Illinois Review

Bustos denies voting for $625K to connect her street to golf course

EAST MOLINE - The RNCC has launched a new ad against East Moline city council member and Democrat Congressional candidate Cheri Bustos. Bustos has been accused of voting four times for taxpayer to pay for a street to connect her subdivision to the local golf course. The 17th CD candidate says that accusation is a lie. She's challenging incumbent GOP Congressman Bobby Schilling in a close race.

ILGOP reports more than 4 million calls made to Illinois voters

CHICAGO - At the Illinois Republican Party's Victory Centers, volunteers have surpassed the number of calls they made before the 2010 election. In an email ILGOP Chairman Pat Brady writes, 'As of this weekend, Illinois Victory has made more than 4.21 million calls and 105,000 door knocks in targeted districts across the state."

"We know that Republican-leaning voters who receive a personal call or knock at the door are more likely to turnout and vote. And that’s exactly what we’re seeing," Victory Center coordinator Jon Blessing wrote in an email. "Across Illinois, we are outperforming our 2010 early voting turnout numbers."

Minor says he's "modified" his right-to-work position

MARION - GOP State Senate candidate Mark Minor has "modified" his position on workers' freedom from the answer he gave conservative groups earlier this year. A controversy erupted when Minor told local news sources that his Democrat opponent Gary Forby's claims that Minor wanted to make Illinois a right to work state are not true.

“I am not in favor and I will not advocate right to work in this state," Minor was quoted as saying in the Daily Register in late September. Minor answered on a survey from Illinois conservative groups that he did support making Illinois a right to work state. In addition, he also supported state employees right to strike, while he opposed project labor agreements preventing non-union crews from bidding on taxpayer-funded projects:

Illinois Review queried Minor about whether he had changed his position as stated on the questionnaire, and Minor responded via email that he's modified his position, and said he didn't understand the issue at the time he answered:

Creepy: Children Sing Obama's Negative Messaging in New Ad

A new video from the founders of a celebrated advertising agency features children “of the future” singing about the aftermath of a Mitt Romney presidency: A world where sick people are required to “just die,” the atmosphere is “frying,” gays can be “fixed” and “oil fills the sea.”

The children, who stare blankly at the camera throughout the video, even take pains to explicitly mention that they blame “mom and dad” for all those horrors. ...Creepy

McElroy flips on opposition to civil unions and gambling expansion

DECATUR - Questions are being raised about the answers Decatur Mayor Republican Mike McElroy gave to several Illinois conservative groups when he said he would support repealing civil unions and opposing the expansion of gambling. Political columnist Bernie Schoenberg said Sunday that the 48th Senate district candidate's latest positions are different than those he stated on a questionnaire posted on Illinois Review earlier this year:

Those McElroy answers are different than the simple answer McElroy gave when he filled out a questionnaire for the conservative Illinois Review website in January. There, he said “yes” to repeal of the civil unions law.

McElroy, who used to own a bar and has worked for decades for a beer distributor, also ct hecked a box for Illinois Review saying that he opposes expansion of gaming in Illinois. But he told both the newspaper and WTAX that gambling can help communities. For instance, he said, Danville “needs a shot desperately, so I would be in favor of that,” meaning expanded gaming.

McElroy also told a local radio station he is now opposed repealing the civil unions law, which he supported repealing earlier this year:

Three downstate Senate races surpass $1M mark

The Southern is keeping an eye on the money being spent on downstate Senate races. Three of them have surpassed the $1 million mark:

The race for the 59th Senate District seat pitting state Sen. Gary Forby, D-Benton, against Republican Mark Minor of Benton also has topped the $1.1 million level, with most of the largesse going to Forby.

The race for a Senate seat representing a swath of central Illinois is even more expensive.

The Limits of Polls

By Mark Rhoads -

The most recent poll of Ohio voters sponsored by a group of major newspapers in the state shows a tie of 49 percent each for Romney and Obama. But as with most polls, you have to read deeper in the numbers to find significant trends and to find the limits of the methodology of the poll. In this particular poll, the number of people who refused to respond was huge. In fact, the rate of response was only about 19 percent of the thousands of calls that were made.

Obama's "Julia" makes appearance at FreePAC Illinois

SCHAUMBURG - Friday night, there was a surprise visit from Obama's "Julia" at FreedomWorks.org's FreePAC Illinois ...

Obama has a plan for America - an insidious plan

By Teri O'Brien - 

Barack Obama is a man with a plan, and it isn’t the recycled, and long ago broken, promises repeated in the silly brochure he has been waving around in front of his low-information fans during recent campaign appearances. It’s true that these tired slogans reflect his no-growth, big government policies, and are a rehash of what he promised in 2008. It’s also true that the only people left who are surprised by that fact are the afore-mentioned ignoramuses who still don’t recognize what a breathtaking failure he has been. The pamphlet is nothing more than another coverup of his actual plan for America; specifically, to make it poorer and weaker, no longer the world’s sole superpower, but just another country in the United Nations roll call, to make its citizens more dependent on the government for even their most basic needs, and to confiscate and redistribute wealth from the makers to the takers.

Judge Napolitano schooled FreePAC Illinois on Americans' source of rights

SCHAUMBURG - Friday night, FreedomWorks.org hosted an evening with conservative speakers at the Schaumburg Convention Center. One of the speakers, Fox News contributor and talk show host Judge Andrew Napolitano, discussed "Do our rights come from government or the Creator?"

Questions remain unanswered about Benghazi debacle

By Nancy Thorner and Jane Keill -

Information about the attack has rapidly changed in the past weeks, and so has the Obama administration’s positions on it. The real story about what happened at the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi in which four Americans were killed just gets worse and worse. Not only did Barack Obama and his team perpetuate a lie for nearly two weeks as to the cause of the attack, but in breaking news, we are now learning that during the attack, Americans called out for help, and were denied any assistance.

For several weeks, in an effort to write an article that would relate our frustration and dismay over the lack of transparency and honesty that has been forthcoming from the White House since the 9/11 Benghazi terrorist attack, we asked ourselves this question: What if we pretended to interview Barack Obama about the Benghazi attack whenever more news surfaced, asking him questions through a series of fake interviews?  

Madonna booed when touting Obama Saturday night in New Orleans

NEW ORLEANS - AP reports Saturday night that Madonna drew boos and triggered a walkout by several concertgoers after she touted President Barack Obama on her “MDNA Tour” in New Orleans.

A self-respecting woman's sassy response to Lena Dunham

The Token Libertarian Girl responds for self-respecting women of all ages to Lena Dunham's ridiculous "first time" Obama video.

Plummer best choice, says The Southern

FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS - The influential The Southern newspaper picked Republican Jason Plummer to succeed retiring Democrat Jerry Costello in the Metro East Area's 13th congressional district:

... We endorse Jason Plummer for the U.S. House of Representatives.

Plummer’ election will mark a clean break with tradition for Southern Illinois. Decades of congressional representation by the Democratic Party have not been without progress for Southern Illinois, especially for transportation infrastructure. But the region’s longstanding issues with unemployment, lost opportunities for coal and economic growth argue for a new direction.

Coal is the biggest issue in the vote for the 12th Congressional District and Plummer is the most aggressive in promoting the potential for Southern Illinois coal...

Romney momentum builds in swing states

In addition to winning the Des Moines Register endorsement, Romney's momentum seems to be building in the swing states:

Ohio - Columbus Dispatch Poll: Romney closes Obama’s lead to split Ohio

"Boosted by a surge among male voters who think he’s the best candidate to fix the economy, Republican Mitt Romney has come back to tie President Barack Obama in battleground Ohio....They are deadlocked at 49  percent in a new Dispatch/Ohio News Organization poll. Obama was ahead by 5 points in the same poll published on Sept. 16.

Endorsement: Enquirer presidential endorsement: Mitt Romney

Virginia - Endorsement: Richmond Times-Dispatch: Prudent Change: Romney promises hope for recovery

Reich tweets 73% of Republicans are "racist, homophobic" and more

Looks like the Liberals are getty loony with the thought of Mitt Romney getting so close to winning November 6th. Here's what former Labor Secretary under Bill Clinton, Robert Reich, tweeted Saturday afternoon at 4:24 PM:

Roskam rouses Walsh supporters Saturday morning

ADDISON - West Side blogger Bill Baar was on hand this morning at the Joe Walsh/Peter Roskam rally in the 8th CD - Roskam tells the Walsh supporters how tough it was against Tammy Duckworth in 2006 and how he ultimately won with the help of dedicated volunteers. 

"Joe Walsh has taken all the slings and the arrows," Roskam said. "You want to make a liberal mad?  Send Joe Walsh back to Congress.

"Winning elections happens on the ground," Roskam said and sent the energized supporters on their way.

Did Obama Bet Wrong on Abortion?

By Mark Rhoads -

In a reversal of opinions from some prior years, the Gallup Poll for Oct. 26, 2012 indicates that 50 percent of Americans now call themselves "pro life" to only 41 percent who call themselves '"pro-choice." In addition, those who think abortion is "morally wrong" out-number those who think it is "morally acceptable" by a margin of 51 percent to 38 percent. Those who take the most extreme position that abortion should always be legal in all circumstances are also losing ground to only 25 percent. Most people opt for legal only under certain circumstances.

Romney leads by 6 in swing states

Rasmussen reports this morning that Mitt Romney is ahead by 6 points in the 11 swing states. Romney earns 51% of the vote to Obama’s 45%.  Two percent (2%) like another candidate in the race, and another two percent (2%) are undecided.

Romney has now led for 10 straight days. This is his highest level of support to date in the combined swing states, up five points from a month ago. This survey is conducted on a rolling seven-day basis, and now most of the interviews for today’s update were completed after Monday night’s final presidential debate.

In 2008, Obama won these states by a combined margin of 53% to 46%, virtually identical to his national margin.

Illinois congressional races pull in over $30M from outside sources

Over $30 mllion has flowed into Illinois congressional races, and the Sunlight Foundation found that to-date, it's Congressman Bobby Schilling's race in the 17th that's reported the most in total independent expenditures. It's the third highest in the nation since October 16th, surpassed only by the Ohio 16th CD and Pennsylvania's 12th.

Congressman Joe Walsh's battle to fend off Tammy Duckworth's challenge, is one of the least, which is surprising given the expensive Chicago media market.

Below are the total independent expenditures for each race this cycle:

• 17th - Schilling vs Bustos – $7.3 million
• 11th - Biggert vs Foster – $5.5 million
• 13th - Davis vs Gill – $5 million
• 12th - Plummer vs Enyart – $5 million
• 10th - Dold vs. Schneider – $4.4 million
• 8th - Walsh vs Duckworth – $3.5 million

Greenberg criticizes Illinois teacher pension mismanagement

PROSPECT HEIGHTS - In response to the announcement of disappointing investment returns by the Teachers' Retirement System of Illinois (TRS) for fiscal year 2012, Jonathan Greenberg, candidate for State Representative in District 57, released this statement criticizing the poor return and his opponent State Rep Elaine Nekritz:

"The news that TRS earned only .76% return on the investments made by teachers and taxpayers in FY12 is further evidence that: 1) after years of broken promises and total mismanagement by self-interested politicians, teachers can't count on the Illinois pension system to provide them with a secure retirement; and, 2) leaving taxpayers on the hook for this mess is a recipe for further economic disaster.

Lawsuit industry fueling 5th District Appellate campaign

By Travis Akin, Illinois Lawsuit Abuse Watch -

The lawsuit industry has gone all in for a local judicial campaign.

Illinois State Board of Elections records indicate that personal injury lawyer Judy Cates has reportedly received nearly $98,000 in individual contributions since the beginning of September. These contributions are on top of the $67,875 her campaign committee received from April 1 to June 30.

About half of Cates’s contributions have come from one law firm and the vast majority of her total funding has come from personal injury law firms. She even has received a large donation from a law firm from California!

Walsh asks why Duckworth is focused on abortion instead of the economy

With polling showing him behind Democrat opponent Tammy Duckworth, Congressman Joe Walsh today held a press conference challenging Duckworth and the Democrat Party's focus on the issue of abortion.

Pro-choice and pro-life businesswomen from the 8th Congressional District joined Walsh at a press conference this afternoon, and called on Duckworth to "stop discussing abortion and focus on the issues that matter to them today: jobs, the economy and the national debt."

Walsh told the gathering, "These women with me today, women not from California, but from within this 8th district - moms, business owners, grandmothers, community leaders, pro-choice and pro-life have all come together to ask a simple request of Ms. Duckworth: would you please have enough respect for women to speak to the issues that matter this year to women and their families?"

Business owner Marina Collazo followed, "I'm pro-choice. I'm trying to build my business. I know where I stand on abortion. Talk to me like a real woman. I care about more things than abortion."

Peggy Thotos, another 8th district business owner, added, "Quite frankly, I'm offended that Tammy Duckworth feels that women's main issue this election is abortion - I'm just offended by it. We've got so many people out there looking for work, worried about losing their homes and putting food on the table. Yet, she's talking about abortion. It'd be nice to really see her focus on what's important this election."

Father of Slain SEAL: Who Made the Decision Not to Save My Son?

Despite the Obama administration's attempt to suppress information about the Benghazi terrorist attack, disturbing details are leaking out and creating outrage. Following news that CIA operatives were thrice denied their request to assist the U.S. ambassador, the father of one of the slain SEALs is asking: "Who made the decision not to save my son?"

A good question. One that should be relevant as to whether President Obama is capable of protecting American lives for four more years.

FreedomWorks Live Event

Illinois Review is broadcasting live from Freedom Works Free PAC event in Schaumburg, Illinois

Desperation Ain't Pretty: Obama Drags the Presidency Into the Gutter

By Teri O'Brien -

As I have been telling you for over a year, because of his pathetic record, Barack Obama has been reduced to screeching lies to audiences of backward children, whose limited life experience and lack of information allow them to be enchanted by this affirmative-action assisted, TelePrompTer dependent empty suit.

Now that it seems that the momentum has shifted toward the grown up he's running against, Gov. Mitt Romney, B. Hussein's campaign's desperation is showing. They are resorting to disgusting new lows, including the following;

This creepy new ad, designed to appeal to young women, in which they use sexual innuendo to try to entice these barely post-adolescents to give Barry longer to continue his mission to "remake" (read destroy) America.

VP Biden makes obscene comment to slain Navy SEAL's father (video)

Glenn Beck interviewed Charles Woods, the father of one of the Benghazi embassy martyrs - Navy SEAL Tyrone Woods, who told of his experience with an emotionless president, a disingenuous secretary of state and an obscene and crass vice president the day his son's body was delivered back to the U.S.

Richard Mourdock, Meet Liam Neeson

By James Freeman -

Conservative Senate candidates have lately stumbled trying to explain why they oppose abortion even in cases where the pregnancy results from rape. But rather than discussing biology or divine intent, perhaps they should simply appeal to the authority of a Hollywood film.

In August, GOP Rep. Todd Akin of Missouri suggested that the female body can prevent pregnancy in the case of rape. He has repeatedly apologized since then but still trails incumbent Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill in most polls.

In a debate this week, Indiana Republican Senate candidate Richard Mourdock said, "Life is that gift from God. I think that even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that it is something God intended to happen."

After the debate Mr. Mourdock said that he meant that God creates life, not that God intends for rapes to occur. "Rape is a horrible thing, and for anyone to twist my words otherwise is absurd and sick," he said. Still, the debate comment is unlikely to help him win the support of independents, to say the least.

The more compelling argument of course is that the unborn child has no control over the circumstances of conception. So rather than stumbling their way through science or theology, perhaps pro-life candidates should simply refer to a scene in the 1995 film, "Rob Roy."

Madigan attempts to rehabilitate image with rare interview

Democrat House Speaker Mike Madigan gave a rare interview to ABC7 Chicago the other day. Most likely trying to rehabilitate his reputation, which has been damaged of late by the Illinois Republican Party's campaign to portray his historic reign of power as one of the main problems plaguing Illinois.

All in the family: AFSCME tries to derail Pat Quinn's high-speed boondoggle

By David Ormsby -

Illinois AFSCME Council 31 attempted on Friday to derail Governor Pat Quinn's effort to showcase the roll-out of high-speed rail in Illinois. But their protest train remained stuck in the station.

Quinn was joined by U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph Szabo, Illinois Transportation Secretary Ann Schneider, Amtrak Chairman Tom Carper, and by angry AFSCME protesters whose state jobs the governor intends to eliminate and whose pension he aims to shrink.

...But AFSCME protesters, who have been routinely attempting to protest the Democratic governor at public events over the last few months, sought on Friday to be skunks at Quinn's "celebration." More than 75 demonstrators hounded Quinn at the Joliet train station. ...More HERE

UPDATE: Obama supporter poses as Republican in Cook County Water Commissioner race

COOK COUNTY - Just in time for early voting, Cook County Republicans are getting these mailers from a phony Republican listed on the jobs-rich, crony-infested Water Reclamation District ballot - where the only other Republican in a choice of three picks for the panel is Carl Segvich. Cook County GOP voters might want to punch something besides #44 on their ballots.  At the very least, they should know the truth about Noonie Ward - the phony Republican that promises to vote for Barack Obama.  Thanks to Palos Township GOP Committeeman Sean Morrison for the heads up.

UPDATE: Ward's website claims several high-recognition names support him: "Illinois State Senator Dan Rutherford (Republican)" - (IR notes Rutherford is IL's Treasurer) - "Illinois State Senator Dan Huff (Republican)" (IR believes he means Dan Duffy),- Illinois State Senator Napoleon Harris (Democrat)
- U.S. Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. - U.S. Congressman Bobby Rush - Chairman of the Chicago Republican Party Adam Robinson

New ad ties John Sullivan to Obama and the economy

Citizens for a Better Quincy have launched the following ad tying John Sullivan to the Obama economy.

All politics is local: Madigan's impact on the national stage

With only a few days left before November 6, Mike Madigan's gerrymandering of the political map in Illinois is starting to be felt.

Three Democrat districts - Bobby Rush's 1st, Jesse Jackson Jr's 2nd and Dan Lipinski's 3rd were sliced up by the Madigan Machine so meticulously that they now divide the growing conservative Will County power base into subsections of Chicago. The Democrat-Republican divide is just close enough -in the 1st, the divide is 52 to 48 - that Republicans will need to turn out and vote en masse while district Democrats will have to be much less enthused in order for Blue Island Mayor Don Peloquin to win over longtime incumbent Congressman Bobby Rush. The same is  true in the 2nd and 3rd CDs.

Madigan also redrew the 8th CD to make it very tough for Congressman Joe Walsh to be re-elected. Walsh's base, which helped him win with no party support in 2010, remains dedicated and determined to send the outspoken and independent Walsh back to DC in 2012. But recent polls show a double-digit lead for the liberal Duckworth.

The Democrats have strategically kept the controversial Nancy Pelosi out of sight. A Duckworth win would put her one seat closer to regaining the Speakership, which empowers Madigan and the rest of the Democrat machine here in Illinois. After all, if Tammy, Bobby, Jesse and Dan win their seats, they'll all have Mike Madigan to thank.

All politics is local.

Tea Party activists knock on doors in contested state races

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS - Tea Party folks aren't rallying these days, they're walking. Northwest suburban Tea Party activist Danielle Rowe has been working for the past several weekends, organizing Tea Party activists and knocking on doors throughout the state, with the goal of putting Mike Madigan and the Chicago Machine "out of business."

Rowe ran in the GOP primary for state representative in a 3-way race with the primary winner David McSweeney and incumbent State Rep. Kent Gaffney. She was active in the Joe Walsh campaign in 2010, and works with Illinois Tea Party head Denise Cattoni to impact state legislative races.

Rowe released the list of races where her troops will be working in this coming weekend:

American Action Network launches "Mad Science" ad aimed at David Gill

WASHINGTON - The American Action Network released today the second ad of a $1.2 million television and digital ad campaign in Illinois' 13th congressional district. The ad, "Mad Science", will air on broadcast television in the St. Louis and Champaign media markets and will be accompanied by a significant paid digital advocacy campaign.

This is part of a recently-announced October ad campaign and is in addition to AAN's $320,000 September campaign in IL-13. While not mentioned in this ad, Dr. Gill's public support of physician-assisted suicide makes it all the more creepy.

DCCC's Chicagoland candidates support Occupy Now views

CHICAGO - Voters the DCCC is polling must be much more favorable to the Occupy Crowd than the patriots in the Tea Party segment - where the Democrats' are more comfortable. The DCCC is doing all they can to tie Republicans to the Tea Party, which, it appears, is not a good thing to which one should be tied in Illinois.

The funny thing is, most of the active, informed voters aren't being swayed by the DCCC's ploy.  Normal polling shows the Republican candidates' views to be very mainstream, if not in the majority. But that's not the case, the DCCC wrote in a presser Thursday:

Bad Plumbing at 1600 Penn Avenue?

By Mark Rhoads

On Oct. 19 in Racine, Wisconsin, Michelle Obama told people to vote early because you never know if "your toilet might overflow on election day."  President Obama voted early in Chicago on Oct. 25, so its time to place the White House custodians on emergency alert.

Obama Administration Will Pay Companies to Violate the Law

From Heritage Foundation's Morning Bell - 

The Obama Administration’s disregard for the law has struck again—and this time, it’s encouraging others to violate the law at taxpayer expense.

That’s worth saying again: The Obama Administration is encouraging people to violate a law, and promising that it will use taxpayer money to cover fines incurred from this action.

The law: The law in question is called the WARN Act, and it requires that federal contractors send employees layoff notices 60 days before a plant closing or mass layoff.

Liberty Principles PAC ad: Dan Kotowski and Marty Moylan - Property Taxes

From: Liberty Principles PAC

Illinois Family Institute reacts to Richard Mourdock

By Laurie Higgins, Illinois Family Institute -

Another conservative has made another inept comment regarding rape. I am referring to this comment from Indiana Republican U.S. Senate candidate Richard Mourdock in response to a question regarding his views on abortion:

Life is that gift from God. I think that even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that it is something God intended to happen.

First, it should be clear that the demonstrative pronoun “that” was referring to conception, not rape. To some listeners, Mourdock’s comment was offensive because they mistakenly thought he was saying that God intended rape “to happen.”

Cook County surpasses 50K early voters Thursday at noon

Cook County Board of Elections' David Orr posted on his Facebook page Thursday that over 50,000 have early voted in Cook County already. He reports the busiest places being in Orland, Arlington Heights, Matteson, Schaumburg, and Faith Center in South Holland.

Non-partisan report takes critical look at administrative bloat in public schools

The Friedman Foundation has published a report detailing the administrative bloat plaguing our nation’s public schools. The School Staffing Surge: Decades of Employment Growth in America’s Public Schools shows dramatic increases in teaching and non-teaching staff over the past five decades despite modest increases in student enrollment.

More HERE

Foster plays dumb on gay marriage

Democrat Bill Foster is having some selective memory loss. At least when it comes to the question of his support for gay marriage.

Last night, when asked by reporters whether he has always supported gay marriage, Foster “could not recall if he was on record opposing it during his last unsuccessful run for Congress in the former 14th Congressional District.” However, he declared, “I support marriage equality, it is not ambiguous.”

Fact check: In 2010, he opposed it...just like Obama.

Guess gays are just a convenient voting block he supports today and disregards tomorrow. Kind of like an ex-wife.

Bellar responds to Kadner by placing creds online

This past Tuesday, liberal Southtown Star columnist Phil Kadner wrote a negative piece about the candidacy of Dr. Barbara Bellar (photo right), who is a conservative running in the southwest suburbs for the 18th State Senate seat. Kadner used his column space to question Bellar's religious and medical credentials. Rather than respond to Kadner in-person, Bellar responded to Kadner by placing 36 different diplomas, acknowledgements, licenses and other credentials online for her supporters to examine.

"My life is an open book," she told Kadner in the letter published at the Oak Lawn Patch website:

Free Market PAC takes on Bill Haine's plush pensions and tax hikes

LEBANON, IL - With $20,000 from Jack Roeser, $10,000 from Dick Uihlein, and $20,000 from Bruce and Diane Rauner, the new Free Market State PAC, chaired by Joe Behken, produced an ad about Democrat State Sen. Bill Haine:

Preckwinkle’s cigarette tax doesn’t add up

By Ben VanMetre, Illinois Policy Institute -

Since 2002, cigarette taxes increased 105 times across the country.

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle (photo right) wants to make it 106.

To help fill Cook County’s $267.5 million budget shortfall, Preckwinkle has proposed increasing the per-pack tax on cigarettes by $1. The tax hike is only expected to bring in about $25 million in new revenue.

Preckwinkle’s new money grab won’t work. In fact, the tax hike will simply push smokers to purchase their cigarettes outside of Cook County. Bumping up prices also encourages criminal behavior and smuggling, and in the end Preckwinkle’s increased cigarette tax will probably miss the $25 million revenue mark.

Here’s why the cigarette tax hike is bad public policy.

New Romney ad: Momentum

When Obama Loved Private Equity

From ABC News.com - 

President Obama has spent much of the past six months hammering away at Mitt Romney’s career in the private equity business, but for a time, as a state senator in Illinois, Obama  sang the praises of  the private equity sector, saying it offered “the best opportunity for economic vitality” in Illinois.

“As many of you know venture capital and private equity is one of the key mechanisms by which we finance new businesses in the state of Illinois,” state Sen. Obama said in a speech before the Illinois Senate on May 30, 2003. “For a variety of reasons, Illinois has been lagging behind some of our competitor states in the formation of venture capital and its deployment in terms of seeding and funding new companies.”

A Momentous Choice Looms on November 6th

By Nancy Thorner -

Now that the three presidential debates and the vice-president match-up are history, the end game is upon us. President Obama is asking for our vote to elect him to another four years in office, but has Obama's record during his first term given most Americans the reassurance that another four years wouldn't trigger a status quo performance on steroids?

Romney's debate performances erased the Obama campaign's effort (down the drain went countless of millions of dollars) to portray Mitt Romney as a rich fool who cares nothing about the middle class. Instead, Romney came across as one who looked presidential, had command of the facts, and whose economic background would bode will for this nation.  With little time left before November 6th, Obama is rushing to define himself.

Berkowitz to Sweeney: 5 things to do until Election Day

Chicago Now columnist Jeff Berkowitz gives Republican 55th House candidate Susan Sweeney some unsolicited, public campaign advice today that's pretty blunt:

1. Get some backbone.
2. Stand up for your prolife views with pride.
3. Tell soon-to-be-replaced GOP betrayer State Rep. Rosemary Mulligan where to go.
4. Fire your campaign manager and ignore House Minority Leader Tom Cross.
5. Be your own woman.

Sweeney, who was endorsed by the Chicago Tribune over her Democrat opponent Marty Moylan, can read the details of Berkowitz' counsel are HERE.