Red+County

Budget - Chicago - Constitution - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - Government - Health - House of Representatives - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Lake County - Liberals - Melissa Bean - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Congressman Melissa “No Questions Please” Bean And Her Intimidating Enforcers

August 17, 2010 by 2 Comments

-By Warner Todd Huston

It is interesting to watch this video of a recent townhall held by Chicago area Congressman Melissa Bean (8th District). First she does her level best to avoid actually answering any questions and then when a constituent gets tired of the tap dancing she sends a guy that looks like a bar bouncer over to that person to stand over them in a threatening manner.

Notice that the enforcer comes over to intimidate not just the guy making the video here but another constituent, a middle aged woman.

Also I love the part about the questions. The congressman is right there for everyone to ask questions of her, yet she tells them to email her? Really? Email!?

If you’d like to contact the Round Lake Area Library where this happened, Lake County Tea Party has the contact info.
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Congressman Melissa “No Questions Please” Bean And Her Intimidating Enforcers”

Chicago - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - GOP - Government - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Liberals - Pat Quinn - Republicans - Warner Todd Huston

Illinois Republican Party Launches ‘Dismiss Quinn’ Web Site

August 17, 2010 by

Site to Offer Updates, Summaries and Links to Coverage

The Illinois Republican Party today launched a comprehensive web site, DismissQuinn.com, to show voters why Pat Quinn should be “dismissed” as governor this fall. The “Dismiss Quinn” title refers to comments from the late Chicago Mayor Harold Washington. “Pat Quinn is a totally and completely undisciplined individual,” Washington said when he fired Quinn as his Revenue Director. “He was dismissed, he should have been dismissed. [His appointment was] my greatest mistake in government.”
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Illinois Republican Party Launches ‘Dismiss Quinn’ Web Site”

Budget - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Government - Government, Ill. County - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Liberals - Pat Quinn - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston - Welfare

Illinois: Is the State Fair an Entitlement?

August 16, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Let me start this by saying I am not against state fairs. State fairs have a long tradition in America and often serve as a focal point for the community, most especially the rural, farm community. But a state fair is neither a “right,” nor an entitlement. Unfortunately, the attitude that a state must have a fair is just another abuse of what the role of government should be, especially in the United States. We are not a monarchy and when a state is billions in the red a state fair is the last thing people should be wasting state money on.

In fact I’d say canceling the state fair because of the deficit that politicians have gotten us into might be one way to get people to understand that they should be voting these politicians out of office.

In Illinois this whole state fair discussion arises from Pat “the accidental Governor” Quinn’s ire over what a Chicago-based conservative think tank said about the bankrupt state spending money it doesn’t have on an elaborate state fair.
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Illinois: Is the State Fair an Entitlement?”

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

250+ Residents Pack Joel Pollak’s Town Hall‏

August 14, 2010 by

From the Pollak for Congress campaign (9th District)…

Niles, IL – Over 250 residents of the 9th congressional district packed Joel Pollak’s town hall meeting last night in Skokie at the Holiday Inn on Touhy Avenue.

For two hours, Pollak held an open forum in which residents were able to ask him questions and raise concerns about critical issues facing the district and the nation.

“I’m amazed by the turnout,” Pollak said. “It exceeded our expectations, by far. We had to ask the hotel to bring in extra chairs. Even then, it was standing-room-only.
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250+ Residents Pack Joel Pollak’s Town Hall‏”

Banks - Budget - Crime - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Elections - Government - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Hilarious: Lefty Threatens to Sue Illinois Political Blog

August 13, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

This is pretty funny… well, not so funny if you are The Illinois Review, one of our fine political news blogs in Illinois. Apparently billionaire Nadhmi Auchi has sent a threatening letter to the blog demanding that they delete an August 9 post linking Auchi to Democrat Senate candidate Alexi “the Mob Banker” Giannoulias.

The letter issued by attorneys Carter-Ruck demands that the August 9 piece be removed due to “defamatory and untrue allegations.” The letter also says that Carter-Ruck thinks that the source for the blog post was the Observer (of London) and the New York Times.

Apparently the nitwits at Carter-Ruck didn’t actually READ the post in question, however. The actually source for the blog post is clearly featured at the top of the body copy. Any fool can see that the blog post came “from the IL GOP,” as is noted on the actual post itself. This is a press release from the Illinois Republican Party, not an Illinois Review authored piece.
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Hilarious: Lefty Threatens to Sue Illinois Political Blog”

Bill Brady - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - GOP - Government - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Pat Quinn - Republicans - Warner Todd Huston

Brady for Illinois: Rasmussen Says Race is a ‘Toss Up’

August 13, 2010 by

From the Brady for Illinois Governor campaign…

While political polls will come and go between now and November, we thought you’d be interested in some great news!

A new, independent poll released today shows Bill’s lead over Governor Pat Quinn is growing. The new poll shows Bill now leads Governor Quinn 48 to 35.
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Brady for Illinois: Rasmussen Says Race is a ‘Toss Up’”

Budget - Cook County Board - Government - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Taxes - Tony Peraica - Warner Todd Huston

It’s All In The Family In Suburban McCook

August 13, 2010 by

From the office of Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraica…

In the small suburban Cook County village of McCook it’s all about hiring as many relatives to the village payroll as possible.

It is mind-boggling to find out that a village as small as McCook (only 250 residents) — has at least 12 relatives of Mayor Jeffery Tobolski, including his own wife who work or contract for something with the village of McCook.
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It’s All In The Family In Suburban McCook”

Cook County - Cook County Board - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Elections - Government - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Republicans - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

2 Property Tax Changes That Should be Repealed

August 12, 2010 by

From the campaign of Dan Patlak for the Cook County Board of Review…

Two changes recently made to the property tax code by Governor Quinn and the state legislature are bad for taxpayers and should be repealed.

The first change is a “Senior Penalty” requiring that Senior Exemptions be renewed every year. Evidently, our lawmakers believe that once homeowners turn 65 they may actually get younger. The requirement for seniors to renew each year is an unnecessary burden on seniors as well as the County Assessor’s office which must repeatedly process paperwork year after year for taxpayers who have already proven they are eligible for the exemption. The result is more administrative expense, more missed exemptions, more refund applications and more confusion for seniors.
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2 Property Tax Changes That Should be Repealed”

Bill Brady - Elections - GOP - Government - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Republicans - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Bill Brady for Illinois: New Video and Endorsements

August 12, 2010 by

Citing Bill’s commitment to fighting job-killing taxes and his pro-jobs agenda, the Illinois Chamber of Commerce today endorsed Brady for Illinois in the race for Governor!

Today’s endorsement follows in the wake of another important endorsement earlier this week by the National Federation of Independent Businesses, an organization committed to helping small businesses grow and stay competitive.

These endorsements prove Brady/ Plummer is the only campaign in this election that stands with families and business owners to create real jobs and protect taxpayers from political insiders like Pat Quinn who put big government before the people.
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Bill Brady for Illinois: New Video and Endorsements”

Congress - Elections - GOP - Government - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Pat Brady - Republicans - Warner Todd Huston

National GOP Officials Announce Investment in Ill. GOP Races

August 11, 2010 by

WASHINGTON – The Republican National Committee (RNC) today announced its Illinois D2H Victory campaign to establish the grassroots political operation to ensure Republican candidates are successful in November. In partnership with the Illinois Republican Party (IL GOP), the RNC is providing funding and resources to build the in-state GOP structure to support Republican leaders.

The RNC will devote the resources necessary to enhance the IL GOP’s ability to effectively reach Republican voters and tap into the state’s grassroots volunteer base. This investment in Republican state parties is a critical part of the RNC’s Delaware to Hawaii (“D2H”) strategy to compete aggressively in all fifty states.
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National GOP Officials Announce Investment in Ill. GOP Races”

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

A Suggestion for a Cook Co. Election Reform

August 10, 2010 by

-By Phil Collins

Phil Collins has an interesting idea to help reform Cook County elections. He posted his idea on his Examiner blog.

In 101 Illinois counties, voters, in the Republican, Democrat, and Green Party primaries, may vote for precinct committeemen, during each primary that is held during even-numbered years. In Cook County, voters may not vote for that office. In that county, voters elect ward and township committeemen, and those committeemen are able to appoint and fire precinct captains.

I think that Cook Co. voters should be able to vote for precinct committeemen, similarly to Illinois’ other 101 counties. If you agree, please contact your state senator and state representative and ask them to propose a bill, to implement this change. I emailed my suggestion to Sen. Brady, Sen. Radogno, Rep. Cross, and Rep. Coulson (my state rep.), but none of them responded.

Democrats/Leftists - Elections - GOP - Government - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Republicans - Warner Todd Huston

Schilling-Hare in Virtual Tie in Latest Poll

August 10, 2010 by

From the Schilling for Congress campaign (17th District)…

“Schilling is well positioned to beat Hare this November”

EAST MOLINE, IL–Public Opinion Strategies, a national political and public affairs research firm, recently released the results of a survey in the Illinois 17th Congressional District, which showed a dead heat between Rep. Phil Hare, Democrat, and his Republican challenger, Bobby Schilling. According to the poll, Schilling was within 2 points of Hare, with a margin of error of +/- 5.66%. This is the second poll to come out in recent weeks, showing that this particular Congressional race has become extremely competitive.
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Schilling-Hare in Virtual Tie in Latest Poll”

Budget - Cook County - Cook County Board - Economy/Finances - Elections - Government - Illinois - Republicans - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Property Tax Education Center and Tax Facts Video Release‏

August 10, 2010 by

From the Patlak for Cook County Board of Review campaign…

With real estate values declining and property taxes rising, it is important to have a representative within our county government who is dedicated to making sure taxpayers get a fair hearing when they appeal their property assessment. My name is Dan Patlak and I am a candidate for Commissioner of the Cook County Board of Review which reviews property assessment appeals. Unlike my Chicago Machine opponent, I possess the formal education, professional credentials, real world experience and demonstrated actions as a Taxpayer Advocate that make me uniquely qualified to lead the Board of Review. Details confirming this can be found in my biography.
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Property Tax Education Center and Tax Facts Video Release‏”

Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Melissa Bean - Tea Party - Warner Todd Huston

Third Way Expert Sam Hodas

August 9, 2010 by

More of a multi-part series from the Palatine Tea Party…

(Palatine, Illinois) – Sam Hodas worked for Congresswoman Melissa Bean’s staff from 2007-2009 as a legislative assistant and a constituent services representative. He went to work for Third Way in late 2009 where he currently is a Policy Advisor for Third Way’s Clean Energy Initiative. Bean voted YES for Cap and Trade on 06/26/2009.
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Third Way Expert Sam Hodas”

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

Roskam Gives Republicans Weekly Address

August 9, 2010 by 1 Comment

From Roskam’s Office…

Rep. Peter Roskam (R-IL) Delivers Weekly Republican Address

Rep. Roskam: “Back in Illinois and around the country, the situation has reached a boiling point. Americans are asking ‘where are the jobs?’ and – forget about getting answers – they can’t even get President Obama and Washington Democrats to listen to their concerns.”
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In the Weekly Republican Address, Rep. Peter Roskam (R-IL) says President Obama needs to listen to the American people, who are asking ‘where are the jobs?,’ and abandon his failing ‘stimulus’ policies in favor of common-sense solutions that will promote private sector job creation. Republicans are listening to the American people through America Speaking Out and offering better solutions to cut spending now and help small businesses get people working again. Now in his second term in Congress, Rep. Roskam represents Illinois’ Sixth Congressional District and serves as job-creation policy director for America Speaking Out. Text of the address follows; audio of the address is available here and video of the address will be available here once the embargo is lifted.
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Roskam Gives Republicans Weekly Address”

Bill Brady - Budget - Business - Economy/Finances - Elections - Free Trade - GOP - Government - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Immigration/Immigrants - Labor Law - Law - Regulation - Republicans - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Bill Brady Advocates a Path to Citizenship for Illegals

August 8, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

GOP Gubernatorial candidate BIll Brady told the attendees of a Hispanic business leaders at Chicago’s Navy Pier that we need to offer some sort of path to citizenship to the illegal aliens now living in the US.

Brady said that we need more legal immigration because our birth rate isn’t robust enough to keep the country growing.

If we wanna grow as a nation, and as a state we have to realize one of the principles that this nation was founded on and that’s immigration. Ladies and gentlemen the birth rate in this country will not allow us to grow at a rate we need to grow at, and we need to bring real reform to immigration policy and open the doors so we can see a growth rate in this country of four percent or greater. The lack of reform and the lack of immigration in this state and country is crippling our economy and our quality of life.

Brady did not offer any numbers to supplement his feeling that we needed more immigrants but he went on to say that he thinks the U.S. government should implement a policy penalizing illegals while offering them a way to become legal citizens.

In a press release Brady said:
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Bill Brady Advocates a Path to Citizenship for Illegals”

Adam Kinzinger - Budget - Congress - Debbie Halvorson - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Elections - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Prairie Stater: Debbie Makes it Three, Another Taxpayer-Funded Direct Mail Piece

August 7, 2010 by

From the Prairie Stater’s John Reynolds

We previously reported here and here about the taxpayer funded direct mail pieces being send out at your expense by Congresswoman Debbie Halvorson (D-11).

Well, today, she made it three: that’s three taxpayer-funded direct mail pieces in as many weeks.

Today’s mail piece was about veterans’ issues.

We again note the irony in the fact that her first mail piece was about “reining in spending” and her efforts to be fiscally responsible.

Is sending out three self-promotional direct mail pieces at taxpayer expense while our country faces a $1.47 trillion deficit really fiscally responsible?

Again, we must ask: how much of our money is Debbie spending to send out these mailers?

Alexi Giannoulias - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - Government - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Media - MSNBC - Senate - Warner Todd Huston

MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell: Giannoulias Not the Best Candidate for Senate

August 6, 2010 by

Alexi “the Mob banker” Giannoulias is facing a whisper campaign from Democrat insiders that he is not the right candidate to run for Barack Obama’s old Senate seat. Maybe that whisper is a roar because even the left-wing cabler MSNBC is reporting that people are asking of Giannoulias is the right candidate for the Democrats.

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

Peraica: Today’s Taxing (and Troubling) News‏

August 6, 2010 by

From the office of Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraica….

There were two tidbits in today’s headlines that further support my push to fully repeal the Stroger sales tax hike in Cook County.

First, despite rising taxes and fees, tax collections are actually down in the state (again). As the Champaign News-Gazette reports, overall state tax collections are down 9.5% in July.

The reason for this decline? Simple: people are out of work. When they are out of work, their incomes drop (obviously). That leads to a drop in income tax revenues. They also consume less, which leads to a drop in sales taxes. It is for that reason that increasing the income tax and keeping sales taxes high will only further decimate our economy.
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Peraica: Today’s Taxing (and Troubling) News‏”

Chicago - Congress - Elections - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Mark Kirk - Republicans - Senate - Warner Todd Huston

Chicago Mag: Kirk’s Ex-Wife Says a ‘Svengali Figure’ Influencing Him

August 5, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Chicago Magazine has conducted an extensive interview with Kimberly Vertolli, Illinois GOP Senate candidate Mark Kirk’s ex-wife, and the woman makes an interesting charge against one of Kirk’s current campaign operatives, Dorothy “Dodie” McCracken

Vertolli says that the campaign staffer is the one that came between them causing their divorce and is a “Svengali figure” in her former hubbies life.

Vertolli refused to assert that McCracken is in a romantic relationsjip with Mark Kirk, but she did say the woman is a “pernicious influence” on the candidate.

Here is the exchange:
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Chicago Mag: Kirk’s Ex-Wife Says a ‘Svengali Figure’ Influencing Him”

Budget - Business - Chicago - Conservatives - Economy/Finances - Elections - GOP - Government - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Peter Roskam - Republicans - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Roskam Declares August 4th Debt Dependence Day

August 5, 2010 by

From the Office of Representative Peter Roskam…

Starting Today Every Dollar U.S. Spends in 2010 Must Be Borrowed

Rep. Roskam: “Though most families won’t celebrate Debt Dependence Day with fireworks and parades, this August 4th, every American should take note of the huge and growing share of our national debt with their name on it.”
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Roskam Declares August 4th Debt Dependence Day”

Budget - Business - Cook County - Cook County Board - Economy/Finances - Elections - GOP - Government - Republicans - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Second Tax Facts Video Released Empowering Cook County Property Tax Payers

August 5, 2010 by

From the campaign of Patlak for Cook County Board of Review…

As promised, we have released the second Property Tax Facts video in a series designed to educate Cook County property owners about our property tax system. If you have a question of your own, go to www.ElectPatlak.com and click the Ask Dan button located in our Education Center.

Our Matching Contribution effort is gaining traction. We are already half-way to our goal of raising $10,000 by August 19 which will be matched by a generous supporter who believes as we do that we need to fight the Chicago Machine by bringing professional competence and political balance to the Board of Review. But we still need your help. Please contribute whatever amount you can afford by mailing a check to Citizens for Dan Patlak, 113 Berkshire Drive, Wheeling, IL 60090. Or you can contribute on-line by clicking here.
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Second Tax Facts Video Released Empowering Cook County Property Tax Payers”

Barack Obama - Budget - Chicago - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Government - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Pat Quinn - Regulation - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston - Welfare

Thanks Obama: More Illinoisans on Food Stamps Than Ever

August 4, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

According to the AP, there are more citizens in Illinois on food stamps than ever before.

More than 780,000 Illinois families got food stamps in June. The Illinois Department of Human Services said Monday that the figure is up 11.9 percent from a year earlier.

Is this any surprise when Illinois clocks in as having one of the worst business climates of any state in the Union?
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Thanks Obama: More Illinoisans on Food Stamps Than Ever”

Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - Government - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Liberals - Republicans - Warner Todd Huston

Could Phil Hare (D, 17th) Be In Trouble?

August 4, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

We’ve reported here the many times that Phil “I Don’t Care About the Constitution” Hare, the incumbent Democrat in the 17th District, is one of those Democrats who values his own opinion and no one’s else… especially his constituent’s. We’ve also seen some polling that seems to indicate that he is running behind in his re-election bid. Well, we have more of the latter on that count today.

Public Opinion Strategies has released another poll showing the Hare-raising (or is that Hare-lowering) possibility that Phil Hare might lose to Republican Bobby Schilling.

Here is what the Schilling campaign has released:
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Could Phil Hare (D, 17th) Be In Trouble?”

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

Hayes Steps Out to Demand Better Leadership for the Black Community

August 4, 2010 by

From the Hayes for Congress campaign (2nd District)…

CHICAGO, IL- For the black community it is all a one party rule. A regime consisting of all Democrats has led to a culture of corruption that leaves citizens in gang infested, poverty stricken areas, while the Representatives cheat on their taxes, bailout their husbands’ banks and try to bribe their way to higher office.

Hayes remarked, “The black community has been used by its elected officials as a playground for pay-to-play politics. Rangel, Waters, and Jackson all need to be shown the door in November.”
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Hayes Steps Out to Demand Better Leadership for the Black Community”

Illinois - Illinois State Government - Tea Party - Warner Todd Huston

‘Joe The Plumber’ Coming to Central Illinois

August 3, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

The State Journal-Register in the state’s capitol reports that “Joe the Plumber” Wurzelbacher is planning to speak in three town in and around Springfield, IL this month.
Wurzelbacher will be appearing at Take Back Illinois 9/12 rallies in Pittsfield on Aug. 17 and Jacksonville Aug. 18, and an Aug. 19 event in Springfield.

You’ll recall that “Joe the Plumber” became famous when he asked then candidate Barack Obama about his tax policy ideas to which, in good socialist fashion, the president-to-be replied that he wanted to “spread the wealth.”
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‘Joe The Plumber’ Coming to Central Illinois”

Alexi Giannoulias - Banks - Chicago - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Elections - Government - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Senate - Warner Todd Huston

Democrat ‘Mob Banker’s’ Bank Loaned $23 Mil to Tony Rezko

August 2, 2010 by 1 Comment

-By Warner Todd Huston

Tony Rezko has been at the root of many of Illinois’ worst cases of government corruption and influence peddling with ties that go back decades. He’s been tied to President Obama, indicted Governor Rod Blagojevich, and now Senate Democrat candidate Alexi Giannoulias whose family bank loaned the crook almost $23 million.

Worse, the Giannoulias family bank made the loan to Tony Rezko’s development group long after he’d become “politically radioactive,” as the Chicago Sun-Times puts it.
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Democrat ‘Mob Banker’s’ Bank Loaned $23 Mil to Tony Rezko”

Congress - Democrats/Leftists - DuPage County - Elections - Ethics - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Randy Hultgren - Republicans - Warner Todd Huston

Hultgren for Congress (14th District): Bill Foster Campaigns at Taxpayers’ Expense

August 1, 2010 by

An interesting note from the Hultgren for Congress campaign (14th District)…

St. Charles, IL – The second taxpayer-funded advertisement in one week from Bill Foster’s congressional office arrived yesterday in voter’s mailboxes ahead of the August 4th deadline to stop government paid mail from Members of Congress.

“Bill Foster is using taxpayer funds to pay for campaign propaganda he sends to voters,” said State Senator Randy Hultgren. “People throughout the 14th district are outraged at this abuse of the taxpayers trust.”
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Hultgren for Congress (14th District): Bill Foster Campaigns at Taxpayers’ Expense”