NPR Downplays Chicago Priest’s Extreme, Left-Wing Activism

February 18, 2013 | Filed Under 2nd Amendment, Barack Obama, Budget, Chicago, Constitution, Cook County, Crime, Democrats/Leftists, Economy/Finances, Ethics, Guns, Journalism, Liberals, Media, Media Bias, NPR, Progressives, Taxes, Warner Todd Huston | Comments Off

-By Warner Todd Huston

Recently NPR’s Morning Edition aired a segment on Chicago’s “gun violence” featuring taped comments from local Catholic Priest Father Michael Pfleger. Unfortunately the taxpayer-funded radio show presented Pflager as a benign “social activist” and never informed listeners of just how radical this man is.

The segment focused on President Obama’s Friday, February 15, visit to Chicago that was meant to highlight his anti-gun policies. Without fully informing listeners about their radical ties, NPR played taped comments from the long-time, left-wing priest and two other Chicago-based activists to speak to what Chicagoans were thinking.

Chicagoans are likely to know all about Father Michael Pfleger, pastor of Saint Sabina’s Catholic Church on the city’s South Side. It’s hard to miss him as he interjects himself into the news as often as he can. But NPR listeners outside the Windy City aren’t likely to know what an extremist the man is.

At the end of the segment, NPR’s Cheryl Corley played some tape of Father Pfleger who talked about the city’s plague of gun violence as he saw it. Corley introduced him only as “a social activist who lost a foster son to gun violence.”

Naturally, Father Pfleger is all in favor of Obama’s gun-ban ideas. But he is far more than a mere “social activist.” In fact, he is quite extreme in his “activism.”
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Obama Goes to Chicago to Push Gun Control

February 17, 2013 | Filed Under 2nd Amendment, Anti-Americanism, Barack Obama, Chicago, Constitution, Cook County, Democrats/Leftists, Ethics, Government, Government, Corruption, Gun Control, Guns, Liberals, President, Progressives, Warner Todd Huston | Comments Off

-By Warner Todd Huston

On Friday, February 15, President Obama visited Chicago in order to highlight his new gun control proposals.

Obama’s visit came only days after the funeral of Hadiya Pendleton, a teen who was killed after getting caught in the crossfire of gang violence.

Addressing a crowd in Hyde Park–the South Side Chicago neighborhood where he maintains a home-the President said he stood before them to “work towards giving every child every chance in life” with more gun control policies, though he insisted the problems aren’t “just a gun issue.”

Even as the President noted that the violence Chicago faces isn’t “just a gun issue,” in his speech he did not mention what some of those other causes might be. The President, for instance, never once said the word “gang” during his speech even though gang violence has been wildly on the increase in Chicago for years.
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After Gun Violation, Sen. Trotter Out of Race for Congress

December 28, 2012 | Filed Under Cook County, Crime, Democrats/Leftists, Ethics, Government, Corruption, Gun Control, Guns, Illinois, Liberals, Progressives, Warner Todd Huston | Comments Off

-By Warner Todd Huston

State Senator Donnie Trotter is dropping his bid for Congress.

Trotter expected to be a shoo-in when the Democrats met to anoint the candidate who would replace disgraced Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. earlier this month. But instead of picking Trotter, the cabal chose no one.

The many candidates will have to fight it out among themselves with no public nod.

But that aside, Trotter has had all sorts of problems with chickens coming home to roost and such.
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Ill State Sen. Donne Trotter’s Fake ‘Security Guard’ Job

December 6, 2012 | Filed Under 2nd Amendment, Chicago, Constitution, Cook County, Crime, Democrats/Leftists, Ethics, Government, Government, Corruption, Guns, Liberals, Progressives, Warner Todd Huston | 2 Comments

-By Warner Todd Huston

Illinois State Senator Donne Trotter, a Chicago Democrat, was arrested at O’Hare airport for having a gun in his baggage. Today he faced the judge in his case after spending the night in lock-up. He claimed he forgot the gun in his luggage and that it is from his “job” as a security guard. But this is a flat out lie. He has no such job.

Donne Trotter claimed that he is a “security guard” for a company called Allpoints (also called All Points Security). This is why he needed the .25 caliber pistol, said the lawmaker. But does he have such a job?

First of all, Trotter was in Springfield in session all day long. Are we to believe he was in the State Senate chambers all day then ran off to Chicago to be a “security guard,” then ran to O’Hare to catch a flight to Washington D.C.? The timeline is rather suspect, wouldn’t you think?

Then, Donne Trotter does not once mention this “job” in his financial disclosure. How can you have such a job without mentioning it as part of your annual income stream?
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Chicago Teachers Union Co-Sponsor of Socialist Program

November 16, 2012 | Filed Under Chicago, Children, Communism, Cook County, Democrats/Leftists, Education, Elections, Ethics, Government, Government, Corruption, Illinois, Liberals, Progressives, Public Employees Unions, Socialism, Teachers Unions, Unions, Warner Todd Huston | Comments Off

-By Warner Todd Huston

Now that the Chicago Teachers Union’s big strike is over they have time for other activities. Like pushing the communist idea of “social justice.” And so, the CTU is helping host a “Teaching for Social Justice” event this month.

So, some of the highest paid teachers in the country are all about “the struggle,” eh? (Media base for CTU teachers is $67,974 annually)

Of course, that brings me back to the question I sort of hinted at above: are Chicago’s teachers doing their jobs?
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Obama Pays Off Chicago and County $100 Million a Year Federal Waiver

October 30, 2012 | Filed Under Barack Obama, Budget, Business, Chicago, Cook County, Democrats/Leftists, Elections, Ethics, Government, Corruption, Liberals, President, Progressives, Taxes, Warner Todd Huston | 6 Comments

-By Warner Todd Huston

It must be nice to have friends in high places! Ask Cook County, Illinois Board President Toni Preckwinkle who just reaped a huge back room payoff from Da Prez in Washington.

In the best Chicago-style politics, the White House quietly awarded Cook County a $100,000,000 per year pay off via new Medicaid “waivers.”

For those unaware, Cook County is the home of Chicago, the most corrupt city, in the most corrupt county, in the most corrupt state in the union. It is also the home of President Barack “Scarface” Obama.

Over the past weekend the Obama administration approved a request by Cook County to give the county $100 million a year to care for indigents that come to its hospitals for care.

That’s $100 million in federal tax dollars going right into the county’s pockets.
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Peter Roskam’s Last Pre-Election Pep Talk

October 28, 2012 | Filed Under Chicago, Congress, Conservatives, Cook County, Elections, GOP, Government, House of Representatives, Peter Roskam, President, Republicans, Warner Todd Huston | Comments Off

-By Warner Todd Huston

On October 27 I attended one last fundraiser held by Illinois Republican Congressman Peter Roskam (6th District). It was held in Lisle and featured a nicely filled room of supporters.

Congressman Roskam is a very popular fellow in the 6th District (even the newly configured one) and is always a gracious host.

Roskam is also one of the more powerful Republicans in Congress serving as the Republican’s Chief Deputy Whip.

I took just a few minutes after the event was over to ask the congressman for his final words, a pep talk, if you will, to get out the vote.

Chicago’s Teachers Strike, Just Another Corrupt Union Powergrab

September 10, 2012 | Filed Under Anti-Americanism, Budget, Chicago, Children, Cook County, Democrats/Leftists, Ethics, Government, Government, Corruption, Illinois, Jobs, Liberals, Public Employees Unions, Taxes, Teachers Unions, Unions, Warner Todd Huston | Comments Off

-By Warner Todd Huston

We’ve all heard the news of the strike forced on Chicago’s public schools by Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis, I’m sure. Barely open for a week, the greedy teachers are now walking off the job but the main reasons for this strike presented by the CTU really don’t stand up to close scrutiny, for sure.

The CTU wants a 30% pay raise and they want class sizes to be made smaller.

For his part, Mayor Emanuel is saying that teachers union reps are fighting his desire to allow local school administrators do the hiring of any new teachers (because they know better what they need) but the union is insisting that they do the hiring.

The union also rejected a 16% pay raise offered by the city – itself an absurdly high number that shouldn’t have been offered in the first place.

In fact, these teachers don’t deserve ANY raise, much less a 30% or even a 16% raise. Only just over half the kids in Chicago now graduate with a high school diploma and, worse, at $76,000 annually, Chicago’s teacher already make more on average than most other teachers in the nation.

By contrast, Chicagoans only earn $47,000 a year on average, so these teachers are already making almost double what the rest of Chicago is making!
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Alderman/Mayor Emanuel Admit: Chicago is NOT for Christians

July 25, 2012 | Filed Under Anti-Americanism, Business, Capitalism, Chicago, Cook County, Democrats/Leftists, Economy/Finances, Gay Marriage, Gays, Government, Government, Corruption, Jobs, Liberals, Warner Todd Huston | Comments Off

-By Warner Todd Huston

Anti-religion Chicago Alderman Joe Moreno has affirmed that the City of Chicago does not welcome Christians and stands four square against Christian principles. Further, Moreno says he has the “moral support” of Mayor Rahm Emanuel for his pronouncement.

Moreno is trying to shut down the opening of a new Chick-Fil-A restaurant in the city. Why? Because the chief of the company — well-known as enthusiastic boosters of Christian ideals — recently affirmed that his company does not support the homosexual lifestyle.

Moreno got on his high horse claiming that the fast food chain “discriminates” against homosexuals. This, of course, is a lie. No where has Chick-Fil-A been accused of any concrete discrimination against gays.

For his part, Mayor Emanuel agreed with liar Moreno.
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Washington Post Accuses GOP Congressman of Saying Something He Never Said

July 4, 2012 | Filed Under Congress, Cook County, Elections, Ethics, GOP, Government, House of Representatives, Joe Walsh, Journalism, Liberals, Media, Media Bias, Military, Republicans, Warner Todd Huston, Washington Post | Comments Off

-By Warner Todd Huston

This is a perfect example of Old Media “gotcha” reporting. On July 3, the Washington Post attempted to accuse GOP Congressman Joe Walsh (Ill. 8th District) of saying that his Democrat opponent, Iraq War veteran Tammy Duckworth, is not a hero.

Not only is this perfect as “gotcha” reporting, it also an example of the Washington Post getting its marching orders from the left-wing, George Soros controlled Internet group Think Progress because that is where this faux report originated.

Only July 1, Congressman Walsh held a townhall event near Elk Grove, Illinois, ostensibly to talk about the Obamacare decision issued by the Supreme Court of the United States a few days before. In his comments Walsh brought up those men and women that serve or have served the U.S. in our armed forces, as he always does at the beginning of his appearances. He noted that such heroes don’t usually talk about their service and he used the example of Senator John McCain, who was often reluctant to talk about his service during the 2008 campaign for President.

Eventually, in an offhanded comment, Walsh mentioned Duckworth’s touting of her own service saying, “that’s all she talks about.”

Now, before we get into this further, I was actually at this Walsh Townhall. I reported on it at my Illinois site, but I mention this so that I can tell you my impression of what actually went on there.
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Now Illinois Dems Want Crook They Supported in Primary to Step Down?

March 22, 2012 | Filed Under Barack Obama, Chicago, Cook County, Crime, Danny Davis, Democrats/Leftists, Elections, Ethics, House of Representatives, Liberals, President, Warner Todd Huston | Comments Off

-By Warner Todd Huston

Now the very same accused criminal that Chicago Democrats wanted people to vote for in Tuesday’s primary is being pressured to to step down from his office now that he won — pressured by the exact same Democrat officials that told people to vote for him only three days ago. This particular story is a perfect example of how Democrats a). Don’t care what voters want, b). Don’t care if their elected officials are crooks, c). Would rather see criminals in office than see a single Republican win an election.

To recap: Derrick Smith was appointed by the party to take a State Rep seat left empty by another Rep that moved on to a different office. As soon as he got in that office he began soliciting a bribe to fill his pockets. The FBI arrested him and charged him with the crime. Up comes the primary and Chicago Democrats, including Congressman Danny Davis, told Chicago voter to vote for this crook anyway because a criminal in office is better than having any Republican, says Davis and his crook-supporting crew The primary arrives and this crook wins his election. And now that he won…

The Democrats’ endgame is to muscle Smith off the ballot and out of the House. Gov. Pat Quinn and Secretary of State Jesse White on Wednesday called on Smith to resign; Davis said Smith should not appear on the November ballot.

Just what is going on here?
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Chicago’s and Suburbs GOP Primary Results, And More….

March 21, 2012 | Filed Under Chicago, Congress, Conservatives, Cook County, DuPage County, Elections, GOP, Government, Corruption, House of Representatives, Kane County, Lake County, President, Republicans, Warner Todd Huston | 2 Comments

-By Warner Todd Huston

Here are a few of the results of last night’s primary race in Chicago and the surrounding areas. Unfortunately, for a city of millions, less than 30,000 dragged themselves to the polls to vote. Even more to Chicago’s shame, there are only just over a million people even registered to vote in a city of just under three million citizens!

Anyway, results can be found at the Chicago Board of Elections for the city and for the suburbs at Cook County Clerk’s Office.

First Congressional District
Donald E. Peloquin will face Democrat Bobby Rush (incumbent)

Second Congressional District
Brian Woodworth will face Democrat Jesse L. Jackson, Jr. (incumbent)

Third Congressional District
Richard Grabowski will face Daniel William Lipinski (incumbent)

Republicans did not put up a candidate in the Fourth District, Luis Gutierrez will continue in the Fourth

Fifth Congressional District
Dan Schmitt will face Democrat Mike Quigley (incumbent)

Republicans did not put up a candidate in the Seventh District, Danny Davis will continue in the Seventh

Eighth Congressional District
Joe Walsh (incumbent) will face Democrat Tammy Duckworth

Ninth Congressional District
Timothy C Wolfe will face Democrat Janice D. Schakowsky (incumbent)

Tenth Congressional District
Bob Dold (incumbent) will face Democrat Brad Schneider

Eleventh Congressional District
Judy Biggert (incumbent) will face Democrat Bill Foster

Other Congressional Seats

As to the other Congressional races, the big fight was between Don Manzullo and Adam Kinzinger for the reconfigured 16th District. Kinzinger beat long-time incumbent Manzullo and will be taking the nomination (and likely the Nov. election) for the 16th District.
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Chicago Democrats Say Voting for a Criminal is Better Than Voting for Republicans

March 20, 2012 | Filed Under Chicago, Cook County, Crime, Democrats/Leftists, Elections, Ethics, GOP, House of Representatives, Illinois, Liberals, Warner Todd Huston | Comments Off

-By Warner Todd Huston

If you want an example of why Democrats are truly a party of criminals, you have but to look to Chicago for your examples and not just because Chicago has one of the highest rates of Democrat pols being convicted of crimes. This particular election, Chicago Democrats are actually urging voters to vote for a state rep. that was just this month arrested and charged with bribe taking instead of voting for his opponent that has a clean record — but was a Republican.

That’s right, Chicago Democrats want you to vote for someone we already suspect is a corrupt, bribe-taking, politician over one who is not.

A cadre of Democrats led by U.S. Rep. Danny Davis held a rally for Smith’s election saying that it was better to vote for their arrested friend than to vote for his opponent.

“We know that our colleague is charged with criminal activity,” Davis said. “But we also know that a charge is not a conviction.”

Why would they do this? Why would they come to the aide of a guy arrested for bribe-taking?
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Rick Santorum’s Illinois Rally

March 17, 2012 | Filed Under 1st Amendment, Budget, Chicago, Conservatives, Constitution, Cook County, Elections, Free Speech, Freedom, GOP, Government, Illinois, President, Republicans, Rick Santorum, Senate, Taxes, Warner Todd Huston | Comments Off

-By Warner Todd Huston

Rick Santorum visited Illinois last night stopping at Christian Liberty Academy in Arlington Heights, a Chicago suburb, for a 7PM rally that drew over 2,000 people who came to hear the presidential primary candidate speak.

The place was packed with all the gym bleachers filled and most of the balcony seating also filled, not to mention standing room only on the gym floor. The capacity seating of the place was 2,500, but one is tempted to think that they allowed a bit more than capacity to rally for Rick.

An array of elected officials and long-time activists appeared to support the candidate. The crowd was energetic and Santorum signs were waved enthusiastically at many moments during Rick’s address.

On the dais before Sen. Santorum took the podium were such notables as Al Salvi and his wife Kathy, former Illinois politician Penny Pullen, State Rep. Tom Morrison, and New York Times writer Brad Thor.

Senator Santorum took the stage to raucous applause and gave a speech laden with allusions to the founding fathers, the economy, and religious freedom. He also bashed President Obama over Obamacare and his abject failure to fix this economy.
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Annual NW Suburban GOP Lincoln Day Dinner — Newt, Roskam, Walsh, Dold, Schock

March 14, 2012 | Filed Under Aaron Schock, Congress, Conservatives, Cook County, Dan Patlak, Elections, GOP, Illinois, Illinois State Government, Joe Walsh, Peter Roskam, Republicans, Robert Dold, Tom Cross, Warner Todd Huston | Comments Off

-By Warner Todd Huston

I attended the annual Northwest Suburban Republican Lincoln Day Dinner March 14 and took a handful of photos for your interest. This year’s special guest speaker was Former Speaker of the House of Representatives Newt Gingrich, in town making the rounds for his run for the White House.

The program was emceed by WLS Radio personality and political gadfly Dan Proft. Also speaking were Congressmen Joe Walsh (8th District), Robert Dold (10th District), Peter Roskam (6th District), and the keynote speaker was Rep. Aaron Schock (18th District).

I got a bit rushed by the Secret Service, sadly. I had taken a chair just to the right of the stage (audience right, not stage right) and had all my computer gear and whatnot out and in use and the Secret Service decided I wasn’t allowed to be there for what ever absurd reason. I was 5 tables away from the stage and in a corner, not in an aisle. Anyway, they grabbed all my gear and rushed me to the back of the room. Sheese.

Still I settled in and was at least allowed to take my photos. So, as the program began Radio talker Proft began the night with a joke. Not that this is uncommon, for an emcee to start with a joke, but it was an amusing one, so I’ll recount it here.

Dan Proft, WLS Radio

Callista Gingrich

“What is the difference between a Democrat politician in Illinois and a mobster,” Proft asked. The answer: “A pension.”

Proft next introduced Newt’s wife Callista who then introduced the Speaker.

Newt Takes the Stage

Seeing as how this was the Lincoln Day Dinner, Newt began with some words about the 16th President, noting that he was the president of technology for his day. Lincoln held a patent as an inventor, was a railroad booster (and corporate lawyer) and was always keenly interested in new war tech as he led the union to victory.
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William J. Kelly Hosts Visit By Fox News’ Dick Morris

March 11, 2012 | Filed Under Cook County, Elections, Fox News, GOP, Republicans, Warner Todd Huston, William J. Kelly | 1 Comment

-By Warner Todd Huston

On Saturday, March 10, William J. Kelly hosted a visit by Dick Morris, famed Clinton triangulation man and now Fox News contributor. Kelly is running for 42nd Ward GOP Committeeman with an eye toward also running to head the Chicago GOP.

Morris came out as a strong supporter of Kelly calling him a “cactus” that can thrive in the arid political environment of Chicago — arid for conservatives, anyway.

“Anyone can thrive in an environment with good water and nice climate. But Kelly can thrive in Chicago and bring the fight to the Democrats. That’s what we need,” Morris said, “someone that is a bulldog and is an expert at using the new media to get the point across.”

Morris talked a lot about how getting rid of Obama is a must to save this country and detailed how Obama’s policies made a bad economy into a world debt crisis.
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FULL VIDEO: Rep. Walsh Picks 8th District for 2nd Run

December 9, 2011 | Filed Under Barack Obama, Budget, Business, Capitalism, Chicago, Congress, Conservatives, Constitution, Cook County, Economy/Finances, Elections, GOP, Government, House of Representatives, Illinois, Jobs, Joe Walsh, Republicans, Taxes, Tea Party, Warner Todd Huston | Comments Off

-By Warner Todd Huston

On Thursday night I attended the Chicago Tea Party meeting which featured a jazzed up first term Congressman Joe Walsh who came to announce in which District he’d take a crack at running to affect his reelection to Congress. Without stringing you along, Walsh chose the newly redistricted 8th for his run.

The Chicago Tea Party event was held at Chicago’s famous Cubby Bear restaurant right across the street from The Cub’s Wrigley field stadium.

With the Democrats in control of how Illinois’ electoral map was redrawn — due to the fact that the Illinois GOP has practically no power at all in the state — Walsh became the chief target that Democrats wanted to eliminate for 2012. Walsh’s home is currently in his 8th District, but redistricting casts his home into the 14th District, a district that is already represented by Randy Hultgren, also a solid Republican (and also a freshman congressman To boot).

A full House for Joe’s announcement at Chicago’s favorite Cubby Bear Pub

Initially Walsh announced plans to primary Hultgren and run in the newly jiggered 14th District. But as the weeks rolled on that prospect seemed an increasingly dismal idea. To primary another Republican would have meant a very, very bloody primary fight, one that would do neither Hultgren nor Walsh — nor Republicans for that matter — any good at all regardless of who won the primary.

This led Walsh to a hard decision and that is what brought him to the Cubby Bear that night.
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Cook County: Incompetent Stroger Appointee Fired Over Million$ in Tax Discrepancies

October 6, 2011 | Filed Under Budget, Business, Chicago, Cook County, Cook County Board, Democrats/Leftists, Economy/Finances, Illinois, Liberals, Taxes, Warner Todd Huston | Comments Off

-By Warner Todd Huston

I did not vote for Toni Preckwinkle to become the Cook County Board President, but I have to say she has made a few tough decisions that one would not expect from a common Chicago Machine Democrat. In another one of those good moves, Preckwinkle sacked the Cook County Comptroller for her incompetent work with accounting for the county’s tax revenue among other failures.

Cook County Comptroller, Constance Kravitz, was another one of those oh, so wonderful appointees of the dismal Todd Stroger, the previous failure that sat in Preckwinkle’s chair. Kravitz was struggling to make ends meet at $165,000 tax dollars annually, so I can see why it was so hard for her to get her facts straight at work. It’s a lot of pressure to be living at such subsistence pay, you know?

Kravitz was at two strikes before Preckwikle lowered the boom. Not only had Kravitz badly bungled the accounting of tax revenue, being off by a whopping $90 million, but her reports detailing which county employees had taken their furlough days and which hadn’t were a complete mess.
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Cook County Board: Fall News and Updates‏

October 6, 2011 | Filed Under Cook County, Cook County Board, Government, Illinois, Illinois State Government, Warner Todd Huston | Comments Off

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

Update from the Board Room

At the September 7, 2011 Cook County Board meeting, the Cook County Board voted that the Cook County Sheriff shall not cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) “detainers” placed on undocumented immigrants at the Cook County jail. Commissioner Schneider opposed the ordinance, to read more about his vote and position on this issue click here to read the Daily Herald Editorial.

Property Tax Information

By now, you should have or received your second installment 2010 property tax bill, due November 1, 2011. The Assessor and Commissioner Schneider urge you to make sure you are receiving all of your exemptions. The Assessor’s office did not receive 55,000 applications from senior citizens to receive the Senior Property Tax Exemption; if you did not apply for the Senior exemption, you will not see the savings on your property tax bill.
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Chicago: Union Members Collect Millions in Tax $$ With Sweetheart Pension Deal

September 22, 2011 | Filed Under Budget, Chicago, Cook County, Crime, Democrats/Leftists, Ethics, GOP, Government, Government, Corruption, Illinois, Illinois State Government, Liberals, Pensions, Public Employees Unions, Taxes, Unions, Warner Todd Huston | Comments Off

-By Warner Todd Huston

Now this is the sort of corruption we are used to seeing in Illinois, eh? This week the Chicago Tribune and WGN TV has found up to 23 retired union operatives that are collecting millions in taxpayer dollars because they had pals in government tweak the state’s pensions laws to favor them.

These former government workers that were government union members got pliant politicians to alter the pensions laws to say that their pension remuneration would be calculated not on the lower pay they received when they retired from government, but from the much higher salary they received when they worked as union operatives. These folks worked as union bosses at the same time as working on the clock for government.

The “luck” of former union boss and Dept. of Streets and Sanitation worker Thomas Villanova is a typical example. Villanova last worked full-time for the city in 1989 and made $40,000-a-year. But he was also a union big wig making $198,000 annually upon his retirement in 2008 at age 56. His city pension, it appears, was calculated on the union salary of $198,000 instead of his real salary of $40,000 — itself obviously a no-show job in the first place.

Villanova stands to make millions off the taxpayers.
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Cook Commissioners Refuse to Take Furlough Days?

September 22, 2011 | Filed Under Budget, Chicago, Constitution, Cook County, Cook County Board, Democrats/Leftists, Government, Illinois, Liberals, Taxes, Warner Todd Huston | Comments Off

-By Warner Todd Huston

News today had it that two Cook County Commissioners have refused to take the agreed upon furlough days as required by the 2011 budget, days meant to save the county money. Both William Beavers and Earlene Collins have both refused to take the 10 days off.

Collins claimed on Chicago’s WLS AM 89 radio that she shouldn’t have to suffer the indignities of the cut in salary that the days off would mean. She says her base pay has never risen since she was first elected to office and that she has already cut out much of her office allowances and other staffing funds so she should not have to take a cut in pay, too.

In fact, claims Collins, she’s already made cuts that amount to more than the some $9,000 that her 10 day furlough would add up to.
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Cook County Board: Upcoming Events

September 17, 2011 | Filed Under Cook County, Cook County Board, Illinois, Warner Todd Huston | Comments Off

From the office of Timothy O Schneider, Cook County Board…

Property Taxes

The Cook county Board of Review has launched a new web page that allows Cook County homeowners to appeal their property tax assessments online. Residents can visit the new site by clicking here.

Please note that you can only file an appeal when your township is open for appeal. You can see when your township opens for appeal by clicking here.
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Congratulations to Sig Vaznelis, New Cook County GOP Chairman

September 16, 2011 | Filed Under Cook County, GOP, Government, Government, Ill. County, Illinois, Republicans, Warner Todd Huston | Comments Off

-By Warner Todd Huston

Cook County Republicans have a new chairman. Lemont Township Highway Commissioner Sigitas “Sig” Vaznelis was elected by Cook County’s Republican committeemen to become the newest party chairman Thursday night.

Former Cook County GOP Chairman Lee Roupas stepped down late last month to become the DuPage County assistant state’s attorney leaving the seat open. The election was held at the Parthenon restaurant in Chicago’s Greektown.

We discussed the Cook Chairman race a few weeks ago and in the intervening time a few of the possible candidates dropped out leaving only Vaznelis, Aaron Del Mar, and one-time favorite for the seat Ruth O’Connell of Wheeling Township.
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Cook County GOP Chair Race

August 25, 2011 | Filed Under Chicago, Conservatives, Cook County, GOP, Government, Illinois, Republicans, Warner Todd Huston | Comments Off

-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 President Preckwinkle Townhall Meeting

August 23, 2011 | Filed Under Budget, Chicago, Congress, Cook County, Cook County Board, Democrats/Leftists, Government, Government, Corruption, Government, Ill. County, Illinois, Taxes, Toni Preckwinkle, Warner Todd Huston | Comments Off

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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Dan Patlak Cook County Board Of Review Summer Update‏

August 12, 2011 | Filed Under Budget, Business, Chicago, Cook County, Cook County Board, Dan Patlak, Democrats/Leftists, GOP, Government, Corruption, Government, Ill. County, Illinois, Liberals, Property Taxes, Republicans, Taxes, Warner Todd Huston | Comments Off

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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Perry Parries Iowan’s Ire

August 10, 2011 | Filed Under Congress, Conservatives, Cook County, Democrats/Leftists, Dick Durbin, Ethics, Government, Government, Corruption, Illinois, Journalism, Liberals, Media, Media Bias, Republicans, RightPundits.com, Senate, Warner Todd Huston | Comments Off

-By Warner Todd Huston

Texas Governor Rick Perry has made it known that he’s going to announce his candidacy for the GOP nomination for president at the Red State Conference in South Carolina on August 13, the same weekend as the Ames, Iowa straw poll. This didn’t sit well with the Iowa Republican blog. The paper called Perry’s timing a “slap in the face to Iowa Republicans.”

The Iowa GOP uses the well-publicized straw poll as a fundraiser for the party and it is also has a sort of pride of place being one of the early, notable primary time events. So, it is easy to see how the Iowans would be a tad upset that Perry decided to use another state on the same weekend to make his announcement. Iowa Republicans would naturally feel he should have used their own stomping grounds for his announcement…

Read the rest at RightPundits.com.

Cook County Commish Tim Schneider: Time for a canoe ride‏

August 10, 2011 | Filed Under Chicago, Cook County, Cook County Board, Illinois State Government, Warner Todd Huston | Comments Off

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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Jobs Bash 2011 Announced Across The Street from Obama’s Chicago Birthday Party

August 2, 2011 | Filed Under Barack Obama, Budget, Business, Capitalism, Chicago, Congress, Cook County, Democrats/Leftists, Government, Government, Corruption, Jobs, Liberals, President, Taxes, Warner Todd Huston | Comments Off

Activists Plan to Counter Obama’s Re-Election Fundraiser in Chicago

WHAT:President Obama plans to celebrate his big 50th birthday this Wednesday at the historic Aragon ballroom on Chicago’s north side with additional satellite fundraisers being held around the country. But the President may be in for another unexpected surprise: A “Jobs Bash” just steps away from the upscale fete in his honor.
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Union Member Fined $300K Just for Finding Work!

August 1, 2011 | Filed Under Business, Capitalism, Cook County, Democrats/Leftists, Free Speech, Illinois, Jobs, Labor Law, Liberals, Regulation, Rights, Unions, Warner Todd Huston | Comments Off

-By Warner Todd Huston

The lesson: if you are a union member, better to sit on your rear-end and do nothing than find gainful employment.

A poor Chicago-area carpenter who was sick and tired of waiting for his useless union to find him work struck out on his own and got a job with a non-union shop. Big mistake. Once the Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters found out they tried to fine him $300,900 for having the gall to find work on his own.

Carpenter Nathaniel Musser is not sitting around and taking this outrageous treatment handed him by the feckless union, either. He’s filed an unfair labor practice complaint against the union with the National Labor Relations Board which will come up in mid-August.

If were Mr. Musser, though, I would not hold my breath that Obama’s union-sold NLRB will side with the poor, put upon worker here. This is the same regulatory board that extra-constitutionally decided that it had to power to prevent Boeing from opening up a new plant in any U.S. state it wanted to merely because the NLRB thought a few union jobs in Washington State might be at risk.
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