Illinois

Adam Andrzejewski - Budget - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - For The Good Of Illinois - Franklin Deleno Roosevelt - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Liberals - Pensions - Public Employees Unions - Regulation - Taxes - Teachers Unions - Unions - Warner Todd Huston

Abuse: Union Leaders Pull Down Millions in Public Pensions in Illinois

October 9, 2011 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Andrew Thomason of the Illinois Statehouse News agency has a pair of stores on the criminal syndicate that is unions in the Land of Lincoln this week that have to be seen to be believed. In fact, these stories and the ones like them we’ve seen for the past several months in Illinois are proof positive that unions should be illegal for government employees.

In one story, Thomason reports the tale of Michael Johnson, a corrupt teacher out to milk the taxpayers dry by collecting $209,379.43 in pension benefits while at the same time also collected $324,785 from a separate Illinois pension fund. And so far this crook has already collected $1.1 million of our tax dollars on top of the $198,105 a year he makes for “part-time work” for the school district.

This is called double dipping. Johnson was able to do this because he worked at one job in Illinois education, “retired” from it, then took a second job in the same field. This means he gets two pensions to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars a year, likely totaling up to millions by the time he dies. All paid for by the taxpayers of Illinois.
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Abuse: Union Leaders Pull Down Millions in Public Pensions in Illinois”

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

Hey Illinois Republicans, Run for GOP Precinct Committeeman

October 9, 2011 by

-By Doug Ibendahl

In 2010 there were a total of 6,705 precincts in Illinois. (That’s across the state’s 101 counties other than Cook County. Cook has a unique legal structure and neither political party elects Precinct Committeemen there as explained below.)

Of those 6,705 precincts: 3,440 had no one running for Republican Precinct Committeeman in 2010. That’s a 51% statewide vacancy rate.

It also represents a major lost opportunity for thousands of Republicans and our entire Party. It’s unacceptable, and it’s a big reason why good Republican candidates are losing winnable races to the Democrats in Illinois.

The Illinois GOP is not coming close to matching the ground troops the Democrats field every election.

The goal of the Republican Precinct Project is to reduce the vacancy rate from 51% to below 20% next year. In 2014 our goal is to have it down to below 5%.

Every Precinct Committeeman spot is up for election in the March Primary. It’s an all-volunteer position with a two-year term. And since this is a party office as opposed to a public office, the March Primary is the election. The Democrats elect their own Precinct Committeemen in March…

Read the rest at RepublicanNewsWatch.com.

Budget - Congress - Economy/Finances - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Jobs - Peter Roskam - Republicans - Taxes - Unemployment - Warner Todd Huston

Roskam Statement on September Jobs Report

October 9, 2011 by

From the office of Rep. Peter Roskam (R, Illinois 6th District)…

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Peter Roskam (R-IL), Chief Deputy Whip, issued the following statement after the Department of Labor released their September jobs report showing the national unemployment rate remains over 9 percent:

“This is yet another disappointing example that the White House’s policies need to change direction. It’s been over two and a half years since the stimulus first passed, yet trillions in debt later, unemployment is 9.1% – well above the 8% peak promised by this Administration.

“Republicans stand ready and willing to work with Democrats on commonsense solutions that remove barriers to private-sector job creation. We’ve recently passed numerous bills reforming excessive Washington-imposed regulatory practices that would kill jobs — though the Senate has yet to act on these job-saving measures or any of the dozen job-creating bills we’ve passed this year.

“It is a positive step forward that the White House sent the long-stalled pro-export trade agreements to Congress. I urge them to work with us on places where we agree, like the trade agreements, and eschew the tired playbook of proposing increasing taxes, regulatory madness, and more ‘stimulus.’”

http://roskam.house.gov/

Budget - Business - Capitalism - Congress - Economy/Finances - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Jobs - Republicans - Robert Dold - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Five Small Business Bills Supported by Rep. Dold Advance Through the Financial Services Subcommittee

October 9, 2011 by

From the office of Rep. Bob Dold (Ill., 10th District)…

WASHINGTON, DC – In yesterday’s Financial Services Subcommittee on Capital Markets and Government Sponsored Enterprises, five bills that will empower small businesses advanced through the subcommittee. U.S. Congressman Robert Dold (IL-10) has co-sponsored each of these bills as they make it easier for small businesses to gain access to capital so they can expand and create new jobs.

“Small business is the backbone of our economy,” said Rep. Dold. “Two thirds of all net new jobs are created by small businesses. In order to help bring our economy back on solid footing, we need to create an environment in which small businesses can grow.

“Yesterday, five bills advanced through the Financial Services Committee that will help to do just that. These bills assist small business capital formation which has been restricted both by general economic conditions and by excessively restrictive, outdated, and burdensome regulations. Furthermore, this legislation is bipartisan and aligns with President Obama’s goal to cut the red tape that prevents small businesses from raising capital and going public.
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Five Small Business Bills Supported by Rep. Dold Advance Through the Financial Services Subcommittee”

Anti-Americanism - Chicago - Conservatives - Elections - GOP - Government - Illinois - Republicans - Senate - Warner Todd Huston

Friedman for State Senate Fundraiser Announced

October 9, 2011 by

From the Friedman for State Senate campaign…

A www.FriedmanForSenate.com, by calling 847/220-7337, or by sending a check and reservation request to Friedman for Senate, P.O. Box 831, Northbrook, IL 60065.

Arie Friedman is seeking the Republican nomination for the seat opened by the retirement this summer of State Sen. Susan Garrett (D). The newly drawn district takes in southeast Lake County and, in northern Cook County, parts of Glencoe, Northbrook, Palatine and several communities in Wheeling Township.
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Friedman for State Senate Fundraiser Announced”

Adam Kinzinger - Budget - Business - Capitalism - Congress - Economy/Finances - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Jobs - Regulation - Republicans - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Kinzinger Applauds House Passage of Bipartisan Legislation to Prevent U.S. Cement Plant Closings and Save Jobs

October 8, 2011 by

From the office of Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R, Ill. 11th District)…

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today Congressman Adam Kinzinger (IL-11), a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, applauded the House passage of H.R. 2681, the Cement Sector Regulatory Relief Act of 2011. Kinzinger is an original co-sponsor and says the bill would protect domestic cement manufacturing and tens of thousands of American jobs.

Watch Congressman Kinzinger’s remarks on the House floor in support of H.R. 2681:
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Kinzinger Applauds House Passage of Bipartisan Legislation to Prevent U.S. Cement Plant Closings and Save Jobs”

Illinois - Illinois Policy Institute - Warner Todd Huston

Ill. Policy Institute: 9 of the Top 10 are Charter Schools‏

October 8, 2011 by

From the Illinois Policy Institute…

Chicago high schools have long held a tragic reputation. Now, a new group of schools is telling a different story: Students citywide can compete academically when given the chance and a choice.

The Institute’s newest report on education shows that when it comes to ACT scores, nine out of 10 of the top-scoring, open enrollment high schools in Chicago are charter schools. Many of these schools are posting ACT scores previously unheard of for high poverty high schools in Chicago.

And there’s reason to be even more optimistic about these encouraging trends. That’s because this July, Gov. Quinn signed a piece of legislation that will open the door to numerous additional charter schools in Chicago, as well as downstate.

This shows once again that charter schools – by giving parents and students more options in their education – improve the quality of education for everyone in the state of Illinois.
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Ill. Policy Institute: 9 of the Top 10 are Charter Schools‏”

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

Taxpayers Receive Unwelcome News

October 8, 2011 by 1 Comment

Dr. Arie Friedman for Illinois State Senate (29th District)…

“Many Cook County property taxpayers received unwelcome news in the mail early this week, news of a tax hike,” said Dr. Arie Friedman, Republican State Senate candidate in the 29th District, “delivered in the form of their second installment real estate tax bills.”

Friedman noted the mailing from the Cook County treasurer included “a catchy little insert called ‘Want to Know Why Your Taxes Are So High?’ It offers an interesting argument – that the hikes in taxes for the various local governments were caused by ‘mounting debts,’ but that approach goes only so far,” he said.

“More fundamentally, why are local governments facing ‘mounting debts?’” asked Friedman. “And why the dramatic increase all at once?”

Friedman encouraged taxpayers to examine the spending and labor relations practices of their local units of government and school districts. “But look, too,” he said, “to the actions of your legislators in Springfield.”
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Taxpayers Receive Unwelcome News”

Congress - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Republicans - Robert Dold - Warner Todd Huston

Rep. Dold on Finding Solutions to the Housing Crisis

October 8, 2011 by

From the office of Rep. Bob Dold (Ill., 10th District)…

During today’s Financial Services Subcommittee Hearing on Housing and Community Opportunity, U.S. Congressman Robert J. Dold spoke about the serious housing crisis in the nation and the need to find cost-effective solutions that take into account all of the potential consequences and risks.

http://dold.house.gov/

Budget - Chicago - Cook County Board - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Elections - GOP - Government - Illinois - Property Taxes - Republicans - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

A Note About Morrison’s Bid for Cook County Board of Review

October 7, 2011 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Last cycle this website did not support Mr. Morrison for the first district seat on the Cook County Board of Review. There was a big reason for this. Morrison was a heavy supporter, donor and voter for Democrats prior to suddenly launching his campaign as a Republican.

Morrison gave a lot of money to Democrats, voted as a Democrat, and supported them where he lived in Chicago’s 19th Ward (See Morrison’s campaign donation and voting history here). This made me very, very wary that he was merely a Democrat plant attempting to steal away a GOP seat. It looked like a typical, left-wing, dirty trick that we are so used to seeing from unprincipled Democrats.

Morrison, however, denies he is a Democrat. He says he supported Democrats and voted Democrat in the 19th Ward because there weren’t any viable Republicans in his area to help support his business interests.
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A Note About Morrison’s Bid for Cook County Board of Review”

Barack Obama - Budget - Business - Congress - Conservatives - Economy/Finances - Free Trade - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Jobs - Money - Peter Roskam - Regulation - Republicans - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Roskam Applauds FTA Passage In Ways & Means Committee And Passage of Cement Sector Regulatory Relief Act

October 7, 2011 by

From the office of Rep. Peter Roskam (R, Ill)…

WASHINGTON, DC – Rep. Peter Roskam, Chief Deputy Whip and member of the House Ways & Means Committee, issued the following statement after the long-stalled Colombia, Panama, and Korea Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) passed out of the Ways & Means Committee today. Roskam has traveled to South Korea, Panama, and Colombia in support of these three agreements:

“Today was an important step forward to implementing no-cost job creating policies. These pro-export policies will open up more markets for American products to be sold, and in turn create more American jobs. Furthermore, they will be important strategic tools for our foreign policy. Republicans have been advocating for these commonsense policies for years. With unemployment at 9.1% nationally, Washington has to be embracing commonsense solutions that remove barriers to private-sector job creation.”
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Roskam Applauds FTA Passage In Ways & Means Committee And Passage of Cement Sector Regulatory Relief Act”

Business - Congress - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Randy Hultgren - Regulation - Republicans - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Hultgren To Senate: Pass Bipartisan Bill Easing Regulatory Burdens On Agricultural Community

October 7, 2011 by

Rep. Randy Hultgren (R, Ill. 14th District)…

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren (IL-14) today released the following statement calling on the Senate to take up H.R. 872, The Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act, which the House passed with bipartisan support on March 31.

“I am beyond disappointed by the inaction of the do-nothing Senate. Their refusal to consider the Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act, a commonsense, bipartisan bill, is threatening our agricultural community with a new avalanche of red tape as soon as the end of this month.

“I recently joined nineteen of my colleagues in sending a letter to Senate leadership, urging them to quickly consider H.R. 872 or similar legislation, and reminding them of the impending regulatory consequences. If they fail to act by the end of this month, the Environmental Protection Agency will hit farmers, ranchers and others who use safe, registered pesticides in the regular course of their business with burdensome new rules.

“If the Senate is serious about getting our economy moving, they should take the commonsense step of passing H.R. 872 to help create regulatory certainty for a critical sector of our economy.”

http://hultgren.house.gov/

Budget - Business - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Jobs - Liberals - Pensions - Public Employees Unions - Taxes - Tom Cross - Warner Todd Huston

Ill. GOP House Leader Tom Cross: Reforming Chicago and Cook Co. Pension Boards‏

October 7, 2011 by

From Illinois GOP House Leader Tom Cross…

In a speech at the City Club of Chicago this afternoon, Illinois House Republican Leader Tom Cross announced that he filed a bill that will help give more accountability to taxpayers by reconstituting the City of Chicago and Cook County pension boards. The bill, which will be sponsored by Senator Matt Murphy (R-Palatine) in the Senate, will also require pension boards statewide to refer any suspected fraud to the local authorities.

“Recent media reports have unveiled abuses in the Chicago Pension systems that were not reported to the proper authorities for punishment or investigation. We believe these matters should have and still should be reported to law enforcement. We mandate that in our bill,” said Cross. “We also believe the pension boards in the City of Chicago and Cook County need a fresh start—that’s why we are seeking reconstitution.”
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Ill. GOP House Leader Tom Cross: Reforming Chicago and Cook Co. Pension Boards‏”

Cook County Board - Elections - GOP - Illinois - Property Taxes - Republicans - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Sean M. Morrison Announces Candidacy for the Cook County Board of Review

October 6, 2011 by

From the campaign of Sean M. Morrison for Cook County Board of Review…

Cook County, IL—Fed up with excessive property taxes? Palos Park businessman Sean Morrison is, and today he announced that he intends to seek the Republican nomination for Commissioner of the Cook County Board of Review, 1st District. The 1st District encompasses nearly five-hundred square miles of Cook County and includes over 1.7 million residents.

Morrison ran for Commissioner in 2010. Despite entering the race late, Morrison nearly defeated current Commissioner Dan Patlak. Morrison has decided to seek the office again as Patlak has failed to live up to any of the promises he made during his campaign. Morrison stated “Patlak’s time in office has been much more Democratic than Republican—he is constantly yielding to the Democratic agenda and forgetting about taxpayer concerns.”
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Sean M. Morrison Announces Candidacy for the Cook County Board of Review”

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

Cook County: Incompetent Stroger Appointee Fired Over Million$ in Tax Discrepancies

October 6, 2011 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

I did not vote for Toni Preckwinkle to become the Cook County Board President, but I have to say she has made a few tough decisions that one would not expect from a common Chicago Machine Democrat. In another one of those good moves, Preckwinkle sacked the Cook County Comptroller for her incompetent work with accounting for the county’s tax revenue among other failures.

Cook County Comptroller, Constance Kravitz, was another one of those oh, so wonderful appointees of the dismal Todd Stroger, the previous failure that sat in Preckwinkle’s chair. Kravitz was struggling to make ends meet at $165,000 tax dollars annually, so I can see why it was so hard for her to get her facts straight at work. It’s a lot of pressure to be living at such subsistence pay, you know?

Kravitz was at two strikes before Preckwikle lowered the boom. Not only had Kravitz badly bungled the accounting of tax revenue, being off by a whopping $90 million, but her reports detailing which county employees had taken their furlough days and which hadn’t were a complete mess.
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Cook County: Incompetent Stroger Appointee Fired Over Million$ in Tax Discrepancies”

Budget - Business - Capitalism - Congress - Conservatives - Economy/Finances - Free Trade - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Jobs - Peter Roskam - Republicans - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Roskam Introduces Bill for Permanent Cap Gains Limits

October 6, 2011 by

From the office of Rep. Peter Roskam (R, Ill)…

Roskam Introduces Legislation to Permanently Cap Capital Gains and Dividend Tax Rates at 15%

Broad coalition of American job creators send letter in support; impending tax-hike would hit seniors, businesses, investors of all sizes

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Peter Roskam (R-IL), Chief Deputy Whip and member of the Ways & Means Committee, introduced legislation today to permanently cap the Capital Gains and Dividend Tax Rates at 15% to avoid an impending tax hike that would particularly affect American businesses, seniors, and investors of all sizes. Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID), member of the Senate Finance Committee, is introducing companion Senate legislation.
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Roskam Introduces Bill for Permanent Cap Gains Limits”

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

Cook County Board: Fall News and Updates‏

October 6, 2011 by

From the office of Cook County Commissioner Timothy O. Schneider…

Update from the Board Room

At the September 7, 2011 Cook County Board meeting, the Cook County Board voted that the Cook County Sheriff shall not cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) “detainers” placed on undocumented immigrants at the Cook County jail. Commissioner Schneider opposed the ordinance, to read more about his vote and position on this issue click here to read the Daily Herald Editorial.

Property Tax Information

By now, you should have or received your second installment 2010 property tax bill, due November 1, 2011. The Assessor and Commissioner Schneider urge you to make sure you are receiving all of your exemptions. The Assessor’s office did not receive 55,000 applications from senior citizens to receive the Senior Property Tax Exemption; if you did not apply for the Senior exemption, you will not see the savings on your property tax bill.
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Cook County Board: Fall News and Updates‏”

Budget - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Government, Ill. County - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Liberals - Taxes - Tea Party - Warner Todd Huston

Village of Palatine Attempts to Hide Millions in Accrued Village Sick and Vacation Time Balances‏

October 6, 2011 by

From the Palatine Tea Party…

Village of Palatine Attempts to Hide Millions in Accrued Village Sick and Vacation Time Balances
(Palatine, Illinois) – The Village of Palatine went out of its way to hide employee sick time and vacation time balances when we attempted to submit a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to obtain employee balances.

Government agencies expect taxpayers to pay their expenses, but when asked to view the data the answer is met with clear opposition. The Village tried to hide behind HIPPA law as their excuse. We then appealed the Village’s decision with the Illinois’ State Attorney and won. (click here for pdf document). Based on the 2009 W2’s, the sick time balance is approximately 9 million dollars and the vacation time balance totals approximately $687,000.
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Village of Palatine Attempts to Hide Millions in Accrued Village Sick and Vacation Time Balances‏”

Budget - Business - Congress - Free Trade - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Jobs - Peter Roskam - Republicans - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Roskam Discusses Excessive Cement Regulations at Stakeout

October 5, 2011 by

From the office of Rep. Peter Roskam (R, Ill)…

Roskam: “…if the Cement MACT proposal goes into place, with certainty, it will have an adverse impact on job creation.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Earlier today, Congressman Peter Roskam, Chief Deputy Whip, gave the following remarks at the GOP leadership stakeout

“Well as you’ve heard there’s two types of actions being taken up this week and next week by the House of Representatives. The good news is the White House seems to get one of those. That is this notion of the expert opportunities for American manufacturers to get into markets abroad. As someone who has traveled to South Korea, and to Panama, and to Colombia it is without question clear to me – and I think most folks on Capitol Hill – that those opportunities are inextricably linked to our long-term prosperity.

Where the White House doesn’t seem to get it and where there’s an opportunity maybe to change their minds is on these two issues that you’ve heard described: Boiler MACT and Cement MACT. We’ve had two job creators in here for the past day or so. They are Brad Slabaugh with Hilltop Basic Resources and Karl Watson of CEMEX USA. Both of which described situations that if the Cement MACT proposal goes into place, with certainty, it will have an adverse impact on job creation. With certainty, it will have an adverse impact on cement kilns here in the United States. We can do better. The Administration needs to join us to turn this situation around quickly.”

http://roskam.house.gov/

Illinois - Illinois State Government - Warner Todd Huston

State Rep Tom Morrison: The Results Are In!‏

October 5, 2011 by

From the office of Rep. Tom Morrison (R, Palatine, 54th District)…

A few weeks ago, I asked for your input on several questions regarding our community and our state and I wanted to share the results. As your representative in Springfield, I rely heavily on the input from my constituents. I sincerely appreciate your willingness to share your viewpoint/opinions with me. I am thrilled by receiving over 400 completed surveys from residents within our district, thank you.

Here are the results!

1. What issue/s in state government is/are most important to you?

Topping the list were government spending/borrowing, taxes, public mistrust in government and corrupt elected officials. Also, many social issues were addressed as well as firearm regulations.

2. Do you support legislation that will repeal the 66% income tax rate increase signed by Governor Quinn in January 2011?
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State Rep Tom Morrison: The Results Are In!‏”

Anti-Americanism - Elections - GOP - Government - Illinois - Republicans - Warner Todd Huston

Albracht for Senate to Host Open House at Moline Headquarters Sat., Oct. 8 from 12-4pm

October 5, 2011 by

From Citizens for Albrecht…

MOLINE, IL–The Albracht for Senate campaign will be hosting an open house at its headquarters, located at 331 8th Street in Moline, on Saturday, October 8 from 12-4pm.

Both the media and the public are invited to attend. Food and beverage will be provided.

Bill Albracht will give a brief speech at 1pm.

For more information about Bill Albracht, visit our website at

Business - Capitalism - Congress - Conservatives - Free Trade - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Jobs - Peter Roskam - Republicans - Warner Todd Huston

Roskam Applauds Progress on Long-Stalled Trade Agreements

October 4, 2011 by

From the office of Rep. Peter Roskam (R, Ill)…

WASHINGTON, DC – Rep. Peter Roskam, Chief Deputy Whip and member of the House Ways & Means Committee, issued the following statement after the Obama Administration sent the long-stalled Columbia, Panama, and Korea Free Trade Agreements (FTA) to Congress today. Roskam has traveled to South Korea, Panama, and Colombia to meet with the respective countries’ leaders in support of these three agreements:

“These three pro-export policies will make it easier for American manufacturers to sell our products overseas and in turn create jobs here. Republicans have been advocating for these commonsense no-cost job-creation policies for years. While our economy has unfortunately suffered as the Administration stalled on these agreements for the last years, it is very welcome news that the Administration is finally supporting them. With unemployment at 9.1% nationally, Washington has to be embracing commonsense solutions that remove barriers to private-sector job creation.”

Chicago - Cook County Board - Illinois - Property Taxes - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Confirm Your Property Tax Exemptions‏

October 2, 2011 by

From the office of Cook County Board of Review Commissioner Dan Patlak…

Within the next week, the Cook County Treasurer will be mailing you the second installment of your 2010 tax bills. The time period to appeal your 2010 assessment at the Assessor’s office or at the Board of Review has already expired. However, you should make sure that this bill includes the Exemptions to which you may be entitled. The most common Exemption is called the Homeowner Exemption. You must have lived in your home as of January 1st 2010 to qualify. To qualify for the Senior Exemption (which must be renewed each year) you must have lived in your home as of January 1, 2010 and you or another owner of the home must have been at least sixty-five years old during 2010. To see if you received these exemptions, look at the right side of the bill a little more than half way down where the exemptions are listed. Then look farther to the right to see what the dollar amount is that corresponds with the respective exemption. If the dollar amount is $0.00 and you think you qualify for the exemption, then you should bring your tax bill to the nearest Assessor’s satellite office located at each of the five Cook County Courthouses (except Maywood which is closed). Bring proof of your residency and age and they will issue you a new tax bill that reflects the discount for the exemption(s).
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Confirm Your Property Tax Exemptions‏”

Budget - Conservatives - Economy/Finances - Elections - GOP - Government - Herman Cain - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Michele Bachmann - President - Republicans - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Cain Rises at TeaCon 2011: Straw Poll Win, Communications Director Loss, Disagreements With Jack Roeser

October 1, 2011 by 4 Comments

-By Warner Todd Huston

Herman Cain wins yet another straw poll of conservative activists. This time at Teacon 2011 held in a northwestern suburb of Chicago. There was no surprise that Cain won the straw poll, but there was some surprise fireworks in the media room and another surprise elsewhere in the Cain campaign as his long-serving Communications Director resigned over the weekend.

Herman Cain was the only candidate that decided to come in person, but to be honest, this crowd was a Cain hotspot even before that. Rep. Michele Bachmann sent in a video address that found favor with the crowd, too. But Cain and she were the only ones to give TeaCon 2011 the time of day.

The results, with over 77% of the vote, put Herman Cain in the lead. And in descending order was Bachmann, Newt Gingrich, Rick Perry, Mitt Romney, Ron Paul, Rick Santorum — oddly enough President Obama came in next — and Jon Huntsman and Gary Johnson came in last.

As Erik Telford said on Twitter, “If you can’t beat Obama in a tea party straw poll, it’s probably time to end your campaign. (cc: Huntsman and Johnson).”

Ouch, indeed.
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Cain Rises at TeaCon 2011: Straw Poll Win, Communications Director Loss, Disagreements With Jack Roeser”

Blogging - Illinois - Inernet - New Media - Tea Party - Technology - Warner Todd Huston

TeaCon 2011, The Blogger’s Who’s Who

October 1, 2011 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

And now for a little name dropping. Some of the more well-known conservatives bloggers are here this weekend chief among them Ed Morrissey famed HotAir.com blogger. Then there is Jim Hoft from GatewayPundit.com; Jeremy Segal of RebelPundit.com; Andrew Marcus of FoundingBloggers.com; Dana Loesch BigGovernment.com; Adam Sharp of SharpElbows.com; John Ruberry of MarathonPundit.com. And I won’t mention me… because… well… you’re reading my post! Oh, and I almost forgot, the famed Iowahawk was there, too.

Hoft, Segal, Sharp, and Marcus were also on a new media panel. The key phrase of how we conservatives can get coverage of our issues was “show up.” Go. Be at. Do. Don’t sit at home. Get out and about and attend these political meetings, appearances of your congressmen, public events, even protests. Just get out there and cover it.


The New Media panel led by Eric Kohn

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TeaCon 2011, The Blogger’s Who’s Who”

Budget - Conservatives - Democrats/Leftists - GOP - Government - Illinois - Liberals - Money - Republicans - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

TeaCon 2011, The Good and the Bad

October 1, 2011 by 3 Comments

-By Warner Todd Huston

I’ll be here all day at TeaCon 2011 sponsored by Chicago’s WIND radio, ChampionNews.net, and the Chicago Tea Party. The good is that several notable personalities are here this weekend among them Andrew Breitbart and Glenn Beck. The bad? Well, there is a bit of a scandal involving one of the Tea Party leaders here that broke just as the Friday events were winding up.

Friday’s opening ceremonies were enjoyable, of course. WIND’s Big John Howell and Amy Jacobson emceed the evening entertainment. We were regaled by the comedy stylings of Steven Crowder and all were wound up by the straight talk and stream of conscientiousness of Andrew Breitbart. We heard some wonderful, patriotic music and all shared a beer or cocktail.
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TeaCon 2011, The Good and the Bad”

Barack Obama - Democrats/Leftists - Egypt - Foreign Countries - GOP - House of Representatives - Illinois - Iran - Iraq - Israel - Lebanon - Libya - Pakistan - Palestinians - Peter Roskam - Policy - President - Republicans - Saudi Arabia - Security/Safety - State Department - Warner Todd Huston

The Consequence of US Leadership Failure at the UN

October 1, 2011 by

From the office of Rep. Peter Roskam (Ill., 6th District)…

In the coming weeks the United Nations Security Council is expected to take a series of misguided procedural steps towards allowing the Palestinian Authority (PA) to unilaterally declare independence (UDI). If they happen they will mark a step backwards from any potentially genuine Middle East peace and illustrate yet another failure of the Obama Administration’s “leading from behind” approach.

This did not have to be a foregone conclusion. This past May, Majority Leader Eric Cantor and I called on the Administration to stand united with the American people, and with Israel, opposing this UN action. The State Department has heard a similar chorus in the months since.
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The Consequence of US Leadership Failure at the UN”

Budget - Business - Capitalism - Chicago - Conservatives - Economy/Finances - Free Trade - GOP - Government - Illinois - Libertarian - Republicans - Taxes - Tea Party - Warner Todd Huston

One Illinois Guy Who Won’t Be At TeaCon 2011

September 30, 2011 by 1 Comment

-By Warner Todd Huston

Well, there is one local Illinois activist that apparently won’t be at this weekend’s TeaCon 2011, but not for want of trying. Bill Kelly, one-time candidate for Illinois Comptroller — he came in second, by the way — has told me that he’s been barred not only from getting media credentials for the event, but even from buying a ticket.

Kelly has a page on the Washington Times community section blogs and was told by the Times that he could get media creds representing them at TeaCon, but when he went to the event staff with his request TeaCon organizers denied his credentialing.

Kelly feels that people at WIND radio, one of the event co-hosts, put the kybosh on his credentials because of a recent dust up between Kelly and Senator Dick Durbin not to mention another dustup between Kelly and local TV reporter Jay Levine.
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One Illinois Guy Who Won’t Be At TeaCon 2011″

Congress - Conservatives - Elections - GOP - Government - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Liberals - Republicans - Senate - Warner Todd Huston

Dirty Tricks in the 52nd District State Senate Race?

September 30, 2011 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

One question has arisen in the race for the Illinois State Senate in the 52nd District: why is GOP Sen. Leader Christine Radogno getting involved in a local primary to the reported tune of some very tall cash? And why is she supporting a guy that supports civil unions and tax hikes?

The GOP primary race is between activist Champaign small business owner John Bambenek and 63-year-old Champaign County Board Member Al Nudo. And in this race there are some clear differences between the two candidates.

For instance, Bambenek is much more in line than Nudo with the ideals of the last crop of GOP Congressmen that were elected from Illinois in 2010. Bambenek’s ideas would find echos in Randy Hultgren or Bobbie Shilling. Nudo, on the hand is much more a social and fiscal “moderate.”

Certainly Al Nudo, running claiming the need for “bipartisanship” in Springfield, is thought of as the “moderate” candidate in the race. “I work with both sides. There’s issues you can take from both sides,” he recently told the Daily Illini.
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Dirty Tricks in the 52nd District State Senate Race?”

Budget - Business - Democrats/Leftists - Free Trade - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - President - Randy Hultgren - Regulation - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Does Government Regulate Too Much?‏

September 30, 2011 by

From the office of Rep. Randy Hultgren (Ill., 14th District)…

Recently, I spoke on the House floor about what regulatory uncertainty is doing to small business owners like Rock Katschnig, a farmer and resident of the 14th District.

Unfortunately, Rock’s situation isn’t unique – I’ve heard similar stories over and over again as I travel throughout the area.

That’s why this fall, I’m joining my colleagues to fight for a pro-growth environment where small businesses and job-creators can hire new workers and invest without fearing what Washington will do to them. Our efforts are focused on creating a reasonable, stable regulatory environment that gives our economy the confidence it needs to grow.
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Does Government Regulate Too Much?‏”