Rahm Emanuel Wins Chicago Mayoral Election

-By Warner Todd Huston

Many of Chicago’s political punditry class imagined that Rahm would win election without a runoff, yes, but perhaps only just. Turns out they were wrong. Emaneul didn’t “just” win his 50% plus one vote, but received about 55% of the vote.

Emanuel’s closest opponent, Gery Chico, only got about 25% of the vote. Chico had hoped to hold Emanuel to less than 50% which would have caused a runoff election.

“Thank you Chicago for this humbling victory,” Emanuel said in his victory speech. “All I can say, you sure know how to make a guy feel at home.”

So, there we have it. Rahm Emanuel is the next mayor of Chicago. Long live the new king.
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Rahm Emanuel Wins Chicago Mayoral Election”


Truth in Accounting Issues: Pennsylvania’s ‘Financial State of the State’ – True Tax Burden $52 Billion

From the Institute for Truth in Accounting…

Chicago (November 29, 2010) Today, the Institute for Truth in Accounting released Pennsylvania’s “Financial State of the State.” After an intensive review of the State’s 2010 audited financial report the Institute determined the State is in a precarious financial position because it does not have the funds available to pay more than $52 billion of the State’s commitments as they come due. Each taxpayer’s share of this financial burden equals $12,200.

Pennsylvania state law requires a balanced budget. “If governors and legislatures had truly balanced the state’s budget, no taxpayer’s financial burden would exist,” said Sheila Weinberg, founder and CEO of the Institute for Truth in Accounting (IFTA). She continued, “A state budget is not balanced if past costs, including those for employees’ retirement benefits, are pushed into the future.”
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Truth in Accounting Issues: Pennsylvania’s ‘Financial State of the State’ – True Tax Burden $52 Billion”


Guarded Optimism, But Show Us The Cuts

From the Office of State Senator Chris Lauzen (21st District)…

I am generally a gullible person, typically believing what people tell me. Age is tempering my natural inclination by teaching me that it is wiser to watch what people do, rather than to immediately believe what they say.

I hope that I am not being naïve to be encouraged by several developments within the swamp of Springfield events. My constituents can barely endure discussing the state’s current political and financial situation. They avert their eyes from the train wreck. They shake their heads, throw up their hands, and finally stick out their tongues. They instinctively realize that bankruptcy is the most severe failure of financial trust. And, Illinois is bankrupt.
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Guarded Optimism, But Show Us The Cuts”


Roskam: We did it‏

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

Over the weekend, House Republicans made good on their promise to the American people. The House of Representatives passed a historic $100 billion in spending cuts in the continuing resolution bill to fund the government. These are important first steps to removing barriers to job creation and reducing our sky-high national debt. What’s more, it was done in a historic open process.

The only reason Congress had to address this issue now is because Democrats failed to pass a budget in 2011 – however, Republicans took the challenge and turned it into an opportunity to do something meaningful by helping our economy and beginning to get our fiscal house in order.
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Roskam: We did it‏”


Truth in Accounting Issues: Kentucky’s ‘Financial State of the State’ – True Tax Burden $32 Billion

From the Institute for Truth in Accounting…

Chicago (November 29, 2010) Today, the Institute for Truth in Accounting released Kentucky’s “Financial State of the State.” After an intensive review of the State’s 2010 audited financial report the Institute determined the State is in a precarious financial position because it does not have the funds available to pay more than $32 billion of the State’s commitments as they come due. Each taxpayer’s share of this financial burden equals $26,300.

Kentucky state law requires a balanced budget. “If governors and legislatures had truly balanced the state’s budget, no taxpayer’s financial burden would exist,” said Sheila Weinberg, founder and CEO of the Institute for Truth in Accounting (IFTA). She continued, “A state budget is not balanced if past costs, including those for employees’ retirement benefits, are pushed into the future.”
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Truth in Accounting Issues: Kentucky’s ‘Financial State of the State’ – True Tax Burden $32 Billion”


Tom Cross Intentionally Misleading on SB600

-By Warner Todd Huston

For years now thousands of rank and file Republicans have been trying to get SB600 passed in Springfield. This bill would allow us regular, lowly voters to actually vote for our GOP leadership on the GOP State Central Committee.

Unfortunately, Republican voters are not allowed to vote for their own leadership in Illinois. This good old fashioned way of electing leaders is not only truly American, but, heck, even the Democrats in Illinois have this capability! But we Republicans do not.
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Tom Cross Intentionally Misleading on SB600″


Chico Calls for Same-Day Permitting

From the Gery Chico for Chicago Mayor campaign…

Under Chico, slow pace and brick wall of bureaucracy would no longer stifle job growth

(CHICAGO) Mayoral candidate Gery Chico today pledged to make 24-48 hour permitting a reality in Chicago city government. Chico would inject a new sense of urgency and speed in the notoriously slow permitting process.

“Thanks to the new digital economy, commerce is moving faster than ever. It’s time to move government up to speed,” Gery Chico said. “We’ll break down the brick wall of bureaucracy and make the city permitting process move faster so we can bring more businesses to our city and create more jobs for our citizens.”
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Chico Calls for Same-Day Permitting”


Roskam On Failed Stimulus Birthday Eve: We Don’t Need a Budget Like the Stimulus

From the office of Congressman Peter Roskam (6th District)…

Roskam: “The President recently said that people were getting impatient about the pace of reform and that things weren’t changing fast enough. Yeah, two years out people are plenty impatient. You bet your life they’re impatient.”

WASHINGTON – Chief Deputy Whip Peter Roskam (IL-06) released the following video on the eve of the second anniversary of President Obama signing the trillion dollar “stimulus” law. The White House promised that the “stimulus” would prevent unemployment from rising above 8%. Two years later, and for 22 months straight, national unemployment remains at or above 9%:

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Roskam On Failed Stimulus Birthday Eve: We Don’t Need a Budget Like the Stimulus”


Emanuel’s hard truths turn out to be cynical lies

From the Gery Chico for Chicago Mayor campaign…

(CHICAGO) In the wake of today’s Chicago Sun-Times report that once again proves Rahm Emanuel will say and do anything for power, Gery Chico denounced Emanuel’s cynical attempt to mislead voters about his pension position. While Emanuel has made his plans to slash existing pensions for city workers well known in editorial and business elite circles, this week he sent personal letters to city workers promising to protect their pension benefits, according to the Chicago Sun Times report.

“Rahm Emanuel is once again proving himself to be a pathological evader of the truth,” Gery Chico said. “When he needs donations and editorial support, he talks tough about slashing existing pensions but when talking directly with the city workers who depend on those pensions, he promises to protect their benefits. Either way, you can’t believe a thing this guy says.”

Emanuel’s desperate, dishonest letter to city workers comes just days before Feb. 22 as the Chico campaign is surging to the runoff. For more information, visit GeryChico.com.


Kinzinger and Kirk’s First Order of Business in Congress: Get Spending Under Control

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

Washington, D.C. — A little over a month after his swearing-in to Congress, U.S. Representative Adam Kinzinger (IL-11) today introduced the Spending Control Act, legislation that will force Congress to control federal spending.

“I’m pleased to join my colleague, Senator Mark Kirk (IL), to introduce legislation that will work toward ending the Washington spending spree,” said Representative Kinzinger. “We have tough decisions to make and the Spending Control Act will force both sides to roll up our sleeves in order to implement these solutions that will get our economy back on solid ground while living within our means.”
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Kinzinger and Kirk’s First Order of Business in Congress: Get Spending Under Control”


Union Rhetoric Against Rahm Emanuel Heats Up

-By Warner Todd Huston

At a recent rally for Chicago Mayoral candidate Gery Chico, the head of the Operating Engineers Local 150, James Sweeney, said that Rahm Emanuel was a “Judas” to the union cause. Now Emanuel, himself Jewish, is attempting to make this common phrase into some sort of anti-Semitic attack on him.

During the rally, Sweeney attacked Emanuel’s long record of supporting the North American Free Trade Act (NATFA) that he helped Bill Clinton pass in the 1990s.

We don’t need to be told that there’s an economic problem, we live it every day. Rahm Emanuel doesn’t live it, he’s nothing but a Wall Street Judas… a bag of silver that he collected when he went and passed NAFTA. That’s exactly what he is.

For his part Emanuel is saying the whole thing is “blatantly antisemitic.” But come on. It is obvious that Sweeney had no intent to inject any anti-Semitism into his campaign rally when he said that Emanuel was a Judas to unions. Using the term Judas is a common term that properly fits any situation and isn’t just a Jewish reference.
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Union Rhetoric Against Rahm Emanuel Heats Up”


Introducing the Village of Palatine’s Executive Leadership Program

From the Palatine Tea Party

(Palatine, Illinois) – Introducing the Village of Palatine’s Leadership Program Brought to you by …YOU the Hardworking, Trying to Make Ends Meet, Taxpayer.

The Palatine Tea Party has discovered an Executive Leadership Program available at the Village of Palatine. This benefit program is in addition to standard benefits. The annual cost to the taxpayer is approximately $226,916 for 13 employees as the program is outlined below.
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Introducing the Village of Palatine’s Executive Leadership Program”


More of Rahm’s Union Troubles

-By Warner Todd Huston

In the race for the Chicago Mayor’s office we have seen quite a lot of evidence that Chicago’s union bosses are not big Rahm Emanuelites. This week we got another hint in that direction as several more unions came out in support of Emanuel’s most serious opponent, Gery Chico.

The Chico campaign added a group of Chicago unions to its previous announcement of endorsements from the Chicago Firefighters and Police unions, a growing coalition that Chico says shows that he has “growing momentum with working families.”

Labor organizations that endorsed Chico today include the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 9, Sheet Metal Workers Local 73, Ironworkers Local 1, Laborers’ District Council of Chicago & Vicinity, Painters District Council #14 and the United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers and Allied Workers Local 11, together whose membership encompasses more than 60,000 hard working men and women in the Chicagoland area.

It is interesting to see the unions shy from the Emanuel campaign since Rahm is the presumed heir apparent to the Daley crown not to mention that Rahm has Barack Obama’s overt support. The air of a winner coupled with the favor of a Democrat president is usually more than enough to get unions to line up like good little lemmings. But this is clearly not the case with Rahm Emanuel.
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More of Rahm’s Union Troubles”


Mayor Buys Clothes With City $$: Needless Expense is why they Raised Taxes in Palatine

From the Palatine Tea Party…

(Palatine, Illinois) – The Palatine Tea Party obtained details of the Village of Palatine Mayor Jim Schwantz and Councilman Aaron Del Mar buying Apparel using taxpayer dollars. We have released the supporting details including: voided check, disbursement account details, check request, invoice, and several pictures.
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Mayor Buys Clothes With City $$: Needless Expense is why they Raised Taxes in Palatine”


Truth in Accounting Issues: Alaska’s ‘Financial State of the State’ – True Tax Burden $555 Million

From the Institute for Truth in Accounting…

Chicago (November 29, 2010) Today, the Institute for Truth in Accounting released Alaska’s “Financial State of the State.” After an intensive review of the State’s 2010 audited financial report the Institute determined the State is in a precarious financial position because it does not have the funds available to pay $555 million of the State’s commitments as they come due. Each taxpayer’s share of this financial burden equals $1,900.

Alaska state law requires a balanced budget. “If governors and legislatures had truly balanced the state’s budget, no taxpayer’s financial burden would exist,” said Sheila Weinberg, founder and CEO of the Institute for Truth in Accounting (IFTA). She continued, “A state budget is not balanced if past costs, including those for employees’ retirement benefits, are pushed into the future.”
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Truth in Accounting Issues: Alaska’s ‘Financial State of the State’ – True Tax Burden $555 Million”


Former Chicago Bears support Chico for Mayor and Super Bowl plan McMichael: Chico is one tough guy (And introducing Chico iPhone App)

From the Gery Chico for Chicago Mayor campaign…

(CHICAGO) Campaigning today at Manny’s Deli on the near Southside, Gery Chico received the support of two former Chicago Bears, one of whom played a key role on the 1985 Super Bowl Championship team.

Steve McMichael and Bruce Herron- part of the Bears’ legendary defense for several years- both said they believe Gery Chico is the most qualified, honest candidate to lead Chicago in a new direction.

“If Gery Chico was an ’85 Bear, I would have wanted him by my side blitzing because he is one tough guy,” said Steve “Mongo” McMichael. “Just look at what he did for education in the 90s! He’d make a great mayor.”
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Former Chicago Bears support Chico for Mayor and Super Bowl plan McMichael: Chico is one tough guy (And introducing Chico iPhone App)”


WGN’s Dean Richards: An Example of Chicago’s Rahm-Devoted Media

-By Warner Todd Huston

WGN AM 720 radio is one of the biggest radio stations in the country. It is traditionally one of Chicago’s most listened to radio stations and commonly tunes in as Chicago’s number one station. At least for the past few decades, WGN radio has also been the leading liberal station in the city. One thing WGN is not, however, is either edgy or independent of thought where it concerns Chicago’s ruling class. As a rule WGN is soldout all down the line to whomever is “the” Chicago guy.

This weekend Dean Richards, one of WGN’s weekend guys, employed the sort of “analysis” of Chicago’s mayoral election that tends to speak of what the station evidently feels must be the outcome of the election It was a not-so-subtle hint that Rahm Emanuel is the choice to take City Hall.

Richards took a segment of his weekend radio program to discuss the mayor’s race and the specific topic centered around candidate Gery Chico’s first major TV ad against Emanuel.
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WGN’s Dean Richards: An Example of Chicago’s Rahm-Devoted Media”


Celebrating Reagan’s Legacy‏

From Congressman Peter Roskam (Ill., 6th District)…

This Sunday, February 6, marks the late President Ronald Reagan’s 100th birthday. Particularly given our country’s current economic challenges, it is fitting we take some time to reflect on the legacy of this great American.

When President Reagan took office in January of 1981, our country was experiencing great hardships – not unlike today, he faced an economic recession and record unemployment. However, unlike the current Administration, President Reagan approached these challenges with a conviction that the American people could pick themselves up – as long as government stayed out of the way.

Take a minute to watch this video from the Heritage Foundation:

Reagan’s years in the White House were marked by a determined drive to shrink the size and cost of government and make America strong again. As a result, he ushered in one of the greatest periods of prosperity in the history of the United States.
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Celebrating Reagan’s Legacy‏”


Cook County Property Tax Information‏

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

2011 Forest Preserve Calendars

Still looking for a 2011 calendar? We have free calendars provided by the Cook County Forest Preserve available at our district office. Call our district office for a calendar (847) 640-1632

Hanover Township Property Tax Reassessments

Hanover township reassessment notices where mailed out on January 10, 2011. Reassessment notices contain proposed values that will be reflected on second-installment tax bills, which will be due in the fall of 2011. However, the time to file appeals on these proposed assessments is now. The deadline to file appeals for properties located in Hanover Township is February 10, 2011.
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Cook County Property Tax Information‏”


Roskam Statement on January Jobs Report

From Congressman Peter Roskam (Ill., 6th District)…

Washington, DC – Congressman Peter Roskam (R-IL), Majority Chief Deputy Whip, issued the following statement after the Department of Labor released their January jobs report:

“President Obama and Democrats promised that if we just spent a trillion dollars on the ‘stimulus’, unemployment would stay below eight percent. Two years later, unemployment remains at nine percent, and our economy is still feeling the effects of the Democrats’ spending binge that brought trillions in debt, but not jobs. The 21st consecutive month of unemployment levels at nine percent or more is proof enough that it’s time to enact Republican plans to cut spending and regulation to grow jobs.
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Roskam Statement on January Jobs Report”


Chico’s New TV Ad: ‘Voters, pay the Rahm Tax’

From the Gery Chico for Chicago Mayor campaign…

(CHICAGO) Mayoral candidate Gery Chico began airing a new TV ad today warning Chicagoans about the Rahm Tax, Rahm Emanuel’s latest scheme to raise taxes on a whole new range of services that working families depend on every day.

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Chico’s New TV Ad: ‘Voters, pay the Rahm Tax’”


Emanuel refuses to release Rahm Tax list

From the Gery Chico for Chicago Mayor campaign…

HARD TRUTH: Emanuel not being honest with voters

(CHICAGO) Rahm Emanuel today backtracked on his proposed Rahm Tax, saying his campaign would not release the entire list of services that would be hit by his tax hike. Mayoral candidate Gery Chico blasted Emanuel for not telling the “hard truth” to voters. Emanuel is currently running ads that suggest Emanuel is the candidate who best tells the “hard truth.”

“Rahm Emanuel has made a habit of not being honest with the voters of Chicago,” Gery Chico said. “Emanuel isn’t being honest about his plan to raise taxes on a whole new litany of services that will hurt working class families. Emanuel isn’t being honest about his tenure on the scandal-laden board of Freddie Mac. The last thing Chicago needs is a mayor who says one thing and does another.”
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Emanuel refuses to release Rahm Tax list”


Twitter Accounts for the Illinois GOP Congressional Delegation

-By Warner Todd Huston

Yesterday, I announced a Twitter List of all the freshman GOP congressmen. There you can find the Twitter feed of all the new GOP senators and house reps.

Today we have all the Twiter feeds of the Illinois GOP delegation. You can find the full list here : http://twitter.com/warnerthuston/ill-gop-delegation.

Senate: Mark Kirk http://twitter.com/SenatorKirk

House of Representatives

Peter Roskam (Illinois, 6th District)
http://twitter.com/PeterRoskam

Joe Walsh (Illinois, 8th District)
http://twitter.com/JoeWalsh8th

Robert Dold (Illinois, 10th District)
http://twitter.com/ROBERTDOLD

Adam Kinzinger (Illinois, 11th District)
http://twitter.com/RepKinzinger

Judy Biggert (Illinois, 13th District)
http://twitter.com/JudyBiggert

Randy Hultgren (Illinois, 14th District)
http://twitter.com/RepHultgren

Timothy Johnson (Illinois, 15th District)

Don Manzullo (Illinois, 16th District)
http://twitter.com/donmanzullo

Bobby Schilling (Illinois, 17th District)
http://twitter.com/RepSchilling

Aaron Schock (Illinois, 18th District)
http://twitter.com/AaronSchock

John Shimkus (Illinois, 19th District)
http://twitter.com/RepShimkus
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Twitter Accounts for the Illinois GOP Congressional Delegation”


Truth in Accounting Issues: Arizona’s ‘Financial State of the State’ – True Tax Burden $10.1 Billion

From the Institute for Truth in Accounting…

Chicago (November 29, 2010) Today, the Institute for Truth in Accounting released Arizona’s “Financial State of the State.” After an intensive review of the State’s 2009 audited financial report the Institute determined the State is in a precarious financial position because it does not have the funds available to pay $10.1 billion of the State’s commitments as they come due. Each taxpayer’s share of this financial burden equals $5,700.

Arizona state law requires a balanced budget. “If governors and legislatures had truly balanced the state’s budget, no taxpayer’s financial burden would exist,” said Sheila Weinberg, founder and CEO of the Institute for Truth in Accounting (IFTA). She continued, “A state budget is not balanced if past costs, including those for employees’ retirement benefits, are pushed into the future.”
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Truth in Accounting Issues: Arizona’s ‘Financial State of the State’ – True Tax Burden $10.1 Billion”


A Snap Shot of Congressional Arrogance

-By Warner Todd Huston

POLITICO posted a piece last week that shows the arrogance of our duly elected Senators in Washington D.C. After reading this piece, one gets the impression that this good old boys club is not only one that not just anyone is allowed to join but one that finds itself beyond even the voters that put them there. It is an arrogance of self-assumed stature in this great Republic that is galling and should be.

The piece, headlined “Mark Kirk not sorry for Senate ‘end zone dance,'” was all full of the tsk tsking by nose-in-the-air senators that didn’t like the fact that newly minted Senator Mark Kirk was ebullient about the GOP having won a recent legislative victory. It was gauche, these senators said, not proper, completely untoward, over-the-top, low-rent, “amateurish,”and entirely eyebrow raising.

What did Senator Kirk do to cause all this finger wagging to be unleashed like a torrent in his direction? In a news conference Kirk put on a “demeanor” that amounted to “spiking a football on the decorous Senate floor,” after the GOP defeated the Democrat’s $1.1 trillion spending bill riddled with pork, waste, and earmarks.
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A Snap Shot of Congressional Arrogance”


Chico supporters: Vote now to stop Rahm Tax later

From the Gery Chico for Chicago Mayor campaign…

Former Emanuel opponent endorses Chico: “He’s a proven leader who never lost touch with the community”

(CHICAGO) With early voting set to begin tomorrow, mayoral candidate Gery Chico joined community leaders and elected officials to rally Chicagoans to vote now to stop the Rahm Tax later. Chico supporters who attended the gathering in Eckhart Park included Ald. Ed Burke (14th Ward), Ald. Joe Moreno (1st Ward), Rev. B. Herbert Martin, LGBT advocate Rick Garcia, local police and firefighters and former Rahm Emanuel opponent and respected community activist Nancy Kaszak.

Kaszak, a northside leader in the Polish community, called Chico a proven leader who never lost touch with the community.
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Chico supporters: Vote now to stop Rahm Tax later”


Roskam to Deliver Economic Speech At City Club of Chicago Tuesday

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

BLOOMINGDALE – Majority Chief Deputy Whip Peter Roskam (IL-6) will deliver an economic speech at the City Club of Chicago this coming Tuesday, February 1st, at 12:30 pm CT. Roskam, a member of the influential Ways & Means Committee, will outline what House Republicans are doing to ensure the 112th Congress is a “cut-and-grow” Congress that eliminates wasteful spending and cuts harmful regulations, enabling private sector job growth. Roskam will offer a clear alternative to the job-destroying policies that Democrats are implementing both in Washington and in Illinois – on taxes, healthcare, trade and more.
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Roskam to Deliver Economic Speech At City Club of Chicago Tuesday”


Chico Blasts Rahm Tax at Local Barbershop

From the Gery Chico for Chicago Mayor campaign…

(CHICAGO) Visiting a Hyde Park barbershop that could potentially be hit by Rahm Emanuel’s haphazard plan to raise taxes, mayoral candidate Gery Chico again criticized the Rahm Tax as one of the largest expansions of the sales tax in city history at the absolute worst time.

“Need a plumber? Pay the Rahm Tax. Need a taxi? Pay the Rahm Tax. Need to park your car? Pay the Rahm Tax,” Gery Chico said. “If Rahm Emanuel gets his way, we will all pay the Rahm Tax.”
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Chico Blasts Rahm Tax at Local Barbershop”


Chico pledges 2,000 new police officers by end of first term

From the Gery Chico for Chicago Mayor campaign..

(CHICAGO) Mayoral candidate Gery Chico rolled out a five-point plan to crack down on crime today that would strengthen police presence in Chicago neighborhoods, expand community policing and tackle gang violence. At a press conference in Marquette Park, within Chicago’s 8th Police District where the city’s index crime rate is the highest, Chico vowed to put 2,000 more officers on the street by the end of his first term in office.

Noting the increase in violence against police officers as an indication of a dangerous indifference to the law, Chico said protecting the citizens is the mayor’s most important job.
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Chico pledges 2,000 new police officers by end of first term”


Truth in Accounting Issues: Florida’s ‘Financial State of the State’ – True Tax Burden $23. Billion

From the Institute for Truth in Accounting…

Chicago (November 29, 2010) Today, the Institute for Truth in Accounting released Florida’s “Financial State of the State.” After an intensive review of the State’s 2009 audited financial report the Institute determined the State is in a precarious financial position because it does not have the funds available to pay more than $23.4 billion of the State’s commitments as they come due. Each taxpayer’s share of this financial burden equals $4,100.

Florida state law requires a balanced budget. “If governors and legislatures had truly balanced the state’s budget, no taxpayer’s financial burden would exist,” said Sheila Weinberg, founder and CEO of the Institute for Truth in Accounting (IFTA). She continued, “A state budget is not balanced if past costs, including those for employees’ retirement benefits, are pushed into the future.”
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Truth in Accounting Issues: Florida’s ‘Financial State of the State’ – True Tax Burden $23. Billion”