From day one of our Majority, Republicans’ number one focus has been to remove the barriers to job creation and today’s report shows that our efforts are starting to work. From preventing job-crushing tax increases this past December, to voting to cut Washington’s spending in a meaningful way, to just yesterday passing the repeal of an onerous mandate on small businesses, Republicans are working to restore certainty to the marketplace.
“Yet millions of Americans are still struggling to find a job. And unfortunately for the millions that remain out of work, Washington can’t get out of the private-sector’s way fast enough. We need to continue to focus on cutting Washington’s spending and debt and restoring certainty to the marketplace through initiatives like reforming our tax code and passing the stalled free trade agreements. These reforms will create a better environment for the private sector to create jobs.”
-By Warner Todd Huston
“Well, this is all about removing the barriers of job creation – that’s the theme of this Congress. That’s where the over whelming amount of energy is going.
“If you think about it, the Democrats made a mistake last Congress didn’t they? They decided to rush a bill through, they decided that they were going to truncate hearings, they decided that they were going to write a bill in the Speaker’s office; and ultimately a bad process yielded a bad result because, low and behold, a draconian requirement was placed on small business.
“Everybody seemed shocked, and appalled, and surprised when they woke up and found that it was in there, with the exception of the small business community that said, ‘if you do this, it’s going to have an adverse impact on job creation.’
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Roskam Celebrates Repeal of 1099 ‘Mistake’”
From the office of Congressman Adam Kinzinger (R, ILL., 11th District)…
Washington, D.C. – Congressman Adam Kinzinger (IL-11) today released the following statement on H.R. 4, the Small Business Paperwork Mandate Elimination Act of 2011, legislation that would strip the 1099 requirement on businesses. H.R. 4 passed the House by a vote of 314 -112:
“Today’s House passage of the 1099 repeal brings us one step closer toward rolling back one of the most illogical requirements that Washington Democrats snuck into the health care bill last year.
“This legislation is a significant step toward restoring confidence in our economy for small businesses as well as the taxpayers and would reduce federal spending by $20 billion over ten years and reduce taxes by $19.7 billion.
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Kinzinger Votes to Eliminate Burdensome 1099 Requirements for Job Creators”
From the office of Dan Patlak, Cook County Board of Review…
It has been two months since my swearing in on December 6th and I thought it would be appropriate to reach out to give you a progress report.
Following our victory in November, our first order of business was to assemble a staff that would have as its main focus, serving the needs of the residents of the 1st Board of Review District as well as all residents of Cook County. We have assembled a team capable of serving resident needs by bringing on board individuals with a variety of backgrounds, experience and education. Among our new hires is a former Township Assessor and Board of Review analyst, a certified residential appraiser, two law school graduates, a former County Commissioner, three MBA’s with strong business backgrounds and a CPA. We also have several individuals with strong technology backgrounds. Among our group, we have individuals who are fluent in Spanish, French, German, Greek, Polish, Hindi, Punjabi and Arabic to support the diverse needs of our taxpayer population.
Cook County Board Of Review Progress Report”
From the office of Congressman Peter Roskam (Ill., 6th)…
WASHINGTON – Rep. Peter Roskam (IL-06), Chief Deputy Whip, issued the following statement after the Senate passed the House Republicans’ two-week CR that cut $4 billion:
“I applaud the Senate for passing the House Republicans’ plan to avoid shutting down the government while also cutting $4 billion in spending. With two extra weeks, the Senate now has more than enough time to debate and vote on the original seven-month continuing resolution that cut $100 billion – important cuts that begin to remove barriers to job creation. Since the Senate has now accepted the premise that we need to cut $4 billion over two weeks, they should easily support the seven-month CR which cuts spending at the same rate. My constituents have made it very clear they want Congress to tighten its belt, live within its means, and reduce spending and regulations to remove barriers to job creation.”
Roskam, however, says we aren’t done. In a recent Op Ed in The Hill Roskam wrote:
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Roskam On Senate Passing House Short-Term CR”
-By Warner Todd Huston
In a recent interview with Channel 4 TV News in Milwaukee, President Obama denied that government employees are responsible for the “budget problems” that the nation faces and that employees such as those in Wisconsin are not to blame. We shouldn’t “vilify” them, he said. Yet, seeming to contradict Obama’s claims USA Today has reported that in 41 states government employees make more on average than workers in the private sector.
In a fine demagogic manner Obama told Channel 4 that we need to understand that these public employees are “our friends and neighbors.”
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Obama Says Gov’t Employees Not to Blame, Yet in 41 States They Make More Than Everyone”
-By Warner Todd Huston
Significantly 104 House Democrats voted in favor of the GOP led temporary budget plan that is now on its way to the Senate. This majority of House Dems voted against former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D, Calif.) who voted against the cuts. Even Dem. Number two man Steny Hoyer (D, Maryland.) voted in favor of the GOP’s continuing Resolution budget plan.
The remaining moderate Democrats that were not swept from Congress in the 2010 midterms are worried that Pelosi is marginalizing herself by catering to the far left and not trying to appeal to the centrist voters that fled for the GOP.
On Tuesday I spoke to House Majority Chief Deputy Whip Congressman Peter Roskam (R, Illinois) and he said that this vote was an important first step toward a more fiscally responsible budget. It was also important for the legitimacy of the GOP led House, too. “Imagine how the media would be spinning this if we didn’t take this step toward cuts,” he said.
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Roskam Urges Democrats to Join in Spending Cuts While Majority of Dems Vote Against Pelosi on Cuts”
From the office of Illinois Congressman Adam Kinzinger (11th District)…
Washington, D.C. – Congressman Adam Kinzinger (IL-11) released the following statement on today’s bipartisan House vote to cut $4 billion in government spending and keep the government open through March 18, 2011.
“Today, the House passed legislation that cuts $4 billion in wasteful spending and will keep the government running for another two weeks. It is high time that we cut up the government’s credit cards and draw a hard line to stop the government from overspending which is hampering job creation.
“However, two weeks worth of spending cuts is simply not enough to sustain our economy, which is why ten days ago, the House passed H.R. 1, legislation that would fund the government through the end of the 2011 Fiscal Year.
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Kinzinger Votes to Cut $4 Billion to Keep Government Open, Urges Obama to Act on Trade”
-By Warner Todd Huston
Recently the Associated Press asked the Illinois State Police for its list of Illinois gun owners. The police refused saying that the release of the names and addresses of all those registered firearm owners in Illinois would be a violation of their privacy but Illinois Attorney General Democrat Lisa Madigan disagrees with the police and has ruled that the list should be released to the press.
In Illinois anyone that wants to buy a firearm or wants to purchase ammunition and related supplies must register and obtain a Firearm Owner’s ID card (or a FOID). The card is also necessary for hunters that use firearms. Citizens do not have to get one of these cards in order to be allowed to have a gun, but they need one to legally purchase and buy supplies for them in the state. It is this registry that the press wanted released.
Democrat Attorney General Lisa Madigan, daughter of the state’s powerful Democrat majority leader Michael Madigan, has decided that the privacy concern is “invalid” undermining the State Police’s reasoning of r refusing to release the list. Madigan’s office released a letter to the press on Monday evening, February 28.
Currently there are no state laws that would prohibit the release of the registry but some Republican-sponsored bills are sitting idle in the House of Representatives.
The State Police have not announced what they intend to do from here.
This move is obviously a move by Democrat Madigan to intimidate Illinois gun owners hoping to make them fear that their names and addresses will suddenly be released to the media.
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Ill. Attny Gen to ‘Out’ Illinois Gun Owners”
Take a look at the ABC News piece on Joe Walsh (R, 8th Dist) and other Tea Party candidates returning home for town hall meetings.
“Tea Party Freshmen Return Home“
-By Warner Todd Huston
Last week I wondered aloud if Illinois Congressman Adam Kinzinger (R, 11th District) was going against his claims of being fiscally responsible when I saw his poor support of the budget cuts in HR1.
There were 22 budget cutting measures in HR1 and Kinzinger only supported 38% of those cuts. I found this odd for a guy that ran as a fiscal hawk. I have, however, had communication with the newly minted congressman over this issue and he has a logical explanation for not having voted for all the cost-cutting amendments.
First of all Kinzinger reiterated that he “strongly supports the additional cuts” that the freshman class in Congress is pushing. He remains an advocate of the cuts being pushed “behind the scenes,” too. But he feels that he wasn’t given enough time to fully understand the amendments in HR1 and he felt it wasn’t proper for him to vote on amendments he didn’t fully understand. In that case he only voted on the amendments he felt he fully understood.
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Kinzinger Calls for Serious Efforts to Address the Budget”
From the office of Congressman Peter Roskam (Ill., 6th District)…
WASHINGTON – Rep. Peter Roskam, Chief Deputy Whip, issued the following statement about the short-term Continuing Resolution that would prevent a government shutdown while also cutting $4 billion:
“House Republicans are showing once more that we’re fully committed to preventing a government shutdown while also ensuring Washington makes necessary spending cuts that will begin to remove barriers to job creation. After already sending the Senate a fiscally responsible Continuing Resolution, we will soon send a second short-term CR – one that also cuts spending and keeps the government running – and which gives the Senate more time to consider the original. The onus is now squarely on Senate Democrats to not force a government shutdown by passing this two-week resolution – a resolution that cuts earmark slush funds and programs that even President Obama supports cutting. Americans overwhelmingly want Washington to tighten its belts and reduce government spending, not preserve the status-quo.”
-By Warner Todd Huston
This is why Illinois politics is called “the combine.” It’s because all too often there doesn’t seem to be a whit of a difference between Republicans and Democrats — not always, but all too often. They even donate to each other’s campaigns. RepublicanNewsWatch.com has the latest examination of the sort of one-hand-washing-the-other-style of politics that has destroyed Illinois.
In this case it is the story of all sorts of Republicans donating many thousands of dollars to the campaign of Susan Mendoza, the liberal that ran (and won) for Chicago City Clerk.
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Illinois Republicans Donating to… a Democrat?”
-By Warner Todd Huston
Last week, the House of Representatives passed HR 1. This bill was the 2011 continuing appropriations act, the bill that makes provisions to fund the federal government. It also contained $61 billion in cuts.
There were 21 different cost cutting measures in the bill. So, how did our Illinois Representatives vote on HR 1? How many of the amendments did our reps vote “yes” for?
Republicans
Walsh (R, 8th): 100%
Manzullo (R, 16th): 95%
Roskam (R, 6th): 81%
Johnson (R, 15th): 76%
Shimkus (R, 19th): 67%
Hultgren (R, 14th): 62%
Schilling (R, 17th): 57%
Schock (R, 18th): 57%
Dold (R, 10th): 38%
Kinzinger (R, 11th): 38%
Biggert (R, 13th): 25%
Congratulations to Joe Walsh for being a 100% man! Manzullo and Roskam are not too shabby, either. Sadly a few of our newest Reps are in Democrat territory with their weak support of the most number of cost cutting measures. I mean, 38 percent for Kinzinger?? That is horrible. Is Adam Kinzinger a big government guy after all his claims on the campaign trail? Left-winger Biggert’s Democrat-styled votes are no surprise. One is continually surprised she is still pretending to be a Republican.
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How Did Ill. Representatives Vote on Cost Cutting (HR1)?”
From the Office of State Senator Chris Lauzen (21st District)…
I am generally a gullible person, typically believing what people tell me. Age is tempering my natural inclination by teaching me that it is wiser to watch what people do, rather than to immediately believe what they say.
I hope that I am not being naïve to be encouraged by several developments within the swamp of Springfield events. My constituents can barely endure discussing the state’s current political and financial situation. They avert their eyes from the train wreck. They shake their heads, throw up their hands, and finally stick out their tongues. They instinctively realize that bankruptcy is the most severe failure of financial trust. And, Illinois is bankrupt.
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Guarded Optimism, But Show Us The Cuts”
From the office of Congressman Peter Roskam (R, Ill. 6th District)…
Over the weekend, House Republicans made good on their promise to the American people. The House of Representatives passed a historic $100 billion in spending cuts in the continuing resolution bill to fund the government. These are important first steps to removing barriers to job creation and reducing our sky-high national debt. What’s more, it was done in a historic open process.
The only reason Congress had to address this issue now is because Democrats failed to pass a budget in 2011 – however, Republicans took the challenge and turned it into an opportunity to do something meaningful by helping our economy and beginning to get our fiscal house in order.
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Roskam: We did it”
-By Warner Todd Huston
For years now thousands of rank and file Republicans have been trying to get SB600 passed in Springfield. This bill would allow us regular, lowly voters to actually vote for our GOP leadership on the GOP State Central Committee.
Unfortunately, Republican voters are not allowed to vote for their own leadership in Illinois. This good old fashioned way of electing leaders is not only truly American, but, heck, even the Democrats in Illinois have this capability! But we Republicans do not.
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Tom Cross Intentionally Misleading on SB600″
From the office of Congressman Adam Kinzinger (11th District)…
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Adam Kinzinger (IL-11) will offer an amendment on the House floor that would eliminate taxpayer funding for the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) lawsuit filed against Arizona last July over its immigration enforcement law (SB 1070).
Washington’s failure to secure borders, has led states like Arizona to take matters up themselves. Kinzinger says it is unfair to ask hardworking citizens to fund the DOJ’s agenda.
“Rather than wasting time and taxpayer dollars suing states, the DOJ must turn its focus toward enforcing current immigration laws,” said Kinzinger. “The federal government should be working to make Arizonians feel secure rather than using money from their own paychecks to fund an attack against them in federal court.”
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Kinzinger to Offer Amendment to Block Taxpayer Funding for DOJ Lawsuit against Arizona Immigration Law”
From the Gery Chico for Chicago Mayor campaign…
Under Chico, slow pace and brick wall of bureaucracy would no longer stifle job growth
(CHICAGO) Mayoral candidate Gery Chico today pledged to make 24-48 hour permitting a reality in Chicago city government. Chico would inject a new sense of urgency and speed in the notoriously slow permitting process.
“Thanks to the new digital economy, commerce is moving faster than ever. It’s time to move government up to speed,” Gery Chico said. “We’ll break down the brick wall of bureaucracy and make the city permitting process move faster so we can bring more businesses to our city and create more jobs for our citizens.”
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Chico Calls for Same-Day Permitting”
From the office of Congressman Peter Roskam (6th District)…
Roskam: “The President recently said that people were getting impatient about the pace of reform and that things weren’t changing fast enough. Yeah, two years out people are plenty impatient. You bet your life they’re impatient.”
WASHINGTON – Chief Deputy Whip Peter Roskam (IL-06) released the following video on the eve of the second anniversary of President Obama signing the trillion dollar “stimulus” law. The White House promised that the “stimulus” would prevent unemployment from rising above 8%. Two years later, and for 22 months straight, national unemployment remains at or above 9%:
Roskam On Failed Stimulus Birthday Eve: We Don’t Need a Budget Like the Stimulus”
From the Gery Chico for Chicago Mayor campaign…
(CHICAGO) In the wake of today’s Chicago Sun-Times report that once again proves Rahm Emanuel will say and do anything for power, Gery Chico denounced Emanuel’s cynical attempt to mislead voters about his pension position. While Emanuel has made his plans to slash existing pensions for city workers well known in editorial and business elite circles, this week he sent personal letters to city workers promising to protect their pension benefits, according to the Chicago Sun Times report.
“Rahm Emanuel is once again proving himself to be a pathological evader of the truth,” Gery Chico said. “When he needs donations and editorial support, he talks tough about slashing existing pensions but when talking directly with the city workers who depend on those pensions, he promises to protect their benefits. Either way, you can’t believe a thing this guy says.”
Emanuel’s desperate, dishonest letter to city workers comes just days before Feb. 22 as the Chico campaign is surging to the runoff. For more information, visit GeryChico.com.