Illinois Review

Syverson Urges Rockford City Council To Vote No on HUD cluster housing project

By Ulysses Arn - 

State Sen. Dave Syverson in a Facebook post Friday morning finally let his feelings be known on the highly controversial New Towne public housing project that the Rockford Housing Authority, the Department of Housing and Urban Development and developer Gorman and Company want to build on South New Towne Drive, on Rockford's East side.

Syverson urged the Rockford city council to vote NO on the project at their upcoming December 21st meeting, writing:

Kasich campaign declares Trump-Putin ticket in 2016

OHIO - Ohio Governor John Kasich is running neck and neck at the bottom of the ticket with Senator Rand Paul at 2 percent in the latest Public Policy Polling survey, but he's not given up yet. Saturday morning, Kasich's campaign sent out a press release announcing a Trump-Putin pairing in the ongoing GOP presidential primary.

"In a bold and visionary move characteristic of everything he does, today terrific billionaire Donald Trump named Russian President Vladimir Putin as his running mate in the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign," Kasich's announcement mocks. "Trump pledged that together with Putin he would 'Make Tyranny Great Again.'"

Illinois remains one of the nation's worst "judicial hellholes"

 

MARION – Illinois continues to be a magnet for lawsuit abuse and remains the home to one of the nation’s worst “judicial hellholes,” according to the annual “Judicial Hellholes” report released Thursday by the American Tort Reform Foundation (ATRF). The report named Madison County one of the “Five Worst Judicial Hellholes” in the country.

ATRF defines a “Judicial Hellhole” as “a place where judges systematically apply laws and court procedures in an unfair and unbalanced manner.”

McCarter criticizes Shimkus' Support for "DC Insider Liberal Spending Bill"

LEBANON - Not only did the Club for Growth blast Illinois Republicans that sided with Paul Ryan's $1.1 Trillion Omnibus bill, one GOP primary challenger used the opportunity to turn up the heat on twenty-year incumbent John Shimkus.

Senator Kyle McCarter, who will be on the March 15th GOP primary ballot in Illinois 15 CD, hotly criticized Shimkus' vote among the six Illinois GOPers that supported the budget - including providing additional funding for Planned Parenthood, which has admitted dealing baby body parts for medical research.

Six Illinois GOPers vote with Dems to pass Ryan's $1.1T Omnibus Budget

WASHINGTON – While six Illinois GOP Congress members send out releases explaining what they consider to be the valid reasons why they voted with the $1.1 trillion omnibus bill U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi agreed upon, tax advocate groups are hot about today's vote.

The Club for Growth was especially angry with two Republican veteran House members - John Shimkus and Peter Roskam - who both voted for the budget bill, as did GOPers Mike Bost (12) , Rodney Davis (13), Adam Kinzinger (16) and Robert Dold (10). All Democrats - except Luis Gutierrez (4) voted "yes."

Only two Republicans from Illinois voted "no" - Randy Hultgren (14) and Darin LaHood (18). 

O'Brien: Rubio is still for Amnesty, Recent Debate Reveals

 Marco Rubio and the Gang of Eight

By Teri O'Brien - 

Despite my unwavering support for the 2nd Amendment, and my habit of checking the voting records on that issue of every candidate from Assistant Dog Catcher to President of the United States, I have never been a single issue candidate; that is, until now.

The issue of amnesty, and the related issue of the "refugee" invasion that the Obama Regime has quietly been engineering under the radar, is an existential issue for this nation. As you no doubt realize, Obama's plans to "seed" the country with "refugees," who are actually economic migrants, and to facilitate the transformation of the demographics of this country with his lawless pen-and-phone amnesties, are designed to enhance the political fortunes of Democrats for the next fifty to 100 years, national security and impending fiscal disaster be damned. It's very cynical and dangerous, and I'm sorry to say that Sen. Marco Rubio is not part of the solution. He is part of the problem.

Hultgren Honors McHenry Army Pilot Kevin Weiss, Killed in Training

WASHINGTON DC - Illinois Congressman Randy Hultgren honored Chief Warrant Office 2 Kevin Mose Weiss of McHenry County who was killed in a helicopter training accident on December 2nd.

Congressman Roskam Argues to Protect Non-Profits from IRS Overreach [video]

WASHINGTON DC - Illinois Congressman Peter Roskam spoke on the House Floor about his tax extenders provisions to protect non-profits from IRS intimidation and overreach.

Rep. Bost defends vote for the upcoming Omnibus Budget [video]

Proft: Republicans Should Take Lead to Recall Rahm

New state laws that Illinois employers should know about

SPRINGFIELD - Several laws affecting employers will go into affect January 1, 2016, the state of Illinois reminded with notices posted Thursday:

Using "no fly" list to determine gun rights wouldn't be appropriate, DHS official says

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama and his Democrat colleagues are pushing for the international "no fly" list to be used when considering whether citizens should be allow to own firearms. President Obama called such a policy "Common sense" after the San Bernardino massacre in early December. 

On the other hand, more and more are saying such a filter would be undermining the constitutional right to bear arms. And others argue that the "no fly" list has no provision of due process to appeal being included on the list.

Annual March to Life rally to be held January 17, 2016

CHICAGO - Prolifers will be rallying in downtown Chicago January 17, 2016 to celebrate life and commemorate the millions of babies whose lives have been lost to abortion since the 1973 Roe vs. Wade decision.

Illinois Right to Life is asking like-minded folks to set aside the date and plan to join them in at March for Life Chicago 2016. They released the following promotional video this week: 

Rubio wins in Libertyville GOP straw poll

LIBERTYVILLE – In a straw poll held in Libertyville after Tuesday night's GOP presidential candidate forum, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio emerged as the favorite among 100 Lake County Republican Federation members.

Rubio received 31 percent of the vote, Ted Cruz 22, and Donald Trump 18, as the top three.

Kirk asks Obama to use social media for visa application background checks

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Mark Kirk wants the Department of Homeland Security officals to screen U.S. visa applicants' social media during background checks. Kirk and Democrat Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia wrote a letter of appeal to the president this week, asking for immediate policy change.  

Chicago Ward GOP org censures Kirk; endorses GOP challenger James Marter

CHICAGO - A Republican organization in Chicago censured incumbent U.S. Senator Mark Kirk Tuesday night, and withdrew their support during the upcoming GOP primary, tossing it to Kirk's challenger, James Marter. 

The Chicago's 11th Ward GOP is the third Republican group to have publicly condemned Kirk's voting record in the U.S. Senate. Other party groups include the Aurora Township GOP and the Batavia Township GOP.

Sen. Murphy joins Illinois' growing Marco Rubio delegation

Marco Rubio is State Senator Matt Murphy's prez pick for 2016

PALATINE – U.S. Senator Marco Rubio is Illinois' State Senator Matt Murphy's (R-Palatine) pick for the GOP's 2016 presidential nominee. He joins other Senate colleagues Mike Connelly and Jim Oberweis in Rubio's corner.

“In 2016 we need to elect a president who embraces America’s greatness, who can not only understand our hopes and fears, but actually successfully address them, who knows that for Americans to be safe in a dangerous world, America needs to be strong and respected,” Senator Murphy said in a statement.  “I believe Marco Rubio has what it takes to be that president and am proud to endorse his candidacy.”

DHS Whistleblower reveals Obama Admin's concern for non-citizens over citizens

WASHINGTON - "...[W]hat I witnessed suggests the Obama administration is more concerned with the rights of non-citizens in known Islamist groups than with the safety and security of the American people," a recently retired Department of Homeland Security investigator wrote in an op-ed Wednesday in The Hill.

The commentary, by Phillip Haney, is a whistle-blowing effort about the Obama Administration concerning investigations that Haney says was leading directly to groups with which two San Bernandino terrorists may have been involved.

Haney writes in "Administration nixed probe into Southern California jihadists"

Wheaton College suspends hijab-wearing professor

WHEATON - A tenured Wheaton College political science professor who pledged to wear a hijab during Advent in support of her Muslim neighbors has been placed on administrative leave. Not for donning the Islamic head covering, but over "significant questions regarding the theological implications" of her explanation of why she was doing so, Christianity Today reports.

“Wheaton College faculty and staff make a commitment to accept and model our institution’s faith foundations with integrity, compassion, and theological clarity,” the college stated in announcing the decision. “As they participate in various causes, it is essential that faculty and staff engage in and speak about public issues in ways that faithfully represent the college’s evangelical Statement of Faith.”

Di Leo: Boots on the Ground, in a New York Forest

By John F. Di Leo - 

Reflections on the immigration of Tashfeen Malik, and the search for balance in a war-torn world…

By the morning of September 23, John Anderson (not his real name) had had a very rough 24 hours.

In his line of work, that might not have been unusual, but it was rather new for him. He’d been in this job for a year and a half, and had just closed a pretty substantial deal the day before. The discussions began on the night of the 21st, and went on well into the night, but by morning, an impressive operation was as good as transferred.

In a world in which only three things count – “location, location, location” – this deal had all three. A commanding view of the river, an opportunity to stop traffic from either direction on all sides, and a simply beautiful piece of tranquil scenery to boot, although the scenery wasn’t the selling point that made this particular property shine.

The deal had everything – big names, big numbers, big acreage – and promised to go down in the history books if everything worked as planned. This deal could be quite a coup.

Rasmussen finds Americans like Christmas, want it celebrated in public schools

Americans continue to strongly support the celebration of Christmas in public schools, places that most already believe lack enough religion.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 76% of American Adults believe Christmas should be celebrated in public schools. Just 15% disagree. 

Starkehaus: Knowing the limits of the First Amendment in an anti-Christian America

By Irene F. Starkehaus - 

The Leadership Institute under the banner of Campus Reform has a rather festive video that entertains what they describe as the Twelve Bans of Christmas. Sung to the tune of the Twelve Days of Christmas, Campus Reform documents twelve egregious anti-religion policies that have been put in place by universities throughout the country to protect the snowflake Millennials from exposure to oppressive Judeo-Christian hegemony:

It'd be so flipping adorable if it wasn't so flipping horrifying. This list, sadly, is not all inclusive and doesn't even necessarily document the worst offenses being forced upon students in the name of inclusion. Take as a for instance an event hosted by the Muslim Students Association at a Vernon Hills High School here in Illinois called "Walk a Mile in Her Hijab" where non-Muslim girls were recently taught proper etiquette and techniques for hiding their wicked, whorish hair for the greater glory of Allah. (For clarity, this was not an extracurricular activity.)

Rhoads: More Nonsense About History

By Mark Rhoads - 

Greenpeace International executive director Kumi Naidoo said last week, "The wheel of climate action turns slowly, but in Paris it has turned. This deal puts the fossil-fuel industry on the wrong side of history."

This is just the latest silly comment from the Left that their critics are always on "the wrong side of history."  History, of course, is what it is and does not have sides. As history unfolds, it might ebb and flow in a zig-zag pattern for good or bad.

Despite differences on immigration, Curran endorses James Marter for U.S. Senate

OSWEGO − Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran endorsed James Marter of Oswego for U.S. Senate Tuesday.

"I am supporting James Marter, because he is a family man, business owner, proponent of the 2nd amendment, and pro-life. James is the type of candidate that the founders envisioned, a solid member of our community, and not a career politician, so therefore, I wanted to be the first elected official in the state of Illinois, to endorse James Marter for Senate," Curran said.

Marter said he was pleased to announce the sheriff's endorsement. "Sheriff Curran is a man of integrity and principle; he is a champion of fiscal responsibility, government transparency and justice with integrity," Marter said.

There's no question that Curran and Marter agree wholeheartedly on issues concerning life, marriage and other issues of concern to social conservatives. But, Curran told Illinois Review Tuesday, they may not be exactly the same on the immigration issue.

Sources: Review affirms Clinton server emails were 'top secret'

WASHINGTON - Fox News' Catherine Herridge and associate Pamela Brown report that Hillary Clinton's assurances about not having classified information on her unsecured server may not be altogether truthful.

In today's Fox News reports:

EXCLUSIVE: An intelligence community review has re-affirmed that two classified emails were indeed “top secret” when they hit Hillary Clinton’s unsecured personal server despite a challenge to that designation by the State Department, according to two sources familiar with the review.

The sources described the dispute over whether the two emails were classified at the highest level as a “settled matter.”

Los Angeles school shutdown due to "credible terrorist threat"

LOS ANGELES - All schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District were closed on Tuesday due to a “credible terror threat.”

According to KTLA, school district officials and police confirmed the news early Tuesday morning.

Reports say a member of the Los Angeles Unified School District Board received the threat via email saying numerous backpacks and school bags with explosives would affect several schools. 

More to come ...

Lincolnshire creates first "right to work" Illinois municipality

By Nancy Mathieson - 

In Monday night’s 5 – 1 vote, north suburban Lincolnshire created Illinois’ first private sector “right to work” (RTW) municipality. Under this new ordinance, private sector unionized employees working in Lincolnshire will now have the choice of whether or not to pay union dues, and a union worker cannot be fired for not paying dues.

Earlier this year, Lincolnshire became one of a group of suburbs to formally endorse a plan, in line with Rauner’s "Turnaround Agenda," to make payment of private sector union dues voluntary (“empowerment zones”). According to the Illinois Policy Institute, under RTW laws, unions, workers and their employers can still collectively bargain over wages, hours, benefits and all other working conditions. RTW also does not affect the ability to organize.

Hughes: Chicago Teachers Union Votes to Protect Power

By Patrick Hughes - 

Today, the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) voted to strike because their egregious contract demands were not met.

One of the main sticking point in the negotiation is that the union is refusing to increase the amount their members contribute to their own pensions. Teachers should be paying 9% of their salaries to fund their exorbitant retirement benefits. They currently only pay 2%. Taxpayers are stuck picking up the rest. Of course, the standard CTU demands persist as well. For example, the union still wants to make sure it has a say in who gets rehired and how teachers are evaluated, regardless of whether it’s in the best interests of the children in the system.

That’s because what’s best for children has never been the priority of CTU and its members, their empty rhetoric notwithstanding. In the last decade alone, over 200,000 people have left Chicago. Today, nearly 100 of its schools are half empty or have been closed altogether. Families have fled the city's failing schools because the demands of CTU are not aligned with the needs of the children they serve.

WARN warns of mass layoffs

More than 1,800 jobs are on the chopping block in Illinois and more could be on the way. That’s according to the latest report of mass layoffs through the Illinois Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, or WARN.

The November report says General Mills in West Chicago will lay off 444 employees beginning next month and lasting through May of 2017. St. Mary's Hospital in Streator will have 350 worker layoffs beginning next month. Orbitz Worldwide said they began laying off an undisclosed number of workers last month.

Six of the companies listed say they are closing while only one of the nine companies that provided numbers of affected workers, Balmoral Racing Club, Inc., said bankruptcy was the reason 52 workers will be laid off beginning in late January.

From INN

How Do You Judge America? [video]

Illinois Republican Party Launches #TaxHikeMike Campaign

CHICAGO - The Illinois Republican Party has launched a new web ad entitled "#TaxHikeMike" to coincide with a social media campaign by the same name. The new video highlights Speaker Mike Madigan's statement to the City Club of Chicago, indicating that a return to a 5 percent individual income tax rate (a 33% increase from the current rate) is a "good place to begin."

Reeder: Forgive

By Scott Reeder / Illinois New Network - 

SPRINGFIELD – Should people be judged for the rest of their lives by the worst things they ever did? 

I don’t think so.

Our society needs to offer some level of forgiveness and redemption, particularly to non-violent offenders.

If one breaks the law, a price needs to be paid.

But at some point society needs to stop extracting its full measure of vengeance.

NC GOV: The Feds Don't Tell Us Where, When, or Who When Bringing Refugees Into Our States

Ted Cruz - Securing America’s Freedom [video]

In the wake of the terrorist attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, there has been a healthy debate on how best to keep Americans safe from a terrorist attack without violating citizens' constitutional rights. Senator Ted Cruz will explore the national security priorities necessary for keeping America safe while ensuring that we remain free.

Illinois Libertarian candidates join effort to decriminalize pot

LEMONT – If you're looking for political support to take the use of marijuana a step further from medical use to recreational use, the Illinois Libertarian Party is just what you're looking for. Monday, the Libertarians released a statement boosting Democrat State Rep. Kelly Cassidy's second try at state legislation that calls for cannabis use to be punished with small fines instead of criminal charges.

Libertarian Claire Ball - who is running for  Comptroller - and Scott Schluter - who is running for state representative - each spoke in support of Cassidy's effort Monday. Their praises joined Rev. Alexander Sharp of the Clergy for a New Drug Policy and Rev. Jason Coulter, pastor of the Ravenswood United Church of Christ. 

Roskam condemns Palestinian terrorism at Jerusalem bus stop

Medics assist injured after terrorist attacks civilians at Jerusalem bus stop

WASHINGTON - Just a few hours ago, 14 people – including an 18-month-old baby and a grandmother in her 70s – were wounded when a terrorist plowed his car into a group of Israeli civilians waiting at a bus stop near Jerusalem’s central bus station.

Over the past three months, Israelis have endured more than 135 terror attacks that have claimed the lives of 22 and injured hundreds more. American citizens have been among the victims. Today’s attack is part of an ongoing slew of stabbings, shootings, and vehicular assaults that have terrorized Israelis since September 14th.

Congressman Peter Roskam (IL-06) condemned the violence in Jerusalem within minutes:

Chicago Teacher's Union votes to authorize strike

CTU Vice President Jesse Sharkey and supporters at Monday's press conference

CHICAGO - An overwhelming majority of the Chicago Teachers Union voted last Wednesday, Thursday and Friday to authorize a strike as a means of rejecting the Chicago School Board's contract recommendations for the next three years' contract.

88 percent of total CTU membership voted "yes."

"The members of the Chicago teachers union do not want a strike, but we will if you do not listen to us," said CTU VP Jesse Sharkey at a press conference Monday. "Our members will be in the streets of the city of Chicago to demand justice for our schools."

Trump dubs Cruz "a little bit of a maniac"; Cruz responds

Photo of Trump and Cruz ing more congenial days 

NEW YORK - During the Sunday morning political talk shows, one Republican presidential candidate said this about another: 

I don’t think he has the right temperament. I don’t think he’s got the right judgment. You look at the way he’s dealt with the Senate where he goes in there, frankly, you know, like a little bit of a maniac. You’re never going to get things done that way.

By now you've heard that it was GOP presidential nominee frontrunner Donald J. Trump taking a swipe at competitor U.S. Senator Ted Cruz - calling him a "maniac" for his outspoken critiques of Republican leadership and the president. Cruz is beginning to surge in the GOP presidential polls, and appears to be threatening Trump's lead. 

Cruz responded thus shortly after Trump's "maniac" agitation:

In honor of my friend @realDonaldTrump and good-hearted #Maniacs everywhere: https://t.co/KOPIi4XTVt

— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) December 13, 2015

Lucci: Madigan shows sparse knowledge of state's economic woes

CHICAGO - After reviewing House Speaker Mike Madigan's recent City Club of Chicago speech, Illinois Policy Institute analyst Michael Lucci doesn't mince words in his tough criticism of the speaker's defense of Illinois atrocious economic condition:

In short, Madigan showed little knowledge of economic issues, especially considering the myriad problems the state is facing:

• Illinois has suffered the nation’s worst recovery from the Great Recession in terms of putting people back to work, with 180,000 fewer people working today than before the recession began
• Illinois is experiencing record out-migration from the state, with 95,000 people lost on net in 2014, according to the U.S. Census Bureau

Chairman Hamilton resigns from College of DuPage Board

WHEATON - After having fought as a lone reform member of the College of DuPage Board of Trustees for months, then working hard to elect a like-minded majority committed to making board decisions and the college's finances transparent to DuPage County taxpayers, COD Board Chairman Kathy Hamilton resigned from her post Sunday night.

Di Leo: Hillary Clinton and her Dangerous Deeds

By John F. Di Leo - 

Hillary Clinton, along with her allies in the mainstream media, have taken great delight in attacking Republicans lately, on the subject of Presidential candidate Donald Trump’s (and others’) calls for restrictions on muslim immigration … especially in light of the Obama Administration’s current efforts to import tens of thousands of un-vettable alleged Syrian “refugees” in the midst of a war.

Never mind that no country EVER allows unchecked immigration from a country with which it is at war.  It doesn’t happen, for reasons that are obvious to any conscious individual.  The Obama Administration counts on the American people’s willingness to disregard the parade of six thousand years of human civilization, and just accept the parade of “refugees” that could easily include an invasion force and numerous other risks.

Weyermuller: Thinking about Mike Madigan's City Club Speech

By Mark Weyermuller - 

Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan made a rare public policy address at the City Club of Chicago this past Wednesday held at the University Club downtown.  The City Club of Chicago is a non-profit, non-partisan organization whose members include prominent business, civic and government leaders in Chicago.

He spoke for just under 19 minutes and then took nine written questions from the audience of about 350 people in an event that sold out in seven minutes. You could say he beat Donald Trump who spoke to to the same group earlier this year which sold out in just ten minutes.  Headline could be "MADIGAN BEATS TRUMP BY 3 MINUTES."

Thorner/O'Neil: Islam promoted in U.S. classrooms via Common Core

By Nancy Thorner and Bonnie O'Neil - 

Setting the stage for Islam in the classroom dates back to 2001. A situation arose in the Byron Union School District in Byron, California, after the school district instituted a three-week unit on Islam for 7th graders.  Students picked Muslim names, recited Islamic prayers, and celebrated Ramadan.

When parents sued the school on the grounds that the course was "officially endorsing a religion," the U.S. Supreme Court rejected their appeal, leaving intact an earlier ruling by the liberal Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The ruling claimed that the Islamic unit did not violate the Constitution as it had an "instructional purpose.” The unpopular decision left its opponents asking how it was possible to know intents and ignore ultimate results. 

Arm: IL Dems want to confiscate FOID cards, guns if owners appear on terrorist watch

By Ulysses Arn -  

Continuing the Democrat Party's national push to take away the Second Amendment rights of Americans, 15 Dems in the Illinois House of Representatives filed a bill Friday that would allow the Illinois State Police to revoke and/or deny anyone a Firearms Owner Identification Card and to seize their weapons should that person be placed on terrorist watch lists.

The problem is federal terrorist watch lists are rife with errors, and includes thousands of people that have absolutely zero connections to terrorism.

IL GOP takes on #TaxHikeMike

SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois Republican Party rolled out a new meme this week, targeting House Speaker Mike Madigan, who admitted to Chicagoans at the City Club of Chicago luncheon that he believes the state is in dire need of a 67 percent income tax hike, back up to the 5 percent level it held last year. 

In the speech Wednesday, Madigan criticized Governor Bruce Rauner's desires to make structural changes in order to encourage more businesses to locate in Illinois. Madigan said yet again that Rauner's ideas were "extreme" while his were "moderate" and more acceptable for the state's future, and that nothing was more important than passing a state budget - one he plans to balance by hiking the state income taxes back to 2014 levels.

Listen to Madigan's speech and his responses to audience questions HERE.

Thorner/O'Neil: Dangers in denying radical Islamist Terrorism's potential effects - Part 1

Washington Times photo

By Nancy Thorner and Bonnie O'Neil - 

Over a year ago, Kenneth Palinkas, head of the union that represents officials from both Homeland Security and Immigration Services and an immigration official himself, warned that President Obama’s lax immigration policies are potentially dangerous to Americans. He specified known problems, such as being denied urgent professional resources, enforcement tools, and mission support to secure our borders. He went on to state that the Obama Administration has widened loopholes that give an advantage to terrorists entering the United States.

There are approximately 5 million immigrants in the United States with expired visas – many of whom are from high-risk regions. Until and unless President Obama can assure the American people that the above problems have been resolved, it is ludicrous to continue allowing unprecedented numbers of foreigners into our Country. 

UPDATE x1: Carson threatens to pull out of GOP if establishment maneuvers convention floor fight

UPDATE xa: Since the post below was published, Dr. Carson's campaign sent out a statement underlining what was published in The Hill's account. See Carson's campaign statement in full added below. 

WASHINGTON - Ben Carson is threatening to leave the GOP following a report that senior Republican officials met to discuss the party’s strategy in the event of a brokered convention, The Hill writes Friday morning.

“If the leaders of the Republican Party want to destroy the party, they should continue to hold meetings like the one described in the Washington Post this morning,” Carson said in a statement released by his campaign.

“If this was the beginning of a plant to subvert the will of the voters and replace it with the will of the political elite, I assure you Donald Trump will not be the only one leaving the party,” he continued.

By The Numbers - The Untold Story of Muslim Opinions & Demographics

Hosted by Raheel Raza president of Muslims Facing Tomorrow, By the Numbers is about Muslim opinions and demographics.

Time to recall Rahm? So says Chicago Democrat LaShawn Ford

 Photo - Mark Weyermuller

CHICAGO - Looks like President Obama's one-time chief of staff Rahm Emanuel - who is desperately in need of millions in state-funded taxpayer aid and who the Chicago Teacher's Union is threatening to strike - is ending 2015 on a very sour note.

Protesters are calling on Emanuel to resign, as well as State's Attorney Anita Alvarez and anyone else in City Hall they can get to step down. But Emanuel told the City Council Wednesday he was sorry, and that it was time for mutual respect. 

It didn't work. Now even Democrat members of the state legislature are aggravated.

State Representative La Shawn Ford, a Democrat, introduced a bill Wednesday that would set into place a state law allowing Chicago voters to recall the mayor, who was re-elected earlier this year. State Rep. Mary Flowers, also a Democrat, signed on as a co-sponsor.

Own a gun? New survey says you probably sleep a little better each night

Does having a gun make Americans safer? Gun owners say yes.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 63% of Americans with a gun in their household feel safer because someone in that household owns a gun. Just two percent (2%) say having a gun in the house makes them feel less safe, while 32% say it has no impact on their personal safety. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

And the day after Thanksgiving, the FBI reported conducting 185,345 background checks; the previous record was just over 175,000 on Black Friday in 2014.

In light of the surging interest in gun ownership, at least one Illinois State House member wants firearm buyers to be protected from outrageous taxes or fees imposed by local governments on the purchase of guns or ammunition.