Illinois Review

Both parties claim to cut nonexistent $41 billion

by James Valvo, Americans for Prosperity

House Republican leaders failed their first major test about whether they will play straight with the American people — and now they’re paying the price. In an attempt to meet their Pledge to America commitment to cut $100 billion in spending in their first year, House leaders decided to compare their continuing resolution cuts to President Obama’s FY2011 budget request instead of comparing the cuts to current spending levels. This was a mistake.

Senate Dems likely to agree to two week continuing resolution

Chief Deputy Whip Peter Roskam (R-IL) spoke with Hill reporters Monday alongside Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA).  Cantor announced "really good news" that the Democrat Senate appear likely to agree to a two-week continuing resolution that would keep the federal government running while cutting $4 billion.  While the two-week continuing resolution would not be the ideal way to proceed, it was a step in the right direction, Roskam said.  Fox News reports:

Radogno proposal would eliminate tuition waivers for kids of university employees

State university employees would no longer get a discount on their children's tuition under a proposal backed by a top state Republican.

Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno, R-Lemont, is sponsoring a measure to end the partial tuition waiver as a way to free up money for cash-strapped universities.

via www.herald-review.com

Has the time finally come for concealed carry in Illinois?

Proponents of a law that would allow Illinoisans to carry concealed weapons think they've got a good shot at getting the legislation passed this year.

They say a number of factors are in play, ranging from a U.S. Supreme Court ruling last year that knocked down a Chicago ban on handguns to a national trend of states allowing citizens to carry weapons. Illinois is the only state that does not allow its residents to carry a gun in some fashion.

via www.bnd.com

Emanuel transition team member Judy Erwin resigns over ethics breaches

A former Illinois legislator named to Chicago Mayor-elect Rahm Emanuel's transition team has resigned over an ethics violation at a previous high-level state job.

Emanuel spokesman Ben LaBolt confirmed Saturday that Judy Erwin had stepped down. Erwin told the Chicago Tribune Friday she planned to resign to avoid any "distractions" for Emanuel.

via www.chicagobusiness.com

Gay marriage emerges as key issue in early 2012 presidential primaries

Gay rights activists pushing for the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy repeal as well as for civil union and same sex marriage policy appear to be on the verge of making their issues a major topic in upcoming presidential primaries.  While moderate Republicans consistently lecture social conservatives to avoid topics such as homosexual rights and abortion, the liberal wing of the Democratic Party is giddy about the idea that their recent political victories may make gay marriage a centerpiece in New Hampshire and Iowa primaries' efforts. 

Roll Call reports today:

Pro-Abort Walk met by Walk-for-Life in Daley Plaza

A "Walk for Choice" was greeted by a "Walk for Life" at Chicago's Daley Plaza Saturday, February 26. Click on the video to see the Life movement's response:

AFP calls on foes to condemn 'Anonymous' attack

by Ben Smith of Politico

With the group "Anonymous" working (unsuccessfully at the moment) to take down Americans for Prosperity's website, the group's president, Tim Phillips, says in an emailed statement:

Americans for Prosperity has established itself as a leading voice in one of the great political debates underway in this country over government spending and how best to restore the fiscal solvency of governments at both the state and federal level. Yesterday, a group claimed credit for an attempt to silence our voice and to stifle that debate through an illegal attack on our website. While the political debate over government spending can be heated, we hope that even our opponents will join us in condemning this illegal attack on our free speech rights as unacceptable and irredeemable. Our country cannot meet the great challenges before us if we cannot have a free and open discussion about the threats that we face.

Americans approve government shutdown over higher spending

Do you care whether the federal government shuts down this week?  Almost 2 to 1, your fellow Americans are pushing for a shutdown rather than more and more spending.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 33% of Likely U.S. Voters would rather have Congress avoid a government shutdown by authorizing spending at the same levels as last year. Fifty-eight percent (58%) says it’s better to have a partial shutdown until Democrats and Republicans can agree on what spending to cut. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The partisan differences are striking. Fifty-eight percent (58%) of Democrats prefer avoiding a shutdown by going with current spending levels. But 80% of Republicans -- and 59% of voters not affiliated with either major party -- think a shutdown is a better option until the two sides can agree on spending cuts.

8th CD's Joe Walsh featured on ABC News