Illinois Review

Jobless Rate for Young Americans at 11.8 Percent in September

WASHINGTON DC - Generation Opportunity, a non-profit, non-partisan organization engaged in mobilizing young Americans on the important economic issues facing the nation, announced non-seasonally adjusted (NSA) 18-29 unemployment rate data for September 2012:

• The youth unemployment rate for 18-29 year olds specifically for September 2012 is 11.8 percent (NSA).
• The youth unemployment rate for 18-29 year old African-Americans for September 2012 is 21.0 percent (NSA); the youth unemployment rate for 18-29 year old Hispanics for September 2012 is 12.1 percent (NSA); and the youth unemployment rate for 18--29 year old women for September 2012 is 11.6 percent (NSA).
• The declining labor force participation rate has created an additional 1.7 million young adults that are not counted as "unemployed" by the U.S. Department of Labor because they are not in the labor force, meaning that those young people have given up looking for work due to the lack of jobs.
• If the labor force participation rate were factored into the 18-29 youth unemployment calculation, the actual 18-29-unemployment rate would rise to 16.6 percent (NSA).

Illinois hospitals to be hit with new Obamacare fine

Monday, the Democrat-passed Obama health care reform began a system of fining hospitals if too many of their Medicare patients are re-admitted within 30 days. Illinois hospitals are expected to be among the hardest hit. ConsumerReport.org reports:

About two-thirds of the hospitals serving Medicare patients, or some 2,200 facilities, will be penalized this year, with an average fine of about $125,000, according to government estimates. Hospitals in Arkansas, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Jersey, and New York will be among the hardest hit, according to reports. For now, hospitals are only being measured on three medical conditions: heart attacks, heart failure and pneumonia.

Medicare plans to post details later this month on individual hospitals on its HospitalCompare.gov website. And over the past year, a number of hospitals have taken steps to reduce readmission rates. But our hospital Ratings show that many hospitals need to improve.

More HERE. Concerns are that while this new fine may be meant to improve seniors' health care while they're in the hospital, it may actually endanger seniors who've been released. Doctors and administrators may be compelled to discourage those seniors who've had re-occurrences from being re-admitted once they've been released.

Kansas' Huelskamp objects to USDA takeover of school lunch programs

The debate about the new federal school lunch program is just heating up and moms aren't happy about what's going on with their kids. Tuesday, Illinois Review editor Fran Eaton wrote about the school lunch debate and urged the real Nutrition Nannies to re-assume their parental rights to make choices for their kids. The "hungry kids" debate continued this morning, when Congressman Tim Huelskamp of Kansas took it to the national level on CBS morning news. Nationwide, taxpayers are funding the lunches of 31 million school age kids now getting between 650 and 850 calorie lunches, approved by the USDA.

IL pharmacists once again allowed to practice religious beliefs

SPRINGFIELD - Yet another of imprisoned former Governor Rod Blagojevich administration's inappropriate policy stances was abandoned last week, this time by an Illinois Appellate Court for the Fourth District. After seven years, Illinois pharmacists will once again be able to exercise religious beliefs. LifeNews blogger Bill Saunders explained the ramifications of the Court's decision:

First, the court concluded that pharmacists and pharmacies fall under the protection of the Conscience Act. The state had argued to the contrary, in an attempt to deny conscience protections to pharmacists and pharmacies. This means that other pharmacists and pharmacies—faced with the coercive choice of violating their conscience or the Rule—can file suit with a great likelihood of success.

It also demonstrates the importance of conscience provisions and what state legislatures can do to protect conscience rights through state law.

Second, the court concluded that the provision of “emergency contraception” does not constitute “emergency medical care” under the auspices of the Conscience Act. The State had argued that another provision in the Conscience Act, which requires healthcare personnel to provide emergency medical care, trumps a pharmacist’s objection to “emergency contraception.” But the appellate court decidedly rejected this claim. Noting first that the Illinois Supreme Court had recently defined “emergency” as “an unforeseen circumstance involving imminent danger to a person or property requiring an urgent response,” the appellate court concluded that “’emergency contraceptives’ do not fall within the plain and ordinary meaning of the term ‘emergency.’” Moreover, the court went on to state, “unprotected sex does not place a woman in imminent danger requiring an urgent response.”

As this decision settles, prolifers' attention will turn to defeating the national Obamacare-linked Health and Human Services' mandate for health insurance that pays for abortions, contraceptives and sterilizations.

Why I Changed my Vote - Jodi C. from Winfield, IL (video)

WINFIELD - Jodi is the proud mother of triplets and a former ICU nurse. She is also a lifelong Democrat. In 2008, she not only voted for President Obama, but she also contributed to his campaign. In 2012, she's excited to change her vote to Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan.

More similar testimonies at www.whyIchangedmyvote.com

Truth about the Ryan-Wyden Medicare Proposal

By C. Steven Tucker -

Do not allow yourself to be guided by emotions and fear. This is OUR future. As such, we must approach it INFORMED. Learn the TRUTH about Mr. Ryan & Mr. Wyden’s Medicare Reform proposal here.

It’s important to note that only one President in U.S. history has ever cut $716 Billion from Medicare by reducing payments to hospitals, health insurers, home health, and other Medicare providers.  That President is Barack Obama. Why did he do so? He did so, in order to fund the largest entitlement in U.S. history. Namely, tax payer subsidized health insurance for the majority of Americans under the age of 65.  Many of which are not poor. Not even close.

At Death's Door

By Hannah Ihms -

There’s something more convincing than statistics, and that’s pain.

As I stood outside an abortion clinic this summer, I caught just a glimpse of the crushing pain—physical, spiritual, and emotional—that abortion inflicts on all it touches. I saw that there’s times when statistics just insulate me from what I don’t want to see, and inure me to the thought that trends pile up one life at a time.

The building itself was a hideous block building with a tiny parking lot. The waiting room must have extremely cramped, because even though the sun was beating down, family members would check in their sweethearts, wives, sisters, mothers, or friends, then stand in the parking lot, drive away to return later, or wander around aimlessly.

Nine GOP and two Democrats sign onto federal bill defusing HHS mandate

WASHINGTON DC - August 1, the Obama Administration's Health and Human Services Affordable Care Act mandate went into effect, forcing employers to offer abortion-inducing drugs, contraception, or sterilization for their employees in their health care plans.  The HHS mandate will force employers to either violate their deeply held beliefs or forfeit the provision of health insurance altogether and risk steep fines.

Congressman Jeff Fortenberry of Nebraska has proposed legislation that would correct the First Amendment suffocating law - H.R. 1179 - the Respect for Right of Conscience Act of 2011. 

Of the bill's 223 co-sponsors, nine Illinois Republican US House members have signed onto Fortenberry's bill - Randy Hultgren, Tim Johnson, Adam Kinzinger, Don Manzullo, Peter Roskam, Bobby Schilling, Aaron Schock, John Shimkus, and Joe Walsh.  Neither GOP member Judy  Biggert nor Bob Dold have added their names to the co-sponsorship list. Two Democrats from Illinois - Dan Lipinski and Jerry Costello - have added their support.

Acts of conscience and your unalienable rights

By Cranky Housewife -

Oh, I know. There was that little "Fortnight for Freedom" thingy where various Jewish and Christian denominations came together to prayerfully protest the HHS mandates which would require companies to cover abortions, sterilizations and contraception as part of the health insurance that they offer to their employees. But with the Fortnight being over for more than three weeks, I suppose it's time to return to the comfort and security which we know to be our humdrum lives because this legal battle has been resolved…right?

As I write this column, the date is July 30, 2012 and the controversial mandates which were the subject of the Fortnight protests are scheduled to roll out in two days. The Department of Health and Human Services has given specifically religious employers an additional year to comply with the mandate, offering no regard whatsoever to their doctrinal views. The mandates that we are talking of today, the ones which will be enforced starting on August 1^st deal only with non-religious…secular businesses for lack of a better term… which seek to block the mandates due to religious or philosophical opposition. That subtlety is tremendously important to any business which is owned by a religious person or group but does not provide services that are religiously "bound."

Which Government Healthcare Plan Is Better?

By G. Keith Smith, M.D. -

When politicians promote the superiority of their government plan to “replace” ObamaCare, my reaction is simple: I don’t care what a mugger does with my money.

The difference between the thought processes of the Austrian economists and those of other schools is this: the Austrians say in essence that they don’t care what you do with money robbed from them. All they care about is that they were robbed. Any discussion distal to the robbery is superfluous.

I like the Austrian approach—very simple but extremely powerful. When statists are arguing the merits of their various plans, one simple question moots the discussion of the details: “But you have to rob me first either way, right?”

Obama's Sub Rosa Racist Campaign

By Teri O'Brien -

At the 2004 Democrat Party convention, a fresh-faced, albeit slightly goofy looking, state senator from Illinois made a speech that not only inspired the first in a series of thrills up Chris Matthews’ leg, but also began the myth of Barack Obama, the product of an “improbable love” between a brilliant Kenyan grad student, and a real-life Dorothy, a lily-white girl from Kansas, whose happy little family lived blissfully in Hawaii until his father’s insatiable thirst for knowledge made Harvard irresistible.

His oft-noted penchant for “soaring rhetoric” started there, as did the collective schoolgirl crush by 99 per cent of the Jurassic media, who encouraged emotionally-driven, low-information voters to believe that this man was the walking embodiment of a post-racial America.

Flash forward to today when we realize that we were had by a very skillful con. There was no happy family. There may have not even been a legal marriage since Barack Sr. was already married in his native Kenya, a fact that didn’t dampen his enthusiasm for a tropical playboy lifestyle. The bastard son of a Kenyan Marxist and a beatnik misfit, who was himself steeped in radical leftist ideology then schooled in Chicago-style politics wasn’t exactly what most Americans thought they were voting for.

Planned Parenthood’s War on Women

By Hannah Ihms -

There’s a two-tier system of abortions in the U.S.: those for the haves, and those for the have-nots. President Obama may fundraise for Planned Parenthood, but he’d never send his daughters there. Who would, if they could send them anywhere else?

The Left’s public enthusiasm for Sanger’s brainchild plasters splashy wallpaper on prison walls and plants a smiley face on an urn.

Planned Parenthood is corrupt to the core. Just look at their marketing. The more sexually active the population, the more Planned Parenthood stands to profit. Expecting Planned Parenthood to give abstinence information is like waiting for McDonald’s to hand out dieting advice. It may talk about “safe sex,” but not even “protected sex” halts the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. No matter. This isn’t about health; it’s about sales. If people want birth control, Planned Parenthood can sell it to them. When the birth control fails, they can sell them an abortion. And, while Planned Parenthood promotes equal opportunity sexual activity (females with females, males with males) we can’t neglect females-with-males, because that’s what keeps the abortion stream going.

Southside doctor sentenced to 2.5 years in federal prison

CHICAGO—A physician that operated a south side medical clinic, Dr. Jaswinder Rai Chhibber, was sentenced to 2.5 years in federal prison for engaging in a health care fraud scheme between 2007 and July 2010, federal law enforcement officials announced Friday.

Chhibber, who operated the former Cottage Grove Community Medical Clinic, located at 642 East 79th St., Chicago, was convicted following a trial in March of defrauding BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois by submitting false insurance claims for medically unnecessary tests he ordered for patients and using false diagnosis codes to justify those tests.

Chhibber, 50, of Schaumburg, was ordered to begin serving his 30-month prison term on September 5 by U.S. District Judge Suzanne Conlon, who imposed the sentence, along with a $15,000 fine.

Chhibber was found guilty of five counts of health care fraud and four counts of making false statements involving a health care benefits program after a week-long trial. The jury found him not guilty of seven additional counts.

More in FBI report

Roskam talks Obamacare Tax Hike Repeal

WASHINGTON - U.S. House Chief Deputy Whip, Illinois Congressman Peter Roskam will be speaking at noon today Central Time on the U.S. House floor about the need to repeal Obamacare - just before the vote expected this afternoon. He tells Fox News what to expect ... 

Ignore Your Candidate's Flip-Flops

By Sam Pierce -

Happy Independence Day! That seems to be harder to proclaim as each year passes and our electorate sinks deeper into the abyss of dependence. Perhaps we are celebrating a good run, now irretrievably gone.

Independence Day isn’t the subject of this post, however. I follow some proggie dingbats on Twitter (some of which are Obama campaign staff) and I couldn’t help but notice how they are on the attack over Mitt Romney’s shifting positions on Obamatax and its associated mandate. In the interest of honesty, I should point out that I am sympathetic with their position to a degree. The premise that Mitt Romney and his ardent supporters are flopping and flipping  (and flailing) like John Heinz-Kerry’s Rhode Island docked (for tax-avoidance purposes) yacht caught in a violent storm out at sea, seems to be sadly and sickeningly accurate. The Obamorons are all a-Twitter… but something is missing.

July Fourth – a requiem for détente

By The Cranky Housewife -

It is as it has always been. Tyranny happens. In fact, there has been virtually no unique betrayal of life and liberty to be witnessed by mankind since Cain struck with lethal force to murder his own brother whose only sin was to possess the gift of superior spiritual fidelity. All subsequent betrayals pale in comparison to that unspeakable moment which stands alone as a testament to avarice because if it was not exactly the worst betrayal in history – especially by today's standards – then it most certainly was the first documentation of treachery by a civilized society.

The crossroads so to speak…the wrong direction on life's path which one man was irrational enough to tread and which forever stands as a viable option for all of humanity to duplicate. The only true variance within the inevitability of tyranny comes through man's desire to ignore despotism with the hope that it will soon pass like a mild case of the sniffles.

Just why did John Roberts decide as he did?

By Meghan Keenan -

New evidence in the closely observed health care upset suggests that politics may have played a large role in Chief Justice John Roberts’ deciding vote in upholding the Affordable Care Act.

Since the ruling came out on Thursday, conservatives have lamented the fact that Congress is now forcing Americans to buy a private product. To add insult to injury - the betrayal of conservative Chief Justice Robert’s vote.

Why would a conservative judge vote against the four members of his party on such a divided case? It doesn’t make any sense. It makes me wonder whether this was his true opinion, or whether there was an ulterior motive.

Chief Justice Roberts is Congress' Bill Ayers

By Teri O'Brien -

As our friend Jack Cashill has brilliantly discussed, anyone who has read even the tiny bit of Barack Obama’s available writing can plainly see that he managed to escape from his fancy Hawaiian prep school without learning basic grammar, syntax and proper English usage. (Some might suggest that being part of the Choom Gang wasn't conducive to great academic performance.) When he got to the Ivy League, no doubt his professors helpfully provided the ideological justification he needed to continue assiduously avoiding these silly, creativity-stifling rules set out by dead white European males. I can just see the young, affirmative-assisted Barry-Barack proclaiming “I will not be bound by the Man’s attempt to keep us down, be it by that archaic document of “negative rights” called the U.S. Constitution or by their trying to tell us how to say stuff!”

The problem was that, as personally satisfying as that self-righteous victimhood no doubt felt, it left him a semi-literate. When it was time to deliver a book to the publisher who had given him an advance, he found himself with a big box of notes, index cards and incomplete false starts. Enter the guy from the neighborhood, Bill Ayers. Barack schlepped his box of confusion down the street and asked Professor Ayers to make something of the incoherent mess. Ayers created Barack Obama’s fascinating, multi-cultural journey, and the Obama brand was born. In 2008, the American public elected a fictional character.

Barack Obama, International Man of Mystery, Rescued by Chief Justice Roberts

By Teri O'Brien -

Thursday morning when I first heard the results of the Obamacare decision, I recalled some words from John Roberts confirmation hearing back in 2005, when he quoted Professor of Law John MacArthur Maguire, who referred to law as the “the wise restraints that make men free.”

Until I read the decision, I assumed that he must be finding some way to show great deference to Congress. In fact, it was just the opposite. As the always brilliant Justice Scalia points out in his dissent, Justice Roberts didn’t interpret the statute. He rewrote it, and he did so in direct contravention of not only the Founders’ plan, as expressed in Federalist Papers, but also in the legislative history. That’s a legalistic way of saying Congress knew what it was doing, and it specifically rejected versions of the Affordable Care Act (I laugh every time I hear that name) that called the “penalty” a “tax.”

Roberts engaged in ridiculous gymnastics, sophistry really, first correctly stating that stretching the Commerce Clause to the point of penalizing those who don’t buy something would make the federal government’s power nearly unlimited, then proceeding to write an opinion that makes the taxing power of the federal government nearly unlimited.

Obamacare and the End of Precedent

By John F. Di Leo -

On June 28, 2012, Americans learned many things.  We learned that the same thing can be a tax, not a penalty, in one part of a law, but is a penalty, not a tax, elsewhere in the same law.  We learned that a Yes vote is not political but a No vote is, on this case, but a No vote is not political, and a Yes vote is, on another case.  And we learned that a constitutionally limited government is a dusty old historic artifact, not just in the minds of socialists, but even in the minds of justices whom we had mistakenly believed, when they told the Senate that they would always respect and obey their oaths of office.

Politicians have been claiming that education is a just function of government ever since the Founding era, when Thomas Jefferson called for universal taxpayer-funded schools (even though his genius, and that of his fellow Virginians, was usually successfully developed through homeschooling and private tutoring).  But if government feels obligated to teach lessons like these, we would all much rather they didn’t bother.

A Constitutional Lesson

The Constitution, negotiated 225 years ago this summer in Philadelphia’s Independence Hall, provided for a limited government.  The Framers’ great pride was that they had produced a strictly limited government, small enough to avoid undue intrusion into the private sector, while just strong enough (unlike the Articles of Confederation that it would replace) to ensure a stable currency, the rule of law, and the ability to pay their soldiers so the country would be safe from invasion.