Illinois Review

Double-dipping Dems on township doles

ABC7's Chuck Goudy ran an important story Thanksgiving Eve that most viewers missed.  It's about townships, the amount of tax dollars they rake in, what they're for and why the whole system is nothing but a dole for favored political insiders -- including an array of Democratic double-dippers.

But the ABC7 I-Team and the Better Government Association have discovered that Cook County townships have stashed away a fortune in tax money. They are sitting on more than $100 million in taxpayer funds - collected but unspent.

For more than a century in Illinois they have been the core of government as local as Main Street; providing services for people who lived far from major cities. But that description no longer applies to townships in Cook County where multi-taxed residents often don't even know what a township does.

Goudy interviewed two township supervisors, but didn't mention they are both also state lawmakers -- making them double-dippers, living lucrative lives off unknowing taxpayers -- specifically State Rep. Al Riley and State Senator Lou Viverito.  He also forgot to mention another double-dipper, State Senator Maggie Crotty, who is Bremen Township's supervisor.  All Democrats -- rarely challenged in elections -- and all living off unsuspecting, overburdened township taxpayers.

More HERE.

Liberals: Don't Dream It's Over

by Teri O'Brien 

Unlike that phony rigged, ABC/WaPo poll from last week, today’s Rasmussen poll isn’t good news for proponents of government-run health care. Gee, Keith Olbermann, I thought you had convinced everyone about the merits of socialized medicine by rebranding it “Medicare for all.” You spent the better part of your waste of bandwidth agitprop fest last Wednesday night patting  yourself on the back for using that phrase to put a nice friendly mask on the realization of the leftist dream of one health care system where everyone, with the exception of the elite political class and their favorites, is equal; that is, equally deprived of the care they need by rationing, long waits and, at the end of life, the decision by the bureaucrat in charge that the government has spent enough on your sorry ass, so take your pain pill and be happy about it.

No more of this disgusting perpetuation of the unfairness that has gone on in this mean country way too long, in which the quality of the goods and services you receive, be it your home or your health care, depends on whether you are a shiftless wino, an illegal alien or a small business owner who works 80 hours a week to provide for your family and jobs that support other people’s families. If Medicaid is good enough for the wino and the illegal, it’s good enough for you. The difference is that, unlike them, you will pay more and get less. They will continue to pay nothing and get more.

Tell the Truth and nothing but the Truth

by Joe Calomino, Americans for Prosperity

Springfield is abuzz about how to spend our money.  Governor Pat Quinn and State Comptroller Dan Hynes are locked in battle about what taxes to hike and which budgetary tricks to use in their effort to tame Illinois’ runaway spending and its crushing debt. 

There is little doubt by either political party that something must be done.  Since 2000, Illinois’ annual spending has grown by over 20% while the economy has grown by only 12%. Illinois’ debt has grown by over 57% over the same period.  Every man, woman, and child in the state now owes the state’s creditors a hefty $4,125.

Behold!!! The Smartest Woman in America

By John Brown's Ghost

Hat tip to Ace.  Just remember, campers, she's three heart beats away from being Commander in Chief.  With that thought, I'm going to send Joe Biden some vitamins.

Kirk backs Democrats in Guantanamo prisoner transfer

by Bill M. Leubscher

Back in late July, (when Kirk first announced his campaign for U.S. Senate and began doing damage control from his cap n' trade vote), the Kirk campaign highlighted all the "Republicans positions" taken by Kirk in the 111th Congress. Among other things, they claimed Kirk joined Republicans in opposing the stimulus, opposing the omnibus bill, and  that he personally "opposes all earmarks".

They also highlighted his support of Republicans on lesser known bills like the Ledbetter Act. Kirk's supporters proudly noted that "he also stands with Republicans on national defense. He is strongly in favor of missile defense, in favor of regulated immigration and in favor of keeping Gitmo open."

House fails to repeal Stroger's sales tax

On the first day back for the Fall veto session, Arlington Heights' State Rep. Mark Walker (D) was unable to get the 71 votes needed to repeal Cook County's recently raised sales tax. 

Walker had a tough time getting his Democrat colleagues to back his bill to undermine Cook County President Todd Stroger's sales tax, so he turned to Cook County-based Republican lawmakers tio make up the difference.  Walker got 65 "yea" votes, six short of the needed veto session requirement of 71. 

Eleven downstate Republicans voted "No" on the HB 4624, and State Rep. David Reis (R-Effingham) answered why in two words: "Local control."  In a subsequent message, he wrote:  "Vote them out," and then said after sponsoring a resolution to promote the 10th Amendment, the right vote was to undergird local control.

Those Republicans who voted against limiting the Cook County increase, thereby opposing overruling home rule, were Reps. Beaubien, Brauer,Cavaletto, Eddy, Hatcher, Moffitt, Poe, Pritchard, Reis, Rose and Sacia.  HB 4624's roll call is HERE.

Which was the "right" conservative vote on HB 4624?  Vote "yes" to lower Cook County's sales tax and limit Stroger's spending spree or vote "no" tn favor of local control?

Schillerstrom signs the Taxpayer Protection Pledge

from Grover Norquist

Washington, D.C. – 2010 Illinois gubernatorial candidate Bob Schillerstrom signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge this week. The Pledge commits signers to, “oppose and veto any and all efforts to increase taxes.”

To date, 34 U.S. Senators and 172 members of the U.S. House of Representatives have signed the Pledge. Additionally, seven governors and over 1,100 state legislators have signed the Pledge.

More Cook County Health Scare Tactics

by Tony Peraica

Cook County families and employers are hurting. We have record bankruptcies and foreclosures, and our unemployment rate c ontinues to rise.

That is why a majority of us on the Cook County Board have pushed for a rollback of the onerous sales tax hike passed last year. I was the first to introduce such a rollback — and have strongly advocated for a full repeal of this tax hike.

President Todd Stroger has, as we know, vetoed our tax rollback ordinances each and every time we have passed them. He continues to use scare tactics to defend his unpopular position. He threatens (wrongly) that health clinics and hospitals will be shuttered and taxpayers in Cook County will lose their health care.

by Tony Peraica

Cook County families and employers are hurting. We have record bankruptcies and foreclosures, and our unemployment rate c ontinues to rise.

That is why a majority of us on the Cook County Board have pushed for a rollback of the onerous sales tax hike passed last year. I was the first to introduce such a rollback — and have strongly advocated for a full repeal of this tax hike.

President Todd Stroger has, as we know, vetoed our tax rollback ordinances each and every time we have passed them. He continues to use scare tactics to defend his unpopular position. He threatens (wrongly) that health clinics and hospitals will be shuttered and taxpayers in Cook County will lose their health care.

High Taxes Have Consequences

by Matt Gauntt

I know, I know "thanks for pointing that out, Captain Obvious". Trouble is, many politicians and the sycophants that whisper in their ears don't quite understand that.

A story struck me this morning. In the grand scheme of things, it is probably a small impact, but it is a great example. Definitely not a small thing to the company.  Middleby Corporation has decided to move out of Cook County because of high taxes. They specifically mention the fact that they pay $466,000 in property taxes for a roughly 200,000 square foot facility on the Cook County side of Elgin. I hope that Middleby finds an acceptable location, stays in the area and thrives.  I'm certain that the 100 employees that work in their Elgin plant feel the same way. We've seen a precipitous decline in manufacturing over the last five decades, and we certainly don't need to see these jobs shipped to China. As you might expect with the economy, Middleby certainly doesn't need to be slammed with higher taxes.

Lang blames Cross for "personally killing" income tax increase

by Cal Skinner

At last Wednesday's meeting of the McHenry County Democratic Central Committee State Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie) talked about "what really happened in Springfield."

Let me skip to what he said Republicans did and didn't do.

"Twelve brave souls said they would (vote for the income tax increase.) We only needed five of those brave souls. Their leader Tom Cross said, 'No.'" Lang said he was told there were two arguments: