State Government

Anti-Americanism - Children - Democrats/Leftists - Education - Freedom - Liberals - Socialism - Society/Culture - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Nanny State Update: New York District Bans Kids From Riding Bikes to School

October 2, 2009 by 1 Comment

-By Warner Todd Huston

America’s kids are too fat. Right? Don’t we hear that all the time? Isn’t it a steady mantra from the left that America is suffering from an “epidemic” of obesity? So, shouldn’t we want to encourage kids to get outdoors? Wouldn’t it be a good thing if kids rode a bicycle to school?

Not to the nanny state in New York it wouldn’t. Seventh-grader Adam Marino and his mother Janette discovered this unusual situation when Adam’s school in Saratoga Springs threatened them with disciplinary action if the pair didn’t stop riding bikes to school.

Why did the school assume it had the power to compel a citizen of New York to stop accompanying her son to school on a bicycle each morning? Apparently the school imagined that it owned her son from the second he stepped out of his door to go to school until he returned home later in the day. The state decided, therefore, that it could determine what conveyance that child is “allowed” to use to get to school each day.

The District also prohibits kids to walk to school, as well.
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Nanny State Update: New York District Bans Kids From Riding Bikes to School”

ACORN - Anti-Americanism - Budget - Business - Capitalism - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Elections - Free Trade - Health - Illinois - Liberals - President - Republicans - SEIU - Society/Culture - State Government - Taxes - Unions - Warner Todd Huston

Join Me, Illinois, to SAY NO to ACORN!

October 1, 2009 by 1 Comment

Illinois is a bankrupt state, yet our accidental Governor Pat Quinn is handing over millions of state dollars to ACORN/SEIU and any other union that wants to put its hand out. Join me and Americans For Prosperity to Say NO to ACORN.com.
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Join Me, Illinois, to SAY NO to ACORN!”

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

Da Coach, Mike Ditka Endorses Pat Hughes for Senate

October 1, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Mike Ditka, famous for being the coach of the Chicago Bears, endorsed Senate candidate Patrick Hughes at a Hughes fundraiser at Ditka’s restaurant on Wednesday.

Speaking to a gathering of Hughes supporters at Ditka’s Restaurant last night, Da Coach said, “I pledge all my support to Patrick Hughes and I will help him in any way I can. Patrick Hughes stands for the same mainstream values that Mike Ditka stands for. Patrick Hughes knows who he is and what he believes. He knows that Washington is not the answer to all of our problems today.” […]

Hughes continued, “I said that my campaign would seek the support of grassroots Illinois residents, not the Washington lobbyists and politicians who my major challenger Mark Kirk has courted for endorsements and money. Mike Ditka represents the values of real grassroots voters of Illinois in the finest sense.”

Patrick Hughes is the assumed underdog facing Rep. Mark Kirk for the GOP nomination for the 2010 Senate race.

Check out Hughes on the net: Hughes for Senate
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Da Coach, Mike Ditka Endorses Pat Hughes for Senate”

Congress - Cook County - Elections - House of Representatives - Illinois - Journalism - Liberals - Media Bias - Republicans - Society/Culture - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Grudge Match Between Republicans Lauzen and Oberweis Over 14th District Primary?

October 1, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

The Hill is reporting that the upcoming 14th District GOP primary is shaping up as a grudge match between two Republicans that aren’t even in the race. According the The Hill this is a grudge match between State Senator Chris Lauzen and wannabe anything Jim Oberweis, both candidates that vied for that seat in the 2008 special election that sent Democrat Bill Foster to Washington.

The 14th District Congressional seat was the one that Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert held until he resigned in 2008. Hastert’s son Ethan Hastert is now running for the GOP nomination for his father’s old seat.

This “grudge match” meme pushed by The Hill is a result of the formal entry into the primary race of State Senator Randy Hultgren who threw his hat in the ring earlier in the week. Hultgren was elected to the State Senate in 2006 and served in the Illinois House for eight years previous to that. (1999-2007).
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Grudge Match Between Republicans Lauzen and Oberweis Over 14th District Primary?”

ACORN - Business - Capitalism - Children - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Family - Freedom - Health - Illinois - Jobs - Liberals - SEIU - Socialism - State Government - Taxes - Unions - Warner Todd Huston

AWF: Ill. Gov. Invades Privacy of State’s Citizens

October 1, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

The Alliance for Worker Freedom has decided to send a letter to replacement Governor Pat Quinn of Illinois asking him how much his favoritism and goodies given to unions in the state have cost the taxpayers of Illinois. (I say “replacement gov.” because Quinn is the former Lt. Gov. that became the accidental gov. when Rod Blagojevich was indicted and then impeached from office)

Quinn is guilty of handing over the personal information of thousands of Illinois home-based support workers that receive state aid to take care of family members with severe medical conditions to several unions so that the unions could attempt to strongarm these people into a union. The executive order is #09-15, the Collective Bargaining By Individual Providers of Home-Based Support Services order.

Without regard to the privacy of the personal information of these people that receive state aid to take care of their relatives in their own homes, Gov. Quinn freely handed over their phone numbers and addresses to any union that wanted them. Many home healthcare workers have since been accosted by Service Employees International Union (SEIU) recruiters as well as operatives from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME).
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AWF: Ill. Gov. Invades Privacy of State’s Citizens”

Business - Conservatives - Economy/Finances - Education - Elections - Free Trade - Freedom - GOP - Liberals - Republicans - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Tim Pawlenty Launches Freedom First PAC

October 1, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

It has just been announced in a coast to coast conference call that Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty is launching a new effort he is calling Freedom First PAC in order to fight the “encroachment of a bureaucracy that stifles ands suffocates freedom in America.”

Right now, our freedoms are being challenged on many fronts. One such challenge is encroachment on our liberties by an unceasing Federal bureaucracy. Little by little, it suffocates individual freedom, personal responsibility and the free market. It can happen quietly — it’s not always a grand debate over something like health care. It can happen in increments that people don’t even see or know about, but nevertheless deflates the human spirit.

It should be remembered that Pawlenty was one of the Republicans whose name was bandied about as a candidate for vice president and many people see Pawlenty as a viable candidate for national office. Obviously this is Pawlenty’s first step toward a shot at the White House. Pawlenty, however, says that this is about 2010 and the immediate help he can give other candidates running for office now and the help his PAC can offer to push the sort of issues and solutions that will affect our nation today.

Pawlenty mentioned that his new media team headed by prominent blogger Liz Mair, is an important part of this new effort and the new media will be a major part of any political group going onward.
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Tim Pawlenty Launches Freedom First PAC”

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

ChgoTrib: Adam Andrzejewski Takes on Big Gov’t

September 30, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Looks like gubernatorial candidate Adam Andrzejewski (pronounced an-gee-ef-ski – Campaign site) has caught the eye of the Chicago Tribune’s John Kass, he of inveighing against “the combine” — that idea that top level Republicans are in the pockets of their counterparts in the state Democratic Party.

Kass used Andrzejewski’s campaign to gig his whipping boy once again:

Adam Andrzejewski (pronounced An-jee-ef-ski) is running for governor in the Republican primary on a platform of reform, offering specific spending cuts and holding the line on taxes.

Sound radical?

Only in Illinois, where government is big business and the parties’ trading jobs for support makes them almost indistinguishable.

I can’t say that Kass is wrong. But it is good to see that Andrzejewski is making some headway in the political arena.

Kass makes an obvious point about the Ill. GOP, but it is one that should be at the forefront of every Republican’s mind as he prepares to consider the 2010 elections.
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ChgoTrib: Adam Andrzejewski Takes on Big Gov’t”

Anti-Americanism - Barack Obama - Democrats/Leftists - Entertainment - Health - Hollywood - Humor - Liberals - Society/Culture - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

On Healthcare we MUST Listen to Overpaid, Celebrities

September 30, 2009 by

And now, a little comedy break from our serious discussion. But it’s comedy with a serious underlying message, of course.

That’s it. I am convinced. This video proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that we must listen to overpaid, uninformed celebrities to tell us what to think on healthcare.

And now, I’ll bet you are convinced, too. Right?

(H/T HotAir.com)

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

Isaac Hayes for Ill. 2nd Congressional District

September 30, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Today’s spotlight falls on the Reverend Isaac Hayes who is running for the 2nd Congressional District. The 2nd comprises the towns of Harvey, Lansing, Chicago Heights, Park Forest and part of Calumet City all of which are well south east of Chicago and on the Indiana border. The 2nd is also spread across parts of both Cook and Will Counties.

Hayes is a native of Chicago’s South Side and earned a degree in Information Systems at Ill. State University. Hayes was vice president of ABN AMRO Mortgage and now ministers full-time to youth at the Apostolic Church of God in his community.

Hayes will face incumbent Democratic Representative Jesse Jackson, Jr.

Here is his announcement address delivered at the Cook County GOP Convention this year:
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Isaac Hayes for Ill. 2nd Congressional District”

Conservatives - Cook County - Elections - GOP - Illinois - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Rauschenberger Back in the Hunt?

September 29, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Steve Rasuchenberg of the Elgin area might be considering another run for the Illinois State Senate according to RFFM.org.

RFFM.org has learned former state Sen. Steve Rauschenberger is considering another run for the state Senate for the seat currently held by Michael Noland (D-Elgin). When Rauschenberger launched an unsuccessful bid for Lt. Governor and vacated the seat, Noland won the general election in 2006 in a close election when he defeated Streamwood Mayor Billie Roth.

Rauschenberger would most likely receive the nod from Republican voters in the 22nd state Senate District GOP primary if he decides to throw his hat in the ring.

Many believe if Rauschenberger wins the GOP primary, his high name recognition and past record as a fiscal and social conservative would help him win in the 2010 general election, when many experts predict incumbent Democrats may succumb to a Republican landslide.

Rauschenberger is currently President of the United Republican Fund. An official announcement regarding his intentions are expected soon.

Rauschenberger was one of the famed “Fab Five” consisting of five of the most conservative Senators in the state legislature.The “Fab Five” referred to Dave Syverson, Rauschenberger, Patrick O’Malley, Chris Lauzen, and Peter Fitzgerald all elected to the State Senate in 1992.

Rauschenberger made his mark in matters financial in the state budget. He served on the Appropriations Committee and the Environment and Energy Committee.

(Cross posted at RedCounty.com)
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Rauschenberger Back in the Hunt?”

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

Joe Walsh Launches Exploratory Committee for IL CD-8

September 29, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Looks like Joe Walsh of Lake Zurich is looking to get into the race against Melissa Bean in the Il. 8th Congressional District. I just received this from his campaign:

BARRINGTON, IL – Long-time free market activist Joe Walsh has launched an exploratory committee to determine whether he should become a candidate for the Republican nomination for the 8th District Congressional seat currently held by Democrat Melissa Bean.

According to Walsh, “Voters are incredibly angry and frustrated by Melissa Bean’s performance over the past couple of years. She voted for the failed stimulus package and Cap and Trade legislation and has voiced support for the Public Option in healthcare. Now, when her constituents want their voices heard the most, she ignores their wishes by refusing to hold open town hall meetings in the district.

“The stakes are too high in this election. We need to a put a check on the one-party rule in Washington that is bankrupting our country. It is absolutely essential that we return more Republicans to Congress as a counter-balance to this out-of-control majority. Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear that any of the announced GOP candidates in the 8th district race has what it takes to defeat Melissa Bean. If voters continue to tell me that it will take a different kind of candidate to win this race, I’ll run.”

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Joe Walsh Launches Exploratory Committee for IL CD-8″

California - Campaign Finance - Conservatives - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Elections - Liberals - Republicans - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

The Curious Case of Linda McMahon

September 29, 2009 by 1 Comment

-By Warner Todd Huston

We seem to have a trio of sudden Republicans in the news these days. I say sudden because there is a lack of any long history on the part of these three candidates of being Republicans for very long before running for office. In fact, it seems that all three only became Republicans once they stepped up to run for office.

I’ve written previously about California’s Steve Poizner, gubernatorial candidate and current State Insurance Commissioner. Poizner had no public history of being a Republican prior to his attempts to run for election in the local and state elections he targeted once he got bitten by the politics bug. In fact, he had a history of donating big money to Democrats right up until the time he started to run as a Republican.

California has a second one, too. Meg Whitman has no Republican history prior to her running for governor there. Though she has no history of large donations to Democrats that I have seen, to be sure.
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The Curious Case of Linda McMahon”

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

Phil Collins for State Rep – Update

September 28, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Just a quick post to update the info we’ve had out for Phil Collins a Republican who is running for State Representative of the 17h District.

Mr. Collins has unveiled his new website for his run. We have previously only had a FaceBook page to track his candidacy.

Phil Collins is running for state representative, in Illinois’ 17th District. He supports low tax rates, low spending, and strong election reforms, including term limits, recall elections, and special elections, to replace legislators who resign or die in office.

Phil has a B.A., in political science. He worked, as a paid employee of three U.S. Senate campaigns. He volunteered at four Republican National Conventions. He was in the navy for 21 years, and he was near Baghdad, in the Triangle of Death, Sept. 2004-Mar. 05.

If you want to help him, by volunteering and/or donating, please email him at philacollins@yahoo.com or write to Committee to Elect Phil Collins 90 North Branch Road, Northfield, IL 60093 The district includes Glenview and Northfield and parts of Skokie, Northbrook, Winnetka, Wilmette, Evanston, Morton Grove, and Golf.

Thank you for your help.

So, here is the updated info:

Phil Collins Campaign Website

Collins’ FaceBook page
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Phil Collins for State Rep – Update”

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

2009 Cook County GOP Convention

September 26, 2009 by 2 Comments

-By Warner Todd Huston

I just got back from attending the Saturday session of the Cook County Republican Party Convention (and before you ask, yes, there IS a Cook County Republican Party). It appeared that about 1,000 participants had come and gone during the day.

I was not able to make the Friday session, but today’s session featured five of the GOP candidates for governor making their pitch to the Cook delegates and convention goers. Noticeably absent was Andy McKenna whose recent announcement to join the race for gov. has caused quite a bit of consternation.

The morning got off to a rousing start with GOP Chairman Lee Roupas addressing the gathered crowd. Roupas really ginned up the attendees with a rousing address promising that the Cook County GOP is a new party, a vital party, one that can take on the corruption plagued Democrats and make a dent in the upcoming 2010 elections.

Roupas quickly turned the dais over to the always energetic Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraica who gave a rousing speech whipping up the faithful to defeat the “Crook County” Democratic machine that has been up to its rear-end in criminality and corruption for so darn long.

After Peraica we saw the first major address by Roger Keats, the Party candidate for GOP Cook County Board President. Keats did a fine job at the dais, to be sure. He is a fine candidate.
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2009 Cook County GOP Convention”

Chicago - Computers - Congress - Conservatives - Cook County - Illinois - Inernet - State Government - Technology - Warner Todd Huston

10 Great Events in the Rise of the New Media

September 25, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

WGN talk show host Jerry Agar, a recent member of the Illinois Policy Institute, has an interesting post on 10 events that have put the Internet on the map. These 10 incidents and the Internet’s work fostering the stories that pushed them into national prominence has led to the Internet being considered one of the movers and shakers of both the news cycle and the political scene.

Agar contacted a few of us bloggers and asked us to give him our insight on the idea (myself included) and this is the resulting article.

I look forward to more interaction with Mr. Agar and the IPI with such future projects.

So, go on over to Agar’s piece and give it a look over.

It can be seen at 10 Great Events in the Rise of the New Media.
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10 Great Events in the Rise of the New Media”

Budget - Chicago - Conservatives - Cook County - Economy/Finances - Illinois - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Steve Rauschenberger Hosts 2 Town Halls

September 25, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Steve Rauschenberger*, former GOP State Senator from the Elgin area and current leader of the United Republican Fund, has announced that he’ll be hosting two town hall styled meetings on the predicament in which Illinois finds itself.

Information can be found at steverauschenberger.com/, but ther you’ll find Mr. Rauschenberger’s address on the subject:

Illinois is heading down a bad road. Despite record-breaking budget deficits and political sleaze that has resulted in two arrested Governors, the politicians in Springfield seem set on maintaining business as usual.

It’s time for ordinary people to stand up. It’s time for us to say enough is enough. Before politicians in Springfield even think about raising taxes, they must pass thorough and meaningful spending and ethics reforms.

Join Steve Rauschenberger, former State Senator and past president of the National Conference of State Legislatures, for a Townhall meeting about the challenges facing Illinois and what ordinary people can do to make state government work for them again.

There are two town halls planned.
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Steve Rauschenberger Hosts 2 Town Halls”

Anti-Americanism - Democrats/Leftists - Family - Free Speech - Liberals - Society/Culture - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Michigan Authorities Attack Woman for Babysitting Neighbor Kids

September 25, 2009 by 1 Comment

-By Warner Todd Huston

Once again, welcome to fascism Friday. We’ve given one story about Canadian fascism, and one from Michigan. Finally, here we have the third one also from the Wolverine State. And there are your three stories for fascism Friday.

You read that headline right. A woman who was watching her neighbor’s kids each school morning for 40 minutes before the bus came is being accused of being a criminal by the State of Michigan.

It takes a village, right? Remember when you were a kid and the next door neighbor looked after you for an hour or so until your parents got back from shopping or work? Remember when your neighbor might even pick you up from school at one time or another? Remember that your parents returned the favor whenever it was necessary? Remember when neighbors felt a responsibility to each other? Well thank God we don’t have to rely on friends and neighbors any more. After all, we have the glorious state to take care of us now. We have our fathers and mothers in government to watch out for us. Who needs neighbors?

This is what has happened in the people’s state of Michigan where a kindly maternal woman is being ground under the iron boot heel of authorities from the State of Michigan because she dared to watch her neighbor’s children for about 40 minutes before school each weekday in violation of the state’s child daycare center registration laws.
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Michigan Authorities Attack Woman for Babysitting Neighbor Kids”

Capitalism - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Free Trade - Freedom - Health - Journalism - Liberals - Media Bias - Socialism - Society/Culture - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Michigan to Tax Doctors to Pay Doctors

September 25, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Once again, welcome to fascism Friday. We’ve given story one about Canadian fascism, and now the first one from the U.S.A. And like the one that will follow, this one is from Michigan, the Wolverine State. This time we see Michigan authorities creating fatuous taxes..

Who said that government ever made any logical sense? The State of Michigan has lighted upon a brilliant plan. It has been suggested that the state tax doctors so that it can pay doctors more via its Medicaid expenditures. Yes, the Wolverine State wants to tax doctors so it can pay doctors better. No logic need apply.

This sounds like to sort of scam that normal people would get arrested for!

And talk about an unfair tax. Doctors already pay personal income tax and taxes through their businesses. And now, if the State legislature in Lansing has its way, doctors will be taxed just because they are doctors.
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Michigan to Tax Doctors to Pay Doctors”

Anti-Americanism - Chicago - Cook County - Crime - Democrats/Leftists - Islam - Islamofascism - Security/Safety - Society/Culture - State Government - Terrorism - Warner Todd Huston

FBI:Man Charged With Trying to Blow Up Springfield Federal Bldg (Rep. Aaron Schock Targeted)

September 24, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

The FBI announced today that it has arrested a man that thought he was about to blow up a federal building in the Illinois State Capitol, Springfield.

Michael C. Finton, alias “Talib Islam,” was arrested in a sting today officials announced. Federal officials charge that “Islam” drove a van up to the Paul Findlay Federal Building and then left the vehicle parked there. He then entered another vehicle some distance away and tried to use a remote detonator to blow up what he thought was a bomb in the van.

The FBI also reported that “Islam” had a secondary target after the Paul Findley Building.
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FBI:Man Charged With Trying to Blow Up Springfield Federal Bldg (Rep. Aaron Schock Targeted)”

Chicago - Cook County - Crime - Democrats/Leftists - Society/Culture - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Website: Chicagoans For the Olympics… to Stay Outta Chicago

September 24, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

NBC5 TV found a rather amusing new website devoted to Chicago’s bid for the Olympics. Oh, the new site backs a bid to get the Olympics, alright. It backs Rio de Janeiro’s bid instead of Chicago’s. And I, for one, am 100% on this website’s side!

The main page of ChicagoansForRio.com reads “Chicagoans for Rio 2016” and goes on to cheer for Rio to get the games.

It would be exciting to host the Olympics here in Chicago. But you know what would be even better? Rio de Janeiro. Just let Rio host the 2016 Olympics. We don’t mind. Honest.

The site features all sorts of stats to prove that Chicago has too much crime and also has a video of residents telling watchers that they do not want the Olympics here. One fellow explains why he doesn’t want the games: “A lot of crowds, a lot of traffic, they’re going to build the facilities in parks so the people won’t be able to use the parks, and the city won’t be any better off than it was before.”
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Website: Chicagoans For the Olympics… to Stay Outta Chicago”

Chicago - Congress - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - GOP - Illinois - Republicans - Society/Culture - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

GOP Head Steele Withdrawing Kirk Support?

September 24, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Tom Roeser recently wrote that National GOP Party Chairman Michael Steele is stepping back from his Kirk-only support now that Patrick Hughes’ campaign for U.S. Senate has started to make inroads into Kirk’s Illinois support base.

This is interesting news, if it turns out to be true. One of the things that has riled me, for one, is that the national party has swooped in to pick our candidate for us here in Illinois. I am all for the national party supporting our Illinois candidate for Senate but it would be a tad better if the party waited until we the actual voters of Illinois had the opportunity to chose our own candidate first.
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GOP Head Steele Withdrawing Kirk Support?”

Censorship - Chicago - Constitution - Cook County - Elections - Freedom - GOP - Republicans - Society/Culture - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Ill. Blogger Running for State Legislature, 41st District

September 22, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Matt Burden of the blog BlackFive.net has announced that he is running as a Republican for the the State Legislature. Burden has announced his plans to run for the 41st District. The 41st covers parts of Oak Brook, Westchester, Villa Park, La Grange Park and Oak Brook Terrace.

The seat is currently held by Bob Biggins (R, Elmhurst) but Biggins recently announced he is not running for reelection. This seems to have opened up the floodgates for candidates. Burden joins a very crowded field including attorney Peter Breen, Rafael Rivadeneira, DuPage Co Board member Brien Sheahan and Chris Nybo from Elmhurst.

On his campaign website, Burden does have one disturbing thing as far as I am concerned:

While there is no campaign contribution limit in Illinois (something I will change)…

Something he “will change”? Is Matt Burden suggesting tromping on the Constitutional right of free political speech by using the force of law to stop people from donating to political candidates in amounts he deems gauche? That is not a good sign for Burden’s understanding of the Constitution, I have to say.
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Ill. Blogger Running for State Legislature, 41st District”

Budget - Capitalism - Chicago - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Education - Illinois - Jobs - Liberals - Society/Culture - State Government - Taxes - Unions - Warner Todd Huston

School Pensions Making Millionaires out of Retiring Employees

September 22, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Bill Zettler recently submitted a Freedom of Information request on the pensions of 13 retiring public school employees from District 211 in Palatine, Illinois and he found that the people of Illinois are on the hook for over $50 million in pension benefits promised to people retiring at the average age of 58.

Zettler found that these school employees are seeing an average of $96,000 a year in pension benefits whereas the average Social Security benefit is $13,500 a year. SS recipients also don’t get their benefits until they’ve reached 63 at least while the average retirement age of these public employees is 58.

I’ll get right to Mr. Zettler’s pullout quote, one that really puts the whole situation in perfect focus. “If the purpose of taxation is to provide for the common good,” Zettler said, “we may ask what common good is provided by making public employees multi-millionaires in their fifties?”
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School Pensions Making Millionaires out of Retiring Employees”

Cook County - Elections - Illinois - Society/Culture - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Dave Winters Drops Out of Lt. Governor Race

September 21, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Rockford TV reports the abrupt drop out of Republican Dave Winters in the race for Lt. Gov. This is the second drop out of the state wide race as Matt Murphy dropped his bid for Gov and will likely take up the race for Lt. Gov. instead as Andy McKenna’s running mate.

Dave Winters Drops Out of Lt. Governor Race

-By Whitney Martin

It’s a career move that has some local opponents not so happy tonight. Representative Dave winters withdrew his name from the race for lieutenant governor.

After spending three months campaigning for Lt.Governor of Illinois.. State Representative, Dave winters is dropping out of the race and instead will run for re –election

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Dave Winters Drops Out of Lt. Governor Race”

Anti-Americanism - Business - Capitalism - Constitution - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Free Trade - Freedom - Health - Jobs - Liberals - Socialism - Society/Culture - State Government - Taxes - Unions - Warner Todd Huston

Is it American to be Forced Into a Union? In Obama’s America it is!

September 21, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Welcome to Obama’s America where you are forced to become a union member even if you had no idea you were being inducted into one. In fact, in Obama’s America you won’t even know you are IN a union until you notice union dues are being withheld from your checks.

This is the case in Michigan where Sherry Loar and Dawn Ives work out of their home talking care of children for low-income families. One Friday the pair realized that union dues were being withheld from the checks they receive from the state for the subsidized daycare they perform for local families.

As it happens, neither woman voted to join a union nor even knew that they’d be forcefully inducted into one. They didn’t even know their job had a union.
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Is it American to be Forced Into a Union? In Obama’s America it is!”

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

New Ill. GOP Head Speaks at Local Meeting

September 20, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

TAPROOT, a local Downer’s Grove/Lombard area Republican association, received a visit by the new Illinois GOP Chairman, Pat Brady, at its Saturday, Sept. 18th breakfast meeting. TAPROOT Board Chairman Dave Dierson published this report on his GOPIllinois.com site:

Pat Brady and Pat Hughes speak at TAPROOT breakfast meeting

Spirited questions for Brady focus on SB600 and Rule 11

Illinois Republican Party (IRP) Chairman and National Committeeman Pat Brady and U.S. Senate candidate Pat Hughes spoke at an outstanding TAPOOT breakfast meeting Saturday, September 19, at the Old Country Buffet in Lombard.

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New Ill. GOP Head Speaks at Local Meeting”

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

8th District Debate Dawson vs. Rodrigues

September 19, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

**UPDATE**– Event to be rescheduled!! No New Date Announced**

Two of the three announced candidates running for the GOP nomination for the 8th District Congressional seat now held by Democrat Melissa Bean will face off in a debate on Friday, October 2.

Starting at 6PM John Dawson and Maria Rodrigues will debate the issues at the Elk Grove Village VFW Hall at 400 E. Devon Ave.

Prior to the debate, GOP gubernatorial candidate Adam Andrezjewski is scheduled to address the crowd.

Three GOP candidates have announced for this seat.

School Board member John Dawson’s campaign website

Greg Jacobs’ FaceBook Page

Long Grove Mayor Maria Rodriguez’ Website.

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8th District Debate Dawson vs. Rodrigues”

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

Proft on McKenna: He Represents Those That ‘Ran Illinois Into the Ground’

September 19, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

GOP hopeful Dan Proft, for one, isn’t taking the entry of Andy McKenna into the race for governor lying down, anyway.

He says that McKenna represents the monied interests that helped drive this state into the ground. Proft isn’t the only one in assuming that “the money” is the one pushing McKenna on the Illinois GOP, either.

One thing is sure, McKenna’s entry into the race is a slap in the face to Party man Bill Brady who most certainly probably expected the party establishment to give him the nod. After all he’s done for the party, one would think that party insiders would have bent over backwards to convince McKenna to sit this one out.
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Proft on McKenna: He Represents Those That ‘Ran Illinois Into the Ground’”

ACLU - Campaign Finance - Conservatives - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - Liberals - Republicans - Society/Culture - State Government - Taxes - Unions - Warner Todd Huston

Ill. GOP Minority Leader in Bed With Criminal ACORN?

September 19, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Shockingly, it looks like Tom Cross (R- Oswego), the Republican Minority leader at the State Capitol in Springfield, has taken several large campaign donations from the criminal organization ACORN. Even worse, it looks like Cross indulged a quid pro quo to help the troubled community organization out on some of their favored legislative efforts.

Over at ChampionNews.net, Doug Ibendahl has uncovered some uncomfortable information about our Republican minority leader’s campaign coffers. Ibendahl has found that Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 880 donated $17,750 to Cross in 2003 and another $10,000 from SEIU Healthcare Illinois/Indiana PAC.

The SEIU is a public employees union that is closely linked with the troubled ACORN organization and SEIU Local 880 is close to ACORN, indeed. In fact, on the Local’s webpage you can see an email address it lists for contact info that settles the question. That email happens to be seiu880@acorn.org.
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Ill. GOP Minority Leader in Bed With Criminal ACORN?”

Cook County - Education - Illinois - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Gorman For Re-Election to Cook County Board

September 17, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Cook County Commissioner Liz Gorman (R-17th District) is seeking re-election to her seat on the Cook County Board.

After she announced her support for an anti-nepotism ordnance, Gorman announced her bid for re-election.

“This is an opportunity for Cook County to lead the way in ethics reform. How about that?” said Gorman, of Orland Park. “This is a transparency issue … about adding sunshine, and it’s getting so bright here you’ve got to wear shades.”

Gorman, meanwhile, announced she’ll formally declare her campaign for re-election in the 17th District, which covers the western edge of Cook County from the southwest to the northwest suburbs, at an event at 6 p.m. Thursday at Sam Maguire’s in Orland Park. U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk, Republican U.S. Senate candidate, is expected to attend.

Campaign website: LizGorman.com
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Gorman For Re-Election to Cook County Board”