Illinois Review

The 2014 State of the Union and other non-sequiturs

By Irene F. Starkehaus -

With the mandated formality of threadbare assurances by President Barack Obama that state of the union is strong, stronger, confident and strong, or the strongest it's ever been finally at hand, the incongruity between the State of the Union and the State of OMG – How Am I Going To Dig My Family Out of This Disaster is perhaps starting to bite at the heels of Washington insiders in a way that's unprecedented in American history. I wonder if Washington insiders are smart enough to take notice of these winds of change no matter how faint the winds seem.

Just for the record, I'm not a big fan of the term unprecedented when it comes to reflecting on the State of the Union. Bring me some precedent as far as I'm concerned. Let's see something along the line of proven free market solutions… Even so, you and I both know that no second term president would stand before Congress to report that the state of the union reeks like untreated sewage. That too would be unprecedented albeit true, so what do I know? The president…any president will always report that America is better than it has ever been. When it comes to the State of the Union, what has true got to do with the price of tea in China? Or the price of American debt in China for that matter.

State Sen. Matt Murphy: Why a progressive income tax is a bad idea for Illinois

By State Sen. Matt Murphy -

Eleven years ago this month, Illinois Democrats took over the governor's mansion and both houses of the Legislature. They have maintained that control ever since. Over that time, the ruling Democrats have nearly doubled state spending to an all-time high of $35.9 billion and increased taxes by 67 percent — also to a record high.

Unfortunately, this tax-and-spend-on-steroids approach has not worked for the rest of us. Illinois' unemployment rate is the fourth-highest in the nation, and the state's deficit is largely unchanged three years into the last temporary tax increase, which took a week's pay per year from working Illinoisans. Poverty is up by a third here on the Democrats' watch.

Update x1: Anti-Rauner PAC gets more from Democratic Governor's Association

UPDATE x1: The original report mistakenly confused "Jobs and Opportunity for Illinois PAC" with "Republican Fund for Progress and Jobs." Corrections were made in the following report:

CHICAGO – It's being reported Tuesday that yet another anti-Rauner group called "Jobs and Opportunity for Illinois PAC" banked $50,000 from the Democratic Governor’s Association, moving it a step closer to launching a TV ad campaign the PAC may use to bloody Bruce Rauner in the GOP primary.

The PAC now has $103,500 in the bank after picking up the second DGA check, after picking up the first $45,000 check on January 7th.

The Job and Opportunity PAC is not the same as the Republican Fund for Progress and Jobs that picked up backing from the Operating Engineers Local 150 to specifically turn up the heat on Rauner.

Some info from Illinois Observer

Op-Ed: How an unlikely activist ends up before the Supreme Court

By Scott Reeder - 

WASHINGTON – Pam Harris is an unlikely activist. She is just a Lake County mom looking after her disabled adult son. Rather than place her son, Josh, in an institution she entered a program where she receives state assistance to care for him at home.

But one Sunday morning, an organizer for Service Employees International Union knocked on her door and asked her to vote to join a union. It threw her for a loop.

You see, if a majority of home care workers voted to join a union, she would have to give money to the union – whether she wanted to belong or not. And she didn’t think she should have to give money to some union boss in order to care for her son. So she led a push among caregivers to reject union representation – and won.

But the story doesn’t end there. SEIU can keep calling for votes. Faced with this prospect, Harris and seven other home care workers went to court. And on January 21, their case was heard by the United States Supreme Court.

Schilling wants to hear Prez apologize for Obamacare in SOTU speech

EAST MOLINE - Republican candidate in the 17th CD Bobby Schilling is likely to be disappointed tonight during President Obama's State of the Union address. Schilling says h's hoping he'll hear the President admit Obamacare is deeply flawed.

"There are a lot of things I'd like to hear from President Obama tonight during his State of the Union address. I'd like to hear the President admit that his signature legislative achievement—Obamacare—is deeply flawed and in need of a bipartisan do-over," Schilling said. "I'd like to hear the President apologize to the American people for telling them 'if you like your health care plan, you can keep your health care plan' when millions of Americans have already been forced off their coverage by Obamacare. I'd also like to see the many liberals who parroted that 'lie of the year'—including Congresswoman Cheri Bustos—apologize for doing so. I'd like to hear the President get serious about tackling the national debt and passing a balanced budget amendment."

62% See State of the Union Speech As Just for Show

A sizable majority of voters plan to watch or follow news reports about President Obama’s State of the Union speech tonight, but more voters than ever view the annual speech as just for show rather than setting an actual agenda.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 72% of Likely U.S. Voters are likely to watch or follow news reports about tonight’s State of the Union Speech. However, just 28% of voters think State of the Union speeches are important for setting the nation’s agenda for the next year. Sixty-two percent (62%) view them instead as mostly just for show, up nine points from 53% a year ago when the president delivered the first State of the Union speech following his reelection.

via Rasmussen

RNC strategizes for life and against Democrats' "War on Women"

WASHINGTON DC - During last week's annual winter meeting, the Republican National Committee passed a resolution setting up a pro-life strategy for the 2014 election season that urges Republican candidates to speak out in defense of the unborn and their mothers, as well as to challenge the Democratic "War on Women" rhetoric. 

Rather than staying silent on the abortion issue, the RNC encourages candidates running as Republicans to speak out in favor of life in an effort to win votes among independents that support restricting abortion.

Illinois' RNC Committeewoman Demetra DeMonte, who attended the annual D.C. March for Life last Thursday morning (featured left in above photo), was a co-sponsor of the measure:

RESOLUTION ON REPUBLICAN PRO-LIFE STRATEGY

WHEREAS, the Democrats have waged a deceptive "War on Women" attack against Republican pro-life candidates, demonizing them and manipulating American voters;

WHEREAS, the Republican Party is proud to stand up for the rights of the unborn and believe all Americans have an unalienable right to life as stated in The Declaration of Independence;

WHEREAS, pro-life Republicans should fight back against deceptive rhetoric regardless of those in the Republican Party who encourage them to stay silent;

WHEREAS, candidates who stay silent on pro-life issues do not identify with key voters, fail to alert voters to the Democrats' extreme pro-abortion stances, and have lost their elections;

Kirk cozies up to Duckworth, refuses to say if he'll support Durbin's GOP opponent

Roll Call has an interesting piece about the growing relationship between U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R) and Illinois Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth (D) who tops the Democrat's list of politicians who could run for Senate against Kirk in 2016.

Sources tell Roll Call that "the Illinois congressional delegation has been more collegial in recent months than it has been in a long time, meeting regularly in Durbin’s office and working well together on local issues. Much of this is thanks to Kirk’s improved relationship with Democrats such as Duckworth and Senate Majority Whip Richard J. Durbin."

Despite being asked, Kirk has yet to answer whether he will back Durbin's Republican opponent in this year's election. Doug Truax and Jim Oberweis are running in the GOP primary to challenge him in November.

State Rep. Rita pushes for five new casinos and gambling at Chicago airports

EAST ST. LOUIS, IL - Democrat State Rep. Bob Rita (photo right) is launching the latest quest to broaden gambling in the state with a public hearing in southwestern Illinois. Rita is pushing a measure that would add five new Illinois casinos, as well as slot machines at Chicago's two international airports.

Gov. Pat Quinn has vetoed two previous gambling bills because he said they didn't include enough ethical protections. Quinn also has said he'll only sign legislation that provides adequate oversight of a Chicago casino.

Illinois Education Association and IPACE question 2014 primary candidates

SPRINGFIELD - Prior to endorsements and check-writing, most state political action committees (PACs) send surveys to candidates asking their opinions and positions on issues of interest to the PACs constituents and donors. 

The Illinois Education Association's Illinois Political Action Committee on Education gathers funds from public school system teachers throughout the state, specifically outside the Chicago area. In the IEA-IPACE's last quarterly report to the Illinois State Board of Elections, IPACE reported having $2,859,091 on hand to invest in union-supporting candidates in the March 2014 primary.

IPACE meets with candidates individually as they seek the PAC's endorsement and financial support. Before the interviews, the candidates are asked to return completed surveys. Illinois Review was able to obtain a copy of IPACE's questions, providing insight into the issues the teachers union leadership is most concerned about in the upcoming legislative session. Presumedly, candidates seek endorsement when their positions are favorable with the IEA's.

In the "Revenue" section of the IEA-IPACE questionaire, candidates are asked about their support for the current income tax rate (raised by 67 percent in 2011), as well as their support of a graduated (or progressive) income tax system, and their support of expanding gambling and closing tax loopholes for businesses.

The section also asks about a candidates support for vouchers as well as allowing per student funding to follow a student to a public or a private school --  both choices defined as "options that drain resources for public schools."

The questionnaire then turns to higher education:

Americans for Tax Reform prepare to play "Bingo" during Obama speech

WASHINGTON - Americans for Tax Reform has set up web page that features a BINGO game for Tuesday night's State of the Union Address. Certain terms President Obama is likely to say during the speech are included on the BINGO card, and it costs nothing to participate.

See bingo card below:

State of the Union: Roskam to host cancer survivor who lost her healthcare plan

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Monday, Congressman Peter Roskam (IL-06) announced his guest for the State of the Union address will be Diane Iser from Hoffman Estates, an 11-year breast cancer survivor who was notified she would lose her healthcare plan due to Obamacare.

“I am pleased to be joined by my constituent, Diane, who after losing the healthcare coverage that she liked and could afford, has been using her voice to speak out for the millions of Americans hurt by the President’s bad policies.  Each time individuals like Diane receive a notice of increased health insurance premiums and higher out-of-pocket costs, it undercuts the president's promise that his reforms would make healthcare more affordable," Roskam said.

Six years in to the Obama economy, he said, "It's clear that more regulations, higher taxes and a more intrusive federal government are taking away people’s choices and leaving Americans with fewer jobs and less take home pay."

Teachers union PAC begins to invest in GOP primary races

WHEATON - Illinois teachers unions are beginning to write checks to GOP incumbents and primary challengers, hoping to bolster the ranks of union-sympathetic Republican Senate and House members. 

The Illinois Political Action Committee for Education (IPACE) - a sister organization to the Illinois Education Association - has $2,859,091 on hand for the upcoming election year. While IPACE normally donates to more Democrat than Republican candidates, they're beginning to invest in GOP primaries.

Thus far, they've donated $2,500 to Republicans State Rep. Dennis Reboletti, who is in a GOP primary race against Republican Chris Nybo to succeed State Senator Kirk Dillard.

IPACE has also given $5,000 to State Senator Sam McCann (R-Springfield) who is not up for re-election in 2014.

Although IPACE has yet to report the contribution, GOP primary challenger Adam Johnson has received $5,000 on January 15th, bringing his cash on hand to $23,000. Johnson is challenging freshman State Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) in the March 18th primary.

IPACE also has a stake in who emerges the winner of the 97th House District seat, which was vacated by Former State Rep. Tom Cross, who is running for Treasurer.

Monday, they wrote a $5,000 check to Illinois Education Association legislative committee member and teacher Amanda Mancke of Oswego. Mancke is in a three-way primary contest with commercial realtor Mark Batinick of Plainfield and Shorewood Mayor Richard Chapman.

Obama to sign executive order to raise minimum wage for federal workers

WASHINGTON - Obama's threatened "Pen" attack will commence Tuesday:

President Obama, in the first of potentially many executive actions tied to his State of the Union address, will unilaterally increase the minimum wage for workers under new federal contracts to $10.10 an hour, from $7.25, in an effort to build momentum for a minimum wage hike for all Americans. 

The executive order, which had been pushed by progressive Democratic lawmakers, applies to all contractors performing services for the federal government and would affect more than 2 million employees, according to an administration official.

The president will use Tuesday night's address to press Congress to pass a Democratic plan to increase the federal wage to $10.10 over three years, then indexing it to inflation, while also raising the minimum wage for tipped workers, the official said.

via FoxNews.com

Which party knows what women really want?

CHICAGO - If you missed the kerfuffle concerning former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee's controversial comments about women at the Republican National Committee's winter meeting last week, don't depend on legacy media to provide the other side of the story. Here's what Huckabee actually said:

"Women I know are outraged that the Democrats think that women are nothing more than helpless and hopeless creatures whose only goal in life is to have the government provide for them birth control medication. Women I know are smart, educated, intelligent, capable of doing anything that anyone else can do.

Our party stands for the recognition of the equality of women and the capacity of women. That’s not a war on them. It’s a war for them. And if the Democrats want to insult the women of America by making them believe that they are helpless without Uncle Sugar coming in and providing for them a prescription each month for birth control, because they cannot control their libido or their reproductive system without the help of the government, then so be it. Let us take that discussion all across America, because women are far more than Democrats have played them to be. And women across America need to stand up and say, “Enough of that nonsense.” 

Here's Chicago-based conservative columnist Jill Stanek's response on the topic of Democrats versus Republicans on women's issues:

"Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards claims Republicans want to take us back to the 1950s.

If that’s so, Democrats want to take us back to the 1800s, when women were diagnosed with hysteria if their libidos weren’t satisfied, when a woman’s unquenched sexual appetite was the cause of all her problems.

No, what women want from the government is what men want – safe neighborhoods, good schools, low unemployment, national security, and a strong economy."

more at JillStanek.com 

Quinn declares propane shortage emergency in Illinois

SPRINGFIELD - Gov. Pat Quinn declared an emergency Monday aimed at addressing the lingering shortage of propane. The governor's declaration is designed to ease weather-induced distribution problems that have left some industry observers worried that homeowners could run out of the fuel during an upcoming cold snap.

The declaration eases regulations on propane truck drivers in order to allow them to drive into other states to fill their tanks.

For example, an Illinois driver heading to Texas would be able to cross into the state for propane even if they didn't have proper licenses, said Quinn spokesman Dave Blanchette.

"(T)his was done because, due to the current propane shortage, additional drivers are needed to travel to Texas to haul propane back to Illinois," Blanchette said.

via Herald-Review

House GOP primaries drop from 20 to 15

SPRINGFIELD - After petition objections were settled at the State Board of Elections, six State House candidates either withdrew or were removed from the Republican March 18th primary ballot. Once twenty, the number of 2014 House intra-party contests is now down to 15.

• In Chicago's 9th House District, Republican candidate Carlos Alvarez was removed, leaving Myles Lloyd Tobin as the Republican to face incumbent Democrat State Rep. Arthur Turner of Chicago.
• In the 15th House District, two Chicago Republicans  - Evelyn Mazzucio and Brad Dahlgren - were removed from the primary ballot. Area Republicans may appoint a fill-in candidate after the primary.
• Veteran State Rep. Mike McAuliffe, the only GOP lawmaker representing a Chicago district, was able to battle challenger Michael Yorty from the primary ballot. Thus far, no Democrat has entered the race.
• The Quad Cities' 71st HD GOP primary was settled when Orion's Jeff McKinley withdrew from the race and endorsed his primary opponent Jim Wozniak of East Moline, who will face Democrat incumbent Mike Smiddy in the November General Election.
• Incumbent State Rep. David Leitch of Peoria's 73rd HD was able to remove his GOP challenger Mark Zalcman of Chillicothe from the primary ballot.

Dillard responds to Rauner accusation of alliance with Quinn

SPRINGFIELD, IL - State Sen. Kirk Dillard responded to GOP gubernatorial opponent Bruce Rauner's accusation earlier today that Dillard is in an alliance with Democrat Gov. Pat Quinn to hijack the GOP Primary.

In a press release, Dillard campaign manager Glenn Hodas came out swinging, writing:

"Rauner’s correct when he says ‘someone’ is hijacking the Republican Party. HE is.

"Rauner is a Democrat in sheep’s clothing. Rauner doesn’t want GOP voters to know that he voted Democrat, gave hundreds of thousands of dollars to Democrats to DEFEAT Republican candidates, and is on a first-name basis with Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. And let's not forget ... Rauner admits giving $300,000 to Ed Rendell, the head of the Democrat National Committee, because Rauner, “wanted to have influence with the head of the DNC.”

"Like a hedge-fund vulture, Bruce Rauner is staging a hostile takeover of the Republican Party. Rauner reminds you of an Illinois Gordon Gecko, but with a cheap watch."

Dan Rutherford, another GOP gubernatorial candidate, also dismissed Rauner's accusation. Bill Brady has yet to respond.

Time running out for Illinois tornado victims to apply for FEMA assistance

SPRINGFIELD - Last week, several Illinois Congress members filed federal legislation to make the Federal Emergency Management Agency's distribution of disaster funds fairer. But one FEMA official is concerned that Illinois tornado survivors may get the wrong impression and not take advantage of the federal relief that's available to them right now. 

"Please let your readers that were affected by the tornado last November know that time is running out for them to get the assistance that's now available to them," said Tim Tyson, head of FEMA's External Affairs office in Springfield.

The deadline for tornado victims - home owners, renters or business owners - to apply for federal assistance is February 3, 2014. The financial assistance process begins with acquiring a FEMA loan packet from a local or state office, and returning that application by the deadline. 

"The people need to know that financial help is available now, and in order to obtain any assistance, the process begins with that application," Tyson said. "They don't need to act on that loan or grant approval for months, but they must apply before the deadline in order to qualify."

The FEMA assistance application first goes to the Small Business Association, which distributes loans with two percent interest rates. If the SBA rejects the application, it does not affect a person's credit rating, but the rejection does allow the applicant to then be considered for a FEMA grant, which requires no payback.

Thus far, Tyson said, victims of the November tornado have received $18 million in assistance - $2.4 million in FEMA grants and over $16 million in SBA low-interest loans. Neither FEMA nor SBA assistance may duplicate insurance recovery funds, but may supplement what other insurance did not cover. 

59% Say Less Government, Not More, Would Help Close Income Gap

While President Obama is expected to speak about income inequality in his State of the Union speech tomorrow night, most voters think government action is "not" the solution to it.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 59% of likely U.S. voters think less government involvement in the economy over more government action is key to narrowing the income gap. And a plurality (48%) say society overall would be "less fair" if the government got "more" involved in regulating the economy.

via Rasmussen Reports

Republican Liberty Caucus of Illinois releases its 2013 Index

The Republican Liberty Caucus of Illinois (RLC-IL) released it's 2013 Liberty Index today. The index scores the votes by Illinois' Republican Congressmen and U.S. Senator based on economic and personal freedom issues. The 2013 scores were:

According to its website, the RLC-IL "promotes individual liberty, limited government, and free enterprise within the Republican Party by promoting these ideals among party officials and its various organizations, identifying and supporting candidates sympathetic with these ideals, and promoting caucus membership among Republican Party registrants, officials, and officeholders."

The organization is currently led by an executive board consisting of Allen Skillicorn, Chairman; Scott Davis, Vice Chairman; Michael Smyk, Treasurer; and at-large board members Alan Fortini-Campbell, Justin Kuehlthau, Patricia Hampton, Blair Garber, and Dane Stier.

Illegal alien to be guest of Congressman Foster at Obama's State of the Union

AURORA - Illegal alien and community activist Maria Torres from Aurora will attend President Obama's State of the Union address as the guest of Illinois Congressman Bill Foster, a Democrat from Naperville.

Foster and four other members of Illinois' congressional delegation are inviting illegal immigration advocates to the speech as part of a coordinated effort to push the Democrats immigration bill.

Torres, who calls herself an "immigration and outreach specialist" is legally allowed to work and drive in the U.S. But she can't seek U.S. citizenship.

Rutherford makes his move with Olympics TV buy

Greg Hinz is reporting that GOP gubernatorial candidate Dan Rutherford will be running TV ads during the Winter Olympics, which begin February 7. The ads will make him the second GOP gubernatorial candidate (after Bruce Rauner) to be up on TV.

Rutherford told Hinz the spots will be "'positive,' concentrating on what he brings to the table as opposed to ripping Chicago businessman Mr. Rauner, who's been under strong fire on the campaign trail lately, particularly from candidates Bill Brady and Kirk Dillard."

Rutherford would not say how large or long the ad buy will be, but told Hinz it is "going to be sustainable."

via Greg Hinz

Thorner: Sears catalogue shows middle class hasn't stagnated since the 1970s

By Nancy Thorner -

At the Illinois Policy Institute-hosted event last Thursday, economist Don Boudreaux discussed how the quantities and qualities of what ordinary Americans consume are closer to rich Americans than they were in past decades. The Merateus Institute senior fellow disputed the claim progressive economists are making, which President Obama has grabbed up. Indeed, Boudreaux said America's middle class has not stagnated economically since the 1970's, and he used a 1975 Sears catalogue to make his point.

Boudreaux disagrees with President Obama's intent to make income inequality into a political issue, and disagrees that income levels have declined in America with the rich benefitting the most.  But given that an item's performance is far superior to the 70's product and at a lesser cost, quality of life has improved for the poor and middle class since the '70's. 

Rauner asks if Brady, Dillard, Rutherford are "working together with Pat Quinn"

Reacting to a barrage of negative press, GOP gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner went on the offensive today, citing the national and state GOP's denunciation of labor union money in the Illinois GOP primary and asking if his opponents Bill Brady, Kirk Dillard and Dan Rutherford are working in coordination with Democrat Governor Pat Quinn.

In a press release, Rauner says the Republican Governors Association has called the coordinated investment of union money into the GOP gubernatorial primary an “outrageous act of despair,” and the Illinois GOP condemned it as “a blatant disregard for the voters of Illinois.”

The Rauner campaign condemned the silence of his GOP opponents on the matter, speculating they may be working with Gov. Quinn.

“Republican primary voters deserve to know whether Bill Brady, Kirk Dillard, and Dan Rutherford are working together with Pat Quinn and his allies to try to hijack the Republican primary,” said Chip Englander, campaign manager for Rauner. “Will they side with grassroots Illinois Republicans who want to choose our party's nominee, or will they side with Pat Quinn's efforts to attack Bruce Rauner?”

“The longer they stay silent, the more obvious it is that they condone and encourage this Democratic partisan attempt to meddle in the Republican primary," Englander added.

“Local Republican leaders and grassroots activists aren’t about to let Pat Quinn’s allies subvert the Republican primary, and neither should any of the other candidates running for governor,” Englander concluded.

Brady calls for Rauner to "come clean" about his business dealings

Over the weekend, GOP gubernatorial candidate Bill Brady again challenged his opponent Bruce Rauner to "come clean" with answers to questions about his dealings.

“Bruce Rauner likes to paint himself as a hands-on businessman, talking about ‘being there in person, figuring out what matters ... solving problems’ and how ‘in business it’s about getting to know them on a first name basis ... getting to know each other personally.’ But Mr. Rauner apparently didn’t follow his own business philosophy when it came to dealing with corrupt insider Stuart Levine,” Brady said.

Herman Cain to endorse Erika Harold in 13th CD GOP primary

EDWARDSVILLE - Businessman and former Presidential candidate Herman Cain will announce his support for Erika Harold's this Friday in St. Louis and Saturday in Edwardsville and Champaign.

Harold is challenging GOP incumbent Congressman Rodney Davis for the Republican Party's 13th CD nomination on March 18th.

Chicago GOP endorsements split three ways in upcoming gubernatorial primary

CHICAGO - Yesterday, Chicago Republicans began revealing their picks in the GOP gubernatorial primary. 

Chicago GOP Chairman Adam Robinson, Chicago Young Republican President and GOP State Central Committeeman Angel Garcia, as well as 42nd Ward Committeeman Eloise Gerson announced their personal support for State Treasurer Dan Rutherford and his running-mate Steve Kim during a press conference Sunday afternoon in Chicago.

Monday morning, 44rd Ward Republican Committeeman Scott Davis endorsed State Senator Kirk Dillard in the March 18th GOP primary.

"A strong advocate for fiscal responsibility, Kirk Dillard combines a unique background of legislative, executive and strong leadership experience that Illinois needs in its next Governor," Davis said in a press release.

The Cook County GOP, which the Chicago GOP is part of, endorsed Chicago businessman Bruce Rauner in the gubernatorial race.

Why is Illinois so ... ?

Google autocomplete figured out the question most asked about the 50 states by looking at what comes up when the words "Why is [state] so ...?" Guess what is most commonly asked about Illinois? It's a question most Illinoisans ask themselves.

H/T @Amazing_Maps 

It's been cold and snowy in the Midwest before

CHICAGO - Maybe it's a lot colder than it was 47 years ago, but things have been cold and snowy in Chicago before, like in 1967. 2014 is one of the coldest on record. Anyone remember this snowy winter? 

 

 
(Chicago Tribune photos)

Thorner: House's faulty approach to immigration reform means amnesty

By Nancy Thorner - 

It was House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-23 District, CA) who left the "cat out of the bag" as to how the House will deal with immigration reform, when according to an interview McCarthy gave to eyewitness News in Bakersfield, CA on Wednesday, January 22, "Republican leaders are calling for the first time to give legal status to millions of undocumented immigrants living in the United States,” signaling that amnesty will be part of the House Republican “piecemeal” immigration strategy. McCarthy's district just happens to include a huge Hispanic population. Hispanics now equal the number of whites in California. 

A clue to what John Boehner really had in mind was when in December of last year Boehner hired an adviser who had helped Sen. John McCain push comprehensive immigration, Rebecca Tallent, a well-known expert in the field of immigration. 

What is the piecemeal deal now being considered by top House Republicans? It is a set of principles and standard by which the GOP can proceed on the path to full-scale reform. At an upcoming House Republican Conference annual retreat beginning on January 29th to discuss their legislative agenda, immigration reform will undoubtedly be front and center in the lead up to the endorsement of piecemeal immigration reform by House Republicans. 

State Senator Syverson worries Democrats could "Bain" Rauner

ROCKFORD - Multiple negative stories are circulating the web about Chicago businessman Bruce Rauner's business dealings that have yet to be picked up by Chicago mainstream media. The stories, which seem to have common links to known political enemies of Rauner, are making their way to political personalities in the State Capitol, such as State Senator Dave Syverson (R-Rockford).

Sunday morning on his personal Facebook page Syverson, who has publicly endorsed his Senate colleague Kirk Dillard for governor, referred to a story about Rauner's GTCR owning a nursing care provider and suspicions about the provider's care of the elderly. Syverson is concerned that Democrats will attack Rauner as they did Mitt Romney about investments his company made over the years:

Syverson then linked to a story in the Quincy Journal written by Chicagoan Doug Ibendahl, who at one time worked closely with Family Taxpayer Network founder Jack Roeser. Roeser has endorsed Rauner for the 2014 GOP primary and promotes Rauner through his PAC, his radio appearances with Joe Walsh, and on his news aggregating blog Champion News. 

The nursing home story Syverson refers to is among other stories critical of Rauner authored by Doug Ibendahl, Bill Kelly and Jon Zahm. Kelly and Zahm deny they are working for any candidate.

Op-Ed: Why Roe v. Wade is growing more vulnerable

Chicago area-based attorney and author Clark Forsythe sees a potential fatal flaw in the 1973 Roe vs Wade decision and shared his insight in a Washington Times op-ed this week - 

The Obama administration is pushing public subsidies for abortion and seeking to expand it through Obamacare. As a result, Roe v. Wade — the Supreme Court’s 1973 decision legalizing abortion in all 50 states — may seem more secure than ever. However, there are underlying reasons to think that it grows more vulnerable every year. As pro-life Americans gather from across the country for the March for Life in Washington on Wednesday, it’s important to understand that the abortion issue in America in 2014 is not the abortion issue of 1973.

In Roe v. Wade, the court eliminated the abortion laws of all 50 states, and in the companion case of Doe v. Bolton, the court eliminated state health and safety regulations. Together, Roe and Doe imposed a national abortion license that is way out of line with international standards. In 2014, the United States is one of only four nations (with China, North Korea and Canada) allowing abortion for any reason after fetal viability.

Roe’s broad license is also way out of line with American public opinion. Gallup polling data since at least 1975 show a solid and persistent majority of Americans who support abortion only in “certain circumstances” early in pregnancy. Support for what the court actually did in Roe — abortion for any reason, at any time of pregnancy — declined from 12 percent to 7 percent between 2006 and 2009, according to data from the Polling Company. One simple reason that abortion is more controversial in the United States than in other countries is that the justices have imposed the views of the 7 percent since 1973.

Without any record evidence, the court in 1973 also adopted the medical myth that “abortion was safer than childbirth.” That influential myth has been told to millions of women considering abortion ever since. It was wrong in 1973, and it’s wrong today. The myth is based on the mechanical comparison of the published U.S. maternal (childbirth) mortality rate and the published U.S. abortion mortality rate. These two rates are like apples and oranges; what goes into their numerators and denominators is completely different.

O'Brien: State (Hate) of The Union Preview and Boehner's Buffoonery

By Teri O'Brien - 

This morning, according to an ABC News poll, only 37 percent of Americans trust Barack "I've got a pen and a cell phone" Obama to make the right decisions for the country. Thirty seven percent? I didn't know Barack Obama had that many relatives, at least not in this country. No worries, though, Obama Kool-Aid drinkers, I'm sure that he'll fix everything when he applies that sure-fire cure to all that ails the country, or even the planet; that is, a Barack Obama speech! Demagoguery to the rescue again! As we watch, the One lament the horrors of income inequality, we'll know what it feels like to watch an arsonist arrive to tearfully witness the clean up of the house he burned down.

With the Obamacare debacle shining a huge spotlight on the failure of liberal arrogance and hypocrisy, you'd think that the GOP would seize the chance to make the case for free markets, liberty and limited government. Instead, the Speaker of the House John Boehner squandered a golden opportunity to introduce millions of low-information citizens (and one low information comedian) to do that. Seriously? We watch so you don't have to, and we'll share some truly cringe-inducing segments of this ridiculous performance.

What's at stake in Sebelius v. Hobby Lobby

IRVING TEXAS - Americans' First Amendment right to exercise their religion is at stake, Irving Texas' Hobby Lobby stores will argue before the U.S. Supreme Court this spring.

In December, the nation’s highest court accepted the federal government’s appeal of a June decision by the U.S. Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals that a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) mandate to provide potentially life-terminating drugs and devices in employee insurance plans places a substantial burden on the religious freedoms of Hobby Lobby Stores Inc., which is solely owned by founder David Green and his family.

Sebelius v. Hobby Lobby Stores Inc. will be argued and decided before the end of the Supreme Court’s term in June 2014.

Brit Hume on the Moral Case for Defending Life

WASHINGTON - What is ahead for abortion rights was a question discussed this week recognizing the 41st year since the U.S. Supreme Court legalized abortion.

“If science is able to determine that a fetus at a certain age, a certain stage, feels pain … that would change everything,” Fox New commentator Brit Hume said this week. “I think that support for abortion and abortion rights and for its legality would crumble…and the political atmosphere around this issue would change almost overnight.” 

"Baseball, Apple Pie and AR-15 - Pure American" Chicago billboard says

CHICAGO - "Baseball, Apple Pie and an AR-15 are Pure American," a new billboard visible from the outbound I-55 Stevenson Expressway on the city's Southwest Side, says and is raising controversy among Chicago residents. The gun parts company, Slide Fire, is raising the hackles of gun ban advocates, who are bombarding the company's website and the LaMar billboard advertising company with complaints.

The Illinois State Rifle Association is calling on 2nd Amendment advocates to send encouraging emails to the companies to balance the gun control advocates' compalints.

"Write HKilshaw@lamar.com, and in the "Subject Line" please say: "Love your Slidefire sign on I-55," the state rifle association suggests. Contact Slidefire at customerservice@slidefire.com and use the subject line:  "Love your sign on I-55."  "Tell Slidefire that you support their efforts to "normalize" lawful firearm ownership by way of the I-55 sign," ISRA says.

Obamacare even worse than you think

By Mark Rhoads -

Some Democratic lawmakers are still in denial but many have realized the Obamacare slow motion train wreck is poison to their campaigns for re-election. But partisan politics aside, let's be blunt, there is no way to "fix" a socialist scheme that is as badly broken as Obamacare is, no matter what IT whiz kid comes in to save it becuase the financial problems only begin with a flawed web site and do not end there. All of the clumsy administation attempts to sell Obamacare to young people who know it is a bad deal for them will not work when young pepole crunch the numbers.

Gangster Government, Rampant

Image courtesy of Shutterstock

By John Hinderaker, Powerline Blog -

It was Michael Barone who, early in President Obama’s first term, described the Obama administration as “gangster government.” With Obama now re-elected, his administration’s gangsterism has shifted into high gear. Consider the following news stories from just the last 24 hours:

* Dinesh D’Souza, who made a popular documentary film critical of Obama, has been indicted on felony charges by a U.S. Attorney in New York for using straw contributors to donate $20,000 to a friend’s Senate campaign in 2012. I have no idea whether the allegations are truthful or not. But in both 2008 and 2012, the Obama campaign deliberately solicited and received illegal campaign contributions online. By disabling standard security measures, the Obama campaign invited, and undoubtedly received, contributions from foreign citizens, contributors who had already donated the maximum permissible amounts, felons, and others. Where is the criminal investigation of the Obama campaign, or, for that matter, of any Obama donor? There hasn’t been one. Selective enforcement of the laws is a hallmark of gangster governments.

* For the last two years, Obama’s IRS has been investigating the Friends of Abe, Hollywood’s only conservative group, and has held up approval of the organization’s 501(c)(3) status. The IRS has asked for information that would include the Friends’ membership list, which would then allow it to harass individual conservatives. As far as I can tell from news accounts, the Friends of Abe have done nothing that isn’t universal among 501(c)(3) organizations that relate to current events or political philosophy. And, as far as has been reported, the IRS isn’t investigating any of Hollywood’s many liberal groups.

McCann Calls on Quinn to Declare Energy Emergency in Illinois

SPRINGFIELD – State Sen. Sam McCann (R-Carlinville) hand delivered a letter to Governor Pat Quinn Friday calling on him to declare a State of Energy Emergency in Illinois.

Sixteen states have made similar declarations in recent weeks as prices for LP gas, like propane, have skyrocketed and supplies have dwindled to dangerous levels.

According to the Illinois Petroleum Gas Association, 35-40% of homes in Illinois are heated by propane gas. High demand during harvest and frigid winter temperatures have depleted supplies of gas throughout the Midwest. Prices have also skyrocketed from around $1.50 per gallon in the summer to over $5.50 per gallon in some places currently.

“Thousands of Illinoisans are struggling to heat their homes, and many business owners and livestock producers don’t know whether they will be able to access or afford necessary supplies of propane,” said Senator McCann. “It is my hope the Governor will join numerous other states from across the country in helping ease the burden and cost on many families and businesses in our state.”

Thorner: Republicans pin their hopes on elusive shiny objects

By Nancy Thorner -

It was shortly after the reelection of Barack Obama as President that Majority Leader Eric Cantor came across a poll indicating that had Republicans received 5% more of the Hispanic vote, Mitt Romney would have been the victor. To this day, Cantor regards amnesty as the key to a winning Republican strategy.

It took longer for the Speaker of the House, John Boehner, to similarly view amnesty as a God-send for the Republican Party. Boehner did vow in 2013 that he would never enter into House conference negotiations with the Senate in the aftermath of its passage of the "Gang-of-8" amnesty bill (S.744).

Was Boehner sincere when he vowed not to participate in Senate conference negotiations regarding amnesty? Only Boehner can answer that question. It's highly unlikely that Boehner's answer would please those of his Republican base for whom any discussion of immigration reform is contingent upon border security being addressed before and above all else.

Rahm Hits a Pothole

2014 Prediction: A 'Get Out of Jail' Card for Rod Blagojevich

By Barbara Hollingsworth -

Here's my New Year's prediction: Former Illinois Democratic Governor Rod Blagojevich will only serve a fraction of his 14-year sentence.

After two headline-grabbing trials in Chicago, Blagojevich was convicted on 18 counts of political corruption, including trying to sell Barack Obama's old Senate seat, and was sent to a federal prison in Colorado 21 months ago. But Blagojevich probably won't do all 14 years of his time, even though he admitted to making "terrible mistakes" in a non-specific "apology" in which he also claimed that he "never set out to break the law."

Early release should be unthinkable for such a high-level public official who committed what former U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald called "a political corruption crime spree" that "would make Lincoln roll over in his grave." But that's where the tea leaves are pointing, and if Blagojevich gets his "Get Out of Jail" card from the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, Fitzgerald himself will be largely to blame.

New Trier Republicans endorse Rauner, Truax, and Cross

The New Trier Republican Organization endorsed Bruce Rauner for Governor, Doug Truax for U.S. Senate and Tom Cross for State Treasurer Saturday after a spirited two and a half hour session at the Wilmette Community  Recreation Center.

At the session, Rauner, State Sen. Kirk Dillard, and State Sen. Bill Brady all appeared as did State Treasurer Dan Rutherford’s running mate Steven Kim of Northbrook. All four campaigns presented their cases to receive the endorsement of NTRO membership as well as the Republican organizations from Evanston and Niles townships, who were part of the event and held their own separate votes.

Rauner impressed the constituency with his calls to change the culture in Springfield, earning 80.3 percent of the votes cast.

Meanwhile, Downers Grove business owner Doug Truax, a veteran and West Point graduate, impressed the membership with his wide knowledge of health care earning 71.2 percent of the vote over State Sen. Jim Oberweis.

In the Treasurer’s race, State House Minority Leader Tom Cross bested CPA Bob Grogan by earning 60 percent of the vote.

Schumer’s Plan to Abolish the Tea Party

By Matthew Vadum -

The Democrats’ new much-vaunted master plan for annihilating the Tea Party movement calls for aggressive class warfare, demagoguery, and lying about the beliefs, motives, and goals of Tea Party supporters, Sen. Chuck Schumer revealed yesterday.

Echoing President Obama’s infamous “bitter clingers” remarks, the New York Democrat argued that Tea Party supporters are cartoonish figures who are easily ridiculed.

Invoking all the usual liberal cliches about conservatives, Schumer said the Tea Party is successor to “the Know-Nothings, Prohibitionists, Father Coughlin, and Huey Long.” In other words, he believes the movement is a collection of hicks, yahoos, neo-Luddites, fascists, male chauvinists, and racists fearful of what leftist academics might call The Other.

“Tea Party adherents see an America that’s not reflective of themselves, and the America they have known, and they just don’t like it.” They are bothered by changes in the “cultural, technological, and demographic makeup” of the nation. It angers them that “white Anglo-Saxon men are exclusively not running the country anymore.”

Schumer said his fellow Democrats in the U.S. Senate plan to subject the public to a massive, presumably very boring post-constitutional civics lesson from now until the congressional elections in November.

Democrats “must stop playing defense and go on offense when it comes to the need for government,” Schumer said as public support for ObamaCare hit a new record low. “We must state loudly and repeatedly we believe government is often a necessary force for good.”

More via CRC

U.S. House members work to make FEMA disaster declaration process fairer

Washington, DC – In response to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) decision to deny the state of Illinois’ request for public assistance following the devastating storms on November 17, 2013, U.S. Reps. Adam Kinzinger, Rodney Davis, John Shimkus, Aaron Schock, Cheri Bustos, and Bill Enyart Thursday introduced bipartisan legislation to bring fairness to the FEMA disaster declaration process.

“When a disaster hits a small town, it affects everybody because of the close ties of the community, yet we see these towns being penalized due to an unfair formula that favors bigger cities,” said Kinzinger. “Our formula for distributing federal disaster resources should be based on where the need is greatest, not arbitrary population numbers, and this legislation does just that.”

Pollution Board rejects Quinn's emergency rules on pet coke industry

SPRINGFIELD -Thursday, the state's Pollution Control Board rejected proposed emergency rules on handling and storing Illinois petroleum coke. Opponents warned that enacting Governor Quinn's proposals could have spontaneously shut down the state's pet coke industry. 

"By rejecting the emergency action, the Illinois Pollution Control Board understood that there is no immediate health threat or environmental emergency to be dealt with. Current city, state and federal environmental regulations are as stringent as ever, and industry across the state will continue to follow the law," Mark Denzler, vice president and COO of the Illinois Manufacturers' Association said.

"We are ready to work with policymakers and determine how we can continue to be the best neighbors we can be. I thank members of the Pollution Control Board, our labor friends and the many legislators who also opposed this costly and burdensome government overreach."

Quinn's proposals were in reaction to a plant in south Chicago that stirred outrage from neighbors in August when a windstorm picked up dust from a local pet coke storage pile and spread on a nearby neighborhood. The company was cited, storage corrections were made and there has been no other similar EPA complaints throughout the state since then.

Gov. Pat Quinn's office says it's "reviewing alternative options," but gave no specifics.

Larry Kaifesh releases new campaign ad in 8th CD race

CARPENTERSVILLE - Republican primary candidate in the 8th CD Larry Kaifesh released a campaign ad this week. As a Marine Colonel, Kaifesh says he's faced America's enemies while fighting the war on terrorism, but there's one thing worse that could ultimately destroy America as we know it - our national debt.

Young Adult Book Review: The Dark Unwinding

By Irene F. Starkehaus - 

Title: The Dark Unwinding I Author: Sharon Cameron I Publisher: Scholastic

The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) offers the following synopsis for The Dark Unwinding:

Sent to prove her uncle insane, Katherine discovers another windup world.

Actual Plot Summary: (Written in first person) seventeen year old Katherine Tulman lives in 1852 London with her miserly and verbally abusive Aunt Alice and her spoiled cousin Robert. Because she is orphaned without a penny of her own, she is left to bookkeeping and financial management for her cousin who will ultimately become heir of an estate called Stranwyne Keep. Stranwyne is financially dwindling due to the presumed mismanagement of Uncle Frederick Tulman (Uncle Tully) and Katherine is dispatched to Stranwyne in order to observe and substantiate Aunt Alice's claims of insanity and incompetence. It is Aunt Alice's plan to have Uncle Tully declared insane so that she can be named executor until Robert comes of age.

Rhoads: Roe v. Wade enables black genocide

By Mark Rhoads - 

It is tragically ironic that America's first president with African-American heritage mindlessly plays back the childish secular cliches of aging white "pro-choice" women on the far left as if there were no terrible consequences from his exteme policies for young African-American families.

The so-called "pro-choice" lobby claims that the mass taking innocent human lives, is an example of "reproductive rights" which is like saying that mass starvation is an example of nutritional rights.  

According to a study by the Guttmacher Institute reported on BET last year, black female teens are four times more likely to get an abortion than white females of the same age.  The 2013 report found that on average, 41 in 1,000 pregnancies among Black women (ages 15-19) are terminated compared to 10 among white women and 20 among Latinos. CLICK HERE  to read more about the horrors of black infanticide in America.