Illinois Review

Illinois Democrats sue to prevent citizens from voting on term limits in November

SPRINGFIELD - A lawsuit filed by a Democratic Party attorney seeks to prevent term limits and political redistricting questions from appearing on Illinois' ballot in November.

The lawsuit in Cook County Circuit Court argues that the state Board of Elections shouldn't spend public funds on two proposals to amend the Illinois constitution that it calls invalid.

The first would establish term limits for lawmakers and is led by GOP gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner. The second would create an independent commission to draw legislative district lines.

The plaintiffs say the measures are not valid because they do not meet a constitutional requirement for changes to the Legislature.

The plaintiffs' attorney is Michael Kasper, who is general counsel for the Democratic Party of Illinois. The party chairman is Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan.

Thomas More Society wins 28 year federal case for Chicago ProLife Action League

CHICAGO - In 1986, Chicago's Joe Scheidler and several pro-life associates were accused of breaking federal RICO law in an effort to dismantle the National Organization for Women. Scheidler faced civil litigation for nearly three decades before the case was settled this week in federal court.

Yesterday, just over one month short of its 28th anniversary, the historic, marathon litigation, N.O.W. v. Scheidler, culminated in yet another unanimous, decisive pro-life victory for the defendants, Joseph Scheidler, Andrew Scholberg, Timothy Murphy, and the Chicago-based Pro-Life Action League.

A unanimous, federal appellate panel roundly rejected any and all objections raised by the abortion plaintiffs, N.O.W., and a pair of abortion providers representing a nationwide class of all abortion providers in the United States to the federal trial judge's award of $63,391.45 in reimbursable, out-of-pocket costs to said pro-life defendants. 

Illinois congressmen call on USDOT to investigate Illinois patronage fund

WASHINGTON – Six Illinois Congressmen and U.S. Senator Mark Kirk are calling on the U.S. Department of Transportation's inspector general to review whether federal funds were mixed into a possible patronage scheme about which Governor Pat Quinn's office is being questioned.

Those U.S. House members signing the letter were U.S. Reps. Adam Kinzinger, Rodney Davis, John Shimkus, Randy Hultgren, Aaron Schock, Peter Roskam.

Associated Press reports that Quinn's administration confirmed Tuesday that Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez's office subpoenaed records related to the $55 million Neighborhood Recovery Initiative Program, which state auditors earlier this year said had "pervasive" problems with management and spending. The probe comes in addition to a federal lawsuit alleging wrongful hiring practices in Quinn's Department of Transportation.

Illinois residents paying more taxes for fewer services

By Benjamin Yount - 

SPRINGFIELD, IL - If you only look at the government spending you can see, such as roads and school buildings, Illinois taxpayers would appear to get an okay return on their investment.

But it’s the spending you don’t see that has taxpayers paying more and more for less and less.

A new survey by WalletHub.com ranks Illinois 39th in the nation in return on investment for government spending.

“Illinois is 47 when it comes to tax rates. It has some of the highest state and local tax rates in the country,” WalletHub.com’s CEO Odysseas Papadimitriou told Illinois Watchdog. “But when you look at the government services, Illinois ranks 28.”

New Gallup Poll Shows One out of Two Illinoisans Want Out

SPRINGFIELD - A new Gallup poll shows that Illinoisans are the most unhappy residents in the nation, with one out of two hankering to leave - and one out of five seriously planning to move out. 

Why are Illinoisans so unhappy?

The numbers show Illinoisans point to work/business and weather/location, followed by quality of life, as the top three reasons they want out. 

Illinois pastors lobby for immigration reform in Washington DC

SPRINGFIELD - A group of 15 pastors from Illinois were in Washington DC on Tuesday to lobby for immigration reform with mostly Republican congressmen, including Peter Roskam (R-Wheaton), Randy Hultgren (R-Winfield), Adam Kinzinger (R-Channahon) and Aaron Schock (R-Peoria).

Pastor Chris McElwee (photo right) of Wheaton Bible Church in West Chicago said the group delivered a statement of their individual principles that reads:  

“We are urging members of Congress, especially those here in Illinois, to listen (to) and look at these particular statements, which includes respect for the God-given dignity of every person, protects the unity of the immediate family, of course respects the rule of law, guarantees secure national borders, insures fairness to taxpayers and establishes a path toward legal citizenship to those who qualify.”

The Democrat-controlled U.S. Senate passed a reform measure last year, but it has not come before the House for a vote.

Illinois family organization threatened with hate-driven violence

While national media focuses on the reprehensible remarks of Donald Sterling, his statements seem to pale in comparison to the most recent hate-filled communication directed at the conservative Illinois Family Institute, which today received the following from Casey Corbin:

"A prayer for all of you.

Dear lord, I ask that you strike down the children of any staff, supporters or friends of this EVIL hate group.

May their children have cancer, be hit by cars or murdered.

May the staff and founders be victims of a mass shooting or bombing - that would be nice!!!

And finally, may any children of that very unattractive WHORE - Laurie Higgins - be slaughtered and offered to your greatness lord. May her entire family be struck down and return to Hell from which they came. FUCK YOU Laurie Higgins and your entire disgusting family!!!

Amen!"

With only five friends, Corbin's Facebook page (HERE) appears to be a possible front for another individual or organization.

Dave Smith, Executive Director of the Illinois Family Institute tells Illinois Review:

"I am alarmed at the level of hate that some on the Left have for conservative groups like IFI, simply because we hold to orthodox Christian teachings of morality.

How does anyone get to the point of wishing violence and murder on the innocent children of those with which you have political disagreements?

And this situation is only aggravated by liberal groups like the SPLC [Southern Poverty Law Center], who label pro-marriage groups like IFI as a 'hate organization.' Their categorization of the traditional Judeo-Christian view of sexual morality with racists groups is not only intellectually dishonest, but incendiary."

It is unclear what steps IFI may take to protect itself and its staff. According to Smith, this is fairly typical of the hate calls, emails, letters and faxes they regularly receive.

Readers may recall that on August 15, 2012, a left-wing gunman entered the Washington DC headquarters of the conservative Family Research Council and shot a security guard. The gunman, 28-year-old Floyd Corkins II, had served as a volunteer at a LGBT community center.

When asked by the FBI how he chose his target, Corkins cited the Southern Poverty Law Center, and said he "found them online". Believing the security guard he shot was connected with the Family Research Council, he told him "I don't like your politics."

May Day immigration march in Chicago Thursday

Last year, thousands marched in Chicago's May Day immigration effort - Tribune photo

CHICAGO - Thursday, labor, faith and immigrant rights leaders will celebrate the 125th Anniversary May Day march in downtown Chicago. This year’s march - which starts at 3:00 PM at the Haymarket Memorial -  will highlight immigrant families separated as a result of deportation.

The group will urge President Obama to use his executive powers to suspend deportations immediately and end corporation's exploitation of low wage workers.

Those participating in Thursday march are: Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR), SEIU Illinois Council, Chicago Jobs with Justice, Workers Organizing Committee of Chicago/Fight for 15, AFL-CIO, UE Western Region, Latino Union of Chicago, Teamsters Local 777, Chicago Federation of Labor, Chicago Community and Workers Rights, Teamsters Joint Council 25, Illinois Labor Historical Society, P.A.S.0, LIUNA Local 681, UFCW Local 881, Workers United, Gay Liberation Network, Chicago Teachers Union, ARISE Chicago, and S.W.O.P, Centro Sin Fronteras. 

Term Limits group files nearly 600k signatures for November referendum

Rauner announces Term Limits & Reform has met their petition goal - Photo Charles Thomas

SPRINGFIELD - With over twice the number required by law, Wednesday morning the Committee for Legislative Reform and Term Limits submitted petition signatures at the State Board of Elections to place the Term LImits and Reform constitutional amendment on the November ballot. 

It took a semi-truck and 20 people to deliver the 591,092 petition signatures in a 36-foot long, 67,976 page petition to the Secretary of State's office across from the Capitol.

GOP gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner, chairman and major funder of the effort, said "All these reforms, especially term limits, will go a long way towards changing the insider culture of Springfield and send a message that power belongs in the hands of the people, not the career politicians and special interests."

The amendment limits state lawmakers to 8 years in the general assembly, while also making other structural and procedural changes to the legislature, including raising the threshold to override a gubernatorial veto to bring Illinois in line with 36 other states, and changing the number of state house and senate districts.

Governor Quinn is on record opposing term limits for the executive branch and the legislative branch.

Illinois Secretary of State threatens closures if tax increase not extended

SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois Secretary of State says more than two dozen driver's license facilities would close unless lawmakers extend the temporary tax increase the Democrats passed in 2011.

The income tax is set to return to 3.75 percent Jan. 1 unless lawmakers make the tax increase permanent.

White, a Chicago Democrat, says he would have to lay off about 200 government workers, and reduce his agency's budget by about 10 percent.

He also threatened to stop sending renewal notices for licenses and vehicle stickers, which could lead to taxpayers unknowing driving with expired plates and risking tickets and fines.

Illinois rolls out new bike transportation plan

Image Source

SPRINGFIELD - Maybe you didn't know this, but according to Ann Schneider with the Illinois Department of Transportation, "Bicycling is an important mode of transportation" in Illinois.

This week, the state unveiled a taxpayer-funded plan to expand access to bike trails, bike access to transit systems and other cycling projects. 

“The Illinois Bike Transportation Plan is framed around five key principles: safety, connectivity, access, choice and collaboration,” Schneider said. “These principles helped guide the development of the plan and will be instrumental to implementation. The plan will ensure that Illinois remains a model of excellence in sustainable transportation.”

Illinois ranked #9 in the lists of bike-friendly states last year, and Secretary Schneider and Governor Quinn are set on climbing higher. 

Biker safety will be a top priority, and last week Governor Quinn ordered that all car door incidents involving bikers be reported to the state. Motorists will be obligated to follow more closely safety guidelines involving those bicycling on public fareways.

According to the League of Illinois bicyclists website, motorists are legally obligated to:

Dems Propose Trolling Media, Web for ‘Hate Speech’

Gina Miller is reporting that a couple of weeks ago, two Democrats in Congress introduced a bill titled, “The Hate Crime Reporting Act of 2014.” It directs the creation of a report on “the role of telecommunications in hate crimes.” The report would be compiled by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), the Justice Department, the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights and others, and would:

… analyze information on the use of telecommunications, including the Internet, broadcast television and radio, cable television, public access television, commercial mobile services, and other electronic media, to advocate and encourage violent acts and the commission of crimes of hate, as described in the Hate Crime Statistics Act…

The bill directs that the report:

… include any recommendations, consistent with the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, that the NTIA determines are appropriate and necessary to address the use of telecommunications…

Miller asks: "What would these people consider to be advocating and encouraging violent acts and “hate crimes”? The bill provides no definitions, so we are left to presume this nebulous “hate speech,” which is all we can call it, is in the eye of the Justice Department and other groups involved in compiling the report."

More HERE

Rhoads: Obamacare Incompetence by design?

By Mark Rhoads - 

The Washington Times reports that after shelling out $677 million to build the federal health care website, the government will spend an additional $121 million in 2014 to repair it—$30 million more than previously estimated—theWashington Times reported last night.  Some conspiracy theories imply that Obama wants Obamacare to fail to pave the way for a government single payer system.

Far fetched? What do IR readers think?

Shades of Steubenville: 4 Illinois students charged in sexual assault posted online

By William J. Kelly - 

CHICAGO - Recalling the shocking the 2012 Steubenville rape casethat made national headlines, 4 Woodstock students have now been charged in the sexual assault of a 15 year-old girl in Illinois.

To date, national media have eschewed mention of the case, which, unlike Steubenville, has some racial overtones, and the question is why.

To illustrate the difference, actor Brad Pitt is turning the Steubenville caseinto a major motion picture. So why is the Woodfield case different? Is the sexual assault of a 15 year-old girl by four high school students that was videotaped and posted on social media now so common that it isn’t even considered newsworthy?  With the current circus atmosphere surrounding Don Sterling and Cliven Bundy, have the racially tinged aspects of the case given the media pause?

If that is the case, it is sad social commentary on the selective nature of media outrage.

Sticks and Stones: The Donald Sterling Saga

By Irene F. Starkehaus -

One late evening in November of 1938, Germany erupted into a violence that was fuel by years of "organized outbursts of popular anger" and in that night of terror against the Jewish people, homes were burned, riots raged, temples were destroyed and tens of thousands of Jewish men were rounded up and corralled into the concentration camps of Buchenwald, Sachsenhausen and Dachau. The prevalent description assigned to November 9, 1938 is Kristallnacht. (We translate this as "night of broken glass.") It is believed that Joseph Goebbels created the term as a way of dehumanizing the event as a crime against property instead of a crime against mankind, but in post-Nazi Germany where the people are understandably cautious about adopting Nazi euphemisms, the events leading up to Jewish internment are now called the "Reich pogrom night." See Kristallnacht 1938 by Alan E. Steinweis.

Pogrom is a word of Russian origin that portends grassroots anti-Semitic violence that was perhaps not organized by authorities but was most certainly condoned because Jews of that era had an unusually high representation in the commercial classes which have always been vulnerable to accusations of greed – especially in times of misfortune. Pogroms were intended to frustrate and collapse what was termed "Jewish privilege," and they were used in conjunction with Hitler's "anti-Semitism of reason" against Jews through a "systematic legal struggle." Kristallnacht was tacitly endorsed by Hitler as a means of frustrating private property rights in Germany.

That's how fascists work. Through populist anger and through bureaucratic means, the Left creates unrest in order to authorize controls that are said to protect populations from the commerce that purportedly fosters discontent. Popular anger and bureaucratic control invariably combine and use scapegoats as a way of disenfranchising the middle class from its God-given rights thereby creating a permanent underclass that can then propagate the unrest.

Davis applauds Obama plan to protect students from sexual assault

WASHINGTON DC – U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis (R-IL) today released the following statement after the Administration announced a series of actions, called Not Alone – Protecting Students from Sexual Assault, to protect students from sexual assault:

“In the 13th Congressional District alone, there are more than 45,000 female students attending nine universities and colleges,” said Davis. “The CDC estimates that 19 percent of undergraduate women have experienced sexual assault since entering college, so that means more than 8,500 women attending college in central and southwest Illinois are likely to experience a sexual assault while on campus.

“As a father of a daughter preparing to go to college, this issue is deeply personal to me. So I applaud President Obama for leading on this important issue, and urge all schools to take a proactive approach to put an end to sexual assault. I’ll continue to work with the president and other stakeholders to raise awareness and offer concrete solution to address this problem.”

Peter LaBarbera's Story on His Arrest in Canada [video]

On April 10, 2014, Peter LaBarbera of Americans for Truth About Homosexuality was denied entrance into Canada for suspicion that his planned speech at a Canadian Pro-Life Conference would violate the nation's "hate speech" laws. After gaining access, LaBarbera was arrested for passing out information on a public university's campus.

Oberweis minimum wage bill advances in the Illinois Senate

SPRINGFIELD – A compromise offered by State Sen. Jim Oberweis (R-Sugar Grove) to address the current debate about raising Illinois’ minimum wage is advancing in the Senate.

Senate Bill 2004 was assigned to the Senate Executive Committee on April 29, three weeks after Oberweis amended the bill with a proposal that would raise the minimum wage for workers ages 26 and older to $9.00 per hour on Jan. 1, 2015; to $9.50 per hour on Jan. 1, 2016; and to $10.00 per hour on Jan. 1, 2017. The amendment would also prevent municipal leaders from requiring a higher minimum wage in their communities.

Oberweis says assigning Senate Bill 2004 to the powerful Senate Executive Committee allows lawmakers and business leaders to hear directly from proponents and opponents of the issue in a public forum.

“The debate about raising the minimum wage has generated strong opinions on both sides of the issue,” he said. “By offering a workable compromise, I am asking business leaders and lawmakers from both sides of aisle to see if a minimum-wage increase is possible without the very real economic harm that other minimum-wage proposals would cause.”

Rauner: Quinn's allies killed term limits for state constitutional officers

CHICAGO - GOP Gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner today issued the following statement in response to a party line 2-1 Illinois Senate subcommittee vote to kill a constitutional amendment that would have given voters the opportunity to impose term limits on state constitutional officers:

“Just hours before the signatures of hundreds of thousands of Illinoisans will be filed to demand legislative term limits, Pat Quinn’s allies showed why the people of Illinois are ready to shake up Springfield. While Pat Quinn and his allies continue to block term limits in Illinois, I stand squarely with the people in their call for reform and accountability. The people of Illinois deserve the chance to make their voices heard.”

The White House Joins the War on Men

By KC Johnson - 

Two new documents out from the White House--the Vice President's task force recommendations and a question and answer document from the OCR--continue the assault on due process at the expense of males accused of rape or sexual assault on campus. The administration tips its hand quickly with a telltale verbal switch--referring to complainants as "survivors," rather than as accusers. This language, which assumes guilt and the fact of a sexual offense before any hearing, is the terminology of hardline feminists who have the ear of this administration and have made it clear that they want more guilty findings. Yet what many observers call rape is viewed by others as a growing prevalence  of ambiguous and drunken encounters fueled by an anything-goes campus culture.

The administration's thumb on the scale began with the 2011 "Dear Colleague" letter, which lowered requirements for a finding of guilt. Some of what the documents contain (more statistics, more transparency, clearly articulated rules and guidelines) are non-controversial. But the consistent attack on any meaningful due process for accused students means that one thing can be sure from the administration's move: more innocent students will be branded rapists by their colleges. For an example, see this report yesterday from the University of Virginia. And Brett Sokolow, director of the Association of Title IX Administrators, delivered a bombshell in a newsletter to members last Thursday, saying that "in the last two weeks, I've worked on five cases all involving drunken hook-ups on college campuses. In each case, the male accused of sexual misconduct was found responsible. In each case, I thought the college got it completely wrong." No hint of miscarriages of justice like this, or concern about the rights of the accused, is found in the White House report.

Obama Forcing the Closure of Fast Food Outlets on Military Bases

By Warner Todd Huston - 

Four restaurants, three of which are McDonald’s, have closed down on several military bases and a host of other outlets, like Pizza Huts, are also saying they will soon be closing their shops. These closures will seriously damage the quality of life for our soldiers on our military bases and it is all thanks to Barack Obama.

The shocking report from theMilitary Times has several Republican lawmakers alarmed that the quality of life on our military bases will be diminished thanks to Obama’s meddling.

According the MT, several other contractors who operate restaurants and other small businesses on military bases “have asked to be released from their Army and Air Force Exchange Service contracts to operate fast food restaurants at two other installations.”

So, what is going on, here? Why are all these small outlets closing? Well, it is thanks to Obama’s Executive Order that all minimum wage workers be given a raise to $10.10 per hour (up from $7.25). That on top of Obama’s decree that such businesses pay more for healthcare and that they pay a $3.81 per hour “health and welfare” benefit is also making these businesses close their doors.

More HERE

Prosecutors subpoena Quinn's anti-violence program

AP File Photo/M. Spencer Green

CHICAGO - Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez issued a sweeping grand jury subpoena seeking records tied to Gov. Pat Quinn’s troubled Neighborhood Initiative Program – including those for a program involving the husband of Cook County Circuit Court Clerk Dorothy Brown, documents obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times show.

The subpoena asks for extensive information about the program, including “files, notes, memos and correspondence pertaining all grants.”

Correspondence from Alvarez’s office dated in March asked for “names and identities of all grantees participating in the Neighborhood Initiative Program, including, but not limited to Chicago Area Project.”

More HERE

Department of Human Services muscles for tax hike

An email exchange between Illinois Department of Human Services spokeswoman Januari Smith and Marvin Lindsey with Community Behavioral Healthcare Association of Illinois, reveals that tax dollars are being used to lobby for higher taxes.

In emails obtained by the Illinois News Network through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), Smith discusses passing out talking points to the special interest group so they can lobby lawmakers for making the temporary tax hike permanent. Smith also encourages letters being sent to newspaper editors in support of the tax hike.

While there is nothing illegal about this, it does raise questions about whether the state bureaucracy should be a neutral entity implementing policy or a partisan instrument making policy.

Emails below:

Schilling challenges Bustos to debate in every county in the 17th CD

EAST MOLINE - Bobby Schilling is calling on Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (D-East Moline) to debate in each of Illinois' 17th CD counties leading up to the November 2014 election. Schilling said he has already accepted an invitation to a televised debate in October hosted by WQAD and the Dispatch/Rock Island Argus, and hopes Bustos will take the challenge.

"Debate is a historic part of the political process, but in recent years it has devolved into a battle of who can deliver the best five second sound byte," Schilling said. "We're looking to have a long-form, substantive discussion of the issues in as many towns as possible, especially in some of the rural communities that are often overlooked and forgotten."

Illinois Senate Democrats kill attempt to term limit state's Executive Officers

SPRINGFIELD - Illinois Senate Democrats stopped term limits for Illinois' executive officers by placing a brick on a proposal.

With only one spot left on the November 2014 ballot for an Assembly-originated referendum, Minority Leader Christine Radogno appeared before the Senate Executive Sub-Committee on Constitutional Amendments, asking them to consider a proposal adding Illinois to the 35 states that now have term limits for executive offices.

When asked why she had formerly opposed term limits and was now supporting them, Sen. Radogno said "My position has evolved." Term limits seem reasonable to "those of us who are pulling out our hair because the state is in such bad shape," Radogno said.

Radogno's co-presenter, State Rep. Jim Durkin, pointed to the poor economic conditions and unemployment in Illinois as the reason why new faces should be presented to the voting public after two terms of holding office.

Committee chairman Senator Ira Silverstein (D-Chicago) and Senator James Clayborne (D-East St. Louis) voted against moving SJRCA 69 out of committee, and State Senator Luechtefeld (R-Okawville) voted yes. 

The hearing is viewable HERE

Conservative organization to run $310K in radio ads against Durbin

In a press release today, Americas PAC announced it has completed a $310,000 radio ad buy opposing Dick Durbin’s reelection to the U.S. Senate.

Click (HERE) to listen to the ad.

“I fully anticipate Americas PAC, and myself personally, to be attacked by the full force of the Federal Government and given the full Al Salvi/Tea Party treatment,” Tom Donelson, Chairman of Americas PAC said. “I expect to be audited by the IRS, to have my tax returns leaked to the media, to be investigated by multiple government agencies and be raided late at night.”

Donelson was referencing a story Illinois Review broke last year (see below) about the long-time relationship between FEC and IRS Executive Lois Lerner and Dick Durbin.

Lerner Intrigue Goes Back to '96 Durbin/Salvi U.S. Senate Race

Lois Lerner to 1996 U.S. Senate Candidate Al Salvi: "We'll Get You!"

“Durbin is only polling around 50%. That is a pretty weak number for a member of leadership who has not faced a strong campaign in nearly two decades,” Donelson said. “Rather than sit on the sidelines and see what happens, Americas PAC is proactively framing the debate about Durbin.”

EXCLUSIVE: Rock Island pastor reacts to Rauner snub

ROCK ISLAND - Bruce Rauner's decision to back out of a Republican Lincoln Day Dinner in Rock Island last Thursday has stung a local pastor, who questions why the GOP gubernatorial candidate refused to stand at the podium with him.

“I’m not a Jeremiah Wright. I’m not g**-damning America or anything like that,” Rev. Donald Johnson told Illinois Review. “Those who heard my speech Thursday night - I don’t believe anyone could come away from there saying I was involved in hate speech."

“There were 200 white people there. If I had used any kind of hate speech …” it would not have been so graciously received, said Johnson, who received a standing ovation at the dinner.

Crisis Manufactured by Mainstream Media Reporter

Sources, including Rock Island County GOP chairman Bill Bloom, tell Illinois Review the entire incident was created by a reporter (presumably Eric Timmons -- photo right) with a local, mainstream newspaper.

"The Rauner staff was contacted by a local paper hoping to 'invent' a news story," Bloom says. "Pastor Johnson has written some books that strongly (and rightly) condemn Obama for his policies and the devastation they have wrought across America. He pulls no punches. A local reporter cherry picked a few very confrontational statements (which the Pastor uses to shock people and make them think). He sent these phrases without context to the Rauner team."

Refusing to say exactly what it found offensive, the Rauner campaign condemned Rev. Johnson's remarks, calling them "inflammatory" and stating that "such language has no place in our society."

Rauner (photo right) has been aggressive in his outreach to the black community, even paying $51,000 to an African-American magazine editor to help him in his appeal.

It therefore came as surprise, when Rauner backed out of keynoting the dinner, leaving Bloom to re-invite Rev. Johnson - who is African American - after he'd un-invited him in attempt to persuade Rauner to attend.

Update x1: Senate [not] likely to pass graduated income tax proposal for November ballot

Senate Democrat staff took this photo Tuesday of graduated tax supporters

Update x1 - 4:55 PM -  Senator Harmon has yet to call the bill on Tuesday when all the "Fair Tax" people are in town, so it appears the Senate will not be so likely to pass the graduated income tax proposal after all. Without the needed votes in the House, it would be an embarrassment for the Democrats. So ... we're adding the word "Not" to our headline.

SPRINGFIELD - Ralliers and lawmakers supporting the effort to move Illinois from a flat tax state to a graduated tax system are confident that they'll make a step forward in the Illinois Senate Tuesday.

State Senator Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) told ralliers in front of the Capitol that their efforts to change Illinois sytem of taxing to put more on those making $200,000 or more was "democracy - this is democracy!" 

Despite being vaccinated, mumps strikes nine U of I students

CHAMPAIGN - University of Illinois officials say nine students and one faculty member on the Urbana-Champaign campus have been diagnosed with mumps since the campus' spring break.

Dr. Robert Palinkas, who directs the campus' McKinley Health Center reports that all the students were vaccinated against mumps. However, the vaccine - included in the measles, mumps and rubella shots - are effective only 80 to 85 percent of the time.

Durbin calls on tech companies to back Democrats' immigration reform

WASHINGTON - Illinois' U.S. Senator Dick Durbin is leading the way for comprehensive immigration reform in the Senate that would provide amnesty - he says "pathway to citizenship" - for millions that have come to America sidestepping federal immigration laws. 

A broad coalition of immigration reform supporters - from traditional immigrant rights groups to Catholics and evangelical Protestants to high tech companies - are joining his effort to push for immigration reform, only to find the coalition fragile and sensitive to coalition members focused on their own interests.

High tech companies and corporations are anxious to bring in high skilled engineers from overseas. A recent op-ed in Roll Call by Compete America's executive director calling for Congress to open the doors for more high-skilled workers bothered Senator Durbin. So he wrote a letter to several tech companies urging them to stick to the overall plan. 

"I am troubled by a recent statement that some in the technology industry may shift their focus to passage of stand-alone legislation that would only resolve the industry's concerns," Durbin wrote in an April 1 letter to the CEOs of Accenture, Amazon, Cisco, Deloitte, Facebook, Google, IBM, Intel, Microsoft and Oracle.

Rauner launches ads targeting minorities and Democrats

CHICAGO - GOP gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner began airing three new television ads focused on minorities and cross-over voters.

“Beautiful Thing”

Obama library donors capped at $1 million ... for now

By Greg Hinz - 

Though Illinois taxpayers are being asked to commit $100 million in public funds this spring to help lure the Barack Obama presidential library to Chicago, Mr. Obama's wealthy friends are being told to hold their gifts to a maximum of $1 million each, at least for now.

A well-heeled Chicagoan who's in position to help the president raise the hundreds of millions that eventually will be needed to build and endow the library says the word has gone out to write only a smallish check for now. The big pitch will come sometime after Mr. Obama leaves office in January 2017.

More HERE

Op/Ed: Time to elect constitutional conservatives in Illinois

By Babette Holder - 

The Republican Party is often perceived by society (especially by Democrats) to be Pro-life, and that’s not a negative as far as many of the party’s constituent base. But perception often times is not reality, nor often times is it that Republicans are uniform in principles, morals and even voting practices.

As with any party, there is true diversity in the GOP and not just racially, but in mind-set. One troubling trend though, and especially specific to blue states are those that present themselves as conservative candidates, but do not legislate nor vote as conservatives when they are elected, especially on issues that are typically touted as the core principles of the party.  

Some call those Republicans RINOs, others like to refer to them as "moderates." RINO stands for Republican In Name Only, and the more politically-correct version “moderate” is a favorite for those that fear swing voters can’t stand to hear the values of core conservatism.

This practice of catering to those possible voters is not only dividing the party, but it is aiding the opposition in winning elections.

Powers: An Interview with "Moms' Night Out" Producer Kevin Downes

New comedy "Moms' Night Out" features Patricia Heaton (third from left)

By CJ Powers - 

I had the opportunity to interview producer Kevin Downes about his latest film, Moms' Night Out. It's a comedy due to release on May 9th.

The synopsis is as follows: All Allyson and her friends want is a peaceful, grown-up evening of dinner and conversation . . . a long-needed moms' night out. But in order to enjoy high heels, adult conversation and food not served in a paper bag, they need their husbands to watch the kids for three hours—what could go wrong? Moms' Night Out is an endearing true-to-life family comedy that celebrates the beautiful mess called parenting. 

Here are the highlights from our conversation...

CJ: Most summer films seem to be aimed at men, but this film seems to be designed for women.

KEVIN: Most of my films in the past have been sort of geared toward men – Films I’ve acted in like Courageous, or films I’ve produced. And, I’ve just really felt like God has put it on my heart to make a film for women. That’s really where it started for me in wanting to produce Mom’s Night Out.

Rhoads: The Boring and Predictable Left

By Mark Rhoads - 

On Sunday morning, President Obama held a joint press conference with the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Najib Razak. CBS News White House reporter Major Garrett aksed the president why he has not raised the issue of human rights abuses in his talks with Razak, as he was urged to do in a New York Times editorial the day before.

After a career in government, Quinn announces he's term limiting himself

Image Source

CHICAGO - Campaigning for re-election, Democrat Gov. Pat Quinn announced today that term limits are good for Illinois and he's going to limit himself to two terms.

Quinn told reporters Monday after a City Club of Chicago speech that he won't seek a third term if he wins in November against Republican Bruce Rauner.

Quinn, who has spent his entire career in government, advocated term limits in the 1990s when Republicans controlled the governor's office and the Illinois Senate.

Last week Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno introduced legislation to amend the Illinois Constitution to limit statewide officials to two terms of four years. The plan needs a three-fifths vote in each legislative chamber to get on the November ballot.

Rauner is leading efforts to limit lawmakers' time in office.

Chicago top cop: Concealed Carry Could Lead To More Guns On The Street

CHICAGO – Playing on fear and ignoring the data, Chicago police superintendent Garry McCarthy told reporters today that Illinois' new conceal carry law may boost the number of guns on the street.

Connecting guns (rather than criminals) to Chicago's growing crime problem, McCarthy opined:

“Because now it is going to happen is legitimate guns are going to get stolen in cars, they are going to get stolen in burglaries, they are going to get taken away from legitimate owners. So, at the end of the day, those numbers may go up or they may go down, I’m not positive,” said McCarthy.

McCarthy says Chicago police recover more illegal weapons than any other U.S. city, which, according to him, should lead to a reduction in crime. However, Chicago violent crime has not been reduced, despite the weapons confiscation and the police cooking the books on crime statistics.

Pamela Harris speaks about her Supreme Court case against Illinois governor

Until the union came calling, Pamela Harris was an Illinois homemaker devoted to caring for her developmentally disabled son, Josh. Now she's the lead plaintiff in Harris v. Quinn, a Supreme Court case that could have a major impact on labor unions.

Child porn found on former lawmaker's state-owned computer

CHICAGO - Former Illinois State Rep. Keith Farnham (D-Elgin) was charged Monday with possession of child pornography. The criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago accuses Farnham of allegedly possessing two videos depicting child pornography on a computer seized from his state office in Elgin last month.

Farnham, 66,was not arrested and no date has been set yet for him to appear voluntarily for an initial appearance in Federal Court.

The Northern Illinois U.S. Attorney's offices says that on March 13, agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) executed a federal search warrant at Farnham’s office and residence in Elgin. Several computers and electronic storage devices were recovered that contained child pornography images, including the two charged videos, according to the complaint affidavit. The office computer that contained the videos was labeled “PROPERTY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.”

IRS data shows more taxpayers fleeing Illinois

By Michael Lucci - 

Internal Revenue Service migration data for the 2010 tax year shows that Illinois continues to lose people to other states.

Illinois had a net loss of 49,000 residents to other states, along with a net loss of $1.9 billion in personal income.

Not only did Illinois lose more people than it gained, but the state also lost higher-income earners. The average taxpayer who left Illinois earned $55,000 per year, while the average taxpayer who entered Illinois earned $49,000 per year.

The IRS statistics tell the story of people voting with their feet. Once again, Illinoisans voted to uproot their families and pursue their futures in other states. Illinois had a net loss of residents to 42 of the 50 states.

City of Bloomington, Illinois may choose flamingos over taxpayers

By Benjamin Yount - 

SPRINGFIELD - Two things appear all but certain in Bloomington: taxpayers are going to pay more and the city will get its flamingo exhibit.

Bloomington city leaders are trying to hammer out a new budget by the end of the month, and it appears the city will rely solely on tax increases to get the job done.

Mayor Tari Renner wants to raise more than $5 million in new taxes to pay for additional spending in Bloomington’s proposed $91 million budget.

Last week, aldermen approved $4.1 million in new taxes, but Renner vetoed the plan, saying it wasn’t enough.

Bloomington must have $1.5 million more for police and fire pensions, but Alderman Judy Stearns said the city doesn’t need to spend $250,000 on a flamingo exhibit at the city-owned zoo, nor does the city need to spend $1 million on outside lawyers or another $250,000 on food and travel.

“For early city meetings, I favor Council bringing their own food or paying for it, and I just do not see the need for Directors or Managers to take people to lunch,” Stearns wrote in an email to Renner. “I know it’s good for morale, but how many of us would dream of getting this perk in our own jobs?”

Stearns has a list of almost $5 million in spending cuts that have largely been ignored.

Marijuana Is Harmful: Debunking 7 Myths Arguing It's Fine

By Kevin Sabet - 

Don’t believe the hype: marijuana legalization poses too many risks to public health and public safety. Based on almost two decades of research, community-based work, and policy practice across three presidential administrations, my new book “Reefer Sanity” discusses some widely held myths about marijuana:

Myth No. 1: “Marijuana is harmless and non-addictive”

No, marijuana is not as dangerous as cocaine or heroin, but calling it harmless or non-addictive denies very clear science embraced by every major medical association that has studied the issue. Scientists now know that the average strength of today’s marijuana is some 5–6 times what it was in the 1960s and 1970s, and some strains are upwards of 10–20 times stronger than in the past—especially if one extracts THC through a butane process. This increased potency has translated to more than 400,000 emergency room visits every year due to things like acute psychotic episodes and panic attacks.

Mental health researchers are also noting the significant marijuana connection with schizophrenia, and educators are seeing how persistent marijuana use can blunt academic motivation and significantly reduce IQ by up to eight points, according to a very large recent study in New Zealand. Add to these side-effects new research now finding that even casual marijuana use can result in observable differences in brain structure, specifically parts of the brain that regulate emotional processing, motivation and reward. Indeed, marijuana use hurts our ability to learn and compete in a competitive global workplace.

Additionally, marijuana users pose dangers on the road, despite popular myth. According to the British Medical Journal, marijuana intoxication doubles your risk of a car crash.

Myth No. 2: “Smoked or eaten marijuana is medicine.”

Rauner launches "Women for Rauner"

CHICAGO - The Rauner campaign has launched a page on its website asking supporters to sign up for "Women for Rauner"

The page features Mrs. Rauner inviting fellow Democrats, as well as Republicans and independents, to vote for her husband in November. She says her husband doesn't have a social agenda, but an economic and education agenda," and says he'll "be a warrior for our children and taxpayers".

Thorner: Opposing amnesty is only rational approach to immigration reform

By Nancy Thorner - 

With time running out before the Tuesday, November 4 midterm elections, Liberal, progressive and globalist leaders in both parties in Washington, D.C. are once again pushing for a mass amnesty of 12-20 million illegal aliens currently living in the United States.  Republicans in Congress are under intense pressure from pro-amnesty groups that fear amnesty legislation will not pass this year.

Meanwhile, Obama's patience seems to be wearing thin. Last month, Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson reportedly met with advocacy groups to consider administrative action that would represent a near complete abandonment of basic immigration enforcement, both discarding the rule of law and any notion that this nation has enforceable borders.

Fearing that President Obama is about to threaten the entire Constitutional System by nullifying immigration laws, twenty-two U.S. Senators, including Senator Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, sent a scathing letter to President Obama on Thursday, April 24. The senators wrote in part:

Roskam eyes higher GOP leadership post

WASHINGTON - Illinois Congressman Peter Roskam, who has ramped up his national media exposure in the past year as Deputy to Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy, is apparently eyeing the Majority Whip position if House Speaker John Boehner retires soon. As reported by The Hill:

If Boehner retires and McCarthy moves up behind Cantor, the race for whip could be a free-for-fall. Roskam has stepped up his fundraising efforts, according to people close to him. The Illinois Republican has held 50 events in 2014 and raised $750,000 during the first quarter. He gave $55,000 to fellow Republicans from his leadership PAC in March, a big boost from the prior months.

“We’re ramping it up,” said one Roskam aide.

He could face competition from Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.), the conference chairwoman and highest-ranking woman in GOP leadership. She has lagged behind Roskam in contributions from her PAC, but an aide said she is also increasing her fundraising activity. The aide noted that she was the first Republican leader to give to Rep. Ralph Hall, the 90-year-old Texan who is in a competitive primary runoff to hold onto his seat for one last term. And McMorris Rodgers brought in $300,000 at a recent fundraiser for three Republican women challengers in New York.

Two other possible contenders, Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.) and Pete Sessions (R-Texas), have given less to their colleagues so far.

More HERE

Proposed Illinois tax on soft drinks might fizzle

SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois General Assembly's effort to tax soft drinks in order to raise tax revenue under the guise of promoting healthy living may be falling flat in Springfield.

The Belleville News-Democrat reports the effort, which was introduced by two Chicago Democrats remains in committee. Timothy Bramlet of the Illinois Beverage Association believes this means the measures are "effectively dead."

The legislation would add a penny-per-ounce surcharge on sugary drinks that are sold in sealed containers. That means a 12-ounce can of soda would cost another 12 more cents while a twelve-pack would increase by $1.44.

The political pitch is that money generated from the levy would be used to pay for Medicaid programs and a variety of health services and educational efforts. However, these types of tax increases have historically disappeared into the general fund.

Stantis: Illinois Tax

By Scott Stantis - 

They promised a 'temporary' tax that they now want to make permanent and replace it with a 'fair tax' hike they swear is a tax cut. No wonder this state is hemorrhaging jobs and population.

More shots required to attend public schools in Illinois

SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois Department of Public Health announced more required school-entrance shots.

For the upcoming school year, students will need to show proof of having received a meningococcal vaccination, something that is currently not required.

Currently for school entrance, students must show proof of shots including diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, polio, measles, and mumps, among others.

Op/Ed: The GOP should shun immigration reform, appeal to unemployed Americans

Several leading Illinois Republicans urged immigration reform in Chicago last week

By Howard Foster - 

Anyone wondering why Mitt Romney lost, specifically why six million fewer voters turned out in 2012 than four years earlier, just needs to know who those six million no shows are. Surveys reveal they are under or unemployed, heavily white, and rightly feel the two-party system doesn’t address their concerns.

Had Romney been able to speak to them, he would have won. If the Republicans were serious about winning in 2016 they would tailor their message to appeal to these people, who have voted for Reagan and Bush and would be open to another Republican.

If I were writing the script, I’d start by acknowledging that the low-end employment market is awful. Unemployment for people with high school educations is between 10-13%. The last thing these people need to hear is “immigration reform,” which to them means more competition for scarce jobs and lower wages.

Durbin rakes in campaign money from defense contractors

WASHINGTON DC - Illinois' U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, who rails against big business and once compared American soldiers to Nazis, is now raking in tens of thousands of dollars from defense executives. 

According to Politico, Durbin, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, and fellow Democrat Jack Reed, reported bringing in $55,700 during the first three months of the year through a shared fundraising committee, according to new filings with the Federal Election Commission.

More than half of it — $31,750 — came from individuals identified as employees of big-name defense firms.

Former Raytheon CEO William Swanson contributed $4,000. His successor, Thomas Kennedy, gave $2,000. General Dynamics CEO Phebe Novakovic contributed $2,000. And Textron CEO Scott Donnelly pitched in $1,000.

Durbin is the top recipient of defense industry contributions among all members of Congress this election cycle, having brought in more than $250,000 from corporate political action committees and individual employees, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

Durbin also reported individual contributions last quarter from a slew of United Technologies executives, including CEO Louis Chênevert, whose company is lobbying to ensure funding for two helicopter programs at risk of being cut out of the Pentagon’s future spending plans.

Durbin also brought in $5,200 from Palantir co-founder Alex Karp, whose firm has waged war against the Army for making it difficult for soldiers downrange in Afghanistan to get their hands on Palantir’s intelligence software.

More HERE