Illinois Review

House extends session into overtime

SPRINGFIELD - Despite a super-majority in both chambers and the Governor's mansion, the Democrats just can't seem to get their work done during the regular session. 

Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan announced late Friday afternoon that the Illinois House will stay in the capital for at least for two more days, citing "the volume of work load." 

The long-awaited 1581-page Illinois state budget finally appeared on the desks of lawmakers around noon Friday - timed to limit the hours and days lawmakers might have to see how their constituents will be served and how taxpayers funds will be spent by the Democrats - including the surprise $1.5 Billion Illinois raked in last month, thanks to the Trump Administration's booming economy. 

 

Commissioner calls on Cook Co prolifers to oppose abortion resolution before Board

COOK COUNTY - A resolution confirming Illinois' radical new abortion measure under consideration in the Illinois General Assembly could receive additional support from the Cook County Board of Commissioners next week. 

Cook County Commissioner Sean Morrison - the only dissenting vote thus far - sent out the following note Friday afternoon, asking for prolifers to attend and speak up at next Wednesday's meeting:

My Democratic colleagues on the Cook County Board of Commissioners are pushing a resolution in support of Illinois House Bill 2495 & Senate Bill 25 "Reproductive Health Act" which backers and opponents agree would be the most liberal (and extreme) reproductive health care measure in the entire country. This resolution was quietly introduced on May 23 and sent to committee for approval in June. Of course, the pro-abortion supporters were notified in advance of this resolution and more than 30 of them were on-hand to speak in support of it.  Unfortunately, I was the only dissenting "NO" vote to send this resolution to committee and the lone dissenting voice in the entire boardroom... Outnumbered 50 to 1.

Illinois lawmakers vote to legalize pot

SPRINGFIELD - On the last day of the regular session, the Illinois House joined the Senate in voting to legalize marijuana in a 66 to 47 vote and send it on to the Governor's desk, making Illinois the 11th state to follow the growing trend.

Three Republican House members - Lindsey Parkhurst, Allen Skillicorn and David Welter - voted with the Democrat majority. Their three votes gave more leeway to Democrats in conservative-leaning swing districts to vote no, including state Reps Fred Crespo, Anthony DeLuca, Mary Edly-Allen, Marty Moylan (who argued against the measure), and Susan Scherer. State Rep Mary Flowers, in a solid Democrat district, also voted against the measure. GOP state Rep. Skillicorn also signed on as a co-sponsor of HB 1836.

ISRA declares victory as FOID Bill stalls in Senate Committee

SPRINGFIELD - A measure that would require anyone in Illinois owning a firearm to be fingerprinted appears to have stalled in an Illinois Senate committee Friday, the Illinois State Rifle Association is saying. 

"Today there was a Senate Judiciary Hearing without SB 1966 being considered," Richard Pearson, the ISRA's Executive Director said in an advisory. "The bill will remain held in this committee, and the spring legislative session will end at Midnight without passage of this bill in the Illinois Senate."

Before Illinois House, Fairfield pastor asks God to judge Illinois for abortion policy

SPRINGFIELD - Pastor Corey Musgrave of the New Beginnings Church in Fairfield, Illinois led the Illinois House in prayer Friday, asking God to judge the state for its abortion policy: 

So, God, we have made our appeals to the leaders of Illinois this week on behalf of those innocent babies who do not yet have a voice. We have been a voice for those who cannot speak for themselves as You have commanded us. Those appeals were denied, but we have one final appeal left and that is to the courts of Heaven.

God Almighty, I make an appeal to Heaven today, to You the perfect judge, the One who presides over Heaven’s court.

I ask you to rise up, oh God, and judge Illinois for the sanctioned destruction of the innocent unborn. For when Your judgements are in this state, the inhabitants of Illinois learn righteousness. In this House I pray for justice to roll down like water and righteousness like a mighty river. In Your judgement I pray that You would remember mercy for we know that You, oh God, do not want anyone to be destroyed.

I ask this in the name of Your son, the one who died for a sinner like me, the one who was appointed to judge the living and the dead. In the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.

Per Rich Miller's Capitol Fax, Pastor Musgrave was invited to pray by State Rep. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia):

10 Ways Illinois' Abortion Industry will thrive with SB 25

SPRINGFIELD - While other industries are either moving out of Illinois or choosing to downsize rather than expand, Illinois - already the least restrictive state on the abortion industry - will soon be allowed at least 10 new policies that will encourage abortions with SB 25 becoming law. 

At the same time, Midwestern states surrounding Illinois like Missouri and Indiana are restricting abortions once the babies' heartbeat is detected, or at eight weeks. 

The Illinois Right to Life released a list of 10 ways Illinois' abortion industry will thrive with SB 25 becoming law.

Illinois nears legalizing pot

SPRINGFIELD – Workplace policies that prohibit drug use will be maintained in a negotiated version of a measure legalizing pot that passed the Illinois Senate Wednesday night.

While the measure languished in committee for most of the General Assembly session, a last minute version appears to be moving towards Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, who has been encouraging the effort for months. 

The latest version includes provisions allowing the governor to pardon those in prison for marijuana possession and setting up cannabis businesses to benefit minority owners.

Pot Promoters' ad paints Illinois entering "Age of Aquarius"

SPRINGFIELD - Illinois appears to be entering the "Age of Aquarius" where "harmony and understanding, sympathy and trust" abound - at least that's what pot promoters are giddy about.

Pot promoters "Protect 30" are running ads on Facebook that delight in both Democrats and Republicans supporting their effort to get rich quick by legalizing marijuana consumption in Illinois. 

It's going to be great in Illinois with marijuana everywhere - the black market will end, jobs will be created, tax revenue generated, and pot smokers will no longer go to jail. How much better can things get? their ads convey.

Di Leo: President Trump Draws One More Arrow from the Quiver

By John F. Di Leo - 

One of the problems with the news is that it always requires some background information.  Without context, it is difficult to tell what’s really going on.

It may be reported that Israel fired on an apartment building in Gaza; that sounds horrible until you learn that terrorists based in that apartment building had been shooting rockets into Israel for weeks, making such retaliation necessary.

Or it may be reported that the average worker in some town is paid 30% less than you are for doing the same job as you; it sounds like  he’s being taken advantage of, until you learn that the cost of living where he works is 30% lower than where you are.

Context is particularly challenging in the world of international trade, since – even though we all participate in trade in some way, as manufacturers, resellers, or consumers – it’s not taught at all in school, and necessary background is never mentioned in news stories that involve it.

Alabama, Georgia Throw Down Gauntlet against Roe

How Georgia and Alabama are answering Roe. David French writes:

Both Alabama’s abortion ban and Georgia’s heartbeat law contain a key provision — they declare the personhood of the unborn child. This is a vital measure that is aimed directly at a key portion of theRoe v. Wade opinion. Late last week, I had a lengthy phone conversation with state representative Ed Setzler, sponsor of Georgia’s legislation. He said his bill wasn’t “waving its fist at Roe; it’s answering Roe.”

Specifically, he pointed at a provision in Part IX of Justice Blackmun’s opinion, where Blackmun states that if the “personhood” of the baby is established, then the pro-abortion case “collapses.” The late Supreme Court justice was of course discussing the definition of personhood under the federal constitution. Setzler, however, notes that Supreme Court doctrine has long allowed states to expand constitutional liberties. They can establish standards of religious freedom, free speech, or due process, for example, that go beyond the First and Fifth Amendments. They cannot be more restrictive than the federal Constitution.

It's Time to Strike Back at Striking Teachers

Just before May Day, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster and state schools chief Molly Spearman had some consoling words for working parents who would soon need to deal with the effects of thousands of South Carolina teachers deserting their classrooms on May 1 in the pursuit of more cash provided by taxpayers. But McMaster and Spearman only deserve half a hooray.

It is about time someone in authority spoke up for parents and children who are the victim of teachers showcasing their demands by shirking their duties. However, actions would speak louder than words. Actions to penalize immoral—and potentially illegal—job actions in public schooling have been few and far between.

Not only do the teacher sickouts, walkouts, strikes, and mass takings of “personal days” inflict burdens on families, they also result in disruptions in the continuity of instruction, which cause many students to lose focus and fall behind.

Teacher walkouts can easily create a temporary family crisis, as parents scramble to secure a safe place for their children to go to during school hours. Ultimately, many parents can’t take time off from work, forcing them to pay for babysitters—if they can find them.

Do parents have to suck it up and take these hits to their children’s well-being? No, they don’t.

More HERE

California’s high-speed rail wasn’t ‘captured’ by contractors — it was created by them

California’s high-speed rail was a success. Sure, its cost was more than double the original estimate and it was 13 years behind schedule when it was canceled, but, writes Tim Carney, “it has already fulfilled its real purpose: enriching the unions and companies whose idea it was.”

The campaign supporting the 2008 initiative was run by a group called “Californians for High-Speed Rail: A Coalition of Taxpayer, Business, Environmental and Labor Groups and People from Across California Tired of Being Stuck In Traffic.” Californians for High-Speed Rail was mostly funded by a handful of labor unions and a handful of developers.

Thorner: Stephen Moore provides inside information about the Trumponomics' economic agenda

By Nancy Thorner - 

President Trump's trusted economic advisor and one-time pick for the Federal Reserve Board, Stephen Moore, spoke at The Heartland Institute's Breitbart Freedom Center, 3939 North Wilke Road, Arlington Heights, Illinois 60004, in front of a full house on Thursday evening, May 23rd. 

Stephen Moore spoke about Trumponomics: Inside the America First Plan to Revive Our Economy, a new book written by Moore and co-author Authur B. Laffer, Ph.D.  In Trumponomics, Moore and Laffer offer a well-informed defense of President Trump’s approach to trade, taxes, employment, infrastructure, and other economic policies, as well as an insider’s view on how Trump operates in public and behind closed doors, his priorities and passions, and his greatest attributes and liabilities.   

Stephen Moore is a former member of The Wall Street Journal's editorial board and the Distinguished Visiting Fellow for the Heritage Foundation's Project for Economic Growth.  Arthur B. Laffer, the father of supply-side economics, was a member of President Ronald Reagan's Economic Policy Advisory Board.

Both Moore and Laffer worked as senior economic advisors to Donald Trump in 2016, traveling with him, frequently meeting with his political and economic teams, working on his speeches, and representing Trump as surrogates.  Currently, they are members of the Trump Advisory Council , along with Larry Kudlow. They meet with Trump regularly to form a triumvirate of economic advisors.

Dan Crane Rest In Peace

By Mark Rhoads - 

I regret to report that former Illinois conservative Republican Congressman Dan Crane died early Tuesday morning, May 28 at the age of 83. Dan represented Danville in Congress from 1979 to 1984. He was born in Chicago in 1936 and attended Chicago public schools and received his BA. from Hillsdale College in Michigan in 1958 and did post graduate work at the University of Michigan. He served in the U.S. Army from 1965 to 1970 and then set up a dental practice in Danville. He was the younger brother to Congressman Phil Crane, Dr. David Crane, and former Du Page County Commissioner Judy Crane Ross. His funeral service is expected to be held late this week with burial in Hillsboro, Indiana next to his late wife.

Rossi: Time to Take the Gloves Off GOP!

By Randy Rossi - 

Lake County, Illinois, and even the great USA are at the razors edge of disaster because while the Democrats have been brutal and followed Saul Alinsky’s “Rules for Radicals” to push their ultra-liberal/socialist agenda which is bankrupting our county, state, and country and attacking our fundamental rights; too many Republicans continue to play by the “Nice Guy Rules”. Sadly in our new “Fake News” and social media world, the “Nice Guy Rules” simply won’t work anymore. The GOP “wipe-out” in Illinois and Lake County in the last election is a perfect example of that.

On the other hand, President Trump has shown us that “playing hardball” and “taking the gloves off” can and does work against Democrats and does get the job done. While I personally don’t like Trump’s style, I do love his results and I now understand that in our new “Fake News” world; his tough style is what is required to win and protect our economy, our nation, and our values. After all, what rational American doesn’t love the fact that we now have the lowest Black, Hispanic, Asian, and female unemployment in 49 years and Blacks got a 9% wage increase under President Trump? I have come to realize that Bill Bennet was right when he was asked about President Trump’s style and said “Sometimes you need a Mother Theresa and sometimes you need a Dirty Harry”. Today because Democrats have gone so far left and have shown that they will break every civilized rule to push their socialist agenda, we need more Dirty Harrys in Lake County, Illinois, and in Washington DC!

What Democrats and Republicans Are Doing In The States Where They Have Majorities

Democrat-majority states:

Republican-majority states:

D-Day

On June 6, 1944, Allied forces stormed the beaches of Normandy in northern France. Their goal: to liberate Western Europe from Nazi tyranny. From a distance, it might seem that victory was pre-ordained, but no one felt that way at the time. British military historian Peter Caddick-Adams tells the incredible story of what happened on that monumental day.

"It isn't your grandpa's weed," former addict says

SPRINGFIELD - While the trendy emphasis may be on "freeing" people to legally use cannabis, one former addict says the whole "legalize pot" movement now expected to be embraced by Illinois' Democrat-controlled General Assembly is really all about selling THC.

"This isn't your grandpa's weed," Ben Cort says in a TedTalk from Colorado.

Christian doctors applaud HHS proposal to base sexual discrimination on biological status

WASHINGTON -- Friday, the Department of Health and Human Services proposed a change in rules specifying that existing laws barring sex-based discrimination would no longer apply to a patient’s gender identity, rolling back an Obama Administration policy. 

The 19,000-member Christian Medical Association welcomed the change as "a move toward restoring rationality regarding sex discrimination in healthcare" a new rule proposed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that aims to restore the intent of Congress regarding sex discrimination in healthcare.

Illinois lawmakers expected to consider numerous last minute gambling expansions

SPRINGFIELD - The Springfield-based anti-gambling group Illinois Church Action on Alcohol and Addiction Problem sent out the following alert Friday morning about what taxpayers can expect during this year's final week of the scheduled General Assembly session: 

Legislators will come back to Springfield Sunday afternoon and be in session on Memorial Day through May 31st. Please call your Legislators and ask others to call to oppose a massive expansion of gambling.

IL officials caution residents about serious weather threats over Memorial Day weekend

SPRINGFIELD – It's May and it's been an especially stormy and wet spring in Illinois - one that appears to be continuing that trend over the Memorial Day weekend - and Illinois officials sent out a caution Friday morning to residents and visitors.

As families set out to enjoy a long holiday weekend, state officials are urging residents to monitor local weather forecasts and always have multiple ways to receive emergency alerts and warnings. Officials with the National Weather Service (NWS) report additional storms are possible through the Memorial day weekend.

Thorner: 5G, an Innovation or Serious Health Risk?

By Nancy Thorner - 

Telecommunications companies are actively deploying the fifth-generation wireless network (5G). The telecoms pushing 5G see only the estimated $12-trillion monetary return the 5G wireless network is expected to bring.  What is not widely acknowledged is that 5G will also result in unprecedented health risks and environmental change on a global scale.

The blast has begun.  SpaceX made history on May 23, 2019, when a two-stage Falcon 9 rocket from Florida's Cape Canaveral Air Force Station carried the first 60 satellites in SpaceX's Starlink internet constellation for 5G from space.

Rahm Emanuel Is Now A Contributing Editor For The Atlantic

Rahm Emanuel has only been out of office a few days but he’s already back in the spotlight.

He finished his tenure as one of Chicago’s worst mayors ever just 48 hours ago, being involved in multiple corruption scandals and presiding over murder rates comparable to war zones. In the real world, that would earn Emanuel a trip to a quiet retirement and professional scorn. But Democrats don’t live in the real world.

Instead, Emanuel was just hired to be a contributing editor for The Atlantic.

This is what's wrong with the press.

More HERE

Why Don't You Support Israel?

Israel is one of the most free and most prosperous countries in the world. Not only is Israel a booming economy and a wellspring of innovation, it is the only democracy in the Middle East. So why is it so controversial to support the Jewish state? Stephen Harper, the 22nd Prime Minister of Canada, lays out several fundamental truths about America’s most critical ally.

What If The Administrative State Cannot Be Reformed?

Reform the administrative state or tear it down? Thoughts from Clyde Wayne Crews:

For the past couple of years I’ve been emphasizing the usefulness of an executive order from President Donald Trump on regulatory “guidance documents” to bridge the gap between the president's initial flurry of regulatory reform activity, and some hypothetical future congressional configuration that would make further permanent action on regulatory or administrative state streamlining possible. [...]

Discipline = Freedom

In this year’s 2019 PragerU Commencement Address, Navy Seal (Ret.) and best-selling author, Jocko Willink, offers some hard-learned, practical advice. It all starts with Discipline. That’s what will get you on the road to personal fulfillment and success – and keep you there. Watch and find out why.

Aside graduated tax proposal, Illinois Dems consider at least 10 fee and tax hikes

SPRINGFIELD - Maybe you, like everyone else, are focused on the vote expected soon on the state constitutional amendment to remove Illinois' flat income tax rate.

But while the focus for many is elsewhere, there's a whole list of new and hiked taxes looming in the Illinois General Assembly, State Rep. Allen Skillicorn and other GOP lawmakers said Wednesday at the Capitol.

Passionate about Planned Parenthood? The Sun-Times and Tribune are

CHICAGO - Tuesday, the Chicago Sun-Times' editorial board and the Chicago Tribune's popular columnist Eric Zorn both encouraged the Illinois General Assembly to expand abortion rights in Illinois. The state's top abortion provider is Planned Parenthood. 

Illinois Democrats consider revamping state's FOID card law

SPRINGFIELD - During the final two weeks of scheduled session, Illinois Democrats, which control the Illinois General Assembly and the Governor's Mansion, are working through the details of legislation that could tighten the state's already very tight gun control laws.

Gun control groups like "Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America,"  part of Everytown for Gun Safety, founded by former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg, gathered at the Statehouse Wednesday. They urged Democrats to pass the "Fix the FOID Act," by "closing loopholes in state law that make it possible for people prohibited from having firearms to easily access them nonetheless."

Springfield billboard defends rainbow as God's

SPRINGFIELD - A billboard in Illinois' capitol city of Springfield reminds viewers the origination of the rainbow as a Scriptural one, related to God's promises - a stark contrast to the symbolism of the rainbow in contemporary society. 

Illinois is moving progressively towards embracing the LGBTQ policy agenda - with the state's first openly-gay House Majority Leader and Chicago with its first openly-gay mayor.

The billboard, located along Springfield's South Grand Avenue, appeared just days before the city's annual Gay Pride Parade on May 15th. The billboard's artwork says "The Rainbow Belongs to God. It's a Sign of His Promise" and refers to Genesis 9:13-15 and 2nd Peter 3:3-7.

Di Leo: Seven things commencement speakers should consider

By John F. Di Leo - 

Pearls of wisdom for the speechmakers of graduation season, 2019…

Congratulations, Commencement Speakers! Today is your day!

After a lifetime of devotion to your respective careers – as journalists, entrepreneurs, inventors, CEOs, ward heelers, or rent seekers – you have finally reached that pinnacle of achievement reserved for only 4600 people each year:  you have been selected to give a commencement speech at one of America’s institutions of higher learning.

You have finally made it.

As you feverishly scribble your notes over the days to come, preparing for that moment of success, that twenty or thirty, or Heaven forbid, forty-minute long opportunity to bask in the attention of a happy crowd on a sunny Saturday, there are a few things you should keep in mind.  Perhaps you’ve heard of them:

Rossi: The Growing Threat of Socialism in America

By Randy Rossi - 

Gallup just released a new poll that should scare the heck out of every rational and informed American. That poll shows that a growing number of Americans are embracing socialism.

In their new poll, Gallup reports that 43% of all Americans embrace some form of socialism while only 51% of Americans think that socialism would be a bad thing for our country. Incredibly, 6% have no opinion. If that doesn’t scare any rational American who has watched Venezuela collapse under socialism, what would?

Pritzker's graduated tax amendment could pass Illinois House Thursday

SPRINGFIELD - Gov JB Pritzker has been pushing to eliminate Illinois' flat rate income tax - an effort that will demand changing the state's constitution. Reports are that the measure Pritzker calls "Fair Tax"  has the needed 71 votes lined up to pass the House. The measure passed the Illinois Senate earlier this session.

Thorner/O'Neil: American citizens must come first

By Nancy Thorner & Bonnie O'Neil - 

Americans are facing problems new to this era with challenges both from outside and within. Our forefathers would have deemed many of the current changes as irrational and perhaps even crazy. It is possible that a substantial number of Americans hold similar views; however, the loudest and strongest voices are the ones most listened to (the “squeaky wheel”), even if the substance of their words and arguments are detrimental to this nation's sovereignty.

The Swedish Lesson: Welfare States Create Moral Hazard

The welfare state erodes responsibility. Nima Samandaji writes:

The World Value Survey gives strong support for the claim that norms in the Nordic countries have eroded. In the 1981–84 survey, for example, 82 percent of Swedes agreed with the statement “Claiming government benefits to which you are not entitled is never justifiable.” In the 2010–14 wave, merely 55 percent held the same view. The pattern is found in the other Nordic nations as well. This fall in responsibility seems to be stabilizing lately, following tax cuts and significant reductions in welfare-state generosity.

Are You Going to Get Your Social Security Benefits?

The Social Security “trust fund” will run out of money by 2035. So, how much of the money that you have paid in Social Security taxes (and remember we all do) will you actually see later in life? Or if you are already receiving benefits, how much do you stand to lose?

Trump Takes a Promising First Step to Resolving Our Balkanization Crisis

Patriotic assimilation requires more than just an immigration policy. Mike Gonzalez writes:

Nobody in his right mind immigrates anywhere in the hope of becoming an aggrieved, “marginalized” victim. Our grievance studies professors may have laid the foundation of a victimhood culture in America, but in most of the rest of the world, being a victim is a degraded status.

The problem is that once they come in, having passed a civics test or not, immigrants (and the native born as well) would still come under pressure to respond to the incentives to balkanize that our system currently continuously provides.

Chicago makes history with first openly-gay mayor and unprecedented budget deficits

Chicago's new mayor Lori Lightfoot|Chicago Reader photo

CHICAGO - Chicago will welcome its first black, female and openly-gay mayor into office Monday.

Lori Lightfoot and her wife Amy Ashleman will welcome visitors to Lightfoot new office Monday afternoon - a furniture move that will have been provided by an all-women moving crew, Lightfoot's office said.

Employers' liability for IL employee toxic substance exposure now longer than 25 years

SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois Trial lawyers won another victory last week when Governor Pritzker signed into law a bill that expands the state's workers' compensation program - making an already-dreaded liability monster even bigger and more powerful. Pritzker signed SB 1596, lengthening the time for which Illinois employers will be responsible for employees' medical conditions connected with toxic substance exposure.  
 
The new law lifts the 25-year statute of limitation on claims for people diagnosed with latent diseases after exposure to toxic substances (such as asbestos, radiation, beryllium) in the workplace. And that's a good thing, the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association says.

3 Groups of People Disproportionately Harmed by Minimum Wage Laws

Minimum wage laws hurt minorities. Bill Wirtz writes:

Prior to the Fair Labors Standards Act (FLSA), which instituted the first federal minimum wage of 25 cents per hour, the black-white unemployment gap did not exceed 1 percent. Today, the black unemployment rate is twice that of whites. Raising [the minimum wage], as is suggested by multiple Democratic presidential candidates, would only accelerate this phenomenon.

Klavan: What Donald Trump Knows That Conservative Intellectuals Don’t

By Andrew Klavan - 

Every war is two wars, a war of ideas and a war for terrain. The war of ideas is won by argument and demonstrations of good will. The war for terrain is won by brute force.

Democracy is not supposed to be a war. It’s supposed to be all ideas all the time. You make your case. I make mine. Maybe we find compromises. The voters decide.

But for the past I-don’t-know-how-many years, one side, the left, has also been fighting a war for terrain. We on the right have been deploying our ideas, trusting in our institutions and assenting to the process. But they on the left have been using pure, brute force in an attempt to take over the intellectual terrain on which ideas are discussed.

Universities, the news media, entertainment outlets, social media — all have fallen to the pressure, blacklisting, and occasional violence of the Left. Rioters and hecklers keep conservatives off campus. The news and entertainment media blacklist conservatives, and small numbers of “boycotters” puff themselves up like adders and scare off conservative sponsors. People are fired — lose the means to support themselves and their families — for such crimes as believing that there are two genders or supporting Donald Trump. ....

.... This is what Donald Trump understands that too many conservative intellectuals miss. The belligerent and obstreperous Trump was called to the presidency by voters who know that, while the war of ideas can and should be waged politely by American friends, a war for terrain is a much uglier business.

More HERE

Records Reveal Obama White House Tracked FOIA Requests for Clinton Emails

Judicial Watch announced today that it obtained 44 pages of records from the State Department through court-ordered discovery revealing that the Obama White House was tracking a December 2012 Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request seeking records concerning then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s use of an unsecure, non-government email system. Months after the Obama White House involvement, the State Department responded to the requestor, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), falsely stating that no such records existed.

Judicial Watch’s discovery is centered upon whether Clinton intentionally attempted to evade the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) by using a non-government email system and whether the State Department acted in bad faith in processing Judicial Watch’s FOIA request for communications from Clinton’s office. U.S District Court Judge Royce Lamberth ordered Obama administration senior State Department officials, lawyers, and Clinton aides, as well as E.W. Priestap, to be deposed or answer written questions under oath. The court ruled that the Clinton email system was “one of the gravest modern offenses to government transparency.”

Transit Continues Its Death Spiral

Public transportation is a declining industry. Randal O’Toole writes:

Nationwide transit ridership in the first quarter of 2019 was 2.6 percent below the same quarter in 2018, according to data released by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) last week. Transit’s most recent downward spiral began in 2014, and ridership over the twelve months prior to March 31 was 8.6 percent below the same twelve months four years ago.

Ridership is declining for all major forms of transit travel. First quarter bus ridership was 2.1 percent below 2018 while first quarter rail ridership declined by 3.2 percent. Commuter rail, light rail, heavy rail, and streetcars all lost riders. [...]

Seven measles cases in Illinois launches $3.5M+ statewide vaccine campaign

SPRINGFIELD – Seven cases of measles in Illinois launched a vaccine effort of at least $3.5 million in taxpayer-funded grants to local health departments, Governor Pritzker's office announced Friday. 

Pointing to the number of measles cases nationwide, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is "taking action to prevent cases of measles and increase vaccination rates. Recent actions range from direct outreach to communities with low vaccination rates, new grants for local health departments, and public education campaigns," Pritker's office reported.

Trump signs proclamation to protect US auto industry

WASHINGTON DC - Friday, President Donald J. Trump took historic action to protect the American automobile industry, its workforce, and American innovation.

Following an extensive review of the Department of Commerce’s Section 232 automobile report, President Trump today issued a proclamation directing the United States Trade Representative to negotiate agreements to address the national security threat, which is causing harm to the American automobile industry.

More on the proclamation and its desired effect on the US automobile industry here: TMANews.com 

Rossi: Why Trump is so Right regarding China Tariffs

By Randy Rossi - 

Those of us that have competed with and/or done business in China have been very frustrated with the fact that most Americans didn’t understand that China is the greatest cheating and stealing nation on Earth which is also the greatest strategic threat to America there is according to our government. We are thrilled that we finally have a president that is willing to stop China’s massive attack on our economy and national security.

Here are just a few critical facts that should make every rational American understand this massive Chinese threat and why President Trump’s tariffs on China are the right thing to do:

Sun-Times columnist promotes more secret vaccines for Illinois kids

Allow kids to get vaccinations without parental consent, writes Marlen Garcia in a Sun-Times op-ed. Twelve-year-olds addicted to drugs or alcohol can get treatment without parental consent. Young girls can get abortions behind their parents' backs with judicial bypasses. Minors that are parents can make health care-related decisions.

So, "it's time for the Illinois Legislature to allow kids to be vaccinated without parental consent." 

She must not know that since 2013 it's already been legal in Illinois for 12 year olds to get HPV vaccines without their parents' knowledge. Someone tell her. 

Read her Opinion column here  and read Illinois Review's stories on the issue:

• NEW RULE ALLOWS ILLINOIS KIDS TO GET SECRET STD VACCINATIONS 
• HEALTH CONCERNS RAISED ABOUT ILLINOIS KIDS RECEIVING SECRET STD VACCINATIONS
• LAWMAKER REVIEWS RULE CHANGE ALLOWING ILLINOIS MINORS SECRET STD VACCINATIONS
• TIME FOR PARENTS TO TALK TO EACH OTHER – AND THEIR LAWMAKERS 

America’s monopolistic tech sector seems pretty competitive and dynamic

Capitalism is more likely to break up big tech than the politicians. “Big Tech,” writes James Pethokoukis, “doesn’t act like they exist above or outside the dynamic churn of American capitalism,”:

Just look at what went down during the recent earnings season, as reported by the [Wall Street Journal]. Facebook reported better-than-expected revenue and profits, but boss Mark Zuckerberg is now promising a business model shift toward small groups and private message. Google parent Alphabet posted its slowest revenue growth since 2015 as “it’s once-untouchable online-advertising operation took a body blow, hurt by mounting competition and struggles within its increasingly high-profile YouTube unit.” Apple posted its first back-to-back drop in quarterly sales and profit in more than two years thanks to falling iPhone sales and is now trying to “morph itself into a services company fueled by app and entertainment sales as much as hardware.

Idaho Repeals Its Regulatory Code

Sunset rules in action. James Broughel writes:

Something rather remarkable just happened in Idaho. The state legislature opted to—in essence—repeal the entire state regulatory code. The cause may have been dysfunction across legislative chambers, but the result is serendipitous. A new governor is presented with an unprecedented opportunity to repeal an outdated and burdensome regulatory code and replace it with a more streamlined and sensible set of rules. Other states should be paying close attention.

The situation came about due to the somewhat unconventional nature of Idaho’s regulatory process. Each year, the state’s entire existing body of regulations expires unless reauthorized for an additional year by the legislature. In most years, reauthorization happens smoothly, but not this year.

Illinois looks at sports betting and more video gambling

SPRINGFIELD - The one activist group that consistently focuses on opposing gambling expansion - the Illinois Church Action on Alcohol and Addiction Problems (ILCAAAP) - is alarmed at the state lawmakers' focus to expand gambling even more this legislative session. 

Sports betting is at the top of the agenda, with more video gambling up next, ILCAAAP says in a recent newsletter to supporters.