Illinois Review

It pays to keep your mouth shut in Chicago

By Fran Eaton -

Oh, darn.  Didn't get Rahm's memo to shut up about Rev. Jeremiah Wright before writing this week's Southtown Star column. It's all about the new book "The Amateur" and the allegations that Wright was offered $150,000 to quiet down through former Illinois Director of Public Health Eric Whitaker. Guess since that's the topic of today's column, like Joe Ricketts, I won't get my baseball stadium renovated either (just kidding, don't have one) ...

The way Axelrod and Emanuel handled shining light on Rev. Wright before Obama was elected was to simply ignore the expose's.  That's what the Chicago Democrats did when I wrote about Trinity United Church of Christ and Rev. Wright's radical teachings back in 2007. Even though I was contacted by the London Telegraph, did a radio show with then WVON talk show host Roland Martin (recently canned by CNN) and a quick comment in the Chicago Tribune all about that time, only black provocateur Erik Rush paid attention to Rev. Wright's racist rantings when we tried to tell the world. Eventually Sean Hannity got a hold of it, and still the world didn't care.

It's frustrating at times like that to be from the Midwest media flyover country, and even more disturbing when Chicago/Illinois MSM kissups enable and even proliferate the deception about Obama that brought upon America public policies that have devastated. Our hope is that soon this will all be over.

The point is it pays to keep your mouth shut in Chicago. That's why I'm not rich.

Where is the leadership​?

By John Tillman, CEO of Illinois Policy Institute -

Every now and then you find out whether leaders and legislators are truly for reform or whether they simply use the concept to advance electoral imperatives. The upcoming votes on Medicaid, pensions and the state budget will be illuminating.

Things are moving quickly in Springfield, and the most urgent issue on deck is Medicaid. Leadership of both parties promised real reform. However, that's not what is being delivered. We're about to be asked to swallow an incomplete reform plan coupled with a tax hike and a disastrous Medicaid rate cut that will hurt the poorest among us. It is not yet clear if we can count on Republican leadership to take a strong and principled stand against this disastrous deal.

Kelly to bid for IL RNC National Committeeman

CHICAGO - Saturday morning in Lisle, radio talk show host William J. Kelly will announce he is running for Illinois' RNC National Committeeman to members of the conservative Republican group TAPROOT.  Kelly will be challenging incumbent RNC Committeeman Rich Williamson, who was appointed in 2010 by the IL GOP State Central Committee to fulfill Pat Brady's term when he assumed the role of IL GOP Chairman.

"I will be making an announcement tomorrow at Dave Diersen's TAPROOT breakfast,"  Kelly told Illinois Review. "I will make my platform available to you soon ... I will also be speaking about the conventions, direct elections, and removing Pat Brady as Chairman of the Illinois GOP."

Williamson is running for re-election, and a third candidate, Lake Forest area industrialist Sandy Stuart's name is also circulating. The RNC National Committeeman election will be held at the IL GOP State Convention June 8-9th at the Tinley Park Convention Center in Chicago's south suburbs. 

Thus far, no challenger to IL's RNC National Committeewoman Demetra DeMonte has emerged.

Schock pushes for Medicaid reform and against Obamacare mandates

PEORIA - Congressman Aaron Schock (IL-18) has been on a mission to sound the alarm throughout Illinois and in Washington about the mounting budget pressures facing Illinois taxpayers on the dual threat of expanding Medicaid costs and the implementation of the federal Affordable Care Act, also known as ObamaCare.

Democrats launch attack on Ricketts - the Chicago Way

CHICAGO - With the New York Times story Thursday that Chicago Cubs owner billionaire Joe Ricketts is suggesting he would be willing to invest some of his fortune to defeat Barack Obama in 2012, the Chicago Democrat Machine started up their attack during NATO Summit protests in downtown Chicago Thursday.  Note the age, skin color and demeanor of the guy holding the sign "Ricketts Racist" below:

10 Chicago Businesses shut down by NATO Summit

CHICAGO -If you're headed to downtown Chicago this weekend, be aware that that that "Toddlin' Town" will have various NATO Summit-related extra security measures that have shut down access to an array of businesses, especially around McCormick Convention Center, and along the Michigan Lakefront.  AttorneyFee.com found "10 Chicago Businesses shut down by NATO Summit." Here's the first five (or more): 

1. The Shedd Aquarium, Field Museum, and Adler Planetarium have all been judged too close to McCormick Place to remain open on Sunday, the first day of the summit. The off-site Art Institute is another museum closed at the behest of the Secret Service.

2. Blue Cross Blue Shield sent a memo to its employees encouraging them all to work from home on the Friday and Monday surrounding the summit.

3. Venerable Loop watering hole Miller's Pub has elected to shut down in the face of road closures and potential protests. The bar plans to use the time off to make repairs.

4. Clarke House, a Chicago historical museum and the city's oldest standing structure, will be closed for business on Saturday and Sunday. Staff will remain in the building 24 hours a day in case anything unexpected should happen.

5. DePaul University is one of many schools closing its doors on Friday and Monday due to traffic congestion and other expected disruptions. Other schools closing up shop include Old St. Mary's grade school on South Michigan Avenue, Frances Xavier Warde School’s campuses in the West Loop and Gold Coast, National Louis University’s Chicago campus, and St. Ignatius on Roosevelt Road.

The other five are HERE.  H/T Daniel Selcke

Senate rejects Quinn pick for Human Rights Commission

SPRINGFIELD - A year after Governor Pat Quinn asked that the Senate re-appoint Nation of Islam follower Munir Muhammad to Illinois' Human Rights Commission, the Illinois Senate rejected the Governor's pick Thursday with 30 votes.

Munir Muhammed, of South Holland, had served on the Human Rights Commission for nearly ten years, first appointed by Rod Blagojevich in 2003.  The reappointment salary for serving on the commission was listed at $49,960.  Muhammed is the co-founder of CORE, the Coalition for the Remembrance of the Honorable Elijah Muhammed.  His bio on the CORE website describes Muhammed's converstion to the Muslim faith and his current involvement:

New York Times “Uncovers” Evil GOP Super PAC plot to “Smear” Obama

By Teri O'Brien -

Several weeks ago, the several dozen people watching Rev. Al Sharpton’s unintentionally hilarious show on the 24/7 nuthouse, MS-NBC, would have thought that Trayvon Martin’s parents had become co-hosts of the show. Now that the whole “racist, profiling, trigger-happy white Hispanic” fairy tale has completely unraveled, Al was heard asking “Trayvon Who?”

He has moved on to another racially-charged bombshell, exposed this morning on the front page of the Liberal Death Star aka The New York Times; specifically, the sickening scheme by anti-Obama political operatives, funded by one of those scumbag rich guys, to actually--forgive me, I’m having a hard time writing because it’s hard for me to even think about something so ugly--connect Barack Obama to the man who performed his marriage ceremony and baptized his children!! How low will these people go to try to destroy, or as Rev. Al said on his program this evening “dehumanize” this man?

Video here. 

The Lame Stream Media-Chicago axis of evil is up to its old tricks. Just as we described here and here, yet again they are resorting to threats, Intimidation and lies to silence anyone who dares to criticize the One.

Rescuing Medicaid: How Illinois can reform Medicaid without rate cuts and tax hikes

by Jonathan Ingram

In February, Gov. Pat Quinn told lawmakers that to rescue Illinois’ Medicaid program, the state would need to “reduce expenditures in the program by $2.7 billion” for fiscal year 2013. But so far, neither Quinn nor lawmakers have proposed a plan that does so.

The Illinois Policy Institute has proposed reforming Medicaid into a premium assistance program, as outlined in Budget Solutions 2013. But as lawmakers race against the clock before the spring legislative session ends May 31, they are instead seeking ways to cut next year’s Medicaid bill.The Institute has developed the following menu of $1.7 billion in Medicaid reforms that cut spending and do not include any tax increases or the dramatic rate cuts that Quinn has proposed. These reforms, in addition to the $1.4 billion in savings that Quinn’s Medicaid working group has developed, allow the state to exceed the targeted $2.7 billion in savings:

NATO protesters rampage Chicago neighborhoods

CHICAGO - Breitbart.com's crew grabbed anarchist destruction in Chicago neighborhoods Wednesday night. This activity took place in quiet neighborhoods where there's a heavy population of Chicago police and firemen families - while Chicago police stand by and watch.

IL Comptroller Topinka first Republican to fold on cigarette tax hike

SPRINGFIELD - If you're of the mindset that Republicans should not demand millions more from already overburdened taxpayers - especially those nicotine-addicted and cough-proned cigarette smokers - you'll be unhappy with Illinois State Comptroller Judy Baar-Topinka. 

Today she became the first Republican statewide officer to fold and support hiking cigarette taxes another $1 a pack, bringing Cook County cigs up to nearly $100 per carton.  With Topinka's lead, look for other Republicans to follow suit.

Or, put up a fight and call your state lawmakers today at 217 782 2000 - and call the House members first.  They're on the verge of sitting down to another tax round with a poker face at the Capitol. Your silence could mean that you're fine with this latest development.  If you are, then don't complain.

And by the way, Comptroller Topinka is fully behind expanding gambling, too.  In the same press release, she supports slots at horse race tracks.  The release sent out Thursday afternoon:

Political reform group opposes IL General Assembly removing super PAC caps

SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Illinois Campaign for Political Reform on Wednesday called on legislators to reject newly introduced legislation to eliminate campaign contribution limits in some election campaigns.

House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 3722, which surfaced in the final two weeks of the spring session, would remove limits on all contributions to all candidates running in an election where spending by an independent committee (or super PAC) reaches a threshold amount of $250,000 in support of a candidate in a statewide race or $100,000 in an election for state legislator, mayor, judge and all other non-statewide contests.

Spotted over Elgin: An "odd little plane" that looks like a drone

ELGIN, IL - Just 40 miles northwest of Chicago earlier this week, an Elgin resident appears to have caught this "odd little plane" on camera. It looks like a surveillance drone was flying overhead, likely for this weekend's NATO Summit in Chicago.

Have you seen anything like this in your area? Or do you think it's a fake?

IL lawmakers demand US Senate repeal Medicaid mandate in Obamacare

Washington, DC – Congressman Aaron Schock (R-IL) and Illinois House Republican Leader Tom Cross are continuing their efforts to sound the alarm about the mounting budget pressures facing Illinois taxpayers due to the duel threat of expanding Medicaid costs and the implementation of the federal Affordable Care Act.

Schock and Cross have spearheaded a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Senate Minority Leader Mitchell McConnell, signed by ten Illinois Congressional Republicans and all 54 Illinois State Republican Representatives, demanding that the US Senate follow the actions taken in the House in repealing the Medicaid Maintenance of Effort (MOE) mandate in the Affordable Care Act.

In the letter to the Senate leadership today, the group urged immediate Senate consideration of H.R. 5652 saying, “If signed into law, this legislation would give Illinois the flexibility it needs to move forward with the implementation of income verification requirements that are allowed under state law, but are currently impossible under federal law. The state legislation adopted income verification requirements, on a bipartisan basis, as a way to reduce fraud in an overburdened system. Repealing the Medicaid MOE requirement allows the State of Illinois to proceed with this important program integrity measure.”

ChiTown Occupiers greet 99% Solidarity comrades

Just outside Chicago Thursday am ...

Madison County Board member Kathy Smith calls for pay cut

Edwardsville, IL…On Wednesday, Republican County Board Member Kathy Smith (R-Alton) voted against a pay increase for Madison County Board members.  Smith proposed instead, that Board Members take a pay cut by as much as 20%.  Kathy Smith stated “it’s time for a pay cut, not a pay hike for the Madison County Board.”

At Wednesday’s Madison County Board meeting, members approved a Resolution to increase the County Board Member’s salary by 8% or $1,079.  The current salary range for members of the Madison County Board is $13,416-$14,495.  The Resolution which passed by the majority of the Board will set the annual salary for all 29 members of the board to be elected in November 2012 at $14,495.

Roskam talks cap gains and dividend taxes

WASHINGTON - Congressman Peter Roskam (IL-6) explains the effect of potential federal tax hikes that will dramatically damper the nation's economic recovery:

TMA urges legislators to aggressively address pension and Medicaid issues

From TMA -

With just over two weeks remaining in the 2012 regular legislative session, time is running out for the Illinois General Assembly to pass much needed pension and Medicaid reforms that will put Illinois back on path toward financial stability. Manufacturers need to know that Illinois is serious about getting its fiscal house in order, and by finally reigning in spending on bloated programs legislators can send a clear signal that Illinois is once again open for business.

Illinois leaders in both the public and private sector agree that public pension reform is one of the most important issues facing Illinois in 2012. The financial viability and health of pension systems is being called into question as the baby boom generation ages, life expectancy increases, and the state and nation face public-sector budget crises. Nationwide, underfunding of state pension funds totals more than $3 trillion. Illinois has the worst underfunded pension liability in the entire nation.

House to consider legislator 12-day pay dock and COLA restriction for FY '13

The Illinois House could cut the Illinois FY 13 budget by $900,000 is they vote to slash their own paychecks by one day a month and bar a previously-approved cost of living adjustment.  An amended version of HB 3188 passed the Illinois Senate earlier this year and was adopted Wednesday in the House State Government Committee. Shortly after committee passage, 41 GOP House members signed on as co-sponsors.

Next stop for HB 3188 is a consensus vote on the Illinois House floor.  If the proposal passes the House and is signed by the Governor, it would go into effect immediately.

Via #ILHouseGOP Twitter

Metro area, state rank above average for household financial health

Oops, sorry to mislead with that headline. It's not for Illinois, it's for the state just to the north of us - Wisconsin - you know, where Republican Governor Scott Walker is being recalled by state employee unions. 

That good news headline doesn't apply whatsoever to Illinois, where Democrat Governor Pat Quinn, whose campaign was heavily financed by state employee unions, isn't being recalled, despite abysmal state financial problems. From the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel Thursday:

Wisconsin received a double dose of evidence Wednesday that it's faring better than many parts of the United States as the economy slowly recovers.

One report said the financial condition of Wisconsin households is healthier than in the nation as a whole, and that the four-county Milwaukee metro area ranks 11th-best among 25 major metro areas in the country.

Kass' guide to Chicago diplomacy for NATO visitors

For a peace-making chuckle, read Chicago Tribune columnist John Kass' Guide to Chicago diplomacy, a must-have for all international guests visiting McCormick Place this weekend during the 2012 NATO Summit.

Read "Howyou dooin, NATO?" and don't forget the palm grease.

Madison Co Board members vote themselves 8% pay hike

EAST ALTON - GOP candidate Justin Sandbach is frustrated with a pay hike Madison County board members gave themselves Wednesday night.  From Sandbach's Facebook page this morning:

In a time when families have been forced to cut back time and time again our Madison County Board members (including my opponent) voted for a 8% pay increase tonight by a vote of 16-13. This would increase their salaries $1,079. How out of touch is my opponent?

Madison County has an unemployment rate of 9.4%, yet many on the other side cannot help but continue to take more from the taxpayers. Lets put a stop to this in November!

State employee unions push IL lawmakers to adopt progressive state tax

CHICAGO - WeareOneIllinois.org is home to an array of unions representing state and school employees, from SEIU to AFSCME to the IEA, IFT and others. They are calling for the legislature to halt Quinn's budget cuts, Madigan's pension dumps and retiree health care premium hikes. Instead, they say, adopt a "fair" - read "progressive" - system of raising needed revenue.  From the website:

Corporate CEOs and lobbyists pushing unfair, unconstitutional cuts are drowning out the voices of middle class public employees who earn modest pensions—just $32,000 a year on average—typically contribute 8 to 10 percent of every paycheck toward their pension, and rely on the pension they earn since nearly 80% aren’t eligible for Social Security.

We Are One Illinois unions have met repeatedly with legislative leaders and the governor, offering to help save the state billions of dollars in pension costs. But rumors persist that legislation may sabotage the prospect of a collaborative, fair solution.

Such legislation may be modeled on Governor Quinn’s proposal to saddle teachers, caregivers and other public employees with the entire burden of solving the pension problem alone. Quinn’s plan would unconstitutionally cut COLA protections that ensure pensions keep pace with inflation,1 force employees to work longer and make them pay an additional 3 percentage points from every check (an increase of 28% to 75%).

Rainbow PUSH staffer accuses Rev. Jackson of affair with Fox News contributor

CHICAGO - Accuracy in Media's Cliff Kincaid reports on a lawsuit filed against the Rev. Jesse Jackson, alleging the civil rights leader was involved with Fox News contributor and Chicago attorney Tamara Holder, and forced an employee to facilitate the illicit affair. Jackson admitted in 2010 he was the father of an illegitimate child. 

The accuser, Tommy R. Bennett, was Jackson’s personal travel assistant and ran the legal clinic at Jackson’s organization, the Rainbow PUSH Coalition. He says he was eventually fired for protesting his treatment by Jackson and other PUSH employees and is seeking hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages.

Holder has not responded to repeated requests for comment from Accuracy in Media, but Jackson’s press representative, Lauren Love, says the allegations are false and will be proven so.

Bennett attorney Thomas V. Leverso says that Jackson and PUSH have been stonewalling a legal response for many months but that investigations and the case are moving forward. Leverso tells Accuracy in Media that witnesses have come forward to verify the allegations against Jackson.

More juicy details from the lawsuit are at Accuracy in Media. Below is Holder on a 2011 visit with Imus on Fox News Business:

Angry SEIU Health workers protest budget cuts at State Capitol

SPRINGFIELD - Tuesday, hundreds of SEIU Health Care IL-IN workers protested Governor Pat Quinn's proposed $2.7 billion Medicaid budget cuts, as shown in this SEIU-produced YouTube.

The SEIU website says, "Throughout the day, members called on legislators to support a fair tax system in Illinois that puts community resources before tax breaks for rich corporations." Two years ago, SEIU fully supported the Democrat-backed 67 percent state income tax hike.

As show at the end of the video, SEIU union members chanted the Occupy Wall Street theme, "We are the 99 percent!"

Angry seniors dump "survival kits" at Governor's door

SPRINGFIELD - Galesburg.com reports that Wednesday a dozen seniors, angry with Governor Quinn about the $2.7 billion in Medicaid budget cuts he's proposing, dumped "survival kits" at the Governor's Capitol office door.  The kits contained diapers, gloves, wipes, empty prescription bottles and other senior care necessities.

“The General Assembly has already made deep cuts to public services for seniors and people with disabilities. Enough is enough. We’re here today to tell Governor Quinn and the members of the General Assembly: ‘Save our Seniors’ ” one of the protestors said. 

The seniors are calling for Illinois to move from a flat tax to a progressive system, wherein the wealthier pay more state taxes.

NATO Summit protesters take to Southside Chicago streets, shouting "F*** the police"

From Marathon Pundit who was on hand Monday night, May 14, 2012 as NATO Summit protesters hit the streets in Southside close knit Chicago neighborhoods - CAUTION: Language protesters use is vulgar and divisive.

As you will see in my video, the marchers, many of whom were masked, were a bunch of foul-mouthed brats. "No justice no peace, f*ck the police," was one chant, as was, "From Chicago to Greece, f*ck the police." Another chant was "Cops, pigs, murderers."

The march began in an African American neighborhood and continued into the Asian, Hispanic, and white Canaryville and Bridgeport neighborhoods. These are working class areas--where the so-called 99 percent live. And the marchers received a hostile reception from these South Siders.

Eventually some of the anarchists learned that I was not part of their movement. A woman screeched at me, "They know where you live anyway, bitch." I'm sure her parents are proud of her.

The cops showed incredible restraint and had to cope with similar taunts all evening. Amazingly, there were no arrests last night, for that I give credit to the police.

>

Minimum wage hike passes Senate committee along party lines

SPRINGFIELD - Wednesday afternoon in the Senate Executive Committee, State Senator Kimberly Lightford (D-Chicago) moved a bill forward to raise Illinois' minimum wage to be the highest in the US. SB 1565 would cause Illinois employers - including those in restaurants and one employee companies - to comply with the higher rate or pay stiffer penalties. 

Before the bill was heard in committee, three Democrats voted in support.

State Senator Matt Murphy (R-Palatine) noted that after the last minimum wage hike in Illinois, the state now has the highest teen unemployment rate in 42 years. Retail merchants testifying during the hearing agreed with concerns, saying the teen unemployment rate in Chicago is now 48%, and a hike in minimum wage would endanger more teen jobs.

Vote is coming up shortly ... SB 1565 passes Senate Exec with a 9 to 5 vote along party lines, with Democrats voting for the hike and Republicans against. The bill goes to the Senate floor next.

Lawmakers Call for Hearing on Red Light Camera Bill

Adding one second of time to yellow lights equipped with red light cameras could save lives said State Sen. Dan Duffy (R-Lake Barrington) and State Rep. Ed Sullivan (R-Mundelein), who on May 16 called on Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan to allow House lawmakers to vote on legislation that will make intersections safer for Illinois drivers.

Senate Bill 3504, sponsored in the Senate by Duffy, passed with overwhelming support and was sent to the Illinois House where Rep. Sullivan picked up sponsorship of the legislation. Unfortunately, upon the bill’s arrival in the House, Illinois Speaker Michael Madigan vowed not to release the bill to committee, in effect killing the legislation.

“In addition to making intersections safer and reducing accidents, our ‘One Second for Safety’ bill will also drastically reduce red light camera tickets,” says Duffy. “In the Senate my bill had overwhelming bi-partisan support. The bill’s co-sponsors include both Republicans and Democrats. The Black Caucus worked very closely with me on this bill. Why would Speaker Madigan personally block this legislation from being released to a committee?”

Cartoon: Pimping Gay Marriage

Pension payment shift could cost local IL governments millions

SPRINGFIELD - If Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan's (D-Chicago) plan to push pension payments back to the local level, local cities, municipalities, counties and villages will lose millions of dollars that they'll be forced to raise through local property tax hikes or cut from their locality budgets. 

Here's a peek at what could be lost throughout the state -

• City of Champaign - $950,000
• Champaign County - $900,000
• Parkland College - $1.9 million
• City of Danville - $1.5 million
• Vermilion County - $1.2 million

Kinzinger discusses F-22 issues on CNN

A pilot himself, Congressman Adam Kinzinger (IL-11) has taken the lead investigating potential oxygen issues affecting F-22 pilots' flying abilities -

Occupy Chicago protests Citibank foreclosures

CHICAGO - Arrests were made outside Citibank Chicago Wednesday by anti-NATO, Occupy Chicago groups demanding a statewide moratorium on foreclosures ...

The group Chicago Anti-Eviction, joined by Occupy Chicago, met Wednesday morning at Jackson and LaSalle and marched to Citibank and then to Daley Plaza, where they petitioned Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart to enact a moratorium on for-profit foreclosures.

Marchers said there is a direct link between NATO and the housing crisis.

"NATO is an organization that we as a community are spending a lot of tax dollars on," said Micah Philbrook of Occupy Chicago. "The United States itself has given over $800 million to NATO in tax funding, and we think that money could be better spent in our own communities, such as keeping people in their homes."

IL Road repairs could be ditched for IDOT employee demands

SPRINGFIELD -Governor Quinn's budget proposal could detour $250 million in state road funds away from fixing pot holes and resurfacing rough roads towards smoothing over Illinois Department of Transportation employees' pension and health care provisions. 

So that must mean Governor Quinn thinks the state's roads are safe and fine, and he thinks it's more important that IDOT employees are happy.  Here's the facts:

More than 2,500 miles of roads in the state are deemed unacceptable according to IDOT standards. That's about 15 percent of all state-maintained roads. That number could double by 2018 if nothing is done, bringing the total number of miles of unacceptable state roads to more than 5,000.

So, we wonder, what will happen to this recent announcement from the Governor's office and all those shovel-ready union construction jobs that will be delayed indefinitely??

SBA-List supports diversity of thought in "Womanhood" (video)

Susan B. Anthony's List just released this powerful Internet ad mocking Obama's "War on Women." Sign their petition supporting "Womanhood" -

Stripper Tax passes Senate Public Health Committee

SPRINGFIELD - Talk about double entendres ... the stripper tax has new collection options, the IL Senate GOP reports via Twitter. Next up, legalize and tax prostitution.  Think we're kidding??

Klein got it wrong in book about Obama and Illinois' Born Alive Act

By Jill Stanek -

Edward Klein’s unauthorized biography of Barack Obama, The Amateur, was released yesterday.

While I appreciate that Klein devoted a chapter of his book, albeit only three pages, to Obama’s opposition as state senator to the Illinois Born Alive Infant Protection Act, he got it pretty much all wrong. You can read the chapter at the link above, but here is the relevant section:

Obama did, however, have an interest in opposing a law that would have banned late-term partial birth abortions, a gruesome procedure that was once condemned by the late New York Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan as “too close to infanticide.” All across the state of Illinois, people were riveted by the controversial debate. The Chicago Sun-Times ran a cartoon showing God reaching down from heaven to a baby in front of Obama, who is holding a sign that reads “Live Birth Abortions” and yelling at God, “You keep out of this!”

An Illinois nurse named Jill Stanek testified before the Health and Human Services Committee that she had discovered that babies were being aborted alive and allowed to die in soiled utility rooms. One baby was accidentally thrown into the trash. Though Obama never showed up at the committee hearings, he voted against the bill – not once, but twice.

When, after a decade in the political wilderness, Illinois Democrats gained a majority in the legislature, Obama became chairman of the Health and Human Services Committee. As chairman, he prevented the “Live Baby Bill” from getting a committee hearing, guaranteeing that the legislation would die, much as the late-term babies were dying in the state’s hospitals.

People often get details about this chain of events wrong. For many years I, myself, thought Obama voted against the Born Alive Act three times, when it was actually four.  It doesn’t help that the Obama campaign and liberals persistently try to muddy the waters.

Candidate Obama vs. President Obama on Clean Coal (video)

Illinoisans should be very concerned about the two faces of the Obama Administration on the issue of clean coal.

Little Pavel and the Third Party

By John F. Di Leo -

Our young volunteer returns… to a different party altogether?

Pavel hesitated as he turned the worn brass knob on the familiar door to 51st Ward Party Headquarters.  He hadn’t been back in quite a while, and he didn’t really want to go in.

But just as he let go of the knob and began to turn away and run, he heard a voice from within call his name. “Hey, Paully, welcome back! Long time no see!”

It was Pockets, the old Deputy Committeeman of the 51st Ward, waving him in from his spot at the head of the collating table.  Pavel no longer had a choice, if indeed he ever did; he stepped through the doorway and returned, after many months away. He had crossed the Rubicon.

“We’re just workin’ on a mailing, Paully!” said the old man through the usual filter of cookie crumbs.  The man ate, seemingly, from dawn until dusk. “Have a seat, and den ya can pitch in while we catch up!”

Healthy cookies a hit on Friedman campaign trail

By Nancy Thorner -

Illinois is not exactly a bastion of new business and economic development. Between our low bond rating, high corporate tax-rate and overall reputation as being one of the least business-friendly states in the country, new business ventures are not commonplace in the Land of Lincoln.

Even in Illinois there are exceptions and we must remember to never underestimate the entrepreneurial fortitude of the American spirit.

Obama pal grabs $5.9M HHS grant

CHICAGO - Michelle Malkin writes this week in the National Review about the $5.9 Million Health and Human Services grant Obama golf pal, crony Dr. Eric Whitaker's University of Chicago Medical Center's department is soon to receive:

The University of Chicago Medical Center grant walks and talks like just such a political payoff. I have reported extensively on how Mrs. Obama helped engineer the Urban Health Initiative’s plan to offload low-income patients with non-urgent health needs. With consulting help from Obama senior adviser David Axelrod’s Chicago-based PR firm and the blessing of fellow Chicago pal Valerie Jarrett (who chaired the hospital’s board of trustees), Mrs. Obama sold the scheme to outsource low-income care to other facilities as a way to “dramatically improve health care for thousands of South Side residents.”

The program guaranteed “free” shuttle rides to and from the outside clinics. In truth, it was old-fashioned cost-cutting and favor-trading repackaged by a nonprofit, tax-exempt hospital as minority aid. Clearing out the poor freed up room for insured (i.e., more lucrative) patients.

More at National Review - and other places on Illinois Review - search for "Eric Whitaker"

Senate President pushes more Internet Gambling

SPRINGFIELD - Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago) has introduced an Internet Gambling bill expansion which will be heard in the Senate Executive Committee Wednesday.  HB 4148 would allow wide open Internet gambling—poker, keno, scratch-off tickets, casino games—which would be decided by rule making after the legislation is passed.

With the passage of Cullerton's plan, anyone 21 and older could set up an account and gamble in Illinois or anywhere in the world, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Gambling would be accessible in homes, offices and dorm rooms from computers or cell phones.   People could empty their bank accounts and lose their home with a few clicks of the mouse. 

Gov Christie and Mayor Booker: "Dont Worry, We've Got This" (video)

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie will "have it" at CPAC- Chicago June 8th at the Rosemont Convention Center, Chicago Conservatives' premiere event for 2012. Despite the super human abilities demonstrated in this video, Mayor Booker's not expected, but who knows?

Nebraska GOPers pick Fischer in US Senate race

LINCOLN - Although she's never held a statewide office before, Nebraska Republican Deb Fischer pulled off an upset win in a three way GOP US Senate primary Tuesday. She'll be facing Democrat Bob Kerrey in November as Senate Republicans fight to win four US Senate seats.

The Hill reports Chicago Cubs owner Joe Ricketts was involved in Fischer's win over the GOP establishment as well as Tea Party picks -

But in the waning days of the primary, polls showed major movement in Fischer’s direction, and Fischer said her grassroots efforts and positive campaign had finally paid off. Former Gov. Sarah Palin (R-Alaska) and former presidential candidate Herman Cain waded into the race to back Fischer, and a super-PAC controlled by Chicago Cubs owner Joe Ricketts pumped $200,000 into the race to support Fischer and attack Bruning.

GOP House staffer slapped for "prohibited political activity"

SPRINGFIELD - A staffer for House Republican Leader Tom Cross received a six-month probation and an unpaid five-day suspension for conducting “prohibited political activity” on state time.

Legislative aide Nicholas McNeely, who’s worked for the GOP since 2005, campaigned for an incumbent representative during work hours, according to a February report by Thomas Homer, the Illinois legislative inspector general.

McNeely supported and worked for Rep. Kent Gaffney, R-Lake Barrington, during Gaffney’s failed primary bid. ...The rest at Chicago Tribune

The news ... illustrated

AFP-IL converges on Springfield to demand pension reform

SPRINGFIELD - On Wednesday, the Illinois chapter of Americans for Prosperity, America’s largest organization advocating for economic freedom, will join Illinois taxpayers in delivering “leftovers” to Illinois’ legislative leaders to make the point they are tired of receiving the funding leftovers from the General Assembly and to demand pension reform.

“Illinoisans pay more in state taxes than at any point in history, yet due in part to unsustainable pension payments, they are receiving the leftovers in state funding for their priorities,” said David From, AFP-Illinois State Director. “We’re delivering the leftovers to the politicians in this case to make the point that Illinois needs real pension reform now because they are sick of the leftovers.”

Connelly and Sandack discuss state and local issues on "Capitol Agenda"

LISLE - The latest edition of Downers Grove State Senator Ron Sandack's "Capitol Agenda" cable access program, discussing state and local issues with State Rep. Mike Connelly (R-Lisle):

Murphy bolsters College Illinois! with investment transparency

SPRINGFIELD, IL – 30,000 College Illinois! families will now have more transparency regarding the investments that are held by the tuition guarantee program, thanks to legislation sponsored by State Sen. Matt Murphy (R-Palatine).

“As we continue to add even more ‘sunshine’ into state government, sometimes programs like College Illinois! are overlooked, and with the financial issues that have plagued the program, it was way past time to bring the investment portfolio into the Open Meetings Act,” Murphy said. “We have audit after audit that have shown the program is in significant trouble and we must ensure that the College Illinois! contractual obligations are met with the 30,000 investment families.”

Schock honors Komen with pink socks

U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock and his D.C. office staff pose in their pink socks and other clothing on the steps of the U.S. Capitol. The office staff are taking part in a challenge to support the annual Race for the Cure held to raise money for breast cancer research in honor of Peoria native Susan G. Komen.