Illinois Review

Roskam lone IL GOPer to oppose Goodlatte immigration bill

WASHINGTON - A conservative response to America's long-simmering immigration dilemma was defeated narrowly in the US House Thursday, and many were surprised that one of Illinois' leading Republicans voted against the measure - veteran Congressman Peter Roskam.

Roskam, who is normally a dependable Republican conservative vote, joined the Democrat delegation from Illinois and voted "No" on Congressman Bob Goodlatte's H.R. 4760.

Illinois taxpayers fund nearly 20,000 retired teachers' six-figure pensions

US News photo

CHICAGO - There's a growing moan about Illinois' property taxes being some of the highest in the US. But property taxes aren't determined for the most part in Springfield - most property taxes are determined by your neighbors - the people that fill school boards, park district boards and city councils. Even fire protection districts and mosquito abatement authorities. 

And how do they affect property taxes? By being very generous with tax dollars to those that work for the boards such as teachers, park district employees and a myriad of others. 

It's not easy or comfortable to hold your neighbors accountable for taking more and more of the funds you manage to accumulate by your hard work. But that's exactly the reality of what Open the Books' found Adam Andrzejewski found needs to be done to begin digging out of the mess the state is in. 

Thorner/O'Neil: Time to hold church leaders responsible for parishioners' politics

By Nancy Thorner & Bonnie O'Neil - 

Prior to Obama’s election in 2008, the Democrat Party removed God from their Party platform.  However, party leaders apparently believed they may have made a political mistake and decided to reinsert God during their 2012 convention via a voice vote. This happened during a break time in which far fewer delegates were present.  Those who witnessed this odd procedure on TV at the time pronounced the process as laughable. After three separate vote attempts, it was obvious the delegates did not want to include God in the party platform.  Nevertheless, the convention’s frustrated chairman, Los Angeles Mayor Villaraigosa, pronounced that the “ayes” had won, even though an immediate eruption of “boos” from the delegates indicated otherwise.  

That the Democrat Party had taken God from their platform was surprising to many viewers who were unaware their Party had changed from the one they embraced in the past.  Even today there are Democrats who remain unaware that their Party now supports abortion, homosexual marriage, massive illegal immigration, and a myriad of other issues they would certainly not approve of, neither would America's forefathers.

Sexual orientation in state's headline news

CHICAGO - How one prefers sexual intimacy is moving to a place of priority consideration in Illinois, according to current news headlines:

• "Does Lori Lightfoot have a path to victory in crowded race for mayor?" A black lesbian is expected to announce her bid for Chicago mayor on Thursday - promoting her sexual preference as one reason she'll get substantial support in a multi-candidate race.
• "Gay rights advocates want Illinois schools to be required to teach LGBT history" The Illinois General Assembly is considering making it mandatory for public school students to study figures notable in US and Illinois history, based on their sexual preferences.
• "Aurora approves city's first gay pride parade for June" And the state's second largest city - Aurora - will be celebrating non-heterosexual lifestyles in its first public parade on Father's Day, 2018. 

The Illinois Human Rights Act protects persons from discrimination based on an array of reasons - including, most recently, sexual orientation. It says:

"Sexual orientation" means actual or perceived heterosexuality, homosexuality, bisexuality, or gender-related identity, whether or not traditionally associated with the person's designated sex at birth. "Sexual orientation" does not include a physical or sexual attraction to a minor by an adult. 

Will Rauner Pull the ILGOP further left? State Central Committee Elections Next Test

2016 Illinois State Convention platform committee meets | McHenry Co Blog photo

CHICAGO - Illinois Republican voters were split 51 to 49 percent between a liberal Republican incumbent governor and a conservative state representative in the March 20th primary. The results revealed a dramatic contrast between the party leaders and the GOP base.

In the wake of a party-dividing primary that is still a sore spot among those voters committed to the conservative party platform, another test of the party's future will be April 18th. That's when county precinct committeemen gather to pick who will represent them on the State Central Committee. Party activists are expressing concern.