States

Budget - Coal - DREAM Act - Economy/Finances - Education - Electric - Energy - Ethics - Gambling - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Immigration/Immigrants - Liberals - Nuclear Power - Republicans - Taxes - Transparency - Warner Todd Huston

Illinois GOP Betray Own Platform

June 1, 2011 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

With the latest three votes, the Illinois GOP has shown itself to be little else but Democrat lite and has shown that even planks in its own platform are meaningless when it comes to voting time.

The last Illinois Republican Party platform was produced and approved in 2008 (See .pdf here) and there hasn’t been another one since.

Lets start our scolding with the recent vote to wildly expand gambling in Illinois, a bill that 21 Republicans voted for, shall we?

SB744 passed this weekend with a 65-60 vote in the Illinois House. 21 Republicans voted “yea” on this despite what their own party platform say. That platform says…
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Illinois GOP Betray Own Platform”

Budget - California - Children - Democrats/Leftists - Education - Elections - Ethics - Gay Marriage - Gays - Government - Larry Sand - Liberals - Nanny State - Public Employees Unions - Taxes - Teachers Unions - Unions

CTA, Transgender Clownfish and Our Children

June 1, 2011 by

-By Larry Sand

The very creepy sexualization of young children, a part of the teachers unions’ progressive agenda, goes on unabated.

In the past few years, teachers unions in the United States have gotten into the perverse business of sexualizing children. I first wrote about this phenomenon several years ago. In 2004, the National Education Association gave its prestigious Human Rights Award to Kevin Jennings, the founder of the Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network (GLSEN) and the man who eventually became President Obama’s school safety czar. GLSEN is the group that presided over the infamous “Fistgate” conference held at Tufts University in Massachusetts in March 2000, where state employees gave explicit instructions about “fisting” and other forms of gay sexual activity to children as young as 12. The conference was secretly recorded and can be heard here. (Warning: The contents are extraordinarily vile.)

Then this past March, I dug up a story about an NEA “trainer of trainers” who at a U.N. conference claimed that oral sex, masturbation, and orgasms should to be “taught in education” to children as young as 11.
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CTA, Transgender Clownfish and Our Children”

Adam Kinzinger - Budget - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - GOP - Government - Illinois - Liberals - President - Republicans - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Kinzinger Statement on Vote Against Raising the Debt Ceiling

June 1, 2011 by

From the office of Republican Adam Kinzinger (11th District)…

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Adam Kinzinger (IL-11) today issued the following statement on his vote against H.R. 1954, legislation that would increase the government’s ability to borrow by $2.4 trillion without implementing any spending cuts or budgetary reforms:

“Last November, the American people sent a clear message to Washington — cut spending. I came to Washington to do exactly that.

“Unfortunately, the President’s Administration along with more than 100 congressional Democrats did not get that message and insisted that Congress vote on a ‘clean’ extension of the debt ceiling without any spending cuts.
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Kinzinger Statement on Vote Against Raising the Debt Ceiling”

Anti-Americanism - Budget - Business - Crime - Democrats/Leftists - DREAM Act - Economy/Finances - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Immigration/Immigrants - Liberals - Mexico - Republicans - Senate - Taxes - Tom Cross - Warner Todd Huston

Illinois Legislature Passes DREAM Act Giving Illegals Free College Education

May 31, 2011 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

In a 61-53 vote in the Illinois House, an Illinois version of the DREAM Act (SB2185) has been passed and will be signed into law by accidental Governor Pat Quinn.

The Illinois DREAM Act will provide free money for the children of illegal immigrants to go to state colleges and universities.

Supporters say that this bill does not use state money, but this is obviously hogwash. While much of the money that will go to illegals for free schooling will come from private sources, the panel that will do this duty is obviously going to be funded by the state.

Once again, the State of Illinois — drowning in debt and losing businesses hand over fist — is creating yet another expensive program to aid people breaking our immigration laws.
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Illinois Legislature Passes DREAM Act Giving Illegals Free College Education”

Conservatives - Elections - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Republicans - Senate - Tom Cross - Warner Todd Huston

Tom Cross Runs out of Lies on SB35

May 31, 2011 by

-By Doug Ibendahl

Are you upset about Illinois redistricting? Yeah me too.

But frankly I’m a lot less upset with the Democrats for doing the same thing Republicans would have done had we been in charge. We would have drawn maps favorable to our side too. We’ve done it before. Republicans shouldn’t kid themselves.

I’m a lot more disgusted with the awful GOP management that got us here. The new maps are the natural end result of all the rigged party conventions, endless lying to the rank-and-file, selfish misuse of the party franchise, and general unprofessionalism.

So much destruction has been done over the years by the likes of Tom Cross, Skip Saviano, Pat Brady, Randy Pollard, Andy McKenna, Judy Baar Topinka, Bob Kjellander, etc., etc., trying to prevent Republicans from voting – there was finally no party around to win the races necessary to give the GOP a seat at the map drawing table this year.
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Tom Cross Runs out of Lies on SB35″

Chicago - Conservatives - GOP - Government - Illinois - Media - Republicans - Talk Radio - Warner Todd Huston

RIP Chicago Conservative Icon, Tom Roeser

May 31, 2011 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Over the weekend Thomas Roeser passed from us. For decades, Roeser was one of Chicago’s most visible and versatile conservatives. Roeser was 82.

Roeser had a long career in politics once serving in the Nixon administration as an assistant commerce secretary. He left that position over a disagreement over his advocacy of the program meant to help minority owned small businesses.

From this point he came back to Chicago as the quintessential Republican reformer that he remained to his last days.

Roeser was a key member of the City Club of Chicago and was a long time talk radio host of WLS AM as well as a columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times. Additionally, Roeser was the publisher of the Chicago Daily Observer.

Tom Roeser was also a stalwart defender of the Catholic faith.

The Chicago Daily Observer has a round up of memorial articles.
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RIP Chicago Conservative Icon, Tom Roeser”

Democrats/Leftists - Elections - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Liberals - Redistricting - Republicans - Tom Cross - Transparency - Warner Todd Huston

Bait-and-Switch: Democrats Unveil New Map

May 31, 2011 by

From the office of Ill. GOP Minority House Leader Tom Cross…

Dems Deny Vote on Fair Map Proposal; Shun Public Input in Favor of Partisan Map

In a stunning reversal of their oft-repeated pledge to lead an open and transparent redistricting process, House and Senate Democrats introduced a brand new partisan legislative map late yesterday which was different from the one publicly released last week. This bait-and-switch follows weeks of public hearings held throughout the state to obtain local citizen input on how Illinois’ new map should be drawn; a mere days after three public forums held within the past week on the original publicly-released map.

So much for transparency.
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Bait-and-Switch: Democrats Unveil New Map”

Adam Kinzinger - GOP - Government - Illinois - Patriot Act - Republicans - Warner Todd Huston

Kinzinger Statement on Reauthorization of Expiring Provisions in the PATRIOT Act

May 31, 2011 by

From the office of Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R, ILL)…

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Adam Kinzinger (IL-11) issued the following statement in support of the reauthorization of the three national security provisions in the PATRIOT Act which are set to expire on Thursday, May 26th. These provisions will be extended for an additional four years.

“As a military officer, I have seen the PATRIOT Act provide invaluable legal tools to detect, disrupt, and prevent potential terrorist plots. These legal tools have been available to investigators of organized crime and drug traffickers for years; surely they should be available for use against terrorists. We must have the authority to defend our nation from future attacks, while ensuring American’s fundamental rights are protected under the Fourth Amendment.

“The PATRIOT Act has played an important role in disrupting potential attacks and keeping our country safe since 9/11. Three essential national security provisions of the PATRIOT Act are set to expire tonight; therefore Congress must act to ensure these constitutional and commonsense safeguards remain intact against potential terrorist attacks on U.S. soil.
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Kinzinger Statement on Reauthorization of Expiring Provisions in the PATRIOT Act”

Air Force - Army - Civil War - Coast Guard - Cold War - Congress - Conservatives - DuPage County - GOP - House of Representatives - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Korean War - Marines - Memorial Day - Military - National Guard - Navy - Peter Roskam - Republicans - Revolutionary War - Warner Todd Huston - WWI - WWII

U.S. Rep. Roskam Marches in Wheaton Memorial Day Parade

May 30, 2011 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Memorial Day Parade, Wheaton, Ill– Illinois Congressman Peter Roskam (R, 6th District) walked in the Wheaton Memorial Day Parade to some applause and ended the exercise by speaking to those assembled at the Wheaton Cemetery to commemorate those that have served us in peace and war and those who gave their last full measure so that we could remain the last best hope of the world.

The weather could not have been better as the parade stepped off this morning. The skies were clear and Summer temperatures had finally arrived. As the route rolled on the heat did tend to rise, though. Still, compared to the dismal weather we’ve seen the last few months, this Memorial Day was a welcome respite.

Rep. Roskam had a group of about fifty supporters march with him and I joined them to document the event. As we walked the distance from downtown Wheaton to the Wheaton Cemetery it was obvious that the congressman had many fans along the route. There were surprised smiles and a healthy amount of applause as the congressman and his lovely wife led the contingent.
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U.S. Rep. Roskam Marches in Wheaton Memorial Day Parade”

Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Ethics - Government - House of Representatives - Liberals - New York - Warner Todd Huston - Washington

Weiner’s Weiner: Dem. Rep’s ‘Hacking’ Story Falls Apart

May 29, 2011 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Over the last few days New York Congressman Anthony Weiner, a Democrat, claimed that his Twitter account had been hacked when it was revealed that “someone” sent a sexually graphic picture to a young woman in Washington State from his account.

The photo, a picture of a briefs-clad man sporting an erection, was sent to a young college student named Gennette Nicole Cordova who is a student at Whatcom Community College, Bellingham, Washington. This young woman once Tweeted that Wiener was her “boyfriend.” No one is sure what sort of relationship Weiner has with Cordova if any. But there seems to be some links.

For his part, Rep. Weiner claims his Twitter account was hacked. This does not ring true. Why would a hacker hack Weiner’s Twitter account to send only one photo to some girl in Washington State (who claimed to be his girlfriend) and then just leave without doing other things?
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Weiner’s Weiner: Dem. Rep’s ‘Hacking’ Story Falls Apart”

Anti-Americanism - Democracy - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Liberals - Redistricting - Republicans - Warner Todd Huston

Democrat’s Redistricting Plan: ‘A Disgraceful Insult to the 12.8 Million People of Illinois’

May 29, 2011 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

The Democrats Party of Illinois has released its plans to destroy the current districts and instead dish up a mangled, contorted mess of a redistricting plan meant only to erode every GOP stronghold in the state.

Why did the Illinois Democrats feel so threatened in a state that seems solidly Democrat anyway? Because Illinois sent five new Republican congressmen to Washington D.C. in 2010. This will of the voters is something the Democrats are desperate to quash.

As the official statement of the Illinois Republican Party says, “This proposal appears to be little more than an attempt to undo the results of the elections held just six months ago and we will take whatever steps necessary to achieve a map that more fairly represents the people of Illinois – they deserve nothing less.”
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Democrat’s Redistricting Plan: ‘A Disgraceful Insult to the 12.8 Million People of Illinois’”

Anti-Americanism - CWA - Democrats/Leftists - Government - Liberals - New Jersey - Public Employees Unions - Unions - Warner Todd Huston

Union Contracts More Important Than Patients For Union Drivers

May 29, 2011 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Priorities. Union guys have priorities, you know? For instance, in New Jersey earlier this year a bunch of union drivers for the Communications Workers of America (CWA) decided that it was more important to have a “sick-out” and strand sick elderly people, preventing them getting to their life-saving medical treatment than do their jobs.

State Sen. Joe Kyrillos, (R-13), of Middletown wasn’t too happy with these uncaring union louts, either.
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Union Contracts More Important Than Patients For Union Drivers”

Chicago - Congress - Conservatives - Government - History - House of Representatives - Illinois - Korean War - Military - Peter Roskam - Republicans - Warner Todd Huston

Roskam Moves to Establish Korean War Museum in Chicago

May 29, 2011 by

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the House of Representatives passed the Roskam-Lipinski Amendment, recognizing the value of a Korean War National Museum in Chicago, Illinois. The amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act was co-sponsored by Rep. Peter Roskam (IL-06), Chief Deputy Whip, and Rep. Dan Lipinski (IL-03).

“A Korean War National Museum in Chicago will be a testament to those brave Americans who fought to preserve freedom and halt the advance of Communism,” said Congressman Roskam. “Almost six million Americans – including my father – fought in this war that has unfortunately taken on the moniker of ‘the forgotten war.’ A National Museum dedicated to the Korean War in the Midwest will ensure future generations remember the sacrifice and valor of all the Americans who fought and died honorably in Korea sixty years ago. I will continue to work to bring this museum to Chicago.”

The Korean War National Museum is a non-profit organization dedicated to building a museum in Chicago that honors the millions of Americans who fought against Communism in Korea. In November 2010, Roskam traveled to Korea to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the end of the Korean War. He was joined by his mother, Martha, and father Swede, a Korean War veteran. They attended President Obama’s speech to troops at Yongsan Garrison and ceremonies at the Demilitarized Zone while in Korea.

The National Defense Authorization Act passed the House today, 322-96.

http://roskam.house.gov/

Budget - Chicago - Congress - Conservatives - Democrats/Leftists - GOP - Government - Illinois - Liberals - Taxes - Tea Party - Warner Todd Huston

Chicago Tea Party: Do You Have Time for a $90 Billion Phone Call?‏

May 29, 2011 by

Like Do you have time for a $90 Billion phone call? on Facebook share on Google Buzz

Please contact your legislators today to tell them to support critical pension reform in the state of Illinois. A vote may happen this week, before the May 31 deadline. Illinois is broke with an estimated public debt of $210 billion. Our debt was downgraded 9 times in 2010. Governor Quinn and the Democrat politicians in Springfield raised your income taxes by 67% in January, yet we still have an $8 billion budget gap. The main cause is exorbitant pension and healthcare promises made to public employees. Thousands of public employees have been promised million or multi-million dollar pensions.

Contact your State Representative and your State Senator and let them know you want them to vote “Yes” on public pension reform.

Click below to find the phone and email address of your own:
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Chicago Tea Party: Do You Have Time for a $90 Billion Phone Call?‏”

Budget - Congress - Elections - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Indiana - Republicans - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

An Interview With Todd Rokita, Indiana’s Fourth District

May 28, 2011 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

(This interview was originally a part of the RightPundits.com interview series of the incoming GOP freshmen.)

Interview with freshman Representative Todd Rokita of Indiana’s Fourth Congressional District (Rep.-Elect at time of interview).

Being here in Chicago right adjacent to Rokita’s turf, I was already familiar with his work as Indiana’s Secretary of State and so when the RP team offered me an interview with him, I jumped at the chance.

Rokita made quite a stir in the Hoosier state with his idea of requiring voters to present a photo ID before they were allowed to vote. This law was a campaign promise he made as he ran for the Secretary of State’s office. It was a law that he got passed, too, so we already know that he has a history of fulfilling campaign promises.

Rokita was particularly proud of his voter ID law. In our conversation he noted that the left has failed repeatedly to get it thrown out by an act of the courts. “The other side really can’t find the hurt voter. And that’s one of the main reasons they keep losing. You know, we thought it through, not perfectly but well enough to where the courts just keep upholding it.”
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An Interview With Todd Rokita, Indiana’s Fourth District”

Adam Kinzinger - Budget - Congress - Conservatives - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Military - Republicans - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Kinzinger Offers Amendment to Forgo New Air Force Flight Suit Saves Taxpayers nearly $100 million

May 28, 2011 by

From the office of Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R, ILL)…

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Adam Kinzinger (IL-11), a pilot in the Air National Guard, offered an amendment to H.R. 1540, the National Defense Authorization Act on the House floor that saves taxpayers nearly $100 million over seven years which would otherwise be used to “research, develop and manufacture” a new flight suit that is not urgently needed by the Air Force, particularly in this budget environment. Kinzinger’s amendment passed the House by a voice vote.

“Make no mistake, I am a strong supporter of the military and ensuring that our military is the best equipped in the world,” said Kinzinger. “However, we must make tough decisions with regard to military needs and military wants. More than ever, given the difficult budget environment we are in, we must be diligent and prioritize the allocation of taxpayer’s dollars.”

General Schwartz, the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, also stated that now is not the right time to develop a new flight suit. On February 17th, 2011, at the hearing for the 2012 Budget Request for the Department of the Air Force, General Schwartz was asked by Congressman Tim Griffin, at Kinzinger’s request, whether the Air Force was developing a new flight suit. General Schwartz stated, “We are not in the business of redesigning our flight suit under the current circumstances.”
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Kinzinger Offers Amendment to Forgo New Air Force Flight Suit Saves Taxpayers nearly $100 million”

Budget - Cities - Connecticut - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Government - Liberals - Taxes - Truth in Accounting - Warner Todd Huston

True Bridgeport, Conn. Financial Burden is $1.4 Billion

May 28, 2011 by

Today the Institute for Truth in Accounting and the Comeback America Initiative released Bridgeport, Connecticut’s “Financial State of the City.” After an intensive review of the city’s 2010 audited financial report and actuarial reports, the Institute determined that, like many cities, Bridgeport is in a precarious financial position, because it is $1.4 billion short of the funds necessary to pay the city’s commitments as they come due. Each household’s* share of this financial burden equals $27,100.

The Charter of the City of Bridgeport mandates a balanced budget. “If Bridgeport’s past Mayor and City Council had truly balanced the city’s budget, no financial burden would exist,” said Sheila Weinberg, founder and CEO of the Institute for Truth in Accounting (IFTA). She continued, “A city budget is not balanced if current costs, including those for employees’ retirement benefits, are pushed into the future.”
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True Bridgeport, Conn. Financial Burden is $1.4 Billion”

Anti-Americanism - Barack Obama - Budget - Business - Capitalism - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Government - Health - Liberals - Medicare - Nanny State - President - Socialism - Taxes - Uncategorized - Warner Todd Huston - Washington D.C.

Democrats Plan: Destroy U.S. Healthcare So They Can Re-Build it in Socialist Image

May 27, 2011 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Obama and his Democrat pals have been lying to you, America. They do not want to find a cure for America’s obviously ailing healthcare system. They want to erect its headstone. Democrats want to destroy every aspect of our healthcare system. They have to, you see, because if they don’t they cannot rebuild it to operate under a socialist model. More proof of that was highlighted by Conn Carroll earlier in the week at the Washington Examiner.

Carroll rightly points out that Obamacare is purposefully designed to collapse Medicare and to run 25% of all hospitals out of business. Sure this will hurt — even kill — thousands of America’s most vulnerable citizens, but, heck, you have to break a few citizen eggs to create the ideal, socialist omelet, don’t you know?
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Democrats Plan: Destroy U.S. Healthcare So They Can Re-Build it in Socialist Image”

Abortion - Budget - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - GOP - Government - Health - Liberals - Planned Parenthood - Taxes - Tennessee - Warner Todd Huston

Defunding of Planned Parenthood Upended With Secret Amendment in Tennessee Budget Work

May 27, 2011 by 1 Comment

-By Warner Todd Huston

One of the Things Wrong With Our Legislative System Appears in Tennessee

One of the things wrong with our system of creating legislation and passing it into law in America today has appeared in Tennessee. The Volunteer State is not the only place things like this happen, either.

Recently the Tennessee legislature passed a bill to remove state funding from the abortion mill operator Planned Parenthood. The bill was a hard fought victory for the Tennessee GOP and finds favor with the voters as well. As it happens, while the budget was winding its way through the Tennessee legislature a thus far unnamed state senator slipped in an amendment that no one saw, no one voted on, and no one knew anything about. This surreptitious amendment completely upends the defunding of Planned Parenthood quite despite the open legislative process that eliminated the funding in the first place.
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Defunding of Planned Parenthood Upended With Secret Amendment in Tennessee Budget Work”

Budget - Capitalism - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - GOP - Government - Jobs - Liberals - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston - Washington D.C.

$90,825 Literally Went to the Dogs in D.C.

May 27, 2011 by 1 Comment

-By Warner Todd Huston

The Chicago Tribune reports that $90,825 in so-called stimulus money went to the dogs in Washington D.C. No, not the Blue Dogs. It went to actual dogs.

The National Park Service (NPS) spent $90,825 in stimulus funds to upgrade Marion Park, a popular dog destination on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. The money went to repainting the existing fence, sidewalk repair, and purchasing new benches and trash cans for the park.

Wonderful ,eh? What a waste of money.

Anti-Americanism - Children - Democrats/Leftists - Education - Government - Liberals - Massachusetts - Patriotism - Selwyn Duke

The American Flag Is ‘Offensive’ in Schools Now

May 27, 2011 by 1 Comment

-By Selwyn Duke

Increasingly, it seems that the American flag is joining toy guns and dodgeball on the banned-from-school list. And the latest story on this front involves The Butterfield Elementary in Orange, Massachusetts, where a teacher told an 11-year-old boy that he may not hang his depiction of Old Glory because it might “offend” another student.

The boy, Frankie Girard, had drawn the picture in art class but then found that his teacher didn’t share his patriotism. Says his father, John, “He was denied hanging the flag up. And he asked if he could just even hang it on his desk, and he was told no. He could take the picture that he drew and take it home and be proud of it there.”

I guess patriotism has joined piety as a “private matter.” (Leftists tend to confuse closets with shelves. Everything that should be in the former, they display; everything that should be on the latter, they hide.)
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The American Flag Is ‘Offensive’ in Schools Now”

Budget - Business - Capitalism - Dan Rutherford - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Fox News - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Jobs - Liberals - Republicans - Tom Cross - Warner Todd Huston

Illinois State Legislators Try to Explain to Fox Business Network Why Ill. Is Going Bankrupt

May 27, 2011 by

FOX Business Network (FBN) has been airing a series called, “Entitlement Nation: Makers vs. Takers.” The last episode will feature a special focus on two of the biggest entitlement programs in the country: Social Security and Medicare.

FBN will interview Illinois House GOP leader Tom Cross and State Treasurer Dan Rutherford to examine how entitlements have affected the Land of Lincoln… I’ll answer that, by the way: badly.

When: Friday, May 27th, 2011; 11 AM/ET
Where: FOX Business Network (FBN)

(AT&T, Channel 211; DISH, Channel 206; DIRECTV, Channel 259)

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

Roskam Applauds GOP Jobs Plan

May 27, 2011 by

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Peter Roskam, Chief Deputy Whip, issued the following statement after House Republicans unveiled a plan for America’s job creators that was built on the Pledge to America governing document.

“It’s no secret that the trillions in stimulus spending and a massive increase in government red tape has destroyed jobs and hurt our economic recovery. More of the same is a recipe for the same results. That’s why House Republicans have designed a plan that will remove barriers to job creation, empowering and helping families, small businesses, and entrepreneurs struggling to create jobs and spur our recovery. The threat of unsustainable government debt, increased regulations written by unelected bureaucrats, and energy policies designed to increase gas prices has cost us jobs and forced families and businesses to pull back from participating in the economy. The House Republican plan will help change that by returning confidence and certainty to job creators across the country.”

http://roskam.house.gov/

Adam Kinzinger - Budget - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - GOP - Government - Health - House of Representatives - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Liberals - Medicare - Medicine - President - Republicans - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Kinzinger on ‘Mediscare’

May 27, 2011 by

From the office of Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R, ILL)…

“Social Security and Medicare are the electric third rails of American politics. Touch them and you can expect reprisal. It’s hard to have an intelligent discussion when one side is determined to scare the bejabbers out of people.

“U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Manteno, has taken to calling such tactics ‘Mediscare.’ We agree.”

Kankakee Daily Journal Editorial: Years of Security

Adjusting the time payments begin might be one compromise
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Kinzinger on ‘Mediscare’”

Business - Capitalism - Democrats/Leftists - Government - Illinois - Illinois Policy Institute - Illinois State Government - Liberals - Pensions - Public Employees Unions - Taxes - Unions - Warner Todd Huston

Illinois Pension Reform One Step Closer‏

May 27, 2011 by

This week, State Treasurer Dan Rutherford drew a line in the sand. Dismissing shortsighted calls for more borrowing, he pledged to warn would-be lenders against extending more credit to Illinois’s spendthrift state government. I spoke with Rutherford about his stand; listen in.

Much of the state’s borrowing in recent years has been for government employee pensions costs – which are climbing annually. But this pattern of borrowing for pensions could someday halt if a pension reform proposal succeeds in Springfield.

Pension reform language was just posted at the statehouse. Collin Hitt read the bill and offers up his review here. Simply put, a vote for pension reform will brighten this state’s future – a vote against it will push Illinois further into economic decline.
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Illinois Pension Reform One Step Closer‏”

Anti-Americanism - Budget - Children - Chris Christie - Democrats/Leftists - Education - Elections - Government - Judges - Labor Law - Liberals - New Jersey - Pensions - Public Employees Unions - Regulation - Taxes - Teachers Unions - The Law - Unions - Warner Todd Huston

N.J. Courts Not Interested in Democracy

May 26, 2011 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Most Americans are under the mistaken assumption that we as voters can elect someone to make changes in our government. Whether the government of our city, county, state or that in Washington DC we voters have this romantic idea that we can affect change by electing people to office that will make those changes. The New Jersey Supreme Court, however, has disabused us all of those absurd notions.

Governor Chris Christie was elected to office for one reason, to solve New Jersey’s budget mess. He’s not Mr. Nice guy. He’s not the prettiest face in New Jersey politics. He wasn’t even the state’s most beloved public figure. He ran on fixing the budget and the people hired him to do just that.

But now, even though he was able to get certain budget changes through both houses of his state legislature, even though he has kept his shoulder to the grindstone doing the very job that the people hired him to do, even as he was on the verge of succeeding, the courts have stepped in and torpedoed the effort.
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N.J. Courts Not Interested in Democracy”

Adam Kinzinger - Budget - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Government - Health - House of Representatives - Illinois - Liberals - Medicaid - Medicare - President - Senate - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Congress Must Work Together to Reform and Save Medicare for Future Generations

May 26, 2011 by

From the office of Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R, ILL)…

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Adam Kinzinger (IL-11), last night appeared on “America’s Nightly Scoreboard” on Fox Business to discuss the Senate Democrats’ failure to produce a budget or to work with House Republicans to save Medicare less than two weeks after the bi-partisan Medicare Trustees produced a report that said Medicare will be exhausted five years earlier than anticipated. Kinzinger also discussed job creation in Illinois.

On whether Senate Democrats plan to address entitlements

The big key is it’s been 755 days since Senate Democrats have passed a budget.

This is something we’re supposed to do every year. We have a responsibility out here, a responsibility to pass a budget.
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Congress Must Work Together to Reform and Save Medicare for Future Generations”

Budget - Chicago - Conservatives - Dan Rutherford - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - GOP - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Liberals - Republicans - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Will Illinois Be America’s Greece?

May 25, 2011 by

The chief fiscal officer of tax-and-spend Illinois is preparing to warn lenders that allowing it to borrow any more money would be a major risk. Will his be the first state to go bankrupt?

Treasurer Dan Rutherford is a Republican in a very blue state, and the usual critics will say his warning is political grandstanding. We think the guy who counts Illinois’ money has simply embraced fiscal reality and sanity in shouting from the financial rooftops: “Don’t help us anymore; we can’t afford it.”

Rutherford on Monday said the state was in a deep hole and needed to stop digging and that he was willing to contact all the major bond houses and warn them that lending Illinois more money would be a “major risk.”

“If I need to send letters to the rating companies to tell them the treasurer of Illinois is opposed to more borrowing, I’m going to do it,” Rutherford said. “We need to cut our spending and break our unsustainable borrowing cycle before we realize a further financial disaster.”…

Read the rest at Investors.com.

Budget - Business - Capitalism - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Energy - Government - Liberals - Lobbyists - Oil - Pennsylvania - Public Employees Unions - SEIU - Taxes - Unions - Warner Todd Huston

Union Thugs Protest The Wrong Place!

May 25, 2011 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

I guess that getting the correct information when arranging a smear campaign and protest is not necessary when you are the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). Who needs to be in the right when you are an important, powerful, politically connected union, eh? The seriousness of the charge and the effort to “raise awareness” is far more important than targeting the right people to smear, right?

It seems that the SEIU decided to picket against Marcellus Shale drilling, sometimes called hydrofracking, and the severance tax associated with it. So the government employee union picked a site in Hastings, Pennsylvania to highlight this subject and to shame the company that owns the property into siding with them.

Only one tiny, little problem. There is no Marcellus Shale drilling going on at the site they descended upon with their protests. And there never has been. It turns out the SEIU got the wrong place.
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Union Thugs Protest The Wrong Place!”

Budget - Business - Capitalism - Coal - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Energy - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Liberals - Nuclear Power - Oil - Peter Roskam - President - Republicans - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Fed Up With The Price At The Pump?

May 25, 2011 by

This new video from the House Energy Action Team, a group of House Republicans dedicated to pushing the Administration to adopt commonsense energy policies, does a fine job to elucidate some of the problems we face in our energy sector.

More on the House Energy Action Team (HEAT): The Goal is to present a clear message of viable energy policy alternatives that are clearly communicated to the American public. H.E.A.T. will clearly demonstrate that House Republicans are on the side of the consuming public and business community who are increasingly harmed by the high energy prices.

In short: H.E.A.T. will convey that robust domestic energy production creates thousands of good jobs and enhances our national security.

Republican Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R, Calif.) and Chief Deputy Whip Peter Roskam (R, Ill) are co-chairs of H.E.A.T.