Illinois Review

Obamacare: Glitch on Deadline Day

By Amy Payne - 

If you rushed to HealthCare.gov this morning, you might have found the site unavailable or been placed in a queue, reports said.

“An administration spokesman told the AP the website is usually offline for maintenance overnight, and was brought down for four extra hours by a technical glitch,” NBC reported.

This probably didn’t take many people by surprise. Obamacare’s technical glitches are well known. But the big problem with Obamacare is that the law’s flaws are more than a glitch. Share our parody video below as the Obama administration frantically urges people to “Get Covered” today.

UPDATE: Just after 12:30 p.m., the administration said that users signing into the website for the first time can’t access enrollment and application tools because of “record” traffic. There are “more than 100,000 people concurrently in the system as of noon,” a spokesman told Politico.

When reality meets Obamacare: Sebelius left speechless in TV interview

During an appearance on a local Oklahoma television station, Health and Human Services Sec. Kathleen Sebelius was left quite literally speechless when asked by anchor Stan Miller about criticisms of Obamacare:

“At last check, 64 percent of Oklahomans aren’t buying into the health-care plan — they don’t like Obamacare and they have been pretty vocal about it. Now that’s going to be, still continue to be a tough sell but we’ll see how that plays out over the coming months,” 

Sebelius did not respond, instead staring blankly into the camera for about six seconds without saying a word. Then Miller questioned if the audio had gone out on her end. Sebelius answered: “I can hear you, but I — thanks for having me.” The intereview ended.

See video below:

Northwestern Football Players Get Maternity Coverage Under Obamacare

By Jennifer Kabbany - 

The insanity of Obamacare was on full display this weekend over the news that, under the Affordable Care Act, Northwestern University’s football team, once unionized, would receive maternity coverage through its mandated federal health insurance.

“Northwestern University became the first school in the nation to deem its football players full-time employees, thus making them eligible for union representation and health insurance benefits including maternity coverage,” Rare reported. "The kicker is that under Obamacare, the Evanston-based team, comprised of more than 50 ‘employees,’ is considered a ‘large employer’ and Northwestern must provide pregnancy-related health care for the all-male team.”

Rideshare drivers and customers to Chicago City Council: don’t kill these jobs

By Jacob Heubert - 

I don’t usually enjoy sitting through Chicago City Council committee meetings.

The ones I’ve attended have typically involved aldermen blustering about how the city needs to ban, restrict or control one thing or another, with no regard for individual rights or economic sense.

But last Thursday’s meeting of the council’s Committee on License and Consumer Protection was different.

The committee met to consider how the city should regulate ridesharing services such as UberX, Lyft and Sidecar. Representatives from the ridesharing companies were there and explained how their services work. But what made this hearing so enjoyable was the testimony by drivers and customers who use these services about how ridesharing has changed their lives.

Among many others, these people included:

Illinois kicks off 10-state bus tour campaigning for increased minimum wage

Photo: Natasha Korecki

CHICAGO - Despite Illinois having one of America's highest minimum wages, Democrats are pushing for more in a 10-state bus tour that started in Chicago Monday. Governor Pat Quinn and U.S. Senator Dick Durbin were on hand at the first stop, promising their support to raise Illinois' minimum wage from $8.25 an hour to $10.10.

The tour will be in Chicago, Rockford and Springfield this week, calling for employers to be required to pay higher wages in an effort to meet minimum standards of living. The Center for American Progress, who is sponsoring the bus tour, says that a family in Chicago needs $53,055 to meet minimum standards of living. At $8.25 an hour, fulltime minimum wage earners make only $17,160 per year.

That needs to change, minimum wage hike supporters say. America's economy is favoring the wealthy few.

“For decades now, America’s middle class and working poor have lost tremendous ground due to a lopsided economy that works for the wealthy few,” said Lori Lodes, Senior Vice President of Campaigns and Strategies for the Center for American Progress Action Fund. 

Ives: Groundhog Day in Illinois

By State Rep. Jeanne Ives - 

“Okay, campers, rise and shine, and don’t forget your booties ‘cause it’s cooooold out there today… the big question on everybody’s lips... Do ya think Phil is gonna come out and see his shadow? – Punxsutawney Phil. That’s right, it’s... GROUNDHOG DAY!”

Like a scene from the 1993 movie ‘Groundhog Day,’ Illinoisans heard Governor Quinn, in his recent Budget Address, bluff the same fact-free numbers that he has used for the past three years; hail a recovery in a state that continues to batter its taxpayers; re-introduce his economic “blueprint;” boast pension reform; and reiterate his support for “birth to age 5” education (yet again ignoring reforms needed in K-12). He even finished with his often used call-to-action, “Let the will of the people be the law of the land.”

The facts, however, remain the same. For example, Illinois has the second-highest unemployment rate in the nation, and the highest in the Midwest; and Quinn’s “pension reform” law failed to fix the state crisis.

But, competing facts aside, until Illinoisans wake up and decide to push for the needed reforms, it will be ‘Groundhog Day’ for Illinois.

Lambda Legal unveils same sex marriage ads on Chicago's Red Line

CHICAGO - Lambda Legal has unveiled a same sex marriage ad campaign on the CTA Red line, making Chicago the site the organization's first transit ad campaign.

The campaign uses the slogan,"You make your life, we make it legal," and features Lambda Legal marriage plaintiffs from Chicago, as well as the organization's board co-chair, Karen Dixon, and her spouse Nan Schaffer, formerly of Chicago.

Poll shows 52.7% of Illinoisans support gambling expansion

CARBONDALE - According to a new survey by SIU's Paul Simon Institute of Public Policy, 52.7% of Illinoians support opening more casinos in the state, while 43.7% oppose it.

As reported by John Gregory of the Illinois Radio Network, respondents weighed in on five options for new sources of government revenue, including: broadening the sales tax, expanding gambling, or taxing retirement income. Only gambling received a majority of support.

“Sin taxes are always the easy out,” said SIU political scientist John Jackson. “Taxes on gambling, on liquor, and on cigarettes tend to be what state legislatures throughout the country tend to turn to, and they just don’t raise enough revenue. They wind up basically being too narrow.”

The newest gambling proposal would create five new casinos, including a state-owned gaming facility in Chicago. State lawmakers will hold a public hearing on that potential expansion next month.

Is there is a coming divide for the Democratic Party?

By Warner Todd Huston - 

We are all well versed about the factions of the Republican Party. From Tea Partiers, to social issues supporters, mavens of foreign policy and establishment GOPers, the rifts are well known. But not so thoroughly discussed are those rifts among Democrats, gulfs that may be growing ahead of what promises to be a hard 2014 midterm campaign for Democrats.

Alex Roarty notes at National Journal that the venom is already flowing among the left.

"Earlier this month," Roarty says, "Daily Kos founder Markos Moulitsas argued liberals had successfully purged so-called squishy moderates from the Democratic Party's ranks--even if those same lawmakers had helped the party retain conservative-leaning Senate and House seats. From the middle, the centrist Democratic think tank Third Way has become more outspoken in criticizing progressive leaders, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, for advocating an agenda that will compromise the party's ability to attract moderate voters."

The vitriol may also not be as short lived as just the 2014 midterms. It may also spell trouble for the 2016 presidential election season.

more HERE

89% of voters say they believe corruption is a problem in state government

By Benjamin Yount - 

SPRINGFIELD - You can’t get 90 percent of people to say they believe in Santa Claus, but nearly 90 percent of Illinois voters believe in corruption.

A new poll from the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute shows 89 percent of voters asked say they believe corruption is a problem in state government.

The new poll also shows 79 percent of voters say corruption at the federal level is at least somewhat common, and 62 percent of all Illinoisans say  county or city political corruption is at least somewhat common. The local corruption numbers spike to 85 percent when pollsters asked voters who live in or around Chicago.

David Yepsen, the director of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University, said the poll is a sad showing.

Roskam, Davis work to encourage antibiotic research and development

CHICAGO - A new concern among doctors and hospitals is the growing number of bacteria strains that are resistant to typical antibiotics. Of even bigger concern is the few number of pharmaceutical companies investing in research to find new antibiotics to fight superbugs.

In 1990, there were nearly 20 pharmaceutical companies with large, active antibiotic research and development programs. Today only three large and a handful of smaller companies continue in these efforts, and in many ways, on a more limited basis.

Illinois Congressmen Peter Roskam and Danny Davis are working together to push through Congress their "DISARM Act," which encourages drug companies to invest in antibiotic research.

Chicago's "New Urban Conservative Fund" raises $100,000

CHICAGO - An effort to promote the conservative cause in cities is being launched in the heart of liberal Chicago. Chris Cleveland, 43rd Ward Committeeman, announced the formation of a new fund started with an initial contribution of $100,000 from Richard Uihlein, owner of a shipping supplies company.

According to Cleveland, the "New Urban Conservative Fund" is focused on developing candidates and the organizational infrastructure necessary to promote conservative and free-market solutions to urban problems. It will also work to make the case that conservatives can succeed in solving urban problems where liberals have failed.

"Urban and near-suburban residents have unique problems that often receive short shrift from national conservatives," said Cleveland. "The problems of crime, public safety, education, transportation and the economy are all different in a city than they are elsewhere."

"Education is good example. In a suburban area, a voucher means a child goes to a better school. In an urban area, it means a child has a shot at a better life. We're going to support candidates who can make that case forcefully."

Cleveland tells IR the fund will focus its efforts in the Cook County area only.

Illinois considers prisoner release bill

SPRINGFIELD - Prisoners over age 50 that have served 25 years would be eligible for early release if a bill proposed by State Rep. Art Turner (D-Chicago) is passed by the Illinois General Assembly.

HB 3668 would have the inmates screened by prison administrators and then go before the Prisoner Review Board. The idea would be to reduce overcrowding and save money as older prisoners' health care costs increase.

"This bill is built on the premise that people can and do change," prisoner rights advocate Bill Ryan said in committee.

But victims' famiy members pleaded with the committee not to move forward with the legislation. Having to plead with the state prison officials against allowing convicted murderers to be on the outside to terrorize their families simply because they've turned 50 would be devastating, one testified in committee.

Matt Jones, of the State's Attorney Appellate Prosecutor's office, said the age of 50 is too arbitrary and could be challenged in court. It also impacts the governor's clemency powers.

"It is unconstitutional. It is bad public policy. It is not the direction you should go," Jones said.

The measure passed the House's Restorative Justice Committee last week and is now eligible for full House debate.

California Obamacare Sends Out Voter Registration Cards Premarked Democrat

Covered California, the Golden State’s Obamacare subsidiary described as the “new, easy-to-use marketplace where you and your family may get financial assistance to make coverage more affordable,” is sending out voter registration cards premarked Democrat.

Six local governments get 100% online transparency rating

CHICAGO - Breaking through Illinois' reputation for dark political dealings, six local governing agencies reached a 100% rating in online transparency, the Illinois Policy Institute announced last week. The six included:

During Sunshine Week 2014, the Illinois Policy Institute recognized 38 agencies for earning their Sunshine Award for excellence in online transparency. So far this year, the number of Sunshine Award winners is up to 61 – a 60 percent increase.

Over the past year, the Institute partnered with dozens of local taxing bodies across the state of Illinois through our Local Transparency Project, helping them achieve excellence in online transparency by adopting recommendations from our 10-Point Transparency Checklist.

Southern Illinois counties have highest conceal carry permit numbers

PEORIA (AP) - A newspaper analysis shows two far-southern Illinois counties have the highest per-capita number of concealed carry applications.

The Peoria Journal Star reports Hardin and White counties topped the state for the most concealed carry permit requests based on their population. Each county had a rate of 12.5 applications per 1,000 residents.

So far, 54 Hardin County residents have applied and 184 applications have come from White County residents.

Cook County had the least number of applications per-capita — 2.3 per 1,000 residents. But the state's most populated county led the state in simple numbers, with 12,027 applicants so far.

Illinois State Police began accepting permit applications in January. By early March, nearly 49,000 people had applied. The first permits were mailed this month.

Study: Illinois among leaders in higher education funding hikes

NORMAL - As Gov. Pat Quinn makes the push for more education funding in Illinois, a study done at Illinois State University shows that Illinois' 15-percent increase in funding for the 2013-14 budget year ($3.6 billion to $4.1 billion) was one of the biggest spikes in the country.

Nationwide, higher education funding rose 5.7 percent, driven largely by increases in Illinois, California and Florida. Funding dropped 0.4 percent in 2012-13 and plummeted 7.5 percent in 2011-12.

In his recent budget address, Quinn focused more on funding for childhood education and community college and called for MAP college scholarships to be doubled. He also said without the income tax hike becoming permanent, drastic cuts would be required.

Officials at Illinois State University and other state schools have complained in recent years that cuts to state funding have created financial hardships, forcing them to further raise tuition and delay construction projects.

Illinois lawmakers push for state retirement plan

SPRINGFIELD - In an attempt to take more money from taxpayers, Illinois state Senator Daniel Biss (D-Evanston) is advancing legislation that would require private businesses without retirement plans to enroll workers in a statewide government savings program.

The program would take 3 percent from every employee paychecks and put money into a managed investment fund. Employees could choose to opt out of the program.

Business groups say the state shouldn't force businesses to enroll employees. They argue it would add costs and complications to businesses.

New bill proposes keeping licenses after speeding ticket

SPRINGFIELD - Current laws states that an Illinois citizen forfeits his driver's license if he gets a speeding ticket. However, a state Senate committee has approved a bill to let drivers "sign and go."  That means a compliance promise is made and the license stays with you.  

"For most people it's their only government-issued ID," said Chris Kachiroubas, president of Ilinois Association of Court Clerks. "If you want to get into a school and leave your driver's license at the counter to talk to a teacher, you can't do it.  You can't get on an airplane because you don't have an ID, checkwriting - you're on a speeding ticket."

"Non-residents of the state of Illinois who are going from Indiana to Iowa get a ticket and they can keep their license on a promise to comply," Kachiroubas said. "Why is it that resident here are considered second citizens at this point?"

The measure now heads to the full Senate for consideration and a vote.

Where You Can Buy Health Insurance After Today

By Amy Payne - 

Today is kinda-sorta the deadline to sign up for Obamacare, though if you want to say you’re “in line” for coverage, the administration is okay with that. (If your state is running its own Obamacare exchange, it may be keeping its deadline firm, so check with your state.)

When we wrote about the Obamacare deadline and penalty recently, a reader brought up a great question: Can you still buy health insurance after March 31?

She asked, “If I chose to go uninsured, but end up with a massive medical issue,” could she “just buy insurance and be covered, you know, since they must cover pre-existing conditions”?

The answer is yes. If you don’t have Obamacare-compliant health insurance by today, you could pay the penalty for this year—depending on the amount of flexibility the administration decides to offer in its latest delay—or you could still purchase a policy anytime in the individual market outside the Obamacare exchanges. The amount of time you go without coverage determines your penalty—or as the IRS calls it, your “shared responsibility payment.”

Shooting benefit raises funds for St. Jude's Children's

SPARTA - About 250 shooters turned out for a St. Jude's Children's Hospital benefit shoot Saturday at Sparta's World Shooting Complex.

Members of the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity at Southern Illinois University hosted the 7th annual "A Shot at Life" event. See video below:

Thorner/O'Neil: U.N. Agenda 21 Impacts Private Property Rights and Freedom

By Nancy Thorner and Bonnie O'Neil - 

Our last article, "Are You Under Attack by UN Agenda 21," exposed the “United Nation Agenda 21" scheme to grab American citizens’ property rights and freedoms. While that information is not exactly going viral throughout America, more and more people are realizing something unusual and troubling is happening in America.

That is good news, because the more citizens become observant and knowledgeable, the better chance we have of stopping what many now believe is an invasive attack upon us. While property rights are a major part of Agenda 21, it encompasses far more areas of our lives, with new laws and adverse changes from our government. We will explain the other tentacles of this odious United Nations agenda in future editions. This article will inform you of more ways it impacts our property and freedom, as well as our natural resources, parks and historic landmarks. 

We must deny the assumption that only government can protect nature, air, soil, water, and open spaces. History informs us that all societies run by totalitarian governments experience severe environmental degradation where there is little or no private property and a misuse of resources. The end result is a chasm which develops between the haves and have-nots and a resulting bleak future for individual citizens.

Senator McCarter spends spring break among Kenya's needy

LEBANON - After an historically bitter cold winter this year in Illinois, anyone in the state with resources to escape to warmer temperatures is doing so over spring break. But few are going as far as State Senator Kyle McCarter and his wife Victoria, who are once again visiting a frequent "vacation" spot in one of the neediest areas of Kenya, Africa.

The McCarters returned to Tharaka, Kenya this week to spend their spring break assisting at the Each One Feed One International ministry Senator McCarter's parents founded in 1981.

SNL's Cold Open promotes Healthcare.gov [video]

Saturday Night Live's cold open focused on the White House using celebrities and social media to promote Healthcare.gov:

Illinois artist aims to reduce abortion's stigma

Abortion, its unacknowledged value to society and its thousands-year-old history is the theme of an art exhibit now drawing public attention on display at the University of Michigan. 

Heather Ault, a graphics artist from Urbana, Illinois, debuted "4000 Years of Abortion" in 2009, and its visual praise for abortion rights continues to delight pro-abortion activists and horrify pro-lifers.

"Abortion providers are heroes," one sign in the display says. Another says, "Abortions are a gift from God," and another says "Women should have the right to make their choices without people praying over their souls."  Illustrations are framed by clothes hangers. 

Ault debuted her exhibit in 2009 at the University of Illinois, and since then has traveled nationwide with her work, lecturing on reducing the stigma associated with abortion and encouraging abortion rights activism. 

"'4000 Years for Choice' is our story; a story of women’s reproductive empowerment, wisdom, and self-care that dates back a millennium," Ault writes. "I believe all people need to know this information, regardless of their position; whether they identify as pro-choice, pro-life, or somewhere in the middle.

April 13, 2013: a raucous ILGOP State Central Committee meeting to remember

TINLEY PARK - The Illinois Republican Party State Central Committee candidates are facing election by April 16, 2014. Perhaps the job isn't understood or appreciated enough.

A year ago in Tinley Park, an angry group of rank-and-file Republicans confronted the committee members as they considered then-chairman Pat Brady's departure - in case you missed it last April: 

Sirico on President Obama’s Meeting with Pope Francis [video]

Rev. Robert A. Sirico, co-founder and president of the Acton Institute, offers some general observations about the meeting between President Obama and Pope Francis at the Vatican, and reflects on the differences in philosophy that make a Presidential/Papal alliance such as what occurred during the time of Ronald Reagan and Pope John Paul II unlikely.

Noah Movie [video]

Illinois Review reporter graduates to "The Blaze"

Reporting for Illinois Review paid off for Marquette University's Joe Kaiser, who credits his time interning with IR as helping him land an internship in Texas with Glenn Beck's The Blaze.

"Really excited to officially head down to Texas this summer and work for TheBlaze," Kaiser said in his Facebook announcement. "This job was a goal of mine, and I'm very thankful for the Marquette Tribune, Illinois Review, Right Wisconsin and many many others for all the experiences that helped to get here. It's all paying off."

Kaiser, who responded to IR's search for interns in 2012, has reported on a number of topics, and had the opportunity to interview numerous federal, state, and local candidates. The talent and professionalism he showed in his reporting will certainly be an asset to The Blaze. 

Congrats Joe! We look forward to reading your byline from Texas.

Interested in interning with Illinois Review? Contact us at info@illinoisreview.com.

UPDATE x1: Rauner picks up Kirk's playbook for Illinois gubernatorial campaign

Photo: Sun-Times

WASHINGTON - Friday, Politico featured the Illinois gubernatorial race with a piece entitled, "Bruce Rauner copies Mark Kirk's playbook."

“It’s a winning strategy to be a social moderate and a fiscal conservative, which is exactly what the state is,” Kirk told the left-leaning publication. “Be pro-choice and be a social moderate and be right up front with that. Use the pro-choice words that come out of your mouth, which for a lot of Republicans is hard to do,” he emphasized.

“The Kirk model is the model in Illinois to win,” former ILGOP chair Pat Brady told Politico. “The Rauner model will be similar.”

However, that strategy directly contradicts the Illinois Republican Party platform that was voted on and accepted by party delegates in 2012. The platform is staunchly pro-life, stating: "the Republican Party of Illinois embraces the Right to Life of innocent unborn children and supports reform proposals protecting that right and limiting the practice of abortion in Illinois."

The platform also calls on the Governor and the General Assembly to end the taxpayer subsidy for abortion, require a doctor to involve a minor’s parents before aborting her unborn child, and outlaw the practice of partial‐birth abortion.

Except for U.S. Senate candidate Jim Oberweis, the other Republicans at the top of the ticket are pro-abortion, including Paul Schimpf (attorney general), Tom Cross (state treasurer), Judy Baar-Topinka (comptroller) and Mike Webster (secretary of state).

If Rauner does follow Kirk's playbook, he may risk losing the party's pro-life base in November.

UPDATE x1: Sunday morning, IL GOP's AG candidate Paul Schimpf disputed being labelled in this story as "pro-abortion": "The article about Rauner's campaign strategy says that I'm 'pro-abortion.' I'm pro-life, but believe that the incremental steps approach is the only thing that makes sense." 

In an interview with SJ-R's Bernie Schoenberg in December, Schimpf said his "common sense plan" advocates abortion for the first four months of pregnancy.  Schoenberg wrote:

On the issue of abortion, Schimpf believes he has a “common sense” plan. And that is to keep abortion legal through the first 16 weeks of pregnancy, but illegal after that.

He said that if by “some miracle” a human life amendment were to pass, saying that life begins at conception, the real-world result would be “like Prohibition all over again. … It just wouldn’t be enforced.”

He doesn’t support any government funding for abortion, and he agrees with the state law requiring notification of parents of girls 17 and younger before they get abortions.

Shocking Video: Millions Dead

In this shocking video, Life Dynamics Inc., a national pro-life organization located in Denton, Texas compares unborn babies murdered inside American abortion clinics to those killed from American wars.

From 1973 through 2011, at least 55 million unborn children have been slaughtered in the womb in our nation.

Mark Crutcher, president of Life Dynamics in explaining why they created this video said, "We did this video because it's very easy to talk about 55 million dead babies but no one can fully wrap their minds around those numbers. This will help America understand just how overwhelming these numbers are and demonstrate the magnitude of abortion in the United States."

IDNR head moved after anti-fracking parodies found in presentation

SPRINGFIELD - The director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources' (IDNR) Office of Oil and Gas Resource Management was moved to another position this week after he failed to explain to downstate lawmakers why rules had not been proposed to implement Illinois 2013 fracking law. The industry remains at a stand still in Illinois, awaiting the state's next legal steps.

A speech given by Mitchell Cohen at a conference this month suggests Cohen's attitude towards fracking may have contributed to the slowdown. Lawmakers obtained a copy of the PowerPoint presentation Cohen used in his speech, including anti-fracking parody songs like the ones below.

Cohen's transfer to another DNR department took place after State Rep. Brandon Phelps (D-Harrisburg) and other downstate lawmakers held a meeting with the director. Cohen offered no explanation as to why his department had not made more progress on rule-making necessary to regulate fracking in Illinois. 

"We wanted to know why the rules have not been done. They were supposed to be done within a year of the governor signing the bill," Rep. Phelps said. "Every group that sat at the negotiating table agreed to this bill. It got a lot of votes, and the governor signed it, so we wanted to know why there has been no movement."

The fracking industry in North Dakota has resulted in the state having an unemployment rate of only 2.5% unemployment, while Illinois suffers with the second highest in the country.

Stantis: The State of Illinois

Green Party announces roster of Illinois candidates

SPRINGFIELD - Scott Summers of Harvard, is running as the Green Party candidate for governor of Illinois.

“We're all hard-wired as children for a two-party system,” Summers said at a Capitol news conference. “This is understandable that we all kind of gravitate toward that. In terms of getting things done in this state, the Democrats and Republicans have utterly failed! And people say, what about the Democrats, or what about the Republicans. It's just the party of Rod Blagojevich, the party of George Ryan. We cannot possibly do worse than those people!”

Other Green candidates are Omar Lopez of Chicago for U.S. senator, Bob Pritchett of Roseville for lieutenant governor, Sheldon Schafer of Peoria for secretary of state, David Black of Rockford for attorney general, Tim Curtin of Berwyn for comptroller, and Julie Samuels of Oak Park for treasurer.

Chicagoland a ratings flop for CNN

CHICAGO - CNN's new documentary series Chicagoland. featuring the trials and triumphs of Chicago's mayor Rahm Emanuel, is a ratings disaster. 

According to Nielsen Media Research, Chicagoland has steadily declined in ratings each week since its Thursday, March 6th debut. During the series' March 20th episode, the show posted its lowest numbers since debuting, placing third in cable news at 10PM in total viewers.

From its debut, the show was down 17% in total viewers and 24% in the important ages 25-54 demographic.

By comparison, Fox News' Hannity had 1,478,000 total viewers, while MSNBC's Last Word With Lawrence O’Donnell earned 844,000 total viewers. Meanwhile, Chicagolandonly garnered 521,000 total viewers.

H/T: Warner Todd Huston

43 percent oppose Obamacare

WASHINGTON DC - If you oppose President Obama's signature legislation to revamp America's health care coverage, you're not alone. One embarrassment after another with the website, failure to expedite coordination with health care insurance companies, families losing coverage, others being forced to pay extravagant health care premiums and co-pays have turned off the American people.

An AP-GFK poll released Friday shows 43 percent of the American public oppose Obamacare, while 30 percent have no opinion one way or another, and 27 percent support it.

More HERE

Davis co-sponsors legislation to combat human trafficking

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis (R-IL) announced this week that he signed on as a co-sponsor to H.R. 4225, the SAVE Act, legislation to combat human trafficking and help protect Americans by closing Internet marketplaces that host advertisements for the commercial exploitation of women and minors.

“Human trafficking is a $9 billion a year industry in the United States, and online classified services likeBackpage.com are making millions of dollars per month off of the advertising of children for sex,” said Davis. “As a husband and a father of three children, it sickens me to think that this kind of behavior runs so rampant in the United States. Congress must act to give law enforcement the tools they need to combat sexual exploitation and enslavement of women and children in this country."

H.R. 4225, the Stop Advertising Victims of Exploitation (SAVE) Act, will make it unlawful to sell or commercially promote an advertisement that facilitates kidnapping; trafficking or exploitation of children; sexual abuse or illegal sex; pimping, prostitution, child sex abuse and trafficking.

Report: 81% of state agencies not in compliance with Illinois Open Meetings Act

CHICAGO - Politicians like to boast about legislation they've put into effect that permits sunshine on secretive agencies and and fresh air into closed-door deals on government spending. However reform-sounding the laws' intentions, rarely does anyone keep track of how those laws are being enforced. 

Apparently, the state of Illinois is living up to its infamous reputation of corruption and political secrets despite a continual cycle of toughening ethics reform laws.  

A recent study by a Illinois good government group found that 81 percent of Illinois' state agencies are not in compliance with mandatory Open Meeting Act training and certification.

The research, headed by former GOP gubernatorial candidate Adam Andrzejewski's "For the Good of Illinois," also found that 100 percent of the state's top 17 state agencies are not in compliance with the mandatory Open Records (FOIA) law.

"Why have laws if they are not enforced but instead willfully disregarded?" Andrzejewski asked with the study's findings. "It’s time the Illinois press weighed in on the basic issues of open meetings and records."

Illinois unemployment second highest in nation according to new federal report

SPRINGFIELD - Although Governor Pat Quinn started his 2014 State of the Budget speech boasting that Illinois was in the best financial condition it had been in during the last five years, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released figures Friday showing a somewhat different picture.

According to the report, Illinois' unemployment is second highest in the nation at 8.7 percent. Only Rhode Island is worst, at 9.0 percent.

GOP gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner was quick to jump on the discrepancy, saying “Pat Quinn broke his promises and Illinois is suffering the consequences. It’s harder to find a job under Pat Quinn and now he’s making things worse by wanting to take more money out of working folks’ wallets by making his massive tax hike permanent.”

Federal Trade Commission endorses Oberweis push to open Sunday car sales

SPRINGFIELD – A Federal Trade Commission analysis has determined that legislation sponsored by State Sen. Jim Oberweis (R-Sugar Grove) to allow Sunday car sales in Illinois would “provide significant benefits for Illinois consumers.”

Oberweis’ Senate 2629 repeals the 30-year prohibition that has prevented Illinois consumers from being able to buy cars on Sundays.

“Since 1983, car dealerships in Illinois have been forbidden to be open on Sundays under penalty of a $1500 fine,” Oberweis said. “A majority of states allow automobile sales on Sundays, and car dealers in Illinois should be free to choose whether they wish to be open or closed on Sundays without government interference.”

Hultgren to host "state of homeschooling" update

JOHNSBURG - U.S. Representative Randy Hultgren (IL-14) will host a meet and greet to present an update on the state of homeschooling on Monday, March 31 at Johnsburg Public Library’s Homeschool Resource Center from 6:30-8:00 p.m. The event is open to the public.

“As a father of two homeschooling boys, protecting this important educational option for families is close to my heart,” said Rep. Hultgren. “As homeschooling households continue to grow in number in Illinois and across the country, I invite everyone interested in homeschooling to talk about what issues and legislation affect the movement.

Huckabee in Chicago area May 8th

LOMBARD - Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee has agreed to headline Illinois Right to Life's annual banquet on May 8, 2014, at the Carlisle, in Lombard, Illinois. 

Also in attendance will be Illinois business owners who have sued the Health and Human Services Department over the HHS Abortion Mandate. These company leaders will receive Illinois Right to Life’s Champion of Life Award at the event for their heroic defense of innocent human life. Numerous political and pro-life leaders are also expected to attend. 

“This is an incredible opportunity for Illinoisans to meet and hear from an influential American leader, pastor, FOX TV host, and author who shares their conservative values,” said Emily Zender executive director of Illinois Right to Life. 

Super PAC backs Bustos, spends $124,000 on TV ads in March

EAST MOLINE - Liberal special interest groups are set to blitzkrieg the Illinois 17th District with campaign ads defending Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (D-East Moline).

With more than seven months to go until the November election, Center Forward, a liberal Super PAC based in Washington, D.C. has purchased $124,000 of TV air time to help shore up Congresswoman Bustos' weak polling numbers. Center Forward is run by former liberal Congressman Bud Cramer (D-Alabama).

Bustos has recently criticized Super PACs. In February she asked her supporters to sign a petition opposing Citizens United, and criticized "shadowy groups" for "trying to buy our elections."

Her GOP opponent Bobby Schilling says he isn't concerned with how much Bustos and her allies are going to spend.

"Liberal Super PACs are going to pour millions of dollars into this race to help Congresswoman Bustos—that's the reality," Schilling said. "We aren't worried about that. ...liberal Super PACs can't steal this election—this is the people's seat, and the people will ultimately make their decision on November 4."

Jon Schweppe, communications director for Schilling, said that Bustos is being hypocritical and should condemn all Super PAC spending on her behalf.

"Congresswoman Bustos tells her supporters that Super PACs are evil, but then she happily takes their support when they say nice things about her on TV," Schweppe said.

Schock raises $15.1M as chair of the NRCC fundraising dinner

WASHINGTON - Wednesday night the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) raised a record-breaking $15.1 million at its annual March fundraising dinner.

The night was a success for Illinois Congressman Aaron Schock, who served as the dinner's chairman. The $15.1 million seems to indicate the rising GOP star can bring in big money for the GOP, including $2 million he pledged to raise on his own. 

The event, the party’s largest fundraiser of the year, took place at the National Building Museum and featured former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice as the main speaker. 

In 2013, when Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) chaired, the NRCC dinner took in $14.4 million.

Read HERE

Teacher harassed for speaking out against Common Core

JEFFERSON CITY, MO - A 20-year kindergarten teacher testified before the Missouri legislature this week about her objections to the Common Core curriculum and how it has negatively affected her students and her teaching. Susan Kimball, a teacher from southeastern Sikeston, said administrators threatened her with negative reports in her personnel file and colleagues suggested her job may be endangered for testifying before the education committee.

"I'm speaking out for those teachers who are afraid to speak out," she said. 

Her complaints are similar to those being voiced in Illinois where State Rep. Dwight Kay (R-Glen Carbon) is pushing legislation that would delay the implementation of Common Core for reasons similar to those expressed in Missouri. In addition, the Common Core curriculum is expected to cost Illinois $775 million to implement.

H/T Duane Lester of The Missouri Torch

Morrison: Cook County GOP, time to rest petty distractions

Cook County GOP Chair Aaron Del Mar w/Palos Township GOP Committeeman Sean Morrison

By Sean Morrison - 

Every two years the Cook County Republican Central Committee meets to elect a Chairman to both represent the township and ward organizations within the county and to run the day to day operations of the Cook County GOP. And every two years the sitting Chairman is attacked by individuals inside the party that would like to see their candidate hold the position. We have seen many good leaders donate their time, money, and efforts toward rebuilding the Cook County Republican party. We’ve seen initiatives and growth opportunities that have been proposed and committed to die off before they bear fruit. Every two years our time is spent fighting one another rather than focusing on the job at hand: defeating the Democrats.

What makes this worse is that much like a State Representative race the campaigning never stops. A group of committeemen unhappy with the results of the Chairman’s race immediately begin the process of undermining the sitting chairman. This includes boycotting committeeman meetings, ripping fellow Republicans in the media, and encouraging donors not to donate to the county party. We should take a lesson from one of our party’s founding father, President Abraham Lincoln, and understand that, “A house divided against itself cannot stand."

Quinn: Make the Tax Increase Permanent or the Disabled and the Dying Get It

By Dan Proft - 

On Wednesday, Governor Pat Quinn dressed up the demands of a hostage-taker into a state budget address—again.

In advance of the permanently temporary personal and corporate income tax increases he imposed on Illinois in 2011, Quinn argued that without the tax increases, social service providers would suffer.

In fact, he would see to it that they did.

Quinn’s less than subtle message to the human services community was that if they wanted to avoid seeing the invoices they submitted to the state for services rendered put into the permanently permanent pay-no-mind bin in the Governor’s office they best fall in line.

Quinn did not conjure up a darling cartoon character to deliver that message. He did it himself.

Illinois GOP announces 2014 candidates for State Central Committee

CHICAGO - Throughout the state on April 16th, newly-elected county chairmen will pick members of the Illinois Republican Party's State Central Committee. The State Central Committee districts are determining by congressional district boundaries, allowing the county chairmen within that district to have a weighted vote selecting the new committee members. 

A three -person panel, consisting of Committeeman Mike Bigger, Christine Dudley and County Chairman President Randy Pollard, evaluated the applications and confirmed each candidates' Republican voting in the last three General Primaries.

Those candidates up for election in the individual congressional districts include:

Propagandizing our children: YA book review of The Sin-Eater’s Confession

By Irene F. Starkehaus - 

Title: The Sin-Eater's Confession I Author: Ilsa J. Bick I Publisher: Carolrhoda LAB/Lerner Publishing

Young Adult literature is defined by the American Library Association as fiction that would be appropriate for children between the ages of 12 to 18. A branch of the American Library Association known as the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) offers the following synopsis for The Sin-Eater's Confession:

In a small Wisconsin town, rumors about Jimmy and Ben ruin Ben's life and brutally end Jimmy's. Three years later, Ben decides to set the record straight.

Actual Plot Summary: Ben is a 20-something year old Navy medic stationed with the Marines in Afghanistan. He has made the decision to set down on paper his memories surrounding the brutal murder of his friend Jimmy back when Ben was an overachieving senior in high school.

Weyermuller: Illinois Republicans Unify after Primary?

By Mark Weyermuller - 

It's been a crazy week of politics since the primary a week ago Tuesday. That following Wednesday, the Illinois State Republican Party hosted a "unity lunch" at the Union League in Chicago. It was hosted by chairman Jack Dorgan who replaced Pat Brady as chairman this past year.

The lunch was attended by about 250 people and a huge media contingent. While the rest of us were dining on chicken and vegetables, multiple elected officials and nominees took to the podium. They included in this order Jack Dorgan, Jim Durkin, Christine Radogno, Tom Cross, Judy Barr Topinka, Mike Webster, and Paul Schimpf.