Melissa Bean’s Healthcare101 – Part 6 of 13

From the Palatine Tea Party…

(Palatine, Illinois) – In response to the letter Melissa Bean wrote to the constituents in district 8 dated April 16, 2010. We will respond to each of her statements Melissa Bean made based on emotion with factual responses where she stated the following:

“Starting in 2014, those limited to the Individual market will be able to choose from a variety of benefit plans in a state-wide Exchange. By pooling together, they will have more benefit options, volume pricing, and reduced risk. An Estimated 31,500 uninsured Eighth District families will get access to affordable coverage.”
Continue reading


Melissa Bean’s Healthcare101 – Part 6 of 13″


PC-a-paloosa: Cook County Board Pushes Anti-Arizona and Pro-Affirmative Action Measures

-By Warner Todd Huston

Here we have Cook County Board President Todd Stroger spending as much cash on his family, offices and friends as he can before he gets canned from his high position in government, here we have the County budget coming in at $3 billion, the Board constantly squabbling over massive tax hikes — hikes they thankfully didn’t implement this budget cycle — and so many things going on that are supremely important yet the County Board is wasting time trying to pass anti-Arizona rules and setting up new offices to implement affirmative action measures.

In talks about new red-light cameras that are little else but cash machines that sap money from the citizens straight to government pockets while providing little by way of safety, it occurred to a pair of pro-law breakers on the County Board that they should exclude the Arizona-based company that was in the running for the county’s red-light camera business.
Continue reading


PC-a-paloosa: Cook County Board Pushes Anti-Arizona and Pro-Affirmative Action Measures”


Melissa Bean’s Healthcare101 – Part 5 of 13

From the Palatine Tea Party…

(Palatine, Illinois) – In response to the letter Melissa Bean wrote to the constituents in district 8 dated April 16, 2010. We will respond to each of her statements Melissa Bean made based on emotion with factual responses where she stated the following:

“A man unable to start his own company because his pre-existing condition makes it IMPOSSIBLE to afford health insurance in the individual market. Moms and dads who have been laid off from work, dreading the expiration of COBRA benefits and access to health insurance for their families.”

Continue reading


Melissa Bean’s Healthcare101 – Part 5 of 13″


Last Minute Anti-Gun Bills In Springfield

From the NRA-ILA

While the Illinois General Assembly tries to complete its business this week, anti-gun extremists are putting on a desperate push to pass attacks on our Right to Keep and Bear Arms.

As mentioned last week, House Bill 5849 and House Bill 5480, both sponsored by State Representative Harry Osterman (D-14), are expected to be debated on the floor, along with the amendments previously discussed.
Continue reading


Last Minute Anti-Gun Bills In Springfield”


Update From the Institute for Truth in Accounting

Weinberg Attends Peterson Foundation Fiscal Summit

On April 28th, Sheila Weinberg attended the Peter G. Peterson Foundation ‘2010 Fiscal Summit: America’s Crisis and A Way Forward,’ a meeting to launch a national bipartisan dialogue on America’s fiscal challenges. The Fiscal Summit included a range of voices including keynote speaker former U.S. President Bill Clinton, OMB Dir. Peter Orszag, Alan Greenspan, Paul Volcker, former Treasury Sec. Robert Rubin and Wisconsin Representative Paul Ryan.
Continue reading


Update From the Institute for Truth in Accounting”


The Campaign to Stop Stroger’s Lame Duck Spending Spree

-By Warner Todd Huston

Todd Stroger lost his bid for re-election to his position as President of the Cook County Board. Since he lost that primary, Stroger has stepped up his efforts to spread County cash to all his buddies in a last ditch, lame duck campaign to reward his friends and family before he’s out of office for good.

Led by Commissioner Tony Peraica the County Board has been racing to put an end to this wild, lame duck spending spree. They have voted to put a limit on the spending that Stroger can indulge.

Sadly, this is what we have come to expect from Chicago politicians. Whether on the way out or on the way in, they all too often use their offices as a cash machine for friends and family.

Fortunately some, like Peraica, valiantly fight in the public’s interests. but it is up to we voters to pay attention to what our elected officials do and it is incumbent upon us to do something about it.
Continue reading


The Campaign to Stop Stroger’s Lame Duck Spending Spree”


Melissa Bean’s Healthcare101 – Part 4 of 13

From the Palatine Tea Party…

(Palatine, Illinois) – In response to the letter Melissa Bean wrote to the constituents in district 8 dated April 16, 2010. We will respond to each of her statements Melissa Bean made based on emotion with factual responses where she stated the following:

“Across the district, I’ve heard of countless health care challenges families have been struggling with: A mother fearing for her son’s life because he’s hit his lifetime cap on benefits at age 14, contemplating bankruptcy to provide him care. A man unable to start his own company because his pre-existing condition makes it impossible to afford health insurance in the individual market. Moms and dads who have been laid off from work, dreading the expiration of COBRA benefits and access to health insurance for their families. I’m proud to have voted to end these uniquely American stories.
Continue reading


Melissa Bean’s Healthcare101 – Part 4 of 13″


5th District Ratowitz: Democrats in Congress Failed to safeguard the Gulf Coast

From the Ratowitz for Congress campaign (5th District)…

David Ratowitz, Republican Candidate for Illinois’ 5th Congressional seat, demands accountability from Democrats in Congress for their failure to safeguard the Gulf Coast

U. S. Congressional Candidate, David Ratowitz (IL – 5), claims “Democrats in Congress have spent the last four years rehashing lost political fights of the past instead of governing 21st Century America. We have the capability to contain and minimize damage from an oil spill, Democrat failures to realistically address America’s energy policy are the cause of the current oil spill calamity.”

Continue reading


5th District Ratowitz: Democrats in Congress Failed to safeguard the Gulf Coast”


Melissa Bean’s Healthcare101 – Part 3 of 13

From the Palatine Tea Party…

(Palatine, Illinois) – In response to the letter Melissa Bean wrote to the constituents in district 8 dated April 16, 2010. We will respond to each of her statements Melissa Bean made based on emotion with factual responses where she stated the following:

“After deliberate review of the final legislation in relation to (the concerns of the people of the 8th district) I supported it (the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act) because it will provide the health care security, affordability and choice families and businesses seek, while utilizing the private market-not a government takeover-and yielding a significant federal deficit reduction of $1.3 trillion…”

Continue reading


Melissa Bean’s Healthcare101 – Part 3 of 13″


Legislative Update: Springfield Lawmakers Passing the Buck

This was sent out by Americans for Prosperity Illinois, but I want to be sure and direct your attention to the info about SB 2494, the school voucher bill. This is a very important bill that is soon to be considered in Springfield. This bill would be good for education in Illinois.

It appears that the legislative leaders will once again fail to show the courage to make the tough decisions and will be passing the buck to Gov. Pat Quinn forcing him to decide funding levels for most state programs in FY 2011 and more than likely authorizing more borrowing. In a recent Continue reading


Legislative Update: Springfield Lawmakers Passing the Buck”


Scott Lee Cohen Runs for Ill. Gov. as Independent

-By Warner Todd Huston

Well, it seems to be official. Former Democrat Lt. Gov. primary winner, Scott Lee Cohen, is running for governor as an independent.

Cohen told Fox News that he is “tired of waste and mismanagement” in Illinois government. and that is why he’s running. He told the media that he may not be perfect, but he’s been honest with the people.

Cohen needs to get 25,000 signatures on his petition by June 21 to have his name added to the ballot.

It ought to be interesting, eh?


Troubles Mount for Walsh Campaign (R, 8th District) — Walsh MUST Step down NOW!

-By Warner Todd Huston

Last December Joe Walsh, the primary winner for the GOP nomination for the 8th District Congressional seat, lost his campaign manager Keith Liscio. Liscio quit the Walsh campaign over unpaid consulting fees adding up into the thousands. Now two more top campaign operatives are quitting Walsh’s campaign adding to worries of financial problems, missed filing dates for federal paper work, and other questions of Walsh’s suitability for office.

Richard Cape and Ted Livengood, the campaign manager and field director respectively, have announced that they are quitting the Walsh campaign. In a recent email to supporters and media both the pair have also said they no longer endorse his candidacy. In the email are listed quite a few questions that have come to trouble Cape and Livengood about candidate Walsh.
Continue reading


Troubles Mount for Walsh Campaign (R, 8th District) — Walsh MUST Step down NOW!”


5th District Ratowitz: Where Does Rep. Quigley Stand on Taxing Retirement Savings?

From the Ratowitz for Congress campaign (5th District)…

David Ratowitz, Republican Candidate for Illinois’ 5th Congressional seat, demands to know: where does Mike Quigley (D IL-5) stand on taxing retirement savings?

U. S. Congressional Candidate, David Ratowitz (IL – 5), wants to know: “where does Mike Quigley stand on taxing retirement savings? Just this week, Democrats in Congress said they wanted to tax IRA and 401(k) retirement accounts. Obviously, Mike Quigley doesn’t care about us, otherwise he would oppose tax increases that target our retirement savings and destroy jobs in the District.”
Continue reading


5th District Ratowitz: Where Does Rep. Quigley Stand on Taxing Retirement Savings?”


Walsh: Not a Perfect Candidate, but the Perfect Candidate to Defeat Melissa Bean

From the Walsh for Congress Campaign (8th District)…

8th District Republican Congressional Nominee spent an hour last night speaking with, listening to, and answering questions from more than 100 Eighth District residents at a candidate forum last night.

“I am not a perfect candidate,” Walsh said, “But I am the perfect candidate to defeat Melissa Bean,” he said to great applause from the audience.

“I wasn’t the establishment choice,” Walsh said. “And the fact that I am neck-and-neck with Rep. Bean in the polls makes those who benefit from the status quo nervous. That’s okay. I’m not going to make the same mistakes Melissa Bean has made by putting her political party ahead of her district. You elected me and it is your interests that will fight for and your values that I will represent in Congress.”
Continue reading


Walsh: Not a Perfect Candidate, but the Perfect Candidate to Defeat Melissa Bean”


Obama Tough Guy On Illegal Immigration! That Was Then…

-By Warner Todd Huston

Once again we see that anything that Obama says has an expiration date. In 2006, then Senator Obama was a tough guy on illegal aliens. Flash forward to 2010 when he wants desperately to find an issue with which he can beat up on Republicans, suddenly Barack Obama pretends to be every illegal alien’s buddy.

In 2006 an illegal alien named Elvira Arellano was discovered working illegally in Chicago. She escaped going into the custody of ICE officials and ended up hiding in a law breaking Catholic Church in Chicago. She was eventually apprehended and deported as she should have been. But before that happened this lawbreaker made a special plea to the two U.S. Senators in Illinois. Barack Obama was one of them.

He rejected her pleas saying, “We live in a country of laws. We don’t do things sort of based on, you know, one person’s situation.”

Thanks to the ever alert Naked Emperor News

Oh, a tough guy was he. Yep, just another Obama “principle” that was conveniently thrown away when Obama needs a new one to fit his new political needs.
Continue reading


Obama Tough Guy On Illegal Immigration! That Was Then…”


Illinois School Fund ‘Money Laundering’ Bill Passed by Both Houses

-By Warner Todd Huston

Unfortunately a bill that will allow schools to pull a bait-and-switch and pilfer funds that are supposed to go for other things and apply those funds to unapproved building projects has now passed both houses in Springfield. This means that schools might now be able to take funds that are supposed to be used for specific things and pour them into building projects (or any other use) for which the schools did not get voter’s approval. I wrote about this bill on April 28.

The way our system is supposed to work is that schools that want major new building projects or other such high ticket needs must go before the voters for a bond issue, for taxes to be raised. The voters say yes and taxes are raised or bonds issued to satisfy the school’s needs. But if voters say no, then the schools are supposed to do without. That is they way democracy is supposed to work.

But lo and behold special interests and consultants that make their living off our schools by consulting them on bond issues and spending plans wrote HB6041 that convinced lawmakers to allow schools to raid specified funds any time they feel like doing so and use those funds for whatever they want to use them for. This is now misappropriation of funds made legal.
Continue reading


Illinois School Fund ‘Money Laundering’ Bill Passed by Both Houses”


Illinois, The Time to Act is Now!

From Americans for Prosperity, Illinois…

We’re at the time in the legislative cycle when the Illinois General Assembly will engage in a flurry of activities that may produce bills the public and for that matter lawmakers have never seen, bills that may request spending of billions of our tax dollars, bills that can become laws in a blink of an eye. Next week brings along certain legislative deadlines for the reading and passage of “Substantive” bills.

Please contact your lawmakers today.
Continue reading


Illinois, The Time to Act is Now!”


Call the neighbors and wake the kids, it’s SB600 time!

-By Doug Ibendahl, Republican News Watch

The Illinois General Assembly is tentatively scheduled to adjourn by May 7th (a week from this Friday). That’s an early date, and it may not happen, but that’s the goal.

It’s a good time to make another push for final passage of SB600. Recall the bill passed overwhelmingly in the State Senate last year. We still need House passage.
Continue reading


Call the neighbors and wake the kids, it’s SB600 time!”


Melissa Bean’s Healthcare101 – Part 2 of 13

From the Palatine Tea Party…

(Palatine, Illinois) – In response to the letter Melissa Bean wrote to the constituents in district 8 dated April 16, 2010. We will respond to each of her statements Melissa Bean made based on emotion with factual responses where she stated the following:

“After deliberate review of the final legislation in relation to (the concerns of the people of the 8th district) I supported it (the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act) because it will provide the health care security, affordability and choice families and businesses seek, while utilizing the private market-not a government takeover-and yielding a significant federal deficit reduction of $1.3 trillion…”
Continue reading


Melissa Bean’s Healthcare101 – Part 2 of 13″


Melissa Bean’s Healthcare101 – Part 1 of 13

From the Palatine Tea Party…

In response to the letter Melissa Bean wrote to the constituents in district 8 dated April 16, 2010. We will respond to each of her statements Melissa Bean made based on emotion with factual responses where she stated the following:

“After deliberate review of the final legislation in relation to (the concerns of the people of the 8th district) I supported it (the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act) because it will provide the health care security, affordability and choice families and businesses seek, while utilizing the private market-not a government takeover-and yielding a significant federal deficit reduction of $1.3 trillion…”
Continue reading


Melissa Bean’s Healthcare101 – Part 1 of 13″


Adam Andrzejewski: Illinois Can’t Afford Quinn‏

From Adam Andrzejewski and For the Good of Illinois

Thanks to you, we’re winning the fight to Open the Books!

Over the past couple weeks, advocates of transparent and accountable government in Illinois have been winning more and more small victories.

Quinn’s canoe czar, $85,000 per year, STOPPED!
Continue reading


Adam Andrzejewski: Illinois Can’t Afford Quinn‏”


Cook County Spending Over $200,000 for ‘Fresh Rolls and Pastries’

-By Warner Todd Huston

Last week we discovered through the Cook County online check register that the county spent $300,000 for coffee services from the ACE Coffee company. (See here, and here). This week The Prairie Stater has discovered that the county is spending more than $200,000 additional budget dollars on “fresh rolls and pastries” from Chicago’s Alpha Baking Company.

So, not only do county workers make more than you on the job and far more than you in retirement, now we find out they even eat better than you on the job.

It must be like a party to go to work everyday in county government.
Continue reading


Cook County Spending Over $200,000 for ‘Fresh Rolls and Pastries’”


Schools Fund Building Projects With Pilfered Tax Money

-By Warner Todd Huston

Schools that want tax dollars to fund major new building or refurbishing projects are supposed to go before the voters, hat in hand, to ask for a tax increase. A referendum then goes on a ballot for tax payers to approve or deny. This prevents abuse of tax money and is how the system is supposed to work. But an investigation finds that millions of dollars in building funds have been raised through questionable bonds issued by schools without getting legal approval from the taxpayers.

Schools have been caught floating bonds to fund their unapproved building projects despite that the courts have ordered them to stop this shady practice. And now, instead of punishing these lawbreakers, state legislators plan to just change the rules to make this questionable wild spending legal in a grandfathered law to be considered in the state senate perhaps as early as this week.

Worse than that, the legislation was written by private companies that specialize in assisting schools to rape the taxpayers by helping them figure ways around the law. This bill wasn’t even written by our elected officials but by special interests that make their living skimming tax money from schools.
Continue reading


Schools Fund Building Projects With Pilfered Tax Money”


The Left’s Lies About ‘Peaceful’ Immigration Protesters

-By Warner Todd Huston

HotAir.com posted an excellent side-by-side video from Fox News that shows the lengths that the left goes to in order to excuse the common every day violence, hate and criminal actions of folks from their own side.

Take a look at this excellent report…

This ignoramus, hypocrite that Fox News dredged up to represent the left is typical of the back bending gymnastics indulged by the Old Media and the left — one in the same, I know. This is typical in the way they denigrate the perfectly peaceful Tea Party protests while excusing the lawless, criminal actions of the left’s protesters — in this case the recent pro-illegal immigrant criminal protesters in Arizona.
Continue reading


The Left’s Lies About ‘Peaceful’ Immigration Protesters”


Mayor Daley Wants Foreign Kangaroo Court to Rule in Chicago

-By Warner Todd Huston

Mayor Richard “King” Daley has just earned his monarchical (or is that maniacal) nickname by announcing his desire to have a European “court” invade the U.S. and begin prosecuting American citizens for doing a legal, Constitutionally protected business in America.

The despicable, mob-infested mayor of Chicago’s newest harebrained scheme in his fight against the U.S. Constitution is to have the so-called World Criminal Court at the Hague to begin prosecuting gun manufacturers and gun dealers here in America.

It’s bad enough that this Eurocrat wannabe thinks that this kangaroo court in Europe has legal jurisdiction in the USA, but he’s teaming up with a foreign plutocrat in Mexico to try and pursue this idiot’s scheme.

Mayor Daley again proves his essential hate for his own country. First by wallowing in his mob connected lifestyle, next by his surrounding himself with criminal Democrats that rob the city blind, then by siding with foreigners against his own country.

Maybe we would be better off with Rahm Emanuel in the big chair at City Hall? At least Rahm is just an average crook!
Continue reading


Mayor Daley Wants Foreign Kangaroo Court to Rule in Chicago”


Chicago Fox Attacks 8th District Candidate Joe Walsh

-By Warner Todd Huston

Fox News Chicago ran a piece on 8th Congressional District Republican candidate Joe Walsh who topped a field of five candidates in the primary. They found that Walsh’s campaign never filed his financial disclosure forms as required by federal election law. The Fox correspondent pointedly asked Walsh, “how come you didn’t file your personal financial disclosure forms as obligated by federal election laws?”

Fox News also found a couple of local pols that said they would ask Walsh to resign his primary win if these things were not figured out. Of course, neither of the guys they found supported Walsh during the primary, so it shouldn’t be surprising that they’d immediately jump to calling for Walsh to quit the race.

But my biggest problem with these stories about Walsh’s financial troubles is that they never came before the primary. They’ve all come after the primary. Even I wrote about Walsh’s financial troubles before the primary and I don’t have the investigative tools that TV and newspapers do! Yet all these high falutin’ Old Media outlets in Chicago ignored the issue until Walsh won the primary.

It is hard not to imagine that the Chicago media waited to “report” these matters until after the primary specifically so that they could hurt the Republican pickup of this seat.

Walsh’s campaign did file the disclosure forms and paid a $200 fine after Fox News brought it to their attention. Walsh says it was but an oversight. Here I’ll make no judgment, you decide.
Continue reading


Chicago Fox Attacks 8th District Candidate Joe Walsh”


Wow, Ill. Senate Race Rated as ‘Favors Republicans’

-By Warner Todd Huston

The famed Cook Political Report has just updated its reading of the race for Obama’s old Senate seat in Illinois to a “favors Republicans” rating!

This is pretty astonishing news:

As expected, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation seized control Friday of Broadway Bank, the community bank owned by the family of Democratic Senate nominee Alexi Giannoulias.

The bank’s financial problems and its business relationships with people associated with corruption and organized crime have dogged Giannoulias’ campaign since early February when he became the nominee. Broadway’s failure will have an enormous impact on Giannoulias’ campaign, and it is entirely possible that the fallout could force him from the race. As such, the race is moving from the Toss Up to the Lean Republican column.

…Given recent events, it’s impossible to justify keeping the race in the Toss Up column. While current circumstances would seem to lend themselves to a rating of Likely Republican, we know that it’s entirely possible that we could well be dealt a different hand – and a very different race – a month or two from now. As such, the race moves to the Lean Republican column.

I have to say, with a possible Republican pick up of Obama’s old Illinois seat AND the possible pick up of VP Biden’s Delaware seat also looking to go to a Republican (Mike Castle), it would be an amazing rebuke to the Democrats to have their two top men’s old seats switch parties!

This would be one for the record books, for sure. I mean, has this ever even happened before?
Continue reading


Wow, Ill. Senate Race Rated as ‘Favors Republicans’”


Ill. Lawmakers: Bring in the Army to Kill Chicagoans

-By Warner Todd Huston

The second I hear the facile ideas of our elected officials to bring in the Army to start cracking down on “crime” I get visions of jack-booted legions of the Wehrmacht goosestepping through the city, machine guns at hand, knocking over old people and making little kids cry.

But, I guess Representative John “Twitchy” Fritchey is wholly unaware about the rules and philosophies of the American system. You see comrade Fritchey, there is a reason why the Commissars aren’t allowed to bring the Army down upon a city. It’s because our U.S. armed forces are supposed to protect us against foreign enemies. Our laws and police agencies are supposed to protect us from internal crooks, criminals and thugs. And if our police are failing, “Twitchey” Fritchey, it is your fault (yours and your fellow “lawmakers”) Not the police’s.

Further it is not the job of the Army to harass citizens into cowering inside their homes for fear of being cut down in the streets by or own soldiers.
Continue reading


Ill. Lawmakers: Bring in the Army to Kill Chicagoans”


8th District: Meet GOP Candidate Joe Walsh

Some Lake County Republicans are sponsoring a meet the candidate event on Wednesday 28 from 7PM to 9PM. There you can meet candidate for the 8th District Joe Walsh.

Illinois 8th Congressional District Republican Challenger Joe Walsh Talks Back

JOE WALSH “Talks Back”

No Holds Barred on the issues .. Have Questions? Ask Joe!

Is Congress Really Representing “We The People”?

Date: Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Time: 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Location: The South Barrington Club
Street: 3 Tennis Club Lane
City/Town: South Barrington, IL

For Information Call Carol Ann Parisi 847-496-5400 or email Hangnloose@comcast.net

Directions: http://www.mapquest.com/mq/2-Xz1b


Walsh Proposes Indexing Congressional Salaries to Median Household Income in the US

From the Walsh for Congress campaign (8th District)…

(Grayslake, Illinois) – 8th District Republican Congressional Nominee Joe Walsh today promised that, if elected, he would introduce legislation to tie the salaries of members of Congress to the median household income level in the United States.

Rank-and-file members of Congress make $174,000 annually. According to the Census Bureau, the median household income in the U.S. is $50,233 (2007).
Continue reading


Walsh Proposes Indexing Congressional Salaries to Median Household Income in the US”