Illinois

Adam Kinzinger - Anti-Americanism - Congress - Constitution - DOJ - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Immigration/Immigrants - Mexico - Regulation - Republicans - Warner Todd Huston

Kinzinger to Offer Amendment to Block Taxpayer Funding for DOJ Lawsuit against Arizona Immigration Law

February 19, 2011 by

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

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Adam Kinzinger (IL-11) will offer an amendment on the House floor that would eliminate taxpayer funding for the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) lawsuit filed against Arizona last July over its immigration enforcement law (SB 1070).

Washington’s failure to secure borders, has led states like Arizona to take matters up themselves. Kinzinger says it is unfair to ask hardworking citizens to fund the DOJ’s agenda.

“Rather than wasting time and taxpayer dollars suing states, the DOJ must turn its focus toward enforcing current immigration laws,” said Kinzinger. “The federal government should be working to make Arizonians feel secure rather than using money from their own paychecks to fund an attack against them in federal court.”
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Kinzinger to Offer Amendment to Block Taxpayer Funding for DOJ Lawsuit against Arizona Immigration Law”

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

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

February 18, 2011 by 1 Comment

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”

Adam Kinzinger - Budget - Business - Capitalism - Democrats/Leftists - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Liberals - Mark Kirk - President - Republicans - Senate - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

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

February 18, 2011 by

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”

Budget - Economy/Finances - Illinois - Taxes - Tea Party - Warner Todd Huston

Introducing the Village of Palatine’s Executive Leadership Program

February 12, 2011 by

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”

Barack Obama - Budget - Chicago - Congress - Conservatives - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Illinois State Government - John Bolton - Liberals - Mike Pence - Newt Gingrich - President - Republicans - Rick Santorum - Ronald Reagan - Senate - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

VIDEO: Speeches Given at Illinois GOP Reagan Dinner Gingrich, Bolton, Kirk, Rutherford

February 10, 2011 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Last weekend I attended the Ronald Reagan 100th birthday dinner held by the Illinois Republican Party. I filmed all the speeches given and I am finally done making the video for these speeches. I did not get Ill. GOP Chairman Pat Brady’s address, but I did get the others.

In order of appearance, the dinner featured Senator Mark Kirk, Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, Congressman Mike Pence, former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum, former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. John Bolton, and finally Illinois State Treasurer Dan Rutherford.

I do not have Santorum’s comments here because he went on so long YouTube won’t accept my video upload because it is too long. If I remember, next week I will split his video in half and try again. Chicago talk show hosts Don Wade and Roma also appeared, but their bit was fluff and I did not bother recoding it.

The sound isn’t the best in the world, but it is at least intelligible.

Senator Mark Kirk At The Illinois Reagan Dinner


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VIDEO: Speeches Given at Illinois GOP Reagan Dinner Gingrich, Bolton, Kirk, Rutherford”

Conservatives - DuPage County - Elections - GOP - Government - Hispanics - Illinois - Race - Republicans - Tea Party

Is Rafael Rivadeneira DuPage County’s Bad Hispanic?

February 9, 2011 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

The soap opera As the World Turns was canceled last summer, but apparently the political scene in DuPage County is trying to revive it. Well, if not the show than at least the drama. This one has a Hispanic twist, too. It comes in the person of conservative Rafael Rivadeneira, Tea Party favorite and President of the Republican National Hispanic Assembly of Illinois (“RNHA of Illinois”)…. or is he?

Over last weekend the RNHA held its annual convention in Dixon, Illinois. There Rivadeneira was reelected to the position of RNHA president. But apparently not everyone was happy with the outcome. OK, “not happy” is an understatement. Some were so mad that they spilt the event in half and marched over to another hotel and elected their own slate of leaders.

Now, that’s drama.
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Is Rafael Rivadeneira DuPage County’s Bad Hispanic?”

Budget - Economy/Finances - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

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

February 9, 2011 by

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”

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

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

February 8, 2011 by

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”

Chicago - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - GOP - Government - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Pat Brady - Republicans - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

VIDEO: Short Interview With Illinois GOP Chairman Pat Brady

February 7, 2011 by 1 Comment

-By Warner Todd Huston

On February 5, 2011, I attended the Illinois GOP Ronald Reagan 100th Birthday Diner and there I had the opportunity to have a quick few minutes with Illinois GOP Chairman Pat Brady. I asked him about how the Ill. GOP intends to capitalize on the GOP gains in the rest of the country. I also threw him a curve ball and asked about a Quinn recall over the tax issue to see what he’d say.

I also spoke with a few other GOP notables that night. Unfortunately, I only got a scant few minutes with them all.

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VIDEO: Short Interview With Illinois GOP Chairman Pat Brady”

Chicago - Cook County - Egypt - GOP - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Mark Kirk - President - Republicans - Senate - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

VIDEO: Short Interview With Illinois Senator Mark Kirk

February 7, 2011 by 2 Comments

-By Warner Todd Huston

On February 5, 2011, I attended the Illinois GOP Ronald Reagan 100th Birthday Diner and there I had the opportunity to have a quick few minutes with Illinois Senator Mark Kirk. I asked him about some of the issues of the day, chiefly the Egypt question.

I also spoke with a few other GOP notables that night. Unfortunately, I only got a scant few minutes with them all.

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VIDEO: Short Interview With Illinois Senator Mark Kirk”

Chicago - Conservatives - Egypt - Elections - GOP - Illinois - John Bolton - President - Republicans - Warner Todd Huston

VIDEO: Short Interview With Presidential Candidate John Bolton

February 7, 2011 by 3 Comments

-By Warner Todd Huston

On February 5, 2011, I attended the Illinois GOP Ronald Reagan 100th Birthday Diner and there I had the opportunity to have a quick few minutes with former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. John Bolton. I asked him about his aspirations for running for president and about the Egypt question.

I also spoke with a few other GOP notables that night. Unfortunately, I only got a scant few minutes with them all.

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VIDEO: Short Interview With Presidential Candidate John Bolton”

Business - Chicago - Egypt - Elections - GOP - Government - Illinois - President - Republicans - Rick Santorum - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

VIDEO: Short Interview With Presidential Candidate Rick Santorum

February 7, 2011 by 3 Comments

-By Warner Todd Huston

On February 5, 2011, I attended the Illinois GOP Ronald Reagan 100th Birthday Diner and there I had the opportunity to have a quick few minutes with former U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania Rick Santorum. I asked him about his aspirations for running for president and about the Egypt question.

I also spoke with a few other GOP notables that night. Unfortunately, I only got a scant few minutes with them all.

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VIDEO: Short Interview With Presidential Candidate Rick Santorum”

Budget - Chicago - Communism - Congress - GOP - Government - Illinois - Peter Roskam - President - Republicans - Ronald Reagan - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Celebrating Reagan’s Legacy‏

February 6, 2011 by

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”

Budget - Chicago - Cook County Board - GOP - Government - Illinois - Property Taxes - Republicans - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Cook County Property Tax Information‏

February 6, 2011 by

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”

Chicago - Conservatives - Cook County - GOP - Government - Illinois - Illinois State Government - President - Republicans - Ronald Reagan - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Seen at the Illinois Reagan Dinner…

February 6, 2011 by 1 Comment

-By Warner Todd Huston

I just got home from the Illinois GOP Ronald Reagan 100th Birthday dinner and before I turn info the night I wanted to give a quick account of some of the folks I ran into this evening.

Seen tonight was 6th District Representative Peter Roskam, the Chief Deputy Whip. I also saw Adam Andrzejewski, chief of For The Good of Illinois and former Illinois Gubernatorial candidate, John Garrido candidate for 45th Ward Alderman, Dave Dierson of the famous GOPUSA daily email report, former candidate for Attny General Steve Kim, former 59th District candidate Dan Sugrue, activist John Bambeneck, John Tillman and the folks from the Illinois Policy Institute, Fran Eaton and the folks at the United Republican Fund as well as Illinois Review and many others (as I remember more, I’ll add them later).

A few old blogger friends were also in attendance…


From left to right: Paul Miller, Myself, John Ruberry of MarathonPundit, and Paul Mitchell of Thoughts of a Regular Guy


Adam Andrzejewski (center) and John Garrido and his lovely wife
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Seen at the Illinois Reagan Dinner…”

Bobby Schilling - Chicago - Conservatives - Cook County - GOP - Government - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Joe Walsh - John Bolton - Mike Pence - Newt Gingrich - Pat Brady - President - Republicans - Rick Santorum - Ronald Reagan - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Illinois Celebrates Ronald Reagan’s 100th

February 5, 2011 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

I am here tonight at the Illinois Republican Party celebration of Ronald Reagan’s 100 birthday. The event is being held at the Hilton on the Mag Mile, Michigan Avenue, downtown Chicago. Tonight we’ll be seeing a small retinue of stars in the GOP firmament. Senator Mark Kirk, Former Speaker of the House of Representatives Newt Gingrich, Congressman Mike Pence (Indiana), former Penn. Senator Rick Santorum, former Ambassador to the UN John Bolton, with closing remarks by Illinois State Treasurer Dan Rutherford.

It is a packed house with over 600 diners enjoying the evening.
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Illinois Celebrates Ronald Reagan’s 100th”

Budget - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - DuPage County - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Jobs - Liberals - Peter Roskam - President - Republicans - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Roskam Statement on January Jobs Report

February 5, 2011 by

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”

Barack Obama - Budget - Chicago - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - GOP - Government - Health - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Liberals - Lisa Madigan - President - Republicans - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

URF Calls on Lisa Madigan to Join 26 States in Federal Healthcare Lawsuit

February 4, 2011 by 1 Comment

From the United Republican Fund of Illinois…

CHICAGO, IL – The United Republican Fund (URF) calls on Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan and Governor Pat Quinn to join the 26 other states that have banded together to resist the federal government takeover of our states’ health care system. With the Florida federal judge’s decision deeming the health care reform law “void,” Illinois must move to protect our citizens from the law’s unconstitutional individual mandates.

“It is the duty of Governor Quinn and Attorney General Madigan to protect the state’s citizens from federal intrusions and unconstitutional mandates. Illinois cannot afford our current expenditures, so it is absurd for those in Washington to force these new expensive mandates on our broke government and over-taxed citizens,” URF Executive Director Dennis LaComb said Wednesday.
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URF Calls on Lisa Madigan to Join 26 States in Federal Healthcare Lawsuit”

Chicago - Children - Constitution - Cook County - Crime - Democrats/Leftists - Education - Government - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Liberals - Senate - Sex Offenders/Rape - Teachers Unions - Unions - Warner Todd Huston

Illinois Democrat’s Attempt to Register Homeschoolers Like Criminals

February 3, 2011 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Treating homeschooled children like criminals that need to be tracked by the state, Democrat Illinois State Senator Ed Maloney of Chicago has introduced SB 136, a bill that requires all non-public school students to register with the State Board of Education.

The summary of the bill reads:

Amends the School Code. Requires the parents or legal guardians of children attending non-public schools, a defined term, or private or parochial schools to annually register their children with the State Board of Education, in conformance with procedures prescribed by the State Board of Education.

So, apparently this Democrat thinks that to be allowed to homeschool their own children Illinois parents have to register with the state, registering themselves like sex offenders, their every move tracked as if they are some threat to the state.
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Illinois Democrat’s Attempt to Register Homeschoolers Like Criminals”

Congress - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Republicans - Senate - Warner Todd Huston

Twitter Accounts for the Illinois GOP Congressional Delegation

February 1, 2011 by

-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”

Arizona - Budget - Democrats/Leftists - Government - Liberals - Taxes - Truth in Accounting - Warner Todd Huston

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

February 1, 2011 by

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”

Budget - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Government - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Liberals - Mark Kirk - Republicans - Senate - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

A Snap Shot of Congressional Arrogance

January 31, 2011 by 1 Comment

-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”

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

Roskam to Deliver Economic Speech At City Club of Chicago Tuesday

January 30, 2011 by

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”

Budget - Democrats/Leftists - Florida - Government - Liberals - Taxes - Truth in Accounting - Warner Todd Huston

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

January 28, 2011 by

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”

Budget - Economy/Finances - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Liberals - Pensions - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Quinn’s Pension Mess

January 27, 2011 by

From John Bambenek…

Last night the Governor’s office confirmed what many have suspected, that the Illinois pension systems are the subject of an SEC investigation. You can read the Wall Street Journal article on the subject.

With our pensions systems not only falling below 50% funding, but selling assets to keep the lights on, this is disturbing news. The best guess estimate I have is that the pension debt for the state alone is around $140 to $150 BILLION dollars. And despite the massive tax hike, no real work has been done to stabilize these funds. At this rate, they will be insolvent and unable to pay benefits by 2015.

Like many of you, I was appalled at the job-killing tax hikes that were passed in the final hours of the last legislative session. What was worse is that not only was spending not cut, they actually expanding state spending. The so-called “spending caps” are illusory at best for two reasons: it does not limit spending out of “special funds” and the spending caps are set higher than even the most optimistic estimates of the revenue that we will have.
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Quinn’s Pension Mess”

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

Roskam Discusses No-Cost Job Creation At Ways & Means FTA Hearing

January 27, 2011 by

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

Roskam: “We need to make decisions moving forward that try and create an environment where worldwide American companies – or little American companies – are in the best possible footing to be competitive and dynamic. And that is no cost job creation.”

WASHINGTON – The Ways & Means Committee held a hearing today on the pending Free Trade Agreements with Colombia, Panama, and South Korea and how they will create U.S. jobs. Below are the highlights of Rep. Roskam’s remarks at the hearing. Chief Deputy Whip Roskam is a leader on efforts to spur no-cost job creation through free trade, including having made visits to all three nations — Panama, South Korea and Colombia — with pending trade agreements.
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Roskam Discusses No-Cost Job Creation At Ways & Means FTA Hearing”

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

Truth in Accounting Issues: New Mexico’s ‘Financial State of the State’ – True Tax Burden $7.1 Billion

January 26, 2011 by

From the Institute for Truth in Accounting…

Chicago (November 29, 2010) Today, the Institute for Truth in Accounting released New Mexico’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 $7.1 billion of the State’s commitments as they come due. Each taxpayer’s share of this financial burden equals $12,500.

New Mexico 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: New Mexico’s ‘Financial State of the State’ – True Tax Burden $7.1 Billion”

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

Sunshine Review Launches Premier Online Government Transparency Wiki

January 25, 2011 by

From sunshinereview.org…

Website gives the State of Illinois an “B” transparency grade, counties get “D”

ALEXANDRIA, VA – State and local government transparency champion Sunshine Review has announced a relaunch of its award winning transparency website, sunshinereview.org. The bold, innovative design provides users easy access to a database just under 60,000 articles while simultaneously building a social media platform for citizen researchers, activists, journalists, and anyone interested in government transparency and accountability. Attracting over fourteen million total page views and boasting nearly 1,200 members, Sunshine Review allows thousands of online users to build data and grade their local and state governments on transparency. According to the President of Sunshine Review, Michael Barnhart, “Sunshine Review is a community of citizens who have worked tirelessly to open up their governments. From exposing state checkbooks to ensuring that school board and county board minutes are posted publicly online, our community is advocating for transparency – the simplest function of government.”
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Sunshine Review Launches Premier Online Government Transparency Wiki”

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

Truth in Accounting Issues: Hawaii’s ‘Financial State of the State’ – True Tax Burden $18.2 Billion

January 25, 2011 by

From the Institute for Truth in Accounting…

Chicago (November 29, 2010) Today, the Institute for Truth in Accounting released Hawaii’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 for almost $18.2 billion of the State’s commitments as they come due. Each taxpayer’s share of this financial burden equals $39,600.

Hawaii 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: Hawaii’s ‘Financial State of the State’ – True Tax Burden $18.2 Billion”

Barack Obama - Budget - Congress - Conservatives - Democrats/Leftists - GOP - Government - Health - House of Representatives - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Liberals - Nancy Pelosi - Peter Roskam - President - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Roskam: Votes Have Been Cast‏

January 21, 2011 by

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

Last night the House of Representatives passed the Repealing the Job-Killing Health Care Law Act, 245 – 189. The “yea” votes included every House Republican and three Democrats. Read more about the vote from the Wall Street Journal by clicking HERE.

This is a victory for all Americans who believe that lowering health care costs and easing taxpayers’ burdens are critical to a sustainable health care system and economic prosperity in our country. However, the work is far from over – we still need to provide real solutions to meet those objectives.
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Roskam: Votes Have Been Cast‏”