Illinois Review

Court okays expedited appeal of Illinois term limits case

CHICAGO - An Illinois appellate court has agreed to hear an expedited appeal of a ruling that banned a question on term limits from the November ballot.

The Chicago-based First District Appellate Court issued its order Monday.

Supporters gathered signatures to put a measure on the ballot to limit legislators to eight years. But a lawyer for top Democrats sued, and a judge ruled last month the measure didn't meet constitutional requirements to be on the ballot.

The Illinois Supreme Court said last week it wouldn't hear an immediate appeal. Supporters then asked the appeals court for an expedited process, because state election officials must approve the ballot by Aug. 22.

Republican Bruce Rauner is leading the effort. He's made it a major issue in his race against Gov. Pat Quinn.

Illinois makes it illegal for employers to ask about applicants criminal background

Photo courtesy Facebook/IOCI

CHICAGO - Gov. Pat Quinn (D) will sign legislation prohibiting all private employers from asking prospective employees about their criminal history before they've determined the individual is qualified for the job.

The Job Opportunities for Qualified Applicants Act, otherwise known as the "ban the box'' bill, was sponsored by Democratic Rep. Rita Mayfield and Democratic Sen. Antonio Munoz.

The legislation will make Illinois the fifth state to ban employers from requiring disclosure of a criminal history until an applicant is determined qualified for the position.

Munoz says everyone should have the opportunity to be considered for employment regardless of previous actions, including rape, murder, or armed robbery.

The government has allowed some construction jobs, emergency medical jobs and security jobs to be exempt from the legislation.

AG Madigan wants Court to send conceal carry rejections back to review board

CHICAGO - Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan (D) will be asking Cook County Circuit Court judges to send cases the state's conceal carry review board rejects back to the review board for a second consideration.

The Illinois State Police (ISP) recently announced new guidelines allowing citizens who were refused permits by the special review board to appeal. However, the guidelines would not apply to the more than 200 applicants who were forced to file lawsuits in an attempt to force the government board to explain the rejections.

“We’re going to be asking the courts to remand the cases back to the review board for more process as a result of the new emergency rules ISP announced last week,” said Madigan’s spokeswoman Natalie Bauer.

The secret conceal carry review process was detailed in a report by the Tribune.

Obama Executive Orders New Attack on Religious Liberty

"President Obama's new executive order compelling all federal contractors to affirm the latest LGBTQ orthodoxy escalates the ongoing culture war against traditional mores and religion." -- Institute on Religion and Democracy President Mark Tooley

WASHINGTON DC - Religious groups will not receive an exemption from an executive order signed this morning by President Barack Obama banning "discrimination" based on sexual orientation or "gender identity" by federal contractors.

The order adds sexual orientation and gender identity to the list of specially protected categories that apply to federal contractors, and it adds gender identity to sexual orientation as a protected category for federal employees. The order could institutionalize federal discrimination against all religious groups and persons affirming natural marriage, traditional sexual ethics and the biological reality of gender.

A June letter sent following the U.S. Supreme Court's Hobby Lobby-Conestoga Wood decision requested that the President include explicit religious freedom protections in any executive order regarding LGBTQ employees of federal contractors.

Reeder: Illinois vs. Texas

By Scott Reeder - 

PORT ISABEL, TX - I like to eat at blue-collar diners and cafés, particularly when I’m vacation.

It’s a chance to step beyond the homogenized national chains and experience a bit of local flavor.

And being a reporter, I like to chat up local folks to find out a bit about their community.

This past week, I took my family to Texas.

We enjoyed first-rate barbeque, homemade tortillas, jalapeno-infused dishes and fresh gulf shrimp. 

We also had some terrific conversations with ordinary folks.

One day, I found myself standing in line at a restaurant with a Port Isabel, Texas, teacher. I asked the teacher, “So how is the economy around here?”

His response surprised me.

Five U.S. Territories Now Exempt From Obamacare

As Elise Hilton at the Acton Institue Blog notes, while everyone was focused on crisis in Ukraine and Israel last week, suddenly 4.5 million people in the 5 U.S. territories (American Somoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands) became exempt from Obamacare.

It seems Obamacare costs too much, and insurance providers were fleeing the U.S. territories, leaving many without insurance or at least affordable insurance. These territories have spent the last two years begging to get out from under this law, only to be told the Department of Health and Human Services

has no legal authority to exclude the territories” from ObamaCare. HHS said the law adopted an explicit definition of “state” that includes the territories for the purpose of the mandates and the public-health programs, and another explicit definition that excludes the territories for the purpose of the subsidies. Thus there is “no statutory authority . . . to selectively exempt the territories from certain provisions, unless specified by law.”

Then, as Hilton reports, last week, the Department of Health and Human Services said they’d reviewed the situation and

the territories will now be governed by the “state” definition that excludes the territories for both the subsidies and now the mandates too. But the old definition will still apply for the public-health spending, so the territories will get their selective exemption after all.

As the Wall Street Journal notes, there seems to be some elasticity in the White House’s definition of “state.” And, may I add, some elasticity in the democratic process, the Constitution and rule of law, wrote Hilton.

Huston: Hey, Chicago -- Detroit Police Chief Says More Guns is Good

By Warner Todd Huston - 

Chicago, Illinois is losing at least 3 to 4 citizens every weekend to violence with upwards to 25 shot. EVERY weekend. Chicago pols, the city’s police superintendent, and state Democrats say we need to ban guns to “fix” the problem. But the Detroit Chief of Police says an armed citizenry is making HIS city safer. Chicago could learn a lesson, here.

According to the Detroit News, Chief James Craig credited the fall in crime in the Motor City to the fact that more citizens are armed these days.

Detroit has experienced 37 percent fewer robberies in 2014 than during the same period last year, 22 percent fewer break-ins of businesses and homes, and 30 percent fewer carjackings. Craig attributed the drop to better police work and criminals being reluctant to prey on citizens who may be carrying guns.

“Criminals are getting the message that good Detroiters are armed and will use that weapon,” said Craig, who has repeatedly said he believes armed citizens deter crime. “I don’t want to take away from the good work our investigators are doing, but I think part of the drop in crime, and robberies in particular, is because criminals are thinking twice that citizens could be armed.”

“I can’t say what specific percentage is caused by this, but there’s no question in my mind it has had an effect,” Craig said.

Chief Craig seems to understand quite well what the Second Amendment is for.

Crime is not light in Detroit by any means, of curse. But compared to Chicago, Detroit is a veritable safe zone.

More HERE

Report: White House Ignored Warnings of Border Crisis Until It Was Too Late

Infographic by Richard Johnson and Christina Rivero/The Washington Post

The Obama administration knew of the impending crisis on the U.S.–Mexico border as early as 2012 but chose to ignore the warning signs in light of political considerations, sources told The Washington Post in a story published days before President Obama meets with the leaders of three Central American countries.

A former senior federal law enforcement official told the Post that numerous government agencies were “ringing alarm bells” within the Obama administration—warnings that went continually unanswered.

“There were warning signs, operational folks raising red flags to high levels in terms of this being a potential issue,” said the source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

More HERE

Activists Sue Illinois Community College for Viewpoint-Based Speech Restrictions

Susan Kruth at TheFire.org is reporting on a federal lawsuit filed last week by the Rutherford Institute on behalf of Wayne Lela and John McCartney, two visitors to Waubonsee Community College (WCC) in Illinois who were stopped from distributing flyers because the college disapproved of their message.

According to a Rutherford Institute’s press release, Lela and McCartney are members of the organization Heterosexuals Organized for a Moral Environment and wished to distribute materials addressing the group’s views on homosexuality, religious liberty, and free speech rights, among other topics—within WCC’s “free speech area.” As relayed in the complaint(PDF), Lela contacted WCC staff to discuss his plans, but a WCC administrator wrote to Lela saying he could not distribute the flyers on campus because they would be “disruptive of the college’s educational mission.”

According to the complaint, a letter from attorney Paulette A. Petretti sent on behalf of WCC “makes explicit … that Plaintiffs’ critical views of homosexuality are not allowed but that speech with a positive view of homosexuality is permitted.” Additionally, the suit argues, the vague language of WCC’s policy grants administrators “unbridled discretion that may be exercised in an inconsistent or discriminatory manner.” The plaintiffs are seeking to enjoin WCC from enforcing its unconstitutional policy and monetary damages.

More HERE

Kickback scheme gets North Chicago school board member 10 years in prison

By Ben Velderman - 

CHICAGO – A former board member for the North Chicago school district was sentenced last Wednesday to 10 years in prison for her role in steering $21 million in busing contracts to favored companies in return for an estimated $566,000 in kickbacks.

Prosecutors say Gloria Harper (photo right) operated the kickback scheme with the district’s former transportation director, Alice Sherrod, from 2001 to 2010, ChicagoTribune.com reports.

At one point, Harper and Sherrod were getting $20,000 a month in kickbacks from a busing company co-owned by Tommie Boddie. In return, the pair cajoled the school district into increasing “the number of students transported by his company,” reports ChicagoTribune.com.

Five shot and killed in Chicago, 45 shot, injured over weekend

CHICAGO - Beautiful weather, booze and outside parties in volatile neighborhoods set the stage for Chicago's second most violent weekend of 2014. Five were shot and killed, 45 shot and injured, bringing the totals for 2014 up to 225 homicides and 1149 shot and wounded on Chicago streets.

Heyjackass.com

Majority Leader McCarthy: House Will Secure Border And Reunite Families

By Ulysses Arn - 

At a press conference in Peoria for former congressman Bobby Schilling, new House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy stated that the House of Representatives will pass measures in the coming days and weeks that will help secure the southern border with Mexico and that the thousands of illegal immigrant families will be reunited.

Estimates are that 57,000 unaccompanied illegal immigrant minors have entered the US in the last few months, many coming believing that the Obama administration won't deport them and will instead grant them amnesty, and that doesn't even include the much larger number of adult illegal immigrants that have been coming over the border as well.

Yep, Illinois is near the bottom in job creation

Since the Great Recession officially ended in June 2009, the U.S. economy has generated 7.8 million jobs. But the gains haven’t been spread evenly across the country.

Some states have boomed. Others have struggled to add jobs.

North Dakota, benefiting from an oil and gas drilling boom, has created nearly 98,000 jobs over the past five years, a 27 percent increase — by far the best in the country. New Mexico, hard hit by federal spending cuts, is the only state that has lost jobs since the recession ended.

Read more

Where's Weyermuller? At "Update" Dinner with Michael Reagan

Michael Reagan (c) and Tim Larsen (r) with Mark Weyermuller at Chicago Gibson's 

By Mark Weyermuller -

Michael Reagan was the keynote speaker at the fifth annual "Update" dinner Saturday night at Gibson's in Chicago. Reagan is the adopted son of the 40th president of the United States, Ronald Reagan. He is an author, former national syndicated radio host, and a sought-after speaker on the topic of freedom. 

"The Update" is a national network of conservative-leaning individuals aspiring to make political impact. Previous "The Update" speakers have included presidential advisor Karl Rove and former Congressman Joe Walsh. 

Saturady night, "The Update" attendees were captivated as Michael Reagan spoke about his dad and his years as president. Reagan spoke of the need for conservatives to "define themselves" rather then let others define them. Reagan spoke of his dad telling stories - almost parables - to get a message across. He said the the real battle today is for "freedom." 

Rhoads: No demand for Romney Round Two

By Mark Rhoads - 

In the last 120 years, Richard Nixon was the only non-incumbent candidate to be nominated by a major party for a second time and win a second run at The White House.  But in the case of Nixon, his second run was eight years after his first run.  

I am hoping that rumors about Mitt Romney wanting to run again in 2016 at the age of 69 are not true. It is true that Ronald Reagan was 69 when he was elected in 1980 but he was the oldest president ever elected.  Sixty-nine years old is not the new forty-nine and It is time for Romney's generation to pass the baton to younger candidates who are authentic conservatives.

Thorner: Does Reaganomics or Obamanomics Create State Wealth?

Author Steven Moore (center) and Travis Brown (right) discuss new book

By Nancy Thorner -

The Heartland Institute attracted an overflow crowd at its headquarters's library at 1 S. Wacker Drive, #2740, Chicago, IL, for an event on Thursday, July 17th at 5:30 p.m.  The event was billed by The Heartland Institute as "An Evening with Stephen Moore and Travis H. Brown," co-authors with Dr. Arthur B. Laffer and Rex A. Sinquefield, to discuss their new book An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of States. Steve Forbes, Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of "Forbes Media," referred to the book as "a bible for state and local leaders who truly want rapid economic growth. It will profoundly, positively change politics and economics in America."

The book makes a positive argument for tax reform through an analysis of the economic growth or malaise resulting from the tax policies employed by states over a fifty year period. These four policy variables are analyzed that can have enormous effects on the financial well-being of states and individual residents: 

• Personal and corporate income tax rates
• Total tax burden as a percentage of personal income
• Estate and inheritance taxes
• Right-to-work laws

The book's final chapter of "An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of States" deserves special attention, as it rebuts the criticism directed against the book and its authors for the ideas and analyses presented therein. The first of fourteen rebuttal arguments refutes those who believe that "Taxes and Other Supply-Side Policy-Variables Don't Affect Population and Gross State Product Growth." 

Plummer and Coughlin married

FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS - One tall bachelor and one lovely bachelorette are no longer available. Saturday, former GOP candidate for lieutenant governor Jason Plummer, 32, and Shannon Coughlin, 30, were married at St. Louis' historic Third Presbyterian Church.

Photo via Bob Grogan

Labor Secretary slams Supreme Court's 'Harris vs. Quinn' decision

By Kyle Olson -

CHICAGO – If you had any question about the pro-government orientation of the Obama administration, here is a clue.

Labor Secretary Thomas Perez was a keynote speaker at the national convention of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), and declared:

I’ve now spent about 25 years in government service. I was a career attorney in the Justice Department for a decade. I was an elected official at the county level. I ran a state agency. I’ve worked shoulder-to-shoulder throughout my career with proud and dedicated AFSCME members. I know firsthand about the sacrifices you make, about your devotion to public service, about your contribution to the common good.

And that’s why I’m fighting so hard for all of you. That’s why President Obama is fighting so hard for all of you. We know that public employees — and the labor movement more broadly — are the linchpin of the American middle class. We know that it’s you — our nurses, corrections officers, home care workers, EMTs, child care providers, sanitation workers and more — that keep America strong.

Government employees are the “linchpin of the middle class”?

According to statistics from the federal government, there are 22 million employees in all levels of government. Overall, government employees make up 15.3 percent of the workforce.

Other stats, also provided by the feds, tell us there are 54.4 million people working for small businesses in the private sector.

But Perez wasn’t finished.

More HERE

Madigan sues to challenge Breen in the 48th Illinois House District

Peter Breen with his wife Margie

LOMBARD - The DuPage County Election Board recently knocked the Democrat opponent to Peter Breen off the ballot. The Board ruled the Democrats didn’t follow the rules laid out by Illinois law to slate a candidate.

However, Mike Madigan, Chairman of the Illinois Democrat Party and Speaker of the Illinois House of Representative has filed suit to overturn the Election Board’s decision.

Madigan has retained attorney Mike Kasper to represent the Democrats. Kasper is the lawyer one who recently succeeded in knocking the Fair Map amendment off the ballot. The Chicago Tribune refers to him as “The House speaker’s henchman.”

Breen says despite Madigan's suit, he's "hard at work on the campaign trail, talking to voters across the 48th District about how to fix the mess in Springfield and turn things around for the people of Illinois."

He's also raising money, knowing that Madigan "never goes down without a fight." "Together, we're going to win this race!" says Breen

He's accepting donations through his website: www.votebreen.com/donate

Rhoads: Black Box Does Not Matter

By Mark Rhoads -

Media talking heads are obessing about the fact that pro-Russian militia in Ukraine might steal the black boxes from Malaysian Airlines Flight MH-17 wreckage along the Ukraine-Russian border.

Why?

This crash was not an accident that needs to be investigated. We know what happened. A commercial passenger plane was peacefully flying along over Ukraine air space at 33,000 feet when it was suddenly blown out of the sky by an air-to-surface missile.

There is no mystery about why the plane came down that needs to be solved. There is also very little mystery about who was responsible and why. There is no data in a black box that can prove one way or another exactly who gave the order to fire the missile but we can reasonably infer what kind of missile it was, who made it, and who had the ability to fire it.

Kirk: Stop The Clock On A Nuclear Iran

CHICAGO - Today, July 20, the initial deadline for the P5+1 nuclear agreement with Iran came to an end.

U.S. Senator Mark Kirk says he hopes for a diplomatic breakthrough, but says an extension with no new non-military pressure on Iran only helps Iran get closer to a nuclear bomb.

Kirk is pushing his Menendez-Kirk sanctions bill, S. 1881, which has 60 cosponsors in the Senate, including 17 Democrats. However, a vote continues to be blocked by the Democrats who control the U.S. Senate.

"Now, as the original deadline for negotiating a deal with Iran has come, we are faced with a real and looming nuclear threat from Iran," says Kirk. "As the President and Secretary Kerry have both stated, sanctions set the table for negotiations. With more pressure on Iran, the administration would be more likely to obtain an agreement that prevents a nuclear Iran."

Kirk says his Menendez-Kirk sanctions bill would:

• Increase chances of an acceptable nuclear agreement with Iran
• Apply non-military pressure to Iranian regime with goal of halting Iran's nuclear threat
• Force Iran to dismantle their illicit nuclear infrastructure

"We need a deal that is comprehensive, airtight and long-lasting," says Kirk.

Roskam: Obama extension of Iran nuclear talks a "colossal mistake"

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Peter Roskam (IL-06) released the following statement on the Obama administration’s decision to extend nuclear talks with Iran until late November:

“The Obama Administration's decision to extend conciliatory talks with Iran is a colossal mistake. If the past six months of "negotiations" have taught us anything, it's that Iranian leaders have zero intention of dismantling their nuclear program. This extension, like the rest of this foolhardy process, is another free giveaway to an Iranian regime that continues to march towards a disastrous nuclear weapons capability, all the while joyfully reaping the benefits of sanctions relief and relaxed pressure from the United States while giving up nothing substantive in return. The only responsible course of action for the American people and the world community is to learn from past mistakes and reinstate the aggressive, crippling economic sanctions that were actually working to weaken Iran’s leadership and reduce their capability to develop nuclear weapons technology.”

Quad Cities Protests to Secure The Border

By Ulysses Arn - 

Over the weekend hundreds of protest took place across the nation in the wake of the flood of unaccompanied illegal immigrant minors and incomplete families overwhelming authorities in Texas.

Protesters in Moline, Illinois where especially upset at the situation because neighboring Davenport, Iowa mayor Bill Gluba has openly sought to have an undisclosed number of illegal immigrant minors brought to the Quad Cities area.

One man said that it was the “dumbest thing he(Mayor Gluba) could do”.

One woman was all for welcoming legal immigrants into the country but could not stand the fact that many illegal immigrants are able to obtain welfare assistance.

Kinzinger Calls For Bipartisan Action to Get Veterans Immediate Care

WASHINGTON DC – Congressman Adam Kinzinger (IL-16) and Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02) have introduced the ACT Now for Veterans bill (H.R. 5131) to direct the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to reimburse non-VA medical providers who provide care to eligible veterans. According to Kinzinger, this legislation will ensure that veterans, who are lost in the VA bureaucracy, and who have been sitting on long waiting lists, are able to get medical care immediately.

“Our veterans have been failed by the system, and it is our responsibility to make things right,” said Kinzinger. “Fixing the VA is no small task, and this bill will give veterans an opportunity to temporarily seek private care until we can make the necessary reforms. Frankly, keeping our promise of timely and quality care is the least we can do for the men and women who volunteered to defend our country.”

Illinois Manufacturers' Association endorses Rauner

SCHAUMBURG - The Illinois Manufacturers' Association (IMA) announced its endorsement of Bruce Rauner for governor at a press conference last week, becoming the first statewide business organization to endorse in the race for governor. The IMA has donated $250,000 to Rauner's campaign.

The IMA cited the continued economic struggles the state is facing along with the hostile business climate towards job creators for their endorsement.

"Illinois is closing one day at a time with a quiet exodus of businesses leaving the state. We cannot afford a hostile business climate coupled with a tax and spend policy that crushes investment across our state. While you cannot blame the current administration for all the problems facing Illinois, it's time that Illinois has a governor who is fully committed to creating a pro-growth economic strategy. We are proud to support Bruce Rauner who is the right kind of leader to turn our economic ship around and put people back to work," said Greg Baise, president and CEO of the Illinois Manufacturers' Association.

For the Least of These: A Biblical Answer to Poverty [video]

While much progress has been made toward poverty alleviation, many well-intentioned efforts have led Christians to actions that are not only ineffective, but leave the most vulnerable in a worse situation than before. Is there a better answer? Combining biblical exegesis with proven economic principles, "For the Least of These: A Biblical Answer to Poverty" equips Christians with both a solid biblical and economic understanding of how best to care for the poor and foster sustainable economic development. With contributions from fourteen leading Christian economists, theologians, historians, and practitioners, For the Least of These presents the case for why markets and trade are the world's best hope for alleviating poverty.

Chicago red light camera controversy re-ignites citizen outrage

CHICAGO, IL - After a barrage of negative news stories about Chicago's Red Light Camera program hit airwaves this week, the anti-photo enforcement group Citizens to Abolish Red Light Cameras announced they will be at a summer festival in Lorraine Dixon Park this Saturday, July 19th to spread the word about how to fight back against Red Light Cameras and Speed Cameras in Chicago.

"This week's incredible story by Tribune investigative reporters about ticket spiking by the City's Red Light Camera program only confirms what we've been saying throughout our campaign; that red light cameras in Chicago are unsafe, unfair and unconstitutional" said Mark Wallace, Director of Citizens to Abolish Red Light Cameras.

Good news for Cook County property owners

By Dan Patlak - 

Cook County homeowners have received their second installment property tax bill for 2013. While most folks don't enjoy receiving their bill, there is good news this time. After more than 30 years of late billing, for the third year in a row, the bills have gone out on time.

The Board of Review has worked in a nonpartisan way to end late billing. With help from other offices, we are doing so -- to the benefit of all taxpayers.

The 2013 property tax appeal sessions, in which property owners exercise their right to ask the Board of Review to check their taxes for fairness, saw over 402,000 requests, the third-highest number in board history. We took that amount in stride, thanks to comprehensive modernization. In fact, we finished a week ahead of schedule, enabling the on-time billing.

Property owners now know when to expect their tax bills. That helps them budget. Also, their local units of government, from school boards to villages, and many others, will receive their property tax proceeds from the county on time. That saves the local governments and, ultimately, the taxpayers themselves, high costs of borrowing to fill budget gaps left by late payments due to late billings.

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin threatens Illinois radio station for running negative ad

QUINCY - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin is not happy with a radio ad (HERE) that focuses on the wage gap between men and women working on his Senate staff. So unhappy in fact, that he is threatening legal action against a Quincy, Illinois radio station airing the spot.

Quincy radio station WTAD 930AM, which is owned by STARadio and Quincy Journal, has been running the ad for a week. According to Quincy Journal reporter Bob Gough, STARadio was contacted by someone representing Sen. Durbin. Gough writes:

"WTAD received an email and phone call from a firm representing Senator Durbin earlier in the week," said STARadio VP/GM Mike Moyers. "A letter attached to the email implied that the commercial being aired by Americas PAC contained false information and that WTAD would be liable should we continue to air it. Sources provided by Americas PAC were checked and proved to be in line, so the commercial in question is still on the air."

Threats were anticipated by Americas PAC back in April when they announced they would be running $310,000 in ads against the Durbin.

Illinois abortion PAC pushes Quinn, Rauner to answers questions about birth control

CHICAGO - Following the U.S. Supreme Court's Hobby Lobby decision, Illinois' powerful pro-abortion organization - Personal PAC - is pressuring Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner and Governor Pat Quinn to answer four questions (below) regarding birth control and abortifacients.

Quinn, who has historically received Personal PAC's endorsement, is likely to have no problem obtaining it again this year. The abortion PAC is an established source of money and votes for the Democrat Party.

Personal PAC's questions, however, put Rauner in a very difficult position -- which is no doubt why they're asking them.

It is well established that the Illinois Republican Party is pro-life. However, its 2014 gubernatorial candidate is pro-choice, as is his wife Diana, who has been a consistent and generous donor to Personal PAC.

That largesse is unlikely to get her husband the endorsement though, because Personal PAC is actually working to suppress GOP votes by executing a time-tested strategy of exploiting the tension that exists between pro-abortion Republicans such as Bruce Rauner, Mark Kirk, Judy Baar Topinka, Tom Cross, etc. ... and the base of the Illinois Republican Party, which is strongly pro-life.

Needless to say, Rauner's response will be highly anticipated by both the left and right.

Unfortunately for him, avoiding the "social agenda" is not an option the left is going to allow him to enjoy much longer.

The road to the governor's mansion is paved with more than dollars and cents. Sign ahead reads: "Rock And A Hard Place".   

Personal PAC's questions below (as reported by Rich Miller):

As world erupts, Sen. Elizabeth Warren declares "We Will Fight!" ... Hobby Lobby

DETROIT - Speaking at the left-wing Netroots Nation event in Detroit, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren outlined the Democrat Party's 11 point agenda:

1. "We believe that Wall Street needs stronger rules and tougher enforcement, and we're willing to fight for it."
2. "We believe in science, and that means that we have a responsibility to protect this Earth."
3. "We believe that the Internet shouldn't be rigged to benefit big corporations, and that means real net neutrality."
4. "We believe that no one should work full-time and still live in poverty, and that means raising the minimum wage."
5. "We believe that fast-food workers deserve a livable wage, and that means that when they take to the picket line, we are proud to fight alongside them."
6. "We believe that students are entitled to get an education without being crushed by debt."
7. "We believe that after a lifetime of work, people are entitled to retire with dignity, and that means protecting Social Security, Medicare, and pensions."
8. "We believe—I can't believe I have to say this in 2014—we believe in equal pay for equal work."
9. "We believe that equal means equal, and that's true in marriage, it's true in the workplace, it's true in all of America."
10. "We believe that immigration has made this country strong and vibrant, and that means reform."
11. "And we believe that corporations are not people, that women have a right to their bodies. We will overturn Hobby Lobby and we will fight for it. We will fight for it!"

Portion of Cicero Ave renamed for late South African President Nelson Mandela

CHICAGO - Chicago's north and south running Cicero Avenue will now be known as "Mandela Road" from Roosevelt Road to Grand Avenue on Chicago's West Side.

Gov. Pat Quinn attended the dedication Friday, which would have been the late South African President Nelson Mandela's 96th birthday. Mandela died in December at age 95.

Thorner: Heartland Institute awards scientists that dared to challenge climate change

Heartland Institute CEO Joe Bast awards Dr. Arthur Robinson with "Voice of Reason" award

By Nancy Thorner - 

Ongoing today in this nation is a full court press to convince the public that everybody knows that a catastrophic global warming looms over us, that human beings are the cause of it, and that the only solution is to turn more money and power over to the government to stop us from our dangerous ways of living. 

The earth can be either warm or cool and has done both at one time or another for thousands of years, even before there were SUVs. Had there never been any global warming in the past, enjoying a visit to Yosemite Valley today would be impossible as it was once buried under thousands of feet of ice.

Forty-five years ago in the 1970's, the environmental hysteria was all about the dangers of a new ice age. This hysteria was spread by many of the same individuals who are promoting today's hysteria about global warming. 

Today the far the political left's favorite argument is that there is no argument, that science is settled, despite the cooling trend in the 70's and now the absence of any warming for 17 years and 10 months. 

Barone: How Obama is Turning Liberalism Into an Instrument of Coercion

By Michael Barone - 

Liberals just aren't very liberal these days. The word "liberal" comes from the Latin word meaning freedom, and in the 19th century, liberals in this country and abroad stood for free speech, free exercise of religion, free markets, free trade -- for minimal state interference in people's lives.

In the 20th-century, New Dealers revised this definition by arguing that people had a right not only to free speech and freedom of religion but also, as Franklin Roosevelt said in his 1941 Four Freedoms speech, freedom from fear and from want.

Freedom from want meant, for Roosevelt, government provision of jobs, housing, health care and food. And so government would have to be much larger, more expensive and more intrusive than ever before.

That's what liberalism has come to mean in America (in Europe it still has the old meaning), and much of the Obama Democrats' agenda are logical outgrowths -- Obamacare, the vast expansion of food stamps, attempted assistance to underwater homeowners.

But in some respects the Obama Democrats want to go further -- and are complaining that they're having a hard time getting there. Their form of liberalism is in danger of standing for something like the very opposite of freedom, for government coercion of those who refuse to behave the way they'd like.

More HERE

Schakowsky: Legalizing Illegals 'Would Raise the Wages, Really, of All Workers'

WASHINGTON DC - When asked on Wednesday if putting illegal aliens on a "path to citizenship" would help unemployed Americans, Illinois Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky responded that “comprehensive immigration reform" would "raise the wages" of all workers.

CNSNews.com asked Schakowsky: “Do you think that allowing illegal aliens to stay in the United States and putting them on a path to citizenship, would that help the unemployed in America?”

Schakowsky responded: “We know that comprehensive immigration reform would add billions and billions to our economy. It would raise the wages, really. of all workers, because right now immigrants are – undocumented immigrants – are exploited and even paid below the minimum wage.”

More HERE

Stantis: Violent Quinn

By Scott Stantis - 

So Governor Pat "Mr. Clean" Quinn is embroiled in a alleged growing scandal. In the waning weeks of the too-close-to-call 2010 gubernatorial general election the governor gave a $54 million anti-violence grant to a politically connected democrat. No strings attached.

The state has been investigating but as of yesterday has backed off at the request of the Feds who are conducting their own investigation.

Every Obama Speech Ever [video]

President Obama's often described as a brilliant campaigner and speech giver, but the Washington Free Beacon put together a montage of Obama's most common sayings. His speech wizardry is boiled down to familiar terms such as,"Everybody, have a seat, have a seat ..." and others.

Illinois congressional incumbents ahead in race for campaign funds

WASHINGTON - Republicans are hoping to regain congressional seats in Illinois this November, but Open Secrets' latest findings show that Illinois congressional incumbents - despite Americans' reported lack of esteem for Congress - have the financial advantage.

Updated Thursday, Open Secrets shows Illinois challengers are having a tough time getting supporters to write checks this year. The closest fundraising race is between Democrat freshman incumbent Brad Schneider and Republican challenger Robert Dold. Schneider is $500,000 ahead of Dold as of July 17.

Illinois Supreme Court rejects term limit appeal

SPRINGFIELD - Even though Thursday, the Illinois Supreme Court rejected to hear an appeal of a proposed ballot measure that would place an eight year term limit on state lawmakers, the effort isn't over. Instead, the high court will wait for the effort to work its way through the normal judicial channels before consideration.

Time is running out before deadlines to print November ballots, so Mark Campbell, executive director of Term Limits and Reform, told the State Journal-Register that proponents would file Friday for a hearing with a state appellate court. 

The proposed constitutional change would also increase the number of Illinois House members and raise the number of votes required to override a governor's veto. 

Kirk votes with Democrats to reverse Hobby Lobby Decision

WASHINGTON - Wednesday, U.S. Senator Mark Kirk, along with two other Republican senators, supported a failed Democrat-backed measure that would have maneuvered around the recent Hobby Lobby Supreme Court decision.

The act, sponsored by Senate Democrats Patty Murray of Washington and Mark Udall of Colorado would have kept for-profit businesses from dropping birth control coverage. The "Not My Bosses' Business Act" would have clarified that no federal law allows companies to refuse follow Obamacare's contraception mandate - even if the owners have strong religious convictions against abortifacients.

All Senate Republicans - except for Illinois' Kirk, Alaska's Murkowski and Maine's Collins - voted to block the bill, keeping the legislation from advancing.

Rauner campaign releases jobs and economic agenda

SCHAUMBURG - GOP gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner unveiled a 7-point jobs and growth agenda Thursday, which includes 

• -Eliminating the Quinn-Madigan Tax Hike
• -Freezing Property Taxes
• -Modernizing the Sales Tax
• -Reducing Regulatory Burdens
• -Investing in Our Workforce
• -A Responsible Minimum Wage Increases

Review Rauner's 21-page "Bring Back Blueprint" HERE. 

Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno (R-Lemont) gave the plan a favorable review: 

Where's Weyermuller? With Bruce Rauner at the Turning Point USA Event

By Mark Weyermuller - 

WHEELING - Under the direction founder Charlie Kirk, the young people-aimed Turning Point USA is growing in leaps and bounds. Kirk, who has become a favorite on Fox News business talk shows in the past year, held a fundraiser event Wednesday night at Saranello's restaurant in Wheeling with nearly 200 - mostly 30 and under - in attendance.  

Former congressman and radio talk show host Joe Walsh warmed up the crowd.  Later, Kirk spoke of opening new Turning Point USA chapters across the country, with the main theme of "Big Government Sucks."  The theme is promoted on buttons, tee shirts, bumper stickers, and a new website.

Kirk also announced Turning Point USA just received their 501c3 approval from the IRS, so they can increase their fundraising effort.

A surprise guest, Bruce Rauner, Republican candidate for governor spoke of creating jobs, term limits, and limited government.  

Zender: Your Body, Your Employer, Your Abortion…Our Money?

By Emily Zender - 

In “My Body My Employer, My Abortion,” published July 8 in the Chicago Tribune, Ms. Loren Clark-Moe laments that, as a single 29 year old woman working for the federal government, she had to deal with the “restriction” of paying for her own abortion.  

I sincerely wish Ms. Clark-Moe and all women in her similar situation love, peace, and healing.  Yet, Ms. Clark-Moe leaves out the other part of her abortion story: the people she wanted to pay for her abortion.

Let’s talk about them.

Let’s talk about the father who works two jobs to ensure there is enough food on the table for his children—should his money go to pay for your abortion instead of helping put food on the table?

Let’s talk about the family who can’t make ends meet because they’ve spent every dime assisting a loved one’s battle against cancer— should their money go to pay for your abortion instead of cancer research?

Let’s talk about the couple who has been painstakingly trying to conceive for the past two years, nursing their broken hearts following miscarriage after miscarriage. Should that couple’s money go towards aborting your “unwanted” child?

What makes your abortion more important?

Protesters demand State Rep. Franks support law requiring private biz to post tax returns

McHENRY - Leftist community action groups protest outside State Rep. Jack Franks' (D-Marengo) office Thursday morning, demanding he join fellow House Democrats in an effort to require Illinois businesses to post online their tax returns. 

The protestors from the "Fair Economy Illinois" coalition organized a Tweet barrage with comments such as "People like @RepJackFranks are putting corporations over people" and "81% of the IL revenue comes from people. Only 8% from corporations. Show us where the money's at!" 

State Rep. David McSweeney (R-Barrington) who serves on the Revenue Committee said the measure the protesters want was soundly defeated in the Illinois house. 

"It's just a bill to harass job creators," McSweeney told Illinois Review. "With a 7.5 percent unemployment rate, the last thing we need in Illinois is to create another obstacle for companies whose employees pay incomes taxes. Requiring companies put their tax returns online will also discourage any new companies coming to Illinois. This would do nothing to create new jobs."

Gutierrez optimistic Obama will use Executive powers to counter "mean-spirited" GOP

WASHINGTON, DC – Illinois Rep. Luis Gutierrez says he's optimistic after meeting with the President Thursday, reporting the Congressional Hispanic Caucus urged Obama to use his Executive powers to the fullest extent to deal with the growing immigration crisis.

“I saw a compassionate President who listened to our position on the deportation crisis that families and communities are facing in America.  We urged the President to be as broad and expansive in using prosecutorial discretion and executive action as the Republicans have been narrow and mean-spirited when it comes to immigrants and immigration," Gutierrez said in a statement after the meeting.

Thursday, Gutiérrez joined his colleagues in the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) at a meeting at the White House with President Obama, Vice President Biden, Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson and Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell. 

Op-Ed: Lawsuit Reform would help Illinois avoid a failing grade for business

By Travis Akin - 

A new report on the business climate across the country has given Illinois a failing grade. The website Thumbtack and the Kauffman Foundation conducted a survey and asked thousands of small business owners about the various business regulations in their respective states and then applied a letter grade to their states.

Not surprisingly, Illinois is one of only six states to receive a failing grade.

Veterans demand Congressman Enyart apologize for voting against military chaplains

WASHINGTON - Freshman Congressman Bill Enyart (IL-12) is proud that he stood alone against allowing military chaplains to serve fellow servicemen and their families during the government shutdown drama in 2013.  Enyart said at the time he was objecting to congressional hypocrisy, and that his vote was largely symbolic.

In October 2103, Enyart told the Military Times that when other military base services were shut down, he didn't see why chapels and religious services should have been active. However, every other member of Congress disagreed with Enyart and called for weddings, baptisms and worship gatherings to continue despite the shutdown. 

Though the non-binding resolution passed Congress, Democrat Senate Leader Harry Reid never scheduled it for a vote. And when the 2014 budget deal came together, all religious services and chaplain duties returned to normal.

But that vote Enyart made was a slap in the face to veterans of his district - the very people Enyart appealed to for support in his first congressional bid in 2012. 

This week, the veterans of the 12th district sent Enyart - a former National Guard general appointed to the rank by then-Governor Rod Blagojevich - a strong message: they have not and will not forget that vote on H.R. 58.

Hughes: Chain Reactions

By Pat Hughes -

For so many, the Great American Dream is to own a business; to build something from the ground up and see it succeed. I was bit by the entrepreneurial bug in 2003, when a partner and I started a small home building company. The time seemed right. The economy was solid and the real estate market was strong.  Looking back, it’s remarkable how little I knew and how much I’ve learned.

You see, the decision to build a house sets off a chain reaction. First you find capital. Then you buy land. Then during construction you hire all sorts of people: architects and engineers, sub-contractors and tradesmen. At the end, is a brand new home that will see generations of growth.

At each link in this chain, everyone was happy. The land sellers were happy because they made money that fueled the next phase of their lives. The bank was happy, because we were paying interest on our loan. All the sub-contractors we hired were happy because they had work, which allowed them to provide for their families and continue to build their businesses. We were happy, because we made money and helped make a community a little nicer. The new owners were happy.

Human smugglers cross border via jet skis

“Welcome to America,” Border Patrol agent Albert Spratte says.

As politicians in Washington debate how to best deal with the influx of illegal immigrants from Central America along the southwest border, smugglers continue to transport women, children, and entire families into the country. Over 700 smuggled children are now housed in the Chicagoland area - some in facilities, others in foster homes.

The Daily Signal went on a tour of the border near McAllen, Texas, with Spratte, sergeant at arms of Union 3307 of the National Border Patrol Council, to capture raw footage of the precise location of many border crossings. 

More Daily Signal videos with details on human smuggling tactics HERE.

But wait, there's more... [video]

U.S. House Republicans released the following video: