Illinois Review

Imagine

Pastor Anderson: The Unfortunate Flip Side of Reverend Wright

Hadn't heard about this until fellow Illinois blogger Liberty Watchman brought it to our attention, and we have to agree with his analysis 100% -- there's absolutely no reason for the vast majority of sane conservatives to shun the likes of this Baptist preacher ....

No sooner does the Watchman advocate that conservatives rally behind an increase in Secret Service protection for President Obama, than a pastor in Arizona preaches a sermon calling for God to strike him dead.

Let's take this in two parts:  political and spiritual.

Rivadeneira proposes plan to reduce corruption and waste

From the Rafael Rivadeneira for State Rep in 41st Campaign:

Our corrupt and inefficient state government is one of the biggest issues we face in Illinois. Our politicians are being paid above-average salaries, the General Assembly is consistently passing pork-projects and wasteful programs, and our spending has gone out-of-control. The time has come for Illinois to halt its path of corruption and wastefulness and start providing quality, effective government.

Salary Reduction
We need to take several steps to regain the trust and respect of Illinois residents. As your state representative, I would support a pay reduction for all elected officials. Currently, members of the House make a base salary of roughly $65,000, and House Speaker Mike Madigan makes over $90,000 for his position of leadership.  Elected officials should not be in office for the salary, and we owe it to the citizens to reduce our pay. States with large salaries, like California (roughly $105,000), Michigan (roughly $80,000), and New York (roughly $80,000) are examples of why higher salaries do not provide a better government.

Dan Proft asks media "What took you so long?" about Madigan's scam

In reference to "State Contractors hire Madigan's Law Firm," Proft for Governor issued the following: 

Proft Issues Statement on Sun-Times' Article On Speaker Madigan's Tax Firm

CHICAGO -- Republican gubernatorial candidate Dan Proft issued the following statement today in response to the Chicago Sun-Times article “State contractors hire Madigan’s firm.”

“Today’s Chicago Sun-Times’ story on how House Speaker Michael Madigan’s law firm enriches itself by seeking property tax breaks for contractors who get state financing should come as no surprise to anyone who has been paying attention. But it is encouraging nonetheless that the Chicago media is finally reporting on the scam Speaker Madigan has been running for years.

“My only question is: What took you so long? As Speaker of the House, Madigan has control over property tax rates throughout Illinois. Speaker Madigan also decides who sits on the Illinois Housing Development Authority, the state agency that finances low-income housing projects. In addition, Madigan’s firm, Madigan & Getzendanner, works with the local developers to get property tax breaks on those projects.

"Illinois Review asks" 2010 GOP gubernatorial candidates

If you haven't yet had a chance to hear the six GOP gubernatorial candidates whose petitions are circulating for filing in November, Illinois Review has put together a sampling of questions for our readers.  We've asked candidates Adam Andrzejewski, Bill Brady, Kirk Dillard, Matt Murphy, Dan Proft and Bob Schillerstrom to answer just a few questions to introduce us to them, and we've clipped their answers (except for Murphy, whose schedule didn't allow him to participate) and accumulated them for your perusal. 

State contractors hire Madigan's law firm

The Sun-Times is reporting that over the past nine years, Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan's law firm has made $171,000 by seeking property tax breaks for developers who get state financing to build low-income housing.

Records also show the firm of Madigan & Getzendanner helped another state contractor save about $300,000 in property taxes on the Atrium Mall and food court it operates inside the James R. Thompson Center, the state's main office building in Chicago.

More here.

Schakowsky announced town hall for tonight

Democrat U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky plans to host a town hall meeting for constituents to discuss health care reform. Schakowsky has set the forum for this evening at Niles West High School in Skokie. The congresswoman's office says a "standing room only audience" is expected for the event.

The Government Can

Take a moment and watch this one ... you'll laugh out loud at comedian Tim Hawkins' "The Government Can." Second time through, sing along...

H/T Larry LaVanway

"It Costs Too Much"

by John F. Di Leo

"It costs too much."

Not "America's health care system doesn't work" or "People aren't getting treated" or "We're not finding new cures for previously untreatable things every day."

No, "It just costs too much."  Who says?

Seriously... I'm not kidding.  Who says it costs too much?  Who complains that a diamond costs more than a cubic zirconia?  ...that a Rolls Royce costs more than a Kia?  ...that an Armani tie costs more than one from K-Mart?

Dillard blasts Quinn for inept leadership as unemployment rises

from the Dillard for Governor campaign

LISLE, Ill. – State Senator Kirk Dillard, gubernatorial candidate, today expressed outrage that Governor Quinn failed to make appointments to his own economic development commission designed to offer recommendations for improving Illinois’ economy during the worst economic time in our nation since the Great Depression.  Dillard who has announced plans to make Illinois a “destination economy” called on Governor Quinn to fulfill his responsibility by making appointments so that the General Assembly can consider legislation to encourage job growth during the fall veto session beginning October 14.