Illinois Review

NYTimes admits Planned Parenthood's nefarious beginnings

The documentary Maafa 21 continues to make headlines and draw attention to the eugenic roots of the notorious, yet taxpayer-funded, Planned Parenthood.  Yesterday's New York Times surprisingly spotlighted the issue, writing that black leaders are pushing for the group's defunding as more and more learn of PP's origination:

Scholars acknowledge that Sanger did ally herself with eugenics, at the time a mainstream movement, but said she believed that birth control, sterilization and abortion should be voluntary and not based on race. She was also allied with black leaders like W.E.B. Du Bois and Dr. King, who praised her efforts to bring birth control to black families.

“It’s unfair to characterize those efforts as racially targeted in a negative way,” said Ellen Chesler, a historian and Sanger biographer, who is now on the board of Planned Parenthood.

"Iceberg dead ahead"

The state of Illinois' budget crisis is comparable to the moments before the Titantic hit the iceberg, Southtown Star's Phil Kadner writes today, with the captain, Governor Quinn, sequestered in his cabin and House Speaker Mike Madigan at the wheel.  Madigan stands, unflinching Kadner writes, as the ship appears to head for destruction.  Kadner dramatizes:

Certainly, if the danger were as serious as it appears, he would do something. He would not want to be known forever as the man at the helm when the ship crashed.

I close my eyes. Rub them hard. Open them again.

Yep, it sure looks like an iceberg to me.

But there is no panic in Madigan's eyes and the hint of a smile on his lips. Is he a madman or a genius?

Pierce: Lindsey Graham, Backdoor Carbon Crusader?

by Sam Pierce

It is a good thing that John McCain's LEFT hand man, Lindsey "just shut up" Grahamnesty isn't up for re-election this year. Since he is not, he does not have to engage in the disingenuous charade (like some candidates) of pretending to suddenly be against Cap and Trade. Lindsey is free to carry on with the appeasing of the enviro-statist left unfettered, footloose, and fancy free.

Of course, everything is not green peaches and non-dairy (cows produce methane, after all) cream for Lindsey and his fellow energy taxing muskrateers Joe Lieberman and John Heinz-Kerry. It has become evident that the proletariat in general is not quite as stupid as they had hoped. Imagine the horror of these Washington D.C. elitist bozos as they became aware that many citizens actually realize what Cap and Trade would mean to their wallets. Lindsey, Lieberman, and Lurch could never have expected the unwashed masses to realize that if the federal government implemented a law that would effectively raise the price of everything manufactured, transported, or requiring the use of energy in any way, then the desired outcome would occur! It just so happens that although these three stooges may not realize it, the economy is already bad and the notion of the federal government killing even more jobs rubs some of the electorate the wrong way.

The Long Long Long Count

By Mark Rhoads

I have closely followed Illinois primary elections since 1964 and once served as Republican Co-Chair of the Illinois Election Laws Study Commission (1977-1983).  I helped to write the legislation that created the Illinois State Board of Elections in 1972.  With the notable exception of the long Orange paper ballot for the at large House election in 1964, I have never seen either official statewide vote counts or unoffical news accounts of any Illinois primary come in as slowly as the as yet unannounced and unconfirmed totals from the Feb. 2, 2010 primary.

Seiffe: A Modest Proposal on Public Pensions

by Ralf Seiffe

There’s a lot of talk about increasing income taxes in Springfield. Democrats, and even rubbery Republicans, confess they have no other idea on how to fix the giant hole in Illinois’ fiscal situation.  What appears to be missing is any nexus between the cause of the problem and the possible solutions.  Until that connection is made, any tax increase will simply increase state spending without remedying the causes of the problem. Smart Republicans and Democrats who can spell “Michigan” should insist the General Assembly make that connection before voting for any tax increases.

The Pew Center for the States has investigated some 400 pension and healthcare funds operated by the states and found these plans had actuarial underfunding to be at least $1 Trillion. Their report is here. Of the financial disasters exposed by this report, Illinois has the dubious distinction of being one of the worst with only about half its pension fund promises actuarially funded. Indeed, of the total debt Illinois faces, pension underfunding explains 91% of it, according to a chart based on data from state’s Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability. All tolled, the state’s obligations will reach $130 billion by this year’s fiscal year end, according to www.illinoisisbroke.com.

Blago featured in Mark Kirk's new ad

Red light camera ban to be heard Tuesday

State Senator Dan Duffy (photo right) will be presenting his case as to why red light cameras should be banned in Illinois next Tuesday in a Senate Transportation subcommittee. Anyone who's spent any time at the Capitol knows with a wink and a nod what pushing a bill off into "subcommittee" means -- that the bill's had a brick put on it, and it ain't goin' anywhere. 

But SB 2466 may not be your average DOA "sent to subcommittee" legislation this year.

Is Madigan backpedaling on income tax?

Illinois Radio Network is reporting that Madigan's backpedaling -- or at least giving the illusion -- that the income tax increase he hopes for isn't a sure thing:

A tax hike isn't likely, but a new Democrat lieutenant governor candidate is. House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) is not saying if he and Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago) have advised Gov. Pat Quinn to leave an income tax hike out of his budget proposal. But he is hinting that it's a non-starter. He reminds lawmakers that Quinn's tax hike proposal won only 44 votes last year, far short of what it needed to pass.

Blair House health summit stirs protests

by Joe Calomino

As the White House put on a "bipartisan" health care summit, AFP protesters stood outside the Blair House calling for Congress to scrap the proposed health care take over.

Organizing Kids for Obama

by Phyllis Schlafly

President Barack Obama's budget has added more than $100 billion of federal taxpayers' money to what is called "education," so that means it will be spent by alumni of the Saul Alinsky school of radical community organizing and/or the Chicago Democratic machine. We're indebted to Pamela Geller of AtlasShrugs.com for exposing the shocking use of some of these funds.

Obama is using the public schools to recruit a private army of high-schoolers to "build on the movement that elected President Obama by empowering students across the country to help us bring about our agenda." We now know that Obama's "agenda" is to move the United States into European-style Socialism.

What Did They Do With the Real Arne Duncan?

By Mark Rhoads

The earthquake in the Teachers Unions in Rhode Island last week could cause after shocks for the Democratic Party all over the country.  Southern Illinoisans often say even a broken clock is right twice a day.  It was a bit of a shock when former Chicago Public School CEO and current Obama Education Secretary Arne Duncan actually said he supported the decision of Central Falls High School to fire all 74 teachers and the principal for incompetence and dereliction of duty when they would not agree to extend the school day by just 25 minutes to help struggling students.  The high school had 800 students and only fifty percent graduate in four years.  CLICK HERE to read more in The Boston Globe. Since teachers unions are a core support pillar for the Democratic Party, stay tuned.

Illinois SEIU takes victory lap, prepares to flex muscle in November

from Chicago News Cooperative

As the debate intensifies over what to do about Springfield’s $13 billion budget deficit, a powerful labor union has given Gov. Patrick J. Quinn another big number to take into account: $1.7 million.

That is the amount the Service Employees International Union contributed to the governor’s primary campaign, state records show. The union’s largesse represented more than 25 percent of all contributions to Mr. Quinn, who edged Dan Hynes, the state comptroller, in the Democratic primary on Feb. 2.

The union’s 170,000 members in Illinois include about 7,500 state workers and tens of thousands of home health care and child care workers who are paid with state money.

More HERE

Want to be Illinois' next Lieutenant Governor?

The Democrat Party of Illinois says...apply HERE

Radogno: Dems looking for tax increase cover

from Associated Press

Republican Senate leader Christine Radogno says Democrats want bipartisan support for a tax increase so they have political cover.

She says Democrats control the Legislature and could muster the votes if they wanted.

Radogno said Friday she doesn't like to rule out anything but this is not the time to raise taxes.

Democratic Senate President John Cullerton wants bipartisan support for any income tax increase. That's according to his spokeswoman Rikeesha Phelon.

Cullerton's Democrat-controlled Senate passed an income tax increase last year, but Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan won't commit to calling a House vote on it.

The governor's budget office has estimated Illinois will have an $11.5 billion budget hole next year even after $2 billion in cuts.

Schilling comments on health care summit

from the Bobby Schilling campaign

After the "bipartisan" healthcare summit, I wanted to give you my own personal opinion in regard to what went on yesterday.

This "bipartisan" summit on healthcare yielded nothing but the same failed ideas--more taxes and more regulations. These failed ideas and policies have been plaguing the healthcare debate in Congress for the past 6 months. Below are just some of the "highlights" of the proposed plan:

• Major cuts to Medicare
• A price tag of at least $1 trillion
• Government funding of abortion
• New taxes, regulations and mandates for struggling small businesses.

Quinn uses American Idol model to pick his Lt. Governor running mate

Democrat Gov. Pat Quinn says the public will have a chance to vet his potential lieutenant governor running mates via a web site that will feature biographies and background information of those interested in the state’s number two post. More HERE

It is sort of like the Democrats are having American Idol tryouts for Illinois LG. Pat sure is a populist. Now if he were only competent...

Time for Illinois GOP to unite behind Bill Brady

by Mark Rhoads

This post is written at about 1 pm on Friday, Feb. 26 so news events could overtake it.

It is only natural that any political candidate wants to run out the string as far as possible when a lifetime goal seems so close but yet so far.  But having said that, now would be a good time for State Sen. Kirk Dillard (R-Hinsdale) to publicly declare his full support for his colleague State Sen. Bill Brady (R-Bloomington) and to congratulate Brady as the presumptive Republican nominee for Governor without further delay.

Durbin and Dumber: Attack of the Liberally Ill

by Sam Pierce

The symptoms are on full display as liberally ill members of our federal government exert their power (enumerated or seized) campaign against free citizens. The symptoms are also apparent in the behavior of those who support the actions of the liberally ill. Two prominent sufferers of liberal illness are in the spotlight today, Durbin and Dumber (or Durbin and Biden).

Illinois' own Dick has sent a plea to the e-mail addresses of those he believes to be his supporters. Sruely some are liberally ill enough to support Dick, but some of us find our addresses on the list as a result of a phishing expedition in the form of a poll on a public option in the bureacratic takeover of our healthcare. This particular plea allows Dick to reach his constituents with glaring hypocrisy and a faux moral high ground. Neither of which should be surprising since Dick is ill enough to believe that a majority of people want a public option in their healthcare deform (not a typo). Dick takes umbrage with Senate rule 22, the very same rule he among so many other liberally ill Senators (including President Obama) fought to preserve... when it was convenient for them.

Video: Roskam reflects on Obama health care summit

Quinn more concerned about stray dogs than people of Illinois

While millions of Illinoisans are suffering under record unemployment and a state on the verge of bankruptcy, Democrat Gov. Pat Quinn is worried about...stray dogs.

According to Michael Sneed, Quinn is on the war path over Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Brady's legislation that would allow stray dogs in shelters to be euthanized. Quinn went so far as to channel Rin Tin Tin in his comments.

A bit hypocritical since Quinn and his party, who have long controlled every lever of government in Illinois, are effectively euthanizing jobs, education, transportation, and all our futures with their left-wing public policy agenda.

Bloated state of Illinois hosts obesity prevention hearing

You can't make this stuff up. Nanny-staters in Springfield, will hold an initial hearing today on obesity and how to prevent it in Illinois. The Department of Public Health wants to "talk about policy and personal changes that are needed to help people get to and maintain a healthy weight."

The next hearing will be in Springfield on March 8 and in Carbondale on March 15. Presumably because there are a lot of fat people in both locations.

IDEA: How about all the state agencies "talk" about how they can go on a budget diet and leave the rest of us alone. A kind of log in your eye, speck in ours thing.

Proft: "Infantilized Illinois"

by Dan Proft

If the fiscal crisis in Springfield continues we're going to have to childproof the State Capitol.

Watching Chicago Democrats generically embrace spending cuts is like watching a baby learn how to walk.

They are not clear where to start or where they intend to go and they are in desperate search for affirmation from anxious onlookers that they are doing good.

Lawmakers: online budget info could be useless by next month

SPRINGFIELD — Lawmakers like that Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn made budget information available to lawmakers and the public.

But lawmakers fear that information could be rendered useless by next month, when Quinn delivers his budget agenda.

Quinn’s office proposed figures of how much the state could allocate to different services, such as education and health care, but did not provide a breakdown of those allocations.

More HERE

Roskam at Obama health care summit

Are Our Defenses Being Lost in Translation?

by John F. Di Leo

In December, as our military was learning of the latest iron in Al Qaeda’s unholy fire, a desire to poison American food or water supplies, they began an investigation of five Middle Eastern members of the “09 Lima” unit, a translation group working at South Carolina’s Fort Jackson.

At this writing, it is still correct to use the term “alleged” in describing the Fort Jackson Five, a group suspected of having been involved in just such a plot: to poison the food supply at a U.S. military base.  While the investigation of at least one continues, several have been cleared.  This doesn’t necessarily mean that they were all innocent of the intent; it could be that the plot was discovered before there was any hard evidence in place to support a prosecution.

Pension expansions proposed in Springfield

Despite a pension debt that tops $80 billion, Illinois lawmakers continue to push to add more people or more perks to the state's pension systems. But the combination of staggering pension debt, a $12 billion budget deficit, and a November election may have stopped any pension expansion for now.

More HERE

Sky Blu tells story of his alleged assault of Mitt Romney

Tribune: Protecting their own

Here's a sure sign that Chicago aldermen are petrified about next year's City Council election. Their protectors in Springfield are trying to make it much harder for anybody to run against them.

An Illinois House committee this week approved a bill that would greatly increase the number of petition signatures a candidate has to collect to get on the ballot. And if a registered voter signed petitions for two or more candidates, the signatures wouldn't count.

Bottom line: Less competition! How nice for the incumbents.

The bill is sponsored by Rep. Joseph Lyons of Chicago, a nephew of the late Thomas Lyons, who was chairman of the Cook County Democratic organization. Are you surprised?

More HERE

Vern McCarthy RIP

Yesterday a great conservative Republican passed away - Vern McCarthy. In November of 2006, Illinois Review named Vern "Conservative of the Week". Below is that post, in tribute to him:

"Few conservative activists have attended as many functions, been involved in as many campaigns and taken in as many business cards as this week's Illinois Review Star Conservative -- Vern McCarthy.

Vern's smile, kind prodding to get something done, jovial heart and tireless encouragement stems decades. As a matter of fact, this week, Vern McCarthy will join the octogenarian ranks.

A retired businessman, Vern hasn't ever wavered in his commitment to conservative values. A premiere networker, if you need to find someone's number or email, Vern has it if it's available. He's never without ideas and his energy and passion for conservative causes continues to make a difference. He worked side-by-side with his son Brian to saturate the 6th Congressional District and win the seat for Peter Roskam...."

Vern McCarthy - rest in peace.

Video: Bill Brady talks budget, scholarship

Senate Dems float redistricting proposal

from the State Journal-Register

A week after Republican leaders floated their proposal, Senate Democrats today put out their vision to change how legislative districts are drawn in Springfield.

Democratic members of the Senate Redistricting Committee at a Statehouse news conference laid out the differences between the idea they're working on and both current law and the proposal pushed by Republicans and several voter rights groups.

Schock on the House Floor Promoting Transparency in GITMO

from Congressman Aaron Schock

Washington, DC – Congressman Aaron Schock (R-IL) offered three amendments today to H.R. 2701, Fiscal Year 2010 Intelligence Authorization Act, regarding those terrorists who may be transferred from Guantanamo Bay to United States soil. Unfortunately, these amendments were blocked from being considered by the majority. His amendments were cosponsored by the entire Illinois Republican delegation.

His amendments would have declassified the following information information regarding detainees being transferred from Gitmo to US soil: name, nationality, act of terror and behavioral record, as well as any escape attempts. Below is the video of his floor speech:

Obama’s bipartisan past

by Congressman Peter Roskam - on Politico

Mr. President: Business in Washington doesn't have to be this way. You need not be pushed to the left and you can work across the aisle like you have in the past.

That is what I told President Obama a few weeks ago at the GOP caucus. He really does have an ability to work in a bipartisan manner. I know because we worked together for years to solve problems in the Illinois Senate.

Today's health care summit doesn't have to be a regurgitation of an unpopular health care bill. Nor does the President have to embrace Congressional Democratic leadership, which has systematically stiff-armed Republicans out of any conversation about solutions. Sure, health care is a contentious issue, but President Obama has successfully worked with Republicans under similar parameters.

Harry Reid - You are a Liar

by Ghost of John Brown

Let's just make things clear. No "Washington Talk". You sir, are a liar, and not a very good one at that.

Lawmakers question criminal charges in sexting

The latest changes to Illinois' first-ever sexting legislation would remove sexting from the criminal courts and make it a civil matter.

More HERE

Breaking News: Vonn stripped of Olympic Gold Medal ;-)

Vancouver News Report - Feb 23, 2010

The International Olympic Federation Committee stripped the gold metal from Lindsey Vonn this evening and awarded it to USA President Barack H. Obama on the basis that he is going downhill much faster than Vonn.

Daley: No video poker soon in Chicago

Chicago Mayor Richard Daley doesn't see repealing a ban on video poker machines in the city anytime soon.

More HERE

Rule of Law: Free Market Essential #5

by R.J. Moeller, Americans for Prosperity

Here's the 5th installment of "Free Market Essentials"

Rule of Law- Without law and order, economics, like most everything else in a society, is chaos. If I cannot trust that the local government will do what it can to protect me from burglars, my habits will change (or my address will). If I cannot trust the state government to enforce the legislation that the legislature has voted into law, I have no way to gauge the impact something like zoning laws will have on my business. If the federal government cannot be trusted to protect me from foreign invaders, I will spend less time working and more time at a target practice range.

Will Obama listen to Republicans?

from the RNC

Here Are Republican Ideas To Lower Costs, Increase Access That Obama Has Been Ignoring

OBAMA CLAIMS HE'LL TAKE GOP IDEAS IF THEY'RE BETTER THAN HIS. "[T]he Republicans say that they've got a better way of doing it. ... If you show me that you can do the things we just talked about... and you can do it cheaper than me, then why wouldn't I do that? I'll just grab your idea and say, great, and take all the credit. I'd be happy to do it."(President Barack Obama, Remarks by The President A t Town Hall Meeting, Henderson, NV, 2/19/10)

REPUBLICAN HEALTH CARE REFORM BILLS WILL LOWER COSTS...

Community Organizer in Chief

by Teri O'Brien

Here we go. During today’s six-hour photo op, prepare to see B. Hussein Obama shine at what he does best; that is, put on a clinic, demonstrating his mastery of the Saul Alinsky’s rules that he soaked up like a sponge during his tenure as a ACORN-associated “community organizer.” (More about that here and here.)

Like many of you, I was appalled that anyone with Barry’s past associations, who proudly paraded his history as a “community organizer,” a left-wing agitator who uses poor people as a stepping stone by stoking a destructive sense of entitlement and victimhood and leaves them worse off than when he got there, could get elected U.S. senator, not to mention COOO (Current Occupant of the Oval Office).

White House Health Care Summit Live

Check in to see what the only two members of Illinois congressional delegation -- U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (Second in command to Majority Leader Harry Reid) and U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam (R-Wheaton) -- have to say during Obama's bi-partisan health care summit beginning today at 9 am CST. The livestream is below. Six hours are scheduled for this meeting.

NRSC spotlights Giannoulias family's anti-Israel funding

from the NRSC

In an effort to deflect from his embattled record and ethical issues surrounding his family bank’s ties to the mafia, Illinois Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias (D-IL) attacked his opponent, U.S. Representative Mark Kirk (R-IL), for opposing a U.S. military option in Iran and falsely claiming Kirk wanted to "let Israel handle it."

The attack on Kirk - an established pro-Israel champion who engineered the Iran Refined Sanctions Petroleum Act and won the deployment of a U.S. X-Band radar to Israel - was an obvious attempt by Giannoulias to smear his opponent in the Jewish community and claim to be the "more pro-Israel" candidate in the race.

In light of his attack on Kirk, the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) called on Giannoulias to explain his close family ties and past support for a known anti-Israel foundation in Chicago.

Quinn rolls out FY 2011 budget online

If you haven't seen it yet, here's the intro to Governor Quinn's online budget...quite a drum roll as the symphony for higher taxes begins. Why not cut some of the six digit staff salaries? Why not have every state employee take a 15% cut like numerous private companies are making their employees do this year? And how do we increase jobs and build businesses for a bigger tax base and therefore more revenue? By cutting personal income and corporate taxes, not raising them. Here's the Democrats' idea, found at www.budget.illinois.gov. 

Sounds like Madigan plans to delay a vote on this budget until after May 31, when Republican votes will be needed in the House to pass it. What should House Republicans' response be?

Andrzejewski Calls on Illinois Republican Party to Reverse Rule

Today, Adam Andrzejewski, founder of good government organization For the Good of Illinois and former Republican Gubernatorial candidate, called for the Illinois Republican Party to reform itself in the name of good government.  "In the election of the Republican State Central Committee, County Chairman are allowed to vote vacant precincts.  This allows them to benefit from vacancies, and creates a strong disincentive to build our party.  If county chairman can cast the votes of the empty precincts-  why do the hard work of filling them?", Andrzejewski stated.

"While running for Governor, my campaign took the time to identify and help hundreds of new people run for precinct committeemen.  Allowing County bosses to vote vacant precincts dilutes the vote of committeemen who actually do the heavy lifting of electing Republicans," Andrzejewski continued, "Let's welcome our new committeemen, respect our existing ones."

Simple Election Reform for Illinois

by Charlie Johnston

For the last few years I have recommended to political friends that they support SB600, the bill that would create direct election of Republican State Central Committeemen. Even so, ardent supporters of it are likely to be seriously disappointed after it eventually passes. I don't see how it will make much difference and, actually, is likely to concentrate power in fewer hands rather than disperse it among more. As important as who runs the party is to activists, the overwhelming majority of people who vote in primaries don't care.That means that name ID will control the day in such elections and, thus, elected officials who are already well-known or people with lots of money to spend on a hobby will be the state central committeemen.

Video: Scrap It

Roskam to attend Obama summit: former Illinois senate colleague accepts challenge

from Congressman Peter Roskam

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Peter Roskam (R-IL), Ways & Means Committee member and Deputy Whip, today accepted Leader Boehner’s invitation to attend the upcoming White House Health Summit.

“I’m honored to join Leader Boehner and other Congressional leaders at the White House Health Summit,” said Rep. Peter Roskam. “I’m looking forward to offering the President commonsense reforms to cut costs and increase access that we can work together on in a bipartisan manner. Unfortunately the latest version of the Democrats’ healthcare overhaul plan offers more of the same that Americans have already overwhelmingly rejected. I strongly urge President Obama to come to the table truly ready to work across the aisle, like we did on a range of controversial issues in the Illinois Senate.”

Web Ad: The Blair House Project

Madigan moves forward to protect his power and eliminate LG office

What a surprise - Mike Madigan is getting his way in the Illinois House!

Democrat House Speaker Michael Madigan advanced today his legislation aimed at eliminating the lieutenant governor's office in 2015 - leaving his daughter as heir apparent the next time an Illinois Governor is incapacitated (physically or legally).

Madigan says his power play is in response to Scott Lee Cohen's victory in the Democrat Primary election this month. But it's more likely a stalking horse for what fellow Democrat Lou Lang is pushing - requiring each gubernatorial candidate to find, recruit, and run with a lieutenant governor candidate in the primary.

Just another trick to protect incumbency and maintain the power structure currently in place.

Obama, Dems in ‘05: 51 Vote ‘Nuclear Option’ Is ‘Arrogant’ Power Grab