Illinois

Budget - Business - Chicago - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Elections - Illinois - Liberals - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Lt. Gov Candidate Tracy Talks Jobs

October 11, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Don Tracy is running for Lt. Governor and the Daily Leader of Pontiac had the opportunity to have a few words with the candidate this week. Tracy’s main message: jobs, jobs, jobs.

On his Campaign website Tracy tells the electorate that “for too long, Illinois has been steering a liberal course” and recommends a change in direction and one of those changes, he told the Daily Leader, is a reform of workman’s comp.

“This state is hemorrhaging jobs,” Tracy told reporters.

“All the employment possibilities are going to other states.

“Employment in this state was bad before 2003 when former Gov. Rod Blagojevich took office, and it only got worse during his years in office. I will work to see workman’s compensation reform in Illinois and I believe that will bring more jobs here.”

Tracy says that the reform of workman’s comp would be a ticket to make our state more attractive for new businesses to come to Illinois.
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Lt. Gov Candidate Tracy Talks Jobs”

Chicago - Cook County - Crime - Democrats/Leftists - Illinois - Jobs - Liberals - Security/Safety - Society/Culture - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Mayor Daley: How a Politician Lies

October 11, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

This week we’ve seen King Daley’s desperate attempt to get past his deep humiliation on losing the 2016 Olympics after spending so many years trying to convince the world that his corrupt kingdom was the ideal place for the games. The King’s brilliant idea was to reveal how he was going to save the city from its epidemic of youth violence.

A Chicago Tribune story reported the diminutive King’s plan to cure the city of violence in the wake of the death of a student near Fenger High school.

emphasized that families and parents need to take responsibility, but he also said the city would seek jobs for youths and expand current intervention programs in an attempt to address youth violence in Chicago.

Well, that is just a plain lie, Mr. Daley. It’s all just happy talk and BS, sir.

First of all, a Mayor cannot make any jobs, so the “seek jobs” line is so much stuff and nonsense. But wait, you may ask, can’t he make city jobs for these needy folks? Not really. In fact, the Chicago Reader has detailed how many jobs the city has had to cut because of budget shortfalls.

According to payroll records, the administration cut 2,245 jobs between March 2008 and October 2009, reducing the total city workforce to 36,296.

The Kingie can’t even produce any make-work city jobs for people… unless he wants to fire the children of his mobbed-up buddies that already have all the fake, make-work city jobs, that is.

So the city is going bankrupt, King Daley didn’t get his graft infusion by getting the Olympics, and all he can do is go begging to President Obama for some leavings from the federal table and hope he can make do with that.
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Mayor Daley: How a Politician Lies”

Chicago - Congress - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - GOP - Illinois - Republicans - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Mark Vargas: ‘Foster’s Proposal Amounts to a Band-Aid’

October 10, 2009 by

Mark Vargas is running to obtain the GOP nomination for the 14th District’s Congressional seat. Now he’s looking to criticize the Democrat that currently holds that seat.

While the United States continues to suffer through the harsh economic reality, Congressman Bill Foster, Nancy Pelosi, and the Democrat controlled Congress continue to propose superfluous temporary fix-it gimmicks when meaningful reform is needed. While today’s call for an extension of the $8,000 tax credit to first time home owners is intended to stimulate the housing market, the credit only serves as a band-aid rather than address the true causes of the housing crash. During the last year Congress has attempted to skirt the real issues facing our country by offering quick fixes. It’s time to roll up our sleeves and solve the root problems that have led our nation down the wrong path.

For the past 3 years the housing market has been in a free fall, with potential homeowners restricted from purchasing their homes due to fear of job loss. Families are unwilling or unable to make this enormous investment in their future when they are unsure when or where their next paycheck will be coming. It is fitting that Foster chose Aurora for his press conference, a city hard struck by unemployment and foreclosures.
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Mark Vargas: ‘Foster’s Proposal Amounts to a Band-Aid’”

Chicago - Cook County - Elections - Illinois - Republicans - Warner Todd Huston

In Focus: Steve Kim, Republican for Attorney General

October 10, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Mundelein area resident Steve Kim announced his effort to become the next Illinois Attorney General not long ago. Thus far he’s the only Republican candidate announced for the position. In an election where nearly every race, both state-wide and local, has a plethora of candidates coming out of the woodwork, Kim’s entrance in the race as the lone GOP candidate shows how solid the GOP thinks current AG Lisa Madigan’s (D) bid for reelection is.

Initially, long-time GOP DuPage County State’s Attorney Joe Birkett was going to run when it was assumed by many that Madigan would vacate her office for a run for U.S. Senate or the governor’s ofice.

The Chicago Tribune reported:

Kim served a fellowship in Gov. Jim Edgar’s administration and went on to work in international trade relations in state government. He also served as Edgar’s advisor on Asian affairs. Later, Kim was elected to the Northfield Township board and held executive positions with the Illinois State Chamber of Commerce, AT&T and Time Warner Cable.

Steve Kim is a Korean-American and also belongs to a number of Korean-American groups in Chicago and the Midwest.

Steve Kim’s campaign website: stevekimforag.com.

Steve Kim’s FaceBook page.

For more information on Kim’s race:

Email: info@SteveKimForAG.com

Office Location: Citizens for Steve Kim, 1906 Armwood, Lane Mundelein, IL
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In Focus: Steve Kim, Republican for Attorney General”

Chicago - Cook County - Elections - Illinois - Republicans - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Former Gov. Edgar Endorsing Dillard?

October 9, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Well, if it pans out, this would be pretty big news for the Kirk Dillard campaign for the GOP nomination for Illinois governor.

Many sources are now reporting that Republican Governor Jim Edgar is preparing to give State Senator Kirk Dillard of Hinsdale his endorsement. Jim Edgar was the last popular Republican governor and has constantly been floated as a candidate for Senate and other offices since he finished his term in Springfield in 1999.

Mr. Edgar has a much respected reputation on both sides of the political aisle.

Senator Dillard is a former aide of former governor Edgar.

If Dillard secures Edgar’s endorsement this would be a great shot in the arm for a campaign that has thus far not caught fire. Of course, if Dillard gets this endorsement, expect that it will become one more bullet point in his constant droning of his resume at every appearance.

One thing is sure, if Dillard wants to become governor, he’d better start having some actual meat to his campaign. The laundry list, resume recitation is quite tiresome, indeed.

Kirk Dillard’s website.
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Former Gov. Edgar Endorsing Dillard?”

Chicago - Cook County - Elections - GOP - Illinois - Republicans - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Illinois GOP Chief Sets Aggressive Agenda for Victory

October 9, 2009 by 1 Comment

-By Warner Todd Huston

Earlier this week, Illinois Republican Party Chairman Pat Brady addressed the City Club of Chicago.

Here is the text of his prepared remarks:

“My rise to the leadership of the Illinois Republican Party and within the Republican National Committee has been fast – and somewhat of a surprise.

Although I never contemplated a leadership role in party politics, I have been active in supporting Republican candidates since 1970 when I first walked precinct 27 in Bloomington with my Dad.

In 1999—after continually working on a variety of races and fundraisers— State Representative Jim Durkin called me at work one evening and asked if I wanted to accompany him and “this guy from Arizona who is running for President” as they tried to fundraise in Illinois. I had met Senator McCain in 1984 and thought even back then he would be a good President — so I agreed to help. This began my 10-year effort on behalf of the McCain for President campaign.
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Illinois GOP Chief Sets Aggressive Agenda for Victory”

Anti-Americanism - Budget - Business - Capitalism - Chicago - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Liberals - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Cook Sales Tax Brings State Legislature Action

October 9, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

There are two bills that would help the majority of the members of the Cook County Board roll back President Todd Stroger’s (D) sales-tax increase currently waiting approval in the Illinois House after winning committee support on October 7.

The problem is that the rule for overturning a veto by the board president is a four-fifths majority requirement put in place in the 1870s to prevent board members that resided in the City of Chicago from dominating over the suburban members. As the interests of city Democrats have coincided more often with those of suburban Democrats, however, this requirement has recently placed more power in the board president’s hands.

The bills now about to hit the floor in the Illinois House would change the four-fifths requirement immediately. This, says Stroger spokesman Derek Blaida, is likely unconstitutional. Blaida argued that changing the rules in the middle of President Stroger’s term was improper.

This Summer an attempt by the County Board to overturn Stroger’s veto of their sales-tax roll back did not succeed even with 13 out of 17 of the commissioners backing the effort.
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Cook Sales Tax Brings State Legislature Action”

ACORN - Anti-Americanism - Barack Obama - Budget - Business - Capitalism - Chicago - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Illinois - Liberals - Society/Culture - State Government - Taxes - Unions - Warner Todd Huston

How ACORN Hides Behind Fake Names

October 9, 2009 by 5 Comments

-By Warner Todd Huston

Many states have ways to look up the businesses, organizations and people with whom the state does business. Illinois has such a service on the Secretary of State’s website.

In Illinois there is a way to search the folks the state does business with on a page titled Corporate/LLC Search / Certificate of Good Standing. There you can input the name of a corporation or LLC and find out the address of its offices, its registered manager’s name, etc.

Sadly, this feature is not easy to use. The problem is you have to know the actual name of the corporation you are looking for. Of course, if you don’t really know what you are looking for you just cannot find anything useful.

The problem with the Illinois search system is that groups like ACORN register hundreds of different shell corporations to hide behind. They register them to their workers and their directors and then they offer them to government as a vendor or organization for the state’s use. Naturally, state funds flow like water into ACORN’s coffers as a result.
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How ACORN Hides Behind Fake Names”

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

Peraica Wants Investigation Into Stroger’s Hiring of Law Firm

October 8, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Commissioner Tony Peraica posted a notice on Twitter today about the growing controversy over Cook County Board President Todd Stroger’s hiring of the law firm of Mayer Brown, LLP, to investigate the county’s finances.

Peraica posted the following:

NEWS FLASH: Com. Tony Peraica requests SA Anita Alvarez to begin quo warranto proceedings against Todd Stroger over Mayer Brown, LLP hiring.

As the Chicago Tribune reported on October 5, Stroger obtained the funds to pay this law firm by invoking an “emergency purchase” power. The hiring was not presented to the county board for approval.

At that time, Peraica scorned Stroger’s unilateral actions.

“This is, in my view, an inappropriate and wasteful expenditure of scarce taxpayer dollars,” Peraica said.

Mayer Brown was hired to probe the county’s finances after a it was announced that a grand jury had expanded its investigation into county expenditures.
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Peraica Wants Investigation Into Stroger’s Hiring of Law Firm”

Cook County - Elections - Illinois - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Illinois Blogger Makes Bid for 62nd District

October 7, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Paul Mitchell of Hainesville has been running the Thoughts of a Regular Guy blog for at least 6 years at this point. Now, he’s decided to stop opining and start doing and so Mitchell recently announced a run for the 62nd District’s House seat in Springfield.

Mitchell has signed American’s for Tax Reform’s no-tax pledge, and has already spoken at several events in the area.

Mitchell is the second long-time blogger in Illinois that has stepped away from the keyboard to throw a hat in the ring. Matt Burden of the blog BlackFive is running for the 41st District seat.

Look for Paul Mitchell for the General Assembly, 62nd District on the web.
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Illinois Blogger Makes Bid for 62nd District”

Cook County - GOP - Illinois - Society/Culture - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Cook County and Naperville Nix Video Gambling

October 7, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Some news on the video gambling front. When the Ill. Legislature passed the OK for video gambling it included an opt out clause. Many cities and counties across the state are in the process of deciding if they want video gambling in their jurisdictions. This week, both Cook County and the city of Naperville decided that “no” is their choice.

The Cook County Board ruled on Tuesday that video gambling will be banned in unincorporated areas with an amendment by Commissioner Bridget Gainer of Chicago. The amendment won by a 10-4 vote.

Also on Tuesday, the City of Naperville voted 7-0 to ban video gambling within the city limits.

The new ordinance councilmen approved says the machines would “present a variety of adverse impacts on the residents of Naperville including the potential for corruption, impact on the costs of law enforcement, regulatory difficulties and high social costs.”

For more information, check out the website of Illinois Church Action.
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Cook County and Naperville Nix Video Gambling”

Chicago - Conservatives - Cook County - Elections - GOP - Illinois - Republicans - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Website Lists of Illinois GOP State Wide Candidates

October 7, 2009 by

U.S. Senate

John Arrington – arringtonforsenate.com

Patrick Hughes – patrickhughesforsenate.com

Mark Kirk – kirkforsenate.com

Tom Kuna – w-e-r-co.com

Don Lowery – judgelowery4ussenate.com

Andy Martin – andyforussenator.com

Kathleen Thomas – kathleenthomasforsenate.org

Ed Varga – e-varga.com

Eric Wallace – wallaceforillinois.com

Robert Zadek – robertzadek.com

U.S. House

Peter Roskam – oskamforcongress.com

Governor

Adam Andrzejewski – adamforillinois.com

Bill Brady – bradyforillinois.com

Kirk Dillard – dillardforgovernor.com

Frank Edwards – edwardsforillinoisgovernor.com (Pulled out of race)

Andy McKenna – mckennagov.com

Dan Proft – proft2010.com

Bob Schillerstrom – bobschillerstrom.com

Lieutenant Governor

Brad Cole – teambrad.com

Dennis Cook – citizensforcook.com

Deb Leticia Gordils – debforillinois.com

Matt Murphy – murphy2010.com

Jason Plummer – jasonplummer.com

Don Tracy – tracyforillinois.com

Randy White – randy4ltgov.com

Attorney General

Steve Kim – stevekimforag.com

Secretary of State

Robert Enriquez – enriquez2010.us

Comptroller

Jim Dodge – jimdodge2010.com

William Kelly – friendsofwilliamjkelly.com

Judy Baar Topinka – udybarrtopinka.com

Treasurer

Dan Rutherford – danrutherford.org

ACORN - Budget - Chicago - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Elections - Illinois - Journalism - Liberals - Media Bias - President - SEIU - Socialism - State Government - Taxes - Unions - Warner Todd Huston

Illinois Families Forced Into Unions Courtesy of Gov. Quinn

October 7, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Governor Pat Quinn signed Executive Order number 09-15 earlier in the year. This order gave the state government the OK to hand over the private information — the addresses, names, and telephone numbers — of hundreds of families that have developmentally disabled children and other family members with chronic medical problems in their homes. Many of these people are considered home-based healthcare workers by the state and they receive state aid to help them take care of their disabled family members.

Unions like the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) are salivating to take some of this money out of the pockets of these needy Illinois citizens that only want a little help to take care of family members with major and costly medical problems.

Now, with the signing of EO 09-15, Governor Pat Quinn has given these unions the “in” they need to accost these citizens in their homes or on the phone in order to cajole them into joining their unions. Once these unions get done bothering Illinois citizens in their homes, thanks to being given private addresses by Quinn, they will then begin to reap the reward of millions of dollars in forced dues remittances.

Quinn has also agreed that these unions will get a portion of these citizen’s state aid whether they join a union or not.
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Illinois Families Forced Into Unions Courtesy of Gov. Quinn”

Chicago - Cook County - Elections - Illinois - Republicans - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Jim Ryan Mulling a Run for Governor?

October 6, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

It’s all over the news today here in Chicago, but former Attny. Gen. Jim Ryan has launched an exploratory committee in order to lay the groundwork for a possible Ryan for Governor campaign.

Ryan last tried to run as the GOP nominee for governor against Democrat Rod Blagojevich in 2002. He’s since served as a distinguished fellow at Benedictine University.

He expects to make a final decision very soon,” said Dan Curry, who was Ryan’s spokesman when he was attorney general and said he was authorized by Ryan to speak on his behalf. “He’s making a final decision with his family.”

I have to say that this is not good news. Oh, I am not necessarily against Jim Ryan. He was a perfectly fine candidate back in 2002. But he is old guard and old guard will not excite the voters in 2010. The Illinois GOP is missing an opportunity to bring a fresh, bold face to the voters if they fall back to another Ryan candidacy.

Just that name “Ryan,” regardless of which Ryan it is assigned to, will cause voters to roll their eyes and envision the same old, same old. This is not a recipe for victory in 2010.
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Jim Ryan Mulling a Run for Governor?”

Anti-Americanism - Budget - Business - Capitalism - Chicago - Congress - Cook County - Economy/Finances - Illinois - Liberals - Society/Culture - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Chicago Tea Party: March on the Media, Oct. 16th, 17th

October 5, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

The Tea Party Patriots are planning a “March on the Media” for October 16th.

The event will be held at the ABC News studios are 180 North State Street, downtown Chicago.

The following day, October 17th, an event will be held at Millennium Park at Michigan Ave. and Washington Blvd.

The Fifth Estate lied, again, when they failed to tell America how on 9/12 we held the largest protest in our nation’92s history, with two million Patriots flooding Washington, fighting for Health Care freedom and Constitutional Rights.

The Millennium Park event will feature an address by Kevin Jackson of TheBlackSphere.net.

For a little background on Mr. Jackson, here Kevin does a great job schooling a mind numbed union punk’85

For info contact:
Catherina Wojtowicz at (312) 662-8666
ChicagoTeaPatriots@Gmail.com
ChicagoTeaPatriots.com
IllinoisTea.com
OperationCanYouHearUsNow.com
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Chicago Tea Party: March on the Media, Oct. 16th, 17th”

Chicago - Congress - Cook County - Elections - GOP - House of Representatives - Republicans - Warner Todd Huston

5th District Congressional Race: Ratowitz Picks up an Endorsement

October 4, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

From the Ratowitz campaign: CHICAGO — David Ratowitz, a Republican candidate for U.S. Congress (IL-5), has received the enthusiastic endorsement of John J. Curry, long-time GOP activist and committeeman for Chicago’s 32nd Ward.

“Illinois and Chicago have been reeling from continual instances of political corruption. Therefore, it is a time when the Republican Party should promote new leaders with a commitment to freedom and good government. David Ratowitz is just such a candidate. A smart, credentialed young professional, David knows the issues and has been barnstorming the district with energy, motivating a new grassroots powerbase for the Republican Party. He has easily proven his ability as a candidate and as a prospective Congressman. For these reason, I personally endorse David for election in the Republican primary for U.S. Representative in the 5th Congressional District.” – John J. Curry

A third-generation Chicago Republican, Curry has been involved in numerous local, state and national Republican campaigns, include serving as an Illinois congressional district coordinator in 1980 for Ronald Reagan in his first presidential run. Curry was part of the Illinois delegation to both Reagan inaugurations and to the Republican National Convention in 1988. He also served as an RNC delegate in 2004.

A partner in the law firm of Polisinelli, Shalton, Flanigan, Suelthaus, PC, Curry helped found the Chicago Lawyers Division of the Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy, a Washington, D.C.-based public policy group. He also has been active with Project LEAP and like efforts to combat vote fraud in Chicago elections. Learn more about John Curry here http://www.johncurry32wardgop.com/.
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5th District Congressional Race: Ratowitz Picks up an Endorsement”

ACORN - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - Illinois - Liberals - SEIU - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Capitol Fax Smacks Candidate Kelly Around

October 4, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Rich Miller’s Capitol Fax politics blog is one of the best Illinois political blogs out there… so, there, I said that right upfront. But I found Miller’s recent posting on the admittedly quixotic candidacy of William Kelly, well, a bit quixotic in itself, if only on one small point.

Last Wednesday, Capitol Fax found itself a bit confused by Mr. Kelly’s tactics for his campaign for Illinois Comptroller. Kelly, you see, has made a point to repeatedly go after current State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias as a way to gain public attention for his own race for Comptroller.

Mr. Kelly did an ambush styled video where he was following Giannoulias, a current Democratic Party candidate for Senate, down a hallway asking the State Treasurer why he’d be seeking and accepting an endorsement from the Service Employee’s International Union (SEIU), a group that is hip-deep with the criminal organization ACORN.
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Capitol Fax Smacks Candidate Kelly Around”

Cook County - Elections - GOP - Republicans - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Travesty: Most Illinois County GOP Organizations Have no Web Presence

October 4, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Imagine that. In this day and age most of the GOP Party organizations in the great state of Illinois do NOT have a web page. Illinois has 102 counties, but only 23 of them have a usable, working webpage.

In this Internet age, the very first place everyone runs to in order to find out about something is the Internet. Yet three quarters of our Illinois county GOP organizations do not have their own maintained webpage up on the Internet for prospective voters to peruse.

Of the 102 counties, 23 have websites that they’ve created and maintained. Another 33 have place holder pages sponsored by the state party. And fully 44 counties have no web presence at all. Nothing. Not even a state party place holder.

Of the 33 state party hosted place holder pages, few have any information past the county name and, perhaps, the name of the county party chairman. A couple have a few updates in the “Local Headlines” section, but most have nothing at all. It seems obvious that the state party is trying to get these place holder pages created for every county — certainly a good idea — and has gotten to these 33 thus far, though I have not contacted the state party to confirm this.

For a full list of Illinois counties and their web status, Click Here.
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Travesty: Most Illinois County GOP Organizations Have no Web Presence”

Budget - Conservatives - Cook County - Economy/Finances - Elections - GOP - Illinois - Republicans - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Steve Rauschenberger Makes it Official

October 3, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Former State Senator Steven Rauschenberger has once again thrown his hat in the ring and announced a run for his old Senate seat from the Elgin area’s 22nd District, a seat he held for 14 years.

Rauschenberger entered the State Legislature in 1992 and gained fame as one of the “Fab Five,” a group of five conservative senators that rode herd on Democratic overspending. In 2007, Rauschenberger explored a bid for governor but ultimately settled on a run as lt. gov. on a ticket with Ron Gidwitz. They lost the GOP nomination to the Topinka/Birkett ticket.

Here is the announcement from the Rauschenberger campaign:
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Steve Rauschenberger Makes it Official”

Chicago - Congress - Conservatives - Cook County - Elections - GOP - Illinois - Republicans - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

14th District Race: Ethan Hastert Signs ATRs No-Tax Pledge

October 3, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

In the race for the GOP nomination for Congress, Ethan Hastert has made a bit of news this week by signing the Taxpayer Protection Pledge sponsored by Americans for Tax Reform.

ATR reports that Hastert is the second candidate to sign the pledge.

ATR’s Announcement:
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14th District Race: Ethan Hastert Signs ATRs No-Tax Pledge”

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

Why Did Matt Murphy Drop Down from Guv to Lt. Guv?

October 2, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Murphy has released a press release explaining why he decided to switch from running for governor to running for lt. governor.

I did not plan to run for Governor. After two consecutive elections, I was looking forward to taking a break from campaigning to focus on my legislative priorities and coach football for my son. Unfortunately, the economy became worse, people lost their jobs and the Democratic leadership in Springfield reverted to their default position to solve every budget crisis: higher taxes, increased spending and more borrowing. While families and businesses are struggling to make ends meet, they were asked to absorb the cost of Springfield’s fiscal mismanagement at the same time Governor Quinn caved into special interests. Our state was at a crossroads and I felt someone had to offer an alternative to the same tired and failed policies that have put us in a two-way race with Michigan to become the worst state to run a business, create jobs and raise a family.

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Why Did Matt Murphy Drop Down from Guv to Lt. Guv?”

Business - Capitalism - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Free Trade - Freedom - Illinois - Liberals - Republicans - Society/Culture - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston - Welfare

More Illinois Citizens Live in Poverty Since Year 2000

October 2, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

The Associated Press is reporting that the poverty rate in Illinois has jumped from 10.7 percent in 2000 to 12.2 percent in 2008, the last year for which we have Census Bureau data. That comes out to about 1.5 million Illinois citizens living below the poverty line.

Hardest hit were some of the counties in Northern Illinois in and around the Chicago area.

The drops in income were particularly steep in several northern Illinois counties, DuPage, Kane and Winnebago. For instance, in DuPage County, the median income has declined $10,690 since 2000, from $87,723 to $77,033.

One of the things that made this poverty rate climb is the horrendous business climate that Illinoisans suffer under. In 2008 the Directorship’s Boardroom Guide to State Litigation Climates compiled by the Foundation for Fair Civi Justice ranked Illinois as the state with the worst business climate. In 2009 it ranked second just under Pennsylvania.

Winning the dubious distinction of having the worst business climate in the country is not a way to entice new business to come to the Land of Lincoln to bring the new jobs that Illinois needs to raise its citizens out of poverty.
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More Illinois Citizens Live in Poverty Since Year 2000″

ACORN - Anti-Americanism - Budget - Business - Capitalism - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Elections - Free Trade - Health - Illinois - Liberals - President - Republicans - SEIU - Society/Culture - State Government - Taxes - Unions - Warner Todd Huston

Join Me, Illinois, to SAY NO to ACORN!

October 1, 2009 by 1 Comment

Illinois is a bankrupt state, yet our accidental Governor Pat Quinn is handing over millions of state dollars to ACORN/SEIU and any other union that wants to put its hand out. Join me and Americans For Prosperity to Say NO to ACORN.com.
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Join Me, Illinois, to SAY NO to ACORN!”

Cook County - Elections - GOP - Republicans - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Da Coach, Mike Ditka Endorses Pat Hughes for Senate

October 1, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Mike Ditka, famous for being the coach of the Chicago Bears, endorsed Senate candidate Patrick Hughes at a Hughes fundraiser at Ditka’s restaurant on Wednesday.

Speaking to a gathering of Hughes supporters at Ditka’s Restaurant last night, Da Coach said, “I pledge all my support to Patrick Hughes and I will help him in any way I can. Patrick Hughes stands for the same mainstream values that Mike Ditka stands for. Patrick Hughes knows who he is and what he believes. He knows that Washington is not the answer to all of our problems today.” […]

Hughes continued, “I said that my campaign would seek the support of grassroots Illinois residents, not the Washington lobbyists and politicians who my major challenger Mark Kirk has courted for endorsements and money. Mike Ditka represents the values of real grassroots voters of Illinois in the finest sense.”

Patrick Hughes is the assumed underdog facing Rep. Mark Kirk for the GOP nomination for the 2010 Senate race.

Check out Hughes on the net: Hughes for Senate
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Da Coach, Mike Ditka Endorses Pat Hughes for Senate”

Congress - Cook County - Elections - House of Representatives - Illinois - Journalism - Liberals - Media Bias - Republicans - Society/Culture - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Grudge Match Between Republicans Lauzen and Oberweis Over 14th District Primary?

October 1, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

The Hill is reporting that the upcoming 14th District GOP primary is shaping up as a grudge match between two Republicans that aren’t even in the race. According the The Hill this is a grudge match between State Senator Chris Lauzen and wannabe anything Jim Oberweis, both candidates that vied for that seat in the 2008 special election that sent Democrat Bill Foster to Washington.

The 14th District Congressional seat was the one that Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert held until he resigned in 2008. Hastert’s son Ethan Hastert is now running for the GOP nomination for his father’s old seat.

This “grudge match” meme pushed by The Hill is a result of the formal entry into the primary race of State Senator Randy Hultgren who threw his hat in the ring earlier in the week. Hultgren was elected to the State Senate in 2006 and served in the Illinois House for eight years previous to that. (1999-2007).
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Grudge Match Between Republicans Lauzen and Oberweis Over 14th District Primary?”

ACORN - Business - Capitalism - Children - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Family - Freedom - Health - Illinois - Jobs - Liberals - SEIU - Socialism - State Government - Taxes - Unions - Warner Todd Huston

AWF: Ill. Gov. Invades Privacy of State’s Citizens

October 1, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

The Alliance for Worker Freedom has decided to send a letter to replacement Governor Pat Quinn of Illinois asking him how much his favoritism and goodies given to unions in the state have cost the taxpayers of Illinois. (I say “replacement gov.” because Quinn is the former Lt. Gov. that became the accidental gov. when Rod Blagojevich was indicted and then impeached from office)

Quinn is guilty of handing over the personal information of thousands of Illinois home-based support workers that receive state aid to take care of family members with severe medical conditions to several unions so that the unions could attempt to strongarm these people into a union. The executive order is #09-15, the Collective Bargaining By Individual Providers of Home-Based Support Services order.

Without regard to the privacy of the personal information of these people that receive state aid to take care of their relatives in their own homes, Gov. Quinn freely handed over their phone numbers and addresses to any union that wanted them. Many home healthcare workers have since been accosted by Service Employees International Union (SEIU) recruiters as well as operatives from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME).
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AWF: Ill. Gov. Invades Privacy of State’s Citizens”

Chicago - GOP - Republicans - Warner Todd Huston

Hip-Hop Republicans – A Movement of Urban and Inner-City Republicans & Libertarians

September 30, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Are you an inner-city Republican? Are you feeling just a tad alone and isolated in a sea of socialist half-wits? Do your representatives and city bosses think that their job is to take your taxes and hand them out to their buddies and cronies? Are you sick of it but don’t have anywhere to vent your ire?

Well, I’ve got just the ticket for you, friend. Take a look at Hip-Hop Republicans, a site dedicated to giving a forum to those inner-city Republicans and libertarians who need a place to find others of like mind.

Hip-Hop Republicans is a message board and meeting place created on the Ning social networking platform and features videos, messages and meet up groups from such varied places as Nebraska, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Georgia, Texas, Washington D.C., and New York.

Check it out, folks. It is quite an interesting site.

hiphoprepublicans.ning.com.

(H/T Rightwing Sparkle)
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Hip-Hop Republicans – A Movement of Urban and Inner-City Republicans & Libertarians”

Chicago - Conservatives - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - Illinois - Journalism - Liberals - Republicans - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

ChgoTrib: Adam Andrzejewski Takes on Big Gov’t

September 30, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Looks like gubernatorial candidate Adam Andrzejewski (pronounced an-gee-ef-ski – Campaign site) has caught the eye of the Chicago Tribune’s John Kass, he of inveighing against “the combine” — that idea that top level Republicans are in the pockets of their counterparts in the state Democratic Party.

Kass used Andrzejewski’s campaign to gig his whipping boy once again:

Adam Andrzejewski (pronounced An-jee-ef-ski) is running for governor in the Republican primary on a platform of reform, offering specific spending cuts and holding the line on taxes.

Sound radical?

Only in Illinois, where government is big business and the parties’ trading jobs for support makes them almost indistinguishable.

I can’t say that Kass is wrong. But it is good to see that Andrzejewski is making some headway in the political arena.

Kass makes an obvious point about the Ill. GOP, but it is one that should be at the forefront of every Republican’s mind as he prepares to consider the 2010 elections.
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ChgoTrib: Adam Andrzejewski Takes on Big Gov’t”

Chicago - Congress - Cook County - Elections - GOP - House of Representatives - Illinois - Republicans - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Isaac Hayes for Ill. 2nd Congressional District

September 30, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Today’s spotlight falls on the Reverend Isaac Hayes who is running for the 2nd Congressional District. The 2nd comprises the towns of Harvey, Lansing, Chicago Heights, Park Forest and part of Calumet City all of which are well south east of Chicago and on the Indiana border. The 2nd is also spread across parts of both Cook and Will Counties.

Hayes is a native of Chicago’s South Side and earned a degree in Information Systems at Ill. State University. Hayes was vice president of ABN AMRO Mortgage and now ministers full-time to youth at the Apostolic Church of God in his community.

Hayes will face incumbent Democratic Representative Jesse Jackson, Jr.

Here is his announcement address delivered at the Cook County GOP Convention this year:
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Isaac Hayes for Ill. 2nd Congressional District”

Conservatives - Cook County - Elections - GOP - Illinois - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Rauschenberger Back in the Hunt?

September 29, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Steve Rasuchenberg of the Elgin area might be considering another run for the Illinois State Senate according to RFFM.org.

RFFM.org has learned former state Sen. Steve Rauschenberger is considering another run for the state Senate for the seat currently held by Michael Noland (D-Elgin). When Rauschenberger launched an unsuccessful bid for Lt. Governor and vacated the seat, Noland won the general election in 2006 in a close election when he defeated Streamwood Mayor Billie Roth.

Rauschenberger would most likely receive the nod from Republican voters in the 22nd state Senate District GOP primary if he decides to throw his hat in the ring.

Many believe if Rauschenberger wins the GOP primary, his high name recognition and past record as a fiscal and social conservative would help him win in the 2010 general election, when many experts predict incumbent Democrats may succumb to a Republican landslide.

Rauschenberger is currently President of the United Republican Fund. An official announcement regarding his intentions are expected soon.

Rauschenberger was one of the famed “Fab Five” consisting of five of the most conservative Senators in the state legislature.The “Fab Five” referred to Dave Syverson, Rauschenberger, Patrick O’Malley, Chris Lauzen, and Peter Fitzgerald all elected to the State Senate in 1992.

Rauschenberger made his mark in matters financial in the state budget. He served on the Appropriations Committee and the Environment and Energy Committee.

(Cross posted at RedCounty.com)
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Rauschenberger Back in the Hunt?”