Illinois GOP Follies: Establishment vs Reform in Champagne County

January 11, 2012 | Filed Under Democrats/Leftists, Elections, Ethics, GOP, Government, Government, Corruption, Illinois State Government, Liberals, Senate, Warner Todd Huston | 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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Rep. Roger Eddy- Total Tax-Paid Compensation of $283,520 Plus

December 6, 2011 | Filed Under Adam Andrzejewski, Budget, Education, Ethics, For The Good Of Illinois, GOP, Government, Government, Corruption, Government, Ill. County, House of Representatives, Illinois, Illinois State Government, Liberals, Republicans, Taxes, Warner Todd Huston | Comments Off

-By Adam Andrzejewski

“IT’S JUST WRONG.”

For 2011, Eddy has a total compensation package funded by Illinois taxpayers of over $283,520 per year. When our Freedom of Information Requests are fulfilled regarding his government health benefits and his accumulated “bank account” of unused sick days, we will update our analysis. We anticipate his annual compensation will exceed $300,000.

For the past 30 years, Roger Eddy has served in public education. Beginning as a teacher and coach, he has lived his new American Dream.

For the past 16 years, Eddy has been the superintendent of rural Hutsonville School District Unit 1. For the past 9 years (2003), Eddy has also been an elected Republican State Representative. The median Hutsonville household income is $32,500. Located four hours south of Chicago, it’s situated in the Wabash River Valley of East-Central Illinois.

Roger Eddy is a poster boy example of Illinois public greed…

Be sure and read the rest of this entry at For The Good Of Illinois.

Illinois Values Voters Forum: Rep. Joe Walsh, State Rep. Morrison, More

December 4, 2011 | Filed Under Abortion, Anti-Americanism, Budget, Business, Capitalism, Congress, Conservatives, Democrats/Leftists, Economy/Finances, Ethics, GOP, Government, Government, Corruption, House of Representatives, Illinois, Illinois State Government, Jobs, Joe Walsh, Liberals, McHenry, Republicans, Taxes, Tea Party, The Heartland Institute, Warner Todd Huston | 2 Comments

-By Warner Todd Huston

On Saturday morning, Dec. 3, I attended an event put on in Carpentersville, Illinois by Allen Skillcorn. The Illinois Value Voters Forum was billed as a forum on social issues, but it was also a great opportunity to have a nice friendly chat with several Illinois politicians on a variety of issues, not just those “values” issues we generally associate with social conservatism.

Results of Straw Poll Below the Fold

The Panel

Panelists included 8th District Congressman Joe Walsh, 54th District State Representative Tom Morrison, former State Rep Penny Pullen (currently of the Life Advocacy Research Project), and Bruno Behrend who was on hand to represent Adam Andrzejewski’s Open The Books Portal Project, a website where you can learn how much your public officials are making off the taxpayers. Along with the panel above, quite a few local officials and candidates in the hunt for the GOP nomination in their district also came out to meet and greet attendees.

Allen Skillcorn introducing Rep. Joe Walsh

Rep. Joe Walsh and Bruno Behrend

The first question posed by moderator Skillcorn was “when does life begin,” a common enough question for the values crowd. Ever the rebel, Congressman Walsh went on a ten-minute discussion on why we need to change Congress to GOP control and why we need to send “the right kind of Republicans” to Washington. But, after the stump speech, he did answer the question: “at conception,” of course.

The rest of the panel generally agreed with that, but I’d like to dwell a bit on Walsh’s stump speech. He reminded us of the fiscal disaster that this nation faces and he said that we should not forget that “the Republican Party helped us get here and we have to say that forcefully and respectfully.”

But Walsh saw a “revolution” stirring with the Tea Party and the 2010 midterm vote, one that has “only just started.”
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Illinois CAT Dealer: Illinois’ Worst Business Climate Getting Worse

November 17, 2011 | Filed Under Anti-Americanism, Budget, Business, Capitalism, Democrats/Leftists, Economy/Finances, GOP, Government, Government, Corruption, House of Representatives, Illinois, Illinois State Government, Jobs, Kirk Dillard, Liberals, Regulation, Republicans, Senate, Taxes, Warner Todd Huston | 1 Comment

-By Warner Todd Huston

On Wednesday I attended a “government day” event at Patten Industries, a 78-year-old Illinois Caterpillar dealer situated in Elmhurst, a northwest suburb of Chicago. The event, led by current General Manager Garrett Patten, featured a discussion on the severely unfavorable business climate in Illinois and why the state is lagging so horribly behind the leading economic indicators of every surrounding state.

Patten Industries has been guided by four generations of Pattens, the company having been founded by B. C. Patten, Sr. in 1933. But Illinois has not been good to the company or its employees over the last decade or so. Unfortunately, the company has gone from employing some 700 employees in 2006 to only about 400 today due to the harsh economic climate in the Land of Lincoln.

This contraction is most certainly not something the Patten family wanted to see happen to their long-standing Illinois-based company. Patten Industries has faced a whole host of negative forces causing them to scale downward. And Patten is just one of many Illinois businesses facing the same problems — problems faced in much less severity by businesses in other nearby states.

Even as many corporations are just starting to see an upturn in their fortunes, Illinois government has set up so many hurdles to growth that other states are either taking our customers or even welcoming Illinois businesses themselves as new residents.

Garrett Patten says that at least three major problems face Illinois businesses. Workman’s comp, labor unions, and corporate taxes.
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Abe Lincoln and His Convicted Felon Pal, Bill Cellini?

November 8, 2011 | Filed Under Budget, Chicago, Democrats/Leftists, Ethics, Government, Government, Corruption, Illinois, Illinois State Government, Liberals, Rod Blagojevich, Taxes, Warner Todd Huston | Comments Off

-By Warner Todd Huston

This is the kind of nonsense that we get with political influence peddling and corruption. A painting that now hangs in the new Lincoln library and museum in our state capitol has a ridiculous tie to long-time Springfield corruption king Bill Cellini, who was just last week convicted on charges of extortion and bribery.

Standing behind Lincoln whispering in his ear is a person that looks suspiciously like the corrupt Cellini.

According to The Southern, Bill isn’t the only Cellini memorialized in paint at the museum. His wife, Julie, is also in a scene depiction Civil War era Washington D.C. Mrs. Cellini is a key benefactor of the museum.
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Ill. Gov. Quinn Bestows Award at Pro-Abortion Group Event

November 4, 2011 | Filed Under Abortion, Democrats/Leftists, Government, Government, Corruption, Illinois, Illinois State Government, Liberals, Pat Quinn, Warner Todd Huston | Comments Off

-By Warner Todd Huston

Steven Ertelt reports that Illinois’ Democrat Governor Pat Quinn has come under fire by the state’s Catholic bishops for agreeing to present a leadership award to a pro-abortion group.

Quinn will present the award at a Nov. 17 event being held by Personal PAC, a pro-abortion activist group that supports pro-abortion candidates in Illinois.

Naturally, this pro-abortion group gave $5,000 to Quinn’s reelection campaign in 2010.
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Gov. Quinn Appoints Muslim Linked to Terror Groups to State Advisory Council

November 4, 2011 | Filed Under Democrats/Leftists, Ethics, Government, Corruption, Government, Ill. County, Illinois, Illinois State Government, Islam, Islamofascism, Liberals, Pat Quinn, Religion, Saudi Arabia, Terrorism, Uncategorized, War on Terror, Warner Todd Huston | Comments Off

-By Warner Todd Huston

(Apologies, but we had a server switch yesterday and we lost the whole day’s worth of posts.)

Recently Illinois Governor Pat Quinn announced the formation of the Illinois Muslim American Advisory Council, a group that will somehow “ensure” that Muslim American concerns are taken into account in state government. Among those appointed by the Governor to this board is ISNA Secretary-General Safaa Zarzour, a man who has been linked to organizations that fund Islamist terrorism.

Zarzour is known as a supporter and member of the Muslim Brotherhood, a group well known for pushing extremist Islamism and for funding terror throughout the world.

As a site that tracks the murderous efforts of the Muslim Brotherhood notes, Zarzour was an official in a Chicago-area Mosque that donated thousands to several terror groups.
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Illinois Government’s War Against Religious Child Services Continues

October 31, 2011 | Filed Under Anti-Americanism, Catholicism, Children, Christianity, Democrats/Leftists, Ethics, Gay Marriage, Gays, Government, Government, Corruption, Illinois, Illinois State Government, Liberals, Lisa Madigan, PCism, Religion, Society/Culture, Warner Todd Huston, Western Civilization | Comments Off

-By Warner Todd Huston

Earlier this year the State of Illinois moved to force religious-based children’s services to break their religious principles and give children in their charge to homosexual couples. Organizations such as Catholic Charities have been told by the state that they either break their religious principles or face being shut down by the state. So, pursuant to that agenda, the state has determined that all children currently in the hands of religious adoption agencies need to be removed immediately.

Representing Catholic Charities of three Illinois Roman Catholic Dioceses, the Thomas Moore Society filed an emergency motion to prevent the state from removing all the children in its care. Unfortunately, an Illinois appellate court refused to overturn the trial court’s decision to remove the children during the appeal process in which lawyers are now engaged. (Filings here and here.)

Still, other motions made in the emergency motion were granted. Thomas Moore informs that the matter “is now on an expedited schedule for briefing in the Appellate Court.” The fate of the children remains unknown at this point.
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Business Roundtable: Regulations Are Killing Business

October 28, 2011 | Filed Under Anti-Americanism, Banks, Budget, Business, Capitalism, Congress, Conservatives, Democracy, Democrats/Leftists, Economy/Finances, Elections, EPA, Ethics, Financial Reform, Free Trade, Freedom, GOP, Government, Government, Corruption, Government, Ill. County, House of Representatives, Illinois, Illinois State Government, Jobs, Liberals, Policy, President, Public Employees Unions, Regulation, Republicans, Senate, Taxes, The Law, Unemployment, Unions, Warner Todd Huston | Comments Off

-By Warner Todd Huston

On Friday I attended an informative business roundtable meeting of Chicago-area small businessmen who came together to discuss how government intervention and its avalanche of regulations are killing jobs and businesses not only in Illinois, but nation wide. Some of the stories were chilling, to say the least. These trials go to show how anti-business the most famously capitalist country in the world has become. No wonder we can’t get out of this second great depression!

The event was held at the headquarters of The Rabine Group in Schaumburg, Illinois. The Rabine Group is a group of nationwide companies that specializes in driveway paving, roofing, and other contracting work. The company is headed by owner and CEO Gary Rabine.

Filling out the panel was Moderator, Brian Kelly of Bulk Lift International; Gary Rabine, The Rabine Group; Garrett Patten, Patten Industries; Randy Truckenbrodt, Randall Industries, Inc, and Former State Senator Steve Rauschenberger, Rauschenberger Partners.

The panel began with some of the regulatory horror stories experienced by the panel. Each story illustrated how government stands in the way of job creation, small business, and expansion, and how government is not working hand-in-hand with small business but actually fosters an inimical relationship. The panel showed how the oppressiveness of these regulations actually tempts business to break laws just to be able to carry on with business.
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Union Organizers Work 1 Day As Teachers, Get $100K+ in State Pensions

October 24, 2011 | Filed Under Budget, Democrats/Leftists, Government, Corruption, Illinois, Illinois State Government, Liberals, Pensions, Public Employees Unions, Taxes, Teachers Unions, Warner Todd Huston | 5 Comments

-By Warner Todd Huston

Two union organizers that represent the Illinois Federation of Teachers were able to secure millions in state pensions by working one day as a teacher here in Illinois. This outrageous abuse of the state pension system is exactly why government unions should not be allowed to exist.

The Chicago Tribune has the story of Steven Preckwinkle and David Piccioli who took advantage of a loophole to enrich themselves off the backs of the taxpayers written into law just for them by pliant Democrat politicians.

The crony legislation enabled the unionistas to quickly get state teaching certificates, work one day as a substitute teacher, then count their years as union operatives to qualify them for pension benefits from the state.
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Bad News for Obama: His Big Lead in Illinois Narrowing

October 21, 2011 | Filed Under Barack Obama, Democrats/Leftists, Elections, Government, Government, Corruption, Illinois, Illinois State Government, President, Warner Todd Huston | 1 Comment

-By Warner Todd Huston

A Southern Illinois newspaper reports what should be an ominous warning for Obama occurring in Illinois, his homestate. His margin of victory is narrowing in the one state that everyone assumes he should have in the bag.

In 2008 Obama won his homestate by 25 points against John McCain. That is landslide proportions, for sure. But a new phone survey cuts that huge lead to only 8 points when measured against Mitt Romney, for one, a little more against the other GOP candidates.

Obama did best against Perry, with 50.8 percent of respondents reelecting the president and 32.8 percent choosing the Texas governor.

Obama did the worst again Romney, with 46.1 percent to 38.5. Against Cain, the former chief executive officer of Godfather’s Pizza, the percentage was 46.3 percent for Obama against 34 percent for Cain.

Finally against Ron Paul, Obama had a showing of 49.3 percent against 30.3 percent.

Sure Obama is still winning handily against the GOP nominees but that once monumental lead is now cut more than in half in many cases.
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Hultgren Statement on September Illinois Jobs Report

October 21, 2011 | Filed Under Budget, Business, Capitalism, Congress, Conservatives, GOP, House of Representatives, Illinois, Illinois State Government, Jobs, Randy Hultgren, Republicans, Taxes, Warner Todd Huston | Comments Off

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

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

“Today’s report that unemployment has increased to 10 percent is a clear sign that the state’s private sector has lost faith in the tax-and-spend policies espoused by leaders in both Washington, DC, and Springfield,” said Hultgren. “At the state level, I encourage leaders to work quickly to address the ever-growing pension crisis, the budget deficit, and late payments to state contractors.

“In Washington, I urge Harry Reid and the Senate to pass their first budget in more than 900 days and for them to act on the more than a dozen pro-growth, pro-job bills that have been passed by the House. We must restore the confidence of the private sector so small businesses will begin to grow and hire once again. ”

http://hultgren.house.gov/

Reform Illinois Pensions Now!

October 19, 2011 | Filed Under Budget, Democrats/Leftists, Education, Ethics, Government, Corruption, Government, Ill. County, Illinois, Illinois State Government, Liberals, Pat Quinn, Pensions, Public Employees Unions, Taxes, Teachers Unions, Unions, Warner Todd Huston | Comments Off

-By Warner Todd Huston

Springfield must reform pensions now or our children will pay.

According to Illinois Is Broke, “The 30-second spots, in English and Spanish, will begin airing on Tuesday, October 18th and are scheduled to run through the veto sessions, which begin October 25th. The television campaign will be supplemented with a billboard, print and radio campaign, timed to coincide with the legislative sessions. In addition to nightly newscasts, the spots will run during sporting events, and programming such as 60 Minutes.”

Connect with Illinis is Broke on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/IllinoisIsBroke

Follow them on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/IllinoisIsBroke
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Citing Elmhurst Dillard Calls for Pressure on ComEd

October 19, 2011 | Filed Under Business, Chicago, DuPage County, Electric, Energy, GOP, Government, Government, Corruption, Illinois, Illinois State Government, Kirk Dillard, Republicans, Senate, Warner Todd Huston | Comments Off

From the office of Ill. State Senator Kirk Dillard (24th District)…

In a Friday, October 14, 2011 interview on WLS radio’s Don Wade and Roma Show, Illinois State Senator Kirk Dillard (R-Westmont) outlined his concerns about the SmartGrid legislation being pushed by Commonwealth Edison.

Voicing concerns relayed to him by local citizens and elected officials, Dillard said on the radio station that the SmartGrid legislation needs improvement. “The status quo is not enough,” Dillard said. “Cities like Elmhurst, which is right in my area, have had severe power outages. We need reliability. We’ve got to do something and we need to look at our electrical grid. In some places it’s old and decaying, so the status quo is not acceptable.”

In response to a question about how Quinn thinks raising electric rates are bad for businesses but thinks a 66% increase in income tax is okay, Dillard said, “I don’t believe in guaranteed rate increases [for utilities] by the Commerce Commission.”

Downers Grove Republicans Endorse Dillard

October 18, 2011 | Filed Under DuPage County, Elections, GOP, Government, Illinois, Illinois State Government, Republicans, Senate, Warner Todd Huston | Comments Off

From the office of Rep. Tom Cross, Ill GOP House Leader…

After tallying the ballots, the Downers Grove Township Republican Organization (DGTRO) voted to endorse Illinois State Senator Kirk Dillard (R-Westmont) in his bid for re-election to the 24th Senatorial District.

Held at Ashyana Banquets on 75th Street in Downers Grove, the vote took place after extensive presentations by Dillard and his opponent. Citing his opponent’s lack of experience and inability to work within the Republican caucus and with Democrats across the aisle, Dillard called for Republicans to unite to bring Illinois back to fiscal responsibility. There were almost 100 Precinct Committeemen from throughout the township voting, and over 30 elected officials from around DuPage County attending. To endorse, the DGTRO required an extraordinary75% of committeemen to agree.
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Government Kills… Businesses, Anyway

October 15, 2011 | Filed Under Anti-Americanism, Budget, Business, Capitalism, Democrats/Leftists, Economy/Finances, Government, Government, Corruption, Illinois State Government, Jobs, Liberals, Taxes, Unemployment, Warner Todd Huston | Comments Off

-By Warner Todd Huston

A small business named Nice Cream found that government wasn’t very nice to its bottom line. In fact, due to its heavy hand, government froze the company into nonexistence. So much for everyone loving ice cream!

The other day, while discussing the failures of government unions and their pliant, paid-for, lapdog politicians, one of my Publius commenters said that government should “stick to its guns” and turn a blind eye to the needs of the business sector. This commenter wanted government to continue sticking it to the business sector and maintained that business would simply stand there and take it because of the “value they receive” from government. I said that business did react to a bad business climate fostered by government regulations, taxation, and interference. He didn’t think so.

Well, here is a story of how one small business was crushed, not by the market but by government. It was crushed because of government “sticking to its guns” and slamming it with idiotic regulations and rules made for multi-billion dollar corporations that did not make sense for small business.
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Kinzinger Joins Willis Report to Discuss Solyndra Loan Guarantee Developments‏, Applauds Passage of the Protect Life Act

October 15, 2011 | Filed Under Adam Kinzinger, Budget, Business, Congress, Democrats/Leftists, Ethics, Government, Government, Corruption, Illinois, Illinois State Government, Liberals, Republicans, Stimulus, Taxes, Warner Todd Huston | Comments Off

From the office of Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R, Illinois 11th District)…

Congressman Adam Kinzinger joined the Willis Report on the Fox Business Network to discuss the developments over the Solyndra loan guarantee and the upcoming hearing on the House Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.

“You have Solyndra that restructured a loan so that in case it goes bankrupt the first $75 million in assets are paid to two investors and not the American taxpayers. So the chance of us getting our money back is not looking good. The chance of us getting any of the billions of dollars we pushed out the door, coming back, is not looking good. And, we’re not even getting the jobs that the Administration promised.”

Also today Congressman Adam Kinzinger (IL-11), a member of the House Energy & Commerce, applauded passage of H.R. 358, the Protect Life Act. Kinzinger is a cosponsor of this legislation to amend the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, to ensure no health care reform funds are used to pay for abortions.

“In a time of economic hardship, I intend to do everything in my power to ensure Congress is using American taxpayers’ money efficiently and effectively. The use of our tax dollars to subsidize abortions and abortion providers is simply unacceptable. Additionally, the Protect Life Act also prohibits the federal government from requiring private insurance companies to cover abortion and protects health care providers from discrimination for refusal to participate in abortions. This legislation makes certain that taxpayers will not foot the bill for abortions or abortion coverage under the President’s health care law.”

The Protect Life Act is modeled after the bipartisan Stupak-Pitts amendment, which was added to the the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in the House in 2009, but was excluded from the final law.

http://kinzinger.house.gov/

Cross Files Bill to Protect Taxpayers from Double Dipping

October 13, 2011 | Filed Under Budget, Democrats/Leftists, Elections, GOP, Government, Government, Corruption, Illinois, Illinois State Government, Liberals, Public Employees Unions, Republicans, Taxes, Tom Cross, Unions, Warner Todd Huston | Comments Off

From the office of Rep. Tom Cross, Ill GOP House Leader…

“Can you name any place in the world where someone can get two pensions for the same job?” said state Rep. Tom Cross, a Republican from Oswego who has been pushing for statewide pension reform. “Even by our standards here in Illinois, it’s beyond belief. It’s insane.”

This was part of a story uncovered by the Chicago Tribune and WGN-TV in the last 24 hours taking a look at union leaders exploitation of a loophole created by a questionable interpretation of state statute in the Chicago pension funds.

As the media continues to uncover gross abuses in the Chicago’s pension funds, Cross filed legislation today to ensure that Chicago union officials cannot collect multiple pensions, one through the City of Chicago and one through other labor organizations for pension credit earned for the same period of service.
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David McSweeney Announces Candidacy for State Representative in the 52nd District

October 13, 2011 | Filed Under Elections, House of Representatives, Illinois, Illinois State Government, Republicans, Warner Todd Huston | Comments Off

From the campaign of McSweeny for State Rep…

Barrington Township: Barrington Township resident David McSweeney is officially announcing his candidacy for State Representative in the 52nd District. McSweeney is a longtime resident of the area and the 52nd District. He is a 1983 graduate of Barrington High School and earned an undergraduate degree at Duke University and an M.B.A. at the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University.

“After careful consideration, I have decided to run for Representative in the 52nd District. Unless tough choices are made, Illinois will soon face a serious financial crisis. The future of our state depends on citizen legislators who are committed to the hard decisions that bureaucrats and politicians have failed to make. With my business background and experience, I am ready to fight for fiscal responsibility and economic empowerment to get Illinois back on track,” said McSweeney.
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Bad News For Illinois Teachers: Illinois is Broke and You Might Not Get Your Pension!

October 12, 2011 | Filed Under Anti-Americanism, Budget, Business, Democrats/Leftists, Economy/Finances, Ethics, Government, Corruption, Illinois, Illinois State Government, Liberals, Pat Quinn, Pensions, Public Employees Unions, Regulation, Taxes, Teachers Unions, Unions, Warner Todd Huston | Comments Off

The unions and the Democrats are lying to you, teachers.

In Illinois we have a $140 billion retirement pension deficit for teachers, folks. Don’t let the unions lie to you all the way until you decide to retire only to find out you lost everything.

And you police, firemen, and other state employees… don’t think you are better off than the teachers. You aren’t.

Chris Nybo Running for Ill. State Senate, 24th District

October 12, 2011 | Filed Under Budget, Business, DuPage County, Economy/Finances, Elections, Gambling, GOP, Government, House of Representatives, Illinois, Illinois State Government, Jobs, Republicans, Senate, Taxes, Warner Todd Huston | Comments Off

-By Warner Todd Huston

At the recent TeaCon 2011 event, I had a chance to speak to Chris Nybo, currently a state representative for the 41st district. Nybo is running against State Senator Kirk Dillard of the 24th District in the upcoming GOP primary.

As he is already a State Rep., the big question is why the run to upset Dillard? According to Nybo, he didn’t want to run against his colleagues Patti Bellock or Sandy Pihos, both of whom are state reps that are now in Nybo’s district due to redistricting.

Let’s allow Mr. Nybo take it from here…

So where do we stand with Mr. Chris Nybo?
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Illinois Government Continues War Against Religion

October 11, 2011 | Filed Under Catholicism, Children, Christianity, Democrats/Leftists, Free Speech, Freedom, Government, Government, Corruption, Illinois, Illinois State Government, Liberals, Pat Quinn, Religion, Warner Todd Huston | 4 Comments

-By Warner Todd Huston

In the first week of August the Thomas Moore Society filed an emergency injunction to prevent the State of Illinois from taking away the foster children that are currently under Catholic Charities’ care during the appeal currently underway.

Shockingly, the government of the State of Illinois has determined that religious people are ill-suited to being allowed to be foster parents for at risk children to to help place such children in safe and loving homes. And so, in his infinite wisdom, Governor Pat Quinn and his irreligious cohorts want to make it illegal for groups such as Catholic Charities to deal with child services.

The state has decided that Catholic Charities and other religious-based organizations that deal with children should not be allowed to observe their own religious principles in the doing. In other words, the State of Illinois is refusing to allow these Christians to follow their freedom of religion.
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Abuse: Union Leaders Pull Down Millions in Public Pensions in Illinois

October 9, 2011 | Filed Under Adam Andrzejewski, Budget, Democrats/Leftists, Elections, For The Good Of Illinois, Franklin Deleno Roosevelt, Government, Corruption, Illinois, Illinois State Government, Liberals, Pensions, Public Employees Unions, Regulation, Taxes, Teachers Unions, Unions, Warner Todd Huston | Comments Off

-By Warner Todd Huston

Andrew Thomason of the Illinois Statehouse News agency has a pair of stores on the criminal syndicate that is unions in the Land of Lincoln this week that have to be seen to be believed. In fact, these stories and the ones like them we’ve seen for the past several months in Illinois are proof positive that unions should be illegal for government employees.

In one story, Thomason reports the tale of Michael Johnson, a corrupt teacher out to milk the taxpayers dry by collecting $209,379.43 in pension benefits while at the same time also collected $324,785 from a separate Illinois pension fund. And so far this crook has already collected $1.1 million of our tax dollars on top of the $198,105 a year he makes for “part-time work” for the school district.

This is called double dipping. Johnson was able to do this because he worked at one job in Illinois education, “retired” from it, then took a second job in the same field. This means he gets two pensions to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars a year, likely totaling up to millions by the time he dies. All paid for by the taxpayers of Illinois.
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Hey Illinois Republicans, Run for GOP Precinct Committeeman

October 9, 2011 | Filed Under Conservatives, Elections, GOP, Illinois, Illinois State Government, Republicans, Warner Todd Huston | Comments Off

-By Doug Ibendahl

In 2010 there were a total of 6,705 precincts in Illinois. (That’s across the state’s 101 counties other than Cook County. Cook has a unique legal structure and neither political party elects Precinct Committeemen there as explained below.)

Of those 6,705 precincts: 3,440 had no one running for Republican Precinct Committeeman in 2010. That’s a 51% statewide vacancy rate.

It also represents a major lost opportunity for thousands of Republicans and our entire Party. It’s unacceptable, and it’s a big reason why good Republican candidates are losing winnable races to the Democrats in Illinois.

The Illinois GOP is not coming close to matching the ground troops the Democrats field every election.

The goal of the Republican Precinct Project is to reduce the vacancy rate from 51% to below 20% next year. In 2014 our goal is to have it down to below 5%.

Every Precinct Committeeman spot is up for election in the March Primary. It’s an all-volunteer position with a two-year term. And since this is a party office as opposed to a public office, the March Primary is the election. The Democrats elect their own Precinct Committeemen in March…

Read the rest at RepublicanNewsWatch.com.

Taxpayers Receive Unwelcome News

October 8, 2011 | Filed Under Elections, GOP, Illinois, Illinois State Government, Republicans, Senate, Taxes, Warner Todd Huston | 1 Comment

Dr. Arie Friedman for Illinois State Senate (29th District)…

“Many Cook County property taxpayers received unwelcome news in the mail early this week, news of a tax hike,” said Dr. Arie Friedman, Republican State Senate candidate in the 29th District, “delivered in the form of their second installment real estate tax bills.”

Friedman noted the mailing from the Cook County treasurer included “a catchy little insert called ‘Want to Know Why Your Taxes Are So High?’ It offers an interesting argument – that the hikes in taxes for the various local governments were caused by ‘mounting debts,’ but that approach goes only so far,” he said.

“More fundamentally, why are local governments facing ‘mounting debts?’” asked Friedman. “And why the dramatic increase all at once?”

Friedman encouraged taxpayers to examine the spending and labor relations practices of their local units of government and school districts. “But look, too,” he said, “to the actions of your legislators in Springfield.”
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Rep. Dold on Finding Solutions to the Housing Crisis

October 8, 2011 | Filed Under Congress, GOP, Government, House of Representatives, Illinois, Illinois State Government, Republicans, Robert Dold, Warner Todd Huston | Comments Off

From the office of Rep. Bob Dold (Ill., 10th District)…

During today’s Financial Services Subcommittee Hearing on Housing and Community Opportunity, U.S. Congressman Robert J. Dold spoke about the serious housing crisis in the nation and the need to find cost-effective solutions that take into account all of the potential consequences and risks.

http://dold.house.gov/

Ill. GOP House Leader Tom Cross: Reforming Chicago and Cook Co. Pension Boards‏

October 7, 2011 | Filed Under Budget, Business, Democrats/Leftists, Economy/Finances, GOP, Government, Government, Corruption, House of Representatives, Illinois, Illinois State Government, Jobs, Liberals, Pensions, Public Employees Unions, Taxes, Tom Cross, Warner Todd Huston | Comments Off

From Illinois GOP House Leader Tom Cross…

In a speech at the City Club of Chicago this afternoon, Illinois House Republican Leader Tom Cross announced that he filed a bill that will help give more accountability to taxpayers by reconstituting the City of Chicago and Cook County pension boards. The bill, which will be sponsored by Senator Matt Murphy (R-Palatine) in the Senate, will also require pension boards statewide to refer any suspected fraud to the local authorities.

“Recent media reports have unveiled abuses in the Chicago Pension systems that were not reported to the proper authorities for punishment or investigation. We believe these matters should have and still should be reported to law enforcement. We mandate that in our bill,” said Cross. “We also believe the pension boards in the City of Chicago and Cook County need a fresh start—that’s why we are seeking reconstitution.”
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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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Village of Palatine Attempts to Hide Millions in Accrued Village Sick and Vacation Time Balances‏

October 6, 2011 | Filed Under Budget, Democrats/Leftists, Economy/Finances, Government, Corruption, Government, Ill. County, Illinois, Illinois State Government, Liberals, Taxes, Tea Party, Warner Todd Huston | Comments Off

From the Palatine Tea Party…

Village of Palatine Attempts to Hide Millions in Accrued Village Sick and Vacation Time Balances
(Palatine, Illinois) – The Village of Palatine went out of its way to hide employee sick time and vacation time balances when we attempted to submit a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to obtain employee balances.

Government agencies expect taxpayers to pay their expenses, but when asked to view the data the answer is met with clear opposition. The Village tried to hide behind HIPPA law as their excuse. We then appealed the Village’s decision with the Illinois’ State Attorney and won. (click here for pdf document). Based on the 2009 W2′s, the sick time balance is approximately 9 million dollars and the vacation time balance totals approximately $687,000.
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State Rep Tom Morrison: The Results Are In!‏

October 5, 2011 | Filed Under Illinois, Illinois State Government, Warner Todd Huston | Comments Off

From the office of Rep. Tom Morrison (R, Palatine, 54th District)…

A few weeks ago, I asked for your input on several questions regarding our community and our state and I wanted to share the results. As your representative in Springfield, I rely heavily on the input from my constituents. I sincerely appreciate your willingness to share your viewpoint/opinions with me. I am thrilled by receiving over 400 completed surveys from residents within our district, thank you.

Here are the results!

1. What issue/s in state government is/are most important to you?

Topping the list were government spending/borrowing, taxes, public mistrust in government and corrupt elected officials. Also, many social issues were addressed as well as firearm regulations.

2. Do you support legislation that will repeal the 66% income tax rate increase signed by Governor Quinn in January 2011?
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