From the office of Rep. Peter Roskam (R, ILL)…
Roskam: “As our strongest ally and only democratic friend in a deeply troubled region, America must stand with our friend Israel and reject any moves that diminish our special relationship.”
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Peter Roskam, Chief Deputy Whip, issued the following statement after Prime Minister Netanyahu’s speech to a Joint Meeting of Congress today:
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Roskam Applauds Netanyahu Speech”
-By Warner Todd Huston
Obama’s National Labor Relations Board made itself infamous not long ago by attempting to tell Boeing in what state it was allowed to build a new manufacturing plant. Indulging his penchant toward anti-business, anti-capitalist sentiment Obama decided that he was the final arbiter on where companies were allowed to move and set up shop. Boeing was evil, you see because they wanted to get out from under the business-destroying grip of unions.
The monsters at Boeing were “retaliating” against the unions said Obama and his NLRB. Boeing was moving its plant from Washington State to North Carolina because in NC the unions have less power. So, it’s the unionista in chief to the rescue of the jobs-killing unions. Boeing needs to be slapped down for it’s evilness, don’t you know?
But, here is where Obama’s ever present hypocrisy rears its ugly head once again.
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Hypocrisy: Obama’s Stock And Trade”
From the office of Rep. Peter Roskam (R, 6th District)…
As I watched the President’s Middle East speech last week, I was pleased to see him affirm America’s support for human rights in the Arab world in light of the Arab Spring.
However, his comments on prerequisites that Israel must offer for peace were downright troubling – and sided squarely against Israel on future peace negotiations. America has always enjoyed a special relationship with Israel, and we simply can’t afford to let this Administration change that.
As the President prepared his speech, Majority Leader Eric Cantor and I penned an op-ed in Politico calling for the halting of U.S. aid to the Palestinian Authority, now that Hamas is an official partner of the Palestinian Authority. Hamas is a terrorist organization responsible for the death of both Americans and Israelis, and committed to Israel’s destruction.
We need to stand with Israel and stand up to terror.
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We Need to Stand with Israel”
From the office of Rep. Peter Roskam (R, 6th District)…
Recognized for Supporting Economic Growth and Job Creation
BLOOMINGDALE, IL — Congressman Peter Roskam (IL-06), Chief Deputy Whip, was awarded the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Spirit of Enterprise Award last week. Roskam received the award for his votes last Congress to create jobs and ensure a more positive environment for economic growth, on Wednesday, May 18th, at Zeigler Motors in Downers Grove.
“The Chamber is honored to recognize Congressman Roskam for helping create an environment in which businesses can grow and create jobs,” said Thomas J. Donohue, president and CEO of the U.S. Chamber. “He has shown great conviction by standing on the side of business, at a time when it matters most. Today we honor him.”
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Roskam Receives U.S. Chamber’s Spirit of Enterprise Award”
Tom Cross, Illinois GOP Minority Leader…
Democrats in both the House and Senate released legislative redistricting maps last week. In the House, Democrats waited to release their map until late Friday afternoon giving the public practically no time to review it before a planned Sunday hearing in Chicago. If you wanted an explanation you had to ask for it in writing. Democrats promised an open and transparent process – this isn’t it.
Despite claims from House Democrats that their map is fair and competitive, a number of Latino organizations have stated at hearings and in news reports that their population is under-represented. Since the last map was drawn in 2001, the Latino population grew the most in the last ten years in Illinois.
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Illinois Redistricting Update”
-By Warner Todd Huston
This could shape up as a major battle between supporters of infanticide and pro-lifers in 2014. Pro-abortion forces will likely flood the Volunteer State with out-of-state money to defeat a referendum that may appear on the 2014 ballot allowing citizens to decide whether or not their state constitution really does have a special right protecting abortion.
This referendum is aimed at over turning a 2000 state court decision that read all sorts of “rights” into the Tennessee Constitution that had for 200 years never appeared there. The decision erased several state laws restricting abortion under the assumption that the state constitution had even stronger protections for abortion that does the U.S. Constitution.
The referendum will read as follows:
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Tenn. Voters To Get Chance to Say Abortion Not A ‘Protected Right’”
-By Warner Todd Huston
Father Michael Pfleger, one of the most hateful and divisive priests on the American Catholic scene, has been temporarily given back his position as pastor of St. Sabina Catholic Church on Chicago’s South Side by Chicago’s Cardinal Francis George.
In a new statement posted on the website of the Archdiocese of Chicago, Father Pfleger apologizes for threats to leave the Church that he made in a radio interview last month saying he feared that his comments were hurting the Church — something he claimed he didn’t intend.
With public apology in hand, Cardinal George has reinstated this hatemonger to his former role as pastor of St. Sabina Church in order to allow him to help find a new pastor and help with that transition. Apparently he has until December to make the arrangements.
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Racebaiter Chicago Priest Reinstated By Spineless Cardinal”
From the Palatine Tea Party…
(Palatine, Illinois) – The Village of Schaumburg clearly indicates in their employee handbook, which we obtained via a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, how employee sick time balances can be paid out.
Click here, to view the Village of Schaumburg Employee handbook. Review section 8-4 of the Employee handbook (Sick Time Reimbursement Plan).
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Introducing Schaumburg’s Sick Time Reimbursement Plan”
-By Warner Todd Huston
From a gang of six to a gang of Dicks, Durbin torpedoes compromise once again
The “gang of six” is a group of senators who had taken it upon themselves to come to some sort of agreement over the competing budget ideas between Republicans and Democrats. It was hoped that these six senators could find a compromise that could kick off the debate with some sort of general agreement right at the start. But it was doomed to begin with. In fact, it is easy to understand how the new “gang of six” talks fell apart in the U.S. Senate this week.
The gang of six had the misfortune of having Dick Durbin (D, IL), one of the most partisan, far left senators in America, as a member. Compromise was never in the cards.
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Sen. Dick Durbin Caused ‘Gang of 6’ Talks to Fall Apart”
Lawmakers continue to debate pension reforms for current state employees and a decision will be made soon – this year’s legislative session is scheduled to end on May 31st.
This may be our last chance to have our voices heard. Click here NOW to tell your lawmaker it’s time to enact substantive reforms of the state employee pension system that directly affect current state employees.
Illinois’ fiscal problems can no longer be ignored. Illinois is spending beyond its means and has ignored countless unpaid bills! Moreover, the fact that we have no real plan for dealing with these fiscal problems have made our state one of the least attractive places for doing business.
The website 24/7 Wall St. took a look at the pension systems of every state in America and created a top 10 list of states where pensions are running out of money. Sadly, Illinois is second on that list with a $126 billion pension liability.
Take action now to return our great state to fiscal sanity. Click here to tell your lawmaker to fix Illinois’ pensions now.
For more information on pension reform go to: http://fixillinoispensionsnow.com/.
Thank you for your continued support and activism.
Sincerely,
Joe Calomino
State Director
Americans for Prosperity-Illinois
Rebel Pundit of Chicago has once again confronted the hatemongers of the left at one of their so-called protest rallies in downtown Chicago to prove that liberalism is a mental disorder.
Before you click on this video, I have to warn you that these leftists are nothing if not foul mouthed, distempered, and wholly uniformed, not to mention hypocritical.
This one may not be safe for work if foul language is a no no…
-By Warner Todd Huston
Here is the waste and fraud that your tax dollars are put to, America. Senator Tom Coburn has alerted the nation to a 30-year-old man in California named Stanley Thornton, Jr., who is paid by Social Security to lay about his house and pretend he is a baby replete with diapers, baby bottles for nourishment and a 300 pound “nurse” to take care of him.
No kidding. This guy pretends to be a baby and we, the people, send him Supplemental Security Income benefits to do it.
Of course, this California nut claims that he is mentally unable to cope with life and that his SSI benefits are needed because he is “disabled” by his mental state of thinking he is a baby. But Coburn thinks this guy is just scamming the government.
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Tax Dollars Going to a 350-Pound Guy in Calf Who Pretends He’s a Diaper-Wearing Baby”
-By Doug Ibendahl
“Tom Cross has a brick on SB35.”
That’s a quote from State Senator Kirk Dillard from a few days ago. He simply stated what nearly all of you I’m sure already know.
It’s hardly some secret that Tom Cross – the House Minority Leader – is viciously opposed to the idea of regular Republicans having a voice again in their own party.
Now for the third time in six years, the direct election reform (now designated as Senate Bill 35) – has passed out of the Senate and over to the House. The most recent Senate passage was last month and this time the vote was unanimous. Even several Republican Senators who had been pressured by the old guard to vote “no” in 2009 are now waking up to the reality that our Illinois Republican Party needs an overhaul from the bottom and the top.
But in the Illinois House it’s different. Not a single Republican has stepped up so far to co-sponsor SB35 in the House this session. It’s really shameful.
It’s especially shameful where the 13 new GOP State Representatives are concerned (some won in November and some were appointed to fill vacancies post-November).
And by the way, I’ve talked to several of the freshmen, as well as with many of the longer serving GOP House members. I’ve not heard a single one voice an argument against SB35 – in fact many are clearly in favor of the bill and its reform. But their “support” is pretty meaningless if they won’t stand up…
Read the rest at RepublicanNewsWatch.com.
I returned from maternity leave just in time to take part in the epic debate over public pension reform. Get the teachers’ pension costs will top General State Aid education spending this year unless we act now.
To date the working model for pension reform has been House Bill 149, introduced by House GOP Leader Tom Cross. The language in that legislation is being modified and likely will be placed on Senate Bill 512, a shell bill assigned for hearing in tomorrow’s House Personnel and Pensions Committee.
Given Illinois’s worst-in-the-nation unfunded liability and “blue state” politics, what unfolds over the coming days will be a bellwether for the rest of the country. Has your legislator heard from you? (Click here to find your state legislator)
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Ill. Policy Institute: One Week’s Lost Pay for Pensions”
From the Palatine Tea Party…
(Palatine, Illinois) – The Village of Schaumburg went out of its way to hide employee sick 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.
Click here, to view Village of Schaumburg’s line-by-line employee sick time balances.
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Village of Schaumburg Attempts to Hide $17 Million in Accrued Village Sick Time Liability”
-By Warner Todd Huston
The Washington Post had a recent piece saying that it looks like Washington is finally coming to the stark realization that the benefits and pensions of federal workers are wildly over promised and even Democrats are finally contemplating cuts in federal pensions.
The GOP has already targeted these pensions by proposing that federal workers contribute more toward their own pension benefits. As the Post slantedly puts it, this policy plan would “effectively impose an immediate 5 percent pay cut on more than 2 million federal employees”
Of course, it would not be cutting their pay at all, sadly. It would merely be deferring until retirement when they get the cash. Sure their pay should be cut — heck thousands need to be simply fired outright — but there is no pay cut being proposed.
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Democrats FINALLY Talking of Cutting Back Govt Employee Pensions”
-By Warner Todd Huston
The next level of obduracy by New Jersey’s government employee unions has been taken. The Communication Workers of America, the state’s largest government workers union, has filed a suit against New Jersey Governor Chris Christie claiming he isn’t negotiating in good faith over the union’s healthcare contract.
You see Gov. Christie wants to change the contract so that the union members contribute up to 30% of their healthcare premium and introduce lower the cost benefit plans.
Unions are against the changes and are trying everything they can to stop the tax-saving schemes that Christie is trying to implement.
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NJ Unions Hiding Behind Courts to Continue Ripping Off Taxpayers”
-By Warner Todd Huston
My friend Mike Chamberlain was a baaad boy last week at the Nevada State Education Association’s annual convention. It seems he was tossed out of the convention on his ear for his blasphemies. It’s no wonder they tossed out this ne’er-do-well, too. He had the temerity to… sit quietly in a corner and take notes on his laptop. How disruptive, eh?
Saturday I was kicked out of the Nevada State Education Association, the state teachers union, convention for, well, for being a conservative at the NSEA convention. Not only did they kick me out of their meeting but, later, one of the directors called me and the others who attended as guests of one of the delegates “enemies” of the organization.
Heck, Mike didn’t even crash the joint. He was properly invited and allowed int the place by a NSEA member, too. I’d say he has a lot to learn about being an obstreperous, party crasher! Being all peaceful and unassuming. The NERVE of him!
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Nevada Teachers Cast Out An Eeeevil Conservative Blogger”
From the office of Illinois GOP House leader Tom Cross…
For years, House Republicans have driven the discussion on the need for fiscal discipline and to stop spending money we don’t have. Today we took a dramatic step forward passing the first budget in years that actually forces the state to live within its means; and actually spends less than we did the year before. We are pleased that our friends across the aisle joined us in this fiscal discipline.
See the video HERE.
It is never easy to make cuts, but the budgets we passed this week will keep our promise to spend no more than our revenue estimate of $33.2 billion. This is the only way we’re ever going to get our bills paid and get our state finances back on track.
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Ill. House GOP Leader Cross: House Passes State Budget, Drives Down Spending”
-By Warner Todd Huston
Rahm Emanuel is now officially sworn in as Chicago’s 46th mayor so we can now officially swear at him. Of course, we all know that today’s ceremony was merely a formality as he was anointed mayor months ago the second that Mayor Daley announced the end of his long reign of fiscal irresponsibility in the Windy City.
Interestingly, WLS news said that there were many seats left empty at the ceremony, even in the VIP area. One might assume that Mayor Emanuel has yet to endear himself to all the little people. With his no-nonsense, hard-nosed reputation, one wonders if he ever will?
Saying, “Our city’s financial situation is difficult and profound,” Emanuel warned the city that his upcoming term will not be an easy one.
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Rahm Emanuel Officially Sworn In As Chicago’s Newest Mayor”
-By Warner Todd Huston
Indiana’s highest court has turned against our rights and the Constitution of the United States. The Supreme Court of Indiana has just decided that the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution does not apply to the citizens of Indiana.
The court has decided that Hoosiers have no right to be safe in their own homes from illegal entry, search, and seizure by police. Indiana’s highest court has just said that Hoosier stormtroopers can invade any home at ay time and citizens have no right to resist because it is “against public policy.”
Blogger Bruce McQuain said this appalling incident in Indiana is an example of, “why you have to constantly protect your rights daily from attacks from within,” and boy is he right.
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Indiana Supreme Court Eviscerates U.S. Constitution”
-By Warner Todd Huston
A former corrections officer and a downstate farmer have joined with the Second Amendment Foundation to sue the State of Illinois over its constant failure to institute a concealed carry law.
In its press release the Second Amendment Foundation says that, “Illinois statutes that completely ban the carrying of handguns for self-defense are ‘inconsistent with the Second Amendment.'”
The foundation insists that its lawsuit is not intended to create law, but only to determine that prohibiting concealed carry is impermissible under the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and in light of the Heller ruling, the prohibition is obviously untenable.
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Illinois Citizens Suing State to Gain Concealed Carry”
From the office of Rep. Peter Roskam (Ill, 6th District)…
It’s no secret America is facing a tidal wave of debt.
We all know that Washington must stop spending money it does not have. At its current rate, Medicare will go bankrupt in just nine years. Think about that.
If we do nothing, we’re guaranteeing that Medicare and other crucial safety net programs won’t exist for the next generation.
Disturbingly, Democrats’ plan does nothing to save these programs. In fact, the White House’s own budget lets Medicare simply go bankrupt, all while increasing taxes by $1.5 trillion on job creators. That is not a serious proposal.
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A Tidal Wave of Debt”
-By Warner Todd Huston
PCism is for idiots. It really is just that simple. It’s bad enough when you find it in the private sector with silliness such as sensitivity training. But at least there, adults can just ignore the stupidity and carry on. When it comes to PC indoctrination of our impressionable kids, well that is another matter and one not so easy to just laugh off.
Unfortunately, the disease of liberal PCism is so pervasive in our schools that we could do a story every single day on the newest outrageous display of liberal lunacy masquerading as education. Today, I’ll relate two of them.
Story One: Old Glory Not so Glorious…
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Two More Stories on Stupid Liberal Schools”
From the office of Tim O. Schneider, Cook County Commissioner, 15th District…
Forest Preserve Info
Did you know that the Cook County Forest Preserve has launched a brand new website? Just in time for some great outdoor activities, take a look at their new website and let me know what you think. http://fpdcc.com/
Forest Preserve Golf offers something for every golfer. Beautifully well-maintained courses in a natural setting – no houses, no cars, no distractions – just golf. With ten courses, four driving ranges, and a miniature golf course, you are sure to find a place to call your home course. Click here to learn more about our golf courses.
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Cook County Commissioner Tim Schneider: Summer Fun”
-By Larry Sand
Cindy Sheehan, Code Pink and a band of fringe groups have joined the California Teachers Association protest in Sacramento
We are now in the midst of California Teachers Association’s desperation week or as they are calling it “state of emergency.” At the crux of the issue is that Governor Jerry Brown will unveil his revised budget on May 16, and deep cuts to the K-12 education budget could mean widespread teacher layoffs as early as next month. Californians are getting heavy doses of union demagoguery this week, as Brown works to forge a deal with Republicans who oppose any tax hikes.
As I wrote recently, there are many other ways to solve educational budgetary problems without raising taxes. However, none of my proposed solutions are acceptable to CTA because the union insists on maintaining the status quo lest its power be threatened in any way.
As CTA was making final plans for their week long protest, someone crashed their party — none other than Cindy I-am-sorry-but-if-you-believe-the-newest-death-of-OBL-you’re-stupid Sheehan decided to cash in on CTA’s event, figuring she could tag on to a group of sympathetic fellow travelers. (Ms. Sheehan, lest you forget, is a peace activist best known for her for obsessive hatred of George Bush, who set up camp near the former president’s Texas home to protest our involvement in the Iraq War.) Then, the radical Code Pink group and a few other fringe groups joined Ms. Sheehan.
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CTA Desperation Days in Progress”
-By Warner Todd Huston
During a hearing last week on middle class employment, Senator Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Ranking Member on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, said that the Obama Administration’s policies are costing America good, middle class jobs.
VIDEO: Senator Enzi Says Boeing Complaint by NLRB ‘Not the Way to Encourage Jobs in U.S.’”
-By Warner Todd Huston
Today a left-wing, anti-American student at Louisiana State University wanted to burn a flag for, he claimed, “due process for students and suspected terrorists alike.” Yeah. Whatever.
As it happens, the students he was claiming to represent didn’t seem to appreciate his idea, though. Several hundred of them turned out to the place where he appeared and drowned out his sniveling statement with loud chants of “USA, USA.”
This nebbish was unable to get his little screed spoken and when water balloons began to pelt him the cops quickly moved him out putting an end to the whole scene. It was epic fail for this dude’s blather.
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Good to See University Students Acting Patriotically For A Change… But…”
-By Warner Todd Huston
Feeling low, spunky? Feeling sad because you lose election after election, my friend? Crying because, no matter how hard you try, those idiot voters won’t put you in office where you’re sure you belong, donkey-boy? Well, fear not, sparkey. YOU are a Democrat and in THIS state you always win, even when you lose. In this state, as a Democrat, you get to feed at the public trough, paid by the taxpayers whether you can win election or not.
So, welcome to the hind teat of government, Dan Seals. Oh, you are a major loser, but, gosh, you are on top of the world now because the Illinois Democrat Party has rewarded you with a sinecure from the state. As the Chicago Trib’s Clout Street reports…
Democrat Dan Seals, a three-time losing congressional candidate on the North Shore, is getting a state job.
Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn today hired Seals as his $121,090-a-year assistant director of the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. He starts Tuesday.
Yp, even loser Democrats come out with fistsfulls of taxpayer’s cash in this corrupt state.
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If You’re Democrat And Constantly Lose Elections, Get a State Job Anyway”
-By Warner Todd Huston
Illinois Governor, Democrat Pat Quinn has decided that it is a great idea to release violent, hardcore criminals among the citizens of his own state. At least those criminals that are illegal aliens, anyway. Why do I say this? Because Quinn has pulled the State of Illinois from the Secure Communities program operated by the Dept. of Homeland Security — a program that helps states deport violent criminals that are illegal aliens.
With no fanfare, Quinn quietly sent a letter to Homeland Security saying that he would no longer be cooperating with them to identify and deport criminal illegals. He’d prefer to keep them here, apparently.
Quinn claimed that the program was deporting too many illegals that weren’t convicted criminals so he felt it was a bad program. Note that Quinn doesn’t seem to think being an illegal immigrant in the first place is a law breaking action!
Nice, eh?
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Gov. Quinn Votes Yes to Release Hardcore Criminals Amongst Us”