Illinois

9/11 - Illinois - Randy Hultgren - Warner Todd Huston

Hultgren Statement On the 10th Anniversary of the 9/11 Attacks

September 11, 2011 by

From the office of Rep. Randy Hultgren (14th District)…

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren (IL-14) today released the following statement on the 10th Anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.

“My thoughts and prayers go out to all those who felt the tragic loss of a family member, friend or loved one in the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001,” said Hultgren. “Let us also remember the many heroes from that day, first responders, members of the military, and ordinary citizens who answered the call of duty without hesitation. I encourage all Americans to take a moment to reflect on that fateful day – remember where you were and the feelings that you experienced when you learned of the attacks and pledge to never take our safety, security, or freedom for granted.”

http://hultgren.house.gov/

9/11 - GOP - Government - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Republicans - Senate - Warner Todd Huston

State Sen. Kirk Dillard Calls for Halt to Political Activity Over 9-11 Weekend

September 10, 2011 by

From the Office of Illinois State Senator Kirk Dillard…

State Senator Kirk Dillard (R-Westmont) called upon his local volunteers and precinct committeemen to suspend political petition passing and other political activities this weekend in observance of the September 11th terrorists attacks 10th year anniversary. This is the first week candidates can pass petitions to be on the March 2012 election ballot under the newly drawn legislative maps following the census. Dillard will be attending multiple official ceremonies and church services over the weekend.

“This weekend is the time to transcend politics and partisan activities,” said Dillard in a letter to his local volunteers and committeemen. “Let us count our blessings and remember what is truly important.”
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State Sen. Kirk Dillard Calls for Halt to Political Activity Over 9-11 Weekend”

Barack Obama - Budget - Business - Congress - Conservatives - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Jobs - Liberals - President - Randy Hultgren - Republicans - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Hultgren Statement On President Obama’s Address To Congress

September 10, 2011 by

From the office of Rep. Randy Hultgren (14th District)…

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren (IL-14) tonight released the following statement regarding President Barack Obama’s address to a joint session of Congress.

Tonight, I attended President Obama’s address to Congress because, although I expected partisan rhetoric but little in the way of new ideas, I felt that it was my constitutional responsibility to do so. Unfortunately, despite his premise of bipartisanship, the President’s prescriptions for our economy were political and wholly inadequate. Once again he urged more scattershot ‘stimulus’ spending, at a time when we should be husbanding our constituents’ hard-earned tax dollars and ensuring that they are spent as wisely as possible.

I agree with President Obama that investing in our nation’s infrastructure is needed and will create jobs. But we cannot do so blindly. We must ensure that our investments are targeted and timely, and we must work hard to cut red tape and limit the permitting delays that currently plague our investments in infrastructure improvement.

While I also believe that tax reform is long overdue, I was disappointed to hear him resurrect his calls on increasing taxes. It is absolutely the wrong time to be raising taxes on Americans that Main Street often calls small business owners, entrepreneurs, or job creators.
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Hultgren Statement On President Obama’s Address To Congress”

9/11 - al Qaeda - DuPage County - GOP - Government - Government, Ill. County - Illinois State Government - Islam - Islamofascism - Koran - Republicans - Senate - Sharia - Warner Todd Huston

State Sen. Kirk Dillard Calls for Halt to Political Activity Over 9-11 Weekend

September 9, 2011 by

From the Office of Illinois State Senator Kirk Dillard…

State Senator Kirk Dillard (R-Westmont) called upon his local volunteers and precinct committeemen to suspend political petition passing and other political activities this weekend in observance of the September 11th terrorists attacks 10th year anniversary. This is the first week candidates can pass petitions to be on the March 2012 election ballot under the newly drawn legislative maps following the census. Dillard will be attending multiple official ceremonies and church services over the weekend.

“This weekend is the time to transcend politics and partisan activities,” said Dillard in a letter to his local volunteers and committeemen. “Let us count our blessings and remember what is truly important.”
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State Sen. Kirk Dillard Calls for Halt to Political Activity Over 9-11 Weekend”

Elections - GOP - Government - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Republicans - Warner Todd Huston

Taxpayer Advocate Dan Patlak Announces Bid for Re-Election to Board of Review

September 8, 2011 by

From the office of Cook County Board of Review Commissioner Dan Patlak…

Wheeling – Commissioner and taxpayer advocate Dan Patlak today announced his intention to run for re-election to the Cook County Board of Review. Patlak, the only Republican on the three member Board was first elected in 2010. He is the first Board commissioner in history to devote full time to the position. In his first campaign for the mostly suburban (1st District) seat Patlak ran on his qualifications having previously worked at the Board as an analyst for eight years, serving as a local township assessor, being a Certified Illinois Assessing Officer and holding a real estate license since 1986. Commissioner Patlak’s re-election campaign will stress his record of accomplishment since his December 2010 swearing in.

“The Cook County Board of Review is more than just a body that adjudicates assessment appeals,” said Patlak. “It is also an office that has a responsibility to empower taxpayers by educating them about how the property tax system works. That’s why the seminars I’ve conducted throughout my district focus not just on the appeal process but also explain the role of exemptions and some of the intricacies about why tax bills are what they are. Taxpayers have a right to expect that their elected officials will focus their energies on serving the public. That’s why I work every day side-by-side with the employees of the Board to make it a more efficient and taxpayer friendly body,” concluded Patlak.
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Taxpayer Advocate Dan Patlak Announces Bid for Re-Election to Board of Review”

Elections - GOP - Government - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Republicans - Warner Todd Huston

Ron Sandack Announces Candidacy 81st House District

September 8, 2011 by

From the Sandack for State Rep…

Downers Grove, IL – State Senator Ron Sandack announced today that he will run for State Representative in the 81st House District. Sandack was appointed to the State Senate in November of 2010 to replace State Senator Cronin, now DuPage County Board Chairman, in the 21st District.

“It is time to restore Illinois to its rightful place as the best State in the Midwest and the economic engine of America. I am introducing my prescription to restore our State to its inherent greatness. I call it “Five to Revive Illinois.” These initiatives are based on principles I championed as Mayor of Downers Grove,” said Sandack.

“We must return to a job-friendly environment where businesses can flourish and families can thrive; leaner government focused on the basics; ethics reforms to clean up Illinois’ tainted culture; fiscally prudent management to finally stop Illinois’ continued descent to the basement in every economic category and open government to provide access to the public and accountability for officials,” said Sandack.
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Ron Sandack Announces Candidacy 81st House District”

Conservatives - Democracy - Elections - GOP - Government - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Mitt Romney - Pat Brady - President - Republicans - Rick Perry - State Central Committee - Warner Todd Huston

Illinois GOP State Central Committee Meeting: Sound and Fury Signifying No Changes

September 6, 2011 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

In one of the most well attended yet contentious State Central Committee meetings for some time, the movers and shakers of the Illinois GOP met on Tuesday evening to attempt to decide if the system for certifying delegates for GOP presidential candidates should be changed. The short answer is that there was a lot of sound and fury from party members lower on the food chain, much debate from those on top, and questions all around all of which resulted in a failure of the proposal to make the change. In the end a resolution was passed to keep it all the same as it was in 2008.

Beginning at 5 PM the meeting at the Boilingbrook Country Club was well attended by both SCC members, concerned party members, a few county party chairs, committeemen, and Tea Party activists. House leader Tom Cross made an appearance as did long-time conservative activist Jack Roeser. Illinois State Treasurer Dan Rutherford was also there, like many of the others, to speak about the proposed rules change.

I should note that one reason this rules change was contemplated is that the national Republican Party is trying to get every state to change their system into one of proportional representation of delegates to the convention. The RNC gave Illinois the leeway to change its process and several activists took this opportunity to propose a major change to the system, a change that meets the law as well as state and national party rules.

Certainly the change being contemplated was extensive. Currently, the presidential candidates are awarded delegates via the ballot box, a method only three other states favor. Campaigns come to Illinois, build their Illinois machine, and solicit for delegates. These delegates then have to stand for election on the primary ballot. To do so they must each get 600 signatures of voters in their district so that they, the delegates, can get on the election ballot. Then, those elected are considered official delegates to the GOP nomination convention.
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Illinois GOP State Central Committee Meeting: Sound and Fury Signifying No Changes”

Conservatives - Elections - GOP - Government - Illini Alliance - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Pat Brady - Regulation - Republicans - Warner Todd Huston

Illinois GOP to Change How Presidential Candidate Delegates Chosen

September 6, 2011 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

In a follow up to my post last week on the proposed changes on how Illinois selects the delegates for GOP presidential candidates, more needs to be said about this as on the evening of Tuesday, September 6, the Illinois GOP State Central Committee will meet to discuss whether or not the changes will be accepted.

My points made last week about the State Central Committee endeavoring to take away even more ability of Illinois GOP voters to influence the milieu of Republican politics in Illinois was written before I had seen the final wording of the resolution in question. From the old language I had seen up to that time, it seemed pretty clear that the GOP State Central Committee was trying to take even more power unto itself. This was intolerable, especially after so much GOP failure over the last decade in the Land of Lincoln.

However, I have now seen what is up to now the full proposal, the one that will be discussed at the Tuesday SCC meeting. The most recent proposal mitigates my fears somewhat… but not entirely.
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Illinois GOP to Change How Presidential Candidate Delegates Chosen”

Anti-Americanism - Barack Obama - Budget - Business - Capitalism - Democrats/Leftists - Detroit - Ethics - Government - James Hoffa - Liberals - President - Stimulus - Taxes - Teamsters - Unions - Warner Todd Huston

Rockford Tea Party Calls for Resignation of Teamsters President

September 6, 2011 by 2 Comments

-By Warner Todd Huston

After Teamsters President Jimmy Hoffa incited violence against Republicans as he introduced President Obama at Monday’s rally in Detroit, at least one organization called for Hoffa to resign over his intemperate and violent rhetoric. The Rockford Tea Party of northern Illinois made the call for Hoffa to resign.

Here is what Hoffa’s ignorant rhetoric sounded:

Rockford TEA PARTY calls for Labor Leader Jimmy Hoffa to Resign
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Rockford Tea Party Calls for Resignation of Teamsters President”

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

Illinois Policy Institute: That is SO Illinoying!‏

September 4, 2011 by 1 Comment

From the Illinois Policy Institute…

Many of you are familiar with FOIA requests: they allow engaged citizens to request public documents. State requirements ensure governments provide these documents in a timely manner.

But on Friday, Gov. Quinn signed a bill that weakened these rules. Now, governments will be allowed to characterize citizens as “recurrent requesters.” If a citizen requests more than 15 documents in a month or 50 in a year, government entities no longer need to respond promptly.

This law punishes citizens who pay close attention. Instead of creating new obstacles for the very people who are most engaged in holding our government accountable, we should be celebrating their efforts.
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Illinois Policy Institute: That is SO Illinoying!‏”

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

Local Ill. Library Board Wants ‘People Feeling Pain’ to Vote Tax Hikes for New Building

September 3, 2011 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Even left-wing Morton Grove, Illinois is feeling the pinch of Tea Party principles as new town library board members begin revealing the perfidy of past board members that violated the state’s open meetings laws where they were found to be scheming to fool the taxpayers into hiking taxes for unnecessary new library building projects and other wasteful spending.

You might remember back in 2008 that Morton Grove was one of the first towns in American history to ban the Second Amendment within its jurisdiction, an action that went counter to the Supreme Court’s Heller decision. But despite the law city fathers tried to violate the Constitutional rights of their citizens until the threat of lawsuits forced the city to reverse course.

Morton Grove’s left leaning city officials, though, kept at their agenda in other ways after the change to their handgun ban in 2008. During 2010 library board meetings, for instance, it appears Morton Grove library board members violated Illinois open meetings laws by holding closed door meetings called executive sessions that they did not properly record and/or did not conduct approved business.
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Local Ill. Library Board Wants ‘People Feeling Pain’ to Vote Tax Hikes for New Building”

Illinois - Illinois Policy Institute - Warner Todd Huston

Illinois Activist, Writer, Ralf Seiffe, RIP‏

September 3, 2011 by

I met Mr. Seiffe many times, though I never interacted much with him. Still, he was a staple around Republican politics for years here in the Chicagoland area. Mr. Seiffe passed away this week from a heart attack.

John Tillman worte a great little memorial of Seiffe, so instead of me fumbling my way through an accounting of his great work, I’ll Joh Tillman of the Illinois Policy Institute speak to the matter…

The liberty movement lost a great friend when Ralf Seiffe died unexpectedly yesterday morning. Ralf was truly of one life’s unique characters that come along all too rarely. Ralf was a joyful lover of life, people, history, culture and, of course, liberty. Ralf was a fountain of creativity. He always had a breadth and depth of knowledge on his many brainstorms, but what was so amazing to me was that he always knew more pertinent and interesting information about my crazy ideas than I did. Not only that, he could add value to the idea of the guy on the bar stool sitting next to us on a Friday afternoon at Hackneys.

One day, Ralf’s business partner, Richard Lorenc, a friend of mine and former colleague, came to me and said, “I was thinking of starting a business that would bring people of modest means together who love liberty and help them aggregate their giving power to create an impact on the liberty movement.”
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Illinois Activist, Writer, Ralf Seiffe, RIP‏”

Dan Proft - Illinois - Warner Todd Huston

WWII Hero Sparky Songer Tells His Remarkable Story: At OH-IL’s 2nd Annual Black & White Night Gala

September 3, 2011 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

WWII veteran Sparky Songer — captured in 1944 at the Battle of the Bulge — shared his remarkable story of heroism last Saturday, September 24th, at Operation Homefront Illinois 2nd Annual Black & White Night Gala.

Sparky shared his life story with more than 100 supporters of the brave men and women of our armed forces who attended the gala event. The proceeds from the 2nd Annual Black & White Night Gala go to support Operation Homefront Illinois’ service mission to provide emergency assistance to the families of active duty deployed members of the military, as well as wounded warriors in the process of transitioning back to civilian life.
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WWII Hero Sparky Songer Tells His Remarkable Story: At OH-IL’s 2nd Annual Black & White Night Gala”

Budget - Business - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Jobs - Liberals - President - Randy Hultgren - Republicans - Taxes - Unemployment - Warner Todd Huston

Hultgren Statement on August Jobs Report

September 3, 2011 by

From the office of Rep. Randy Hultgren (Ill. 14th District)…

Geneva, IL – U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren (IL-14) today released the following statement regarding the August unemployment report released by the U.S. Department of Labor.

“August’s dismal jobs report is disappointing, but unsurprising, so long as this Administration continues to pursue its anti-jobs agenda of burdensome regulations, taxes, and out-of-control spending,” said Hultgren. “Despite his claims to be cutting red tape, the reality is that President Obama and his appointed bureaucrats are proposing even more regulations that threaten to do enormous damage to our fragile economy.”

“Before he comes to Congress next week, I urge President Obama to study the commonsense pro-growth agenda Republicans will be adopting this fall. More taxes and spending won’t get our economy moving and put Americans back to work; that requires fostering a pro-growth economic climate; lessening intrusions by unaccountable bureaucrats; and providing certainty about what Washington will do in the future.”

http://hultgren.house.gov/

Budget - Business - Capitalism - Chicago - Congress - Conservatives - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Elections - EPA - Free Trade - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Jobs - Liberals - Peter Roskam - Policy - President - Regulation - Republicans - Senate - Taxes - Tea Party - Warner Todd Huston

Rep. Peter Roskam Starts Ball Rolling On Regulation Scale Back

September 1, 2011 by 2 Comments

-By Warner Todd Huston

I spent most of the day on Aug 30 sort of embeded with Congressman Peter Roskam, Republican of the Illinois 6th District and Chief Deputy Whip in Washington, as he toured his district talking to local businesses. The whirlwind tour of businesses in Roskam’s district — topped with a presser in downtown Chicago — was the precursor of Roskam’s next focus. Roskam wants to begin an assessment of the regulatory edifice in Washington D.C. with any eye toward making Washington more business friendly in this moribund, recessionary economy.

My chauffeur was Roskam communication director, the genial Dan Conston. He told me he was born and bred in Philly, but I assured him that I would not hold that against him. No matter that he is an Eagles fan, he knew his way around the area. Still I promised not to tattle on his driving… but I guess even saying that much is saying something!

Our first stop was Federal Signal Corporation located in Oak Brook. The folks at Federal Signal told Congressman Roskam that they were worried that new EPA rules on the engines they use in their street sweeper machines were threatening to shut down production lines and put workers out of work. And not just for them but the engines of similar styles in every industry that uses them are facing the same jobs-killing requirements.

The problem was all the “uncertainty” which is casting a pall over what Fed Sig’s Dennis Martin, President and CEO, was happy to say is a recent uptick in orders for their machines. Orders have been down for years, said Martin, but now older street sweepers are not only wearing out but are themselves long out of compliance with new EPA rules and new orders are now rolling in.
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Rep. Peter Roskam Starts Ball Rolling On Regulation Scale Back”

Congress - Elections - Ethics - GOP - Government - Government, Ill. County - House of Representatives - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Regulation - Republicans - State Central Committee - Warner Todd Huston

Illinois GOP Powerbrokers Taking Even More Power from GOP Voters

August 30, 2011 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Recently, an anonymous piece at BigJournalism.com was posted attacking Ill. State Treasurer Dan Rutherford for objecting to proposed changes in the state’s process of choosing delegates to the GOP nomination convention. This article is misguided and misses some important facts.

Rutherford released an open letter urging the GOP State Central Committee, the party’s governing body, not to change the way Illinois arrives at delegates to the national party convention. BigGovernment.com claims that Rutherford is only taking this action because he is a Romney man. I’ll not speculate on Rutherford’s motives re the candidates as it really is irrelevant to the point in this particular case. In other words, BigGovernment.com is wrong in its attack not to mention in its support for the rules change.

Before I get into who said what and who is doing what, we need to describe the rules change, of course. Call this the “fine print” part of the story.
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Illinois GOP Powerbrokers Taking Even More Power from GOP Voters”

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

Ill. Policy Institute: John Tillman Wins the Roe Award‏

August 28, 2011 by

From the Illinois Policy Institute…

Last week in Seattle, I had the pleasure of watching John Tillman accept the Roe Award at the State Policy Networks’s annual meeting. The Roe Award pays tribute to those in the state public policy movement whose achievements have greatly advanced the free market philosophy.

The activities and impact recognized by the Roe Award were truly a team effort. That team is made up not only of our top-notch staff but also the donors who underwrite our work and the liberty leaders who champion the changes that will lead to a better Illinois.

That team includes you. Thank you for helping the Institute’s work take flight by reading our research, forwarding innovative ideas to friends and family and demanding that elected leaders embrace policies built upon liberty and respect for the individual.

Together, we can keep changing hearts, minds and laws.
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Ill. Policy Institute: John Tillman Wins the Roe Award‏”

Abortion - Barack Obama - China - Democrats/Leftists - Government - Joe Biden - Lake County - Liberals - President - Warner Todd Huston

Biden Gaffe: Condones Atrocities Against Women, Lake Co. Group Supports House Bill HR 2121 in Response

August 28, 2011 by

From Lake County Right to Life…

(Grayslake, IL – August 24, 2011) Speaking before an audience in Chengdu, China on Sunday, August 21, Joe Biden said he “fully understands” China’s One-child Policy and would “not second guess” it. Biden’s comments produced an immediate firestorm of criticism from other elected officials, women’s rights advocates, and pro-life groups, because the policy is widely considered one of the greatest human rights abuses in modern times. Biden spoke about the policy’s drawbacks only in demographic terms, comparing it to the US problem of too few younger workers to provide a safety net for retirees.

Instituted by the Chinese government in 1979 to deal with population growth, the policy has been widely condemned. Punishments include forced abortions and sterilizations, fines, and beatings. Both violators and those who help them are sent to prison and forced labor camps.

Reggie Littlejohn of Women’s Rights Without Frontiers (WRWF) states that “Chinese women are literally dragged out of their homes, strapped to tables and forced to abort.” She adds that the policy promotes gendercide—since the 400 million “prevented” births are mostly girls, “this gendercide gives rise to human trafficking and sexual slavery.”

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Biden Gaffe: Condones Atrocities Against Women, Lake Co. Group Supports House Bill HR 2121 in Response”

Budget - Chicago - Conservatives - Economy/Finances - Florida - GOP - Government - Illinois - President - Republicans - Taxes - Tea Party - Warner Todd Huston

Chigo Tea Party: Tea Party Presidential Debate‏

August 27, 2011 by

From the Chicago Tea Party…

Chicago Tea Party Patriots Co-Sponsor first Tea Party Presidential Debate

The Tea Party Express is partnering with CNN for the first ever Tea Party Presidential debate. We’re honored to have been selected as a co-sponsor of the debate. This is a huge victory for the movement because before last year’s mid-term election victories no news network would have partnered with any tea party group to do anything like this. Two years ago, Kathy Barkulis challenged CNN reporter Susan Roesgen at the first Chicago Tax Day Tea Party and now CNN is partnering with the tea party. This shows how far the movement has come. The debate will be held on September 12, 2011 in Tampa, FL, the location of the 2012 Republican convention.
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Chigo Tea Party: Tea Party Presidential Debate‏”

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

Cook County GOP Chair Race

August 25, 2011 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Lee Roupas is now the Retiring Cook County GOP Party Chairman and that means the race is on. It looks like we have at least three people with their hats thrown in the ring to succeed Roupas.

The most well known is Ruth O’Connell, currently a Republican committeeman of Wheeling Township as well as an elected Township Trustee not to mention the main power behind the Republicans of Wheeling Township.

Ruth has been a tireless organizer of the Wheeling area and has built a very active GOP organization. Due to her work, the Wheeling area has won a lot of weighted votes in the Cook County GOP organization. In fact, her township has the highest GOP weighted vote of any other township or ward in the county.
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Cook County GOP Chair Race”

Budget - Chicago - Conservatives - Economy/Finances - Elections - GOP - Illinois - Republicans - Society/Culture - Taxes - Tea Party - Warner Todd Huston

Chicago Tea Party: See You In Iowa: Sarah Palin‏

August 25, 2011 by

From the Chicago Tea Party…

Free Road Trip: Restoring America Rally featuring Sarah Palin

The Palin’s “One Nation” bus tour seeking to highlight “our nation’s heart, history and founding principles.”

Palin said this about the rally, “Gatherings like this of independent liberty-loving Americans from every walk of life exemplify our commitment to come together to seek solutions to the problems confronting our nation…We don’t need a ‘fundamental transformation’ of America. We need a restoration of all that is good and strong and free. The 2012 election will be a great debate between those two conflicting visions for our country.”
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Chicago Tea Party: See You In Iowa: Sarah Palin‏”

Budget - Chicago - Congress - Cook County - Cook County Board - Democrats/Leftists - Government - Government, Ill. County - Illinois - Taxes - Toni Preckwinkle - Warner Todd Huston

Cook County President Preckwinkle Townhall Meeting

August 23, 2011 by

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

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle will be holding an online Town hall on August 23, 2011 at 7:15 p.m. The town hall will give the residents of Cook County a chance to “Tell Toni” their ideas on the Cook County Budget and engage directly with the President and her office on the important financial decisions that will be made in the coming weeks and months.

To lean more about this unique opportunity to learn more about what Cook County is doing for you, visit the online events page.

Residents throughout the County can participate in the Town Hall Meeting in a variety of ways:
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Cook County President Preckwinkle Townhall Meeting”

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

Truth in Accounting Summer Quarterly Round-up e-Newsletter‏

August 22, 2011 by

From the Institute for Truth in Accounting…

Truth in Accounting Identifies Five Sinkhole States

The lack of truth and transparency in state budgets have concealed $1 trillion of outstanding bills.

The Institute’s ‘Financial State of the States’ study reviewed each state’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report to determine the state’s true financial condition. This study included a detailed analysis of pension and retirees’ health care plans. The Institute took painstaking steps to determine the states’ share of each plans’ unfunded liability. By analyzing the assets each state has available and all of its bills, the Institute was able to determine a ‘Taxpayer’s Burden’ for all fifty states. Click here to download the full report.

The Institute’s extensive research found most states are sinking in debt, despite the existence of a balanced budget requirement in all but one state. The Institute identified the top five ‘Sinkhole’ states each with a per taxpayer burden of more than $23,000. These are Connecticut, New Jersey, Illinois, Hawaii and Kentucky. Wyoming, North Dakota, Nebraska, Utah and South Dakota are considered ‘Sunshine’ states, because a per taxpayer’s surplus or minimal per taxpayer’s burden exists in these states.
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Truth in Accounting Summer Quarterly Round-up e-Newsletter‏”

Budget - Business - Capitalism - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - GOP - Government - Government, Ill. County - Illinois - Illinois Policy Institute - Illinois State Government - Jobs - Liberals - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Ill. Policy Institute: 100%

August 20, 2011 by

From the Illinois Policy Institute…

In order to hold our government accountable – and ensure they are spending our tax dollars wisely – citizens must have access to public information.


Unfortunately, too many local government agencies across Illinois have viewed proactive online transparency as a privilege rather than a right. Many elected officials have lost sight of the fact that, as citizens, taxpayers and voters, “we the people” are the bosses of government, not the other way around. But, with the work of the staff of the Illinois Policy Institute, our volunteers and forward thinking government officials, things are beginning to change in Illinois.


Last week the village of Orland Park became the first Illinois local government agency to score a perfect 100% on our Ten-Point Transparency Checklist, Orland Park is setting an example for other communities to follow and building momentum for statewide local government transparency standards like the Local Government Transparency Act. See what the Southtown Star wrote about Orland Park’s accomplishment here.


You can help make our government more transparent and accountable to the taxpayers by volunteering your time or sponsoring a Local Transparency Project in your home area. Contact me at bcostin@illinoispolicy.org to participate in the Local Transparency Project in your community.


Brian Costin
Director of Outreach
Illinois Policy Institute
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Ill. Policy Institute: 100%”

Adam Kinzinger - Budget - Chicago - Congress - Conservatives - Democrats/Leftists - GOP - Government - Illinois - Liberals - Republicans - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Reps. Kinzinger & Rush on WTTW’s Chicago Tonight‏

August 13, 2011 by

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

On Wednesday night, Congressman Adam Kinzinger joined Carol Marin and Congressman Bobby Rush on WTTW’s Chicago Tonight to discuss current unemployment rates, the debt ceiling vote and the Super Committee.

Excerpt:
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Reps. Kinzinger & Rush on WTTW’s Chicago Tonight‏”

Budget - Democrats/Leftists - Illinois - Illinois Policy Institute - Liberals - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Ill. Policy Institute: $85 Billion in the Red‏

August 12, 2011 by

From the Illinois Policy Institute…

My name is Ted Dabrowski, and I’m the Institute’s new Vice President of Policy.

During my first two months here I’ve rapidly engaged in the many challenges Illinois faces. I’m excited to work with all of you to implement policies that help Illinois return to prosperity.

But the path won’t be easy. Last week’s Standard & Poors downgrade of U.S. debt heaped additional scrutiny on the credit rating of states that are fiscally irresponsible. A credit rating consolidates a state’s policies, its financial health and overall outlook into a single rating. Unfortunately, Illinois shares the worst credit rating in the nation with the state of California.

But the situation will worsen. Recently, Moody’s Investors Service (the other major credit rating agency) began implementing a major change in how they calculate a state’s credit rating. Moody’s will now take into account how much each state owes to its retirement funds. Our newest policy report highlights this issue specifically. Read that report here.

For those of you who don’t know how much much Illinois has shortchanged its pension system over the past decades, it now exceeds $85 billion. That number alone dwarfs the rest of Illinois’s other debt.

Policymakers and citizens alike should take notice. Illinois’s credit ratings have been in a downward trajectory for the past few years. We need a new direction from our leaders and we need your engagement.

If you take only one thing away from this news, it should be the following: Reforming the broken pension system of Illinois is pivotal to securing your family’s future and saving the vital services that are so important to your community and Illinois’s future prosperity.

Sincerely,

Ted Dabrowski
Vice President for Policy
Illinois Policy Institute

P.S. I look foward to meeting you in person soon. Feel free to contact me by phone at 312-346-5700 or by email tdabrowski@illinoispolicy.org.

Kinzinger, Durbin Weigh in on Reforming Tax Code | Tillman, Ruder Debate Credit Impact: MyFoxCHICAGO.com

What’s Happening with the Stock Market?
To say the least, the stock market has not reacted kindly to the debt ceiling agreement made in Washington and the subsequent lowering of our nation’s credit rating. Why is this happening and what does this mean going forward? John Tillman appeared on FOX Chicago earlier this week to address these important issues. Watch that video above.

Join Us at the State Fair
On August 17 and 18, we are going to be out in numbers at the State Fair in Springfield gathering signatures for our Repeal the Tax Hike Petition. Come on by to say hi or to help us collect more signatures! More information is available here.

Event: Heartland Institute Author Series
On Tuesday, Aug. 16, join our friends at the Heartland Institute as they host Nick Gillespie and Matt Welch of the Reason Foundation to discuss their new book, “The Declaration of Independents.” The event is from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Jaks Tap (901 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, IL 60607). The cost to attend is $25, which includes food and drink. Click here to register.

Budget - Business - Chicago - Cook County - Cook County Board - Dan Patlak - Democrats/Leftists - GOP - Government, Ill. County - Illinois - Liberals - Property Taxes - Republicans - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Dan Patlak Cook County Board Of Review Summer Update‏

August 12, 2011 by

Our last update was in April, so I thought it wise to provide you another report on our progress and activities at the Board of Review since that time.

On August 1st the Board of Review concluded its 2010 tax year appeals, finishing two months earlier than last year. We did this despite adjudicating the second highest volume of property index numbers (387,000) in Board history. In addition, the Board had two new staffs of analysts, my own and Commissioner Cabonargi’s who were hired after his appointment in February.

I continue to fulfill my campaign pledge to be a full time commissioner, working every day side by side with my personal staff as well as the other staffs at the Board. In line with our plans for instituting a continuing education program at the Board, forty-two analysts attended a two and a half day class on residential assessments August second through fourth conducted by the Illinois Department of Revenue. Several analysts on my staff plan to take additional classes to receive their Certified Illinois Assessing Officer designation.
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Dan Patlak Cook County Board Of Review Summer Update‏”

Britain - Communism - Democrats/Leftists - Europe - Foreign Countries - Government - Liberals - Socialism - The Law - Warner Todd Huston

U.K. Riots: What Liberalism Has Wrought

August 11, 2011 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Britain is burning.

It will be here soon enough, the rampaging bands of useless youths coursing through England destroying property and looting stores as they go. Why will it be here? Because our liberal elites look to Britain as the model for where we should go and are actively attempting to force us down that destructive, immoral path.

For several nights, now, the ignorant, selfish, half-wild, cretins that the British call their children have been waging war with common decency. They have been looting the nation’s soul. And why? Because liberals have mollycoddled them, given them free stuff, allowed them to exist in a world without rules or consequences.

British columnist Max Hastings explained it best in his Wednesday column:
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U.K. Riots: What Liberalism Has Wrought”

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

Truth In Accounting Exposes ‘Unbalanced’ Budgets

August 11, 2011 by 1 Comment

From the Institute for Truth in Accounting…

Report Identifies Five Sinkhole States and Five Sunshine States

Chicago, (August 3, 2011) – While Congress debated legislation that includes a federal balanced budget amendment, many pointed out that 49 out of the 50 states have that same legal requirement. However, a new comprehensive study by non-partisan Institute for Truth in Accounting reports most state balanced budget laws have not worked, because past governors and legislators have not used truthful accounting to calculate their budgets. This lack of transparency has concealed a total of $1 trillion of outstanding bills.

‘State officials say their budgets are balanced but do not include employee pension and healthcare obligations in their calculations,’ stated Sheila Weinberg, Founder and CEO of the Institute. ‘Unlike the federal government, states can’t ‘print money’ to cover costs and shore up their financial conditions.’
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Truth In Accounting Exposes ‘Unbalanced’ Budgets”

Chicago - Cook County - Cook County Board - Illinois State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Cook County Commish Tim Schneider: Time for a canoe ride‏

August 10, 2011 by

From the office of Cook County Commissioner Timothy O Schneider…

Canoe On Busse Lake

Saturday August 27 from 10am – 1pm the Friends of Busse Woods will be hosting a canoeing outing within Busse Lake. This event is open to anybody who would like to participate. The canoes can be rented from the Boat Rental Facility within Busse Woods and are $30 for the day. The route will take canoers north of Higgins Rd into the nature preserve where multiple types of birds including cormorants and great blue herons can be seen. You are welcome to show up the day of, but if you are planning on coming please RSVP.

RSVP to bussewoodsvolunteer@gmail.com.

Visit their website to learn more http://www.bussewoods.net/

Brookfield Zoo

On August 19th, join the Brookfield Zoo staff for A Night in the Wild. Take a ride on the motor safari, and then enjoy dinner under the stars. Learn more here.
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Cook County Commish Tim Schneider: Time for a canoe ride‏”