Illinois Review

6th CD Democrat's debate comment "Abortion is like gall bladder surgery" sets off firestorm

CHICAGO - The Democrat seeking to oust GOP Congressman Peter Roskam believes abortion is a medical procedure like gall bladder surgery - a comment Roskam immediately rejected during a debate last week in Chicago. 

For the first time in several elections, the Illinois Congressional District once represented by Henry Hyde could fall into Democrat hands, political analysts are saying. Indeed, the current 6th CD map is starkly different that the one Henry Hyde represented. It contains a substantial part of Democrat-controlled Cook County and a portion of Lake County in addition to the eastern part of DuPage County.

WATCH: Mike Rowe Talks About The Gap Between ‘Elites’ And Everyone Else

Ben Shapiro and special guest Mike Rowe discuss why celebrity elites are out of touch with everyday Americans.

Thorner/Ingold: The Truth About Trump's Tax Cuts and Jobs Act

By Nancy Thorner & Ed Ingold - 

It was on Friday, December 22, 2017, when President Donald Trump signed into law H.R. 1, known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. H.R.1 makes widespread changes to the Internal Revenue Code.  Almost all of its provisions, including a lower corporate tax rate of 21% and lower individual income tax rates, go into effect Jan. 1.  See here to view H.R. 1. 

The legislation was passed on fast track. Introduced in the House of Representatives on Nov. 2, 2017, it passed on Nov. 16, 2017. The version the House passed repealed the medical expense deduction, as well as many other individual tax deductions, and further reduced the number of individual income tax brackets from seven to four.

Universal Basic Income: The Nanny State on Steroids

Nothing epitomizes the American Left’s intellectual dishonesty better than its use of the word “free” to accompany some government giveaway. Be it “free” college or “free” health care, there is nothing remotely free about the transfer of costs from one group of Americans to another.

Additional Democrat-sponsored wealth transfers are on the horizon. In Chicago, Alderman Ameya Pawar has proposed legislation that would provide 1,000 families with a universal basic income (UBI) of $500 per month. “Nearly 70 percent of Americans don’t have $1,000 in the bank for an emergency,” Pawar declared. “UBI could be an incredible benefit for people who are working and are having a tough time making ends meet or putting food on the table at the end of the month.”

UBI is not a new concept. As columnist Nathan Heller points out, magistrates from the English village of Speenhamland tried a version of it in 1795, spurred by a price rise in grain that was increasing poverty, even among the gainfully employed. By 1834, for a variety of reasons, “everyone agreed” the program had failed.

In modern day America, the bogey man is automation. Citing companies like Tesla, Amazon, and Uber, Pawar posited that many jobs sustaining middle-class employment will become obsolete, and that more unemployed Americans will fuel political polarization. “We have to start talking about race and class and geography, but also start talking about the future of work as it relates to automation. All of this stuff is intertwined,” Pawar asserts.

Pawar should also be talking about how a nearly bankrupt Illinois has the worst credit rating in the nation; its Democrat-led legislature has failed to address retirement-system debt that has skyrocketed to nearly $11,000 for every man, woman, and child in the state; and that Moody’s Investors Service stripped Chicago’s bonds of their investment-grade status — prior to the UBI giveaway Pawar envisions.

More HERE

DePaul Univ. Prof: Leftist academics 'waging a war against America'

DePaul University professor Jason Hill warns that college campuses are "becoming national security threats" because "leftist professors" are turning them into "propaganda machines" that teach students "to hate this country."

Hill contends that the best solution is to defund universities and "rebuild them with conservative principles" such as individualism, capitalism, and self-reliance.

More HERE

The Strange Death of Comedy

Tell a joke now and who knows who you might offend? Identity politics is taking the fun out of just about everything. This is – no fooling – a very serious problem. Actor/Comedian Owen Benjamin explains why and what needs to be done about it.

Cook County GOP settles bylaws controversy

CHICAGO - Last Friday, Illinois Review shared a letter Chicago GOP Chairman Chris Cleveland wrote to Cook County GOP committeemen concerning a proposal Cook County GOP Chairman Sean Morrison attempted to make to the organization's by-laws making it easier for Democrats to gain official standings in the party structure. 

Committeemen from only 29 wards or townships attended Wednesday night's meeting - far less than the number required for a Cook County GOP quorum. Five of those attending were proxies that could not vote on a bylaws change. Thus no vote on a by-law change was held. 

In a response sent to committeemen, Cleveland said those in attendance did pass a resolution reaffirming its commitment to the principle that only genuine Republicans should hold office in the Republican Party, and that the Chicago Democrat Machine's attempt to infiltrate the party is unacceptable.

State Rep. Morrison introduces Restore Illinois PAC candidates

EFFINGHAM - Earlier this week, State Rep. Tom Morrison (R-Palatine) was in Effingham IL to introduce candidates a new PAC are backing in the run up to the November 8th election. The Restore Illinois PAC's focus is gaining reform-minded lawmakers into the House Republican Caucus with the goal of winning the majority. Here's video Rep. Morrison put together:

Cook County Board pushes out open primary referendum option with Leftist advisories

CHICAGO - The option for Cook County voters to express their views about setting up an open primary system for countywide candidates was squelched Wednesday when the Cook County Board pushed in three advisory referendum for the November 6th ballot.

Filling those three slots on the ballot denied any opportunity for Cook County GOP Chairman Sean Morrison to gather enough petition signatures to get his non-partisan election referendum before this year's General Election voters. 

Where’s Weyermuller: Thursday night's Roskam vs Casten Debate at the Union League Club

By Mark Weyermuller -

The future of the House of Representatives could be partially decided based on Thursday night's Fox 32 debate between IL's 6th Congressional District.  Republican incumbent Peter Roskam faced off against Democrat challenger Sean Casten. The race is so close that as of this week, national political commentator Larry Sabato moved the 6th CD race to the "Toss Up" column from "Leans Republican."

Thursday night's debate can be seen on Fox 32's Facebook Page. The live debate took place at the Union League Club with about 200 people in attendance. Fox 32's Mike Flannery was the the moderator, and was assisted by morning anchor Scott Schneider. The event was sponsored by the Lincoln Forum headed by former Illinois GOP chairman Pat Brady.

 

STUDY: Women leaving STEM due to depression, unhappiness

A new study finds that depression, rather than discrimination, is driving the exodus of PhD-trained women from STEM fields.

Previous research has suggested that many women leave STEM to pursue fields that involve more "social responsibility," but the current study notes that more research is needed to understand why so many women in STEM are depressed.

More HERE

With US GDP up, how's Illinois doing?

SPRINGFIELD - The US GDP for the second quarter was way up to 4.1 percent, federal government sources reported Thursday. That raised the question for Illinois Review Twitter follower Gary Frank, who asked "How's Illinois doing?" 

Fair question, we thought - and Illinois News Network was on the answer already, we found. Illinois' unemployment rate is at 4.3 percent, above the 4.0 national average, but there's good news as people are getting jobs in metropolitan areas and those opportunities move towards central and southern parts of the state.

Here's what INN reports concerning Illinois' unemployment climate reported by the Illinois Department of Employment Security:

US GDP skyrockets to 4.1 in second quarter

The US real gross domestic product increased at an annual rate of 4.1 percent in the second quarter of 2018, according to the "advance" estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. The last time the GDP was above 4 percent was the third quarter of 2014. 

In the first quarter, real GDP increased 2.2 percent (revised). The Bureau emphasized that the second-quarter advance estimate released today is based on source data that are incomplete or subject to further revision by the source agency (see "Source Data for the Advance Estimate" on page 2). The "second" estimate for the second quarter, based on more complete data, will be released on August 29, 2018.

The increase in real GDP in the second quarter reflected positive contributions from personal consumption expenditures (PCE), exports, nonresidential fixed investment, federal government spending, and state and local government spending that were partly offset by negative contributions from private inventory investment and residential fixed investment. Imports, which are a subtraction in the calculation of GDP, increased.

Thorner: President's power to revoke security clearances is constitutional

By Nancy Thorner - 

White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said Monday, July 23, 2018, that Trump is looking into the clearances of former CIA Director John Brennan, former FBI Director James Comey, former Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe, former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, former National Security Adviser Susan Rice and former CIA Director Michael Hayden under President G.W. Bush. 

Update x1: "Republican" Rauner now to back Trump’s Supreme Court pick

UPDATE x1: Wed 7:05 PM - The SunTimes is now reporting that Governor Rauner WILL sign the letter after initially not signing on. 

"The RGA said Rauner’s exclusion from the letter was a “simple miscommunication” and a new one with Rauner’s signature was being sent Wednesday afternoon," the ST now reports HERE.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Nearly all of the nation’s Republican governors have signed a letter backing Senate confirmation for President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.

In a letter to Senate leaders, first obtained by the AP, GOP governors from 31 states and territories ask that senators move “expeditiously to confirm” Kavanaugh to the court.

They write: “Judge Kavanaugh’s impeccable credentials demonstrate he is worthy of this nomination.”

The letter is part of a coordinated campaign by the White House to build public support for Kavanaugh, in hopes of securing his confirmation in time for the beginning of the Supreme Court’s term this fall.

The four Republican governors who didn’t sign the letter are from Democratic-leaning states. They are: Massachusetts’ Charlie Baker, Maryland’s Larry Hogan, Vermont’s Phil Scott and Illinois’ Bruce Rauner.

State rep Batinick responds to friendly fire on proposed pension solution

PLAINFIELD - State Rep. Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield) proposed a solution to Illinois' $130 billion pension earlier this week - something he says the state's Democrats have yet to offer - but Batinick was a bit stunned when groups he considers like-minded fiscal conservatives and friends sharply criticized his idea. 

Batinick, who serves on the Illinois House's pension reform committee, suggested the state enact a reverse ramp - by beginning with paying in larger amounts to the pension debt in order to save the 7% interest the state now owes on unpaid contributions. 

That, Batinick said, would stop the bleeding - not correct the problem. But for him, it's a place to start.

"Having a plan to stop the bleeding from the unfunded liability does not mean we shouldn't stop the pension abuses," Batinick told Illinois Review. "There should be a moratorium on benefit enhancement." 

Open Carry backed by liberal 9th Circuit panel could stir things up in Illinois

SAN FRANCISCO - It takes a considerable amount of money to not only buy handguns in Illinois, but those that want to exercise their Second Amendment rights in the Democrat-controlled state must jump through numerous bureaucratic hoops, obtain state approval in the form of FOID cards, conceal & carry licenses, training and now those wanting to defend themselves must wait 72 hours to legally buy guns.

Everyone knows that criminals adhere to none of those laws - and they energetically exercise their Second Amendment rights until the law catches up with them.

But despite all that, Illinois is not an "open carry" state - it's barely a "conceal carry" state. 

That may be changing, if a ruling in the liberal 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals stands. From the ABA Journal: 

Why the 3/5ths Compromise Was Anti-Slavery

Is racism enshrined in the United States Constitution? How could the same Founding Fathers who endorsed the idea that all men are created equal also endorse the idea that some men are not? The answer provided in this video by, Carol Swain, professor emeritus of political science and law at Vanderbilt University, may surprise you.

Democrats’ Anger May Retake the House

Negative emotions, particularly anger, tend to spur voter participation, experts say.

• 49% of Democrats are angry about the midterms, compared with 28% of GOP voters.

• Democrats were almost twice as likely as Republicans (44 percent vs. 24 percent) to choose a negative emotion to describe their feelings.

• Democrats have also grown wearier over the direction of their party.

 More HERE

More Indoctrination Cultivates Interest in Homeschooling

While an LGBT history curriculum bill winds it's way through the General Assembly, parents are deciding how best to educate their children. A leading homeschool advocate is encouraging moms and dads to think Biblically as they make their choices.

Conservative lawmakers' coalition promises to fight for culture change in Illinois politics

EFFINGHAM - Last week, a coalition of conservative reform Republican legislators and candidates came together in Effingham to lay out the case for leadership change and introduce a slate of new leaders running to structurally reform state government and radically renew Illinois’ political culture.

In introducing the group, State Representative Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton), a conservative reform Republican and former candidate for Governor, said the coalition represented the policy and leadership change that “must occur if Illinois is to become a vibrant haven for businesses and families.”  She went on to say, “The fiscal disaster at the state and local level is a direct result of unaccountable power politics that have held sway over Illinois for decades.”

Revealed: China’s Stealth Lobbying to Undercut a Pentagon Bill

As lawmakers from the House and Senate hammer out the details of a major defense spending bill, the Chinese government is quietly pushing Congress to remove language that it deems “negative” towards Beijing, The Daily Beast has reports.

Hong Lei, the consul general of the Chinese consulate in Chicago, sent a four-page letter dated June 26 to U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren (R-IL) objecting to nine sections in the House version of the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), including sections relating to missile defense exercises, Arctic policy, Chinese tech giants Huawei and ZTE, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Chinese meddling in democracies, and Beijing-funded Confucius Institutes.

Hong asked the congressman to “delete above-mentioned negative contents regarding China from the act and make sure that no more similar contents are added when the Congress and Senate reconcile their differences on the texts.”

Rep. Hultgren’s office confirmed that they had received the letter, and added that Hultgren met with Hong shortly after receiving it.

More HERE

UPDATE x2: Trump visit puts Bost between rock and hard place on steel

UPDATE x1: A protest is being planned, Illinois Review was notified via Twitter.  See below ... 

GRANITE CITY - Thursday, President Trump is planning to visit Congressman Mike Bost's 12th District's Granite City - where 800 steelworkers are returning to work this year. Trump is expected to celebrate the plant's re-opening and attribute its newfound demand to his tariff strategy of 25% on imported steel and 10% on imported aluminum. Raising the cost of imported steel has created a demand for US-made steel - and bolstered the Granite City economic situation. 

That should make it easy for Congressman Bost, right? 

It's not that easy.  While the United Steel Workers union is happy about their union members' jobs returning to Granite City, they picketed outside Congressman Bost's office last week. Why? To urge him to oppose President Trump's policy of "zero tolerance" on illegal immigration.

Amicus Brief Advocating Constitutional Definition of Quid Pro Quo Corruption Filed In United States Supreme Court

Last week, the James Madison Center for Free Speech filed an amicus brief with the United States Supreme Court, urging it to establish a constitutional definition of quid pro quo corruption to ensure campaign discourse remains free and unfettered.

The case, Suhl v. U.S., addresses whether two separate federal statutes–the honest-services fraud statute and the federal-programs bribery statute–were violated when businessman and philanthropist Theodore Suhl made a routine contribution to a local church. The government charged him under these two statutes on the theory that portions of that money were actually bribes intended to influence a state official. Both statutes, which address bribery and fraud, turn on whether quid pro quo corruption occurred. The district court refused to instruct the jury on the meaning of the quid pro quo corruption requirement, and Mr. Suhl was convicted.

Trump to visit Granite City Illinois and Dubuque Iowa Thursday

WASHINGTON DC - Last week, President Donald Trump signed an executive order committing to expand workforce development and vocational training. This week, the president plans to visit both Granite City Illinois and Dubuque Iowa this Thursday, the White House announced Sunday evening. Trump's visit coordinates with this week's White House emphasis will be on "Made in America" products, with a gathering of American manufacturers and producers from all 50 states in DC Monday. 

At least two Illinois manufacturers will be represented at the White House emphasis: Klein Tool of Lincolnshire and Atlas Toolworks of Lyons, IL. 

Indiana Legislators File Amicus Brief Supporting Gun Manufacturers

Last week, six Indiana Legislators filed a friend of the court brief today supporting gun manufacturers in their defense of a suit brought by the City of Gary to make gun manufacturers liable for illegal gun use in Gary. Senators Jim Tomes, Mark Messmer, Dennis Kruse, and Representatives Ben Smaltz, Jerry Torr, and Greg Steuerwald filed the amicus brief in the Indiana Court of Appeals in City of Gary v. Smith & Wesson Corp. These legislators played instrumental roles in the passage of Indiana state laws that prevents lawsuits seeking to impose liability on firearms manufacturers, distributors, and dealers for illegal gun use.

In 1999, the City of Gary filed a lawsuit against the Smith & Wesson Corporation and other gun manufacturers, alleging a public nuisance due to their sale of firearms in Gary and seeking damages and an injunction requiring manufactures and dealers to provide proper training of employees and to add certain safety features to their products. This case remained pending for nearly 19 years until this past January, when a Lake County Superior Court finally dismissed it in favor of the gun manufacturers. The court held that “[t]he Gun Manufacturers are immune from liability for all the claims brought by the City of Gary in this lawsuit under both federal and Indiana State law.” More precisely, the court found the firearms industry was immune from suit under IC § 34-12-3-3, the immunity statute, sponsored by the amici Indiana legislators.

Andrzejewski: Illinois official leaves job with 144 unused vacation days worth $137,000

By Adam Andrzejewski - 

The retiring executive director of the Illinois State Board of Investment (ISBI), William Atwood, received a $136,577 special gift after a 15-year career at the 4th largest pension fund. Atwood cashed in 144 days of unused vacation time last week. So much for fiscal accountability.

Atwood announced retirement via press release on June 29, effective immediately. Atwood had banked 144 unused vacation days. Under the Illinois Personnel Code, state employees are able to cash in 50 days of unused vacation time upon retiring. We thought these rules applied to Atwood, too, but that wasn’t the case.

Over the first seven years of his employment (2003-2010), Atwood accrued 144 days of unused vacation time. In 2010, the ISBI board carved out an exception for Atwood, capping his vacation bank at 144 days rather than 50.

Atwood was already receiving one of the largest salaries in the state. In 2005, Atwood received $186,750. By 2017, his salary had increased to $246,200 – the 32nd largest salary among nearly 75,000 disclosed state employees. In 2018, Atwood received six months’ compensation plus his cashed in vacation bank ($136,577) for a total $269,900.

It’s a classic case of Illinois insiders and politically powerful profiting at the expense of regular people. There are 142,000 public employee beneficiaries of this pension fund.

Illinois citizens are tired of taxpayer abuse, golden parachutes, and huge payouts on their dime. No public employees deserve a six-figure parting gift at termination or retirement.

Cook County GOP Chairman pushes for committeemen with long Democrat voting histories

CHICAGO - Next week, Cook County GOP Committeemen will be asked to change to the Cook County bylaws which would allow Democrats into leadership positions in the Republican Party. The change is drawing fierce opposition from Chicago GOP Leader Chris Cleveland, who appealed to fellow committeemen to reject the proposal. 

Cleveland says Cook County GOP Chairman Sean Morrison wants to shorten the time down to two years that requires a voter to have pulled Republican ballots before they could be named as the party's ward or precinct committeeman. Under the existing rule, 13 Democrats were removed as ward committeemen in 2016. That year, Cook County committeemen voted to remove those ward committeemen with over 90% of the weighted vote.

Thorner/O'Neil: Human Trafficking as Second Largest Crime Industry in the World

By Nancy Thorner & Bonnie O'Neil - 

Most Americans value morality and detest those who engage in crime or immoral actions such as prostitution.  We understand prostitution to be one of the oldest “professions” known and that it exists today, but it is also a subject most of us choose to ignore.  Movies have portrayed prostitution quite differently, such as the 1990 popular movie “Pretty Woman”, starring Julia Roberts, which was entertaining but could not be further from the realities of prostitution.  The film “Taken” with Liam Neeson  shocked many viewers by providing a far darker reality of the industry in which vulnerable young girls were captured, drugged, and forced into prostitution.  That movie was far closer to reality.

Most of us preferred “Pretty Woman” because we all love happy endings.  We tend to avoid thinking about specific unpleasant matters that we know are likely happening but are unlikely to ever involve us.  However, if a vast majority of the American people do not even want to think about these sordid matters, how can they possibly be changed?   For example, most Americans believe prostitutes choose their profession.  Facts show that many are forced into it, with few options for escape.

Where’s Weyermuller? Seeing Vice President Mike Pence in Rosemont

By Mark Weyermuller -

The “America First” tour hit the Chicago area last Friday with Vice President Mike Pence in town talking tax cuts. He spoke to about 900 supporters at a rally at the Westin Hotel in Rosemont, Illinois. Many people were in line hours before waiting to see the Vice President. This was the 17th stop for Pence on a nationwide tour saying that “tax cuts work.”

 

Earlier in the morning, the Vice President held a fundraiser for Congressman Peter Roskam at the Sheraton Hotel nearby.  No reason as to why Roskam did not attend was reported.  The Roskam event was $25,000 per couple and included a round table discussion where the donors were able to interact with Vice President Pence.

 

The event at the Westin started with a panel discussion on tax cuts including Congressman Adam Kinzinger, Troy Mertz, and manufacturer Nicole Wolter.  Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner then introduced the Vice President.

 

Rauner has not been supportive of President Trump so this appearance was a surprise to many.  

Di Leo: Media Hysteria and Historical Context in the NAFTA Discussions

By John F. Di Leo - 

Every time the President talks about trade negotiations, it makes the news. On July 18, he mentioned – for the umpteenth time – that he might prefer to break NAFTA up into two agreements, and the press went ballistic again.

We have hundreds of major issues in United States politics – taxes, unemployment, crime, foreign policy – and people can talk comfortably about them because they are always on the collective mind.   But trade is different; it’s only an issue once every generation or so.  So this is an issue with tons of misconceptions, not only in the electorate, but in the business community, and particularly the press, as well.

For example, the press goes crazy at the idea of breaking up NAFTA, as if having two individual Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) would be weird.  Do none of these reporters know that the USA currently has FTAs with 20 countries – yes, twenty – and there are only two multiparty agreements in the bunch? 

We have individual agreements – two-party – agreements with Chile, Australia, Singapore, South Korea, Peru, Panama, Colombia, Israel, Jordan, Bahrain, Oman, and Morocco.  They work fine.

Our only multiparty FTAs are NAFTA and DR-CAFTA, and the press acts as if that approach is the norm!  Well, it isn’t, and for good reason.

Public Union: Public Enemy

Public-sector unions have been gaming the political system for decades, bankrupting whole cities and plunging states into massive debt. How did this happen and can it be stopped? Akash Chougule, senior policy fellow for Americans for Prosperity, has the answers in this sobering video from Prager University.

GOP Candidate Wilhour calls for new Speaker and government accountability in next IL General Assembly

BEECHER CITY –  GOP candidate for State Representative in the 107^th District Blaine Wilhour says it is time for a fresh start in Springfield, which is why he wants Democrat House Speaker Madigan ousted in the next General Assembly. He's challenging his Democrat opponent to step up government accountbility and pick someone else to lead the House in 2019. 

Earlier this week, Wilhour and GOP House candidate Darren Bailey joined Governor Bruce Rauner in signing the People’s Pledge. Wilhour pointed to Madigan, who has been House Speaker longer than any other speaker nationwide, is the key reason for the state's troubles.

26 IL Counties declare themselves sanctuary counties for gun owners; 14 more considering resolution

Over the past few months, 26 Illinois county councils have voted their counties "Sanctuary Counties for Gun Owners," to declare their commitment to gun rights despite laws the state legislature passes to hinder those rights. As of this week, 14 others have the resolution under consideration.

This week, Governor Rauner signed into law two measures gun control advocates celebrated: the so-called “red flag” bill that allows guns to be taken away from people who pose a threat to themselves or others. A second measure requires a 72-hour waiting period to purchase any gun, not just handguns.

Tougher gun control laws aren't the answer, and law-abiding gun owners should not be blamed or have their Second Amendment right restricted because of the gang and criminal violence in Chicago, the Illinois State Rifle Association says on its website. 

Thorner/Nelson: Conservatives to gather in St. Louis September 14-16

General Michael Flynn will be featured at upcoming Eagle Council in St. Louis

By Nancy Thorner & Kelleigh Nelson -

Phyllis Schlafly’s 47^th Eagle Council will be held Friday, September 14 through September 16 in St. Louis, Missouri at the Airport Marriott Hotel, and among the featured speakers will be Lt. Colonel Michael Flynn.

Eagle Council is the place where conservative "doers" gather. This pro-family, pro-America event is three days of exciting speakers, meals, networking opportunities, and panel discussions. The men and women of this nation that are really in the fight for liberty come for the training, discussion, and fellowship that Eagle Council provides. Like those of the past, this is one conference you won’t want to miss.

Phyllis Schlafly's Eagles' President Ed Martin and his staff continue Phyllis’s vision to train conservatives to uphold our Constitution and to participate in the policy making process. These yearly council meetings reinvigorate attendees to truly Make America Great Again. 

Chicago seriously considers burdening Illinois taxpayers with $500 per month UBI gift to 1000 families

Technology is going to take away human jobs - so we need to be more "imaginative" in our social arrangements, former President Barack Obama said Tuesday in a speech. That means we need to consider "universal income," he said. 

That endorsement had to be music to the ears of former gubernatorial Democrat candidate and racially-Leftist Chicago Alderman Ameya Pawar, who has successfully gathered over 35 co-sponsors on a measure that would make Chicago the largest US city to set up a universal basic income pilot program. Since there are 50 aldermen on the city council, the measure looks like it will soon become public policy and 1000 Chicago families will be getting a check for $500 a month for free. That's if Mayor Rahm Emanuel warms up to the idea. It's fairly certain Illinois taxpayers won't.

My legislation calling for the creation of a Chicago #UniversalBasicIncome pilot has 36 co-sponsors! On to the Commitee on Workforce Development and Audit. Committee chair @40thWard is also a sponsor. More soon! #UBI pic.twitter.com/W7D5Hbx31E

— Ameya Pawar (@Ameya_Pawar_IL) June 27, 2018

And though the alderman won't say it, Illinois taxpayers will be footing the bill. It won't be sold that way, but since taxpayers statewide sooner or later end up bailing Chicago out of any and all financial challenges (self-inflicted or otherwise), that's exactly what will happen.

Lefties complain Bellock's too pro-life and pro-family to direct health and family services

CHICAGO - While GOP Platform Republicans in Illinois are convinced they have been abandoned by the state party's main financier Governor Bruce Rauner, Party chief Tim Schneider and unofficial party spokesperson Pat Brady, the ever Left-shifting Democrats now have a new complaint against the governor. 

Rauner is "insincere" and "waffles" on the abortion issue because, well, he appointed retiring State Rep. Patti Bellock to direct the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, complains JB Pritzker's teammate Juliana Stratton.

Poor Governor Rauner - he and his wife have donated thousands and thousands of dollars to abortion provider Planned Parenthood, he signed into law a measure forcing Illinois taxpayers to pay for abortions for any reason, and the same law he lauded protects the right to abortion if Roe vs Wade is overturned. 

That's still not pro-abortion enough, the Left insists, because Rep. Bellock has a solid pro-life voting record. The nerve of having someone pro-life, pro-health and pro-family heading up the Department of Healthcare and Human Services! 

Bi-partisan criticism broils about Trump's comments during post-summit press conference Monday

WASHINGTON DC - President Trump is facing harsh criticism after comments he made at a press conference Monday, following a meeting the two held in Helsinki, Finland. Critics from both sides of the aisle are pouring it on the president for not being tougher on Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia.

The President, his accusers said, appeared to side with Putin over the FBI's accusations that 12 Russian military operators had hacked into several American voting systems in the 2016 elections.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer led the conversation via Twitter,"In the entire history of our country, Americans have never seen a president of the United States support an American adversary the way @realDonaldTrump has supported President Putin."

He went on to suggest the Russians may have some dirt on Trump or his family. 

Illinois School District Threatens to Call Police over Bible Giveaway

A public school district in Illinois sent a “cease and desist” letter to an unnamed person who gave away Bibles to boys and girls on a public street owned by the district.

“This individual was warned that law enforcement would be called should he or any affiliated persons come onto the School District campus for the purpose of distributing Bibles to students,” an attorney for the La Harpe Community School District no. 347 wrote in a letter to the Freedom From Religion Foundation.

More HERE

Di Leo: Of Pipelines and Alliances - President Trump at NATO

By John F. Di Leo - 

During the July 2018 NATO summit, elements of the USA newsmedia focused on President Trump’s accurate attacks on Western Europe’s contradictory actions and positions in the arenas of defense and commerce.  What the USA newsmedia covered much less was how welcome those points were to NATO members from Eastern Europe, whose memories of Russian aggression are much more recent, perhaps, than those of Western Europe, making them as wary of these issues as Mr. Trump is.

Delegates from Poland, Lithuania, and Romania, for example, appeared just as happy about Mr. Trump’s comments as delegates from England, France and especially Germany looked upset about them.

It’s an alliance, of course, so it would be best if all parties were in agreement, but when some parties are working at cross-purposes to the alliance, does it make more sense to talk about it and seek solutions, or to diplomatically avoid the elephant in the room and pray it goes away on its own?

In truth, the question comes down to one’s fundamental approach to such concepts as sanctions, export controls, and the very idea of an alliance itself.  What are they, really, and how seriously should members address such measures?

Former Illinois congressman Joe Walsh explains how he was pranked by Sacha Baron Cohen

The list of people duped by Sacha Baron Cohen's new project "Who Is America?" keeps growing. CNN's Michael Smerconish speaks to former Illinois congressman turned radio host Joe Walsh, who says he was among those pranked.

More HERE

Thorner: Kavanaugh in line with Hamilton's thinking in Federalist No. 78 to interpret laws, not make them

Brett Kavanaugh and Donald Trump Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images

By Nancy Thorner - 

Staying true to his campaign promises, President Trump nominated Brett Kavanaugh as his pick to replace Justice Anthony Kennedy on the Supreme Court.

Judge Kavanaugh, 53, is widely seen as one of the top legal minds of his generation.  Read here the credible list of Law Professors, Deans, and former Kavanaugh Law Clerks who have given Kavanaugh's nomination rave reviews.  

Left's Grand Idea: Illinois Professor Argues Need to Expand Supreme Court in Order to Save It

We knew this week’s Supreme Court nomination would result in renewed calls from leftists to eradicate long-standing norms in order to resist an originalist makeup on the Court. Sure enough, in a Washington Post op-ed, Roosevelt University political science professor David Faris surmises that “saving the court’s legitimacy requires breaking some norms.”

According to Faris, “The GOP’s brazen act of democratic sabotage will almost certainly deliver the high court to the far right for a generation. In the years ahead, the court will probably further erode reproductive rights, gay rights and voting rights, ushering in the darkest era in American history since the post-Reconstruction period.”

More HERE

Andrzejewski: Trump needs a Bridge to Nowhere moment on spending

By Adam Andrzejewski - 

While the nation was distracted by the political theater around immigration before the July 4 recess, the Senate cast a critical vote killing a very modest attempt offered by President Trump to rein in spending. If Trump plays his cards right, this will not be the end of a fight but its start.

The package in dispute was a $15 billion rescission or spending cut package the president presented to Congress in May. Very little of Trump’s package were true cuts.

We've learned that taking on individual targets like the Bridge to Nowhere can be a more productive strategy than proposing across the board cuts or offering multiple cuts at once. Our initial vote to eliminate funding for the bridge failed 82-15 but we won in the court of public opinion. Trump may find that picking more targeted fights can turn the tide and produce big savings.

Rather than stand down, Trump should stay on offense and send even more cuts to Congress. There is no shortage of potential savings in today’s bloated federal budget.

Consider what we exposed in our recent report about federal grants entitled “Where’s the Pork?”

• Tai Chi for the Elderly – Nearly $700,000 from the Department of Health and Human Services funded tai chi classes at a center for the elderly in Boston.
• Space Racers: An Animated Children’s Cartoon – $2.5 million in NASA funding supported the production of two seasons of a children’s cartoon series about galactic adventures.
• Sex Ed for Prostitutes in California – $1.5 million funded “safer sex and needle” education for prostitutes in California even though prostitution is illegal in the state.

Our recent oversight report, Where's the Pork?, details 50 examples of wasteful federal grants. Read the entire report here.

Trump Plans to Undo Obama Rule Letting Unions Skim Dues From Medicaid Payments

The Trump administration is taking steps to prevent labor unions from withholding dues for home healthcare workers from their Medicaid payments, an Obama-era innovation that many observers believe is illegal.

Last Tuesday, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed undoing a 2014 rule allowing states to skim public-sector union dues from Medicaid payments to independent home healthcare providers on the theory that those providers are de facto public employees — a privilege that has netted unions anywhere from $71 million (CMS’ estimate) to $200 million (State Policy Network) annually.

More HERE

Gabriele Kuby: The Global Sexual Revolution

Eric Metaxas interviews Gabriele Kuby on her book, THE GLOBAL SEXUAL REVOLUTION: DESTRUCTION OF FREEDOM IN THE NAME OF FREEDOM

Gutierrez blames Trump for Puerto Rican young woman's Forest Preserve encounter

WASHINGTON - Americans are being taught to fear people different from themselves, Congressman Luis Gutierrez said on the US House floor this week. And that behavior is linked to President Trump, he said.

Gutierrez' comments were in response to an incident at a Cook County Forest Preserve in which a 24 year old woman preparing for a birthday celebration was verbally approached by an older man criticizing her Puerto Rican flag display.

"I wonder where they get such an idea?" Gutierrez said. "When our president calls Puerto Ricans lazy, and expensive to help, it hurts our nation. When he calls Mexicans rapists ... (on and on) ... it takes a toll on our nation," he said.

Rauner campaign boasts national coverage of embarrassing Toilet Campaign Ad

CHICAGO - In general, potty humor is featured in cartoons and flicks focusing on pre-teen boy audiences, but evidently, that description matches Governor Rauner's campaign team's maturity.

The Rauner campaign is very proud of the national media attention they received this week about the exorbitant amounts of money Gov Rauner and his Democrat challenger JB Pritzker have, and how they're wasting millions on campaign ads in the governor's race. 

Thorner/O'Neil: Motherhood a Valued Vocation, Not an Old-Fashioned Notion

By Nancy Thorner & Bonnie O'Neil - 

There has been an unprecedented number of women that have joined America's work force in the last few decades. A 2016 survey indicated a whopping 70 percent of women with children under the age of 18 are currently in the workforce. Compare that with 33.9 percent of women who worked outside the home in the 1950’s and 59.8 percent in 1998 to realize the full extent of this significant change.

For some women and their families, having a job is a financial necessity, but the American economy has been generally good and is doing well today, indicating that for many women, their jobs outside of the home are by choice.  

What might have influenced their decision?  An extra paycheck is always welcome, but another factor is that America’s society has changed. Throughout history it was largely men who provided the necessities for the family.  The typical woman was busy at home, raising the children, providing meals, and responsible for most everything within the family's home.  

Supreme Consequences: Good Judge, Bad Judge