State Government

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

Ditka NOT Supporting Hughes? What The…

October 23, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Looks like candidate Patrick Hughes has made a big UhOh when he claimed that former Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka endorsed him at a fund raiser last month. Hughes put out a press release touting the purported endorsement and featured the announcement on his website, too. In fact, Hughes even claimed that Ditka was ready to serve on the Hughes for Senate finance committee.

As it turns out, Ditka’s office is denying that da coach agreed to serve on any finance committee nor that he even officially endorsed Hughes. A blog called Team America’s 10th District Blog does a good job assembling all the disparate sources and claims of the story.
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Ditka NOT Supporting Hughes? What The…”

ACORN - Budget - Campaign Finance - Chicago - Cook County - Crime - Democrats/Leftists - Illinois - Liberals - Society/Culture - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

New Stop ACORN TV Ad

October 22, 2009 by

Illinois state government is so mixed up with AORN and the SEIU but the people are left in the dark about the truth. One group wants to launch an investigation into just how much state money these corrupt politicians are giving to ACORN and the SEIU.

SayNoToACRON.com has launched a new TV ad to inform Illinoisans on the threat to their government and taxes.

Conservatives - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - GOP - Republicans - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

New York’s Dede Scozzafava MUST Withdraw

October 22, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

In July liberal Republican DeDe Scozzafava was tapped by the 11 Republican county chairmen of New York’s 23rd Congressional District to run for the seat being vacated by John McHugh, who resigned to take Obama’s offer to become Secretary of the Army.

The NY GOP made a huge mistake with this smoke-filled-room choice. Scozzafava has made a hash of this campaign and should withdraw her candidacy immediately and allow Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman to take her place.

Her lousy campaign aside, the prime reason we want to Dump Dede is because she doesn’t seem to be much of a Republican in a District that could elect a Republican candidate (and traditionally has). Scozzafava has all the wrong positions for a Republican. She is an abortion supporter, supports same-sex marriage and her hubby is a bigtime union leader. Even worse, groups associated with the criminal, left-wing organization ACORN have endorsed her candidacy — not the sort of company a Republican should keep.

Her primary opponent is New York Conservative Party Candidate Doug Hoffman who is most certainly far more like a Republican than Dede. Hoffman has picked up the support of several high profile Republicans such as former GOP Sen. Fred Thompson, Campaign for Working Families founder Gary Bauer, and the Washington D.C. based Club for Growth. It also looks like Former Congressman Dick Armey is coming out for Hoffman, too.

Hoffman is a small government supporter he is against raising taxes and opposes both the stimulus and Obamacare. Hoffman’s message suits the mood of a tea party going nation that is sick of insider politics and big spending liberals.

As I mentioned, Scozzafava is proving an inept candidate. One of the absurd incidents of this campaign happened this week when Dede’s Hubby called the cops on a correspondent from the conservative magazine Weekly Standard. Apparently the candidate did not appreciate writer John McCormack’s questions and decided that his efforts to get the candidate to answer them constituted “harassment.”
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New York’s Dede Scozzafava MUST Withdraw”

Budget - Chicago - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Free Trade - Freedom - GOP - Illinois - Liberals - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Institute for Truth in Accounting: Chicago TV on Illinois Budget Woes

October 21, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Sheila Weinberg, Institute for Truth in Accounting founder & CEO, joined WTTW-TV’s Chicago Tonight reporter Elizabeth Bracken on an October 15th panel to discuss the proposed 2011 $32 billion budget, which includes a possible $12 billion deficit. When asked about the exact size of Illinois budget shortfall, Ms. Weinberg stated, “There are a lot of numbers floating around.We want transparency, and they want to continue the accounting gimmicks. “One gimmick identified is when the state “borrows $2 billion and then claims it as revenues.”

Ms. Weinberg’s recommendation is for Illinois to switch from cash based to FACT based, or accrual accounting methods. “Cash based accounting worked when Illinois was each year paying for current services, but when longer-term services such as government employee pensions were added, the accounting became an absolute mess.”
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Institute for Truth in Accounting: Chicago TV on Illinois Budget Woes”

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

One Down in the 14th District Race

October 21, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Former Aurora alderman Bill Cross has decided to withdraw from the 14th Congressional District race for Congress. Apparently Cross thinks that the race has gotten too crowded and with a list of five other Republican candidates, I don’t blame him.

With Cross dropping his bid, that leaves the following candidates:

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One Down in the 14th District Race”

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

Steve Rauschenberger Endorses Bill Cadigan for Ill. 10th

October 21, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Bill Cadigan is running for the 10th Congressional District and former State Senator Steve Raushcenberger was kind enough to make a little YouTube video to express his support for Cadigan’s candidacy.

The 10th District is north of O’Hare airport and encompasses Arlington Heights, Glenview and Wilmette on its southern edge and Waukegan and North Chicago in its northern part.

Cadigan’s campaign website is cadiganforcongress.com.

He also has a FaceBook page.
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Steve Rauschenberger Endorses Bill Cadigan for Ill. 10th”

Budget - Capitalism - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Health - House of Representatives - Liberals - President - Society/Culture - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

State Budgets Busted By S-Chip, Medicaid Mandates

October 20, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

I suppose it makes it easier for Obama to claim that his healthcare policies are “revenue neutral” when the federal government just makes rules and expands healthcare services that it doesn’t fund then turns around and forces the states to pay for much of it out of groaning state budgets, but that seems like what is happening.

The Congressional Budget Office has reported that the costs of Obamacare’s mandates will fall heavily on the states . Obamacare will increase Medicaid coverage to one in five Americans, a growth from 50 million to 60 million Americans covered.

According to the CBO these unfunded mandates will cost the states an estimated $33 billion. Naturally, this estimate is likely low and costs to state budgets will be much higher in reality.
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State Budgets Busted By S-Chip, Medicaid Mandates”

ACORN - Anti-Americanism - Business - Chicago - Communism - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Free Trade - Freedom - Health - Jobs - Liberals - Society/Culture - State Government - Taxes - Unions - Warner Todd Huston

Union Plans Voted Down by Home Healthcare Workers

October 20, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

If CBS News has it right, the majority of in-home healthcare workers in Illinois voted not to join a union despite the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and Governor Quinn’s best efforts to force the issue.

Earlier in the year, Governor Quinn signed Executive Order 09-15 that gave away the private information of every in-home healthcare worker in the state to several unions so that they might begin a campaign to cajole these workers into joining a union by calling them on the phone and visiting them at their homes.

In-home healthcare workers receive a stipend from the state in order to help them care for developmentally disabled or medically at risk family members.
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Union Plans Voted Down by Home Healthcare Workers”

Congress - Cook County - Elections - GOP - Illinois - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Joe Walsh Becomes Official Candidate – Leaps to the Front in GOP Fundraising for 8th District Seat

October 19, 2009 by

A late entry into the race for the 8th Congressional District:

Lake Zurich, IL — The Joe Walsh for Congress Exploratory Committee is filing its paperwork with the Federal Elections Commission today. Joe Walsh is now an official candidate for the 8th District seat currently held by Melissa Bean and has begun raising the funds necessary to compete in the February Republican primary.

Mr. Walsh has spent the last few weeks meeting with voters, Republican Party officials, and conservative activists to assess the race. After an overwhelmingly positive response, Walsh formed an exploratory committee, launched a website (joewalshforcongress.com), evaluated campaign staff, and began collecting financial pledges for his potential run.
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Joe Walsh Becomes Official Candidate – Leaps to the Front in GOP Fundraising for 8th District Seat”

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

Union Fees Might Cause Another Trade Show to Exit Chicago

October 19, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

One of Chicago’s top five trade shows may be leaving the gigantic McCormick Place Convention Center and taking up business with Orlando, Florida. Why? Because the extremely high costs forced on Chicago by the various unions that have a hammer lock on the service side of the trade show business are driving trade shows to other states.

Crain’s Business reports that the Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc. is considering the move to sunny Florida as a cost cutting measure. The show has been held in Chicago since 1971 but organizers are considering the move because of a “need to maximize the return on investment for both exhibitors and attendees.”

That means that setting up a trade show in Chicago is not worth the expense. And that expense means union fees.
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Union Fees Might Cause Another Trade Show to Exit Chicago”

Afghanistan - Anti-Americanism - Chicago - Congress - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - GOP - Illinois - Islam - Islamofascism - Journalism - Liberals - Media Bias - Military - Republicans - Security/Safety - Society/Culture - State Government - Terrorism - Warner Todd Huston

Where I Come to Mark Kirk’s Aid

October 18, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

I am not a Mark Kirk fan. For me he is and always has been far too “moderate” on social issues and his now (maybe) retracted Cap and Tax vote sticks in my craw pretty badly. But Steve Benen of the Washington Monthly blog Political Animal unfairly and illicitly slammed Kirk on something he said in an interview with The News Gazette of Danville, Illinois.

Benen was ticked at Kirk’s answer about the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy of the U.S. Military. In an effort to show all his LGBT, or BLGT, or BLT fans… whatever they call themselves this week… Benen jumped on Kirk’s claim that DADT works well and that “keeping that all out of the workplace makes common sense.”

But, Benen’s pandering to the fringe, militant gay lobby isn’t my concern here. Benen’s other jab at Kirk was as follows:
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Where I Come to Mark Kirk’s Aid”

Budget - Capitalism - Chicago - Cook County - Crime - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - Illinois - Liberals - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Suddenly, Mayor Daley is Pandering Against Taxes?

October 18, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

The Olympics was going to save the day. Then President Obama and wife Michelle made fools of themselves telling the Olympic committee how the Olympics would make them happy because they love sports, and they sat on their daddy’s laps watching sports, and they really, really, really love the Olympics. One vote and out was the president’s reward for wasting millions of the taxpayer’s money flying them to Copenhagen.

This presented a major problem for Mayor Daley, soon to run for reelection. He was hoping against hope that the Olympics would sweep into Chicago and save his floundering budget. The infusion of cash stolen from the American taxpayers and state taxpayers both would have floated King Daley’s criminal enterprises for another few years at least and make his election a dream.

But that pipe dream has gone up in smoke, hasn’t it?
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Suddenly, Mayor Daley is Pandering Against Taxes?”

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

Ill. GOP Again Moves to Safeguard Privileges of Leadership

October 17, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

The leaders of the Democrat Party in Illinois are elected by their voters. The leaders of the Republicans are not. And the GOP leaders want to keep it that way!

So, once again, we see GOP leader Tom Cross pushing back efforts to give S.B.600 a proper debate and a chance at a floor vote. We reported on Thursday that S.B.600 was slated for a third reading and a possible debate and vote in Springfield, but privilege spoke against the bill once again.

Tom Cross blamed the Democrats. He said they were trying to create “distractions” and that they were “meddling” in Republican affairs by supporting the effort to bring S.B.600 to the floor. Cross said it was “punishment.”
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Ill. GOP Again Moves to Safeguard Privileges of Leadership”

ACORN - Anti-Americanism - Budget - Business - Chicago - Cook County - Crime - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Illinois - Liberals - SEIU - Society/Culture - State Government - Unions - Warner Todd Huston

Even SEIU Says ACORN is Toxic

October 17, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

In an amusing case of the pot calling the kettle, Anna Burger, the Secretary-Treasurer of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), told Representative Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) that the SEIU had dumped ACORN during a Sept. 30 hearing conducted by the House Financial Services Committee. Apparently Mrs. Burger felt that ACORN was too toxic for the SEIU to associate with.

Certainly it is quite amazing that the SEIU has taken the step to dump ACORN as a vendor. Groups such as SEIU rarely reassess associations preferring to stubbornly stick to their guns in most cases.

During the hearing, Rep. McHenry mentioned to Mrs. Burger that the U.S. Census Bureau, the IRS, and even Bank of America had cut ties with ACORN because of the community organizer’s declining credibility and apparent criminal activities. Burger replied, “SEIU has also cut all ties to ACORN.”
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Even SEIU Says ACORN is Toxic”

Anti-Americanism - Barack Obama - California - Democrats/Leftists - Judges - Liberals - President - Race - Senate - Society/Culture - State Government - Supreme Court - The Law - Warner Todd Huston

Obama’s Newest Racemongering Judge: California’s Edward Chen

October 16, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

President Obama has gone out of his way to “diversify” the federal bench with his spate of nominations of various minorities chief of which was his successful seating of the “wise Latina,’ Sonia Sotomayor, on the Supreme Court. Obama’s nominees* for 10 district court openings include four African-Americans, three Asian-Americans, one Latino and four women. One of those nominees, San Francisco U.S. Magistrate Judge Edward Chen, received a favorable vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee in Washington today.

So what sort of judge is Edward Chen? Well, for one, the left-wing American Bar Association rated Chen a “well qualified” nominee and many of his associates at the ACLU speak highly of him. As an ACLU lawyer, Chen was known for opposing English-only policies and for pushing discriminatory affirmative action ideals. He even came to the aid of gang members in one case. Chen was quite the ACLU activist between 1979 and 2001.

His ACLU history would suffice to make many wary of him, of course. But for a segment of America, working for the ACLU is not a disqualifier. So in order to judge Edward Chen one must look at his past. Discovering what Judge Chen thinks of the country upon which he apparently assumes to sit in judgment is a telling exercise. Sadly, it seems he has quite a low opinion of the nation that he will be serving.
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Obama’s Newest Racemongering Judge: California’s Edward Chen”

Abortion - California - Elections - GOP - Health - Liberals - Republicans - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Meg Whitman’s Extreme Pro-Abortion Views

October 16, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

A few weeks ago Jon Fleischman of FlashReport.org was fortunate enough to snag an interview with gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman. But the results of one segment of the meeting left him admittedly non-plussed, or as he termed it “unnerved.” Fleischman was aghast to learn of just how extreme Meg Whitman’s views on abortion really are. And after reading Fleischman’s interview myself, I have to wonder if her views makes her completely unelectable amongst California’s pro-lifers?

In the interview, Whitman was completely upfront about the fact that she stands solidly behind public funding of abortion. She was unequivocal about it, really. Whitman explained why she felt that public funding of abortion was the right decision telling Fleischman, “My view is that if we are going to be pro-choice… that it needs to be available to all women, and whether you are rich or poor, you need to be able to access that right. And it’s unfair to women who can not afford an abortion, and that’s why I support public funding.”

It’s one thing to say that a woman should be allowed to chose abortion — this is quite a common determination among liberals — but quite another, indeed, to say that the taxpayers should have to pay for that abortion.
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Meg Whitman’s Extreme Pro-Abortion Views”

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

Breaking: Ill. Legislature to Consider Allowing GOP Voters to Pick Party Leaders

October 15, 2009 by 1 Comment

-By Warner Todd Huston

As the law stands right now, Republican voters in Illinois cannot choose their own party leaders. Party leaders now are chosen by Republican committeemen, not the voters. But there has been a bill in the State Senate that has for years been trying to change that. Now it seems that SB600 is a bit closer to finally being allowed a floor debate.

SB600 is on the docket for a third reading and debate tomorrow, October 16. Usually after a third reading a vote is called. This is the furthest the bill has gotten to passage in its years-long journey.

To be sure, it isn’t thanks to the efforts of the Republican leadership. They’ve fought tooth-and-nail to kill this bill and stop the voters from being able to affect their places of privilege. That the voters could place them in their positions of power is anathema to the state party leadership. They have wanted to avoid the voters at all costs.
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Breaking: Ill. Legislature to Consider Allowing GOP Voters to Pick Party Leaders”

ACORN - Budget - Business - Capitalism - Chicago - Communism - Cook County - Economy/Finances - Illinois - Liberals - Republicans - SEIU - Society/Culture - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

The Big Score: Springfield’s Subsidies to ACORN

October 15, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

For a little further information on the cozy relationship between the Illinois State government in Springfield and the troubled Association for Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN), the sort of corrupt bargain to which we are attempting to bring sunlight, we’ve done a little research into some of the funding distributed from our tax dollars to ACORN. In this case, we have some documents on funds given to ACORN for the Illinois Housing Development Authority’s Predatory Lending Database Program (PLD) and related programs.

It isn’t just the taxpayer’s money given to ACORN that is at issue, to be sure. Not only do we see our tax dollars going to this organization that has so often been caught up in instances of criminal voter fraud across the country as well as a $5 million embezzlement controversy, but our state government has allowed this group to help it create government programs and policies, as well.

Why would the state turn to this often times criminal organization to help it create the PLD program? For the answer to that we turn to the 2008 Annual Comprehensive Housing Plan progress report.

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The Big Score: Springfield’s Subsidies to ACORN”

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

Governor Recall Initiative Approved!

October 15, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

The State legislature has approved a governor recall initiative for the 2010 ballot today.

When Illinois voters go to the polls in 2010 they will have the opportunity to vote to amend the Illinois Constitution to allow for a recall of an errant governor… finally.

In November of 2010, if 60 percent of Illinois voters vote “yes,” Illinois will at last be able to rid themselves of the sort of criminals with whom it has so often been saddled.

The current initiative, though, will not create a simple “vote them out” process to eliminate a criminal governor. Several provisions will have to be satisfied to facilitate the removal of a governor. One requirement will be that 30 legislators will have to vote to remove; 20 State Reps and 10 Senators (and no more than half of those voting must be of the same party).

Another one of the provisions is that the citizens must raise signatures on a removal petition counting 15 percent of the total number of voters that voted in the previous election. This petition will have a five month period for the names to be gathered.
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Governor Recall Initiative Approved!”

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

Jim Ryan Launches Website for Gov Race

October 15, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

In a step closer to formally entering the race for the GOP nomination for Illinois governor, former AG Jim Ryan has launched a Ryan for Governor website. Ryan is styling himself the "Anti-Blagojevich."

www.jimryan2010.com/

With a late entrant into the campaign, Ryan’s bid could shake up the field. Ryan’s polling claims that he is running even with Democrat candidate Dan Hynes and trails incumbent Governor Pat Quinn by only five points.

Of course, Ryan’s last name is a drawback. He is unfortunate enough to share the same last name as the now imprisoned former Governor George Ryan (though no relation). Jim Ryan was last involved in state politics when he ran for Governor against Rod Blagojevich in 2002 and his last name dragged him down even then.

There is one other problem with Jim Ryan’s history. Rich Miller reminds us that it is embodied in two words: Stu Levine.

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Jim Ryan Launches Website for Gov Race”

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

Local Lawmakers Votes on Cook County Tax Repeal Bill

October 15, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

The Daily Herald posted the votes of the Chicago area legislators on the bill to repeal the Cook County sales tax hike.

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois House voted 65-51 to reject a plan that would have repealed the Cook County sales tax increase and required voter support for such tax increases. The proposal needed 71 votes for approval.

Local House members voting “yes”:
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Local Lawmakers Votes on Cook County Tax Repeal Bill”

ACORN - Anti-Americanism - Business - Capitalism - Chicago - Communism - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Free Speech - Free Trade - Health - Illinois - Journalism - Liberals - Socialism - State Government - Taxes - Unions - Warner Todd Huston

Brave Mom Fights Forced Unionization and Gov. Quinn

October 15, 2009 by 1 Comment

-By Warner Todd Huston

We’ve been reporting to you of the outrageous under-the-radar actions of Governor Pat Quinn and his Executive Order 9-15. This EO both handed the private information of Illinois citizens to unions and set up a payoff for his union supporters by automatically unionizing hundreds of Illinois home healthcare workers whether they want to be unionized or not.

Well, one mother is fighting back. Pam Harris serves as the primary care specialist for her developmentally disabled son and in so doing receives some helpful funds from the state for that purpose. When she found out that Quinn’s EO gave her personal information to several unions she was concerned. And when she later found out that she would have to pay dues to a union even if she didn’t want to join one she became incensed.

In a report on our local Fox affiliate, Harris said, “When my doorbell rings at eleven thirty Sunday morning and there’s two people in purple shirts, one from California, one from Virginia– nice enough young people– nice enough, but that’s an invasion of my privacy.”

Harris is sure that no union will benefit her.
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Brave Mom Fights Forced Unionization and Gov. Quinn”

Budget - Business - Chicago - Cook County - Economy/Finances - Elections - Illinois - Republicans - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Taxes: Which Dillard Are We Talking About?

October 14, 2009 by

Gubernatorial candidate Dan Proft Responds to Kirk Dillard’s Duplicity on Tax Increases

(Chicago, IL) – In response to State Sen. Kirk Dillard’s duplicitous comments on tax increases Monday, conservative Republican candidate for Governor Dan Proft released the following statement:
On Monday, Chicago Tribune columnist John Kass reported that State Sen. Kirk Dillard “insists that raising taxes during a recession, after thousands of private-sector jobs have left for Indiana and other neighboring states, would be economic suicide for Illinois.”

According to Kass, the two met on Monday night, the same day Sen. Dillard held a press conference to accept the endorsement of former Gov. Jim Edgar. When asked about tax increases during that press conference, however, Sen. Dillard said, “I think you have to keep every option open.”
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Taxes: Which Dillard Are We Talking About?”

Budget - Business - Chicago - Cook County - Economy/Finances - Elections - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Gov. Race: Schillerstrom Signs the No-Tax Pledge

October 14, 2009 by

Gubernatorial candidate Bob Schillerstrom recently signed the No-Tax Pledge sponsored by Americans for Tax Reform.

Schillerstrom, current DuPage County Board President, joins several other candidates for governor in signing a pledge that promises not to raise taxes once in office. Bill Brady and Kirk Dillard have both signed the No-Tax Pledge in the past.

Bob Schillerstrom’s campaign website.

Chicago - Constitution - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - Liberals - Society/Culture - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Illinois Governor Recall Amendment

October 13, 2009 by

-By Eric Odom

In short… there’s a very good chance we’ll have the right to recall a sitting Governor as soon as November 2010. That is, of course, if the Illinois Governor Recall Amendment (2010) passes.

The Illinois Governor Recall Amendment, also known as House Joint Constitutional Amendment 31, will appear on the November 2010 ballot in Illinois.

The proposal would allow voters to recall the governor and require that at least 20 state representatives and 10 state senators, equally balanced from each party in each chamber, sign a notice of intent to recall the governor before a petition can begin to be circulated.

If Illinois lawmakers approve the recall, voters will make the final decision on the issue in November 2010.

What a novel idea… give the people the decision on this at the ballot box. I would prefer see recall provisions across the board, not just for the Governor, but this is a start.
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Illinois Governor Recall Amendment”

Anti-Americanism - Business - California - Capitalism - Congress - Economy/Finances - Environment - Free Trade - GOP - Jobs - Liberals - Republicans - Senate - Society/Culture - State Government - Taxes - The Law - Warner Todd Huston

Carly Fiorina: Looking Like a Good Fit for Conservatives

October 13, 2009 by 1 Comment

-By Warner Todd Huston

Cary Fiorina, former Hewlett-Packard CEO and probable candidate for U.S. Senate from California, is starting to look like a viable choice for conservative voters in the Golden State, giving the GOP two conservatives from whom to chose.

Fiorina’s bona fides have been a question to many California Republicans because she is a relative newcomer to politics and many are not familiar with her political philosophy or what her campaign will stand for. But her recent hard hitting editorial in the Fresno Bee helps bring her ideals better into focus for the voters.

Firoina’s editorial in the Bee focuses on the water controversy of the San Joaquin Valley. As many know, a federal bureaucracy has summarily shut off water to thousands of acres of farmland merely in order to save a fish; the delta smelt. This enviro-activism has shut down thousands of acres of farmland and put thousands of residents out of work. Down the line it will also negatively affect the nation’s food supply because the San Joaquin Valley supplies much of our vegetables and fruits.
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Carly Fiorina: Looking Like a Good Fit for Conservatives”

2nd Amendment - Anti-Americanism - Chicago - Constitution - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Guns - Illinois - Judges - Security/Safety - State Government - Supreme Court - Warner Todd Huston

Ill. Supreme Court Gives Gun Owners a Small Victory

October 13, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

The Illinois Supreme Court has affirmed a decision by the Third District Appellate Court that ruled that the definition of a “case” for transporting a firearm does, indeed, include an automobile’s enclosed front seat console.

The current law provides for several ways that a firearm can be transported:

(4) Carries or possesses in any vehicle or concealed on or about his person except when on his land or in his own abode or fixed place of business any pistol, revolver, stun gun or taser or other firearm, except that this subsection (a) (4) does not apply to or affect transportation of weapons that meet one of the following conditions:
(i) are broken down in a non-functioning state; or
(ii) are not immediately accessible; or
(iii) are unloaded and enclosed in a case,firearm carrying box, shipping box, or other container by a person who has been issued a currently valid Firearm Owner’s Identification Card

IllinoisCarry.com celebrated the decision as a “huge win” for Illinois gun owners.

The case in question, People vs Diggins, involved the transportation of two unloaded firearms and two loaded magazines in the console of a vehicle driven by an individual in possession of a valid FOID card. In unanimous agreement the justices ruled the trial judge erred in denying defense the right to argue that a console is considered a “case” or “other container” under sec. 24 -1.4(c)iii and for instructing the jury that the console is not considered a “case”.

This ruling would also seem to resolve the question as to the legality of transporting unloaded hanguns in the glove box of a vehicle by IL citizens in possession of a valid FOID card.

Of course, the law still states that firearms must be carried outside of a vehicle in some sort of case specifically built for a firearm so one wonders exactly how practical this new interpretation of the law will be?

Still, this is a step in the right direction for curtailing the capriciousness of our absurdly strict gun transportation laws.
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Ill. Supreme Court Gives Gun Owners a Small Victory”

Anti-Americanism - Capitalism - Chicago - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Free Speech - Free Trade - Freedom - GOP - Illinois - Liberals - Republicans - Socialism - Society/Culture - State Government - Taxes - Tea Party - Warner Todd Huston

Special Call in Instructions for the Chicago Tea Party Conference Call

October 13, 2009 by

The American Liberty Alliance is announcing their call-in information for the Tax Day Tea Party organizing for Chicago:

We’re gearing up for the next stage of the Tax Day Tea Party and Illinois will have first dibs at the agenda and plan. Please join us for this special planning conference call on Wednesday evening, October 14th at 6:00 PM Central Time.

Phone Number: (724) 444-7444
Call ID: 54447

Talk to you all tomorrow evening!

For Liberty, Eric Odom

Barack Obama - Budget - Business - Capitalism - Chicago - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Free Trade - Health - Liberals - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Ill. Policy Institute: An Obamacare Alternative

October 12, 2009 by

Together with 32 State Think Tanks, Illinois Policy Institute Announces Patient-Centered Health Care Reforms

On Tuesday, October 13, in response to national calls for an alternative to Obamacare, representatives from the Illinois Policy Institute—together with 32 other state think tanks—will announce their “patient-centered” plan for health care reform. The proposal, which is adapted from a national study by public policy specialist Art Laffer, will be described in detail, together with a Q & A, on a conference call open to the national press.


“President Obama and other supporters of government-run health care like to proclaim that there’s no alternative to their plans,” said John Tillman, CEO of the Illinois Policy Institute. “Our patient-centered reform package offers a clear alternative that puts patients, not bureaucrats, first. It protects the doctor-patient relationship, offers viable solutions for the uninsured, and keeps medical care affordable for all Americans.”

Speakers on the press call, which will take place at 12:00 p.m. EDT on October 13, will include:

  • John Tillman, CEO, Illinois Policy Institute
  • Donna Arduin, Partner, Arduin, Laffer & Moore, Econometrics
  • Arlene Wohlgemuth, Senior Fellow, Center for Health Care Policy, Texas Public Policy Foundation
  • Tarren Bragdon, CEO, Maine Heritage Policy Center
  • Linda Gorman, Health Care Policy Center Director, Independence Institute
  • Roger Stark, Center for Health Care Policy Analyst, Washington Policy Center

The call will cover the details of the health care proposal, as well as the economic impacts of government-run health care, the problems with a Medicaid expansion, Maine’s health care disaster, cautionary tales from Canada, and practical state-based health care solutions. 


The full plan, along with the list of think tank signatories, is available at www.patientcenteredreform.org. In addition, Jerry Agar, the Institute’s Senior Multimedia Fellow, will be releasing a podcast of the call on IllinoisPolicy.org shortly after the event. Also, our CEO, John Tillman, will be appearing on the Don Wade & Roma Morning Show on WLS-AM at 6:20 a.m. tomorrow morning to discuss this event.

Contact Kristina Rasmussen at 217.528.8800 with questions, or visit www.IllinoisPolicy.org.