Illinois Review

Democrats make bid to take over Chicago Republican Party

CHICAGO - According to Chris Cleveland, Chairman of the Chicago GOP, the Chicago Democrats are attempting to take control of the Chicago Republican Party. In a press release, Cleveland wrote:

Democrats across the city are running for the position of Republican ward committeeman in Chicago in an apparent bid to extend their influence within the party.

In the 23rd ward, which is within Mike Madigan's state representative district, Robert Handzik has filed as a Republican. Handzik was among those who circulated petitions for Madigan's fake Republican opponent two years ago. He does not attend county Republican meetings and does not respond to calls or inquiries from the Republican Party.

In the other ward within Madigan's district, the 13th, an unknown candidate named "Gabriel Trejo" has filed. According to Board of Elections records, Mr. or Ms. Trejo has voted in the Democratic primary in the last four elections and has never voted in a Republican primary.

Of the 25 candidates who have filed as of 12:35 pm, 15 have Democratic voting histories. Nine have voted exclusively in Democratic primaries.

Even among those with recent Republican voting histories, a prior history of Democratic voting is evident.

The reason for this burst of activity is twofold.

Teen Viral Sensation Says McDonald Shooting Proves Cops, Conservatives Are Racists

Teenage viral sensation C.J. Peasrson — who became famous for his brash rhetoric blasting President Barack Obama — announced on Friday he would no longer identify as conservative.

In an interview with TheBlaze, C.J. Pearson, who first entered the national media spotlight when his video criticizing Obama went viral in February, said he now identifies more as an independent than a conservative, although he still very much adheres to certain conservative values.

Pearson attributed his decision, at least in part, to seeing the video of a Chicago police officer fatally shooting LaQuan McDonald.

“I’m not interested in being a champion of a cause that turns a blind eye to racial discrimination and police brutality in America,” Pearson, 13, said in a statement. “I also don’t want to be the ‘anti-Obama kid.’ I want to be the kid who fought for real change and worked with both sides to achieve a better America.”

“Right now, the best candidate tackling race relations that I, with my beliefs could get behind, is [Florida Sen.] Marco Rubio,” Pearson told TheBlaze, adding that he doesn’t see himself working for any other campaigns this presidential cycle.

Read more: The Blaze

Harris runs to split black vote, defeat Zopp, and position Duckworth against Kirk

CHICAGO - With a strong chance to flip the Illinois U.S. Senate seat from Republican to Democrat in 2016, the Illinois Democrat Party has pushed State Sen. Napoleon Harris, a former NFL linebacker, into the Democratic primary to run against Republican Sen. Mark S. Kirk of Illinois.

Harris is the third Democrat to vie for the post held by the first term incumbent who is considered one of the most vulnerable in the Senate. Democrat Party favorite, Rep. Tammy Duckworth, is being challenged by former Chicago Urban League CEO Andrea Zopp.

The is race will be Harris’ second congressional bid. The Illinois Senate race is rated Tilts Democratic by the Rothenberg & Gonzales Political Report/Roll Call.

GOP Hindu-American Political Arm Emerges for 2016 Elections

The official launch of the Republican Hindu Coalition. (Photo By Al Drago/CQ Roll Call)

Indian-Americans make up one of the of the fastest growing segments of the U.S. population and generally lean Democratic. But Shalabh ‘Shalli’ Kumar – a wealthy Chicago businessman who immigrated from India nearly 50 years ago – is hoping to change that.

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This year, Kumar founded a new group called the Republican Hindu Coalition to try to consolidate Hindu-American support in key battleground states ahead of the 2016 election for Republicans.

“The first thing on the minds as Hindu-Americans is to establish themselves as successful citizens: Have good jobs, make money and get a good education. Politics has not just been the focus,” said Kumar, who moved to America in the late 1960s.

Kumar said he sees an opportunity for Republicans to tap into the Hindu and Indian American population. As a whole, only about a third of Asian-Americans identify with a political party and the group has been found to “under-participate” in elections. When they do participate politically, they have traditionally leaned Democratic. In 2012, 84 percent of Indian Americans voted for President Barack Obama over his Republican rival.

More HERE

Lack of Illinois Lottery payouts sending gamblers out of state

OBrien: Laquan McDonald -- Victim of Liberalism

By Teri O'Brien - 

"The role of the family in shaping character and ability is so pervasive as to be easily overlooked. The family is the basic social unit of American life; it is the basic socializing unit. By and large, adult conduct in society is learned as a child." Daniel Patrick Moynihan, The Negro Family: The Case for National Action, 1965

We still don't have enough facts to know whether Officer Jason Van Dyke should be convicted of murder in the death of Laquan McDonald, but we do know that liberal policies destroyed the black family.

Happy Thanksgiving

"I do recommend and assign Thursday ... next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be." —George Washington, 1789

Illinois Review will be on holiday until Monday. Have a great Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving by the numbers

Chicago City Council defies governor’s pause on Syrian refugees

CHICAGO - Illinois’ ongoing struggle between the newly-elected, reform-minded Republican governor and the decades-long Democratic reign in Chicago was ratcheted up a notch last Wednesday.

The Chicago City Council passed a resolution that defied Gov. Bruce Rauner’s declaration that for security reasons he would temporarily halt admission of Syrian refugees into Illinois.

Rauner said the pause would remain in effect until the Department of Homeland Security could assure him their screening process would not allow terrorists to sneak in with those seeking asylum.

Wallace: Jim Edgar is wrong about undocumented immigrants

By Dr. Eric Wallace - 

In an op-ed piece for the Chicago Sun-Times (click here) former Governor Jim Edgar decided to insert himself into the national and state debates on the issue of immigration. Edgar argues the following:

1. Deportation is “Senseless.” It will devastate Illinois’ economy while “destroying hardworking immigrant families.”
2. Illinois is dependent on “innovation, hard work and optimism from immigrants from around the globe.”
3. The Illinois DREAM Act that gives in-state tuition to “talented undocumented students” was a great piece of legislation.

Rauner seeks to block anti-fantasy sports rules

As reported by Greg Hinz, Gov. Rauner is trying to stop efforts to regulate and potentially block fantasy sports sites such as Draft Kings and Fan Duel from accepting bets from citizens living in Illinois.

According to Hinz, the action appears at least partially linked to poor relations among Rauner, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, and her father, speaker of the Illinois House Mike Madigan. It also comes after the sports sites retained lobbyist Eric Elk, who previously worked for, and is closely tied to, U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk, and who hired or supervised several senior Rauner aides when they worked in Kirk's office as well.

Financially threatened by the fantasy sports sites, the Illinois Gaming Board has publicly expressed its intention to seek a legal opinion from AG Madigan on whether the sites can legally operate in Illinois. AGs in Massachusetts and New York have recently argued that major government regulations are needed in order to protect state monopolies on gambling revenues.

More at Crain's HERE

Liberal Rhetoric: Durbin Demands Rauner Rethink Refugee Position

WASHINGTON DC - Illinois U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D) demanded Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner (R) rethink his opposition to letting Syrian refugees enter the state of Illinois.

Using liberal, bleeding-heart rhetoric in a letter to Rauner, Durbin told the Governor to use the holiday season and take time to meet with Syrian refugees already living in Illinois. “You will learn that the careless and mean-spirited rhetoric from many political leaders does not reflect the reality of their sad lives,” Durbin wrote.

Last week, Rauner announced that he would temporarily stop accepting Syrian refugees into his state, pointing to the terror attacks in Paris, which killed 130 people, as evidence of “the all-too-real security threats facing America.” Rauner is one of 28 governors who have said they will halt refugee admissions into their states in the wake of the Paris attacks, until the federal government can properly vet them.

More HERE

Feds Force Chicago School to Allow Transgender Student in Girl's Locker Room

SHOCKER: Sexually Transmitted Diseases on the Rise

A few days ago the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released its most recent findings on sexually transmitted diseases in the U.S. Rates of the three most common STD's - chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis - all increased between 2013 and 2014. 

And while this is tragic news, it should come as no surprise. After all, most school districts use "comprehensive sex education" curricula, which present abstinence as one of many choices, and "safer sex" as another. "Safer sex" usually translates to mean condoms, which the CDC itself says may reduce the transmission of STD's. Nothing is guaranteed to prevent them. Except abstinence, of course.

So what does the CDC recommend as a result of these new findings? That sexually active women under the age of 25 get annual screenings.

Interesting that when it comes to the health risks of smoking, the CDC doesn't take such a passive approach. They strongly discourage smoking, offer tips for quitting, and even offer testimonials from people living with smoking-related diseases.

You can read about the CDC findings on STD's here.

SEIU sues state for taxpayer-funded health insurance premiums

The Service Employees International Union is suing the state to get state money for home health care workers’ health insurance costs. The Associated Press reports SEIU’s suit seeks  to have the state pay $1.5 million from last year and nearly $12 million since July.

SEIU says the state has refused to pay the government’s portion of insurance and, if payments aren’t made by the end of the year, workers could lose their insurance. The governor’s office says no spending authority for the payments has been approved because of the ongoing state budget impasse, which is now approaching its fifth full month. Meanwhile, many other state employees, including lawmakers who use state insurance, are expected to pay out of pocket until a budget is passed.

From INN

Whitehead: The Deep State

According to John W. Whitehead, America’s next president will inherit more than a bitterly divided nation. He or she will also inherit a shadow government—a permanent, corporatized, militarized, entrenched bureaucracy that is fully operational and staffed by unelected officials who are, in essence, running the country. Whitehead warns it will take another terrorist attack or a natural disaster for such a regime to emerge from the shadows.

State sued over ban on medical cannabis money in politics

Should money from Illinois’ medical cannabis industry be kept out of Illinois politics? That’s a question an attorney suing the State Board of Elections hopes to answer. Pillar of Law Institute Attorney Ben Barr, who represents two Libertarian candidates for statewide office suing the state over a ban of cannabis cash being used in politics, tells WMAY Springfield the case is about free speech and free association.

Barr says other industries like the agricultural and pharmaceutical industries are allowed to flow campaign cash to candidates, but cash from the legal, medical cannabis industry is forbidden. Tyler Anthony, an attorney with Canna Law Group, isn’t associated with the case but says there’s merit to the questions being raised. Anthony says Illinois has put limits on the marijuana industry donating to political causes and limits on politicians or causes taking money from the marijuana industry.

Anthony says it’s a textbook free speech case. The Illinois attorney general’s office says it has received the suit and will respond in federal court by December 10th. Plaintiffs’ attorneys in this case include those of the Illinois Policy Institute's Liberty Justice Center.

From INN

Obama Quietly Releases Plans For 2,224 Regulations Ahead Of Turkey Day

WASHINGTON DC - The Obama administration plans to release 2,224 new federal rules Friday — a preview of just how many more regulations the president is attempting to issue before he leaves office.

Obama’s Unified Agenda for Fall 2015 is his administration’s regulatory road map and lays out thousands of regulations being finalized in the coming months. Obama has developed a habit of releasing the agenda late on Friday before a major holiday.

While Obama’s latest release features fewer regulations than the last two, it shows the administration is determined to churn out as many rules as it can before the end of 2016.

More HERE

Gov. Rauner growing frustrated with federal officials over Syrian refugees

Who is coming from Syria and when? Those are questions Illinois’ Governor Bruce Rauner is working to find answers to, according to his staff.

In a press release about the governor’s call Friday with the White House chief of staff and deputy secretary of Homeland Security, Rauner spokesman Lance Trover said there is growing frustration with the federal government’s refusal to address specific security concerns and provide requested information. Trover said federal officials notified Rauner that privacy concerns may preclude the federal government from sharing certain information about Syrian refugees coming to the state, but there would be follow-up to schedule a briefing.

Despite the frustrations, Trover said the governor is reaffirming his commitment to be a partner with the federal government on resettling refugees from Syria. Last week Rauner called for a freeze on accepting Syrian refugees after the terror attacks in Paris earlier this month. Rauner’s statement drew criticism from Muslim groups and several Illinois congressmen.

From INN

Maggio: Weak Families = Big Government. Period.

As the well-being of the family goes, so goes the well-being of the nation.

By J.G. Maggio / Author "The (First) 4 Maxims of Social Conservatism" - 

There seems to be a new trend emerging in “conservative movement” circles these days. You sometimes hear it expressed at political dinner parties or gatherings. A youngster in his 20s or 30s will declare, “I’m an economic conservative. A small-government conservative.” Then he smiles. “But I’m a liberal on social issues.” The subtle implication is clear. “With me you get the best of both worlds. I’m no socialist who wants to take your money. And just as good, I’m not an outdated, moralizer who judges how you live.”

There’s a recent book assigning a catchy name to certain adherents of this “economic conservative-social liberal” philosophy: The Conservatarian Manifesto, by the National Review’s Charles C.W. Cooke. The other adherents, of course, are libertarians – those followers of Ayn Rand and modern-day libertarian thinkers like David Boaz (Cato Institute). The premise of Conservatarians and libertarians? Social issues are not the most important issues. Live and let live. The social liberalism that began in the 1960s is here to stay and that’s no problem. Not as long as we have small government, low taxes, little regulation and a small national debt.

This may sound good to some – in theory. But here’s the problem. It doesn’t work in reality. The past few decades in the United States illustrate the story of why.

Illinois' Kennedy Expressway Ranked Worst Bottleneck In U.S.

CHICAGO (CBS) — The Kennedy Expressway has been ranked as the worst bottleneck in the country.

A study by the American Highway Users Alliance found the chokepoint extends 12 miles – from Nagle Avenue to Roosevelt Road, and costs motorists nearly 17 million hours of wasted time in traffic each year.

That cost about $418 million in lost time and nearly 6.4 million gallons of wasted fuel in 2014, according to the study.

Two other stretches of Chicago expressway also ranked in the 50 worst in the U.S. – The Dan Ryan Expressway between the Stevenson Expressway and Pershing Road, and The Edens Expressway between the Kennedy junction and Elston Avenue.

More HERE

Thorner: A Heartland Event Features Eight Talented Women of Achievement

Photo by Mark Weyermuller

By Nancy Thorner - 

"Women in Politics, the 2016 Election," was hosted by the Center for Constitutional Reform, a project of The Heartland Institute , at Heartland's new venue at 3939 North Wilke Road, Arlington Heights, Illinois, on Wednesday, November 18 from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m.

In what is a first for American history, there is a female candidate seeking the presidency as a primary candidate for both major parties. Moreover, at the national and state levels women are increasingly entering politics to lead the political debate.

With this in mind,The Heartland Institute featured two panels consisting of a moderator and three women each to highlight the role of women in politics at a local level. Each panel member was given 10 minutes to speak, followed by a session of questions and answers from audience members.

Clinton lines up political insiders for Illinois delegate slate

According to the Sun-Times, the Illinois Clinton campaign has filled the 102 slots allocated to the 18 congressional districts under Democrat Party formulas requiring politically correct "gender equity and diversity."

A sampling of Clinton's Illinois delegate slate shows heavy-hitting political insiders, including: Cook County Board President Toni Precwinkle, Chicago Treasurer Kurt Summers, state Sens. Kwame Raoul, Mattie Hunter, Jacqueline Y. Collins and Terry Link, state Reps. Sara Feigenholz; Jack Franks, Linda Chapa Lavia, Lou Lang, Mary Flowers and Barbara Flynn Currie, and from the City Council, Ald. Leslie Hairston.

Among activists and operatives are Lauren Beth Gash, Anna Valencia and Rick Garcia.

Among the wives of elected officials are Caroline Rush, the wife of Rep. Bobby Rush; Soraida Gutierrez, wife of Rep. Luis Gutierrez; Aesook Byon, the wife of Rep. Bill Foster, and Shirley Madigan, wife of Illinois House Speaker and state Democratic Party Chairman Michael Madigan.

More HERE

Bost Boasts: 3,000 Petition Signatures in all 12 Counties of his District

MURPHYSBORO, IL - According to a press release, Illinois Congressman Mike Bost submitted 3,121 signatures to become a candidate for re-election in Illinois' 12th Congressional District. Bost needed 746 to qualify.

"I am humbled by the support I've received from those who want me to serve them again in Congress," Bost said. "Over 3,000 individuals signed petitions from every county in the district. This overwhelming support reflects that Republicans, Democrats, and Independents believe in what we are doing to serve Southern Illinois."

"I was elected to fight for jobs, support a strong national defense, and stand up for our way of life in Southern Illinois. I am very thankful to the many supporters willing to send me back to Washington to continue our mission—serving as their voice in Congress."

Foster: Muslim Infanticide Comes to Chicago

Photo: Chicago Police Department / NBC 5

By Howard Foster - 

The Chicago Sun Times reported the story of an unmarried  Pakistani woman who dropped her newborn baby from an eighth floor window in the Uptown neighborhood on Friday as a routine crime story. It was on page eight.

The woman was described as “depressed” because her devout Muslim parents would disapprove of her pregnancy before marriage. The immigrant family was sharing an apartment, and 19-year old Mubashra Uddin managed to conceal her pregnancy from her parents. That is until she gave birth.

She then decided infanticide was preferable to the “shame” she would have brought on her parents by telling them. She is now being held without bail in the Cook County jail charged with murder.

Vargas: Mr. President - Bring Back Jobs; Not Terrorists Masked as Refugees

By Mark Vargas - 

WASHINGTON DC - The Syrian refugee debate is gripping the Nation, and doing something that rarely, if ever happens in Washington – it’s bringing both political parties together as they oppose the President’s hard stance in support of the Syrian refugee program.

To suggest that ISIS is “contained” only days before the planned, coordinated and deadly Paris attacks represents a dangerous chapter in U.S. foreign policy. The President’s obsession with appeasing Iran is making us weaker and vulnerable to large scale attacks on our citizens at home and on our allies abroad.

Just last week the President said, “Slamming the door in the face of refugees would betray our deepest values. That’s not who we are. And it’s not what we’re going to do.” And just a few days ago during a trip to Malaysia, the President again invoked his stance, only this time using children as his political prop. “They’re just like our kids…They were indistinguishable from any child in America,” Obama said. “The notion that somehow we would be fearful of them – that our politics would somehow lead us to turn our sights away from their plight – is not representative of the best of who we are.”

First Amendment under siege: Government should ban speech that offends minorities, millennials say

Forty percent of millennials support government censorship of speech offensive to minority groups, according to a survey released Friday.

The Pew Research Center found that millennials were the most likely of any age group to agree that government should have the authority to stop people from saying things that offend minorities, while Democrats were nearly twice as likely as Republicans to favor such bans.

More HERE

Obama warns Asian leaders to avoid ‘pitfalls’ of America

President Obama discussed America’s faults Friday with young Asian leaders, saying the U.S. suffers from “pitfalls” such as income inequality, a political system controlled by the wealthy and political parties divided along racial lines.

Human-rights groups say Malaysia has a poor record on issues such as human trafficking and have accused the State Department of upgrading Malaysia’s status on human rights so the country could be included in Mr. Obama’s Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact.

Human Rights Watch said the ruling party in Malaysia “has engaged in a strong crackdown on civil and political rights” since losing the popular vote in 2013, and that Prime Minister Najib Razak has strengthened a sedition law after promising to repeal it. The group also said opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim received a five-year prison sentence this year on “trumped-up sodomy charges,” and that Sharia (Islamic law) courts “have increasingly been used to prosecute alleged LGBT activity.”

More HERE

"Mark Kirk: Kitten Killer" ads hit Internet

CHICAGO - A political action group opposed to SuperPACs is challenging both Republican Senator Mark Kirk and Democrat Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth to back away from unaccountable spending by outside groups.

CounterPAC - a group based in California - says they will run ads on local CBS around the Chicago Bears game against the Denver Broncos this Sunday, November 22. The ads have been steadily airing online all week, reaching 80,000 people. 

"Mark Kirk: Kitten Killer" is one Chicago area Bears fans might see:

Thorner/Hasty: Marco Rubio: Charming Young Man or Weasel?

(Opinions expressed are those of the authors'. Illinois Review has not endorsed a candidate in the Republican presidential primary. Other opinions are welcomed. Please send op-eds to info@illinoisreview.com.)

By Nancy Thorner and Elvira Hasty - 

Most Americans believe our country is going in the wrong direction, as noted by the latest polls (NBC/WSJ 64% and USC/LA Times 70%). We are facing the near total transformation promised by President Barack Hussein Obama, one that has taken this nation from an exceptional world power to the brink of a lawless corrupt nation, subject to the brunt of jokes among world leaders.

Our stated national debt is near $20 trillion, but in reality it's three times as much if unfunded liabilities are added. About 94 million Americans are out of the labor force. Our borders are not secured while sanctuary cities protect foreign criminals. Our policemen are being demonized. Our Judeo/Christian values are being persecuted and humiliated. Our national security is being threatened by admission of “Syrian refugees” even after the horrific terrorist acts in Paris on Friday, November 13. 

Election 2016 presents us with the unique opportunity to elect a new leader who will begin to undo this Marxist transformation. The new leader will be facing enormous difficult issues. There is no room for learning or mistakes of inexperience. This mandates that the elected president must be ready on DAY ONE to tackle problems head on, without fear of PC reporters or lobbying by special interests groups, such as the Chamber of Commerce. This individual must have leadership qualities proven by previous experience of accomplishments, couple with the innate qualities of honesty, responsibility, and toughness. 

We do not believe Senator Marco Rubio can be that leader of the free world, who, not unlike President, happens to be a skilled orator with a silver tongue. 

Reick quits 63rd District House bid

McHENRY - Ten-term Democrat State Rep. Jack Franks is likely not to have a Republican challenger in 2016, and it isn't because there was no one willing to challenge him in McHenry County's 63rd District.

Republican candidate Steve Reick was once again out getting signatures until he gave up - just days before candidate petitions were to begin being filed at the State Board of Elections. 

On his blog Illinoyances, Reick wrote Friday: 

For the past several months I, along with several volunteers have been passing petitions to get my name on the ballot for the General Assembly from the 63rd District. I was doing it so I could keep my options open as long as possible before deciding whether to run again in 2016. Specifically, I wanted to find out what kind of support I could hope to get from the State GOP and the Rauner political operation, knowing that without their material support, I couldn’t compete with the resources that Jack Franks could throw into the campaign.

Today I found out what I could expect: nothing.

University Students Try to Purchase Public Sidewalk to Stop Pro-Life Outreach

The student government of Otterbein University in Westerville, Ohio has scrapped a student-proposed initiative to stop Created Equal. For years, Created Equal has brought pro-life outreach to public sidewalks and busy thoroughfares in the heart of the private university. After various attempts at intimidation, Otterbein students took their bullying to a new level with a plan to purchase public sidewalks, thereby killing free speech. But the initiative failed. Above is a clip from 10TV news.

Skillicorn Formally Enters House Race

EAST DUNDEE, IL – Speaking to a crowded room of supporters, Allen Skillicorn formally launched his campaign for State RepresentativeThursday evening.

"Months ago Representative Michael Tyron announced he would not seek another term. As one might expect, this has set about an avalanche of candidates chasing the Republican primary nomination. This announcement does not come first, but with everyone’s help here today, this will be the one worth remembering.” Skillicorn continued, “I’m Allen Skillicorn, the conservative reformer and I humbly ask for your vote to shake up Springfield.”

Skillicorn spoke critically of House Speaker Michael Madigan. “Chicago Democrats want more of your money. More money to feed their higher legislative pay and lucrative pension system. More money to sustain their patronage workers… The only way to restore compromise and bi-partisan leadership is restore the two-party system in the Illinois house and senate.”

Skillicorn enters a four-way Republican primary for Representative Mike Tryon’s open-seat, facing off against Paul Serwatka, Caroyn Schofield, and Dan Wilbrandt. The primary election is March 15, 2016.

Must Watch Video: Farming in Fear

"Farming in Fear" premiered at the prestigious Anthem Film Festival on July 11 in Las Vegas, where it captured two awards: Best Short Documentary and Audience Choice. "Farming in Fear" tells the story of Martha Boneta, a young, idealistic woman who fulfills her childhood dream of buying and operating a small organic farm; but actions by a web of connected groups and individuals threaten to put her out of business.

Illinoisans rank fourth highest in country for wireless tax burden

A new report on wireless taxes show Illinoisans are shelling out a pretty penny for their wireless data. The non-partisan Tax Foundation found Illinoisans pay nearly 24 percent in overall state and federal taxes on their phone bills as of July 2015. This ranks fourth in the nation behind only Washington, Nebraska, and New York.

The Illinois Commerce Commission reports that nearly half of the homes in the state no longer have a dedicated land line and rely solely on wireless phones for communication. The commission said Illinois has approximately 13 million wireless subscribers. The City of Chicago also has an additional tax on wireless usage.

From INN

Illinois looking for a body camera provider ahead of Jan. 1 law

The state is taking bids for a supplier to equip 1,000 police officers and another 1,000 patrol cars with mobile cameras. The Associated Press reports the state is looking to get ahead of the national rush to put cameras on law enforcement in light of controversial police shootings in Ferguson, Missouri and Baltimore, Maryland.

An Illinois State Police spokesman tells the Associated Press that the bidding process doesn’t mean the state is on track to purchase those cameras, but the bids will set up the framework for a buying process in the future.

Governor Bruce Rauner signed a bill in August that supporters say puts Illinois on the forefront of law enforcement/video integration. The law creates the process, infrastructure and revenue stream to put cameras on local and state law enforcement. It becomes effective January 1st.

From INN

Pot Dangerous? Mother's Testimony Says Yes [video]

Lawless: The Obama Administration’s Unprecedented Assault on the Constitution and the Rule of Law

In "Lawless", George Mason University law professor David E. Bernstein offers a scholarly and unsettling account of how the Obama Administration has undermined the Constitution and the rule of law. He documents how the President has presided over one constitutional debacle after another – from Obamacare to unauthorized wars in the Middle East to attempts to strip property owners, college students, religious groups, and conservative political activists of their rights, and more.

FREEDOM IS NOT FREE | A Soldier's Pledge [video]

Poe's 99th District replacement moves to State House from Governor's office

SPRINGFIELD - Former State Rep. Raymond Poe resigned his 20 year plus seat in the Illinois House and moved up to head Illinois Agriculture last week, just in time for Governor Rauner's wife's chief of staff to move into his Capitol office with unanimous support from Sangamon County Republicans. 

And with March 15 2016 GOP primary petitions to begin being filed Monday, it may be that the new State Rep for Illinois' 99th House - Sara Wojcicki Jimenez - might just escape a intra-party battle right out of the box. 

That's likely a reason for the crisp political timing of all those moves, but that's not how Jimenez' announcement was presented Friday by the House Republican Organization.

Thorner/O'Neil: Has Judicial Supremacy reached a crisis stage?

Supreme Court Chief Justice John Marshall

By Nancy Thorner and Bonnie O'Neil - 

Judicial activism refers to judicial rulings suspected of being based on personal or political considerations rather than on existing law. It is sometimes used as an antonym of judicial restraint. The question of judicial activism is closely related to constitutional interpretation, statutory construction, and separation of powers.         

There is a growing discrepancy in how specific current Supreme Court Justices view their role from that of those who formed our government, constitution and the initial Supreme Court. Our forefathers' initial intent for the Supreme Court was to be less than that of the powers granted to Congress or the Presidency. Instead, it appears their role morphed into a dominant one that supersedes the other branches.  

Tyson Foods to close Chicago plant in 2016

CHICAGO - Next year, 480 more Illinois jobs will be lost as Tyson Foods closes its doors on Chicago's Ashland Avenue facility. 

Tyson cites the age of the Chicago plant and the cost to renovate it as a key factor in closing its doors. 

Congressman Gutierrez is "pissed off"

CHICAGO - "My name is Luis Gutierrez, and here's what really pisses me off ..." starts a 39-second video featuring Illinois' 4th District congressman. 

"When I see human tragedies like the terrorism that occurred in Paris, and see people perished, murdered and assassinated, and then see politicians in the United States of America exploit that tragedy and death to create hatred and bigotry against poor Syrian refugees ..." 

Undercover Video: Syrians in Greece Using Fake Passports to get to Europe and U.S.

Three Syrian refugees in Greece are caught on hidden camera talking about using fake passports to get to Europe and the US. They talk about using the same route as one of the terrorists who perpetrated the attack in Paris last week. When asked how to obtain a fake passport one of the Syrian refugees responded: "You need a person who the made the fake passport. And you need to pay for it. Maybe about three thousand Euro. ($3,189).” He also added that that is how a lot of Syrians come to the US and that there are a lot of Syrians in France.

CSPAN: Did Obama just say he's a Muslim?

The headline on C-SPAN following a recent Obama speech in Turkey read: “Did President Obama Just Admit He was Muslim?”

“I think on one hand non-Muslims cannot stereotype,” Obama said, “but I also think the Muslim community has to think about how we make sure that children are not being affected with this twisted notion that somehow they can kill innocent people.”

C-SPAN said, "Pay attention to when he uses the word 'we.'"

Junior High School requires students to make ‘terrorism propaganda posters’

UTAH – Parents at Salem Junior High School were shocked to discover their children were making propaganda posters for ISIS, but it wasn’t by choice.

It was a classroom assignment.

According to the teacher’s handout, students were to read several supposed reasons why “young Muslims join ISIS.”

Among them, “3. Purpose for living. Living with the hope for a good job in the future is a luxury that not many Muslim young men can realize these days especially in Europe. ISIS offers young Muslims what they see as a large enough purpose for living and for dying. Some Muslims in Europe feel marginalized and do not experience a place of belongingness (sic) in the countries of their residence. When they go to Iraq and Syria they get accepted as brothers and sisters who are warriors and heroes,” according to snapshots of the assignment published by KSL.

Students were then instructed to “create a propaganda poster for one of the terrorist organizations we have discussed. It should be neat, colored, professional etc. Information has been included to help you better understood (sic) what groups like ISIS want and why.”

More HERE

Rhoads: Happy 60th Anniversary to NR

By Mark Rhoads  - 

Congratulations to NR.

Sixty years ago on Nov. 19, 1955, the late William F. Buckley, Jr. (1925-2008) published the first issue of National Review magazine. It has changed over the years, but it was always a leading forum for intelligent conservative opinions on issues of the day and conservatives have benefited from its place in American history as the legacy of Buckley, the late publisher William A. Rusher, and all the writers and editors over the last 60 years.

Clinton: Muslims Are Tolerant And Peaceful But Also Not That [video]

Majority of Illinoisans - Democrats and Republicans alike - reject higher taxes

CHICAGO - There should be no tax increases to fix Illinois' ongoing budget mess, said 53 percent of a group of Democrats and Republicans asked in statewide survey Americans for Prosperity - Illinois released Wednesday.

And while Republican Governor Bruce Rauner has made it clear that he's willing to compromise with the Democrats and "increase revenue" (read: "hike taxes") if Democrats will deal on systemic business policy issues that affect workmen's compensation and unemployment taxes - among others - 66 percent said state spending should be cut rather than taxes hiked. 

Rauner reaches agreement with SEIU; criticizes AFSCME for not compromising

SPRINGFIELD - Governor Bruce Rauner announced agreements Wednesday with the Chicago-based Service Employees International Union Local 1 and a number of trade unions. Rauner’s office says the new contracts account for more than 500 people.