Illinois Review

Parental Alienation Alleged in Decision to Grant Sex Change Operation to 12 Year Old Daughter

by Michael Burns, President of Illinois Alliance for Parents and Children

(CHICAGO) -- Did Parental Alienation play a role in a 12-year-old daughter's sex change operation? That is the question that family rights advocates across the globe are asking after a recent story that appeared in the UK's Evening Standard, published on May 25th, 2008.

The daughter has obtained permission from a family court judge in Melbourne Australia to begin a sex change procedure over the objections of the father, who claims she has been brainwashed and manipulated by the mother into getting the operation in a familiar phenomena known as Parental Alienation.

Illinois Does Deserve Better

by Ralf Seiffe

Illinois Deserves Better: The Ironclad Case FOR An Illinois Constitutional Convention by Bruno Behrend and John C. A. Bambenek provides an immense service to Illinois voters.  In this short, easily digested book, the authors make the case that there is no “intellectually sound” reason to vote against a constitutional convention with enough force to convince this skeptic.  It explains the purpose of a constitution, the fundamental conditions that demand a convention, the process to call one and it proposes several reforms that a convention should contemplate.

Roadkill Could Help Fight Hunger in Illinois

By Bob McCarty at BobMcCarty.com 

While some people might cringe at the thought of seeing more dead animals on Illinois roadways, members of the cup-half-full crowd will view a recent decision by the state department of transportation as one that creates opportunities to lower grocery bills and, more importantly, fight hunger in the state.

Updated 2x: Roads, bridges and more casinos on the way to Illinois

Update 2x:  Those who've been fighting this outrageous gambling expansion are telling me that as fast as they can read HB 2651 they've determined that it is actually a bigger gambling expansion than HB 2650 was that passed the House Gaming Committee yesterday. 

Update 1x:  The Senate just passed HB 2651 -- the huge gaming expansion revenue bill -- with 11 YES votes from Republican senators Pam Althoff, Dan Cronin, Kirk Dillard, John Jones, Dave Luechtefeld, Bill Peterson, Christine Radogno, Dale Righter, Dale Risinger, Dave Syverson and Minority Leader Frank Watson.

The 7 Democrats that voted against the bill adding new casinos and putting slot machines at horse racing tracks were John Cullerton, Michael Frerichs, Linda Holmes, Dan Kotowski, Duane Noland, Jeff Schoenberg and Heather Steans.

The bill passed with 32 Yes, 18 Nos and 5 Presents:  Collins, Maloney, Meeks, Munoz and Sandoval, all Chicago Democrats.

The $31 billion capital bill HB 6339 passed with 51 yes votes, 4 Presents and 1 NO vote -- that of State Senator Chris Lauzen (R-Aurora).

Senate now looks to House Speaker Mike Madigan . . .

A way to protect home schooling in Illinois

Our passion continues to be to keep Illinois the nation's most pro-home schooling state.  Since 1985, when our family first began to home school, we've known that the work of home schooling was a big one -- to teach our children first and then to do all we humanly could to keep Illinois' political climate conducive to home schooling for future generations.

That's what has brought us to you all now . . .

Illinois should be #42

Good to see the Southtown Star getting the point -- that Illinois should be the 42nd state without gas taxes . . .

Durbin backs away from Rod

The legislature's still in session today, and so much is rolling across our screen, we're unable to tear ourselves away from IR today, even on one of the most gorgeous days in 2008!  Come on, guys, give us a break . . .

IL GOP Chairman Andy McKenna's responding to U.S. Senator Dick Durbin's dissing of fellow Democrat, Governor Rod Blagojevich, who told the Chicago Tribune last night that he was "troubled" with some of Blagojevich's early appointments, and that he really has little contact with the governor from the state Durbin represents to the U.S. Senate.

Hear that back up alarm going off . . . ?

What Barry was really thinking in 2004

We find out today what Barry was really thinking about in 2004 when he keynoted the Democratic National Committee . . .

Shelters and foxholes -- where limitations are recognized

Even atheists cry out for God in foxholes, we've been told.  Foxholes and State Capitol tornado shelters, too, evidently.

From McCain: A Visit to Iraq

John McCain  challenges Barack Obama and fellow Republicans . . .

Oops, she did it again . . .

Democratic 11th District congressional candidate State Senator Debbie Halvorson (D-Crete) backed the governor's attempt to get around paying into Illinois' irrationally huge pension deficit when she voted once again for another "smoke-and-mirrors" pension non-payback proposal. . .

Huntley School Board Aims Flame Thrower at Teachers' Union

by Cal Skinner

In a press release covering negotiating sessions ending more than two weeks ago, the Huntley District 158 School Board dropped blockbuster bombs on the Huntley Education Association.

The board put the cost of the proposed HEA union demands at 35%!

I think that's worth an exclamation point, don't you?

In my first article, I was a piker.  I only got as high as 22%.

Where smoking's allowed

Harley Schwadron

Kay Urges Hoffman to Reimburse the State

Glen Carbon – State Representative candidate Dwight Kay is calling on his opponent to reimburse the state for expenses incurred for the printing and mailing of his recent campaign advertisement.

This week, voters in the 112^th District are receiving in their mailboxes a campaign brochure sent out by Jay Hoffman at taxpayers’ expense.  The brochure tout’s local transportation projects that were funded by the state’s taxpayers. The brochure was mailed out to more than 35,000 residents and cost taxpayers an estimated $14,000.

Why does Lisa Madigan leave the heavy-lifting to Fitzgerald?

Thursday night on Chicago Tonight, I raised a question about Lisa Madigan's commitment to fighting corruption, challenging her to show some muscle and not leave all the state's corruption investigating to U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald's office.

Gambling with a crooked governor

There's got to be a solid reason as to why only two Republicans voted against the huge gambling expansion bill that passed the House Gaming committee this morning.

This one will be worth waiting for.

HB 2650 is a massive gambling expansion bill that includes a city-owned casino in Chicago and a state-owned land-based casino, each with 4,000 gambling positions.  HB 2650 legalizes 3,600 electronic gambling machines at racetracks and an additional 3,500 gambling positions at existing casinos.   Advanced Deposit Wagering is also included, which would legalize horse racing on the Internet, and gambling on horses at county fairs. 

Why in the world would Republicans support handing to a crooked, untrustworthy political abuser like Governor Blagojevich $31 billion to spend and distribute to his crooked, untrustworthy political contribution paying friends who expect to have their share of the road building pie?  Why would they vote to give billions more to a spend-aholic who carelessly throws money around, impressing his friends by calling in more and more favors?

County Pegs RTA Sales Tax for Roads at $9 Million

by Cal Skinner   

That's what McHenry County Blog predicted on August 30, 2007.

Now, the Algonquin Countryside's Pete Gonigan has gotten confirmation from McHenry County officials that they are working with that number, too.

McHenry County Board member Marc Munaretto (R-Algonquin) offered this comment:

The dizzying pace of our mounting state debt

Check this out at the Illinois House Republican Organization's site.

I couldn't write fast enough to catch a number, but when I was trying to write it came out at $42,072,995,498 and mounting by the second at a dizzying speed.  This is how quickly our Democratic governor and General Assembly is shoving our state's financial status down into the bottomless pit.

When's this going to stop?

Ozinga thanked for vet job support

The kind of things good guys do that rarely get noticed. . .

MOKENA, IL – 11th Congressional District GOP nominee Marty Ozinga received a Memorial Day letter of thanks from Teamsters Local 786 President Michael Yauger for Ozinga Bros.'s participation in the Helmets to Hardharts program, a labor-business partnership that provides jobs to our returning veterans.

What the next 48 hours could mean

The Illinois General Assembly Democrats have today and tomorrow to come to an agreement on the state budget before the legislative rules change and both chambers are required a three-fifths majority to pass legislation. 

Beginning June 1, House Democrats will need a few Republicans to pass the budget. That day House Minority Leader Tom Cross becomes a major player in the process.  Up until now, Republicans have had little to say about this year's budget, and it's possible the whole process could start almost back at the beginning -- if nothing's settled within the next 48 hours.

An Appeal to fellow conservative bloggers

Not in the habit of pointing out liberal blogs as it takes attention away from more important matters, but I was fascinated last night with a new person on a three-way panel with Chicago Tribune columnist and blogger Eric Zorn and myself on WTTW's Chicago Tonight. 

Josh Kalven, who's learned the blogging ropes at leftwing Media Matters, is the editor of the new Illinois version of the Daily Kos, ProgressIllinois.com.  Josh is blessed with energy, wit and funds to blog fulltime along with two other bloggers.  His baby venue is only nine months old, and already he's being invited to political panels in the Chicago media circuit.

Cambridge Lakes Charter asks for opinions

by Susan Ryan

The results were to be produced from unannounced student surveys passed out at the school. 5 to 13 or 14 year old kids were asked some questions that disturbed their parents. Strangely, the evaluations wanted to know what the parents were saying to their children at home about the school.

The school's website does say that "all decisions are data-driven", so why didn't they just ask (survey) the parents (adults)?

Recommendation for ILGOP pro-life plank

by Jill Stanek

I appreciate Charlie Johnston’s cordial approach to discussing the 2008 IL pro-life plank to the platform. Indeed our 2004 conversations via the Illinois Leader went wild, although Charlie and I have since mended fences.

Despite the passage of time, Charlie still thinks Steve McGlynn’s 2004 language was the “most comprehensively pro-life platform in the nation.”

And I still think it sucked, beginning with Steve’s poetic yet exclusionary line, “From the first beat of a heart to the last breath drawn, we recognize each individual's dignity and worth," which omitted from IL Republican concern all preborns younger than 21 days old, since that is when the heart first beats.

Obama's Trinity Church

by John Ruskin

It seems the gospel of hate, victimization, and retribution is still being preached at Obama's home church.

Scholastic Tries to Buy Off Homeschoolers After "No Homeschoolers Allowed" Subway Sandwich Contest Offends

by Cal Skinner

I really should have put the word "explains" in quote marks in the title, too, but it's didn't look right.

Here's what a Wonder Lake woman got back from Scholastic when she complained about the exclusion of homeschoolers from the Subway Sandwich contest.  The organization promises to include homeschoolers in future contests and offers to send a free book for each homeschooled child.  An email to a McHenry County resident from Scholastic about its Subway sandwich contest which excludes homeschoolers:

GOP candidate in 2010?

UPDATE:  Illinois Review has been asked to join Mr. Zorn on Chicago Tonight to discuss this issue at 7:00 PM on Chicago's WTTW Channel 11.  We'll be mentioning the great ideas we've gotten from our IR readers . . . keep it up!

This morning, Eric Zorn calls on Lisa Madigan to announce her 2010 bid for governor, as incumbent Governor Rod Blagojevich -- with the nation's lowest poll readings -- has already begun fundraising.  Zorn mentions several other Dems who may be interested.

That got us to thinking about who could be in the GOP race?  In 2006, we had several vying for the spot, only to be won by then-State Treasurer Judy Baar-Topinka.  One of those in the race was State Senator Bill Brady of Bloomington.  He's been fairly vocal about his intentions to run in 2010.  We've also heard Andy McKenna may be interested.

Who have you heard is considering a Republican bid for that spot in 2010?

Foster nor Durbin expected to call for gas tax relief

Hold off filling your tanks until Thursday.  By then, if things work out like they're hoping, Dick Durbin and Bill Foster will have fixed everything then by holding a press conference in Aurora pushing for another investigation.  No call for a federal gas tax suspension is expected. 

Note they'll be standing in front of a Marathon station, not a Hugo Chavez-related Citgo, as noted in the St. Charles Sun.

During a 3 p.m. briefing in Aurora – the pair will be in Elgin earlier in the day – Durbin will talk about his push for a federal inquiry into record high prices that are impacting consumers. Foster, recently elected to represent the 14th Congressional District, will explain his efforts, which include a call for legal action against OPEC and suspending payments to the nation’s strategic petroleum reserve. The Aurora briefing is scheduled for the Marathon gas station at Elmwood Drive and Illinois Avenue. Foster and Durbin, both Democrats, are scheduled to appear in Elgin near a gas station at Route 25 and Oak Hill Road.

On-again, off-again Debbie

Today the Ozinga for Congress campaign points out the phony hypocrisy of Debbie Halvorson's  on-again, off-again efforts to shove more taxpayer dollars into her wallet via yet another legislator pay raise . . . 

MOKENA, IL – Conveniently, Debbie Halvorson now says she opposes another pay raise for herself and Rod Blagojevich. But prior to running for Congress, Halvorson voted to increase Blagojevich's salary as well as her own (she now makes $85,291 for part-time work):

"Among those voting in favor of the raise was Senate Majority Leader Debbie Halvorson, D-Crete, who said hardworking lawmakers deserve to be fairly compensated." (Kankakee Daily Journal, 11/17/06)

With Illinois state government broke---with Springfield politicians gridlocked and out-of-touch---with middle-class families struggling under the weight of a shaky economy: shouldn't Debbie Halvorson have fought tooth and nail to force a vote to reject this year's pay increase if she genuinely opposed it?

Partisans weren't the only ones who questioned Halvorson's leadership on the issue. Southtown Star columnist Kristen McQueary noted more than two weeks ago that Halvorson "ought to fight against pay increases, which means putting pressure on Jones, publicly, and other stone-wallers if it reaches that point" (5/11/08).

Of course, Halvorson chose to ignore this sage advice and remained silent. As a result, the Chicago Tribune reported last week that the "pay increase for state lawmakers appears more likely" (5/22/08).

But no one should be surprised. . .

Revolt of the pastors

by Jill Stanek

On Sunday, Sept. 28, the Alliance Defense Fund, or ADF, is planning a nationwide pastors' revolt to challenge an IRS tax code that has muzzled churches and pastors from expressing opinions on political candidates for over 50 years.

Challenged will be a 1954 change in the code called the Johnson Amendment, after then-Sen. Lyndon Johnson.

Johnson proposed the amendment to silence opponents to his second Senate race. Two nonprofit foundations were pouring money into a publicity campaign calling Johnson soft on communism.

There is no legislative history for the Johnson Amendment. According to the scant Senate record, then-Democrat Minority Leader Johnson stood up on the floor and proposed it as an attachment to an existing bill. After Johnson said the bill sponsor was in agreement, the presiding officer simply called for a voice vote. There was no debate.

Johnson was re-elected that year. Democrats won back the Senate majority and made Johnson their majority leader, and the rest is history.

Link: Revolt of the pastors.

Former gaming board head can sue governor, appeals court says

This quiet little lawsuit should blow the lid off any ideas of adding more casinos or slot machines anywhere in Illinois -- for a either the capital bill or to make up budget revenue loss, misappropriation and/or overspending -- for at least as long as the Blagojevich administration is in control. 

At the very least, an appeals court allowing a citizen to sue the governor emphasizes what we've said on Illinois Review for over a year now -- impeachment investigation should be initiated into whether the governor abuses his executive powers. 

From today's Springfield Journal-Register:

The former head of the Illinois Gaming Board may sue the Blagojevich administration for retaliating against her when she refused to cooperate with allegedly illegal activities, a federal appeals court ruled Tuesday.

Jeannette Tamayo filed a federal lawsuit in 2006 against Gov. Rod Blagojevich, two top aides, the Gaming Board and its parent agency, the Department of Revenue. But a federal court dismissed the suit in September 2007, ruling Tamayo had not offered enough evidence or followed proper procedures.

Tuesday’s decision, reversing most of the lower court’s opinion, came from the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago.

The lawsuit claimed Tamayo resisted Blagojevich, his then-chief of staff Alonzo Monk and Revenue Director Brian Hamer when they tried to take control of Gaming Board operations and administrative hearings, interfere with casino bidding processes, demanded an end to investigations of certain casinos, and sought confidential financial information on other casinos.

Beginner's Edition

Gary Varvel

No vacation? Blame a Democrat

This "Always Right" column in today's Southtown was fun to write . . . and we're certain to hear from those mean ol', fun-stealing Democrats. 

If your family gets cheated out of its annual vacation this year, blame a Democrat.

Recent polls say that because of skyrocketing gasoline prices, many are putting vacation plans on hold. Some are choosing to stay closer to home while others are taking a plane or Amtrak rather than filling up the family sport utility vehicle at $4 a gallon.

Last week in Springfield, House Democrats simply could not bring themselves to allow a suspension in the state's gas tax, even for the summer months. Republican appeals for tax mercy in both chambers fell on deaf ears.

The GOP still hasn't learned the most effective way to pass legislation in our current atmosphere. Because Democrats need every nickel and dime they can get their hands on to pay for more and more government programs, the GOP should set up a public crisis. It's only then that the Democrats will move to cut gas costs, even temporarily.

Link: No vacation? Blame a Democrat :: The SouthtownStar :: Fran Eaton.

Pastors have the freedom to endorse candidates

by David Smith, IFI

In a win for religious liberty and freedom of speech, the IRS affirmed last week that pastors, as individuals and American citizens, have the right to endorse candidates for office if they choose.

While churches are currently prohibited from doing so, due to a change in IRS law engineered by Lyndon Johnson in 1954, pastors who speak for themselves and not for their churches can freely express their public support for candidates of their choice.

Americans United for Separation of Church and State triggered an IRS investigation into a California pastor who had endorsed Mike Huckabee in his presidential bid. The pastor was defended by the Alliance Defense Fund, which is urging pastors all across America to challenge unconstitutional IRS restrictions on their freedom of religion and speech by openly discussing the positions of political candidates and other social issues from their pulpits on September 28.

Source: IRS clears pastor who backed Huckabee (WorldNetDaily.com)

Fox Valley's liquid asset

A great story in the Courier News about a friend of ours who we met writing for another publication when he led the fight to stop wacky environmentalists from destroying the Elgin Dam on the Fox River.  At the time, the situation looked bleak, but Chuck and his friends stuck through and ultimately preserved the dam.  Even back then he tried to encourage adapting the dam for energy use. 

It's great to see Chuck Emmert finally getting some local mainstream media recognition for his patience and ingenuity through the years. Perhaps after all, Chuck, that dam water power could prove to be part of the answer to our nation's insane dependence on oil and natural gas.

Enter Chuck Emmert, an 80-year-old renaissance man whose resumé includes playing the bass viol for 21 years in the Elgin Symphony, playing handball well enough to be voted into the Elgin Sports Hall of Fame, flying a private plane, and writing the official history of the Elgin Country Club.

But it was Emmert's work as CEO for Rockford Paper Co. during the 1980s that started him thinking about using the Fox River again.

"We had a paperboard mill north of Grand Rapids, Mich., that got its electricity from its own dam and powerhouse on the Rogue River," Emmert explains. "I remembered how the lights would dim in the old YMCA when it switched from river power to electric-company power. I began to wonder whether we could do that again."

Link: Fox Valley's liquid asset :: The Courier News :: News###.

Another dropped ball for the State's Attorney's office

by Tony Peraica

During the same week as Memorial Day - a day on which we honor those who sacrificed their lives to protect our homeland - Crain's Chicago Business' Paul Merrion delivers a bombshell story about the breakdown of our county's homeland security system:

Four years into a $41-million program to install police surveillance systems throughout suburban Cook County, a third of municipalities are equipped, the contractor has been replaced after a number of technical glitches and a subcontractor responsible for installing the equipment is bankrupt.

More than half the budget - funded by federal Homeland Security grants - has been spent, and at least one county commissioner alleges official misconduct.

... The program is another embarrassment for Cook County President Todd Stroger, who pushed through a highly unpopular sales tax hike this year, continues to battle accusations of patronage and is desperately trying to cure an ailing public hospital system.

Cook County citizens should be outraged that the incompetence and corruption of Cook County government has extended to to the county's ability to protect its citizens.

Cook County candidate calls for sunshine on budget

SCHAUMBURG -- Voters in the northern Cook County state rep district should know that the "sucking sound from the east" they're hearing these days are hard-earned tax dollars leaving their 56th House District and heading straight into Chicago Democrats' pockets, former State Senator Steve Rauschenberger said today.

Much of the angst Rauschenberger and GOP candidate Anita Forte-Scott expressed was pointed to State Rep. Paul Froehlich, who was first elected state rep as a Republican, but who changed parties last year.

"This district's state rep has become a Cook County Democrat.  When he did, he became as responsible for our high taxes and misspent money just as much as the other Chicago Democrats, including [Cook County Board President] Todd Stroger, [House Speaker] Mike Madigan, [Senate President] Emil Jones and the Governor himself," Rauschenberger said today outside Forte-Scott's Schaumburg campaign office.

Wanted: Fiscally responsible politicians

Couldn't pass up a chance to promote two of Illinois' all-round good guys in one fell swoop  -- Tribune's Dennis Byrne, who takes Republicans to task today, and Illinois Policy Institute's Greg Blankenship, who's been busy scouring the Illinois budget for pork -- and has published his findings in their 2008 Illinois Piglet Book. 

Someone listen to these guys, please?

GOP Candidate Senger calls for 3 day budget browse

NAPERVILLE -- While Springfield Democrats work through budget disagreements during the last days of the regularly-scheduled legislative session, Republican legislative candidates are challenging Democrats to open up the budget process.

Tuesday morning, from her Naperville campaign office, Republican state representative candidate Darlene Senger called on Democrats to give the public three days between presenting the state budget and voting on it in the General Assembly.

Democrats' ongoing practice of keeping budget proposals secret from Republican lawmakers and the public angered GOP House members last week and resulted in all State House appropriations bills passing along party lines.

Senger, hoping to succeed retiring State Rep Joe Dunn (R-Naperville), said she was appalled to learn the way the Democrats handle the state's budget.

National Committeeman: Some Data

by John Ruskin

Recent posts and newspaper articles got me thinking about who our next Republican National Committeeman should be; and what role that person actually plays.

Despite the Illinois myth that the role of the National Committeeman is to "raise money", the RNC's official job description states that:

...the "primary" role of a national committee member is to "represent his or her state party on a national level; and, in turn, represent the national party on a state and local level," while "communicating information, ideas, and resources to state party members, candidates, and campaigns at all levels". In addition, that person must be an "advisor, implementer, fundraiser, moderator, cheerleader, counselor, activist, spokesman, and motivator on the state and local levels".

So it begs the question: who is most qualified to fill this role? Of the current candidates for the position - Pat Brady and Steve Rauschenberger - who understands the state of Illinois "at all levels"? Who has been active with "state party members, candidates, and campaigns" statewide? And who is the proven and time-tested "advisor, moderator, cheerleader, activist, spokesman," etc. on the state and local level?

Good questions all. Questions that require data to help clarify and qualify each man. Beyond resumes of service over time, one place place to find out who has been "walking the walk", is the Illinois State Board of Elections (ISBE).

For example, according to the ISBE, each candidates' contributions to state and local candidates, campaigns, and Republican organizations (to-date) breaks down as follows:

• Pat Brady has made 15 contributions totaling $7,185. Download brady_contributions.pdf

• Steve Rauschenberger has made 249 contributions totaling $409,315.
  Download rauschenberger_contributions.pdf

This would seem to be a quantifiable indication of each candidates' dedication to the state of Illinois; and their likeliness to selflessly fill the role of Republican National Committeeman from the Land of Lincoln.

Oh, and it also seems to show who has been the "real" fundraiser for Illinois Republican candidates.

Where's the family plank?

Last week, Illinois Review hosted a discussion about the removal of the Human Rights paragraph from the 2004 IL GOP platform.  Thanks to platform committee member Joe Behnken that paragraph re-appears in the 2008 draft version.

Don Castella, Vernon Township Committeeman pointed out yesterday HERE on Illinois Review that the 2008 IL GOP draft platform is missing a crucial section that was in the 2004 version . . .

Before anyone blesses this IRP Platform revision, you should be aware that the following language, which clearly states support for families and traditional marriage, was stripped from the draft platform . . .

We're curious, too.  Where's the 2004 IL GOP family plank?

The proposed 2008 IL GOP Platform

In two weeks, the IL GOP will be holding their quadrennial state convention, this time in Decatur.   Many see this year's convention as new beginning, with leadership roles opening up and for the first time in recent memory, the convention platform committee has voluntarily pulled back the curtains for a healthy rank-and-file discussion of 2008 Republican platform planks.  Find it here:  Download 2008_IL_GOP_Platform.pdf

We at Illinois Review are pleased to have a part in allowing fresh air and sunlight into the process and thankful that state convention delegates will now have the opportunity to view the proposed 2008 IL GOP Platform before being asked to vote on it at the convention.  This is in dramatic contrast to the way things were done when the Old Guard was in control (see Charlie Johnston's "For a Pro-Life Platform,"  Joe Behnken's "Should the Human Rights section be added back in?," Marilyn Rickert's "FairTax Resolution" and IR Editor's "The 2008 IL GOP Platform -- part 1.")

Congratulations to committee chairman Gene Dawson (also State Central Committeeman for the 10 CD) for opening the process and to platform committee member Joe Behnken for successfully working to add back in the Human Rights paragraph as discussed on Illinois Review HERE last week.

This year's plaform committee participants include:

• Joseph Alexander -- 15 CD
• Joseph Behnken -- 12 CD
• Michael Bigger -- 18 CD
• Gene Dawson -- 10 CD (Chairman)
• Dave Diersen -- 6 CD
• Tom Gooch -- 8 CD
• Michael Kenyon -- 14 CD
• Jan Klaas -- 16 CD
• J.C. Kowa -- 19 CD
• Linda LaFianza -- 9 CD
• Jerry Lewis -- 17 CD
• Elizabeth Martinez -- 13 CD
• Maureen Murphy -- 1 CD (Co-Chairman)
• Ruth O'Connell -- 10 CD
• Jeff Sargent -- 5 CD
• Brian Swift -- 7 CD
• Senator Dave Syerson -- 16 CD (Co-Chairman)

For comparison, the 2004 IL GOP Platform is found HERE on the IL GOP website.

A New Argument About Immigration

by Phyllis Schlafly

Many arguments, pro and con, about how to deal with illegal aliens have been passionately debated over the past couple of years, but there are still other arguments that need public exposure. Mark Krikorian presents a new argument in his forthcoming book called "The New Case Against Immigration: Both Legal and Illegal."

The pro-more-immigration crowd argues that today's immigrants are just like immigrants of a century ago: poor people looking for a better life who are expected to advance in our land of opportunity. Krikorian's new argument is that while today's immigrants may be like earlier ones, the America they come to is so very different that our previous experience with immigrants is practically irrelevant.

The essential difference between the two waves of immigrants was best summed up by the Nobel Prize-winning advocate of a free market, Milton Friedman. He said, "It's just obvious that you can't have free immigration and a welfare state."

The term "welfare state" does not just mean handouts to the non-working. Our welfare state encompasses dozens of social programs that provide benefits to the "working poor," i.e., people working for wages low enough that they pay little or no income taxes.

Immigrants of the previous generation were expected to earn their own living, pay taxes like everybody else, learn our language, love America, and assimilate into our culture. Today's immigrants likewise come here for jobs not welfare.

The Porcine Pension

by Ralf Seiffe

According to a Sun Times News Group story, Carol Ronen is a retired state senator due an annual pension of $64,005 each year which represents 85% of her final legislative salary.  That’s more than  $5,300 per month for life which, in itself, is an excellent deal as she only served 14 years in the General Assembly.  Recently, she worked for the Governor for two months and raised her pension to $8,500 per month, a spectacular 59% increase.  I’m no lawyer but the news of former Democrat state senator’s pension grab and the circumstances surrounding it makes  me wonder if this transaction might fall under the honest services'  duty of the mail frauds statute.

Fmr. Homeschooling Harvard Residents on Fox to Promote Subway Boycott

by Cal Skinner

Subway is running a contest, but homeschoolers need not apply.

Former Harvard residents Jim and Cathy Peschke will pitch a boycott of Subway tomorrow morning on Fox at 7:45 Central Daylight Time.

Ageless Indy returns

Steven Spielberg and George Lucas's "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" was fun, adventuresome and action-packed.  It should be on your summer's must-see list, despite some younger critics' who think Indy should have stayed home rather than get pulled out of retirement.

A huge Indiana Jones' fan since the first 1981 "Raiders of the Lost Ark," I was one of those who contributed $10 to this weekend's box office take of an expected $151 million. 

For me, the 65-year-old Harrison Ford did just fine.  But then, Paul Newman is ageless as was Sean Connery, Kirk Douglas and Burt Lancaster in their later years. By their age, it's savvy, humor and confidence, not youth, that's so appealing to audiences.

Dawn in America

by Ed Jahn

I stand here, before the silent witnesses who now ask me “What do I say?”
They have all made their statement –they have all told me, shouting at the top of their voices, what has been, and what continues to be, important.  It is I who have been asked “What do I say?”

For each of us, if we trace our lineage far enough, there was a father, a mother, an uncle, aunt, grandparent or great grandparent who knew what to do when freedom, and life itself, was threatened.  Not just for their own lives or those whom they loved, but, in many cases, for the lives of total strangers who were threatened by tyranny in other parts of our world – that is part of their greatness, their willingness to sacrifice themselves in the mere, barely-breathed hope of preserving life, even when at the cost of one’s own life.

Roskam reaffirms Congressional support for troops and veterans

BLOOMINGDALE, IL - Congressman Peter J. Roskam (R-IL) today released the following statement as the nation honors our military veterans by observing Memorial Day:

“This Memorial Day we not only look back on those who have served and sacrificed in past battles, we also honor the men and women who are still in Iraq and Afghanistan working to restore peace and foster democracy.

“Our nation is free today because of the selfless sacrifices that thousands of Americans have made in the line of duty.  These men and women are shining examples of the will, determination and spirit of the American people.

“We must reaffirm our commitment to supporting our veterans, not with just praise, but with policies that provide the best care and resources available to them when they return home.”

The Illinois Roots of Memorial Day

by Mark Rhoads

In Decatur, Illinois in 1866 a national organization of Union veterans was founded called the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR).  It would eventually include more than 400,000 members in the 1880s.  Former Union Democrat Congressman John A. Logan of Murphysboro, who later became a Republican to campaign for the re-election of Abraham Lincoln in 1864, stood against popular sentiment in southern Illinois to support the Union.  He became a major general during the Civil War.  After the war, Logan was a Republican congressman who managed the impeachment trial of Andrew Johnson.  He later became a US Senator from Illinois and the 1884 GOP Nominee for Vice President on a ticket with James G. Blaine which lost to Grover Cleveland.  It was Logan, who as Commander of the GAR on May 5, 1868, issued General Order Number 11 to create Memorial Day, the object of which was primarily to decorate the graves of those who had fallen during the Civil War with flowers.  For many years in the South, the same day at the end of May was called Decoration Day.  Today, Logan is remembered in the Illinois State Song in verse four: Not without thy wondrous story, can be writ the nation's glory, on the record of thy years, Abra'm Lincoln's name appears, Grant and Logan and our tears, Illinois.

BBQ season

from IR reader Chuck Emmert:

We are about to enter the summer and BBQ season. Therefore it is important to refresh your memory on the etiquette of this sublime outdoor cooking activity, as it's the only type of cooking a 'real' man will do, probably because there is an element of danger involved.

When a man volunteers to do the BBQ the following chain of events are put into motion:

West Nile virus re-appears

As if Democratic control, out-of-control gasoline prices, a housing crunch and rising unemployment weren't enough to stress us out, the first mosquito samples of West Nile virus appear in Tazewell and DuPage counties. . .