Illinois Review

Bailey goes on attack with new ad: "Bigger isn't better"

SPRINGFIELD - "Illinois the first state to eliminate cash bail ..." - Something JB Pritzker is very proud about - and a part of his "bigger is better" campaign theme from four years ago.

Republican Darren Bailey released the following ad today as Governor Pritzker celebrates Governor's Day at the State Fair.

“Four years ago, J.B. Pritzker promised to ‘think big’ in his campaign video, but bigger isn’t better when it comes to crime, taxes, and inflation,” Darren Bailey said. “Under J.B. Pritzker’s failed leadership, Illinois crime has skyrocketed and we now have the second-highest gas tax in the country. While billionaire Pritzker has no trouble getting by, Illinois has become unsafe and unaffordable for hardworking folks. It’s time to fire J.B. Pritzker and restore Illinois.” 

Thorner: America's Vanishing Middle Class

By Nancy Thorner - 

 

According to this article by Nick Giambruno, The Long Death of America's Middle Class, the middle class is vanishing. 

 

In 2015, America’s middle class dipped below 50% of the population for the first time since data collection started. It’s now an official minority group. [..] In the late 1950s was the golden age of America’s middle class. The US had robust Main Streets and thriving small businesses. Back then, the US produced three-quarters of the world’s cars, airplanes, and most of the world’s steel and built the majority of the world’s skyscrapers.

Wirepoints: State's attorneys resist Illinois' latest soft-on-crime measure

As Chicago-style violent crime continues across Cook County and the collar counties, local state's attorneys are increasingly worried about new state law going into effect in 2023, says Wirepoints editor Matt Rosenberg. 

It’s one more in a long series of rigged rules imposed by Illinois’ ruling class, he says.

As of January 1st, HB3653 would sharply restrict the imposition by judges of cash bail for criminal defendants before trial. Those involved say that one hundred of the state’s 102 county prosecutors are fighting back against what they see as an incursion on judicial discretion and community safety. They will go to the legislature later this year and it appears, maybe to court if that fails.

It will be a signal test for Illinois state's attorneys in counties statewide who want to balance the rights of the accused with the rights of their communities to safe streets and public spaces.

More on WIREPOINTS 

Di Leo: President Trump Is 'Our Canary in the Coal Mine'

By John F. Di Leo - 

Over a century ago, scientist John Scott Haldane, recognizing the danger of carbon monoxide in coal mines, introduced the use of pet canaries as an early warning system for miners.  The concept caught on quickly, and for three-quarters of a century, coal miners would come to trust their pet "canary in the coal mine" as their potential lifesaver: carbon monoxide would kill the bird first, giving the men time to escape the mine before the deadly gas could get them, too.

Former President Donald J. Trump is the Republican Party's canary.

In the "pandemic year" of 2020, Democrat bureaucrats across the country took advantage of public fears of Covid-19 to scare millions of people out of the traditional American election practice: in person, at a polling place, where each voter could at least potentially undergo an identity check as protection against vote fraud.

In 2020, numerous state, county, and city governments authorized such corruptible concepts as mass mail-in ballots, unguarded non-mail public drop boxes, and virtually unlimited ballot harvesting.

More, HERE:

Federal Reserve’s False Assumptions Push the Economy into Recession

Based on its assumptions, the Federal Reserve is doing everything right by raising interest rates rapidly after years of easy money. It will certainly succeed in its goal of “cooling down” the economy.

Unfortunately, the Fed’s basic assumptions are wrong, and it has already begun reducing Americans’ standard of living, as indicated by this week’s Commerce Department report showing the nation’s gross domestic product fell for the second quarter in a row, meeting the common definition of a recession.

The Fed’s actions are based on two major ideas: one, the congressional directives to stabilize prices while maximizing employment, and two, the Fed’s ongoing ambition to fine-tune the economy, which flows from the first notion.

More HERE

Illinois small business owners brace for higher taxes under Amendment 1

New business taxes added by the Pritzker administration plus Illinois’ high property taxes are making it hard for a Chicago-area bar owner to stay in business. Now a government union push for more property taxes is creating a new threat.

Darla Pitts purchased the Irish Rebel bar in Oak Lawn, Illinois, less than a year before the COVID-19 pandemic. Almost two years later, Illinois’ tax and business climate is what plagues her business.

“Our biggest challenge is the profit margin isn’t what it used to be. If it wasn’t for video gambling, we would just be breaking even because of inflation,” Pitts said. “You just can’t raise prices, either, then customers are super upset and talk about going somewhere else. It’s like you’re between a rock and a hard place. We haven’t raised our prices whatsoever for the past two years.”

Gov. J.B. Pritzker has added $650 million in tax and fee hikes to businesses since taking office. Illinois was the only Midwest state to drop in the Tax Foundation’s Business Tax Climate rankings in the past five years.

Illinois’ tough tax climate plus inflation means the Irish Rebel has had to delay expanding.

More HERE

Hanson: The FBI Has Become Dangerous to Americans

By Victor Davis Hanson - 

The FBI is dissolving before our eyes into a rogue security service akin to those in Eastern Europe during the Cold War.

Take the FBI’s deliberately asymmetrical application of the law. This week the bureau surprise-raided the home of former President Donald Trump—an historical first.

A massive phalanx of FBI agents swooped into the Trump residence while he was not home, to confiscate his personal property, safe, and records. All of this was over an archival dispute of presidential papers common to many former presidents. Agents swarmed the entire house, including the wardrobe closet of the former first lady.

Note we are less than 90 days out from a midterm election, and this was not just a raid, but a political act.

More HERE

Bailey to Pritzker: "You were born with a silver spoon in your mouth"

Louisville, IL—Last week, farmer and business owner Darren Bailey released a scathing video lambasting Governor J.B. Pritzker for running a TV ad, paid for by his family’s billions of dollars, attacking Bailey for how he operated his farm during the Pritzker lockdowns. 

“Governor Pritzker wouldn’t know a hard day’s work if it slapped him across the face,” Darren Bailey said. “I challenge J.B. Pritzker to come down to my farm and spend a day planting, plowing, and harvesting. We’ll see how much energy he has at the end of an 18-hour work day to lob his pathetic attacks.”

Bailey's comments were in response to a 30-second ad the Pritzker campaign launched last week in which Pritzker says taxpayers are paying for the Bailey bid for governor.

(Nowhere does Pritzker mention the millions upon millions of tax dollars the Pritzker Administration is dispersing for pet projects for select areas where the governor needs more voter enthusiasm - such as the $17.5 million Rend Lake Lodge renovation.) 

State Rep. Charles Meier, R-Highland, said southern Illinois towns have heard these promises before but have not seen any follow-through from the state, the Center Square wrote.

"We have had projects before when we get close to election time that has been promised," Meier told The Center Square. "However, this money never really seems to roll in. He can promise all he wants, but show up with a check in hand if you want to help southern Illinois."

But here's the governor's attack:

Black conservatives to meet up in Tinley Park next month

CHICAGO -- Former HUD Secretary Ben Carson, iconic radio host Larry Elder, Dr. Voddie Baucham and filmmaker Chad Jackson – a.k.a. "The Mount Rushmore of Black Conservatism" who are featured in the controversial film Uncle Tom II: An America Odyssey -- are scheduled speakers Sept. 8-10 at the Black Conservative Summit (www.blackconservativesummit.net).

Uncle Tom II exposes what the filmmakers describe as "the Marxist strategy of creating false racial tension" between Americans -- an attempt to tear the nation apart.

The fifth annual Black Conservative Summit -- one of the largest gatherings of Black conservative leaders in the U.S. -- kicks off with a star-studded film screening. Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/CwgT11qOCHE

Where’s Weyermuller? At CPAC 2022 in Dallas, Texas with President Trump

By Mark Weyermuller - 

Two weeks ago, the Conservative Political Action Conference 2022 commonly known as CPAC was held August 4-7 at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas, Texas. The theme this year was “Fire Pelosi-Save America.”  CPAC themes in the past included, What Makes America Great, America Uncanceled, and Awake not Woke. The CPAC events are considered the largest gatherings of conservatives in the world. 

The conference lasted three days with hundreds of speakers, meetings,  book signings, and breakout sessions. There was an expo hall including booths for Moms For America, Turning Point USA, Patriot Mobile, and the MAGA MALL store of Trump-related merchandise. You can see the agenda and watch most of the speakers here on the CPAC link or download the CPAC 2022 app: https://na.eventscloud.com/website/34479/. The event is run by the American Conservative Union (ACU) led by Matt and Mercedes Schlapp. 

Thorner: Democrat Party’s Answer to Record Inflation? MORE Spending!

By Nancy Thorner - 

On Friday, August 12, 2022, House Democrats approved their largest ever tax, health, and climate bill, the “Inflation Reduction Act”, which will raise taxes on the middle class and make inflation worse.  It will now be sent to President Joe Biden’s desk. 

The bill’s passage came at a time when Inflation rates are still at a 40-year high, despite Joe Biden’s claim of “0% inflation” in July.  It also came nearly just a week after Vice President Kamala Harris cast the tie-breaking vote in the Senate. 

In a 220-to-207 vote, every single Democrat voted in support of passing the “Inflation Reduction Act.”  Republicans strongly opposed it.

Democrats flouted their success as representing a so-called big win for Biden, just as Americans were giving up hope and just in time for the upcoming November midterm elections. 

According to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif), "the $740 billion legislation is said to “save the planet while keeping more money in your pockets."   However, several Republicans argued that it will only drive inflation up and put new burdens on Americans.

House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La) had no kind words to say about the bill, describing it as “the Inflation, Recession, and IRS Army Act.” 

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif) further slammed the House for approving the bill, calling it a “misguided, tone-dead bill."

Di Leo: Answering Questions in the Village of Chelm

by John F. Di Leo -

 

The scene:  As the curtain rises, we see an empty podium, a few paces ahead of the front stoop of the village hall in the remote village of Chelm. The village of Chelm is a small town of a thousand or so, far from any real civilization, but closely situated to the things that really matter to politicians - the newspaper bureau office, the national banks, the lobbyists, the four and five-star restaurants.  Eventually, we see the Mayor of Chelm's press secretary, Benito Bugiardo, come out from the wings to appear behind the podium, as a few reporters walk on stage to take seats in front of him, cheating the angle just a bit, so they don't have their backs to the audience.  The spotlight hits the press secretary, and we begin.

 

Press Secretary Bugiardo:  Good morning, everyone! I know we have a lot to talk about today. We're beating inflation; job growth is thrilling, and the Mayor is spending his working vacation putting the finishing touches on his next great project, the Comprehensive Crime Bill.  On top of all that, it is SUCH a beautiful day!  So where shall we begin?  Mr. Smith, I think you had your hand up first.

 

Mr. Smith, of the Chelm Bugle:  Mr. Bugiardo, we have heard a rumor that the Mayor plans to hire 87 new tax collectors.  Is that true, and if so, why do you need so many?

Rossi: Governor DeSantis Is Right, America Is Turning Into a “Banana Republic” Thanks to Democrats

By Randy Rossi -

Recently, Republican Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida nailed it in his reaction to the bizarre “raid” on President Trump’s home in Mar-A-Lago Florida by the FBI. He released a tweet that said “The raid of MAL is another escalation in the weaponization of federal agencies against the Regime’s political opponents, while people like Hunter Biden get treated with kid gloves. Now the Regime is getting another 87k IRS agents to wield against its adversaries? Banana Republic,” DeSantis wrote. This quote from Governor DeSantis is a lot more complicated than it looks at first glance.

First, using the word “raid” is accurate as over 30 FBI agents demanded to enter Trump’s home while President Trump was in New York. This has never been done before in US history to a former president! The FBI spent several hours going into every room at his home including his wife’s closet and his office. They would not allow anybody to observe what they did or what they took. They did this despite the fact that Trump and his lawyers had been cooperating with the FBI for weeks/months and already gave them at least 15 boxes of records they requested. In my opinion, this was an illegal “fishing” operation in which the FBI was looking for information that could help disqualify President Trump from running for president again.

Fact check: Pritzker didn't lower gas tax or eliminate grocery tax

Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s re-election ad praises him for fictional tax relief, hinting he repealed the grocery tax and lowered the gas tax. Neither is true.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker is touting his temporary tax relief in a new campaign ad. The ad credits him with helping Illinoisans pay less in gas taxes, which they don’t.

The ad boasts Pritzker’s tax policies are “helping us pay less for the things we buy every day.”

Gas prices are down in Illinois, but not because of reduced gas taxes. Pritzker didn’t lower the gas tax, he just delayed this year’s automatic increase until January 2023. That means Illinoisans will continue paying 39.2 cents a gallon this year, then face two automatic hikes in 2023 expected to take the tax up to 45.2 cents per gallon.

Despite what Pritzker claims in an ad, Illinoisans still pay the second-highest gas taxes in the nation, up from 10th highest before he doubled the tax. Pritzker hiked the gas tax to 38 cents from 19 cents in 2019. On top of that, he implemented automatic annual gas tax hikes so lawmakers never again can be held responsible for their votes to raise gas taxes.

More HERE

Pritzker's family relief plan offers Illinoisans $35 while inflation takes $90

Gov. J.B. Pritzker boasted about financial responsibility and sympathy towards working families, but the average family of three can expect to save only $35.52 per month as inflation eats away $90 from that family’s budget.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is boasting about what his Illinois Family Relief Plan means, but a little math shows it means $35.52 a month in savings for the average family at the same time inflation is eating $90 from their budget.

Pritzker’s relief plan started July 1. It suspended the state grocery sales tax until July 2023, delayed the July gas tax hike until January, offered property tax rebates for middle- and low-income families as well as minor, temporary income tax credits.

With a declining state population of 12.67 million, the average Illinois family of three can count on saving roughly $35.52 per month, based on Pritzker’s projection of $1.8 billion in tax relief over about a year. A monthly check of that amount would be quickly eaten by rising state inflation, which took an additional $90 from Illinois households in June and is trending upward.

More HERE

Rising prices cost Illinoisans $522 more for groceries this year

Inflation sends grocery prices rising at the fastest rate since April 1979, costing the average Illinoisan $522 more at checkout.

Illinoisans are paying $522 more for the same grocery items they bought last year.

Prices on food for home consumption have risen by 12.2% from June 2021 to June 2022, hitting Illinois families hard. June’s overall 9.1% annual inflation rate was the highest in more than 40 years, creating sticker shock at the grocery store.

Not all grocery groups have risen at the same rate. Of the major expenditure categories, meats, poultry, fish and eggs make up the largest chunk of the increase in grocery bills and will cost the typical Illinoisan $115 more this year.

More HERE

Conservatives Must Make Education a Campaign Issue

Liberals have always held the political edge on education related matters, but as polls show, they are quickly losing their grip.

It just doesn’t stop. In Portland, OR, the kindergarten curriculum includes an anatomy lesson featuring “graphic drawings of children’s genitalia.” The words “Boy” and “Girl” are eschewed in favor of “person with a penis” and “person with a vulva,” because, according to the curriculum, girls can have penises and boys can have vulvas. In a West Chester, PA middle school, boys were encouraged to wear dresses at the school’s Gay Pride Month celebrations. And in a New York City middle school, students are encouraged to keep a list of all the “microaggressions” they witnessed – both at schools and at home.

And while kids are getting indoctrinated into the gender and Critical Race Theory cults, their traditional learning has become an afterthought. According to the latest National Assessment of Educational Progress, the Nation’s Report Card, only 37% of U.S. public high school seniors are proficient in reading and 24% have reached proficiency in math. Additionally, proficiency is at just 22% in science and a pathetic 12% in U.S. history. This is pre-COVID data, and we can only guess how horrific the scores will be after the prolonged union-orchestrated school shutdowns.

More HERE

U.S. FCC commissioner wants Apple and Google to remove TikTok from their app stores

Drew Angerer | Getty Images News | Getty Images

Brendan Carr, one of the FCC's commissioners, shared Tuesday via Twitter a letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai that pointed to reports and other developments that made TikTok non-compliant with the two companies' app store policies.

Alphabet, Apple and TikTok did not immediately respond to CNBC requests for comment.

Carr's letter, dated June 24 on FCC letterhead, said if the Apple and Alphabet do not remove TikTok from their app stores, they should provide statements to him by July 8.

More HERE

When it Comes to Food Safety, 'Organic' Can Be a Risky Business

Many consumers are committed to organic products for reasons that are more emotional than logical. They frequently define their purchasing choices in terms of what they consider to be “wholesome and natural,” which often translates to the absence of “synthetic” inputs such as fertilizer and pesticides. For some, the prohibition on “genetically modified” crops (however they might be defined) is another consideration. Sometimes, they assume that in some vague way, organic agricultural practices are better for the planet.

In short, on their dinner table they want something like the farm of the idealized “Old McDonald” children’s tune that many of us grew up with. The reality is very different.

On June 23rd, the FDA reported a multistate outbreak of hepatitis A virus due to contaminated organic strawberries that were imported fresh from Baja California, a state in northern Mexico, and imported to the United States under the FreshKampo and HEB brands. As of early July, 18 outbreak-associated cases had been reported from three different states (California, Minnesota and North Dakota), and 13 people were hospitalized as a result. The Public Health Agency of Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency are also investigating an outbreak of hepatitis A which is likely linked to the FreshKampo organic strawberries.

More HERE

Biden to Release More Oil from Strategic Petroleum Reserve

The Biden administration has announced plans to sell an additional 20 million barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR)—the fifth sale the administration has held since Biden took office.

In what a White House press release calls a “historic release,” 125 million barrels of oil have already been sold from the SPR, 70 million barrels of which have already been delivered to various buyers.

The Biden Administration says the releases are intended to reduce the price of gasoline at the pump for consumers, by increasing the available supply of oil. A report from the U.S. Department of the Treasury calculates that these releases have kept gas prices up to 40 cents per gallon below what they would otherwise have been.

More HERE