Illinois Review

Schock: It's time to audit the Federal Reserve

By Congressman Aaron Schock -

On Wednesday, the House will vote on and pass legislation by Congressman Ron Paul (TX) to audit the Federal Reserve. I cosponsored this needed bill which takes the necessary steps to open up the Federal Reserve and begin to shine light on a government bureaucracy that impacts the daily lives of every American far more than one might imagine.

It’s alarming to know that since the 2008 financial crisis, the Fed has tripled its balance sheet to $3 trillion – the equivalent of 20 percent of the economy. Additionally, the Fed has lent out nearly $16 trillion over the course of the financial crisis – which is more than the size of the entire economy.

While the Fed’s financial statements are audited annually, unfortunately the Fed’s monetary policy operations are currently exempt from being audited. In fact, the daily activities of the Federal Reserve occur with almost no scrutiny by elected Members of Congress or without the watchful eyes of the Government Accountability Office (GAO).

Another state rep resigns. How much bigger will the state grant bribery scandal get?

The questions the Illinois Republican Party is asking are worthy of response. It is indeed curious through the Chicago Tribune the public learns weeks after the fact that State Rep. Constance Howard (D-Chicago) resigned from office July 6th. From the IL GOP:

CHICAGO - Actions by another member of Speaker Mike Madigan's House Democrat Caucus raises questions if even more Democrat lawmakers are tied to a state bribery scandal.  Today "we" learned that Illinois State Representative Connie Howard has resigned from office, but Speaker Madigan was informed of the resignation 18 days ago.  Howard’s official state webpage and page on Speaker Mike Madigan’s Illinois House Democrats website currently are both active even though she handed in her resignation 18 days ago.

Kinzinger responds as Air Force moves to correct F-22 problems

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL-11) and Viriginia's U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner issued the following joint comment Tuesday after the U.S. made several announcements regarding the F-22 Raptor. Since May, Senator Warner and Representative Kinzinger have been calling on the Air Force to determine why some pilots of the F-22 Raptor have experienced dangerous incidents of oxygen deprivation and blackouts:

“Returning the F-22 to 100% mission capability and protecting our pilots has been our shared  goal throughout this discussion, so it is promising that consultation with NASA and the Navy appears to be pointing the Air Force toward a potential solution to the F-22 oxygen deprivation issues.  

“It makes sense to maintain a majority of Secretary Panetta’s safety restrictions on the F-22 while the Air Force looks further into potential issues with a valve and a hose that connects to the survival gear worn by pilots. We certainly look forward to much more specific information about these problems and proposed solutions during our briefing with the Air Force, which has been scheduled for July 31st.

Former Governor Thompson endorses Plummer in 12th CD

MARION - Former Illinois Governor Jim Thompson made a rare endorsement Tuesday when he traveled downstate to show his support for Republican 12th CD candidate Jason Plummer.

Thompson attended fundraisers for Plummer at 17th Street Bar and Grill in Marion and Giant City Lodge in Carbondale.

(video from The Southern)

Quinn and Dillard agree: nothing's more important to Illinois than pension reform

Gov. Pat Quinn pushes the Illinois General Assembly to tackle state employee pension reform. Sen. Kirk Dillard says he's "keeping an open mind" if Madigan's idea of pushing the pension burden down to local school districts has to be combined with "real" pension reform.

"Rome is burning," Dillard said. Lack of pension reform is costing Illinois taxpayers $12 million per day.

Bill Moyers doesn't hate gun violence, he hates Americans

In a piece on Huffington Post, liberal commentator Bill Moyers exploits the massacre in Colorado and feigns a hate of "gun violence" as cover for his real dislike: America and it's simple, ignorant people who cling to God and guns.

Of course with the passage of time ticking ever louder for the old leftist, Moyers abandons all subtlety and subterfuge, and writes what he and all liberals really think about us:

"We are after all a country that began with the forced subjugation into slavery of millions of Africans and the reliance on arms against Native Americans for its Westward expansion. In truth, more settlers traveling the Oregon Trail died from accidental, self-inflicted gunshots wounds than Indian attacks -- we were not only bloodthirsty but also inept."

Bill Moyers hates America. Nobody is surprised.

New Prosperity Foundation Super PAC goes cable to bolster IL GOP incumbents

Former GOP gubernatorial candidate Ron Gidwitz' Super PAC, the New Prosperity Foundation, launched a $40k cable TV ad buy today in the Chicagoland area, focused on the north suburban 10th, northwest suburban 8th and the west suburban 11th CD races.

Gidwitz, along with Illinois Manufacturers' Assn. president Greg Baise, is investing about $40,000 in the buy, with most of it focused on preserving Congressman Joe Walsh, with less supporting Congressional incumbents Judy Biggert and Bob Dold. Here's the one against Bill Foster in the Biggert district.

Schilling accepts October 10th debate invite, no response from Bustos

EAST MOLINE - After weeks of silence from the Bustos campaign, U.S. Rep. Bobby Schilling (R-Colona) is now moving forward in an effort to schedule debates.

On July 9th, the Schilling campaign sent a letter to the campaign of former Alderwoman Cheri Bustos (D-East Moline) regarding a proposed meeting to meet independently to discuss a debate schedule. The Schilling campaign followed up with several more attempts to contact the Bustos campaign, each of which went unanswered.

"I look forward to talking about my record of fighting to create jobs, working to balance the budget, and leading by example," Schilling said. "The people of this area want to hear from their congressional candidates, and I believe this debate will provide a stark contrast between myself and my opponent."

Will County Elections Board removes eight Democrats from county board ballot

JOLIET - Tuesday, the Will County Board of Elections removed eight Will County Democrat candidates running for county board off November's ballot. 

Will County GOP Chairman Ed Ronkowski and attorney Dick Kavanaugh objected to candidates the Will County Democrats placed on the ballot because the Democrat Party chairman failed to send out legal notices on candidate appointments as required by elections law. 

The Board, consisting of two Democrats and one Republican made their decision at 1:00 PM Tuesday afternoon. 

A developing story ...

The Lazy American Dream (video)

A parody, of course, but is it funny or just Redneck bigotry?

The Root of Law

By Hannah Ihms -

When a small band of American colonists took on the world superpower of their day, they didn’t speak from a position of military superiority. They also didn’t cite a Rasmussen poll or make an emotional appeal. They presented the facts: King George III’s actions assaulted God’s laws.

Their actions weren’t based on a moral majority; they were based on a moral authority. This appeal to a higher law is not to be underestimated. The Founders were deeply motivated by a Judeo-Christian worldview which showed that the unchanging God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob was the definition of all that was good, and that He had revealed absolute truth by embedding it in each person’s soul, and providing a written, unchanging account of His Word. The Founders freely acknowledged the role that Judeo-Christianity played in the framing of this new nation’s laws. As John Adams said, “We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion . . . Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” James Wilson, U.S. Supreme Court Justice and signer of the Constitution, said, “Human law must rest its authority ultimately upon the authority of that law which is divine... Far from being rivals or enemies, religion and law are twin sisters, friends, and mutual assistants. Indeed, these two sciences run into each other.”

According to Judeo-Christianity, each person has inherent worth because he is created in God’s image. But because man is fallen, he is not perfectible in this life. God is the ultimate authority, and no man is “above the law.” Anyone’s actions can be weighed against the ideal that God provided. The Founders established a system where all laws were compared to the Constitution, and, ultimately, to the absolute law of God. Americans could pursue a “more perfect” union by studying the ideal God provided for their nature and human systems and work to more closely approach the ideal. The Founders’ understanding of this and their first-hand experience with a tyrant allowed them to build a system that affirmed personal freedom and provided a limited government with separated powers. They gave us something they had not inherited from the Crown: a Constitution.

Colorado killer was paid by the government

It's now been revealed that James Holmes, the alleged gunman in the Colorado theater shooting, was living off the government as a recipient of a grant from the National Institutes of Health, which is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

DHS gave Holmes a $26,000 stipend and paid his tuition for the program in Neuroscience at the University of Colorado in Denver. More HERE

Expect the media to start changing their tune about Holme's motives.

Catholic Church Paid for Obama's Alinsky Group Community Organizing Training

A new book by conservative icon Phyllis Schlafly and American Spectator journalist George Neumayr exposes never-before-seen documents that purportedly show that the Catholic Church supported, and gave monies to, Barack Obama in the 1980s to attend a community organizing training with the Saul Alinsky-founded Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF). Additionally, in “No Higher Power,” the authors highlight other problematic funding and allegiances between the Church and ultra-liberal causes.

It’s no secret that the left has learned the ropes of using faith and religion for political gain. For years, liberals lamented conservatives’ close allegiance with Christian leaders. But now, in a change of course, they seem to be revving up the engagement and infiltration of faith communities in an effort to harness political power. ...More HERE

The news ... illustrated

"Agenda: Grinding America Down" showing in Joliet Tuesday night

A recently released video "Agenda: Grinding America Down" is creating a buzz, suggesting that Barack Obama and his associates are intent on grinding America down to levels similar to China and Russia.

"Agenda" will be shown Tuesday night at Cemeno's on Essington Rd in Joliet, starting at 7:00 PM.

Indiana woman arrested for bringing 15 yr old into Illinois for abortion

Correction of earlier information: The Illinois Supreme Court must act once again in order for Illinois' decades old parental notification law to go into effect. AG Lisa Madigan has no power on this matter at this time. 

However, the lack of enforcement of the law passed in 1995 continues to attract minors seeking abortions from surrounding states. From LifeNews.com -

An Indiana woman has been arrested for taking a teenager out of state for a secret abortion without her parents’ knowledge. Kacy L. Heath, 43, of Owensville, Indiana, has been charged with to the delinquency of a minor, a class C felony; and conspiracy to commit identity theft, a class D felony.

The Indiana State Police indicated it conducted an investigation after getting information about a 15-year-old Gibson County girl who had an abortion on Friday in Grant [Granite] City, Illinois without her parents’ approval or knowledge. Indiana State Police Detective Tobias Odom said the girl became pregnant by Heath’s son, Steven King, 21, of Owensville.

The Evansville Courier & Press reported: “State police said Heath paid for the abortion and provided identification for the 15-year-old so she could have the abortion. The girl’s legal guardians had no knowledge of her pregnancy or the abortion, according to the report. King was arrested in April for sexual misconduct with the minor in connection to this investigation, police said. He is currently being held on bond in the Gibson County Jail. Heath is currently in the Gibson County Jail on a $7,000 cash only bond.”

From LifeNews.com

Statewide News Headlines for July 24, 2012

By Patrick Kelly -

• Drew Peterson introduces self to would-be jurors
• Illinois town asks for Mitt Romney to help
• Quinn signs laws to raise fines for parking fraud
• Cigarette smuggling on the rise as taxes skyrocket
• Governor lauds Illinois sailor killed in massacre
• Judge in Peterson case could throw out hearsay
• Cook County delays $34 million request to fix records warehouse
• Farrakhan, Nation of Islam take to city streets again to curb violence
• Republicans score political points at suburban job fairs
• Chicago school budget vote put off while teacher talks go on

Obamacare: You Can Keep Your Doctor

By Nancy Thorner and Jane Keill -

On June 15, 2009, President Obama made an address to the annual meeting of the American Medical Association. For patients, he made a sweeping pledge that: “No matter how we reform health care, we will keep this promise: If you like your doctor, you will be able to keep your doctor. Period……”

So what happens if you like your doctor(s) and felt relieved when the President indicated that you could keep your doctors?  What Obama didn’t tell you is that your doctor may not be there for you to keep, or your doctor may decide that he no longer wants you as a patient.

Three men killed, 28 others wounded in Chicago since Friday

CHICAGO - With all the focus on Aurora Colorado, little attention has been given to the ongoing violence and killing continuing this summer in Chicago. 

Three men are dead and at least 28 other people wounded from gun violence across the city since Friday night.

Details are HERE.

UPDATE for Monday:  Three were wounded, one fatally, during a shooting in the West Garfield Park neighborhood midday today, police said. The attack happened near Jackson Boulevard and Kostner Avenue about 11:40 a.m., according to a Harrison District police sergeant.

Business Owners Hit Back at Obama in ‘I Built This’ Video

Romneycare, not a clone of Obamacare

By Nancy Thorner and Ed Ingold -

President Obama in the past has frequently tagged his speeches with a reference to Mitt Romney's Massachusetts health insurance reforms as the basis for his Obamacare. This same claim has not unexpectedly been picked up and used as ammunition against Mitt Romney by the only too willing mainstream media.  

Obama care is a very complicated piece of legislation. Although it was passed over two years ago with the admonition from Speaker Pelosi that "We have to pass it before we can understand it," very few people have read it, much less understood its ramifications.

1,700 look for work at west suburban job fair

BLOOMINGDALE – Monday, Congressman Peter Roskam (IL-06) along with Reps. Bob Dold (IL-10), Randy Hultgren (IL-14) and Joe Walsh (IL-08) hosted the Chicagoland Job Fair at Medinah Banquets in Addison, IL. 

Over 100 employers from across industry groups set up information tables throughout the hall.  As many as 1,700 area residents participated in the job fair, which offered free workshops on interviewing skills, job search best practices and how to effectively use social media when looking for employment. 

“Too many Illinoisans are out of work and struggling to make ends meet in this tough economy,” said Roskam.  “Getting people back to work and creating an environment for job growth is my main focus both in Washington and back home in Chicagoland.  I’m thrilled today’s job fair was so well attended and hope that folks were able to make connections and find good jobs."

Sun-Times reporter jumps from struggling newspaper to Quinn's budget staff

In the stunner of the day, NBC's Ward Room caught the news on Facebook that the Chicago Sun-Times' top political report Abdon Pallasch has jumped from the struggling to stay afloat Sun Times to be on Quinn's distressed budget crew, working on a ship of state and a cause most consider akin to the "unsinkable" Titanic.

Ed McClellan reports Pallasch announced the duty shift from holding budget officials accountable to becoming one of them on his Facebook page with this comment:

Apparently he’s actually read some of the 700 or so stories I’ve  written over the last 25 years taking apart federal, state, county and city  budgets. “Abdon, you do a very good job taking these complex budget issues and  explaining them so people can understand them – and a large part of this job is communication.” I’ve been picking through state budgets since Gov. Thompson’s days looking for fat and I ain’t afraid to cut.

Sweet sailing through rough waters ahead, Abdon.  Now inquiring media eyes will be focused on you - at least some of them.  Question:  Will you be taking advantage of secure Illinois pension package??

Walsh willing, Duckworth not -- for second 8th CD debate

From Walsh for Congress campaign -

Congressman Joe Walsh will participate in the second organized debate of the general election for the 8th congressional district campaign. The debate, hosted by Trinity Roselle Lutheran Church, will take place Sunday, July 29 at 1pm. Walsh's opponent, Tammy Duckworth, has declined to attend.

Congressman Walsh stated, "I applaud Trinity Lutheran's engagement in the democratic process and the issues our country faces. Getting before people to openly explain my solutions on how we fix government and revive America has always been a priority. It's why I've worked to make myself the most accessible member of Congress, hosting over 100 town halls and listening events with voters and constituents."

Will County leaders to declare independence from Chicago Way

By Mark Batinick -

Imagine what it must have been like living in the American Colonies in the late 1700’s. The people were governed by a king who didn’t understand or live in the area. The people were taxed without representation from political leaders who didn’t live in the area either. The local politicians were merely figureheads who owed their loyalty to the king -- not to the people of the colony. As a child, I often wondered what it was like to live under that rule. Now I don’t have to wonder anymore. I live in “Will Colony.”

Consider the facts. The “King”, Michael Madigan, controls the state. He has reigned for most of the last 30 years. He even has a successor lined up in daughter Lisa. With the new census, the king drew a new map. He drew lines just like British Kings did when dividing the colonies. King Madigan must really like the Royal Jackson lineage, because Prince Jesse Jackson Jr. was given a nice piece of Will Colony. Beside presiding over a swath of precious farmland, Prince Jackson will be ruling over the new airport. Prince Lipinski, and Prince Bobby Rush were also given big pieces of Will Colony.  But these leaders know that they are not to be loyal to the subjects of Will Colony, they serve King Madigan and the Chicago/Cook County Political Machine.

Colorado proves we've all become 'excellently behaved victims'

"The responses of both presidential candidates to the horror in Colorado feel weak to me. They are characteristic of our culture, which treats each of these grotesque acts of mass killing as 'tragedies.' The proper response to such an atrocity is rage. It wouldn't be out of place for the president and the man who hopes to replace him to refer to the shooter as a 'monster.' We don't do that. Instead, we focus on 'healing.' We've become excellently behaved victims." --columnist Mona Charen

‘Unity Party’ Democrat to challenge indicted Rep. Smith

SPRINGFIELD – Disgraced Democrat state Rep. Derrick Smith will be on the ballot come November. The Democrat machine ensured that back in March even after he was arrested. However, Smith may be booted from the House, so the Democrats need to find a new candidate.

One challenger, Lance Tyson, appears to be their pick. Tyson is a black Democrat in the predominantly black, low-income but historically well-organized 10th House District on Chicago’s west side.

Tyson has the backing of the state’s Democrat machine – something Smith had until after the primary election. But the word “Democrat” won’t come after Tyson’s name on the November ballot. So, the Democrat Party has set up the "Unity Party" to run Tyson against Smith in order to retain the seat.

Tyson is a well-connected Chicago attorney with ties to both former Chicago mayor Richard M. Daley and former Cook County board president Todd Stroger. ...More HERE

State accuses 19 of stealing unemployment benefits

As if there's not too many on Illinois' unemployment rolls, they find that at least 19 people are accused of stealing up to $40,000 in unemployment benefits - and two of them while in prison. SJ-R.com reports:

A nearly year-long investigation in Illinois has led to indictments against 19 people accused of stealing unemployment benefits worth between $11,000 and $40,000 each. The indictments were announced at a news conference Friday by U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois Stephen Wigginton.

The Belleville News-Democrat reports that two of the suspects were collecting benefits while serving prison time. More at HERE

Illinois teacher-training program costs $271,000 per teacher

SPRINGFIELD - It sounds like something that would pop up on a math test: A teacher-training program gets $19 million in state aid. Over six years, it produces only 70 teachers. How much has the state spent for each teacher so far?

The answer: More than $271,000 each.

Public employee "advocates" of the Grow Your Own Teachers program insist those numbers are misleading and incomplete. "This is a program worth investing in," said Maureen Gillette, dean of the College of Education at Northeastern Illinois University.

The latest state budget includes $1 million for the program. ...More HERE

The Cost Of "Intervention"

By Bill Buckler, author of The Privateer -

The Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) is a small “think tank” in Washington DC which puts out an annual report called: “Ten Thousand Commandments”. The report deals with the regulatory agencies of the US federal government and the cost of the regulations they continually introduce - and enforce. This report would be typical of the regulatory function of pretty well every government in the world.

In all interventionist economies, regulations are not set by the “lawmakers”. The “lawmakers” merely pass the laws, their enforcement is left to the various bureaucratic departments of government. And in order to “enforce” the laws, the bureaucrats see it as their function to impose regulations - countless thousands of them. The cost of complying with these regulations is met by those being regulated. It does NOT show up in the annual budgets (funded or unfunded) of the government.

Task force warns Illinois is broke; let's fiddle away

Yet another prestigious group suggests that Illinois is headed for fiscal calamity if it can't somehow figure out how to reverse long-term and deepening budget woes. This time, the bad news comes from the State Budget Crisis Task Force, headed by former Federal Reserve Board Chairman Paul Volcker and New York financial guru Richard Ravitch. More HERE

The news ... illustrated

CTU Prez blames "lower class students" and " students of color" for teacher ridicule (video)

CHICAGO - So, you're Chicago Teacher Union President Karen Lewis and you're in the midst of tough teacher strike negotiations and you're tired and edgy with the growing ridicule of teachers. Who do you blame?

Listen to what Lewis said on a recent radio broadcast - She blames "students of working or lower class" and "students of color." Note the last 30 seconds of this audio - captured by EagNews.org:

Statewide News Headlines for July 23, 2012

By Patrick Kelly -

• Durbin and Kirk: railroads should do more inspections
• Jury selection to start Monday in Peterson trial
• Quinn asks for disaster designation
• Vigils taking place in Chicago, across country
• 2011 audit shows Chicago has more cash and growing debt load
• 3 killed, 23 hurt in shootings since Friday night
• Panel rejects trooper's workers' comp appeal
• Calls for gun control stir little support
• Pilot survives plane crash near Chicago lakefront

Black group saddened by Chicago woman's death after abortion

The following is submitted by Day Gardner, President, National Black Pro-Life Union:

Tonya Reaves (pictured right), who was only 24, died Friday, July 20, 2012 on the operating table of a Chicago Planned Parenthood. According to a local CBS television station, Tonya died of a hemorrhage due to an abortion.

It is so heartbreaking and tragic that this young woman believed the continuous lies of Planned Parenthood who state that abortions are perfectly safe.

The truth is that abortion is not safe for the women who experience physical and emotional problems for years and years after having an abortion -- abortion is not safe for the 4,500 innocent babies that are brutally slaughtered each and every day in America, and abortion is most certainly not safe for the young women who die at the hand of an abortionist.

Is Milton Township's Ralph Hinkle a political crony or a valued employee?

WHEATON - The Daily Herald's political reporter Robert Sanchez picked up Adam Andrzejewski's revelations about spending among Milton Township staffers and asked the question about Ralph Hinkle: Is he Milton Township Supervisor Chris Heidorn's political crony or a valued employee? 

And should Ralph Hinkle's credit cards and government-funded cell phone be taken away?

All these are hot topics among Milton Township employees these days, and Ralph Hinkle doesn't sound too intimidated in Sanchez' story. He defended his work setting up an emergency response team and the resources Milton Township provides for the job.

Andrzejewski doesn't see it the same way. The more taxpayers are demanded upon in economically unstable times, the crankier they get. Taxpayers are funny that way.

The Daily Herald's story is HERE and For the Good of Illinois' PAC investigative report is found on Illinois Review HERE and the org's website.

NCAA Partly Right and Partly Wrong

By Mark Rhoads -

The NCAA will impose a ban on post-season football games for Penn State because of the failure of the athletics department to fully investigate, report, and act on the child abuse allegations against former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky. This part of the NCAA penalty is well within the power of NCAA and is a legitimate use of the association's disciplinary functions.

But NCAA also seems to think it is now a court of law in that it will impose a fine of $60 million on the taxpayers of Pennsylvania via Penn State's budget to pay for external programs to help child abuse victims in general but not the specific victims of Sandusky. Note NCAA is a little vague about what it will be specifically used for except that it must be for programs outside the university. It is doubtful this part of the NCAA penalty plan is a proper use of the association powers.

Lawmakers push Madigan to allow House floor vote preserving marriage definition

SPRINGFIELD - State Rep. Tom Morrison (R-Arlington Heights) and State Rep. David Reis (R-Ste. Marie) took a Speaker-defiant step last Thursday, when they filed House Joint Resolution 95 in the Illinois House.

HJR 95 encourages the Illinois General Assembly to adopt a Constitutional Amendment 50 and allow Illinois voters to vote on the topic in the 2014 Illinois General Election. The proposal also calls for all county clerks to be notified of the state assembly's intention to reflect the people's will on the definition of marriage, rather than leave the matter in the hands of the judicial branch.

Rep. Reis encouraged Illinoisans concerned about upholding the current state's definition of marriage to call their lawmakers and encourage them to sign on as co-sponsors and commit to supporting the resolution.

“All concerned residents of the state that want Illinois to uphold its laws and safeguard the institution of marriage are encouraged to call their state representatives and senators and ask them to support an amendment to the Illinois Constitution clearly defining marriage," Reis said. "If we don’t, this issue might very well get decided in the courts.”

House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago), who determines any House legislation's progress, has not been pressured to allow Rep. Reis's marriage amendment proposal to move from its introduction phase. Madigan has not allowed HJRCA 50 to be taken up in House Rules Committee since Rep Reis first introduced it in July 2012, nor has Madigan allowed HJRCA 50 to be assigned to a House committee for consideration. 

The wording of Morrison and Reis' House Joint Resolution 95 urging consideration of HJRCA 50 is below:

Woman dies after abortion at Loop Planned Parenthood clinic

CHICAGO - A CBS news affiliate in Chicago reported over the weekend that a 24 year old woman died Friday, July 20, 2012, following an abortion at the Planned Parenthood clinic located at 18 S. Michigan Ave. in Chicago, Illinois.

The woman, Tonya Reaves, was transported from the Loop Health Center Planned Parenthood abortion clinic to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 11:20 P.M. .

An autopsy conducted Saturday determined that Reaves died from hemorrhage following a Dilation and Evacuation abortion. The D&E abortion method is one employed in pregnancies that have advanced beyond the first trimester. It involves opening the cervix and removing the pre-born baby by dismembering him or her. The Loop Health Center Planned Parenthood advertises aborting babies up to 18 weeks.

The Tribune reports Planned Parenthood issued a statement of condolence after the Cook County coroner ruled the death an accident. The Tribune did not publish the statement's contents and it is not available on their website.

Southside doctor sentenced to 2.5 years in federal prison

CHICAGO—A physician that operated a south side medical clinic, Dr. Jaswinder Rai Chhibber, was sentenced to 2.5 years in federal prison for engaging in a health care fraud scheme between 2007 and July 2010, federal law enforcement officials announced Friday.

Chhibber, who operated the former Cottage Grove Community Medical Clinic, located at 642 East 79th St., Chicago, was convicted following a trial in March of defrauding BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois by submitting false insurance claims for medically unnecessary tests he ordered for patients and using false diagnosis codes to justify those tests.

Chhibber, 50, of Schaumburg, was ordered to begin serving his 30-month prison term on September 5 by U.S. District Judge Suzanne Conlon, who imposed the sentence, along with a $15,000 fine.

Chhibber was found guilty of five counts of health care fraud and four counts of making false statements involving a health care benefits program after a week-long trial. The jury found him not guilty of seven additional counts.

More in FBI report

Quinn calls on IL House to talk pensions during August one-day session

CHICAGO - Last Friday, House Speaker Mike Madigan called the Illinois House to convene for a one-day session August 17th. A House committee decided last week to move forward with an effort to oust Democratic State Rep. Derrick Smith of Chicago from his Illinois House seat. Smith has been charged with bribery associated with his office. He pled not guilty. 

But Governor Quinn said Friday he would like the Illinois House to also use the session to decide what to do about the state’s troubled pension systems. When the legislative session adjourned at the end of May, pension reform talks had stalled. 

Many state lawmakers speculate that nothing will be done to correct the state's $130 Billion pension deficit until after the November election. and most are not sure any substantial changes will be addressed even then.

Reis urges resolution upholding state's marriage definition

OLNEY - With the recent lawsuits filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County challenging the prohibition of same-sex marriage in the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act, State Representative David Reis (R-Ste. Marie) is co-sponsoring a resolution that upholds the state’s ban on same-sex marriage.

“It is time for the General Assembly to reaffirm their support for Illinois laws reserving the institution of marriage between one man and one woman,” Rep. Reis said. “The people I represent are adamantly opposed to same-sex marriage and troubled by our Attorney General’s recent dereliction of duty by not defending our state’s policy on marriage.”

America is a Judeo-Christian Nation (video)

WASHINGTON - In a 2009 House floor speech, Virginia's Congressman Randy Forbes quoted numerous presidents that affirmed the Judeo-Christian roots of American political philosophy, defying an ongoing effort - led by the Obama Administratio - to disconnect from them.

You Didn't Build That: Readings from the Book of Barack

While Illinois Review cited and bylined Iowahawk blog, it has come to our attention that the owner of Iowahawk blog does not wish the post to be printed here. See Iowahawk blog for the post. We highly recommend it. It is quite entertaining.

Liberals Never Let a Tragedy Go to Waste

By Teri O'Brien -

Whenever a lunatic goes on a shooting spree and murders innocent people, we look for explanations, as if there could be an explanation for what happened early Friday morning in a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado. This impulse to understand is part of human nature. Sadly, so is the existence of insanity and evil, neither of which will ever be eradicated. Nevertheless, the mass shooting in Colorado has given secular liberals the opportunity to demonstrate their silly and arrogant belief that, given sufficient control over their fellow citizens, they, with their perfect laws and regulations, could prevent tragic violence, and otherwise create heaven on earth. On cue, here they go again, exploiting these killings to promote their anti-freedom, anti-Second Amendment agenda. As if, given the depravity and premeditation of this maniac, anything could have stopped him from committing murder and mayhem. We’ll hear some of the idiotic statements by the many stupid smart people talking at each other about this horrific event, and try to answer some of our own questions. Is it just me, or does it seem that our Lame Stream Media friends enjoy these tragedies a bit too much?

Santo inducted into Hall of Fame Sunday

CHICAGO - Today is the day Chicago Cubs fans have been waiting for: Ron Santo will join the National Baseball Hall of Fame. The ceremony will be shown live on the MLB Network starting at 11:30 a.m. CDT.

Prolife walk participant killed on Indiana highway

INDIANAPOLIS - A California man was fatally struck by a vehicle along a central Indiana highway Friday while he was walking across the country as part of an anti-abortion group.

Andrew Moore, 20, of Concord, Calif., was struck and killed about 5 a.m. after he and another walker were dropped off on U.S. 40 about 28 miles southwest of Indianapolis, Hendricks County authorities said.

Joseph Moore, Andrew's father, released the following moving written comments in honor of his son's memory:

Andrew Moore: 1991 – 2012.

Millions of fathers have had to come to grips with the tragic, untimely deaths of a beloved child. I am no different, and no different in wanting my son remembered for the unique and good man that he was. Here are a few pieces of his story.

Statewide News Headlines for July 22, 2012

By Patrick Kelly -

• Navy sailor from Illinois killed in Colorado shooting
• Drew Peterson heads to trial in third wife's death
• Navy veteran, 2 service members killed in shooting
• New law lets Illinois jurors turn down pay
• Immigration authorities arrest 44 in Illinois
• $3 million bail in death of correctional officer
• Worst of the worst at Tamms could be shipped out of state
• Illinois likely to expand Medicaid under federal insurance law
• Student who reported finding bomb threat arrested

Hundreds tell lawmakers "Hands Off My Healthcare"

LOCKPORT - Americans for Prosperity-Illinois held three "Hands Off My Healthcare" rallies throughout the Chicago suburbs Saturday, starting with an event in Will County. Dr. Barbara Bellar, Mark Batinick and WLS 890 AM talk show host Dan Proft challenged the 300 gathered at Lockport High School to tell their lawmakers to reject the Obama Administration's plan for government-run healthcare.

Homer - Lockport Township Tea Party has posted videos of Saturday's speeches HERE.

Is "The Agenda" conservative paranoia or reality?

JOLIET - Why would the Left continue to push their radical agenda onto America when the plan is so destructive? There's only two possibilities - they're either ignorant or they're evil. From his investigation into what has caused America's drastic decline, producer and director Curtis Bowers says the Left won't be able to use the "ignorant" excuse because they've left too much evidence of their plans.

"Their agenda ... America has an enemy that is getting very close to accomplishing its plan of destroying the greatest country in all world history," Bowers says in the introduction to "The Agenda: Grinding America Down," which will be featured Tuesday night at Cemeno's on Essington Road in Joliet, starting at 6:00 PM.

Maybe you think the concept is conservative hysteria or paranoia. Or maybe you think something's awry and we're headed in the wrong direction as a nation. Join URF Action, Illinois Family Action and the Joliet Area Tax Day Tea Party as they join together to figure out what's going on in Illinois and throughout our country. That's the first step in re-directing and strategizing to rebuild our struggling state and country.

After the presentation, there will be a panel discussion of all these topics with David E. Smith of Illinois Family Institute, Dennis G. LaComb of URF Action and Fran Eaton of Illinois Review.