Illinois Review

Wirepoints’ baseline reform plan reduces Illinois’ pension liabilities by 40 percent, retirement costs by $5 billion annually

Wirepoints’ reforms roll out existing universities' retirement plan to all state workers while protecting benefits already earned.

CHICAGO – The watchdog site "Wirepoints.com" has crafted a baseline retirement restructuring plan that helps put an end to the state’s public retirement crisis. The plan, largely scored by the state’s actuary, Segal Consulting, brings stability to the state’s finances through a pension freeze that protects workers’ already-earned benefits and means-testing of cost-of-living benefits and retiree health insurance subsidies.

Illinois’ pension burden is insurmountable without reform,” says Mark Glennon, Executive Editor of Wirepoints. “The total unfunded liability for state and local pensions has now reached an unimaginable $420 billion, according to Moody’s Investors Service, which provides far more realistic numbers than governments. And many municipalities are in worse shape than the state, especially Chicago. For Chicagoans, combined, overlapping, unfunded pension liabilities per household have reached an absurd $135,000. With so much debt, it’s no wonder Illinois has lost more people than any other state in the country.”

Former Dem governor joins with IL GOP candidate to "end corruption and unify the state"

SHOREWOOD, IL --- Building on a controversial partnership forged when Trump convert former Gov. Rod Blagojevich appeared at a fundraiser for Trump-supporting Republican candidate for State Senate (Dist 49) Tom McCullagh, the unlikely pair is working together to "end corruption and unify the state."

“If [Tom McCullagh] gets elected to the state senate on the campaign that he’s been running,” Governor Blagojevich explained, “which has been anti-establishment, to clean up the corrupt system in Springfield, running against an established opponent who’s got the support of the Democratic party establishment behind her, and that party establishment is controlled by Mike Madigan… Tom will have a tailwhip behind him. He will have the voice of the people from his area.”

Why Illinois Is In Trouble – 109,881 Public Employees With $100,000+ Paychecks Cost Taxpayers $14B

Governor Pritzker moans that he will have to cut the state government bureaucracy to balance the budget. Really? The sleuths at OpenTheBooks.com headed by Andrew Andrzejewski just completed an investigative report on how several states - including Illinois - (mis)spend their money.

Illinois - 110,000 Illinois public employees whose salary or pension exceeds $100,000 costs taxpayers $14 billion and this includes:

• Tree trimmers in Chicago make $106,663;
• Nurses at state corrections earn up to $277,100;
• Junior college presidents make $491,095;
• University doctors earn up to $2 million;
• An Illinois family of four now owes more in unfunded pension liabilities ($76,000) than they earn in annual household income ($63,585).

More HERE

Ridings: COVID hysteria will be the mistake of an American generation

By Jim Ridings - 

My favorite children’s fable has always been “The Emperor’s New Clothes.” That is because I have seen it in action almost every day of my life.

In the fable, a vain emperor who loved clothes was approached by con men who promised to weave him the most beautiful outfit ever. The con men told the emperor the thread is invisible to fools. Since the emperor did not want to be thought a fool, he pretended he could see the material and he pretended he could see the clothes when they were finished. The emperor ordered a parade so his subjects could see his beautiful new outfit. The villagers, afraid to look foolish and afraid to cross the emperor, also pretended to see the outfit, even though the emperor was parading around in nothing but his underwear. Everyone complimented the emperor on his new clothes.

Finally, one small boy, who was innocent and honest and who could see and speak the truth, shouted, “But he has no clothes!” At last the emperor and the public admitted they had been duped and there were no new clothes.

Someday, those who worshipfully follow the dictates of the emperor who now rules every aspect of our lives will wake up and see that this emperor has no clothes.

Someday, Americans will realize that the Covid-19 hysteria was the biggest mistake we have made in more than a generation.

Beckman: Netflix's "Cuties" points to cultural drain-circling

By Hank Beckman - 

For the latest evidence that our culture is circling the drain, look no further than the critical reaction to Netflix’s new offering, “Cuties.”

“Cuties” is advertised by the streaming service as a story about a girl rebelling “against her conservative family’s traditions when she becomes fascinated with a free-spirited dance crew,” leading one to believe it’s just another generic coming of age tale.

But the film goes way overboard in its graphic depiction of erotic dancing by a group of 11-year-old girls, played by actual 11-year-olds, living in a Parisian housing project.

Curran brings together two wings of the IL GOP to oppose Durbin

CHICAGO - Republican candidate for US Senate Mark Curran is gaining support from two opposite sides of the Illinois Republican Party: Catholics and evangelicals on one side, and now on the other, the Illinois Log Cabin Republicans - a group that advocates gay rights. 

For the Log Cabin Republicans, Curran is the choice for Illinois over incumbent Dick Durbin.

"Curran will be a champion to help our President in Washington. He advocates a conservative agenda that we support: Limited Government, Healthcare, Border Security," their statement said. "Most importantly, we believe that Mr. Curran will be a voice in Washington to help support inclusion."

Chapter President Ethan Slyder noted “Mark checks all of the boxes when it comes to effective Republican leadership. I am happy to announce that our chapter has voted to endorse Mark Curran for US Senate.”

Public safety has suddenly become a big issue for Illinois voters after the state has watched downtown Chicago and several suburbs experience business-damaging violence and looting in the past summer.

Chapter Vice President Drue Mielke added "Mark Curran’s record of public service defending law and order as former Lake County Sheriff combined with Mark’s commitment to the inalienable, God given right to life of the unborn has earned the Log Cabin Republicans of Illinois' endorsement. It’s time to send a sheriff to Washington!"

On the other side of the "big tent" Illinois Republican Party, the Illinois Family Action gave Curran and 6th CD Congressional candidate Jeanne Ives virtual access to their audience recently - encouraging those that support their conservative values platform to also vote for Curran and Ives. 

IFA is staunchly opposed to Dick Durbin's pro-abortion, anti-religion and anti-family position on their key issues. They support Curran's views on life and Constitutional issues

Judicial Watch Sues State of Illinois for Refusing to Disclose Voter Roll Data in Violation of Federal Law

Judicial Watch announced today that it filed a lawsuit against the state of Illinois, the Illinois State Board of Elections, and its director for failing to allow public access to its voter roll data in violation of the federal National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA).

State officials refused to allow the non-profit Illinois Conservative Union and three lawfully registered Illinois voters to obtain a copy of the state’s voter registration list, despite their lawful request for those records under federal law. Judicial Watch filed the lawsuit on their behalf in the United States District Court in the Northern District of Illinois (Illinois Conservative Union et al v. Illinois et al. (No. 1:20-cv-05542)).

Federal law provides that states “shall make available for public inspection and, where available, photocopying at a reasonable cost, all records concerning the implementation of programs and activities conducted for the purpose of ensuring the accuracy and currency of official lists of eligible voters.” 

On July 24, 2019, the Illinois Conservative Union sent a public records request under this provision to the Illinois State Board of Elections, requesting information about the maintenance of voter rolls, including the most recent voter registration list for Illinois. The request noted that the records “would be used solely for purposes intended by federal law, namely, to ensure the accuracy and currency of the official list of eligible voters,” the complaint said.

The State Board of Elections denied the request, claiming that only political committees or governmental bodies may receive copies of records. The State Board did allow a few Illinois Conservative Union members to travel to Springfield, Illinois during working hours and afforded them the opportunity to review Illinois’ millions of voter records one at a time on a computer terminal, with no ability to sort or organize records. By this lawsuit the Illinois Conservative Union seeks meaningful access to the records it requested.

More HERE

Charges Dropped Against Romanian Pastor of Illinois Church

The City of Niles has dropped all four “disorderly conduct” citations against Pastor Daniel Chiu of the Romanian church Logos Baptist Ministries. Pastor Chiu received the $800 fine for holding peaceful morning and evening worship services for two consecutive Sundays. 

Liberty Counsel represents Logos Baptist Ministries and Elim Romanian Pentecostal Church and will file a petition for cert asking the Supreme Court to review the case in the federal lawsuit against Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker for his unconstitutional executive orders discriminating against churches.

While Gov. J.B. Pritzker removed ALL restrictions on churches and houses of worship when he was previously called to account to the Supreme Court, the High Court ruled that the governor failed to make it absolutely clear that he would not return to the prior executive order. This month Liberty Counsel will file a petition with the Supreme Court to consider the case for a full review since Gov. Pritzker wants to return to his restrictive orders. 

Liberty Counsel Founder and Chairman Mat Staver said, “It is beyond belief that a pastor would be charged with ‘disorderly conduct’ for peacefully and safely holding a church service. Think about it – a pastor who survived Communist Romania is charged with ‘disorderly conduct’ for holding a church service in America – the Land of the Free. This is shameful. The repression against the church under Communism failed, and it will not succeed here in America.”

From Liberty Counsel

Rossi: The Constitution and History Tell President Trump to Replace Justice Ginsburg

By Randy Rossi - 

It is absolutely amazing to hear Democrats scream at the top of their lungs that President Trump has no legal right to replace Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in an election year. They even go so far to say that President Trump should not replace Justice Ginsburg because her last dying wish was that she not be replaced until a new president was elected. Seriously? Where is that in the Constitution?

Multiple Democrats have publicly proclaimed that it would be illegal for President Trump and the Republican controlled Senate to replace Justice Ginsburg during a presidential election year. Those claims are an insult to the Constitution and the intelligence of the American people since the Constitution and history make it perfectly clear that President Trump not only has the legal right to nominate a replacement for Justice Ginsburg, he has the obligation to do so. And the Senate  has the right to approve his nomination.

Oberweis attacks Underwood's refusal to condemn rioting in new ad

Democrat Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14) is staying lockstop with the Radical Left in refusing to condemn the violence and looting that's been in the headlines this summer. GOP challenger Jim Oberweis wants the voters in the 14th - which President Trump won in 2016 - to know how in line with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez their representative to the US Congress is. Underwood says the protests are "beautiful." 

Oberweis' campaign made a 500-point ad buy on broadcast TV in the Chicago media market that started Saturday. The buy includes ads on ABC 7, NBC 5, CBS 2, WGN 9, Fox 32, as well as a cable buy across the entire 14th CD.

The ad focuses on comments Rep. Lauren Underwood made during a recent candidates’ interview with the Chicago Sun Times Editorial Board. During the interview she refused to condemn rioting and instead talked about “beautiful protests.”

“Rioting and looting and violence are not ‘beautiful’,” Oberweis said. “I have consistently stood up for law enforcement. I have advocated for defending our police – not defunding them and I have called for an end to the violence. My opponent has been given numerous opportunities to condemn the violence, but she continues to refuse to do so.”

A Shrinking Population: Illinois the Outlier

Illinois is shrinking. It’s losing more people than any other state in the country. Decades of bad policies have made it too expensive to live here. There aren’t enough good jobs. And Illinoisans no longer trust their government. Over the last 10 years, Illinois’ population has declined by 170,000 people, the most in the country. Illinois is the nation’s extreme outlier.

Ives releases new campaign ad: "Lockstep"

WHEATON - The Ives for Congress campaign released another campaign ad Monday morning, emphasizing how when the Illinois House, Republican Jeanne Ives "did not go along to get along."

Now Ives is running for Congress in the 6th district, to oust Liberal Democrat freshman Sean Casten, whose victory over Peter Roskam helped usher Nancy Pelosi in as US Speaker of the House: 

Thorner: Fill Ginsburg's seat before November 3

By Nancy Thorner - 

When Trump first ran for office in 2016, I made it a point to watch most of the Trump rallies.  So far in 2020, I have a perfect record viewing Trump rallies.

Unlike the 2016 Trump rallies, the 2000 rallies are being held at airports instead of large arenas, etc.  Also, instead of being called rallies, Trump refers to them as "peaceful" protests.

Because Fox News, unlike in 2016, seldom broadcasts Trump rallies in full, by Googling, we can view every Trump rally starting two hours before the rally is scheduled to begin, where young reporters working for the network conduct interviews and present a running, informative commentary to thousands of assembled, enthusiastic Trump supporters sporting an array of Trump paraphernalia.

The excitement builds to a fever pitch when Air Force One is seen on the horizon, assuring those gathered -- many having waited hours for this moment -- when Trump will be mounting the podium to give one of his trademark, fiery and entertaining speeches.  Often lasting for 1-1/2 hours, Trump's supporters remain mesmerized during the entire time. Unlike Biden, Trump only occasionally opts to use his teleprompter, mostly when when nearing the end of his ad lib remarks.

I first heard of Ruth Bader Ginsberg's death when listening to a Trump rally held at the airport in Bemidji, MN on Friday, September 18, 2020, when a caption came across my TV screen that Justice Ginsburg had died at 87 years old.  Trump was well into his speech at the time of the alert, receiving the news after his departure from the staging area.

Di Leo: A Supreme Vacancy, A Nervous Punditry, and Four Months Left on the Clock

By John F. Di Leo - 

In this most unusual of years, a new question has arisen:  When do you start working for a new job, and when do you stop?

For many of us “wage slaves,” this may seem to go without saying:  you start at 8:00am on your first day of work, and you keep on working until 5:00pm on your last day, when you punch out for the final time.

Our bosses expect us to put in a full day, every day; to do less is to cheat one’s employer.  If we’re being paid, we put in the work. That’s the whole point, isn’t it?

Illinois COVID-19 cases triple since June, but hospitalizations, deaths remain flat. What gives?

By Ted Dabrowski, President, Wirepoints - 

Illinois will never get back to any sense of normalcy as long as the media and Gov. J.B. Pritzker continue to push cases as the key measure of the virus’ danger to the general public. As we wrote last month, it’s not cases that matter, but hospitalizations and deaths.

That’s important because there’s been no real increase in hospitalizations or deaths for three whole months. Cases have tripled since their lows on June 18, yet the average daily death rate has actually fallen from 50 then, to about 19 today.

We’ve heard no explanation from Gov. Pritzker and others on why hospitalizations and deaths haven’t increased. Instead, they continue to treat case growth and positivity rates as what really matters.

What gives? Why won’t the governor share the facts with Illinois residents and businesses still affected by his continued partial lockdown?

New Jersey's expanded "Millionaire Tax" sets downhill path for Illinois to follow

NEW JERSEY - New Jersey Democrat lawmakers came to a deal with their governor last night - agreeing to raise state income tax rate for those making $1 million a year and more to 10.75%. Calling it the "Millionaire's Tax," New Jersey lawmakers say because of the budget deficit aggravated by dramatic dips in revenue attributed to COVID pandemic, there's a serious need for more taxpayers to carry the load. 

"The new income tax — part of a $32.4 billion spending plan that [New Jersey] lawmakers are set to approve by the end of the month — will increase the number of people who pay the state’s top marginal rate of 10.75% by extending it to those who earn between $1 million and $5 million a year," the New York Post writes. 

Those New Jersey taxpayers making $5 million and more now pay 8.97%, while anyone earning more than $5 million already pays the higher rate.

Thorner/O'Neil: Concerns of Patriots as November 3rd Nears

By Nancy Thorner & Bonnie O'Neil -

The attempted murder of two young Los Angeles police officers, shot at close range while sitting in their police car, is shocking and unacceptable in this nation. The incident reminded patriots of how specific people in leadership positions, aided by Leftist media sources, can stir up negative thoughts about our police officers and elected officials, even our President. Such public comments provide fodder for not only our foreign enemies to use against our nation, but also for others within our nation with serious mental problems that could result in “copycat” crimes.

It is therefore imperative that American patriots throughout our nation speak out against those who unfairly criticize police officers and others in positions of authority. What happened in L.A. is not an isolated example. Both police officers were very fortunate to have survived their murder attempts, but it was an eye-opener as to the threat which seems prevalent today against the very men and women who have chosen a career that protects others from harm.

Where’s Weyermuller? Catching up with Illinois Congressman Darin LaHood

By Mark Weyermuller - 

Illinois Congressman  Darin LaHood (R-Il 18th district) was in Chicago yesterday for an event. He is leading the efforts in Illinois to get President Donald Trump re-elected. 

Two days ago he met with the President in Washington D.C. This from his Facebook page: 

Had an excellent meeting with President Donald J. Trump tonight. Proud to be working with him to get our economy safely reopened, promote agribusiness in the #IL18, and make the American Dream accessible to all Americans. Let’s continue working hard to keep him in the White House for four more years! #MAGA

Just 45 days until Election Day on Tuesday, November 3, 2020. 

Mark Weyermuller with Congressman LaHood

Mark Weyermuller is a small business person, retired real estate professional, and conservative activist in Chicago. He is a citizen journalist, frequent guest on talk radio, and regular contributor to Illinois Review. 

Data shows COVID-19 is not as deadly as we thought

After the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released an updated report regarding COVID-19 deaths in late August, which showed that only 6% of coronavirus deaths were solely due to the virus, some in the general public went ballistic. And rightfully so.

Businesses have been shut down for months. Millions have become unemployed. Schools remain closed. Depression and suicides are rising. Since mid-March, life as we know it has been flipped upside down. And all of this was because we were told that COVID-19 was a super deadly virus that must be stopped at all costs, literally.

As the data show, young and healthy people are almost at zero risk of dying from COVID-19.

Moreover, the CDC report shows that 94% of patients who died from COVID-19 also had, on average, 2.6 comorbidities.

This is not breaking news if you have actually been paying attention for the past six months.

Rev. Johnson: Thank God for single-use plastic bags

By Rev. Ben Johnson - 

Perhaps the only positive thing to come from the COVID-19 global pandemic has been the way it exposed a raft of never-needed regulations imposed by every level of government. Unfortunately, rather than repealing one such ordinance which could contribute to the spread of the coronavirus, the UK’s Conservative government has literally doubled down.

The government-mandated cost of single-use plastic bags at groceries and stores will double, from five pence each to 10, beginning next April. Environment Secretary George Eustice also announced that the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs will broaden the market intervention by removing an exemption for small businesses. This is not merely bad news for consumers; it is bad for public health.