Illinois Review

Most Americans Still Support Playing National Anthem at Sporting Events

In a new Morning Consult poll, 76 percent of U.S. adults said the national anthem should be played prior to professional sporting events, including 60 percent who said it should “definitely” be part of the pregame routine.

Indiana eliminates license to carry handgun

CHICAGO - Just a few miles to the east of Illinois is another whole world in the state of Indiana. One that upholds the Bill of Rights - 

The Indiana House voted Monday to eliminate the license to carry a handgun in the state -- an apparent victory, at least temporary, for supporters of Second Amendment gun rights.

House Bill 1369, which passed the House by a 65-31 vote and now heads to the Senate, repeals a law that requires a person to obtain a license to carry a handgun in Indiana, according to the Indianapolis Star

It allows for any person who is lawfully able to carry and possess a firearm to do so without a government-issued permit or license, reports said. The bill specified that certain offenders still could be prohibited from carrying handguns. 

More HERE. 

Where’s Weyermuller? Heading to CPAC 2021

By Mark Weyermuller - 

 

I just arrived in Orlando, Florida’s for the Conservative Political Action Conference commonly known as CPAC.  It is billed as the largest gathering of conservatives in the world.  

 

The event has traditionally been held in Washington D.C., but this year it was moved to Florida where there are less COVID restrictions. There will be hundreds of speakers at CPAC 2021, including congressmen, senators, activists, media people, and celebrities like Jon Voight.

Bailey launches gubernatorial bid with bus tour; speaks to IR

EFFINGHAM - State Senator Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) told a crowd in Effingham Monday night that he was throwing his hat in the ring to challenge IL Governor JB Pritzker in 2022. The Bailey Campaign then started on a 6-stop bus tour hitting population centers outside the Chicago area ending in Shorewood Illinois Wednesday evening. 

Bailey took a few minutes with Illinois Review Tuesday afternoon to share what was on his mind as he embarks on his first gubernatorial bid. 

We started by asking Sen. Bailey about the seven issues he lists on his campaign website - BaileyforIllinois.com. Are the seven - 1. Reopening the Economy and Schools, 2. Pro-Life, 3. Second Amendment, 4. Education, 5. Taxes, 6. Agriculture and 7. Government Transparency - are they his top priorities? 

The conversation went on from there ... 

IR Darren Bailey 22321

Rep. Halbrook: Cold temperatures expose vulnerabilities in wind energy

By State Representative Brad Halbrook - 

A picture is worth a thousand words and the frozen wind turbines in Texas are speaking volumes.

No, the frozen wind turbines are not entirely the reason so many Texans are without power, as the environmentalists are so quick to point out. The turbines make up anywhere between 12 and 25 percent of the state’s power mix this time of year. So yes, wind turbines are not the only culprit here, but they do bear a significant amount of the blame.

When frozen turbines are not able to produce electricity – that power has to come from somewhere and when you combine the increased demand as a result of frozen turbines along with the increased demand of people needing more power to heat their homes during a massive cold front, the end result is widespread power loss.

Catalina Lauf announces bid to oust Kinzinger, saying Trump will back her with $2M

OTTAWA - Catalina Lauf is a Republican candidate that is telling people the Trump campaign has committed $2 million for her to challenge Congressman Adam Kinzinger in the 2022 GOP primary. That commitment is yet to be confirmed by Illinois Review, but we are being told by reliable GOP insiders that she is indeed claiming it.

Illinois Review is looking forward to introducing the third announced Kinzinger challenger to our readers, but Lauf's campaign strategy appears to be going directly to national media first. 

Tuesday, she filed a  federal "Catalina for Illinois" committee, and released a sizzling internet ad aimed directly at Kinzinger:

They Want to Force COVID Shots

From Liberty Counsel HERE - 

Tragic reports of late-term miscarriages, serious side effects and death following Pfizer or Moderna COVID injections are piling up.

Historically, vaccines take up to 10 years of testing before release to the public. Years 1-5 are typically dedicated to lab research. Years 6-10 are usually dedicated to clinical safety trials. Those trials begin with animals before moving on to humans.

ONLY when inoculations have been thoroughly tested (for all categories of people) is the vaccine released to the general public.

Over 93% of all vaccines FAIL the safety part before clinical trials are completed.

Yet the COVID shots, developed in just 9 months or less, SKIPPED these critically important safety protocols.

As a result, NO ONE, not even the COVID scientists who developed the shots, know all the dangers. But we are beginning to find out...

A startling number have died within hours or days of the injection. Those victims include doctors, health care workers, elderly people and pregnant women.

When death is a side effect...

Thorner: World’s Deadliest Virus isn't COVID, it's Communism

By Nancy Thorner - 

“Never let a crisis go to waste”, voiced Barack Obama's Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel in 2008. And this is what Democrats aim to do, perhaps by the end of the week, by stuffing the Covid relief bill full of all kinds of pork, just not for the Americans who need it. “Covid relief” will be just an excuse for give aways to every Democrat interest group."

There is also a major conflict of interest. The Biden administration has waived ethics rules to allow a top Department of Homeland Security official, Charanya Krishnaswami, senior counselor to DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, to make policy in areas on which she lobbied for her former employer, Amnesty International. Had the same thing happened under Trump, it would have received wall-to-wall coverage.

It does make sense in a Biden Administration that a former member of Amnesty International can do no wrong. Uniparty Biden needs every crumb he can give to a very restive Left after the “stimulus” money runs out.

Rossi: Democrat President Biden Gives China a “Pass” On Genocide

By Randy Rossi - 

One would hope that all civilized people around the world could at least agree that holding over 1 million religious people in concentration camps as China is doing to control them while using them as slave labor is morally wrong and any nation that does that should be isolated and cut off from all business until they stop doing it. Certainly the world has now agreed that Nazi Germany was horribly wrong when they put millions of innocent people in concentration camps because of their religious views, physical and mental problems, and because the Nazi’s considered them to be “inferior races”. They also used them as slave labor and eventually murdered over 6 million Jews and millions of other people that they viewed as inferior. Sadly millions of people had to die in WWII to stop that horrific genocide. You would think the whole world would have learned from that tragedy and would never let it happen again.

Sadly today, Communist China is holding over 1 million Muslim Uighurs in concentration camps because they fear that their religious beliefs are a threat to Communist China’s absolute control over their people. That’s bad enough but China is also using those poor Uighurs as slave labor to produce products at lower prices to take business and jobs away from free nations like America, Japan, and many nations in Europe. In addition to that tragedy, there have been multiple verified reports from the BBC and others that those same Uighurs being held in those concentration camps are being sexually abused, beaten, and the women are being sterilized so that the Uighur population will eventually go away in China.

Schimpf responds to Pritzker signing anti-law enforcement bill into law

SPRINGFIELD - Republican 2024 candidate for governor Paul Schimpf said he opposed Governor Pritzker signing HB 3653 - a bill to end cash bail in Illinois -  into law for policy and leadership reasons.

Pritzker signs into law nation's most anti-law enforcement policy

CHICAGO - Illinois Governor JB Pritzker signed into law a measure that will expose citizens to criminal behavior and defend the rights of the accused over the rights of victims, retired Judge Pat O'Brien said in a statement released Monday afternoon. 

Governor Pritzker said those that oppose the law are lying and spreading unsubstantiated fear in a speech before he signed the measure. The measure will "advance the cause of justice" in Illinois, he said. 

"We must stop criminalizing being poor," Lt Governor Juliana Stratton said. 

State Senator Kimberly Lightford pointed to the death of George Floyd last summer as a key reason the American culture "awakened" to inequalities in the state's justice system.

Marter: I'm "all in" to replace Congressman Adam Kinzinger

By James Marter - 

Now more than ever, America needs protection from the Radical Left, rather than surrender and submission. I have unfinished business with Adam Kinzinger. I am "all in" to repeal and replace him. Let’s send him to an early retirement from Congress!

We need real Republican leadership in Congress, which will stick to conservative principles, not just side with the politically-abusive and dangerous Left.

Last week I had an interview on the SiriusXM Patriot Channel's Wilkow Majority Show. The show’s host, Andrew Wilkow, stated “(James Marter is) ...a serious primary candidate who's running in a juxtaposed set of principles to Adam Kinzinger. If you want Kinzinger out, do not complain about it, support the primary challenger."

Thorner/Pennington: Should Minimum Wage Be Set By Any Governmental Body?

By Nancy Thorner & David Pennington -

The Democrats are always pushing to raise the minimum wage.  That’s mainly because, one, they don’t have to pay it, as all of their staff aides are paid with our taxes and, two, because it is very appealing to buy votes with other people’s money. There's a third reason, too, as explained below.

A key pillar of President Biden’s American Rescue Plan is the Raise the Wage Act of 2021 (H.R. 603).  It would gradually increase the federal minimum wage to $15 over five years. Thereafter, the federal minimum wage would be indexed to median wage growth. The legislation also guarantees that all workers are paid at least the full federal minimum wage by gradually phasing out the sub-minimum wages for tipped workers, youth workers, and workers with disabilities.

Weyermuller: Renowned community activist Scott Presler pushes Kinzinger ouster

By Mark Weyermuller - 

Last Saturday afternoon, over 150 volunteers gathered in Illinois’ 16th District to learn how to unseat Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger. After meeting at a venue, they walked neighbors knocking on doors in support of change and to register new voters.  Kinzinger has been under fire for supporting the impeachment of President Donald Trump. 

Tom McCullagh, a former state senate candidate, helped organize the event. He was joined on stage by Robert Cruz, who currently running for Oak Lawn School Board District 229 and will be making a candidate announcement on April 24th for another office.

Community organizer and activist Scott Presler,  who became famous in 2019 leading a clean up effort in Baltimore, was on hand to address the group. Pressler, who is a Trump supporter, got help on his community projects from hundreds of volunteers after his Tweet to clean up Baltimore went viral. He will be a featured speaker this week at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Orlando, Florida.

Di Leo: George Washington – Victor Over a Dark Winter

By John F. Di Leo - 

Reflections on George Washington’s Birthday 

For many Americans, the winter of 2020-2021 is unusually harsh.  More frequent snowfalls in areas that have grown unaccustomed to it, combined with subzero temperatures in states that haven’t designed their infrastructure for such conditions, have reminded us all of how unpredictable the forces of nature can be.   

We can bundle up and head outside, armed with shovel and snowplow, to render our paved sidewalks and streets usable again.  We can crank up the furnace or the heat lamp, keep the water running so that pipes don’t freeze. There are ways to get through this, in this modern era. Stores still get deliveries so we can buy food; with home computers and the internet for videocalls, most of us can still get to work. 

But now, think back a couple hundred years, and imagine the challenges such a winter must have placed on the Founding Fathers, in an era without these modern technologies.  Imagine a lack of funds, tools, supplies or food.  And imagine all these concerns weighing on the shoulders of General George Washington, as he spent his 46th birthday with his starving, shuddering troops, during the miserable winter they spent at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. 

 

Ben Shapiro: It’s Time to Uncancel Americans

By Ben Shapiro - 

This week, actress Gina Carano made headlines when Disney+ and Lucasfilm decided to cancel her from their hit series “The Mandalorian” over controversial social media posts. It is perfectly obvious that the corporations had been looking for an excuse to get rid of Carano thanks to her conservative politics — The Hollywood Reporter uncovered a source who snarked, “They have been looking for a reason to fire her for two months, and today was the final straw.”

What, precisely, was Carano’s sin? After the 2020 election, she put up a social media post decrying voter fraud and then put up a post referring disparagingly to elite-driven mask culture. This week, she put up a post pointing out that the Holocaust did not begin with mass murder but with neighbors turning on one another thanks to politics. The Holocaust comparison may have been overwrought, but it was certainly not anti-Semitic. “Nonetheless,” Lucasfilm stated, “her social media posts denigrating people based on their cultural and religious identities are abhorrent and unacceptable.”

Carano’s cancellation came the same week as the cancellation of “The Bachelor” host Chris Harrison. Harrison’s sin: He said that one of the contestants on this season of “The Bachelor” ought to be given “a little grace” over having attended a sorority party with an antebellum theme several years ago. Harrison said, “I have seen some stuff online — this judge, jury, executioner thing — where people are just tearing this girl’s life apart and diving into, like, her parents, her parents’ voting record. It’s unbelievably alarming to watch this.” And the woke authoritarians emerged to deem him racist.

Carano’s and Harrison’s responses, however, were polar opposites.

More HERE

An Unconstitutional Voting ‘Reform’

Democrats want to impose federal rules on elections for president. Congress doesn’t have that power. David B. Rivkin Jr. and Jason Snead write:

House Democrats have made election “reform” their top legislative priority. House Resolution 1, styled the For the People Act, would vitiate existing state election laws, federalize the rules of congressional and presidential elections, and effectively do the same for state elections, which are often conducted on the same ballot. Critics have noted that the proposed rules are designed to benefit Democrats. They’re also unconstitutional.

The key problem is that the Constitution doesn’t give Congress the authority to regulate all federal elections in the same way. Congress has significant power over congressional elections. The Elections Clause of Article I, Section 4 provides that state legislatures “shall prescribe” the “times, places and manner of holding elections for senators and representatives,” but also authorizes Congress to “make or alter such regulations.”

Di Leo: The Golden Microphone Goes Silent

By John F. Di Leo - 

Rush Hudson Limbaugh III, 1951-2021, R.I.P.

He promised us "I won't stop until everyone agrees with me.”

Rush tried harder than any politician to keep his promise. For four years on a local show in Sacramento, then for over 32 years on his syndicated national radio program, he redefined the medium to blend news, philosophy, education and entertainment in a brand new way, serving as the inspiration and ally of generations of patriotic Americans.

Struggling to find his place in the world in his youth, he left college to work as a music station disk jockey for a few years, then as a baseball team’s PR man for a few more. But then he got the Sacramento gig at 32, where he was able to hone a version of talk radio that had never been seen before. After spending those first 32 years looking for the place he could make the greatest impact, he found a way to spent his last 32 years embodying Excellence In Broadcasting for a national audience.

Madigan resigns from IL General Assembly; proud of making Illinois a "bastion of Democratic values"

CHICAGO - Mike Madigan stepped aside a month ago from his bid to be Speaker of the Illinois House and Thursday he resigned from his House seat - an office he has held since being first elected in 1970. The 78-year-old remains as the chairman of the Illinois Democrat Party and ward Democrat committeeman in Chicago's 13th. 

He pointed to "vicious attacks" as a key reason he resigned. Those "vicious attacks" include an ongoing federal investigation and nasty complaints from within the Democrat ranks over his tolerance of sexual misconduct among the party faithful. 

“It’s no secret that I have been the target of vicious attacks by people who sought to diminish my many achievements lifting up the working people of Illinois. The fact is, my motivation for holding elected office has never wavered,” Madigan declared in a prepared statement. “I leave office at peace with my decision and proud of the many contributions I’ve made to the state of Illinois, and I do so knowing I’ve made a difference.”

But in the long statement, Madigan listed what he considers all his "accomplishments" while being the most powerful person in Illinois politics for decades. 

Fifty years ago, I decided to dedicate my life to public service. Simply put, I knew I wanted to make a difference in people’s lives. I believed then and still do today that it is our duty as public servants to improve the lives of the most vulnerable and help hardworking people build a good life. These ideals have been the cornerstone of my work on behalf of the people of Illinois and the driving force throughout my time in the Illinois House.

As speaker, legislator and member of the Illinois Constitutional Convention, I worked to make the General Assembly a co-equal branch of government, ensuring it acted as a check on the power of the governor and the executive branch, especially around a governor’s abuse of the amendatory veto. Many heated battles were fought to keep governors from rewriting legislation sent to them by the General Assembly.

No mention whatsoever of the state's fiscal disastrous condition, the state pension's deepening critical position, or the massive numbers leaving the state every year as a result of back-breaking property taxes:

Party Realignment: Radical Republicans, Corporate Democrats?

Historically, white-collar business professionals were usually Republican, and the blue-collar working classes were Democrats. But this has been gradually changing… Working folks who used to be the staunchest Democrats voted for Trump in 2016 and 2020. And many Republicans have been voting blue.

So is the Democratic Party becoming the party of Big Business, while the GOP will now be a workers’ party? Republican Senators like Josh Hawley, Marco Rubio, and even Ted Cruz have used the phrase “working class” to describe their party’s future base.

The idea of a party realignment might not be arising out of anything the GOP is accomplishing (even their own constituents are unhappy with them), but out of what the Democrats are in large part no longer doing – namely, looking out for workers. What is certain is that the Democratic Party is becoming the party of corporate, tech, and financial power.

More HERE

Bad Education

In a Philadelphia elementary school, teachers are putting a premium on radicalism, not reading. Christopher F. Rufo writes:

A Philadelphia elementary school recently forced fifth-grade students to celebrate “black communism” and simulate a Black Power rally in honor of political radical Angela Davis.

According to whistleblower documents and a source within the school, a fifth-grade teacher at the inner-city William D. Kelley School designed a social studies curriculum to celebrate Davis, praising the “black communist” for her fight against “injustice and inequality.” As part of the lesson, the teacher asked students to “describe Davis’ early life,” reflect on her vision of social change, and “define communist”—presumably in favorable terms.

Lifetime TV joins Cancel Culture; demands Christian group remove "controversial" content

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA -- D. James Kennedy Ministries  (DJKM) of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida sent out a press release Friday saying Lifetime TV is demanding the Christian organization eliminate all "controversial" content from Truths That Transform, its weekly half-hour broadcast.

Specifically, Lifetime announced it would no longer air programming that addressed abortion or Left-wing financier George Soros. And it refused to carry any DJKM programming—even broadcasts celebrating George Washington—unless the media ministry founded in 1974 agreed to Lifetime's sweeping new conditions.

"Because of Lifetime's newfound ban on so-called 'controversial' content, D. James Kennedy Ministries has been forced off the cable channel—to which we have paid enormous fees since 2018 to air our program," said Frank Wright, Ph.D., DJKM President and CEO.

The French are absolutely right to say ‘no thanks’ to US woke-ism

The French have had enough of wokeness. Glenn H. Reynolds writes:

It’s an American export that prudent Europeans want to keep out. They’ve paid close attention to the product’s development in the United States, and they’ve determined that it’s toxic. They’re afraid it will damage their kids, undermine their society and threaten civilization.

No, it’s not genetically modified food or Velveeta or McDonald’s. It’s “woke” American scholarship on race. And frankly, the Euro-critics have a point.

TMA Prez: Governor echoes intention to hurt the state's COVID-recovering manufacturers

SCHAUMBURG - The Technology & Manufacturing Association (TMA) responded to the governor's budget address with a comment from their president, former state Senator Steve Rauschenberger: 

 

"We heard the governor loud and clear during his State of the State Address—he wasn’t making a plea for unity or a promise of hope for struggling businesses. Instead, the words he spoke today echo his intentions to continue hurting manufacturers who are trying desperately to recover from the pandemic.

 

"The day after voters overwhelmingly rejected his progressive tax in November, the governor responded by threatening the business community for leading the charge against his prized tax hike. Today, he followed through on that threat by proposing a nearly $1 billion tax hike on our small businesses—taking money from our job creators and placing it in the hands of Springfield politicians so they can continue their insatiable spending habits," Rauschenberger said.

 

"This massive tax hike will hurt TMA members as they fight to compete regionally, nationally, and globally, especially eliminating the manufacturing and equipment exemption and the research and development tax credit. Manufacturers can’t afford greater strains imposed by our own government if we’re going to recover from the pandemic’s economic hit.

 

"We urge the governor to stop championing policies that will put Illinoisans on the unemployment lines and force our job creators and innovators to leave our state to survive.”

Union coalition supports Pritzker's tax hikes to raise business taxes

The "We Are One Illinois" coalition of unions responds to governor’s budget address are one of the few groups that supports Governor Pritzker's proposed 2021 budget.

The labor coalition, which says they're working on behalf of more than over 1 million statewide members, seems to indicate a tax hike on businesses is a good thing, since the Fair Tax amendment was defeated in November 2020. 

“Illinois faces a budget crater caused by the pandemic and the defeat of the Fair Tax amendment that would have required the very rich to pay their share," the "We Are One Illinois" coalition said in a statement. “We support Governor Pritzker’s proposed steps to address the budget shortfall by closing tax loopholes that big corporations exploit at the expense of the people of our state, and by decoupling Illinois from unwise federal tax changes.

“But our communities need essential public services now more than ever. More must be done to invest in schools, health care, public safety, help for the unemployed, for children and seniors, people with disabilities and more.Part of the solution lies with Congress. Like every state, city and town, Illinois needs the significant federal assistance found in President Biden’s American Rescue Plan.

“Further action from Springfield may be needed, as well. As the budget process goes forward, we will work with legislators and the governor to identify revenue-raising measures that can prevent harmful cuts and strengthen our state.”

Illinois Manufacturers' Association: Governor's repeated attempts to raise small business taxes is "unacceptable"

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Manufacturers’ Association (IMA) released the following statement regarding Gov. JB Pritzker’s annual budget address:

“In the midst of a global pandemic that has caused widespread economic disruption, the Governor’s repeated attempts to hike taxes on small businesses and job creators is unacceptable, especially after voters overwhelmingly rejected his last plan to raise taxes. Illinois should be looking for ways to support businesses, create good-paying jobs, and jump-start investment in our communities. Instead, this administration wants to not only hike taxes but also cut job training funds intended to build a skilled workforce. Meanwhile, other states have embraced policies to grow the economy by cutting taxes, reducing regulations and adopting liability protections,” said Mark Denzler, president & CEO of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association.

“Throughout the pandemic, manufacturers answered our nation’s call by making and donating personal protective equipment, creating life-saving vaccines and therapies, and stocking our grocery stores with safe and nutritious food. The industry stands ready to lead our economic recovery, but it’s imperative the governor and lawmakers work with manufacturers, not against us.”

IML: Governor's proposed additional cuts to Local Government will make things worse

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Municipal League (IML) issued the following statement regarding Gov. JB Pritzker’s budget address for State Fiscal Year 2022:

“The COVID-19 pandemic has posed significant challenges to municipalities across Illinois, from revenue shortfalls to additional health and safety costs. While we recognize the need to address the state’s fiscal challenges, additional cuts to the Local Government Distributive Fund (LGDF), which designates a portion of state income tax revenue to cities and counties, will exacerbate the current challenges communities face. Every dollar cut from LGDF is a dollar added to property taxes or a dollar taken away from much-needed local programs and services.

“Additionally, further cuts to LGDF could result in higher unfunded pension liability costs, all at a time when all aspects of society continue to endure the ongoing pandemic and revenue sources are limited. We urge the Governor and the General Assembly to reverse the cuts made to LGDF over the past several years and support initiatives that promote the wellbeing of our shared constituencies, the residents of Illinois,” said Brad Cole, IML Executive Director.

Transportation Coalition: Illinois Budget Plan Reverses Progress on Capital Program

SPRINGFIELD – The Transportation for Illinois Coalition today issued the following statement as Gov. Pritzker presented his Fiscal Year 2022 state budget proposal.
 
TFIC is an umbrella organization of business, labor and transportation groups was formed more than 20 years ago to effectively advocate for infrastructure funding, and it has played a critical role in educating policymakers and advocating for capital construction programs and other funding for the state’s vital transportation system:
 
“We are disappointed by the Governor’s state budget proposal today.
 
This coming budget year is when Illinois was to begin committing all revenues motorists pay at the pump to transportation infrastructure. The Governor instead is calling for a delay in shifting the state’s share of sales tax revenue on gasoline purchases from the state’s General Fund to the Road Fund, which will mean an estimated loss of $120 million this coming year in funds to support the state’s capital program.

Retail Merchants: Governor's bid to raise business costs is "counterintuitive"

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Retail Merchants Association (IRMA) released the following statement regarding Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s budget proposal:

“Retailers have served a vital role throughout the pandemic, ensuring safe and reliable access to food and supplies to now helping vaccinate the state and nation. Despite immense challenges, including government closures, capacity restrictions, denial of access to PPE, and civil unrest that forced some businesses to rebuild not once but twice, retailers were repeatedly called upon to lead the way. This includes establishing health and safety protocols the government soon followed.

"While the governor claims he is focused on rebuilding the state’s economy, it is counterintuitive that his first step is to raise costs on businesses by eliminating the retail discount, which only partially reimburses store owners for administering and collecting sales tax on behalf of the state,” said Rob Karr, president & CEO, Illinois Retail Merchants Association.

“Claiming this change would only impact ‘big’ retailers ignores the fact that it is a partial reimbursement for costs incurred on behalf of the state and attempts to deceive smaller retailers into believing they won’t be touched. Action in other states proves the government will continue to redefine ‘big.'

"Shifting more of the cost of administration and collection onto retailers does nothing to support struggling businesses and indicates the governor fails to fully appreciate all that retail contributes to our state, which prior to the pandemic employed one-fifth of all workers in Illinois and served as the second largest revenue generator for state government and the largest revenue generator for local governments. As I’ve long said, as goes retail, so goes Illinois.”

IFRA: Ending Biodiesel Incentive and Cutting Tax Aid for Businesses Wrong Approach for New Illinois Budget

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Fuel and Retail Association, representing Illinois gas stations and convenience stores, today issued the following statement in response to Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2022 as outlined in his speech today:
 
“At a time when so many small businesses and families they support are teetering and on the brink of disaster, this new Illinois budget proposal would push many over the edge.
 
“Proposing to close millions of dollars in ‘tax loopholes’ and ending other incentives for businesses that were negotiated just a couple of years ago will undermine any progress we might be able to make in climbing out of the pandemic hole in 2021 if they become law. Make no mistake, these will be tax increases on businesses – and Illinoisans will suffer because of them.
 
“Particularly concerning for my members is more quickly ending an exemption for the sale of biodiesel at the gas pump, valued at $107 million. This change would add approximately 20 cents to a gallon of diesel fuel and is especially egregious considering that Illinois is one of only six states that already imposes a sales tax on motor fuels. Ending this incentive would also be incredibly damaging to our vital agriculture community in Illinois and hurt my small business members at a time when it’s so easy for customers to drive across state lines to fill up their vehicles.
 
“Congress created the CARES Act to provide a lifeline of support for businesses across the country after the devastating effects of the pandemic. The Legislature soundly rejected the idea of decoupling from federal tax aid for small businesses during the lame duck session a few weeks ago, but the issue is not dead yet. Now, as businesses are filing their tax returns this spring, this bad idea is even worse and we urge our policymakers to reject it.
 
“We call on the Governor and legislators to work on a better state budget framework this spring that recognizes the pain caused by the pandemic, and doesn’t add further to the misery many small businesses and families are facing. It’s time to do better.”

Chicagoland Chamber: Pritzker's budget will create "additional hardships for employers"

CHICAGO – The Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce issued the following statement regarding Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s Budget Address:

“The Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce is keenly aware of the many fiscal challenges facing Illinois, ranging from the state’s ever-growing unfunded pension liabilities to a budget that has only worsened due to the pandemic. As the voice for Chicago’s business community, we know first-hand how these challenges have created additional hardships for employers as they struggle to remain open, pay rising property tax bills and employ workers.  We will fight for policies and a budget that helps small businesses, creates jobs and provides a pro-growth environment that our state needs for economic recovery.

We will continue to advocate for additional Federal aid to come to Illinois which will help with these immediate budget challenges. In the event it does, we urge Governor Pritzker and the General Assembly to prioritize small businesses and workforce development programs that provide the education, training and resources our businesses need to get people back to work and prepare our workforce for the post-COVID world.

The Chamber stands ready to work with Governor Pritzker and other elected officials to address these challenges, particularly the unfunded pension liabilities, and put in place policies that will ensure the long-term wellbeing of the business community. These policies will welcome new employers to our state and create job opportunities for our residents,” said Jack Lavin, President & CEO, Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce.

Illinois Chamber: Pritzker's budget proposal "misguided;" will hurt IL businesses already struggling

SPRINGFIELD - Illinois Chamber President and CEO Todd Maisch released the following statement on Governor Pritzker's Budget Address.

 

"The Illinois Chamber is opposed to the massive tax increase proposed by the Governor’s budget plan under the guise of "closing corporate loopholes." We understand that the state has fiscal problems to address, however, the Governor’s plan will have a long-term negative impact on job creation and tax revenues for the state as it produces an unfair increase on taxpayers after they resoundingly defeated the graduated income tax. This not only will expand what will get taxed, but will also reduce key tax credits for vital sectors of the economy." 

 

"We know the administration faces a tough fiscal task. However, these tax increase proposals will only paper over our short-term problems but accelerate Illinois’ long-term economic crisis. In particular of the many problems in the Governor’s proposals, a particular concern is the elimination of the single sales factor in assessing Illinois income tax. This misguided proposal has the impact of increasing taxes on Illinois based businesses at a time we can least afford it.”

Veteran conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh dies at age 70

Rush Limbaugh, the monumentally influential media icon who transformed talk radio and politics in his decades behind the microphone, helping shape the modern-day Republican Party, died Wednesday at the age of 70 after a battle with lung cancer, his family announced.

Limbaugh's wife, Kathryn, made the announcement on his radio show Wednesday. 

The radio icon learned he had Stage IV lung cancer in January 2020 and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Trump at the State of the Union address days later. First lady Melania Trump then presented America’s highest civilian honor to Limbaugh in an emotional moment on the heels of his devastating cancer diagnosis.

More on Fox News 

Kinzinger named to Time 100 list

Thorner: Overview of Trump's Failed Second Impeachment Attempt

By Nancy Thorner - 

Republican US Senators Burr, Cassidy, Collins, Murkowski, Romney, Sasse, and Toomey voted to impeach Donald Trump. Burr is retiring and taking one for the team, trying to pretend that the farce put on by the Democrats was persuasive and changed the vote of another “Republican.”

As to Burr’s retirement, Sen. Lindsey Graham said on “Fox News Sunday that GOP votes – especially that of Sen. Richard Burr to convict former President Donald Trump in the impeachment trial -- has opened the door for Trump’s daughter-in-law Lara Trump.

She’s got a real shot at the North Carolina Senate race, Graham said.

Trump was totally right when he said: “It is a sad commentary on our times that one political party in America is given a free pass to denigrate the rule of law, defame law enforcement, cheer mobs, excuse rioters, and transform justice into a tool of political vengeance, and persecute, blacklist, cancel and suppress all people and viewpoints with whom or which they disagree.”

School Choice Provides Opportunity for All of America’s Kids to Have Better Life

Every child in America should have the same opportunity to exercise education choice to chart their own path. Lindsey Burke and Angela Sailor write:

Tiffany Dunston is the epitome of an education opportunity success story.

She grew up in a poor neighborhood in Washington, D.C., and became motivated in her own educational journey after her cousin—who was going to be the first in the family to attend college—was fatally shot at the age of 17.

The Lesser Known Deaths of Covid-19

Although the COVID-19 virus directly led to many illness and loss of life, one of the lesser talked about causes of death exacerbated by the pandemic was suicide.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) confirmed this fact in an August 2020 report, saying “The coronavirus disease pandemic has been associated with mental health challenges related to the morbidity and mortality caused by the disease and to mitigation activities, including the impact of physical distancing and stay-at-home orders.”

Since the pandemic, suicide rates have increased significantly. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), “Leading theories of suicide emphasize the key role that social connections play in suicide prevention. Individuals experiencing suicidal ideation may lack connections to other people and often disconnect from others as suicide risk rises. Suicidal thoughts and behaviors are associated with social isolation and loneliness. Therefore, from a suicide prevention perspective, it is concerning that the most critical public health strategy for the COVID-19 crisis is social distancing. Furthermore, family and friends remain isolated from individuals who are hospitalized, even when their deaths are imminent. To the extent that these strategies increase social isolation and loneliness, they may increase suicide risk.”

Although the government-mandated shutdowns throughout the country were meant to prevent death due to physical sickness, they only increased problems for those with mental illness.

More HERE

A Father’s Questions for Black Lives Matter

Dan Collins is the proud father of thirteen children. Eight are white and five, adopted, are black. He’s inclined to support the Black Lives Matter movement but would like some questions answered before he commits.

Under Communism and Back Again

Communists, wherever they are, always go after the church first… and the steps they take next will determine the country’s future.

As Senior Pastor of Elim Romanian Pentecostal Church in Chicago, Cristian Ionescu, like many of Elim’s parishioners, emigrated to America after escaping Romania’s brutal Communist regime. And Pastor Ionescu says the playbook the Romanian Communists used against him and his people, is the same now being used by radical governors and mayors in America.

First, they scare you into compliance.

More HERE

America Isn’t Make-Believe

The 1776 Report demonstrates a more sophisticated grasp of history than that of its critics. Peter Wood writes:

What is a nation? The no-sooner-established-by-President-Trump-than-abolished-by-Presidient-Biden “President’s Advisory 1776 Commission” understandably by-passed this question in its initial report. The report deals with a particular nation—our own—and had enough to do without entering the deeper thicket. But what is a nation?

In his 1983 book, Imagined Communities: Reflections on the Origin and Spread of Nationalism, the political scientist and historian Benedict Anderson proposed what has become the most popular answer among social scientists. A “nation,” in Anderson’s view, is a kind of myth. People imagine a community, larger than any actual community, and imagine themselves part of it.

Schimpf launches 2022 GOP gubernatorial bid; Bailey to announce next week

CHICAGO – Monday, Paul Schimpf, former State Senator, Marine Corps Veteran, and the lead American attorney advisor to the Iraqi Prosecutors in the trial of Saddam Hussein announced he is running for Governor of Illinois in a Zoom press conference. He also aired an announcement video before starting a 2-day press tour throughout Illinois.

During his live zoom announcement, Senator Schimpf said,

“Illinois needs a Governor who understands the day-to-day challenges that we all face, a Governor who will live by the same rules that the rest of us follow, and, most importantly, a Governor who will stand up to the entrenched special interest groups who have severely damaged our state.”

Schimpf also noted that while other people have been leaving Illinois, he along with his wife and two sons returned to Illinois and will always call it home. In a much needed positive message to the people of Illinois, Schimpf stated,

“As I start this campaign, I am going to make a pledge to work hard, tell the truth, and keep my promises. But I am also requesting your help, as well. Together, we can renew Illinois. Renewing Illinois will not be easy. It will take trust, leadership, and sacrifice. But make no mistake, renewal is possible if we work together and believe in the future of our state.”

Yet one more Downstate Republican reportedly will announce his 2022 gubernatorial bid- state Senator Darren Bailey of Xenia, IL.

Bailey, who legally challenged Governor JB Pritzker's executive orders concerning COVID, is circulating an evite to a live gathering in Effingham Illinois next Monday night where he will be providing details.

There's also a developing buzz that Gary Rabine, CEO of Rabine Paving, may enter the GOP primary as well.

 

Op-Ed: Why must Mayor Lightfoot, CPS leadership and Chicago Teachers Union cause children to suffer?

By Cook County Commissioner Sean Morrison - 

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) remain closed and classrooms empty. Mayor Lori Lightfoot, CPS leadership and the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) continue their carnival show at the expense of Chicago’s children. 

Isolation is devastating children. Not the coronavirus. Students have been relegated to their homes and sequestered away from a proper educational setting which allows for a more productive and socially nourishing learning environment. The social and emotional wellbeing of in-person learning continues to go missing at CPS at a time when it is so urgently needed. Especially for many children at the lower end of the economic spectrum who lack the educational resources and additional guidance at home.

Op-Ed: IL GOP Chairman Don Tracy: New Boss Same as the Old Boss?

Jennifer Nevins comments on WTTW

By Jennifer Nevins - 

Like many conservatives in this begotten state, I set aside my flaming outrage over the Presidential election to raise my glass to the news that Tim Schneider was finally abdicating his shopworn throne. He was getting out of Dodge. He was heading for the hills. He was leaving on the next RINO train smoking. Bottoms Up!

Several weeks later, his successor was chosen and I threw the glass in the sink.

Why?  Because nothing much is likely to change, that’s why. The State Central Committee switched out the record on the turntable, but the one they replaced it with has the same tempo and lyrics. Tim Schneider and Don Tracy share some of the same views on the same issues that caused the IL GOP to crater its support among its base-which is largely conservative and pro-Trump despite what Pat Brady and other political irrelevants think. From their shared reluctance to clean out the underbrush in the ranks, to their bleating about the need to have “ a big tent”  to their “ arm’s length” support of the most popular Republican President in recent history, Schneider and Tracy don’t seem to have much daylight between them.

Chicago GOP's Steve Boulton featured on CBS Morning Show

CHICAGO - Steve Boulton, chairman of the Chicago GOP, told CBS News how he thinks the Republican Party should message after the second Trump impeachment trial HERE. 

 

Lombardi: Why I Am Challenging Adam Kinzinger in the 2022 GOP primary

By Jack Lombardi - 

Adam Kinzinger seems to have forgotten what it is like to represent the people. He has been in Washington for eight years and during that time he has slowly become more a representative of the Washington establishment, and not a representative of the people and values of the 16th district. Adam Kinzinger has been putting himself and his own career ahead of his constituents and their best interests. That is unacceptable.

The people of the 16th district voted to elect Donald Trump by an overwhelming 16 percentage point margin. Just weeks later, Adam Kinzinger voted to impeach Donald Trump. He has publicly written that, “Convicting Donald Trump is necessary to save America from going down a sad, dangerous road."  He has been critical of not only Donald Trump, but of Trump’s supporters and the movement that brought Donald Trump into the presidency. If you are a Trump supporter, or a strong supporter of Conservative values, Adam Kinzinger has been speaking out against you.

That is why I have decided to run against Representative Kinzinger for the 16th Congressional District seat in the 2022 election. The voters of our district deserve a representative who will go to Washington and truly represent the people of the 16th Congressional District and their values. I promise to be that type of representative.

Beckman: Illinois teachers face embracing Leftist policies as certification requirement

Heritage.org photo 

By Hank Beckman - 

The Illinois General Assembly has scheduled a Feb. 16 vote on whether or not to do away with the Illinois State Board of Education’s new rule that would require culturally responsive teaching standards to be required for all Illinois teacher preparation programs.

Anyone thinking the new rule is just an honest, good-faith attempt to to be inclusive and sensitive will be disabused of that notion by a quick perusal of the document.

Titled “Culturally Responsive Teaching And Leading Standards For All Illinois Educators,” the document is filled with woke jargon about “equity,” “exploring intersectional identities,” and “systems of oppression.”

Passed by ISBE in December, it immediately drew criticism for the section that called for embracing “progressive viewpoints and perspectives.” The wording was changed to “inclusive,” but does anyone doubt that it only conceals what will undoubtedly be mandated political agenda for the state’s teachers?

Rossi: Thankfully the "Salem Witch Trial" Impeachment Charade Is over!

By Randy Rossi - 

Those of us that have been educated in law school and studied history and our Constitution and Bill of Rights were absolutely amazed at the unconstitutional, illegal, irrational, and immoral impeachment charade that the Dems brought against a president that was no longer in office. I recently read a horrifying book on the Salem Witch Trials and this outrageous impeachment charade reminded me of that horror in which several people were hung as witches based on insane and absurd testimony in many cases by hysterical children. The testimony of those Democrats who used raw and uninformed opinions and pure emotion to illegally try and impeach a president out of office was just like the hysterical children’s testimony in those Salem Witch trials. Instead of presenting legal facts and precedent, these Dems played endless videos of the violence at the capitol which we all have already watched a million times. They were counting on emotion, not the law or logic to impeach a former president.

Nevada Democrats To Introduce Bill That Would ‘Allow Tech Companies To Create Governments’

Democrats in Nevada are reportedly planning to introduce legislation in an effort to attract technology companies to the state that would effectively allow them to form their own separate governments at the local-level.

Democrat Governor Steve Sisolak announced the plan last week and said that the goal was to form “Innovation Zones” in an effort to boost the state’s economy.

“According to a draft of the proposed legislation, obtained by the Review-Journal but not yet introduced in the Legislature, Innovation Zones would allow tech companies like Blockchains, LLC to effectively form separate local governments in Nevada, governments that would carry the same authority as a county, including the ability to impose taxes, form school districts and justice courts and provide government services, to name a few duties,” The Las Vegas Review Journal reported. “Sisolak pitched the concept in his State of the State address as his plan to bring in new companies that are at the forefront of ‘groundbreaking technologies,’ all without the use of tax abatements or other publicly funded incentive packages that had previously helped Nevada bring companies like Tesla to the state.”

More HERE

Minimum Wage Hikes: The Nail in the Coffin for Small Businesses

Most state legislatures are kicking off 2021 focused on economic matters after a highly tumultuous 2020. Every state in the union experienced a shortfall in 2020 tax revenues due to the pandemic. Although some states fared better than others, lockdowns wreaked havoc and economic devastation that continues to this day.

Americans desperately hope that in 2021, lockdowns will be lifted. Americans also hope the new year will bring better economic times and opportunities.

Therefore, it is unsurprising that some lawmakers are flippantly considering implementing minimum wage increases in a misguided attempt to provide relief to their struggling constituencies.

However, this is a deeply ineffective way to improve the economy. Arbitrary minimum wage hikes produce unintended consequences that can inflict even more pain upon the people they are supposed to benefit.

More HERE

‘Inconsistent, Conflicting’ And Ignored Threat Assessments Ahead Of Jan 6 Capitol Attack.

A New York Times report has let the cat out of the bag: that law enforcement either knew and did nothing about the potential for violence on January 6th, or issued conflicting and inconsistent threat assessments ahead of the events at the U.S. Capitol.

The news will raise questions as to why authorities allowed a predominantly peaceful Trump speech and rally in Washington, D.C. to be infiltrated and overtaken by forces who had planned for violence in advance.

Questions will also be asked about why authorities immediately claimed President Donald Trump had “incited” the riot with his speech at the Ellipse outside the White House when we now know much of the violent behavior was pre-meditated.

The New York Times reported on Friday afternoon:

On Jan. 4, the intelligence division of the U.S. Capitol Police issued a report listing all the groups known to be descending on the city… The documents show how the police and federal law enforcement agencies produced inconsistent and sometimes conflicting assessments of the threat from American citizens marching on the Capitol.

The article called intelligence “muddled,” saying almost every code word for “institutional failures” without using the term itself.

More HERE