State Government

Americans For Prosperity - Democrats/Leftists - Ethics - Government - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Liberals - State Government

Success: ‘Pay to Play’ Appointee Careen Gordon Steps Down‏

March 20, 2011 by

From Americans for Prosperity, Illinois…

Thank you to all our members who sent letters to the Senate Executive Committee requesting that they vote on the “Pay to Play” appointment of Careen Gordon.

In four short days, we generated over 5,000 letters to the Senate Executive Appointment Committee expressing outrage at what appeared to be the “Pay to Play’ style of politics that led to the appointment of Careen Gordon to the Prisoner Review Board.

Due to mounting pressure from AFP members such as yourself, the Senate Executive Appointments Committee finally scheduled hearings that were to begin on Thursday March 17th.
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Success: ‘Pay to Play’ Appointee Careen Gordon Steps Down‏”

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

Another Stroger Appointment on the Backs of Taxpayers

July 28, 2010 by

From Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraica…

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

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

Tony Peraica
Cook County Commissioner
www.reformcookcounty.com

Budget - Business - Chicago - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Elections - Government - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Liberals - Pensions - Public Employees Unions - State Government - Taxes - Unions - Warner Todd Huston

Illinois Pension Problems and What to Do About Them, By Bill Zetter

July 15, 2010 by

The folks at ChampionNews.net have a series of articles about the mess that Illinois public employees pensions is in that is must reading. The articles are penned by expert Bill Zetter.

Of course, the pension mess is the single biggest trouble that Illinois (and most other states) face today. It is a ticking time bomb…. heck its a bomb exploding already, albeit in slow motion.

Here is what they’ve posted thus far:

Back To the Pension Future: What Did We Actually Guarantee?

Illinois Pensions: Rob the Poor and Give It to the Rich
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Illinois Pension Problems and What to Do About Them, By Bill Zetter”

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

Truth in Budgeting? Not With This Budget

July 15, 2010 by

From the Office of Tony Peraica, Cook County Commissioner…

Earlier today, the County Board considered the newly proposed budget for the county health bureau.

Unfortunately, in terms of promoting transparency and truth in budgeting and taxation, the health bureau budget falls short.

You can read my statement on the budget here.

AFSCME - Budget - Campaign Finance - Chicago - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Elections - Government - Government, Ill. County - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Jobs - Liberals - Pat Quinn - Pensions - Public Employees Unions - SEIU - State Government - Taxes - Unions - Warner Todd Huston

Gov. Says Ill. is Broke, but His Staffers/State Workers Get Big Raises

July 8, 2010 by 3 Comments

-By Warner Todd Huston

Many businesses across Illinois are trying to stave off closing their doors by cutting salaries and hours for employees. Some aren’t so luck and are laying off thousands of workers. Add to that dismal outlook that the state’s budget is billions in the red and politicians are so at loggerheads on how to solve the crisis that no budget can be agreed upon.

Cue accidental Governor Pat Quinn whose job, as he sees it, has been to warn Illinois that we are broke, that we can’t afford the many programs we have, that the poorest of us are at risk and that taxes will have to be raised to “fix” it all.

It’s a very bleak picture, indeed. Bleak, that is, unless you are one of Quinn’s staffers. In that case you are living high off the hog and getting an up to 20 percent raise in salary thanks to the Governor’s generosity… oh, and at the taxpayers expense, of course.
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Gov. Says Ill. is Broke, but His Staffers/State Workers Get Big Raises”

Illinois - Illinois Policy Institute - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Ill. Policy Institute: Addicted‏

July 3, 2010 by

From the Illinois Policy Institute

Santelli Rant, Part Deux
“Stop spending! Stop spending! Stop spending!” Earlier this week, CNBC reporter Rick Santelli (of “Tea Party” fame) offered some sound advice to the government—and some entertaining television.

Speaking of Spending…
Yesterday, Governor Pat Quinn addressed the state on a painful topic: Illinois’s disastrous budget. (We forgive you if your eyes just glazed over.) The bad news: The state budget is, yes, still a disaster. The good news: The Institute went through the governor’s speech, highlighting what you really need to know. Check out Kristina Rasmussen’s budget cheat sheet, along with our proactive budget solutions, here.
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Ill. Policy Institute: Addicted‏”

2nd Amendment - Civil War - Constitution - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Freedom - Government - Guns - Illinois - Liberals - Mayor Richard Daley - Rights - Slavery - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

2nd Amendment Rights Finally Considered a Right for Black Chicagoans Too!

June 28, 2010 by 3 Comments

-By Warner Todd Huston

At long last the 2nd Amendment has been considered a personal right per the Supreme Court of the United States. In McDonald v the City of Chicago the Supreme Court has ruled in a 5 to 4 decision that Chicago’s gun banning laws are not in keeping with the right to self-defense as enshrined in the U.S. Constitution. After 200 some years we are finally accorded our rights officially. Further, the Court found that the 2nd Amendment was meant to protect the very people that Mayor Richard Daley and his comrades are trying to forcibly disarm: black Americans. (See PDF of Decision)

The decision threw out the Seventh Circuit ruling upholding Chicago’s gun ban and ordered the Seventh to revisit its decision. This new ruling does not specifically strike down Chicago’s gun ban but the opinion leaves little room for the Seventh to up hold Mayor Richard Daley’s gun banning efforts.

One of the main questions before the Court was whether or not the 14th Amendment served to shore up the rights in the 2nd. The Court found that it did, indeed. In fact, it is interesting to note that the ancestors of the very people that the 14th Amendment was meant to specifically protect — newly freed slaves, called freemen — are today those that Mayor Richard Daley and others like him want to disarm. Daley and his ilk want to disempower blacks and other minorities and tie them plantation-like to their government authority.
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2nd Amendment Rights Finally Considered a Right for Black Chicagoans Too!”

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

Stroger Serves Up a Tasty Double-Dip Doles Out County Job to Crony State Representative

June 23, 2010 by

From Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraica…

The Cook County Board failed to override Todd Stroger’s veto of the board’s hiring freeze.
So it appears Todd is going to continue to thumb his nose at the taxpayers by hiring cronies for sweetheart, taxpayer-funded county jobs.

The latest is Todd’s friend, State Rep. Art Turner. You see, he makes more than $87,000 per year as a state legislator.

But now, thanks to Todd, Turner will also make a $110,575 salary as the director of the county’s President’s Office of Employment and Training (POET).

Do you want to be the first to receive important county reform updates like this?
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Stroger Serves Up a Tasty Double-Dip Doles Out County Job to Crony State Representative”

Associated Press - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - GOP - Liberals - Media - Media Bias - Republicans - State Government - Warner Todd Huston - Wisconsin

The AP: Using Emotional Descriptives to Demean the GOP

June 22, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

One of the best ways to cajole a reader into accepting a point of view is to use emotional descriptives in writing. It is the difference between opinion style editorials — like what I write — and straight news — like what a wire service like the Associated Press is supposed to be writing. Unfortunately, the AP has been adding ever larger amounts of emotional language to its news and, not surprisingly, that emotion is used to give support to the American left and to denigrate the right. A recent AP story about the rise of the new conservative movement in Wisconsin is a perfect example of that emotional language used to attack Republicans.

The story, “Wisconsin’s Democrats have got the blues” by Scott Bauer, ostensibly describes how conservatives in Wisconsin are on the rise, finding great success in organizing and fielding candidates. But the main emotional response one comes away with from reading the negative rhetoric of the story is a distaste over the conservative’s success.

The first sentence that casts the right in a negative light is directed against Wisconsin’s Tea Party groups.
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The AP: Using Emotional Descriptives to Demean the GOP”

Americans For Prosperity - Budget - Democrats/Leftists - Government - Illinois - Liberals - Pat Quinn - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Take Action: Tell Governor Quinn to Veto the Budget!‏

June 19, 2010 by

From Americans for Prosperity, Illinois….

On May 25, 2010, the Illinois General Assembly shirked their duties by passing an unbalanced budget by adding $3.7 billion in new debt that will be passed on to our children and grandchildren! This new debt adds to our current $13 billion deficit and doesn’t even begin to address the $80 billion plus in unfunded pension liabilities or the billions of dollars in unfunded Medicaid liabilities.

The General Assembly’s decision to borrow against our future, in-lieu of making the tough choices, like where to cut costs and how to rein in spending, is akin to paying off a Master Card bill by charging it to a Visa Card. It’s irresponsible and incompetent!
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Take Action: Tell Governor Quinn to Veto the Budget!‏”

Budget - Children - Cook County - Cook County Board - Democrats/Leftists - GOP - Government - Illinois - Liberals - Republicans - State Government - Taxes - Tony Peraica - Warner Todd Huston

Commissioner Tony Peraica: Time to Make Reform a Reality

June 18, 2010 by

From the Office of Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraica…

Thank you to UIC Law Professor Dick Simpson, who highlights our recent reform proposals in a new commentary piece in Chicago Journal.

Professor Simpson writes:
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Commissioner Tony Peraica: Time to Make Reform a Reality”

Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - Government - Illinois - Lake County - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Lake County: Another Fake Republican Running in Local Race?

June 16, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

These are the kinds of underhanded games played on voters that really make me despair that the is a single honest Democrat in the world — or maybe even a single honest politician in general. Nancy Thorner writes of the fake candidacy one Mike Clark in the 58th State Rep. District which is mostly in Lake County, Ill.

As it happens Clark’s original filing papers identify him as a Democrat as well as a resident of Cook County, yet he’s running as a Republican/independent. Thorner surmises that Clark is just another one of those dirty tricks, another one of those oh-so-common Democrat fake candidates foisted on voters to confuse them and to get them to split up the vote in order to help a particular candidate.

In this case, the Democrats want the Republicans to split their votes between fake candidate Clark and legitimate Republican candidate Lauren Turelli — who ran unopposed in the GOP Primary — so that incumbent Democrat Karen May will again win in November.
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Lake County: Another Fake Republican Running in Local Race?”

Budget - Capitalism - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Elections - Free Trade - Government - Jobs - Labor Law - Liberals - New Jersey - Public Employees Unions - State Government - Taxes - Teachers Unions - Unions - Warner Todd Huston

Teachers Union Extorts Parents for Campaign Cash

June 10, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

The indispensable Mark Hemingway of the Washington Examiner recently caught another union outrage. This time it’s the teachers union in New Jersey trying to extort cash from parents directly, as opposed to merely extorting cash from parents through their taxes.

Hemingway alerts us to a New Jersey parent that was aghast that the NJ teachers union would be so blatant as to send a letter home with her child suggesting a novel new way to raise funds for teachers.

As both she and the letter she handed me stated, my daughter was to accomplish chores around the house with the goal of being paid by me for those chores the sum of $20. She would then have to hand the full $20 over to the school to make up for the shortfall in their overall budget which, ultimately, disallowed the kids to go on yet another class trip.

This parent was so incensed at the “mandatory” aspect of the fund raising letter that she called the school to complain. She was assured that despite all the rhetoric about it being mandatory, it was just a “suggestion.” The parent was, of course, skeptical of the later claim.
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Teachers Union Extorts Parents for Campaign Cash”

Budget - Chicago - Conservatives - Government - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Liberals - Senate - State Government - Steve Rauschenberger - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Steve Rauschenberger Officially Launches Bid for 22nd District State Senate Seat

June 7, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Steve Rauschengerger held the State Senate seat of the 22nd District for many years until he bowed out to make a run for Governor in 2006. Since that time Rauschenberger imagined that he had hung up his political hat, never to run again. That was until the current General Assembly retired for the Summer without a final budget. It was then that he knew he had to run again.

“This is the worst situation in Springfield I can ever imagine,” Rauschenberger said after his kickoff address to a crowd of about 75 people in his Elgin campaign office on Douglas Avenue. The Chicago-based leadership “felt politics were more important” than coming up with a balanced budget, Rauschenberger said.

“There are 48 other states that have a balanced budget,” Rauschenberger said, noting that the only other state in as dire a situation as Illinois is California, which has a $16 billion budget deficit.

Good luck to Mr. Rauschenberger.
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Steve Rauschenberger Officially Launches Bid for 22nd District State Senate Seat”

Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - Government - House of Representatives - Liberals - North Carolina - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

New NC Union-Based Political Party Fails to Get Enough Petition Signatures

June 2, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Back in April we reported that unions in North Carolina banded together to try and start their own political party (as if the Democrats weren’t in thrall to them anyway). Well we are happy to report that the new North Carolina Families First Party failed to get the required number of petition signatures to authorize the effort.

This is not stopping the SEIU-based group from trying to punish North Carolina Democrats that aren’t sufficiently left-wing enough to suit them, however.

The Washington Post is reporting that the Service Employees International Union has recruited a candidate to run against first term Democrat Rep. Larry Kissell. Kissell was a “no” vote on Obamacare earlier this year.
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New NC Union-Based Political Party Fails to Get Enough Petition Signatures”

Congress - Elections - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Randy Hultgren - Republicans - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Hultgren for Congress: 3 Upcoming Parades, 2 Ways to Help and 1 BIG Endorsement!‏

June 1, 2010 by

From the Hultgren for Congress campaign (14th District)…

My strong record of fighting for job creation and economic growth, while reducing the tax burden for individuals and businesses, has earned our campaign for Congress the endorsement of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce!

But, the most important endorsement I can receive is yours, which is why I need you to come out and show your support THIS WEEKEND in 3 upcoming parades!
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Hultgren for Congress: 3 Upcoming Parades, 2 Ways to Help and 1 BIG Endorsement!‏”

Budget - Congress - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Elections - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Melissa Bean - State Government - Taxes - Tea Party - Warner Todd Huston

Melissa Bean’s – “The Hill” Ratings

June 1, 2010 by

From the Palatine Tea Party…

(Palatine, Illinois) – For the last 5+ years Rep. Melissa Bean has touted government accountability, fiscal responsibility and tax relief. But does her record live up to her rhetoric? What has Rep. Bean been doing on our behalf? For starters, ignoring and avoiding her more conservative constituents. So much for accountability. She also voted for all major deficit laden, big government legislation such as bailouts, stimulus and health care. So much for fiscal responsibility. And has anyone noticed any tax relief in the last 5 years?

So what else should we know about Rep. Bean before the November election? If she’s reelected will her conduct and votes reflect our principles and values? TheHill.com has a section entitled “Lawmaker Ratings” which shows how advocacy groups score politicians on issues. The ranges are 0-100 or A-F. Here are Rep. Bean’s scores.

  • Gunowners of America (Pro Second Amendment Lobby) – F*
  • National Right to Life Center (Anti Abortion) – 0*
  • Family Research Council (Judeo-Christian values) – 5*
  • American Conservative Union (Conservative Ideals) – 16*
  • National Taxpayers Union (Tax Reform/Small Gov) – 17*
  • Club for Growth (Limited Gov/Pro Free Market) – 22*
  • Americans for Tax Reform (Small Gov/Flat Tax) – 25*
  • Citizens Against Government Waste (Gov Waste Watchdog) – 30*
  • Peace Action (Anti War Lobby) – 31*
  • Council for a Livable World (Anti WMD Lobby) – 37*
  • Friends Committee on National Legislation (Anti War Lobby) – 50*
  • Center for Security Policy (Peace through Strength) – 50*
  • BIPAC (Business PAC) – 50*
  • Numbers USA (Anti Illegal Immigration) – C+*
  • National Federation of Independent Business (Small Business Lobby) – 64*
  • Americans for Democratic Action (Progressive Ideals) – 65*
  • Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence (Anti Gun Lobby) – 66*
  • Children’s Defense Fund (Social Justice for Children) – 70*
  • AFSCME (Government Employees Union) – 71*
  • Drum Major Institute (Progressive Ideals) – B*
  • Human Rights Campaign (Gay Rights) – 80*
  • AFL-CIO (Labor Union) – 82*
  • Chamber of Commerce (2008) – 83*
  • ACLU (Progressive Causes/Civil Rights) – 83*
  • Alliance for Retired Americans (Pro Medicare/Social Security) – 90*
  • American Public Health Association (Pro Socialized Medicine) – 100*
  • League of Conservation Voters (Environmental Causes) – 100*
  • NARAL Pro-Choice America (Pro Abortion) – 100*
  • National Education Association (Education Union) – A*

*Datasource provided by The Hill

Palatine Tea Party

Budget - Democrats/Leftists - Government - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Pat Quinn - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Ill. Gov. Who Says ‘I Always do the Right Thing,’ Said the Same thing About Blago

June 1, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Sometimes words come back to haunt you, ya know? Ask Illinois Governor Pat Quinn who has just said something that is as bad as when a husband tells his wife she really does look fat in that dress. It’s something that just can’t be forgotten.

Last week Governor Pat “I’m For the Little Guy” Quinn took some guff for his pay-to-play union payoff when he signed an amendatory veto that benefited the Teamsters Union. As soon as Quinn issued the veto that would help the Teamsters his opponents highlighted the fact that Gov. Quinn only last month received $750,000 in political contributions from the union.

Quinn scoffed at the idea that he was handing his union pals a big payoff.
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Ill. Gov. Who Says ‘I Always do the Right Thing,’ Said the Same thing About Blago”

Illinois - Illinois Policy Institute - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Ill. Policy Institute: Laughable‏

May 28, 2010 by

“Unlike the United States, New Jersey Can’t Print Money”

With Illinois legislators continuing with “business as usual”—see below for our update on the latest Springfield budget snafu—Governor Chris Christie has been shaking things up in New Jersey. After a series of budget cuts, Christie is now proposing a property tax cap and a state spending limit. He’s also having some colorful interchanges with his constituents, which you can watch by clicking the video above.

It Would Be Laughable…
…If it weren’t so sad. This week’s brilliant budget solution from legislators in Springfield? You got it—borrow, to the tune of almost four billion dollars, while refusing to touch the root causes of our state’s budget crisis. Meanwhile, multiple austerity measures aimed at legislators themselves were shelved. You can watch the Institute’s take on the borrowing package in this Fox television clip here, read our statement on the budget here, and check out a roundup from the State Journal Register here.
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Ill. Policy Institute: Laughable‏”

Budget - Democrats/Leftists - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Pat Quinn - Pensions - Public Employees Unions - Republicans - State Government - Taxes - Unions - Warner Todd Huston

Rep. Biggins Votes for Illinois Pension Bailout, Should he be Thrown out of GOP Caucus?

May 27, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

State Representative Bob Biggins (R, Elmhurst) was one of two Republicans to vote yes on a bill to borrow $3.7 billion to shore up state pension funds this week. The vote caused tongues to wag that the retiring representative was offered a job or some other goodies by the Illinois Democrats through Governor Quinn’s offices to change his previous vote to side with Quinn.

It isn’t that Biggins sided with Democrats and against the Republican leadership, but that he ducked a meeting with his own caucus in order to hide away in Governor Quinn’s office with chief of staff Jerry Stemer raises eyebrows.

For his part Biggins claims he was offered no incentive to change his “no” vote to a “yes.”
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Rep. Biggins Votes for Illinois Pension Bailout, Should he be Thrown out of GOP Caucus?”

Budget - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Liberals - Pensions - Peter Roskam - President - Public Employees Unions - Republicans - State Government - Taxes - Unions - Warner Todd Huston

Shame: Nine GOP Reps Supporting Union Bailout

May 27, 2010 by 1 Comment

-By Warner Todd Huston

For decades unions have mishandled their pension funds. These funds have been embezzled into the pockets of union chiefs, they have been wasted on needless expenses, and have been spent away on left-wing political causes not to mention simple mismanagement and bad investing. It has gotten so bad that few union pension funds for the rank and file members are adequately funded and retirement money for millions of union member’s is now at risk — naturally the separate pension funds for union bosses are almost universally in the black.

So, what’s the solution? What will befall the retirement funds of these poor rank and file union schlubs? As far as Illinois Representatives Aaron Schock and Peter Roskam and seven other Republicans are concerned you and I should bailout out these union thugs that have filled their pockets with their member’s retirement funds by giving them our tax dollars in a bailout plan supported by the Obama administration.

Apparently union crooks and neer-do-wells are too big to fail and Reps. Schock and Roskam think that our taxes should go to reward the criminal behavior and neglect by union bosses.
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Shame: Nine GOP Reps Supporting Union Bailout”

Budget - Chicago - Congress - Cook County - David Ratowitz - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Jobs - Liberals - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

5th Distroct, David Ratowitz: ‘I stand for Liberty: Boldly and without Equivocation!’

May 26, 2010 by

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

U. S. Congressional Candidate, David Ratowitz (IL – 5), calls to task advocates of public corruption who use specious claims of racism to distract from their own dishonesty”

Chicago, IL, March 12, 2010 – Long time transparency and pro-liberty advocate Candidate for U. S. Congress from Illinois’ 5th Congressional District, David Ratowitz defends Liberty from false charges of racism.

OF LIBERTY AND RACE
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5th Distroct, David Ratowitz: ‘I stand for Liberty: Boldly and without Equivocation!’”

Budget - Business - Capitalism - Chicago - Congress - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Elections - House of Representatives - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Melissa Bean - State Government - Taxes - Tea Party - Warner Todd Huston

Did You Get a 42% Increase in 2009?

May 26, 2010 by

From the Palatine Tea Party…

(Palatine, Illinois) – Melissa Bean must believe people got a 42% increase in their 2009 paychecks, because she is spending as if people have. Bean sponsored or co-sponsored the following 17 Earmark projects in 2009 totaling $38,314,314* which represents a 42% increase from her 2008 Earmarks projects totaling which totaled $26,842,300*.

With record deficits in 2009 of over one trillion dollars and unemployment near 10% we can see why people are angry with members of Congress and “Voter unhappiness with Congress has reached the highest level ever recorded by Rasmussen Reports as 71% now say the legislature is doing a poor job. That’s up ten points from the previous high of 61% reached.”

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Did You Get a 42% Increase in 2009?”

Alexi Giannoulias - Chicago - Congress - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Jesse Jackson - Liberals - Mark Kirk - Media - Media Bias - Republicans - Senate - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Rep. Jesse Jackson Endorsing Republican Mark Kirk?

May 25, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

The final answer is, “no,” Chicago-based Representative Jesse Jackson, Jr. is not endorsing a Republican to take Barack Obama’s old Illinois U.S. Senate seat. But Jackson is making news by seeming to be toying with the idea of abandoning the troubled Democrat candidate, Alexi Giannoulias.

And, in the end, that’s all this is. It’s Jesse Jackson, Jr. employing the ages old Chicago Democrat game of fishing for payoffs.

The game goes like this: Long-time Democrat strong-man wants a pay off of one kind or another so he pretends he might support someone surprising, someone that isn’t the expected pick. Party bigwigs rush to payoff said strong-man so that he will support the usual suspect. Strong-man gets big rewards and ends up supporting the usual suspect anyway.
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Rep. Jesse Jackson Endorsing Republican Mark Kirk?”

Congress - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - Government - Government, Ill. County - House of Representatives - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Melissa Bean - State Government - Taxes - Tea Party - Warner Todd Huston

Bean To Earmark or Not To Earmark

May 24, 2010 by

From the Palatine Tea Party…

Melissa Bean sponsored or co-sponsored the following 27 Earmark projects in 2008 totaling $26,842,300*. Actions like these are what are wrong with American politics today! Where is the common sense and accountability to the United States taxpayer? Experience is lacking in her judgment as she continues with this reckless behavior. This is not your money to waste!

We do not have the money to pay for projects like these. Because of actions like this, we continue to borrow money from counties like Brazil, China, Colombia, Egypt, Japan, Russia, and Saudi Arabia. We will continue to pay interest on these 2008 Earmark projects for decades to come.
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Bean To Earmark or Not To Earmark”

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

(Ill.) Brady Campaign’s First Step At Serious Campaign for Gov.

May 23, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Not long ago, I asked someone, anyone, to take control of Bill Brady’s gubernatorial campaign. It looks like my wish is fulfilled because Senator Brady has hired a new press secretary, and one with some major experience at that.

The new media boss for Brady is one Patty Schuh, who has worked for the Illinois GOP for 25 years. Schuh started with the state party in 1985 and was until this month the press secretary and assistant to Senate GOP Leader Christine Radogno. Schuh also worked for James “Pate” Philip when he was president and minority leader of the Illinois Senate.

Schuh, a Chicago native, is a mass communications graduate of Illinois State University and worked as a news director for radio stations in Macomb, and then as political affairs director for Morton Buildings Inc. in Morton before joining the Senate staff.

This is a very good development. Through the grapevine I was hearing that Brady’s campaign was arrogantly ignoring every snippet of advice that so many top operatives were offering them and the result has been multiple mistakes, the sort that a well controlled campaign could easily have voided.
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(Ill.) Brady Campaign’s First Step At Serious Campaign for Gov.”

Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - GOP - House of Representatives - Illinois - Islam - Islamofascism - President - Republicans - State Government - Terrorism - Warner Todd Huston

Hayes Applauds Rejection of Gitmo Transfer to Thompson

May 22, 2010 by

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

CHICAGO: Republican nominee for Illinois 2nd Congressional District Isaac Hayes released the following statement today following the House Armed Services Committee rejects the plan to shift terror detainees to Illinois:

“I applaud the House Armed Services Committee for unanimously approving legislation that bans spending on any facility inside the United States to house Guantánamo detainees. From the very beginning this ridiculous idea was opposed by the American people. At a time when the federal government refuses to do anything to secure our borders, transplanting high-risk terrorists near Chicago would have resulted in a welcome mat for Al-Qaeda. These terrorists should remain exactly where they are – far from the American people and far from the possibility of escape.”

For more information, please go to: www.isaac4honesty.com

DuPage County - GOP - Government - Illinois - Kane County - Republicans - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Don’t Come Home ‘Til Your Job is Done

May 20, 2010 by

From the Office of State Senator Chris Lauzen (R, Aurora)…

In ancient Sparta, Spartan mothers commanded their soldier sons, “Come home victorious, or come home on your shield.”

This was the old version of the British Empire’s declaration, “Victory or Death”. The modern Illinois version of this refrain, contained in hundreds of recent emails, letters and calls to my office from recently concerned Illinois constituents. Citizens and editorial boards warned, “Don’t leave Springfield until you produce a responsible balanced budget!”
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Don’t Come Home ‘Til Your Job is Done”

Budget - Chicago - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Government - Illinois - Illinois Policy Institute - Illinois State Government - Liberals - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Ill. Policy Institute: LeBron’s Choice‏

May 20, 2010 by

Happy Graduation…You’re Doomed!
As if graduating in the midst of global economic turmoil wasn’t bad enough, the University of Tennessee decided to invite Al Gore to inflict even more pain on its new graduates. You can watch what has been aptly christened “The World’s Most Depressing Graduation Speech” here.
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Ill. Policy Institute: LeBron’s Choice‏”