Cook+County

Budget - Connecticut - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Liberals - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Truth in Accounting Issues: Connecticut’s ‘Financial State of the State’ – True Tax Burden $63.5 Billion

May 10, 2011 by

Today, the Institute for Truth in Accounting and the Comeback America Initiative released Connecticut’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 over $63.5 billion of the state’s commitments as they come due. Each taxpayer’s* share of this financial burden equals $49,000.

Connecticut 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: Connecticut’s ‘Financial State of the State’ – True Tax Burden $63.5 Billion”

Budget - Chicago - Cook County - Cook County Board - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - Government - Illinois - Liberals - Taxes - Toni Preckwinkle - Warner Todd Huston

Cook County Board: Where a Politician Refuses to Say Something Like a Normal Person… Again

April 27, 2011 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

You gotta hand it to new Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. Not only has she risen above her goofy name and won a highly important political position, but she’s achieved the art of almost saying something that she means.

Of course there’s another thing you have to hand to her. For a Democrat she’s been doing a fair bit of cutting of the Cook County budget. She could do far more, of course, but at least she’s doing something.

Anyway, back to the “almost saying something she means” thingie…
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Cook County Board: Where a Politician Refuses to Say Something Like a Normal Person… Again”

Budget - Chicago - Cook County - Cook County Board - Economy/Finances - Illinois - Property Taxes - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Cook County Property Tax Appeal Seminar

April 25, 2011 by

Seminar includes a presentation by Cook County Board of Review Commissioner Dan Patlak followed by an opportunity to file an appeal.

When: Thursday, April 28, 2011 – 6:00 PM

Where: Hanover Township Senior Center 240 South Route 59 Bartlett, IL 60103

Sponsored by:

Cook County Commissioner Timothy O. Schneider
Hanover Township Assessor Thomas S. Smogolski

Please make sure you bring your Property Identification Number (PIN) with you to the forum.

For additional information, please call (312) 603-3644

Barack Obama - Budget - Congress - Conservatives - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Elections - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Liberals - Peter Roskam - Republicans - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston - Washington D.C.

Rep. Peter Roskam on the Ryan Budget Plan: Obama’s Lack of Leadership Gives GOP a Leading Issue

April 22, 2011 by 3 Comments

-By Warner Todd Huston

No one but the worst sycophant thinks that President Obama’s latest stab at a federal budget is a serious plan. In fact, that he’s come before the American people again with a second budget plan itself bespeaks of a president badly floundering on the issue. This has left the Republican Party, and more specifically the GOP led House of Representatives, as the only real game in town on the budget, the debt, and in correcting the Bacchanalia of spending that Congress has indulged for nigh on the last 100 years.

Sadly the Old Media has let Obama skate on the fact that this is his second stab at a budget. If this had been a Republican president forced to throw away his first budget plan, forced to offer a second one, the Old Media would be proclaiming him a president in trouble, a failed leader, a man without influence. Obama, however, has been given a complete pass on his total failure to lead and convince.

Regardless, the GOP has proven to be the adults in the room here with its public face of Paul Ryan and his “path to prosperity” budget plan. As flawed as it might be it is the only serious plan on the table at this time.

I recently spoke to GOP Chief Deputy Whip Peter Roskam (R, IL) about the House plan.
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Rep. Peter Roskam on the Ryan Budget Plan: Obama’s Lack of Leadership Gives GOP a Leading Issue”

Adam Kinzinger - Budget - Coal - Congress - Economy/Finances - Energy - GOP - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Nuclear Power - Oil - Republicans - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Reps. Kinzinger, Biggert Tour Eleventh Congressional District Power Plants

April 21, 2011 by

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

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Adam Kinzinger (IL-11), a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, and Congresswoman Judy Biggert (IL-13), a member of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee this week toured together the Dresden Generating Station as well as the General Electric (GE) facility in Morris, IL. In addition, Kinzinger toured the Lyondell Basell Plant, also in Morris.

Congressman Kinzinger represents a congressional district that is home to three nuclear power plants, hydropower plants, ethanol and biodiesel plants, and two oil refineries. The Eleventh District embodies the all-of-the-above approach to energy that Kinzinger says we must stand for. Nuclear energy production plays a critical role in our local economy by employing more than 2,500 people through the Illinois Valley resulting in an annual payroll of $177 million and over $54 million going to local taxing bodies. Kinzinger says the key to making the U.S. energy secure is by continuing and expanding the use of nuclear power.
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Reps. Kinzinger, Biggert Tour Eleventh Congressional District Power Plants”

Business - Capitalism - Chicago - Computers - Congress - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Inernet - Jesse Jackson - Liberals - Socialism - Technology - Warner Todd Huston

Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. Attacks Apple iPad

April 20, 2011 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Chicago area Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. is apparently as fickle as he is uninformed about economics and the Constitution both. In March we saw him praising the Apple iPad as technology so important that he wanted to have the federal government buy one for every American student. Only a month later he was calling the iPad a destroyer of American jobs. Talk about a whiplash inducing turn around.

In March, Jackson was pleased to announce a brilliant idea to put a provision into the Constitution that gives every student an iPad and a laptop computer. After a week of ridicule, Rep. Jackson doubled down on that plan saying that the iPad had so fundamentally altered education that it should be a right.

And now, only a month later Jackson has made a complete turnaround on the iPad calling it a destroyer of American jobs.
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Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. Attacks Apple iPad”

Business - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Liberals - Peter Roskam - Republicans - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Roskam Statement on S&P’s Downgrading U.S. Credit Outlook‏

April 19, 2011 by

Congressman Peter Roskam (R, ILL), Chief Deputy Whip, issued the following statement after the ratings agency Standard and Poor’s downgraded the United States long-term credit outlook from stable to negative:

“Today’s S&P change in its outlook for the U.S. to negative is the latest ominous warning that we can’t wait any longer to fundamentally address Washington’s spending and debt. While President Obama is advocating for the Washington status-quo, S&P’s warning is clear: the cost of waiting will have grave consequences for our economy and our kids’ futures. There is a way out of this. House Republicans have already passed a fact-based budget that would fundamentally lower spending, save crucial programs, and create a debt-free future for generations to come. Imagine what we could pass on to our kids and grandkids: a future free of crushing taxes and indebtedness to China. The urgency for action could not be clearer. I urge the White House and Washington Democrats to eschew the status-quo and to join us in meaningfully reducing our spending and debt.”

Budget - CNN - Congress - Conservatives - Cook County - Economy/Finances - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Joe Walsh - Journalism - Lake County - Liberals - Media - Media Bias - President - Republicans - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Obama’s Media Passover: Rep. Walsh Takes it To The Media

April 18, 2011 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Joe Walsh (R, 8th District), a Tea Party backed Congressman from Illinois, slams the Old Media on why Obama has been allowed to present not one, but two budgets without the media saying a word about it.

Exactly right, Joe. If any Republican president had issued a budget that failed to win any support and then was forced to make a second run at it, the media would be talking about nothing else but “the president’s first failed budget plan.” The media would be repeating this drumbeat over and over until even the second budget would be DOA because the president would have been so undermined.

But in this case, Obama failed miserably with his first budget offering and has come back to the table with a second one and the media has been wholly silent on the first failure, giving Obama a total pass on the debacle and treated as if his second proposal is the only one he’s ever presented.
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Obama’s Media Passover: Rep. Walsh Takes it To The Media”

Adam Kinzinger - Budget - Congress - Conservatives - Economy/Finances - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Liberals - Republicans - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Kinzinger Statement on House Republicans’ FY 2012 Budget

April 17, 2011 by

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

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Adam Kinzinger (IL-11) today issued the following statement in support of H.Con.Res 34, the House Republicans’ “Path to Prosperity” plan:

“America stands at a critical crossroads – Should Washington wade deeper in the red and follow the President’s budget proposal? Or, should we chart a new way forward under the House Republicans’ budget resolution?

“It’s no secret that we cannot continue down this reckless trajectory. Our nation’s total debt has already hit an all-time high of more than $14.2 trillion and is alarmingly close to reaching the federal debt ceiling. We’ve kicked the can down the road for too long and now, there’s no more road left.
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Kinzinger Statement on House Republicans’ FY 2012 Budget”

Budget - Conservatives - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Liberals - Peter Roskam - Republicans - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Roskam Floor Speech on GOP Budget

April 16, 2011 by

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Peter Roskam (IL-06), Chief Deputy Whip, made the following speech on the House floor this afternoon in support of the GOP’s budget, The Path to Prosperity. The House just passed the budget, 235 – 193.

ROSKAM: … “We can choose a historic plan that brings a brightness to the economy, that creates jobs and opportunity, that doesn’t mortgage our children’s future to China, and ultimately puts the U.S. on a global competitive basis the likes of which the world will have never seen.”

http://roskam.house.gov/

Adam Kinzinger - Budget - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Republicans - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Kinzinger Statement on Cutting Nearly $40 Billion in Spending

April 15, 2011 by

From the office of Representative Adam Kinzinger (IL, 11th)…

Washington, DC – Congressman Adam Kinzinger (IL-11) released the following statement on today’s House vote on H.R. 1473, which would cut nearly $80 billion below the President’s 2011 budget proposal.

“In January, President Obama stood before our country, asking for a partial spending freeze, which translates to no spending cuts. In just a matter of months House Republicans, who only control one-half of one-third of government, managed to negotiate spending cuts of almost $40 billion through the remainder of the 2011 fiscal year.

“The spending cuts are free of any earmarks and tax increases, and removes the Administration’s license to spend tens of billions of dollars over the next five and a half months, which results in $315 billion in deficit savings over the next ten years.
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Kinzinger Statement on Cutting Nearly $40 Billion in Spending”

Adam Kinzinger - Budget - Coal - Congress - Conservatives - Economy/Finances - Energy - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Nuclear Power - Oil - Republicans - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Kinzinger: We Need an ‘All of the Above Energy Policy’

April 14, 2011 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Earlier this week I participated in a media call-in with Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger (IL, 11th District) on which he discussed the budget and other issues.

Unfortunately, I missed the fist few minutes because one of the other journalists must not have muted his phone and his noise was so loud that I could not hear the first few minutes.

In any case I asked the Congressman a question about how conservatives were taking the the budget deal that Speaker Boehner negotiated with the Senate and the President and the congressman said that it was only the beginning. He pledged that he and the other freshmen would continue to push hard on more cuts and noted that this was a good beginning.
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Kinzinger: We Need an ‘All of the Above Energy Policy’”

Budget - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Liberals - Peter Roskam - Republicans - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Roskam Statement On President’s Debt Speech

April 14, 2011 by

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Peter Roskam (R-IL), Chief Deputy Whip, issued the following statement after President Obama’s speech on America’s debt crisis.

“I’m glad President Obama has finally joined the conversation about reducing our skyrocketing and unsustainable debt, even if it took leadership by congressional Republicans to spur it. Regrettably, his speech was largely more of the same from his widely-panned budget, failing to address the real driver of our debt while embracing trillions in new job-crushing tax increases. Washington has a spending problem, not a revenue problem, and our Path to Prosperity proves it – we pay off our debt by lowering tax rates and returning government to historical spending levels.

“Americans are experiencing a painful reminder this week of just how much they pay in taxes and just how complex and outdated our tax system is. We need fundamental tax reform that encourages job-growth and increases revenue by broadening the tax base – not the same tired plan of more taxes for job creators while ignoring the fiscal elephant in the room. House Republicans look forward to passing our Path to Prosperity that reforms the tax system, saves Medicare and allows future generations to inherit a debt-free future.”

http://roskam.house.gov/

Congress - Conservatives - GOP - House of Representatives - Illinois - Israel - Joe Walsh - Republicans - Warner Todd Huston

Rep. Walsh Introduces H.R. 1501 to Stop U.N. Bias Against Israel

April 14, 2011 by

From the office of Rep. Joe Walsh (R, 8th District)…

Washington, D.C. — Today, Congressman Joe Walsh (IL-08) introduced H.R. 1501 to withhold U.S. contributions to the regularly assessed U.N. biennial budget until it officially retracts the Goldstone Report, a 2009 U.N. report that accused Israel of war crimes. This bill is a response to last week’s Washington Post Op-Ed by the report’s author, Dr. Richard Goldstone, in which he recanted the entire report. He wrote that the report’s central accusation—that Israeli soldiers deliberately targeted Palestinian civilians during its invasion of Gaza—is false. Goldstone has now concluded that “If I had known then what I know now, the Goldstone report would have been a different document”.

“This is just another example of the United Nations’ long-time bias against Israel,” said Walsh. “I find it outrageous that the United Nations has yet to distance itself from a report that even its author has discredited and disavowed.”
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Rep. Walsh Introduces H.R. 1501 to Stop U.N. Bias Against Israel”

Budget - Congress - Conservatives - Economy/Finances - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Paul Ryan - Peter Roskam - Republicans - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston - Washington D.C.

Rep. Peter Roskam: Did you hear about Paul Ryan’s Path to Prosperity?‏

April 13, 2011 by

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

When House Republicans released our 2012 budget last week, newspapers called it the “most comprehensive and most courageous budget reform proposal any of us have seen in our lifetimes,” “a welcome blast of truth-telling among the grown-ups,” and “what real leaders do.”

It comes in very stark contrast to the White House’s failed budget, which heaps $1.5 trillion in new job-crushing taxes and allows both Medicare and Social Security to go bankrupt — so they wouldn’t be around for future generations.

Our fact-based budget puts our country on a path to prosperity, spurring job creation, saving crucial programs for future generations, and relieving the crushing burden of our national debt. Read more from Budget Chairman Paul Ryan in the Wall Street Journal.
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Rep. Peter Roskam: Did you hear about Paul Ryan’s Path to Prosperity?‏”

Budget - Business - Capitalism - Chicago - Cities - Democrats/Leftists - Ethics - Free Trade - GOP - Government - Illinois - Liberals - Republicans - Sam Adams Alliance - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Report: The 4th Annual Sammies

April 11, 2011 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

On Friday, April 8, I attended the 4th Annual Sammies Awards, a yearly event that brings together reform-minded folks from across the country to celebrate the best of America. The winners are all recognized for their engagement as watchdogs, reformers, messengers, and strategists and rightfully so.

This year’s keynote speaker was Fox Business Network’s John Stossel. Other featured speakers were such luminaries as Andrew Breitbart, The New York Times bestselling novelist Brad Thor, Jack Fowler, publisher of The National Review, and more. Also in attendance was John Fund of the Wall Street Journal, and dozens of Chicago area notables.

The event was sponsored by the Sam Adams Alliance, a free market and liberty minded policy organization based in Chicago. The group’s stated goal is to engage in the battle to restore self-government to America.

“Once again, the Sammies brought together the freedom lovers and freedom fighters who love their country and, in their way, engage to advance our freedom,” said Yvonne Ralsky, executive director of SAM. “The winners tonight would make Sam Adams proud. They are creative, strategic, impactful, and tenacious.”

This year’s event was held in the great hall of Chicago’s historic Union Station and what a beautiful presentation it was.

With purple as the theme color, the event was well furnished with some excellent settings and centerpieces. You might remember this setting as that from the 1987 movie The Untouchables starring Kevin Costner, Sean Connery, and Robert De Niro… though not nearly as much blood was spilled in the making of the 2011 Sammies, to be sure.
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Report: The 4th Annual Sammies”

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

Truth in Accounting Issues: Indiana’s ‘Financial State of the State’ – True Tax Burden $11.4 Billion

April 10, 2011 by

From the Institute for Truth in Accounting…

Chicago (November 29, 2010) Today, the Institute for Truth in Accounting released Indiana’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 $11.4 billion of the State’s commitments as they come due. Each taxpayer’s share of this financial burden equals $5,700.

Indiana 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: Indiana’s ‘Financial State of the State’ – True Tax Burden $11.4 Billion”

Adam Kinzinger - Budget - Congress - Conservatives - Economy/Finances - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Republicans - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston - Washington D.C.

Kinzinger Statement on FY 2011 Spending Cuts

April 9, 2011 by

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

Washington, DC – Congressman Adam Kinzinger (IL-11) issued the following statement on the agreement to fund the federal government through the remainder of fiscal year 2011 while cutting $78.5 billion below the President’s 2011 budget proposal.

“Our country has come a long way since the President asked Congress two and a half months ago for a spending freeze, which translates to no spending cuts. In just a matter of months, we negotiated historic cuts of $38.5 billion through the remainder of the 2011 fiscal year.
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Kinzinger Statement on FY 2011 Spending Cuts”

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

Roskam Awarded Highest Honor by U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

April 7, 2011 by

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

Roskam honored for his Leadership on Behalf of Job Creators

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Peter Roskam (IL-06), was recently awarded the “President’s Award” by the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Roskam accepted the award at the Hispanic Chamber’s Annual Legislative Summit on March 30th.

Roskam was honored for his work on behalf of job-creators, including his leading advocacy for fundamental tax reform, cutting Washington’s spending and debt, and his tireless efforts to pass the three free trade agreements being stalled by Democrats – no-cost job creation.
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Roskam Awarded Highest Honor by U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce”

Adam Kinzinger - Budget - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Kane County - Republicans - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Kinzinger Statement on the Government Shutdown Prevention Act

April 4, 2011 by

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

Washington, D.C. – Today, on the 41st day since the House passed H.R. 1, Congressman Adam Kinzinger (IL-11) spoke out in support of H.R. 1255, urging the Senate to cut $61 billion in government spending.

“Last year, when our friends on the other side of the aisle had the Majority in Washington, they failed to do the most basic thing — pass a budget. No budget was passed because they didn’t want to have to make the tough choices that would hurt them in re-election. Instead, Washington Democrats kicked the can down the road and passed a Continuing Resolution.

“As a result, the American people spoke up in November. They said the big, bloated, bureaucratic government is crowding out the free market.
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Kinzinger Statement on the Government Shutdown Prevention Act”

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

Roskam Statement on March Jobs Report

April 2, 2011 by

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Peter Roskam (R-IL), Chief Deputy Whip, issued the following statement after the Department of Labor released their March jobs report:

“These numbers continue to show that our economy is moving in the right direction but not recovering nearly fast enough. For the millions of Americans still out of work, today is just one more painful reminder that Washington’s rampant borrowing and spending has grown our debt, but not jobs. Yet even as the borrow, tax, and spend policies severely hurt our economy, Senate Democrats continue to put politics ahead of policy – refusing sensible spending cuts – and rooting for a shutdown.

“That spending mentality, coupled with a constant drive to raise taxes, is a recipe for sustained economic disaster. It’s evident in Illinois where major employers – most recently Caterpillar and Jimmy John’s – signal that Illinois’ new job-crushing tax increases may force them to relocate to better business environments. We can’t expect the private sector to create jobs when faced with the highest corporate tax rate in the world, a $14 trillion national debt, and the constant threat of new Washington regulations and taxes. That’s why Republicans are focused on removing barriers to job creation by stopping Washington from spending money it doesn’t have, and implementing policies like fundamental tax reform, no-cost free trade agreements, and reform of harmful bureaucrat-driven regulations.”

http://roskam.house.gov/

Chris Lauzen - Conservatives - Elections - GOP - Government - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Republicans - SB600 - State Central Committee - Warner Todd Huston

Chris Lauzen: Direct Election of Republican State Central Committeemen

April 1, 2011 by

From the office of State Senator Chris Lauzen (R, 25th District)…


“You Decide . . . .” That’s what SB35 (the old SB600) is all about.

If you think it’s “OK” for Republican State Central Committeemen to give thousands of dollars and serious support to Mayor Daley, Governor Blagojevich, and other Democrat politicians . . . if you think it makes any sense at all to have Jim Oberweis, who has spent more than $10,000,000 to lose five (5) major elections, advising Republicans about how to win political campaigns . . . and, if you think it is in any way appropriate for the Republican State Central Committee to threaten Republican precinct committeemen with punishment for not supporting every single Republican candidate on the ticket, no matter how corrupt or opposed to the Illinois Republican Party Platform they are . . . do not support fundamental reform and change. No need to read further.

SB35 provides for direct election of Republican State Central Committeemen. Proponents want the right to vote for their leaders just like Republicans had for more than fifty (50) years, before Governor Thompson and his allies took it away through legislation. We want what Democrat primary voters have continued to enjoy.

If Republicans were in good shape in Illinois, I would say it doesn’t make any difference how we elect our leaders. However, Democrats have been slaughtering us with nine (9) years of corrupt or incompetent Governors and nearly veto-proof majorities in the State House and Senate. This gross mismanagement has led to a staggering 67% personal income tax increase, a redefinition of marriage in homosexual “unions”, constant threats to our right to self-defense, the obvious bankruptcy of our state through crippling spending and debt, and now the protection of murderers, terrorists and rapists from the death penalty.
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Chris Lauzen: Direct Election of Republican State Central Committeemen”

Budget - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Liberals - Peter Roskam - President - Republicans - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston - Washington D.C.

Rep. Peter Roskam: High Taxes Have Consequences

March 31, 2011 by

-By Illinois Congressman Peter Roskam, GOP Chief Deputy Whip

Note: Caterpillar CEO Doug Oberhelman will testify before the Ways & Means Trade Subcommittee today.

Illinois and other states have recently made headlines for their declining populations. Whether they realize it or not, what states like Illinois are learning the hard way is that over-taxing and over-regulating has consequences. And Illinois is now learning that one painful consequence is job loss.

Caterpillar, a Fortune 500 company that employs 23,000 workers in Illinois, currently finds itself dealing with a new tax increase in an already over-taxed state. Their CEO, Doug Oberhelman, sent a warning shot on March 21st with a letter to Illinois’ new Democrat Governor Pat Quinn:
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Rep. Peter Roskam: High Taxes Have Consequences”

Budget - Congress - Conservatives - Economy/Finances - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Joe Walsh - Lake County - Republicans - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Rep Joe Walsh on a Gov’t Shut Down

March 30, 2011 by

Newly minted Republican Congressman Joe Walsh of the 8th Illinois District recently spoke to CBS News about the possibility of a government shut down due to the Democrat’s reticence to come up with their own budget policies.

It should be remembered that the Democrats never DID pass a budget in 2010 and the House of Representatives newly taken over by the GOP is playing catch up.

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

Local Illinois City Manager Makes More Than EVERY U.S. Governor!

March 30, 2011 by

-By Adam Andrzejewski, CEO| For The Good of Illinois

Joliet City Manager is a $463,000 Whale

In 2008, the Joliet hired a new City Manager. His starting base salary was $189,000.

For 2011, the base salary increased to $196,500 and the City Manager out-earned every governor of the 50 states.

In addition to this lucrative salary, $7,500 of taxpayer money goes into a “deferred compensation” retirement plan. The deferred comp plan is in addition to what the taxpayers pay into his pension plan: $28,800 into Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) pension. Contractually, Joliet taxpayers are required to fund lucrative perquisites: $6,000 in estimated annual car allowance; an estimated $4,000 in continuing education, fees and costs to maintain the Managers’ personal law license; and an estimated annual $17,500 of taxpayer funded premium payments for life, health, and dental insurances.
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Local Illinois City Manager Makes More Than EVERY U.S. Governor!”

Budget - Congress - Conservatives - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Liberals - Peter Roskam - President - Republicans - Senate - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston - Washington D.C.

Roskam on MSNBC’s Daily Rundown: Senate Must Act

March 30, 2011 by

From the Office of Representative Peter Roskam (R, 6th District)…

38 Days Later: Senate Has Failed to Act:

“We’re 38 days away from when the House acted an d passed something over to the Senate and we haven’t seen any substantive Senate action in that entire time. So before the House is asked to come back and take another position, the Senate has to act, and we’ve seen absolutely nothing.”
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Roskam on MSNBC’s Daily Rundown: Senate Must Act”

Illinois - Sam Adams Alliance - Warner Todd Huston

2011 Sammies Awards, April 8

March 30, 2011 by

From the Sam Adams Alliance…

2010 was the year activists redrew the battle lines in American politics, erasing “R” and “D,” fusing red and blue, blurring conservative and liberal, and creating bright contrast between political professional and citizen.

The Sammies celebrates ordinary Americans who take extraordinary steps to advance our freedoms.

This year, SAM will recognize their achievements with new categories, more prizes, and the best party we have ever thrown!

These extraordinary Americans help all of us relate to citizenship on a personal level, and inspire us all to re-imagine how we can engage in our democracy.

Reserve your spot by clicking here or by calling our office at 312-920-0080.

Featured Speaker, John Stossel of Fox Business

Watchdog. Reformer. Irreverent Messenger. These are not just award categories. They capture the essence of John Stossel, and SAM could not be more delighted to announce John Stossel of Stossel on FOX Business as our keynote speaker at the 2011 Sammies.

Crime - Democrats/Leftists - Government - Hate Crimes - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Liberals - Pat Quinn - Police - Race - Warner Todd Huston

A Political Cover Up: Gov. Quinn’s Racist Security Man

March 29, 2011 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Several news sources have been working for days to get to the bottom of a story that might end up revealing that the head of one of Democrat Illinois Governor Pat Quinn’s police security details was involved in a racist attack on several black students in downstate Carlinville. Worse, the story seems to be undergoing a political cover up as news agencies are being stymied in rooting out the details.

Several Illinois newspapers have already printed stories on the alleged incident, but to date no one seems to have been able to pin down all the details. But one thing is sure, Kenneth Snider, a trooper with the Illinois State Police, definitely and rather suddenly resigned from all his political jobs last week.

Until he resigned on March 23, Snider was the head of Democrat Governor Pat Quinn’s southern security force, a $132,000 a year state-paid job. Snider had other political jobs, too, until he resigned from all of them. Up to last week he was chairman of both the Carlinville school board and the Macoupin County Democratic organization. Macoupin County is just north east of St. Louis in Illinois’ south western corner.
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A Political Cover Up: Gov. Quinn’s Racist Security Man”

Budget - Congress - Energy - GOP - Government, Ill. County - House of Representatives - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Jobs - Peter Roskam - Republicans - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Roskam Meets with IL-06 Based Company in Ghana

March 24, 2011 by

From the office of Peter Roskam (R, IL)…

Discusses economic development as part of African fact-finding mission

ACCRA, GHANA – Congressman Peter Roskam (IL-06) traveled to Ghana earlier this week, leading a fact-finding mission focused on trade, energy, and other economic and social issues in Africa. Monday in Accra, Roskam met with Oak Brook, Ill.-based Opportunity International, a leader in providing financial services to people living in extreme poverty in the developing world.

The group met with Teresa Effie Cooke, head of human resources at Opportunity International Savings & Loan, Ghana. Roskam is leading the bipartisan fact-finding mission, including Congressman Bobby Rush (IL-01), which is being privately sponsored by the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.
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Roskam Meets with IL-06 Based Company in Ghana”

Budget - Chicago - Conservatives - Cook County Board - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - GOP - Government - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Liberals - Republicans - Senate - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Former State Senator Quits Illinois, Moves to Texas

March 22, 2011 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

The Wilmette Beacon published a very startling article that reveals so much of what is wrong with the state of Illinois. Roger Keats, a former state senator and a recent candidate for Cook County Board President has announced that he is leaving the state and moving to Texas.

Keats has a long history of fighting corruption in Cook County, but he’s realized that there is no longer any political will to continue that fight in the state of Illinois. It is hopelessly corrupt and Roger Keats feels he’s done his duty, but that duty is finished.

The full text of the Keats’ letter was published in Illinois Review:

GOOD BYE AND GOOD LUCK

As we leave Illinois for good, I wanted to say goodbye to my friends and wish all of you well. I am a lifelong son of the heartland and proud of it. After 60 years, I leave Illinois with a heavy heart. BUT enough is enough! The leaders of Illinois refuse to see we can’t continue going in the direction we are and expect people who have options to stay here. I remember when Illinois had 25 congressmen. In 2012 we will have 18. Compared to the rest of the country we have lost 1/3rd of our population. Don’t blame the weather, because I love 4 seasons.
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Former State Senator Quits Illinois, Moves to Texas”