Illinois Review

Former Congressman Tancredo: Why I am leaving the Republican Party

DENVER - Former Colorado Congressman Tom Tancredo announced this week that he is leaving the Republican Party and gave the reasons in an op-ed published by Breitbart.com Friday. 

The Daily Illini apologizes for politically-incorrect Halloween cartoon

URBANA - CHAMPAIGN - 'The Daily Illini,' the University of Illinois - Urbana/Champaign's newspaper, issued an apology this week for running the above syndicated cartoon.

Masters in Manufacturing: Albert Raczynski, Millennial founder of Machined Concepts

ELGIN - Albert Raczynski points back to the countless hours he spent playing with red, blue and yellow Legos as the likely time when his passion for designing, building and completing projects began. 

“I built and played with Legos on the floor until my back hurt,” as a five year old kid 28 years ago, he said. 

Today, the 33-year-old is the founder and CEO of Machined Concepts, a start-up shop with three employees in Elgin, Illinois. He’s typical of the Milliennial Generation – innovative, energetic, and optimistic about the future. 

Scary National Debt

WASHINGTON - The National Debt is scary enough, but add to it Illinois' state debt and Cook County's financial problems and Chicago's city debt - it's enough to give any thinking, responsible person nightmares this Halloween. Ever more scary is the pain that must be inflected on taxpayers and government dependent to fix it. Enjoy the treats - the tricks are already in play. 

H/T Heritage.org

O'Brien: Obama's Remaking America Comes to Des Plaines

Obama Admin's Vanita Gupta is leading a federal lawsuit against the city of Des Plaines  

By Teri O'Brien - 

As you know, if Barack Obama were a teacher, his pets, seated prominently in the front row, would be illegal aliens, and "refugees" from Muslim countries. You don't expect him to turn our country into a Euro-style socialist paradise without changing the demographics, do you?

So he loves those who are helping him declare "Mission Accomplished" before he leaves office. No federal agency has been more helpful in moving us down that shining path than the Department of (In)Justice, which sued, and eventually extorted $200,000 (and an "uncapped back pay fund" to compensate its "victims") from an American business for committing the unspeakable offense of requiring people to provide proof that they are eligible to work legally in the United States. 

Kirk and Durbin treat Obama to no debt limit budget deal

WASHINGTON - Along with all Senate Democrats, eighteen Republican senators split with the U.S. Senate majority and sent to President Obama a real treat - a budget bill with no spending or debt limits - the day before Halloween 2015.

The bill, which had previously passed the U.S. House, passed the U.S. Senate 64 to 35, with the help of Illinois' junior GOP U.S. Senator Mark Kirk, along with senior Democrat Dick Durbin. 

Despite anti-establishment mood, ILGOP old guard meddles in 58th Senate Dist. primary

MURPHYSBORO - While disenchanted Republicans are expressing their frustration with party establishment at the presidential candidate level by gravitating to party outsiders such as Donald Trump, Dr. Ben Carson and to some extent, Carly Fiorina, downstate Illinois GOP voters could be denied primary choices in the 58th Senate District race.

In downstate Murphysboro, local businessman Mike Kripps told Illinois Review he received a call from retiring State Senator David Luechtefeld, promoting the ILGOP Establishment's pick Paul Schimpf to succeed him in the 58th Senate seat.

RNC suspends partnership with NBC News for scheduled February debate

WASHINGTON - Frustrated with how Wednesday's presidential candidate debate was handled by CNBC panelists, the Republican National Committee, which had signed an agreement for a broadcast debate in February with NBC, said Friday they were "suspending" the agreement.

Bolingbrook man faces possible 15 years in prison for attempting to assist ISIL

CHICAGO—A Bolingbrook man pleaded guilty Friday to a federal charge that he attempted to travel overseas to join a foreign terrorist organization in Syria, the FBI reports.

Mohammed Hamzah Khan, 20, pleaded guilty to one count of attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization. The organization is identified in a written plea agreement as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (“ISIL”).

Where's Weyermuller? With Marco Rubio in Chicago

By Mark Weyermuller - 

Thursday - fresh from the RNC debate in Colorado the night before - Presidential candidate and United States Senator Marco Rubio was in Chicago for a meet and greet and to raise money for his battle in the Republican Primary. 

Illinois medical marijuana patients' ID cards on the way

SPRINGFIELD - Medical marijuana will be going on sale in Illinois in two weeks, and Friday the state will send out 3200 ID cards to approved patients. 

Rhoads: The Sad Case of a Jealous Mentor

Marco Rubio and Jeb Bush were once good friends - Wednesday night, that changed

By Mark Rhoads - 

A familiar sad pattern in politics is played out when a former mentor becomes jealous of a younger candidate he regards as his protege but who has taken the spotlight as the mentor gets older.

Rand Paul initiates filibuster to stop budget deal's unlimited spending

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky is vowing to obstruct the budget deal as long as he can, seeking more time to deliberate and expose its flaws. This is Paul's third filibuster since being elected senator in 2014 - one to end drone strikes on Americans who haven't been judiciously tried and one to repeal the Patriot Act.

“I will continue this filibuster as long as there are enough votes here to allow it to continue,” he said on the Senate floor Thursday.

More about Hastert scandal could surface as sentencing nears

CHICAGO - When former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert of Plano pleaded guilty in federal court this week, it heightened interest about Individual A, and what exactly the problem between Hastert and Individual A was.

Why would Hastert have agreed to feed him $3.5 million and how did the agreement between the two of them benefit Hastert? Why did Hastert allegedly lie to the FBI?

Hultgren "proud" to support Ryan for House speaker

WASHINGTON — Thursday, U.S. Representative Randy Hultgren (IL-14) and all of his Illinois GOP House member colleagues voted for Congressman Paul Ryan of Wisconsin to succeed retiring House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio.

“I was proud to support Paul Ryan today for Speaker," Hultgren said. "He has committed to restoring much needed civility in the House that will unify not only the Republican Conference, but serve to set the tone for tackling our country's biggest challenges.

Pro-amnesty Luis Gutierrez "sad" about new Speaker's no immigration vote promise

WASHINGTON – Rep. Luis V. Gutiérrez (D-IL) said Thursday that he is sad to learn a condition of Rep. Paul Ryan's (R-WI) support to be elected Speaker of the House was to pledge there will be no votes on immigration reform as long as President Obama is in the White House.

Ryan was elected as the next Speaker Thursday in a House vote with 236 votes - all Illinois Republicans voting for Ryan and all Illinois Democrats voting for Nancy Pelosi.

McConnell wants support for Mark Kirk because "GOP can't afford to lose"

Mitch McConnell, Mark Kirk | Daily Herald photo

WASHINGTON - Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell wants Illinois Republicans to support Mark Kirk for U.S. Senate in 2016.

As the Majority Leader of the United States Senate, I am writing to ask you for your personal help in securing the GOP Senate majority to get our nation back on the right track.

There is one crucial U.S. Senate race Republicans cannot afford to lose in 2016, and that seat is held by my good friend and colleague, Republican Senator Mark Kirk.

They were so bad, even Think Progress is dissing CNBC debate moderators

BOULDER CO - Wednesday night, the Republican presidential candidates weren't the ones that made headlines - the CNBC debate moderators did. Even the far Left Think Progress is blasting them this morning in a piece called "The CNBC Republican Debate Was A Total Trainwreck:"

Reporters from both conservative and liberal-minded news organizations seem to agree: the CNBC Republican presidential debate was kind of a trainwreck.

ISIS blows up prisoners tied to Palmyra columns

The Islamic State executed three prisoners in Palmyra by tying them to ancient columns and blowing them up. News of the killings came from the head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Rami Abdel Rahman.

Thorner: Democrat Jim Webb told the truth about China

Time Magazine photo of Chinese prisoners

By Nancy Thorner -

Tradition has it that when Lord Cornwallis surrendered at the Siege of Yorktown, the British band played the tune "The World Turned Upside Down." That's what I felt when Jim Webb said one of the most profound statements ever heard in any political debate during the first Democrat debate of this political season on Tuesday, October 13, 2015. It was all the more amazing as the debate was among Democrats, where socialist and politically-correct cliches abound.

Rhoads: Boehner's Dishonorable Discharge

By Mark Rhoads - 

House Speaker John Boehner's final act of dishonor and betrayal to the Republican Party principles is to violate his own promise one more time to provide 72 hours public notice of the text of a bill before a vote is held in the House.

In a secretly-negotiated deal, Boehner gave President Obama an early Christmas present with everything Obama wanted in a budget buster that delays any more votes on the debt ceiling until after Obama leaves office in January 2017 so the House GOP has no more leverage to stop $80 billion in new spending.  John Boehner's final act shows why so few House Republicans could trust his word because he never kept it.

Hastert pleads guilty to federal felony count

CHICAGO - Former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert pleaded guilty Wednesday in federal court to a felony charge involving a scheme to pay a total of $3.5 million to an anonymous victim of Hastert's alleged sexual abuse while Hastert was a high school wrestling coach - decades before holding the top slot in the U.S. House.

Where's Weyermuller? With Governor Bruce Rauner at NTRO 2015

By Mark Weyermuller - 

Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner spoke to the New Trier Republican Organization last week at their 77th annual fall dinner. The event was held at the Allgauer's on the Waterfront in Northbrook, Illinois. We dined on classic caesar salad, marinated  grilled Alaskan salmon, grilled asparagus and Chicago style cheesecake for dessert.

It was a "who's who" of Republicans hosted by newly-appointed New Trier Township GOP Committeeman Mark Levine with former IL GOP state party chairman Pat Brady acting as master of ceremonies.

Axelrod's Political Institute Hosts Eliot Spitzer

Calling him the "Sheriff of Wall Street", the University of Chicago's left-leaning Institute of Politics welcomed former Governor of New York and former New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer who opined on the state of regulation on Wall Street today.

Spitzer has had regulatory problems of his own. In 2008 The New York Times reported on his patronizing a high-priced prostitution service. According to published reports, investigators believe Spitzer paid up to $80,000 for prostitutes over a period of several years while he was Attorney General, and later as Governor.

Grassroots movement develops behind Marter in his challenge to Kirk

CHICAGO - Tea Party leaders and grassroots groups are beginning to coalesce around primary challengers to U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk. One of those challengers is James Marter. Andrew Gasser, McHenry County Board Member and Algonquin Township Precinct 4 Committeeman has released a short video urging Republicans to stop "complaining about Mark Kirk," and to "do more than just use social media." He urges them to "take action."

Rauner appoints task force to limit citizen use of drones

SPRINGFIELD, IL – How many gubernatorial appointees does it take to come up with drone regulations? Answer: 18 in the State of Illinois.

Governor Bruce Rauner announced today he has appointed the members of the "Unmanned Aerial System Oversight Task Force." A long-winded title for drone regulators.

According to a press release, the Task Force will prepare comprehensive recommendations for the safe and lawful operation of unmanned aerial systems or drones in Illinois. A report with recommendations is due to the Governor and General Assembly by July 1, 2016.

The following have been named to the Task Force:

Arn: Open The Governments Books And You'll Find Millions In Waste Everywhere

By Ulysses Arn - 

Open the Books.com Founder Adam Andrzejewski spoke Tuesday night in Ottawa to the Lasalle county Tea Party about the multiple examples of government waste that he and his small team of government watchdogs have found over the last 5 years.

From the myriad of scandals at the College of DuPage, to the EPA spending millions on military equipment and public relations, to the VA giving out millions in bonuses to the very same people responsible for the lack of care and access to our nations veterans, which cost some of them their lives, to farm subsides going to people living on the island of Manhattan or in downtown Chicago, the waste, fraud, and abuse of our money is everywhere.

Illinois Teen Hears Woman’s Sobs At Drive Thru. What He Does Leaves Her Speechless.

When a woman pulled up to the drive-thru window at an Illinois ice cream shop, 16-year-old Brenden McGee knew something was wrong.

“She was pretty upset; she was crying,” McGee tells KWQC News.

The teen, who had only been working at Whitey’s Ice Cream for three months, said he could finally understand after she pulled up that she wanted a shake. When it came for her to pay, he said, “your shake is on me tonight, you have a good night.” 

The woman reportedly drove away without saying a word, shake in hand, donning a smile.

Little did Brenden know, his good deed helped cheer up a grieving widow. She came back a week later to Whitey’s, explaining her story to the store’s manager:

“She told me that she had just lost her husband a few weeks ago, and it was really tough,” store manager, Rhonda VanDyke, tells KWPC. “I understood where she was coming from because I’ve had the same experience and so I felt really bad for her, but it was really cool that Brenden could cheer her up.”

More from Kayla Brandon at Independent Journal

Foster: Joe Walsh Seriously Considering Kirk Challenge

By Howard Foster - 

Former Congressman Joe Walsh, the most outspoken conservative member of Congress from Illinois in decades, is considering challenging Sen. Mark Kirk in the March primary.

That is hardly news. But in my conversation with Mr. Walsh he indicated his number one issue would be immigration. He says “there is no more important domestic issue.”

That would make the challenge quite colorful, as readers of this site know, Sen. Kirk is in favor of sanctuary cities, which harbor illegal immigrants and in favor of more legal immigration. He voted for the 2013 immigration reform bill after promising not to, and takes a business-friendly approach to the issue with cheap labor being the goal. Walsh believes Republican voters have become disgusted enough with the levels of immigration and the government’s apparent inability to control the border for him to win a primary focused on that theme.

Walsh has very little time to make his move. The filing deadline for the primary is in early December.  He is now amassing pledges of support that he hopes will turn into actual cash if he announces. 

Four Illinois Republicans join Democrats to revive Ex-Im Bank

WASHINGTON - Four Republican members of the Illinois Congressional delegation joined the Democrats in voting Monday to revive the Export-Import Bank that died at the hands of conservative House members earlier this year.

Kirk: Most endangered Republican in the country

WASHINGTON - Calling Senator Mark Kirk "The most endangered Republican in the country," POLITICO says Kirk is "trying to hang on in Illinois."

Judicial Watch calls on Obama Impeachment for IRS abuse and corruption

WASHINGTON - Someone needs to pay for the IRS' abuse and corruption under Lois Lerner's leadership, transparency group Judicial Watch says. 

“President Obama’s IRS was used against his opponents to help him win reelection. So the Obama Justice Department’s decision to shut down its IRS abuse investigation with no prosecutions is as unsurprising as it is corrupt," the group said in a statement admonishing the president.  

Three Illinois Republicans urge reconsideration of U.S. Export-Import Bank

WASHINGTON DC - Twelve members of Illinois Congressional Caucus signed on to a letter calling for consideration once again of the controversial Export-Import Bank of the United States.

Among the twelve are three Republican freshmen -  Adam Kinzinger, Mike Bost and Robert Dold - and the other ten are Democrats.

Critics say the bank is the epitome of cronyism, corruption and corporate welfare.

Supporters, on the other hand, argue the bank boosts our national security, supports domestic jobs, and levels the global economic playing field.

Armey endorses Kasich in 2016 GOP presidential race

TEXAS - Homeschoolers from the mid-90s will remember the name "Dick Armey" as the chief Congressional leader that stopped a federal mandate requiring all home school teachers to be certified. Today, he announced his pick in the 2016 presidential race.

Di Leo: Economic Forecasts and Faux Surprise

Two veteran sportscasters in 1988 - Ronald Reagan, Harry Caray

By John F. Di Leo -

As this is championship season in sports (yes, it’s always championship season for some sport), let’s begin our discussion with a sports analogy.

Over the course of a game, we have seen our beloved Home team riddled with injuries. Our star players have been physically and emotionally clobbered, as the Visitors have used every tool at their disposal against us, regardless of the rule book.  They tripped and tackled our starters, given us two broken legs and three broken arms, driving five of our best out of the game. Kicking our boys during time outs, shooting darts from dart guns, wearing brass knuckles over their gloves, and putting them to use every chance they get.   

Prayer march calls for Illinois to end Planned Parenthood funding

Christian Emergency League,  Illinois Family Institute calls for defunding Planned Parenthood

SPRINGFIELD - Saturday, pro-life supporters marched around Illinois' Governor's Mansion, calling on Republican Governor Bruce Rauner to cut state funding to abortion provider Planned Parenthood.

Thus far, Governor Rauner has not responded to any pro-life groups' calls to investigate the 18 Planned Parenthood clinics throughout the state, nor has he initiated executive action to cut the budget expenditure as his GOP colleagues in others state have. 

The pray-ers requests Saturday were not unseemly or outrageous, as the Daily Caller reports nearly 25 other states - including Illinois' neighbors to the north and east - no longer send taxpayer funds to Planned Parenthood clinics.

#StoptheCops protesters stir anarchist sympathies in Chicago over weekend

CHICAGO - Over the weekend, 66 protesters were arrested outside Chicago's McCormick Place as #ChicagoRising and other Leftist groups objected to a police convention meeting in the center. 

Protesters demanded police funding be cut and instead be sent to black community organizations. They took down the U.S. flag outside the convention center and replaced it with an "Unapologetically Black" flag that a Chicago firefighter replaced with a U.S. flag.

Murder for hire scheme results in Chicago father's 17.5 years in federal prison

CHICAGO—A Chicago father who offered to hire a hit man to execute two potential witnesses in his son’s murder trial was sentenced Monday to 17 and a half years in federal prison, the FBI reports.

Euripides Caguana, 61, sought the killings of two men he believed would testify against his son in his upcoming murder trial. Caguana paid $500 to an undercover individual to purchase a gun, and he offered the individual up to $7,500 to have the two witnesses killed.

McDermed files legislation in response to Lincoln-Way area high school closing

Lincoln-Way North High School opened in 2008, will close at end of 2015-2016 school year

SPRINGFIELD -  August's announced closing of the seven-year-old Lincoln-Way North state of the art building has created a taxpayers' outcry, and State Representative Margo McDermed is hearing from angry constituents.

Masters of Manufacturing: Erica Wiegel: Aro Metals Millennial CEO

Aro Metal Stamping CEO Erica Wiegel

ROSELLE - After growing up spending every summer working at her family’s business, Erica Wiegel took a bold step this past July when she bought Aro Metal Stamping Company, Inc. in Roselle, Illinois.

The 35-year-old could be the poster child of the Millennial Generation. She exudes the typical Millennial’s core values of confidence, competition, optimism, realism and street smarts.

Thorner: Analyzing Why Conservatives Lose

By Nancy Thorner - 

Conservatives like to blame the media, big money, vote fraud, the Republican Establishment, the brainwashing of liberal teachers, etc., for their losses. But the real answer is much simpler and much more damning.

Recently I was talking to a fellow precinct committeeman (a solid conservative) and pointed out how our “Republican” Congressman Bob Dold, was only one of two Republicans to vote to fund Obamacare and Planned Parenthood (among dozens of other liberal votes). Although privy to this information, my friend will still vote without reservations for Dold. Why? Because she considers electing a Republican Speaker of the House the most important vote a congressman makes, and Dold would be there to cast that vote.

Rhoads: The Geriatric Left Rides Again

By Mark Rhoads - 

Fall 2015 might mark the boring last hurrah for the geriatric Left in Hollywood. Screenwriters get to indulge themselves yet one more time in a nostalgic visit to the faded glory days of the their youth when their icons such as former Soviet spy Rudolph Abel, played by Mark Rylance in Bridge of Spies, and former Communist Party member and screenwriter Dalton Trumbo, who is played by Bryan Cranston (pictured at right in Trumbo), can be portrayed on the big screen as heroic warm and cuddly versions of their more sinister realities.

Letter to Editor: Haven't we suffered with Mark Kirk long enough?

How many years have Republicans been bellyaching about Mark Kirk, the renegade RINO Republican? He recently voted against the Sanctuary Cities bill. The bill lost. Daily Caller reports the bill would have increased “penalties for illegal immigrants who return to the U.S. after they’re deported, and would threaten to withhold funds from cities that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement agents.” In San Francisco, a beautiful young woman, Kate Steinle, lost her life to a Mexican felon who had been deported 5 times, and had been released by the San Francisco Sheriff, ignoring federal requests to detain him.

The rise of Machiavellian “democracy” in America

By Irene F. Starkehaus - 

Entirely enthralling was the recent interview of Lanny Davis delivered by the AM 560 morning team (Dan Proft, Amy Jacobson) on October 23. For those readers who are struggling to place the name, Mr. Davis was special counsel to the President from 1996 to 1998. He acted as spokesman for President Clinton regarding legal issues, which included former President Clinton's impeachment trial.

Ostensibly, the goal of the hosts in this interview was to discuss the results of the previous day's Benghazi hearings, and to tease out whether Clinton's wanton relativism has had any influence over the Left's serene psyche. Mr. Davis's objective, it would seem, was to lay out a pithy, patronizing defense of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's performance during those hearings as well as during the terrorist attack on the American embassy in Libya on September 11, 2012.

From a purely stylistic perspective, the interview was a brilliant display on the part of Mr. Davis. His condescending yet simmering anger is vastly different than any Khrushchevian shoe slamming that might engender defensible ire. Per usual, listeners were left confounded at Mr. Davis's lack of empathy for those seeking justice. I recommend that this should not act as a criticism of AM 560's hosts. Marginalizing public disapproval was, I think, quite the objective of Lanny Davis. I would suggest that he's well-schooled in the art of making the sane question their sanity.

Thorner: Robert Reilly Keynotes Annual AFT Dinner-Banquet

By Nancy Thorner - 

The Americans for Truth annual dinner-banquet was held on Saturday, October 17 at Christian Liberty Academy in Arlington Heights, IL. The Church of Christian Liberty, Calvin Lindstrom, pastor, provides oversight for the Academy as one of its ministries, though students and parents are not required to be members or attend the church. Pastor Calvin Lindstrom succeeded his dad, Dr. Paul Lindstrom, in 2002, who was the founder of Christian Liberty Academy and the Church of Christian Liberty. 

Peter LaBarbera  is founder & president of "Americans for Truth", a non-profit group, founded as a part-time venture in 1996, but later reorganized in August of 2006. AFT remains a rare single issue group that seeks to apply the same single-minded determination to opposing the radical homosexual agenda and standing for God-ordained sexuality and the natural family, as countless homosexual groups do in promoting their agenda.

Akin: Illinois ranks high for creating lawsuits, not jobs

By Travis Akin - 

The University of Illinois football team is struggling once again this year, mired at the bottom of the Big Ten and near the bottom of numerous national rankings.

Similarly, the State of Illinois is stuck near the bottom of another set of rankings, only these rankings reflect not just lost games but lost jobs and thus are important to every person living in Illinois. 

These important but depressing rankings come from a new national study that confirms Illinois’ status as a lawsuit haven, which is keeping away employers and damaging job growth here. The 2015 Lawsuit Climate Survey, conducted by Harris Poll, ranks Illinois near the bottom of the nation in terms of its lawsuit environment – 48^th worst of the 50 states.

Illinois’ lawsuit climate ranked beneath every state in the region, cementing Illinois’ status as the “Lawsuit Abuse Capital of the Midwest.” Further, the survey finds that two of the five worst local jurisdictions in the nation for lawsuit fairness are in Illinois – Cook and Madison Counties.

Boehner selects GOP panel to probe abortion practices

WASHINGTON, DC - In what critics say is an attempt to placate conservatives, outgoing House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) has announced his picks for the new Select Investigative Panel that will probe the practices of abortion providers like Planned Parenthood.

The panel was created in the wake of several undercover videos that revealed Planned Parenthood’s practice of selling aborted fetal tissue, and likely profiting from the sales.

The new committee will have the resources and subpoena power to “get to the bottom of these horrific practices, and build on our work to protect the sanctity of all human life,” Mr. Boehner said.

The following Republican representatives will make up the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s new investigative panel: Rep. Marsha Blackburn, Chairman (R-TN), Rep. Joe Pitts (R-PA), Rep. Diane Black (R-TN), Rep. Larry Bucshon (R-IN)Rep. Sean Duffy (R-WI), Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD), Rep. Vicki Hartzler (R-MO), and Rep. Mia Love (R-UT).

Roskam Urges Passage of Bill to Gut Planned Parenthood, Obamacare

Rhoads: What "Pros" Know that You Don't?

By Mark Rhoads - 

What do self-annointed political professionals know that you do not know? The answer is NOTHING!

They pretend to know a great deal but it is mostly a charade. Pollsters pretend to report results that are generated by a fake premise of who actually votes and how and why. Media reporters and major donors pretend to know how much money is needed to mount a competitive campaign but it is all nonsense.

The first time Jane Byrne was elected mayor in 1979, her campaign budget was only $100,000 for just one commercial of her speaking in the snow. But only four years later in 1983 she could not win renomination with ten million dollars in the bank. Yes money matters, but so do ideas and principles and integrity.

Rauner strikes a deal with trade unions

SPRINGFIELD - After months of negotiations, Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner has agreed to terms on new four-year collective bargaining agreements with the International Union of Operating Engineers, the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry, and the International Association of Machinist and Aerospace Workers. The last set of agreements expired June 30, 2015.

According to a press release, the new contracts cover workers at the Departments of Agriculture, Central Management Services, Corrections, Historic Preservation, Human Services, Juvenile Justice, Military Affairs, Transportation, Veterans’ Affairs, and the Illinois State Police. The employees are all professional tradesmen and women who work as stationary engineers and plant operators, plumbers and steamfitters, and machinists.

The tentative agreements are being submitted to the membership of the trade unions for a ratification vote. The terms of the tentative agreements are confidential until the end of the ratification process.