GOPUSA ILLINOIS Daily Clips - February 15, 2009

Articles of interest to Illinois Republicans 

recently posted by ABC7, NBC5, CBS2, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Crain's Chicago Business, Daily Herald, Suburban Chicago News, Suburban Life, Pioneer Local, Southtown Star, Rockford Register Star, Bloomington Pantagraph, Peoria Journal Star, Springfield State Journal Register, Belleville News Democrat, Southern Illinoisan, Illinois Review, Public Affairs, Champion News, Illinois Family Institute, Americans For Truth, Chicago Daily Observer, Tom Roeser, Capitalfax, etc. 

Since January 1, 2005, GOPUSA ILLINOIS has brought 41,895 such articles and information on many upcoming events to its subscribers' attention each morning, free of charge, and without any advertising.

CBS2
-- Republicans (Cross & Durkin) Want Burris Investigated   Burris' Testimony Appears At Odds With Affidavit - Dorothy Tucker
http://cbs2chicago.com/local/roland.Burris.Confirms.2.935346.html

-- Burris: Blagojevich's Brother Asked For Donation
http://cbs2chicago.com/politics/Roland.Burris.Rod.2.935381.html

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
-- Tribune poll: Illinois voters optimistic about corruption cleanup  Those surveyed divided over which reform would help most - Rick Pearson and David Kidwell
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-illinois-poll-0215,0,6124806.story

-- Illinois considered corrupt, ethics reform and term limits might be solution - Tribune staff report
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-corruption-poll-bd-15-feb15,0,7486294.story

-- Did Sen. Burris commit sin of omission? - Frank James
http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2009/02/did_sen_burris_commit_sin_of_o.html

-- Burris changes story on Senate seat - John Chase and Rick Pearson
http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/clout_st/2009/02/burris-changes-story-on-senate-seat.html

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-roland-burris-rod-blagojevich-090214,0,5637413.story

-- Illinois' endless history of greed - Bob Secter
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-ready-for-reform-15-feb15,0,6270951.story

-- Illinois: State of Corruption - Editorial
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-0215edit1feb15,0,6202601.story

-- 2009 Chicago Auto Show
http://www.chicagotribune.com/classified/automotive/autoshow/chi-2009-chicago-auto-show-pg,0,1839861.photogallery

-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: "Access DuPage" is having great success in a) attracting people to DuPage County "who don't have health insurance" and b) keeping those people in DuPage County.  The Democrat Party has always argued that Democrats are poor and that Republicans are wealthy.  Therefore, obviously, Republicans pay the huge majority of all taxes, especially income taxes, property taxes, and sales taxes.  The Democrat Party has always argued that a) Democrats have major health problems, have major financial problems, and/or have other major problems and that b) government should do more and more to solve the many problems that Democrats have.  Because most if not all Democrats have major health problems, have major financial problems, and have other major problems, most, if not all those "who don't have health insurance" are Democrats.  So, obviously, those companies, organizations, and individuals that attract people to DuPage County and/or keep people in DuPage County "who don't have health insurance" are attracting Democrats to DuPage County and keeping Democrats in DuPage County.  The Democrat Party has always argued that a) Republicans have few if any health problems, few if any financial problems, and/or few if any other problems and that b) Republicans should pay more and more taxes so that government can solve the many problems that Democrats have.  To say that you are a Democrat is to say that you have many problems and that you want government to solve your problems.  Given that, why would anyone want to say that they are a Democrat?)
http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/triage/2009/02/health-challenges-in-dupage-county.html

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES

-- Lawmakers call for Burris perjury investigation - Natasha Korecki and Dave McKinney
http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/blagojevich/1431668,roland-burris-perjury-investigation-021409.article

-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Mary Mitchell: "And the snippets of black high achievers served up by newspapers and broadcasts in February may give the offspring of hardened bigots a different perspective on what it means to be black in America."
http://www.suntimes.com/news/mitchell/1431164,CST-NWS-mitch15.article

-- SNEED: It's party time:  Is it springtime in Springfield? Is love in the air? To wit: Sneed hears harmony and grist is on a party menu being served by state Senate leaders Feb. 25 at the governor's mansion in Springfield. It's a first: New Senate President John Cullerton and new Senate minority leader Christine Radogno are tossing a dinner for all state senators and their spouses to signal "the end of toxicity and nonsense," Cullerton told Sneed. It's a hoot: Comedian Tom Dreesen, Harvey's pride, is set to entertain. It's a shocker: "It's a new atmosphere," said Cullerton. "We're seating Dems and Republicans next to each other . . . and because it's Ash Wednesday, we are serving Phil Stefani's meatless pasta -- and special meals to our two Jewish senators." Yum
http://www.suntimes.com/news/sneed/1431921,CST-NWS-sneed15.article

 

DAILY HERALD
-- Why doesn't Gov. Quinn have more Facebook friends? - Dan Carden (FROM THE ARTICLE: Ahmadinejad-14,040, Blagojevich-2,556, Burris-115, Chavez-28,790, Daley-624, Durbin-4,032, Giannoulias-2,015, Hynes-392, Lisa Madigan-795, Mugabe-163, Obama-5.3 million, Putin-30,447, Quinn-528)  (DIERSEN: I am a new Facebook member.  If you would like to be one of my Facebook friends, please let me known.  Not surprisingly, most of my 74 Facebook friends are conservative Republicans.) 
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=272188

-- Wheaton-Warrenville District 200 eyes layoffs to cut budget $7 million
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=272220&src=2
(FROM THE ARTICLE: While the district lists several factors for why it faces a projected $14 million deficit in the 2009-10 budget, district watchdog Mark Stern blames the school board's spending decisions. He claims the board raised teacher salaries faster than it can increase revenues. "All school districts are going to be faced with the same issue," said Stern, who served on a committee that examined District 200's financial situation. "It's simply not going to be possible to keep raising salaries at the rate they've been doing." Teachers got raises averaging 5 percent the past three years, according to the district. They are slated to get average increases of 4 percent this fall. Stern said the problem is school districts are essentially operating on fixed incomes. "If you are living on a fixed income, you can't have obligations that exceed the rate of growth of that income," he said. . .But with the district spending about $250 million total on teacher salaries in the past three years, Stern said that contributed to the overall deficit. "Now you are talking about cutting people out of the budget," Stern said. "Maybe if you only gave a 3 or 2 percent raise, you could keep all those positions and not have to lay people off." For example, he said, capping raises at 3.7 percent for the next five years would save the district millions of dollars - $8 million in 2014 alone. "Ultimately, it's a political decision for the board," he said. "The board's got to have the political will to say, 'We are going to limit this to inflation over the next five years to allow our revenues to catch up with our costs.'")

-- GOP wants Burris/Blagojevich donation request investigated - AP
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=272231

-- Illinois' troubles leave no room for politics - Suzie Bassi, (REPUBLICAN) State Representative, Palatine  (DIERSEN: The Illinois Republican Party (IRP) platform is conservative. Officials elected in Illinois as Republicans are obligated to advance the IRP platform.  Bassi was elected as a Republican.  Therefore, Bassi is obligated to advance the IRP platform.)
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=271974&src=

 

 

ILLINOIS REVIEW
-- State Representative LaShawn Ford proposes 5% tax hike on luxury items - Fran Eaton  (DIERSEN: Why doesn't Ford include gambling, entertainment, sports, vacations, pets, alcohol, tobacco products, air conditioning, etc. as "luxury items?"
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2009/02/ford-proposes-5-tax-hike-on-luxury-items-.html
(THE ARTICLE: If any of you shameless multi-millionaire gluttons are thinking of pulling your surviving dollars from the stock market and investing them into jewelry, furs, Mercedes, jets or yachts, you might want to do it right away.  If State Rep. LaShawn Ford's HB 451 passes committee next week, and moves ahead through the class-warfare proned Democrats who control the Illinois House, you'll could soon get smacked with an additional 5% sales tax. Indeed, HB 451 would add on 5 percent upon the county/state sales tax on any car costing $60k or more, any boat selling for $200k or more, or any aircraft in the $500k plus range.  Also, any jewelry, furs or footwear costing $20k or more. Take that, you millionaires.  That'll teach you to work hard, invest shrewdly and show off your fortune with luxury items.  You should pay for your success, these compassionate liberals preach and practice, after all, it's only fair to the rest of the world.)

 

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
-- Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board might expand  Lawmakers’ idea part of response to recent corruption - Dean Olsen
http://www.sj-r.com/state/x1102490311/Illinois-Health-Facilities-Planning-Board-might-expand

 

SOUTHERN ILLINOISAN
-- Cancel state fairs? No - at least not yet - Kurt Erickson
http://www.southernillinoisan.com/articles/2009/02/14/opinions/guest_columns/28237849.txt

 

NBC5
-- A Million Dollar First Look of the Chicago Auto Show
http://www.nbcchicago.com/brchannel/FP-AUT_2009_Chicago_Auto_Show.html

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL

-- Burris Says Blagojevich's Brother Sought Donation
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123463848806188641.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

 

ABC NEWS
-- Burris Confirms Request for Blagojevich Donation  Burris confirms request for Blagojevich donation in affidavit, but says he didn't pay - AP
http://abcnews.go.com/US/Politics/wireStory?id=6879286

 

ASSOCIATED PRESS
-- Burris confirms request for Blagojevich donation - John O'Connor
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hDyZBbTZQHmAx-X4cEJ7cd07HpfgD96BL6O80

 

CNN
-- Burris: Blagojevich's brother asked me to help raise funds
http://edition.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/02/14/burris.funds/?iref=mpstoryview

 

MSNBC
-- Burris admits Blagojevich donation request  He says ex-governor's brother sought $10,000 in campaign funds
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29195951/

 

LOS ANGELES TIMES
-- Chicago Auto Show: Fewer debuts, and shrinking
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/uptospeed/2009/02/chicago-auto-sh.html

 

HUMAN EVENTS
-- 1/20/09 FLASHBACK: Is GOP Still a National Party? - Patrick J. Buchanan  (FROM THE COMMENTARY: Philosophically, too, the country is turning away from the GOP creed of small government and low taxes. Why?  Nearly 90 percent of immigrants, legal and illegal, are Third World poor or working-class and believe in and rely on government for help with health and housing, education and welfare. Second, tax cuts have dropped nearly 40 percent of wage earners from the tax rolls. If one pays no federal income tax but reaps a cornucopia of benefits, it makes no sense to vote for the party of less government. The GOP is overrepresented among the taxpaying class, while the Democratic Party is overrepresented among tax consumers. And the latter are growing at a faster rate than the former. Lastly, Democrats are capturing a rising share of the young and college-educated, who are emerging from schools and colleges where the values of the counterculture on issues from abortion to same-sex marriage to affirmative action have become the new orthodoxy. The Republican "lock" on the presidency, crafted by Nixon, and patented by Reagan, has been picked. The only lingering question is whether an era of inexorable Republican decline has set in.)
http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=30332

 

GOPUSA ILLINOIS

 -- Nine outstanding Republican candidates speak at TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois monthly breakfast meeting - Dave Diersen

www.gopillinois.com

Nine outstanding Republican candidates on April 7 ballots spoke at the TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois February monthly breakfast meeting Saturday, February 14, at the Old Country Buffet, 551 East Roosevelt Road in Lombard.  Four York Township candidates (John Valle for Supervisor, Paul Hinds for Trustee, Tony Cuzzone for Trustee, and Dan Kordik for Clerk); three Milton Township candidates (Sal Falbo for Trustee, Bob Larsen for Trustee, and Chris Edwards for Trustee); one Bloomingdale Township (Joyce Hundhausen for Trustee); and one College of DuPage candidate (Michael Ledonne for Trustee); spoke.  Attendees included Elden Brauer, Wally Brown, Mike & Mariann Evans, Robert Graham, Jeannie Hartman, Gwen Henry, Joe Jurwicz, George Kocan, Vern MCarthy, Bob Schmidt, George Seamon, and Tim Whelan.  Look forward to Kocan's report on the event.  TAPROOT's March breakfast meeting will again be at the Old Country Buffet in Lombard, but it will be the 4th Saturday, March 28.

 

GOPUSA ILLINOIS

-- Only 5 days until newly elected RNC Chairman Michael Steele speaks at the 48th Annual DuPage County Republican Lincoln Day Dinner in Oak Brook -- In addition to those listed below, attendees to include Bellock, Birkett, Pat Brady, Bucholz, Connelly, Daniels, Dillard, Fortner, Gidwitz, Grogan, Hastert, Johnson, Kachiroubas, King, Kirk, McKenna, Millner, Pankau, Philip, Pierotti, Pihos, Roskam, Ruscitti, Rutherford, Jim Ryan, Siekmann, Smith, Topinka, Whitley, and Zaruba - Dave Diersen

www.gopillinois.com

Only 5 days until the newly elected Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele speaks on Friday, February 20, at the 48th Annual DuPage County Republican Central Committee (DCRCC) Lincoln Day Dinner at Oak Brook Hills Marriott Resort, 3500 Midwest Road, in Oak Brook.  The social hour starts at 6:00 PM and the dinner at 7:00 PM. Tickets are only $150.  For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit http://www.dupagegop.com or phone 630-653-7200.  Your response by Friday, February 13, would be greatly appreciated.  DuPage County Republican party leaders you can look forward to seeing there include DCRCC Chairman Senator Dan Cronin, DCRCC Vice Chairman Patrick Durante, DCRCC Secretary Robert J. Schillerstrom, DCRCC Chairwoman Barbara Murphy, DCRCC Treasurer Gwen Henry, and DuPage County Republican Township Chairmen: Addison - Patrick Durante, Bloomingdale - John Dabrowski, Downers Grove - Brian Krajewski, Lisle - Michael Prueter, Milton - Michael Formento, Naperville - Rachel Ossyra, Wayne - Ken Spitz, Winfield - John Smith, Jr., and York - Paul Hinds.  While you are there, please stop by the GOPUSA ILLINOIS table and say hello -- at that table you will find Milton Township Republican Precinct Committeeman Bob Cherry and his wife, GOPUSA Illinois Editor Dave Diersen and his wife, Milton Township Trustee Candidate Chris Edwards, Milton Township Republican Precinct Committeeman Art Grant and his wife, Milton Township Republican Precinct Committeeman Ron Menna, and DuPage County Regional School Board Trustee Tim Whelan and his wife.