Illinois Review

Congressman Hultgren reviews freshman term with Illinois Review

By Meghan Keenan -

Thursday, Illinois Review interviewed Congressman Randy Hultgren, Representative for Illinois’ 14th congressional district, about his freshman term and what is to come if he is reelected in November. 

According to the congressman, by far the largest challenge of his first term was dealing with the deficit, the budget and the debt ceiling. His number one priority if reelected, he said, is serving constituents; he wants to be accessible to them and take their concerns to Washington.

“We met with over 100 small and medium sized businesses all over the 14th district, asking: ‘What would it take for you to hire one more person?’”

Illinois Review interviews State Senate Candidate John Bambenek

By Hannah Ihms, IR Correspondent -

Illinois Review recently interviewed John Bambenek, a conservative Republican candidate running for the 52nd State Senate district which stretches from Champaign to Danville.

Where did you grow up and what do you do for a living?

I grew up in the Chicago suburbs, in Oak Grove. I moved to the University of Illinois for college and that’s where I met my wife and never left. I’ve been in Champaign for seventeen years. Professionally I do electronic fraud prevention, so essentially I deal with Russian hackers trying to steal your credit card and bank account information. 

How did you decide to run for State Senate?

I’ve been active in politics for a while, most actively since I’ve had children and seen the direction of the state in terms of its ever-increasing tax burden, debt burden, and the amount of jobs and opportunities leaving the state. I’m much more conscious as to what kind of future my children will have. With this status quo, they won’t have the kind of opportunities I’ve had, and as a father that’s not really acceptable to me. The way to change that is to change the people who are there.

Congressman Robert Dold talks about bipartisan priorities

By Meghan Keenan, IR Correspondent -

Although some may not want to hear this, I think that America would be better off if both parties tried to cooperate with the shared goal of bettering our nation and Washington pushed a more moderate agenda.

Ask anyone what they think is the biggest issue facing our nation today. Most likely they will say it is the economy, lack of jobs or some combination of the two. It doesn’t matter whether they are liberal or conservative; this issue sweeps across party lines.

Yesterday, Republican Congressman Robert Dold shared some of his views on what our nation’s priorities should be.

"Getting people back to work is something that everybody should be in favor of," Dold said.

Dold’s main priority, if reelected, would be to lift some of the regulatory burdens placed upon entrepreneurs and small businesses.

“I think that’s really the main engine to get the economy moving again, and to provide more certainty for entrepreneurs and small businesses across the country to be able to invest and grow,” he said.

Illinois' generous but broken Medicaid program

VIDEO - Illinois Department of Health and Family Services' Julie Hamos spoke with interviewer Jeff Berkowitz recently, and she explained Illinois' generous health care policy for children: 

Jeff Berkowitz: What if you are an undocumented worker? Do you get Medicaid?

Julie Hamos [Illinois HFS Director]: Undocumented children in Illinois get Medicaid.

Jeff Berkowitz:  What if you are an undocumented adult? You don’t?

Julie Hamos: No.

Jeff Berkowitz: But, if you are a child, you do. Should we do that?

Cook County Board of Review GOP Primary heats up

Think it's important who voters pick to represent 1.7 million Illinoisans? Twelve states have less people than Cook County's Third Board of Review District. Republican Dan Patlak now represents the district to Cook County's Board of Review. He is one of three commissioners that hear from residents and businessmen concerning their Cook County property assessments. With a team of analysts, the board of commissioners determines whether an appeal is warranted and exactly how much a property assessment can be lowered or raised to be in line with neighbors. Those numbers determine just how much each owner pays in property taxes each year.

Patlak was elected in November of 2010, and in a 2-4-4 election cycle, he's up for re-election again in 2012. Palos Park businessman Sean Morrison challenged fellow Republican Patlak in 2010, and has launched another campaign to challenge Patlak in the March 2012 primary. The winner of the 2012 Republican primary will be facing Democrat heavyweight Jeremiah Joyce's nephew from Bremen Township. Both Patlak and Morrison have conducted interviews with Illinois Review, and on Monday Part 1 of each candidates' interview will be released. 

In the interview with Morrison, we discuss a controversy that broke out Thursday night at the Bremen Township GOP Forum in Oak Forest. Morrison challenged Patlak concerning campaign contributions from attorneys that practice before the Board of Review. Morrison criticizes Patlak for asking for $5000 sponsorships at his recent fundraiser and when Patlak said Morrison had a similar ask on his own fundraiser event <Download MorrisonFundraisingInvite120311>, things heated up:

 

The issue of rejecting large contributions from attorneys that practice before the Board of Review will be a theme of Morrison's primary campaign. However, Morrison failed to provide the promised evidence on his website the next morning that his own event invite did not specify event sponsorships that could have risen to the large amounts similar to Patlak's. Morrison, instead, challenged Patlak to limit contributions from lawyers to $250.

More of each interview will be released on Illinois Review Monday morning during the 9:00 AM hour. You must not miss it.

IR Interview with Dr. Arie Friedman - Part 2

In Part 1 of our Illinois Review interview with Lincolnshire pediatrician Dr. Arie Friedman, he talked about his state senate district and why he's optimistic about his bid to replace retiring Senator Susan Garrett (D-Highland Park) in the new 29th. In Part 2, we discuss with Dr. Friedman more about the government's place in health care and about the government system's flaws:

Hear Union Grove's union bully resister on Teri O'Brien Sunday at 4

by Teri O'Brien

We are delighted to welcome as a special guest, fresh from her appearances on “Your World with Neil Cavuto” and “America Live” on Fox News, and the day before her appearance on “On the Record with Greta Van Sustreren,” Union Grove, Wisconsin entrepreneur Dawn Bobo, whose refusal to be intimidated by union thugs has made her a national hero. You will be inspired and delighted to hear her story of American courage and determination. They didn’t know what they were messing with when they decided to threaten this plucky grandmother. Don’t miss hearing her story of triumph and success over multiple obstacles, the latest of which is AFSCME!

Meet Dave Lenkowski

Illinois Review had a quick intro with 12th District GOP House candidate Dave Lenkowski recently.Lenkowski's one of the several "under 30" Republicans running throughout the state on the November ballot.

Lenkowski's challenging longtime incumbent Sara Feigenholtz in a Democratic-leaning district that went for Republican Tony Peraica in his 2006 bid against Cook County Board President Todd Stroger. Lenkowski's a high school teacher that is de-icing a negative image of Republicans on Chicago's North side.

Also Meet Sam McCann

Video: IR interview with Robert Enriquez, Part 3

Illinois Review recently spoke with Robert Enriquez, Republican candidate for Illinois Secretary of State, about his position on issuing driver licenses to illegal residents. In Part 3 of a 4-part series, he answers:

Part 1 is HERE and Part 2 is HERE.

Don't forget! One way to help two start-ups

If you haven't yet seen this month's Freedom's Journal Magazine, you won't regret spending a couple minutes browsing its colorful online pages focused on "How Will We Choose the Next President?" Sign up this week and help Illinois Review at the same time.

Freedom's Journal Magazine is a much-needed plea with minorities to resist the pull to make their presidential decision based on skin color rather than character. This month's edition includes a story about how several key Congressional districts are reaching out to minorities and comparisons between John McCain and Barack Obama, among other national personalities who have willingly contributed to this new startup.

URF’s 8 in 08 Gary Dahl: State Senator for the 38th

State Senator Gary Dahl (R-Granville) says he was “bushwhacked” four years ago by Illinois leaders of  the National Federation of Independent Businesses to take on one of State Senate President Emil Jones’ lieutenants. 

“They asked me to form a search committee to look for someone to challenge the incumbent, Pat Welch.  Little did I know it was me they wanted us to find,” Dahl recalled, while spending an hour with Illinois Review this week.  “The night we won the election, the party was a lot of fun.  But when we woke up the next morning  my wife and I looked at each other and said, 'What have we done?'"

What Dahl 'had done' that night was defeat all odds of a bad year for Republicans and push out 22-year Democratic incumbent Patrick Welch.  The people of the 38th Senate district had all they wanted of an egotistical senator who had lost interest in hearing from them.

IR Focus: Aaron Schock, GOP candidate for 18th CD

Four years ago, a 22 year old Peoria-area Republican challenged a die hard liberal for her State House seat in an overwhelmingly Democratic district. He was energetic, winsome and very conservative in his political views; and he won the hard-fought and expensive battle for Ricca Sloan's House seat in 2004 embarking on a career representing his diverse district at the State Capitol. He was re-elected in 2006. 

Last year the 18th congressional district's longtime, powerful Congressman Ray LaHood decided it was time to retire along with his friend and colleague former House Speaker Denny Hastert (R-11CD). Schock, knowing well chances like this one often come along only once in a lifetime, took on the challenge to succeed LaHood. Tuesday, he won a three-way primary with 78% of the vote. Turning 27 in May, Schock is very likely to be one of the nation's youngest ever U.S. Congressmen if he's elected in November.

During his first state House election, IR had a chance to interview Schock. His then-unpolished, honest and fresh approach to making a difference in the world was inspiring and surprising to even me. We haven't had a chance to get Aaron on record yet since Tuesday, and we hope to do so in the days to come, but we were re-reading this 2004 interview, and thought, "This is the core of Aaron Schock. Let's show it to Illinois."

IR Focus: Tony Graff, GOP candidate for 50th House District

As one of three men and one woman competing for the 50th House District's GOP nomination to succeed State Rep. Pat Lindner, it’s sometimes difficult to draw a distinction among the candidates. Tony Graff says his voter base is his family, his friends and the people he’s met throughout the community while serving in area law enforcement. 

A retired police chief and experienced city administrator, Graff, 53, says he’s very proud of being involved public service for years.  Recently starting a commercial real estate development firm opened his eyes to the challenges small businessmen in Illinois face every year.  It was one of the reasons he jumped into the 50th GOP race this year.

“I’m interested in helping people and getting involved in the community,” Graff said, “When Rep. Lindner retired, it seemed a good time to re-enter public service.”

And what would he do if he were elected to represent the Kane County-centered district?

IR Focus: Tim Baldermann, GOP candidate in 11th CD

NEW LENOX -- When asked why he’s running in Illinois’ 11th CD Republican primary to fill the seat Congressman Jerry Weller’s is vacating, New Lenox mayor Tim Baldermann answered, “I believe in duty and answering the call when you’re needed.” 

Baldermann’s answer was expected from a guy whose last twenty years he's spent in law enforcement, on a local school board and as of eight months ago, as mayor of New Lenox, a town located in one of America’s fastest-growing communities. 

When the Will County GOP asked him to run for Congress, Baldermann, 41, says he saw it as another chance to serve and bring along an array of life experiences that he believes have prepared him to serve in Congress.

As a law enforcement officer and now police chief in southwest suburban Chicago Ridge, Baldermann's had first hand experience implementing federal Homeland Security regulations and working within federal immigration parameters.  His current jurisdiction was a center of controversy in the days immediately following 9-11, as angry protests erupted outside one of the Chicago area’s largest mosques, located in Chicago Ridge.

Sauerberg's position on abortion

Over the past few weeks, several Illinois Review commenters have questioned U.S. Senate candidate Steve Sauerberg's views on abortion. His website does not address abortion and he chose not to reply to Illinois Family Institute's nor Illinois Federation for Right to Life's federal candidate surveys.  IFRL endorsed little-known GOP primary candidate Mike Psak, based on his survey responses. 

Psak is running a small volunteer grassroots campaign with little funding.  Odds are heavily in favor of Steve Sauerberg to be the GOP's nominee to run against Dick Durbin in the November election. Dick Durbin has evolved into a pro-abort radical that many would like to see upended as South Dakota did their former U.S. Senator Tom Daschle in years past. Prolifers want a reason to support and get excited about this 2008 Durbin challenge. 

So in the context of a multi-issue interview -- which we'll cover in full later this week -- IR asked Sauerberg the question for you.

IR Focus: Terry Hunt, GOP candidate for 50th HD

AURORA -- With State Rep. Pat Lindner announcing her retirement earlier this year, the 50th House district will now have a chance to be represented by someone who reflects the district's more conservative views, Big Rock horse farmer and GOP candidate Terry Hunt told Illinois Review last week.

Hunt and three others – Batavia’s Dave Richmond, Yorkville's Kay Hatcher and Tony Graff – are vying to be the GOP's nominee February 5th. Whoever wins the primary will have a very good chance of retaining the Republican-leaning district seat in November.

And although Lindner’s not the opponent in Hunt’s first bid for office, he is very open about how starkly different his policy views are from incumbent Lindner’s. . .

IR Focus: Dave Richmond, GOP candidate in 50th State Rep

ELBURN -- In a four-way GOP primary to fill retiring State Rep. Patricia Lindner's vacancy next January,  it’s not easy for a candidate to differentiate himself and to break out from the pack. 

But Elburn lawyer Dave Richmond believes his six years working as local district director of U.S. Rep. Denny Hastert’s constituent relations will set him apart from others running in the 50th District primary.

Top notch constituent services will be a top priority to Richmond.  He’s especially proud of the work he did in Hastert's office uniting families while cutting through red tape to expedite legal immigration and international adoption cases as well as acquire passports. 

“Constituent services were my bread and butter,” Richmond said.  “No one running in the 50th has more knowledge about how to take care of those kinds of problems than I have.  From day one of being elected,  I would be ready to go, with no learning curve.”

IR Focus: Jimmy Lee, GOP candidate in 11th CD

UTICA -- When U.S. Rep. Jerry Weller announced this past fall that he had decided not to seek re-election in 2008, Republicans in the 11th CD scrambled to find a successor. Just before the December petition filing deadline passed, three GOP candidates emerged: Utica resident Jimmy Lee, New Lenox Mayor Tim Baldermann and Terry Heenan, also of New Lenox.

The 11th CD race has almost been totally ignored by the district's mainstream media until just this week, when a call for debates among primary candidates was sent out by a new name and face on Illinois' political landscape: LaSalle County's Jimmy Lee.

Meet the candidates: 48th District's Michael Connelly

LISLE -- DuPage County Board member Michael Connelly will be filing petition signatures this week to enter the race for the GOP’s candidate for state representative in the 48th District. 

This past summer, incumbent State Rep Jim Meyers announced he would retire rather than run for re-election in 2008.   Meyers’ announcement opened the way for a primary contest likely to rival general election importance in other counties.

Connelly, a former Lisle village trustee, says he is proud of the District 5 he was elected to represent on the DuPage County Board in 2006.   District 5, reaching from Lisle westward to Naperville, is twice the size of the 48th district he would represent in the State House.

“This is a district of achievers,” Connelly said.  “They are used to working hard and seeing results.  That’s what they want from their legislators.  They’re tired of mediocre government.”

Thank You URF, Part I

by Eric M. Wallace, PhD

The following excerpt is taken from the book entitled Integrity of Faith: A Testimony of Perseverance and Hope. Integrity of Faith is my life story outlined along the lines of a statement I made when I resigned from the office of Chaplain with the National Black Republican Association which said, “I serve because of my relationship with my Savior. I am a Christian first, a father second, a minister and scholar third, and a Black man fourth, and then a Republican. Heaven help me if I ever get these out of order."

That quote found its way into the Washington Times newspaper in 2005. It became the inspiration for the outline of my book. The excerpt below is from the chapter called "The Republican." It looks at my 2006 run for State Senate and gives thanks to those who had the courage to fight along side me in the South Suburbs.