John+Bambenek

Democrats/Leftists - Elections - Ethics - GOP - Government - Illinois State Government - Liberals - Senate - Warner Todd Huston

Illinois GOP Follies: Establishment vs Reform in Champagne County

January 11, 2012 by 1 Comment

-By Warner Todd Huston

Illinois is drowning in debt and corruption. The state ranks as the worst state in nearly every category vying only with California for the worst-of rankings. The biggest factor in its downfall is the corrupt Democrat Party. So one would think that the state GOP could make good headway against this corruption. Unfortunately, the establishment GOP is in utter disarray. Worse, the establishment GOP fights to deep six any candidate from its own ranks that might offer reform and we have yet another story illustrating this fact in the 52nd District State Senate race in Champaign County.

The primary race in the 52nd is between the early announced John Bambenek(photo left), a long-time reform advocate, and establishment GOP candidate Alan Nudo, both of Champaign.

Bambenek is a well-known reform advocate and even wrote a book titled, “Illinois Deserves Better.”

For his part, Mr. Nudo, a 63-year-old Champaign County Board member, has in the past supported local tax hikes. He also was keen on securing stimulus spending for big government-style construction projects in his district.

But that isn’t all. Mr. Nudo has also had a hand in donating the single largest non-PAC donation to the incumbent Democrat Senator in the 52nd District!
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Illinois GOP Follies: Establishment vs Reform in Champagne County”

Congress - Conservatives - Elections - GOP - Government - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Liberals - Republicans - Senate - Warner Todd Huston

Dirty Tricks in the 52nd District State Senate Race?

September 30, 2011 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

One question has arisen in the race for the Illinois State Senate in the 52nd District: why is GOP Sen. Leader Christine Radogno getting involved in a local primary to the reported tune of some very tall cash? And why is she supporting a guy that supports civil unions and tax hikes?

The GOP primary race is between activist Champaign small business owner John Bambenek and 63-year-old Champaign County Board Member Al Nudo. And in this race there are some clear differences between the two candidates.

For instance, Bambenek is much more in line than Nudo with the ideals of the last crop of GOP Congressmen that were elected from Illinois in 2010. Bambenek’s ideas would find echos in Randy Hultgren or Bobbie Shilling. Nudo, on the hand is much more a social and fiscal “moderate.”

Certainly Al Nudo, running claiming the need for “bipartisanship” in Springfield, is thought of as the “moderate” candidate in the race. “I work with both sides. There’s issues you can take from both sides,” he recently told the Daily Illini.
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Dirty Tricks in the 52nd District State Senate Race?”

Conservatives - Elections - Government - Illinois - Republicans - Senate - Warner Todd Huston

John Bambenek: The Status Quo is Unacceptable‏

August 3, 2011 by

From the John Bambenek for State Senate (52nd District)…

It’s been a little over a month on the campaign trail and I’ve been meeting lots of great people in Champaign and Vermilion counties. Everywhere I go, people are concerned about the state’s financial mess and looking for a Republican who will fight for our conservative values in Springfield. A few recent news items shows that the status quo is unacceptable.

  • Governor Quinn recently vetoed a health insurance bill that would have required him to provide fair health insurance options for downstate state employees.
  • Governor Quinn unilaterally ended contracts with Catholic Charities because they referred gay couples looking to adopt to other agencies, even though that arrangement has been in place for years.
  • More businesses have announced they are leaving or are considering doing so, including CME, which you may know as the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. It’s a said day when the Chicago Merc is thinking about moving its operations out of Chicago.

And the list goes on. Now is the time for bold and committed conservative leadership who will take on the status quo that is driving jobs from our state. From my perspective, I want a state where my children will find the same (or better) opportunities than I have had and today, it looks like that might not be the case. I will fight for our families in Springfield and fight to eliminate the crippling tax burden on our families and small businesses.
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John Bambenek: The Status Quo is Unacceptable‏”

Conservatives - Elections - GOP - Government - Illinois - Republicans - Senate - Uncategorized - Warner Todd Huston

Bambenek Announces for 52nd District Ill. State Senate

June 15, 2011 by

On Wednesday, 6/15/11, I will be announcing my run for the Republican nomination for the State Senate for the 52nd District currently held by Democrat Mike Frerichs. After having spoken with many of you and others around the district and state, I have been honored and humbled by the outpouring of support. Together, I know we can bring this seat back home to the Republican Party.

It goes without saying the level of harm that years of Democratic Party governing have caused this state. Many companies have left Illinois to never return, crushing tax increases, billions of unpaid bills, and the list goes on. The only way this changes is by changing the people in Springfield. The good news is, the 52nd State Senate district is one seat where we can replace a tax-and-spend Democrat with a conservative fiscal watchdog.

This race will be difficult, make no mistake. Several Republican groups have listed this as a Tier 1 target and you can bet the Democrats will defend it with everything they have. I am up to the challenge, but I will need your help. Here are a few things you can do to help now:
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Bambenek Announces for 52nd District Ill. State Senate”

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”