Illinois

Bill Brady - Budget - Business - Economy/Finances - Elections - Free Trade - GOP - Government - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Immigration/Immigrants - Labor Law - Law - Regulation - Republicans - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Bill Brady Advocates a Path to Citizenship for Illegals

August 8, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

GOP Gubernatorial candidate BIll Brady told the attendees of a Hispanic business leaders at Chicago’s Navy Pier that we need to offer some sort of path to citizenship to the illegal aliens now living in the US.

Brady said that we need more legal immigration because our birth rate isn’t robust enough to keep the country growing.

If we wanna grow as a nation, and as a state we have to realize one of the principles that this nation was founded on and that’s immigration. Ladies and gentlemen the birth rate in this country will not allow us to grow at a rate we need to grow at, and we need to bring real reform to immigration policy and open the doors so we can see a growth rate in this country of four percent or greater. The lack of reform and the lack of immigration in this state and country is crippling our economy and our quality of life.

Brady did not offer any numbers to supplement his feeling that we needed more immigrants but he went on to say that he thinks the U.S. government should implement a policy penalizing illegals while offering them a way to become legal citizens.

In a press release Brady said:
Continue reading “

Bill Brady Advocates a Path to Citizenship for Illegals”

Adam Kinzinger - Budget - Congress - Debbie Halvorson - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Elections - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Prairie Stater: Debbie Makes it Three, Another Taxpayer-Funded Direct Mail Piece

August 7, 2010 by

From the Prairie Stater’s John Reynolds

We previously reported here and here about the taxpayer funded direct mail pieces being send out at your expense by Congresswoman Debbie Halvorson (D-11).

Well, today, she made it three: that’s three taxpayer-funded direct mail pieces in as many weeks.

Today’s mail piece was about veterans’ issues.

We again note the irony in the fact that her first mail piece was about “reining in spending” and her efforts to be fiscally responsible.

Is sending out three self-promotional direct mail pieces at taxpayer expense while our country faces a $1.47 trillion deficit really fiscally responsible?

Again, we must ask: how much of our money is Debbie spending to send out these mailers?

Chicago - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - Government - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Liberals - Mark Kirk - Rod Blagojevich - Senate - Warner Todd Huston

Temporary Senator Burris Challenges Special Election for Temporary Senator

August 6, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

It seems like a story written by a bad Hollywood script writer, but Illinois Senator Roland Burris is today challenging a federal judge’s decision to block any more candidates from being added to the ballot of the special election that has been ordered to fill the last few weeks of this Congressional session. Burris wants to be on that ballot but the judge said that only party nominees from the primary are allowed to be on the special election ballot.

First of all the whole thing is confusing. When Barack Obama vacated his Senate seat to take the White House, disgraced Governor Rod Blagojevich underwent a decision process to fill that seat that ended up getting him indicted. Blago gave the seat to long-time Illinois politico Roland Burris. Burris’ appointed term is up on election day but that would leave Illinois without a second Senator for the last 60 days of the legislative session. So, a federal judge declared that Illinois would have to vote on both a special election to seat a Senator for 60 days as well as the regular election for the full term starting after that in 2011.
Continue reading “

Temporary Senator Burris Challenges Special Election for Temporary Senator”

Alexi Giannoulias - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - Government - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Media - MSNBC - Senate - Warner Todd Huston

MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell: Giannoulias Not the Best Candidate for Senate

August 6, 2010 by

Alexi “the Mob banker” Giannoulias is facing a whisper campaign from Democrat insiders that he is not the right candidate to run for Barack Obama’s old Senate seat. Maybe that whisper is a roar because even the left-wing cabler MSNBC is reporting that people are asking of Giannoulias is the right candidate for the Democrats.

Budget - Chicago - Cook County - Cook County Board - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Government - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Liberals - Taxes - Tony Peraica - Warner Todd Huston

Peraica: Today’s Taxing (and Troubling) News‏

August 6, 2010 by

From the office of Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraica….

There were two tidbits in today’s headlines that further support my push to fully repeal the Stroger sales tax hike in Cook County.

First, despite rising taxes and fees, tax collections are actually down in the state (again). As the Champaign News-Gazette reports, overall state tax collections are down 9.5% in July.

The reason for this decline? Simple: people are out of work. When they are out of work, their incomes drop (obviously). That leads to a drop in income tax revenues. They also consume less, which leads to a drop in sales taxes. It is for that reason that increasing the income tax and keeping sales taxes high will only further decimate our economy.
Continue reading “

Peraica: Today’s Taxing (and Troubling) News‏”

Budget - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Government - Illinois - Illinois Policy Institute - Illinois State Government - Liberals - Pat Quinn - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Ill. Policy Institute: Hospital Rationing?‏

August 6, 2010 by

“Wedding of the Decade of the Century of the Millennium”
Well, it’s official—the dog days of summer are here. August, long known as a “slow news month” in the media business, often features some of the goofiest television news of the year. Exhibit A: the oft-breathless yet incredibly nonspecific national coverage of Chelsea Clinton’s recent wedding. You can watch Jon Stewart skewer the national media’s latest late-summer masterpieces.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart Mon – Thurs 11p / 10c
Wedding of the Decade of the Century of the Millennium
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Tea Party

Will a Hospital Be There When You Need It?
How many hospitals does the Land of Lincoln need, and who gets to decide? In Illinois, the process is far more complicated than you might think—and, unfortunately, it also restricts access to health care across the state. Read more here.
Continue reading “

Ill. Policy Institute: Hospital Rationing?‏”

Anti-Americanism - Barack Obama - Budget - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - GOP - Government - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Liberals - Pat Quinn - Regulation - Republicans - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

More Taxes and Less Jobs, Enough is Enough — Let’s Stop the Overtaxation on September 18th!

August 6, 2010 by

The Democrats are showing their true colors once again. Illinois Governor Pat Quinn has plans to increase the Illinois income tax — continuing his policy of killing jobs and stagnating the economy.

In a recent Bloomberg article, the Illinois budget director shined the light on Quinns tax increase plan:

“Lawmakers will likely increase the personal tax to 5 percent from 3 percent, generating $6 billion of new revenue,” the budget director, David Vaught, said in an interview.
Continue reading “

More Taxes and Less Jobs, Enough is Enough — Let’s Stop the Overtaxation on September 18th!”

Chicago - Congress - Elections - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Mark Kirk - Republicans - Senate - Warner Todd Huston

Chicago Mag: Kirk’s Ex-Wife Says a ‘Svengali Figure’ Influencing Him

August 5, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Chicago Magazine has conducted an extensive interview with Kimberly Vertolli, Illinois GOP Senate candidate Mark Kirk’s ex-wife, and the woman makes an interesting charge against one of Kirk’s current campaign operatives, Dorothy “Dodie” McCracken

Vertolli says that the campaign staffer is the one that came between them causing their divorce and is a “Svengali figure” in her former hubbies life.

Vertolli refused to assert that McCracken is in a romantic relationsjip with Mark Kirk, but she did say the woman is a “pernicious influence” on the candidate.

Here is the exchange:
Continue reading “

Chicago Mag: Kirk’s Ex-Wife Says a ‘Svengali Figure’ Influencing Him”

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

2 Chicago Democrats Convicted of Vote Fraud

August 5, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Two political workers for Chicago Alderman Bernard Stone (50th Ward) have been convicted of vote fraud and were sentenced to one year in jail on August 4.

The pair were convicted of attempting to manipulate absentee ballots in Stone’s tough 2007 re-election campaign.

The workers, Anish Epsen, 40, and Armando Ramos, 36, were given 364 days and 270 days respectively, convicted of attempted absentee ballot violations, a misdemeanor. The pair faced several felony charges, but the judge only sentenced them on the misdemeanor charges.

Instructive is the reaction of boss Stone.
Continue reading “

2 Chicago Democrats Convicted of Vote Fraud”

Budget - Business - Chicago - Conservatives - Economy/Finances - Elections - GOP - Government - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Peter Roskam - Republicans - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Roskam Declares August 4th Debt Dependence Day

August 5, 2010 by

From the Office of Representative Peter Roskam…

Starting Today Every Dollar U.S. Spends in 2010 Must Be Borrowed

Rep. Roskam: “Though most families won’t celebrate Debt Dependence Day with fireworks and parades, this August 4th, every American should take note of the huge and growing share of our national debt with their name on it.”
Continue reading “

Roskam Declares August 4th Debt Dependence Day”

Barack Obama - Budget - Chicago - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Government - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Pat Quinn - Regulation - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston - Welfare

Thanks Obama: More Illinoisans on Food Stamps Than Ever

August 4, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

According to the AP, there are more citizens in Illinois on food stamps than ever before.

More than 780,000 Illinois families got food stamps in June. The Illinois Department of Human Services said Monday that the figure is up 11.9 percent from a year earlier.

Is this any surprise when Illinois clocks in as having one of the worst business climates of any state in the Union?
Continue reading “

Thanks Obama: More Illinoisans on Food Stamps Than Ever”

Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - Government - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Liberals - Republicans - Warner Todd Huston

Could Phil Hare (D, 17th) Be In Trouble?

August 4, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

We’ve reported here the many times that Phil “I Don’t Care About the Constitution” Hare, the incumbent Democrat in the 17th District, is one of those Democrats who values his own opinion and no one’s else… especially his constituent’s. We’ve also seen some polling that seems to indicate that he is running behind in his re-election bid. Well, we have more of the latter on that count today.

Public Opinion Strategies has released another poll showing the Hare-raising (or is that Hare-lowering) possibility that Phil Hare might lose to Republican Bobby Schilling.

Here is what the Schilling campaign has released:
Continue reading “

Could Phil Hare (D, 17th) Be In Trouble?”

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

Hayes Steps Out to Demand Better Leadership for the Black Community

August 4, 2010 by

From the Hayes for Congress campaign (2nd District)…

CHICAGO, IL- For the black community it is all a one party rule. A regime consisting of all Democrats has led to a culture of corruption that leaves citizens in gang infested, poverty stricken areas, while the Representatives cheat on their taxes, bailout their husbands’ banks and try to bribe their way to higher office.

Hayes remarked, “The black community has been used by its elected officials as a playground for pay-to-play politics. Rangel, Waters, and Jackson all need to be shown the door in November.”
Continue reading “

Hayes Steps Out to Demand Better Leadership for the Black Community”

Illinois - Illinois State Government - Tea Party - Warner Todd Huston

‘Joe The Plumber’ Coming to Central Illinois

August 3, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

The State Journal-Register in the state’s capitol reports that “Joe the Plumber” Wurzelbacher is planning to speak in three town in and around Springfield, IL this month.
Wurzelbacher will be appearing at Take Back Illinois 9/12 rallies in Pittsfield on Aug. 17 and Jacksonville Aug. 18, and an Aug. 19 event in Springfield.

You’ll recall that “Joe the Plumber” became famous when he asked then candidate Barack Obama about his tax policy ideas to which, in good socialist fashion, the president-to-be replied that he wanted to “spread the wealth.”
Continue reading “

‘Joe The Plumber’ Coming to Central Illinois”

Alexi Giannoulias - Banks - Chicago - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Elections - Government - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Senate - Warner Todd Huston

Democrat ‘Mob Banker’s’ Bank Loaned $23 Mil to Tony Rezko

August 2, 2010 by 1 Comment

-By Warner Todd Huston

Tony Rezko has been at the root of many of Illinois’ worst cases of government corruption and influence peddling with ties that go back decades. He’s been tied to President Obama, indicted Governor Rod Blagojevich, and now Senate Democrat candidate Alexi Giannoulias whose family bank loaned the crook almost $23 million.

Worse, the Giannoulias family bank made the loan to Tony Rezko’s development group long after he’d become “politically radioactive,” as the Chicago Sun-Times puts it.
Continue reading “

Democrat ‘Mob Banker’s’ Bank Loaned $23 Mil to Tony Rezko”

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

Good News: Big Money to be Made in Illinois. Bad news: it’s in Government

August 2, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

With recent revelations that the city manager of the small, mostly low-income Hispanic community of Bell, California makes nearly $800,000 a year and that its police chief makes almost $500,000 yearly, the spotlight might be leveled at city employees all across the country. Illinois, as it happens, is no better for the squandering of such cash, it appears.

On July 31, the Chicago Tribune reported that the an executive of the Highland Park, Illinois park district makes $435,203 a year. And then there were the big bonuses.
Continue reading “

Good News: Big Money to be Made in Illinois. Bad news: it’s in Government”

Budget - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Education - Government - Illinois - Liberals - Taxes - The Heartland Institute - Warner Todd Huston

Heartland Institute’s Bruno Behrend On WLS Radio Tonight, 6PM Central

August 1, 2010 by

Bruno Behrend – Heartland’s Director for the Center for School Reform, liberal Robert Creamer and Tea Party activist Tim Krulidis will be the guests on Bruce DuMont’s Beyond the Beltway. A wide range of issues relating to America’s deficit, taxation, and spending will be discussed.

Sunday, August 1st, 2010 at 6:00 PM CST
WLS Radio – 890 AM in Chicago (see link below for syndicated stations)

If you want to enjoy a great radio show with one of America’s best show hosts, you can’t do better than taking 2 hours to listen to Bruce DuMont’s “Beyond the Beltway.”
Continue reading “

Heartland Institute’s Bruno Behrend On WLS Radio Tonight, 6PM Central”

Congress - Democrats/Leftists - DuPage County - Elections - Ethics - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Randy Hultgren - Republicans - Warner Todd Huston

Hultgren for Congress (14th District): Bill Foster Campaigns at Taxpayers’ Expense

August 1, 2010 by

An interesting note from the Hultgren for Congress campaign (14th District)…

St. Charles, IL – The second taxpayer-funded advertisement in one week from Bill Foster’s congressional office arrived yesterday in voter’s mailboxes ahead of the August 4th deadline to stop government paid mail from Members of Congress.

“Bill Foster is using taxpayer funds to pay for campaign propaganda he sends to voters,” said State Senator Randy Hultgren. “People throughout the 14th district are outraged at this abuse of the taxpayers trust.”
Continue reading “

Hultgren for Congress (14th District): Bill Foster Campaigns at Taxpayers’ Expense”

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

Bill Brady: Less Than 100 Days ‘Til Election Day

July 31, 2010 by

From the Bill Brady for Governor campaign…

With less than 100 days before election day… this week marked a turning point in Bill’s campaign to make state government live within its means – just like families and small businesses do every day.

Earlier this week, the same state budget bureaucrat who received a $24,000 pay hike under Pat Quinn, brazenly told a Bloomberg News reporter, “We’re going to pass a tax increase in January,” and touted a plan to raise taxes by 67 percent, the largest tax hike in Illinois history.
Continue reading “

Bill Brady: Less Than 100 Days ‘Til Election Day”

Charlie Rangel - Congress - Cook County Board - Crime - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - Ethics - Government - Illinois - Jan Schakowsky - Liberals - Warner Todd Huston

Joel Pollak: Jan Schakowsky Says Charles Rangel is ‘My Leader’

July 31, 2010 by

From the Pollak for Congress campaign (9th District)…

NILES, IL- A newly discovered YouTube video reveals the close ties between Jan Schakowsky and Charles Rangel, chair of the House Ways & Means Committee, who is currently facing serious ethics charges.

The video was uploaded by the National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS (NLBCA) on March 20, 2010

It contains footage of a speech Schakowsky gave at an NBLCA event on Capitol Hill on March 17, 2010–two weeks after Rangel was forced to take a “leave of absence” as chair of his committee on March 3.
Continue reading “

Joel Pollak: Jan Schakowsky Says Charles Rangel is ‘My Leader’”

Alexi Giannoulias - Campaign Finance - Chicago - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - GOP - Government - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Liberals - Mark Kirk - Republicans - Senate - Warner Todd Huston

Ill. Dem Senate Candidate Still $200,000 in Debt From Primary

July 30, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

So far, the biggest negative that has stuck against Illinois Democrat Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias is that he is a poor money manager. The worst is that he was an officer in a family bank that has since gone under due to shady loans to mobsters — to the tune of $20 million in unpaid debt — and other bad banking practices . And now we can add another poor financial situation to Alexi’s already groaning deficit accounts: he’s still $200,000 in debt for his recently completed primary campaign.

As reported two weeks ago, Giannoulias has under performed in campaign fundraising so far in comparison to his GOP opponent, Mark Kirk.
Continue reading “

Ill. Dem Senate Candidate Still $200,000 in Debt From Primary”

Congress - Cook County - DuPage County - Foreign Countries - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Israel - Peter Roskam - Warner Todd Huston

Rep Peter Roskam (R,IL) Returns from Israel after meeting with Netanyahu

July 30, 2010 by

<‬p>From the Office of Illinois Representative Perter Roskam…‏

‪<‬p>Greetings from Washington! In this town, it’s easy to get swept up in the critical domestic issues facing our country each day. With the mid-term elections less than four months away, a Democratic majority unable to draft a budget, and unemployment near ten percent, there is plenty keeping us busy.

‪<‬p>However, our country is also facing critical security issues on the international stage. Recently, I had the privilege of leading a bipartisan Congressional delegation to Israel – our nation’s only democratic ally in the tumultuous Middle East – to get a first hand account of the situation on the ground as it relates to American interests. As the co-chair of the House Republican Israel Caucus, this trip was particularly insightful.
Continue reading “

Rep Peter Roskam (R,IL) Returns from Israel after meeting with Netanyahu”

Budget - Capitalism - Economy/Finances - Government - Illinois - Illinois Policy Institute - Illinois State Government - Liberals - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

The $41.8 Million Cow-Milking Machine‏

July 30, 2010 by

From the Illinois Policy Institute…

The “Me First” Rally
If you’ve been watching New Jersey Governor Chris Christie in action, you know he doesn’t mince words. In this MSNBC clip, you can watch him take on what he sees as a “me-first” mentality in his home state. New Jersey, like Illinois, is battling a massive state budget crisis—but unlike Illinois, it isn’t considering a massive tax hike. You can read the latest on that development below.
Continue reading “

The $41.8 Million Cow-Milking Machine‏”

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

Sex Harassment Scandal in Cook County GOP Sees Resignation of Political Director Rose

July 29, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

This story has been building for weeks on HillBuzz.org, but the reporting there was often iffy, hazy, and speculative, so I didn’t write about it myself. But this week things have come to a head proving the allegations had some merit because now Cook County GOP Executive Director Jeremy Rose has resigned over the allegations of sexual harassment leveled against him.

The story goes that on June 17, 2009, a woman was attending a Chicago Young Republicans meeting in Chicago and when she made to leave for the night was prevented from doing so by Rose. Rose began touching the woman in an unwelcome manner, allegedly took away her cell phone to prevent her from calling a cab, and then sat on her lap to prevent her from leaving. Rose proceeded to suggestively converse with her until she was finally able to extricate herself from the situation. The woman felt threatened and harassed and filed a complaint.

This is all bad enough, but Cook County GOP Chairman Lee Roupas did nothing after being made aware of the allegations. In fact, just the opposite. Roupas promoted the offender to higher positions in the Cook County Party establishment until he was at last appointed Political Director.
Continue reading “

Sex Harassment Scandal in Cook County GOP Sees Resignation of Political Director Rose”

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

Now Cook County Board Prez Stroger Sticks Taxpayers With $175,000 Contract Bill

July 29, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Cook County Board President Todd Stroger’s last year in office is marked by one incident of bilking the taxpayers after another. Each week seems to bring a new example of Stroger and his buddies and family members sticking their hands in our pockets and this week has been no different.

In fact, this week we’ve gotten a twofer as two incidents of Stroger’s nest feathering have come to light. The first came on the 27th when Big Boss Todd awarded a $15,000 consulting job to Raymond L. Harris Sr., of Bolingbrook, who worked on Stroger’s losing primary campaign to retain his seat.
Continue reading “

Now Cook County Board Prez Stroger Sticks Taxpayers With $175,000 Contract Bill”

Congress - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - Government - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Liberals - Melissa Bean - Warner Todd Huston

(Ill. Congresswoman) Bean’s Crime Inc: Last Post On Third Way

July 29, 2010 by

The last part of a multi-part series from the Palatine Tea Party…

(Palatine, Illinois) – Congresswoman Melissa Bean is one of the Honorary Co-Chairs of the Third Way Foundation, formerly known as the Progressive Foundation.

The National Security Program

Third Way is helping develop a new moderate approach on national security that is tough and smart. We reject the recklessness of the neoconservative worldview and believe that America can be both resolute in battling our enemies and open and cooperative in seeking solutions to global problems. We develop policy ideas on the major securityissues and we offer framing strategies to help progressives most effectively communicate about these issues.*
Continue reading “

(Ill. Congresswoman) Bean’s Crime Inc: Last Post On Third Way”

Anti-Americanism - Budget - Cook County - Cook County Board - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Elections - Government - Illinois - Liberals - President - State Government - Taxes - Tony Peraica - Warner Todd Huston

Another Stroger Appointment on the Backs of Taxpayers

July 28, 2010 by

From Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraica…

Earlier today, in another direct insult to the county taxpayers — Todd Stroger and his administration put forth yet another campaign official from their failed primary campaign to join the county payroll as a $60,000 paid labor consultant.

It is high time for the Stroger administration to stop granting political favors by placing former campaign workers in high paid roles on the backs of the taxpayers.

Tony Peraica
Cook County Commissioner
www.reformcookcounty.com

2nd Amendment - Constitution - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Freedom - Government - Guns - Illinois - Judges - Law - Liberals - Mayor Richard Daley - Supreme Court - Warner Todd Huston

ICarry Takes Chicago and Mayor Daley Back to Court!!

July 28, 2010 by

From ICarry.org…

Executive Director Shaun Kranish writes:

Although the Supreme Court of the United States ruled in McDonald that Chicago has violated an individual and fundamental right to keep and bear arms by having an outright ban on pistols (and for decades this ban did not apply to Chicago aldermen and other criminals), Daley and his cohorts have immediately responded with more outrageous restrictions.
Continue reading “

ICarry Takes Chicago and Mayor Daley Back to Court!!”