State Government

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

Dold for Congress Holiday Gift Drive for the Troops

December 9, 2009 by

From the Dold campaign…

With Hanukkah coming up later this week and Christmas just around the corner, I would like to ask for your help in supporting our troops who are stationed overseas during the holiday season.

Dold for Congress has partnered with Any Soldier, Inc., a nationwide non-profit organization that sends supplies and packages to troops who are in need of basic items. We’re asking members of the 10th District community to help us make the holidays brighter for these young American servicemen who give so much to keep us free. We have selected three soldiers from Illinois—one stationed in Afghanistan and two in Iraq—who have provided Any Soldier, Inc. with a wish list of items they need during the holiday season.

Please drop off any of the items listed below at Dold for Congress Headquarters, 511 Lincoln Ave. in Winnetka, anytime between Tuesday, December 8 and Thursday, December 17, 2009. On Dec. 18, we’ll send out the holiday packages to the troops.
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Dold for Congress Holiday Gift Drive for the Troops”

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

2nd District Hayes: Harry Reid Needs a History Lesson

December 9, 2009 by

From the Hayes campaign:

CHICAGO – December 8, 2009: The following statement was released today by Rev. Isaac C. Hayes, the GOP nominee for Congress in IL-2, and opponent of Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.) in response to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev) comparing opponents of heath care reform to opponents of the emancipation of slaves:

“Harry Reid’s rush to use race in the health care debate is exactly why we should not rush this bill” said Hayes. “History reveals that it was Mr. Reid’s Party that opposed the emancipation of slaves and the Republican Party that was the vanguard of freedom. A brief review of history will record the Republican President Abraham Lincoln abolishing slavery and the Republican Caucus voting in a larger percentage for Civil Rights legislation than their Democratic counterparts. It is quite evident Mr. Reid has not read a history book or the bill he wants to force through.”

www.isaac4honesty.com

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

14th District: Jeff Danklefsen Drops Bid, Now Down to Two

December 8, 2009 by 1 Comment

-By Warner Todd Huston

And now the 14th District is down to a two man race. First time candidate Jeff Danklefsen has dropped his bid and is now endorsing Randy Hultgren.

Danklefsen just sent out an email with information on his bid:

After Mark’s announcement this morning to drop from the 14th Congressional race it is best to end my candidacy and remove my name from the ballot and ask Mark to remove his as well to provide voters a clear choice between two candidates. Sen. Randy Hultgren has the resources to run an effective campaign and I do not wish to be a spoiler.

Hultgren gives Republican Party voters a solid choice over the return to the problems that brought us Barack Obama and Bill Foster. He has the voting record and integrity our district desperately needs.

Jeff Danklefsen

This leaves two candidates:
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14th District: Jeff Danklefsen Drops Bid, Now Down to Two”

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

14th District Race: 1 More Drops Out Amid Calls to Pull Names From Ballot

December 8, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

First time aspirant Mark Vargas (R, Elgin) has suspended his campaign for the GOP nomination for the 14th District leaving now three Republicans vying for the Primary nod. Vargas is the second to drop out of contention as Jim Purcell recently quit his bid in a move for party unity.

Both Purcell and Vargas have thrown their support behind Ethan Hastert (R, Elburn), son of former Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert.

Vargas told the Kane County Chronicle that he is still ambitious but is “realistic,” as well.
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14th District Race: 1 More Drops Out Amid Calls to Pull Names From Ballot”

Chicago - Cook County - Elections - GOP - Illinois - Republicans - State Government

Et tu Adam?

December 8, 2009 by

-By Megan Fox

A few weeks ago I interviewed Dan Proft, Republican candidate for the IL governorship. I ran out of time on the air and asked him to please answer the rest of my questions over email. He agreed and I will have those for you soon. (I’m still typing them up between cleaning up spit up and red and green Christmas glitter that seems to be all over everything)

I want to share something with you about one of the other candidates in the race, Adam Andrejlakidjferjeski (as I like to call him because I CANNOT spell or say his last name). I gave Adam the opportunity to come on Clash Radio with me the same week Proft was on. I emailed him on Facebook. He directed me to his scheduling person who agreed he would be on with me. To be fair, and to make sure Adam had a chance to come up with a rebuttal for what I said about him that wasn’t flattering, I sent him a copy of the article I wrote about my impressions of the Tea Party debate. This was the one where I said Adam’s pants were too short, I had doubts about his ability to win this race, but I liked his responses and he was in my top three picks. Just hours after forwarding my article to Adam’s campaign, the interview was cancelled.
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Et tu Adam?”

Anti-Americanism - Chicago - Congress - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - GOP - Health - Illinois - Immigration/Immigrants - Liberals - Republicans - Rights - Security/Safety - Society/Culture - State Government - Taxes - The Law - Warner Todd Huston - Western Civilization

The Illinois GOP Has Difficulty Talking Immigration

December 8, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

A recent round of posts between Gubernatorial candidate Dan Proft and Chicago Examiner website columnist Robert Moon of Macon County, Illinois shows the difficulty of trying to discuss immigration in Illinois today. Passions are high and it is hard to get past all the suspicion imbued in it all.

It all began with a segment of a Chicago radio broadcast in which Dan Proft addressed some of the more demagogic treatments of the immigration problem and echoed the worry made by many Republicans that the more wild-eyed treatments of the immigration problem is bound to force the GOP into permanent minority status due to the rising number of voters with Hispanic background.

Unfortunately, this snippet seems to do Proft’s full stance on immigration a disservice because it does not explain his larger views, some of which might tend to belie the initial impression. Mr. Moon construed Proft’s stance to be one of the “open borders” variety simply because the excerpt of Proft’s radio commentary appeared on the La Raza website (La Raza is a racist organization dedicated to taking back parts of the American south and all the south west for Mexico).

Moon mentioned that Proft has had “several pro-amnesty rants” featured on the La Raza website. I have tried to find these “rants” but have not located any so I cannot speak to this claim. If anyone has any links to these “rants” I’d like to see them. But if there are none (other than the one example), this single fact would tend to make Moon’s claim problematic.
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The Illinois GOP Has Difficulty Talking Immigration”

Budget - Chicago - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Illinois - Illinois Policy Institute - Liberals - Socialism - Society/Culture - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

$2,821 of Hot Sauce Bought By YOUR Illinois Taxes

December 8, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Kate Campigne Piercy, director of government reform for the Illinois Policy Institute, recently penned an interesting piece for The Chicago Sun Times that informed us all that the Illinois Commerce Dept. bought $2,821 worth of Hot Sauce during fiscal year 2009.

That’s not all, either.

What’s the need for a typewriter in a computer-centric world? The Illinois Employment Security Department spent $245.80 on a Brother ML100 Typewriter — in addition to $12,176.54 on a Canon Microfilm/ Fiche Printer.

The governor’s office shelled out $20,692.24 on “subscriptions.” The Commerce Department spent $3,770 for golf carts, $280 on soy crayons and $2,821 on hot sauce –all with Illinois citizens’ tax dollars. That must be some good hot sauce.

The good news is… well, some good news, anyway… we can now go to a new website where we can view these wastes of the taxpayer’s money so that we can have the ammunition we need to eliminate this wild spending and hold the politicians responsible to account.
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$2,821 of Hot Sauce Bought By YOUR Illinois Taxes”

Chicago - Cook County - Cook County Board - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - GOP - Illinois - Media Bias - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Chicago Tribune’s Candidate Questionnaire Responses

December 8, 2009 by

The Chicago Trib has a great site where you can view all the responding candidate’s questionnaire’s detailing their stance on the issues they will face in their particular races. Candidates from statewide offices as well as state rep races have responded.

Hundreds of candidates have responses to the Trib’s questions, but by no means all of them have done so. Take a look and see if the candidates in your district have done so, won’t you?

Check it out:


Editorial Board Questionnaire Responses

Budget - Business - Chicago - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Elections - GOP - Illinois - Liberals - Republicans - Society/Culture - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

It’s About Authenticity: Odd Video of William Kelly Surfaces

December 7, 2009 by 1 Comment

-By Warner Todd Huston

William Kelly is running for Illinois State Comptroller. We’ve highlighted him several times here and as long as he is in the news we will continue to do so. Sometimes, of course, the “news” is not all good. In fact, it looks like at least one person is passing around a compilation video showing Mr. Kelly over indulging some “adult beverages,” if you will, in his guise as TV sports show host.

The YouTube videos show Kelly really putting on the show and downing enough alcohol to float a battleship it seems. Let us assume he had someone to drive him home after the show that night! (We’re sure he did, of course)

As fun-loving, TV show host, of course, Kelly proves an interesting screen presence but his is certainly not the sort of behavior we are used to from our politicians. At some point I guess I’d rather see a guy in office that likes to have some fun once in a while than one that will end up in jail for corruption like so many of our less emotive sorts seem to end up.

And, one cannot do years of TV appearances without something coming back to haunt you, I’d suspect. My own writing has gotten me in trouble in the past, so I can relate — at least a little.

Still, I would be remiss in my reporting duties if I did not report the existence of these less than savory videos. So here are the two videos in question:
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It’s About Authenticity: Odd Video of William Kelly Surfaces”

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

Indicted Gov. Blagojevich to be Re-Indicted

December 7, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

I suppose I should report this story since this is an Illinois centric blog, but I have to say following the corruption of former Governor Rod Blagojevich is more like a chore than anything else.

Anyway, it seems like federal prosecutors are going to bring new indictments against Blago in order to “avoid issues connected to an appeal before the U.S. Supreme Court on the scope of the federal ‘honest services’ statute under which Blagojevich has been charged.”

In a filing today, prosecutors said they would handle the honest services question in the new filing against the former governor. The high court is expected to hear arguments tomorrow related to the limits of the federal statute.

Honest services fraud criminalizes schemes that deprive the public or the government of the right to have public officials perform their duties honestly.

My eyes are glazing over already. One is tempted to wonder if there is any such thing as “honest services” from any Illinois pol?

It seems that this will push any trial dates even further out into 2010.

Just another wrinkle in the Blago saga. And the whole thing just makes me tired.

Chicago - Congress - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - GOP - House of Representatives - Illinois - Liberals - Republicans - Senate - Society/Culture - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

11th U.S. Congressional and U.S. Senate Candidate Forum “Tea Party Style”

December 7, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

One of our local Tea Party groups is sponsoring a candidate’s forum On Dec. 9th. I find it a bit telling that these folks invited the local Democrats to participate in the forum and they all declined, yet all the republicans accepted the invitation. So, uh, what are the Dems afraid of?

Here is the press release for the event:

Sponsored by Joliet Tea Party & Homer/Lockport Tea Party
Wednesday – Dec 9th 6:00 – 9:00 pm
The Holiday Inn (Louis Joliet Ballroom) 411 S. Larkin, Joliet IL.

The Joliet Tea Party & Homer/Lockport Tea Party are joining forces once again and holding a “Tea Party” Forum for the 11th US Congressional and US Senate Candidates. Tea Partiers have asked the candidates to “hear their voices” and they have responded. Congressional and Senate Candidates are coming to our area for a Town Hall /Forum to answer some important questions and meet the people. The event is free, with live music, tea party slide show, Candidate Forum, Meet & Greet the Candidates, Streaming Video Live on the Internet, Cash Bar, and Fellow Patriots.
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11th U.S. Congressional and U.S. Senate Candidate Forum “Tea Party Style””

Budget - Chicago - Cook County - Economy/Finances - GOP - House of Representatives - Illinois - Republicans - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

14th District: Jeff Danklefsen Endorsed by NTUI

December 7, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

The Denklefsen campaign is reporting that Tax Accountability, the political action arm of National Taxpayers United of Illinois, is endorsing Jeff Danklefsen in his effort to take the GOP nomination for the 14th District Congressional seat.

In making the endorsement, president Jim Tobin cited Jeff’s “exceptional desire to fight taxes and support economic growth.”

Founded in 1976, NTUI is the largest taxpayer protection organization in Illinois with more than 30,000 members and supporters. For more information, see www.ntui.org.

For more information of Jeff Danklefsen, see his campaign website.

Anti-Americanism - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - Free Trade - Freedom - Liberals - Ohio - Rights - Society/Culture - State Government - The Law - Warner Todd Huston

Ohio Election Fraud: Convicted Felons Illegally Worked for Anti-Smoking Initiative

December 7, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

A just finished audit has shown that massive fraud and multiple violations of Ohio’s voting law has been uncovered in a recent ballot initiative effort. Among other violations, 47 felons were hired illegally by the advocacy group SmokeFree America to collect signatures for issue five, a ballot initiative to ban smoking in Ohio’s small businesses. Kidnappers, thieves and rapists were hired to collect signatures and addresses despite the fact that Ohio election law prohibits felons from working as petition workers. Additionally, the smoking ban was approved for being included on the Ohio ballot by state officials despite the fact that thousands of signatures were invalid and despite the fact that SmokeFree America did not meet lawful requirements. These violations were easily discovered and some of them were known by officials proving that complicit state officials quietly supported the ballot push and turned a blind eye to law breaking by the anti-smoking advocacy group.

Ohio election law prohibits convicted felons from working as petition workers, yet 47 felons have been discovered as employees of SmokeFree America in its Ohio effort. Of these felons several were convicted of rape, one accused of raping a child. Alarmingly, SmokeFree America exposed Ohio residents to rapists who were collecting their signatures and addresses! There were also forgers and thieves collecting signatures and addresses of Ohio residents. Other criminal actions by petition workers: arson, burglary, breaking and entering, weapons violations, kidnapping, drug violations, drug trafficking, grand theft, etc.

The petitions also had multiple violations of Ohio election law. Some petitions were signed by those paid to circulate the petitions — a violation of the law — and their addresses were given as hotels instead of the required permanent home addresses. Also some were out-of-state signatories instead of Ohio residents.
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Ohio Election Fraud: Convicted Felons Illegally Worked for Anti-Smoking Initiative”

Chicago - Elections - GOP - Illinois - Republicans - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Brady Announces 14 GOP Legislators Endorsing Him for Governor

December 7, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Gubernatorial candidate Bill Brady (R, Bloomington) announced at a campaign stop at the Willard Airport in Savoy, Illinois that he has the support of 14 out of 70 Republican members of the Legislature.

Brady is also calling for a 10 percent across the board cut in the state’s budget.

“I have called for a 10 percent cut across the board in every area of state government. We’ve got to rein in government spending.”

The 14 Legislators that have endorsed Brady are as follows:
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Brady Announces 14 GOP Legislators Endorsing Him for Governor”

Anti-Americanism - Barack Obama - Budget - Business - Capitalism - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Free Trade - Liberals - President - Society/Culture - State Government - Taxes - Thomas Brewton

Bunkum-Babbling Ben Bernanke

December 7, 2009 by

-By Thomas E. Brewton

Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke is a devotee of Keynesian economics, which is to say that he is incapable of learning from experience. Either he can’t comprehend that the Fed’s excessive fiat money creation always precedes bubbles of economic exuberance, or he insanely proposes to continue repeating the Fed’s cheap money policies, ever hopeful of a different result.

Establishment of the Federal Reserve System in 1913 enabled arbitrary and excessive inflation of the monetary base supplied to banks and other financial institutions. In every recession since 1913, especially the 1930s Depression and our current housing and subprime mortgage bust, Fed action made bubbles larger and more pervasive and made subsequent buble-bursts more devastating than they would have been otherwise.

Over a short six-year period preceding the Great Depression of the 1930s, the Fed doubled the lendable deposits of the nation’s banks. Other over-expansions of the money supply also led to the unprecedented inflation and high unemployment of the 1970s stagflation, to the 1990s dot.com boom-and-bust, and to the current collapse of housing and financial markets.
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Bunkum-Babbling Ben Bernanke”

Elections - GOP - Illinois - Republicans - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

54th District: Tom Morrison Endorsed By Palatine Township GOP

December 6, 2009 by

From the Morrison campaign:

Palatine, IL – Challenger Tom Morrison received an overwhelming endorsement of the Palatine Township Republicans for state representative of the 54th district against incumbent Suzie Bassi in the upcoming Republican primary on February 2nd.

Palatine Township Republican precinct captains overwhelmingly endorsed Morrison. More than 85% of the precinct captains supported Morrison against 11 year incumbent Suzie Bassi.

“I am honored to receive such a strong endorsement from the Republican Township precinct captains,” Morrison said. “This is further testimony from our party leaders of the urgent need to correct the enormous problems facing our state. I am heartened by this support and will continue with my efforts to run a spirited, door-to-door campaign for the Republican primary election on February 2nd.”
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54th District: Tom Morrison Endorsed By Palatine Township GOP”

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

New Illinois Conservative FaceBook Group Makes Endorsements

December 6, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

A new FaceBook effort to rally conservative Illinoisans to the state’s electoral process was launched by several youngsters out of the Rockford area and they’ve decided to make a few endorsements for some of the statewide races coming up soon in the February primary. The group is calling itself “Illinois Conservatives” and can be found on FaceBook.

Here are their endorsements thus far:

  • Adam Andrzejewski – Governor of IL
  • William J. Kelly – Illinois Comptroller
  • Don Manzullo – U.S. House of Reps 16th Dist
  • Phil Collins – Illinois 17th district
  • Paul Mitchell – Illinois 62nd district

The new group says in its mission statement that they are trying to support candidates for “the betterment of Illinois.”

The Illinois Conservatives Facebook group believes in conservative ideologies and supports political candidates who share in those beliefs for the betterment of the State of Illinois

I have to thank Tom Mannis of Chicago New Bench for alerting me to this group. On his site, Tom says of this effort, “Frankly, endorsements like the one from Illinois Conservatives means a lot more than those from the inbred, cloistered little Republican groups around the state.” I couldn’t agree more.
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New Illinois Conservative FaceBook Group Makes Endorsements”

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

Sandy Wegman: Team Player or Self-Interested Opportunist?

December 6, 2009 by 1 Comment

-By Warner Todd Huston

Incumbent Kane County Recorder of Deeds Sandy Wegman has before claimed that she is a “team player” for the GOP. Her actions, however, make that out to be a lie. The last time Wegman tried to get out of her dead end clerk’s job was when she ran for Lt. Governor in 2006 despite that she had no party backing. In fact, her run then likely took votes away from State Senator Steve Rauschenberger who also ran for Lt. Governor that election, the only candidate that had a chance to beat Joe Birkett for the nod. (She got a measly 13% to Steve’s 30%)

A team player in 2006 would have dumped her own effort in order to back either Rauschenberger or States Attorney Joe Birkett the only two in the race with any party backing at all. Instead she stayed in causing the race to look uncompetitive.

Now we get another example of Wegman’s party averse opportunism, once again seemingly intended to hurt former Senator Steve Rauschenberger. She has inexplicably launched a late “write-in” bid for the State Senate seat of the 22nd District in opposition, once again, too a Rauschenberger candidacy.

Wegman’s cynical opportunism comes just as Rauschenberger faces an odd but vexing petition challenge forced upon him by the Democrat Party aimed at keeping him from appearing on the primary ballot as a Republican.
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Sandy Wegman: Team Player or Self-Interested Opportunist?”

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

Purcell Says no to 14th District Run

December 5, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Looks like Jim Purcell, a solid conservative, has decided not to run for the 14th District seat after all. That still leaves four Republicans in the race.

Still in:

Here is the Purcell press release:
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Purcell Says no to 14th District Run”

Abortion - Anti-Americanism - Chicago - Congress - Cook County - Elections - GOP - Illinois - Republicans - Society/Culture - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

8th District: Joe Walsh ‘Sets Record Straight’ On Pro-Life Issue

December 4, 2009 by

There has been some question on candidate Joe Walsh’s pro-life stance, so here is his “setting the record straight” message to try and settle the question:

You may have heard some rumor and innuendo over the past few days, writtennand spoken, trying to distort my position on the life issue. I would like to set the record straight.

For seven years, I have been pro-life without exception. I believe in the
sanctity of all human life from conception to natural death. There is no
candidate in this race who is more pro-life than I am.
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8th District: Joe Walsh ‘Sets Record Straight’ On Pro-Life Issue”

Anti-Americanism - Budget - Business - Capitalism - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Liberals - State Government - Taxes - Unions - Warner Todd Huston

Unions Railroading Florida’s Rail Project

December 4, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Florida is right now at the vanguard of a new railroad project that could bring good news to those that care about solving bloated state budgets, common sense employment laws, and cutting the corruption that comes with unions by pushing for a non-union workforce with its proposed intrastate rail system. And the unions are incensed, naturally.

The new commuter deal would see the state buying 61.5 miles of CSX track, which would effectively sever that link from interstate commerce. Federal regulations require rail systems that cross state boundaries to employ union workers (and that is a law that should be overturned, too) but this new system would be entirely contained within the state of Florida. Since it is a intrastate project, this absolves Florida from being forced to employ a union workforce.

Additionally, the state is claiming that this is not a “railroad” project, but just another common transportation project and since the state of Florida is not forced to employ union workers on all transportation projects, it sees no reason to make an exception for the new commuter-rail line.
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Unions Railroading Florida’s Rail Project”

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

Illinois Policy Institute Update

December 4, 2009 by 1 Comment

Nothing to See Here, Folks…
The leaked e-mails of the Climategate scandal have been nothing short of stunning—except, of course, to the true believers in the White House. You can watch Obama’s press secretary Robert Gibbs in full denial mode by clicking the image above. Meanwhile, stay tuned for our newest report, set for release next week, which shows the direct consequences of cap and trade schemes for Illinois.

That Better Be Some Spicy Hot Sauce!
In 2008, Illinois state government spent $7,875 on “bird testing,” $20,692.24 on “subscriptions” for the Governor’s office, $3,770 for golf carts, $2,822 on hot sauce, and $280 on soy crayons – all funded by Illinois taxpayers.
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Illinois Policy Institute Update”

Anti-Americanism - Budget - Chicago - Congress - Cook County - Economy/Finances - Elections - GOP - House of Representatives - Illinois - Republicans - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

5th District Race: David Ratowitz Signs AFP’s “No Climate Tax” Pledge

December 3, 2009 by

Several Illinois candidates have been signing no-tax pledges of late and 5th District candidate David Ratowitz is the latest. This from the campaign…

“Cap and Trade is a disaster that will sacrifice jobs and increase energy costs.”

CHICAGO – December 3, 2009 – U.S. House candidate David Ratowitz (IL-5) this week signed Americans for Prosperity’s “No Climate Tax Pledge, vowing to “oppose any legislation relating to climate change that includes a net increase in government revenue.” He is one of only nine Illinois state or federal candidates to sign the pledge to date.
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5th District Race: David Ratowitz Signs AFP’s “No Climate Tax” Pledge”

Anti-Americanism - Chicago - Cook County - Elections - Illinois - Liberals - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Is Your Right Not to Vote Endangered in Illinois?

December 3, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Well, Illinois voter, say you go to the polls and you decide you don’t like any of the candidates for lt. governor or secretary of state but you are all fired up about your choice for governor. So, you just don’t want to vote for the ones you don’t like but you darn sure want to vote for the ones you DO like. Guess what? If certain authorities in Illinois have their way your vote won’t count at all. It’ll be flagged as an undervote, kicked out of the machine, and you’ll be urged to complete the ballot whether you want to or not.

As a result of Public Act 95-699, passed in 2007, a ballot that is fed into the voting machine that has any of the Constitutional offices left un-marked will be kicked out as an undervote. At this point the voter will be informed in front of everyone that they didn’t chose a candidate for all the major offices and will be informed that he should complete the ballot. In fact, the vote cannot even be counted unless the judge depresses a special button to allow the vote to go through with an undervote.

Critics say that these hoops that must be jumped through denies the voter the right not to vote for whatever office they don’t want to vote for. Further, it sets up the situation where voters can be strong armed by unscrupulous election judges into voting for candidates for whom they do not really want to vote. It sets up the possibility that the voter can be intimidated into going back to the booth and continue voting when they really don’t want to. Just imagine, for instance, the intimidation and control a connected Chicago election judge will likely impose on voters unsure of their rights.
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Is Your Right Not to Vote Endangered in Illinois?”

Budget - Business - Chicago - Cook County - Cook County Board - Entertainment - GOP - Hollywood - Illinois - Movies - Republicans - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Cook Commissioner Tim Schneider: Cut Cook County Film Office

December 2, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Last month Cook County Commissioner Timothy O. Schneider (R, western suburbs) co-sponsored a budget amendment to axe the Cook County Film Commission from fiscal year 2010.

Quoth Schneider, “The creation of the Cook County Film Commission stands as a prime example of government spending run amok.”

The Film Commission is budgeted at $251,611 for 2010. Schneiber pointed out that there is already a Chicago Film Commission as well as an Illinois Film Commission, s the existence of a Cook County version is unnecessary redundancy.

Earlier in the year, Schneider sponsored and saw passed a campaign finance bill that lowered the personal political contribution allowance from $1,500 to $750 per person for those that have done business with the county, including registered lobbyists.

“This legislation can begin the process of restoring confidence and ensuring that influence peddling is eradicated from Cook County,” Schneider said in his recent newsletter.

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

McHenry County County Votes Down Video Gambling

December 2, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Cal Skinner of the McHenry County Blog has reported his shock that the County Board has voted down video gambling by a 13 to 10 (with one abstention) victory.

Skinner reports that all ten Republicans voted for the ban and three Democrats crossed the aisle to join them.

This is good news for McHenry County.

Video gambling was passed by the State Legislature to raise needed revenue, but the bill included an opt out clause where each county board can decide if they want to allow gambling or not.

Skinner has the complete roll call if you are interested in seeing who voted what way in his blog report on this issue.

For more information on what towns, villages, and counties in Illinois that have already put a ban on video gambling, see the Illinois Church Action website.
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McHenry County County Votes Down Video Gambling”

Budget - Business - Capitalism - Chicago - Congress - Cook County - Economy/Finances - Elections - GOP - House of Representatives - Illinois - Republicans - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Americans for Prosperity: U.S. House Candidate Joe Walsh Signs No Climate Tax Pledge

December 2, 2009 by

8th District Congressional candidate Joe Walsh has signed the AFP no tax pledge…

CHICAGO-The Illinois chapter of the free-market grassroots group Americans for Prosperity (AFP-IL) today applauded U.S. House candidate Joe Walsh (8th District) for signing the group’s “No Climate Tax Pledge.” By doing so, Walsh joins over 285 lawmakers and candidates on the federal, state and local levels pledging to “oppose legislation relating to climate change that includes a net increase in government revenue.”

“The one thing elected officials should all be able to agree on is that global warming shouldn’t be used as an excuse to hike taxes on citizens and businesses,” said AFP-IL State Director Joe Calomino. “We encourage all of Illinois’ elected officials and candidates for elected office to sign.”
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Americans for Prosperity: U.S. House Candidate Joe Walsh Signs No Climate Tax Pledge”

Afghanistan - Barack Obama - Chicago - Congress - Cook County - GOP - House of Representatives - Illinois - Military - Republicans - Security/Safety - Society/Culture - State Government - Terrorism - Warner Todd Huston

2nd District Isaac Hayes: Obama’s 30,000 Boost a Step in the Right Direction

December 2, 2009 by

From the Isaac Hayes campaign:
 

CHICAGO – December 1, 2009: The following statement was released today by Rev. Isaac C. Hayes, the GOP nominee for Congress in IL-2, and opponent of Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.) regarding President Obama’s announcement to send 30,000 more soldiers to Afghanistan:
 

“President Obama’s decision to send 30,000 additional troops into the theatre of Afghanistan is a good step in the right direction” said Hayes. “His decision to not cut-and-run despite opposition to the buildup by members of his own party is commendable. However, I am disappointed that he has chosen not to deploy the minimum number of troops requested by General McCrystal of 40,000. As Congress debates funding for the troop buildup, it is important that the Republican Party work to ensure our soldiers have the best chance of success by heeding the firsthand assessment of Gen. McCrystal.”


For more information, go to:http://www.isaac4honesty.com.

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8th District: Joe Walsh Pans Obama’s Afghanistan Policy Speech

December 2, 2009 by

From the Joe Walsh campaign:

8th District GOP Congressional Candidate Supports More Troops

Lake Zurich, IL – Joe Walsh, Republican candidate for the GOP nomination for the 8th District Congressional seat currently held by Rep. Melissa Bean has issued the following statement in response to President Obama’s speech on Afghanistan policy tonight:

According to Mr. Walsh:
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8th District: Joe Walsh Pans Obama’s Afghanistan Policy Speech”