Illinois Review

Beckman: Recalling past labor leaders' illegal immigration concerns could change Labor Day

Labor leader Samuel Gompers and his wife

By Hank Beckman - 

Another Labor Day come and gone and another chance to cook burgers, drink adult beverages, and celebrate the end of Summer—while many remain essentially clueless about the reason for the holiday.

It’s probably asking too much, but wouldn’t it be nice if there were a little more attention paid to the actual labor movement of the last century and the legitimate role it had in creating the middle class in the most prosperous nation in history?

It’s Lights Out for Obama-Era Bulb Ban That Would Have Curbed Consumer Choice

The Department of Energy announced this week that it’s withdrawing the Obama administration’s energy-rationing mandate for certain lightbulbs.

Government Shouldn’t Force Teachers to Use Transgender Pronouns

A high school teacher in Jacksonville, Florida, faced criticism and disciplinary action because a transgender student asked him to refer to the student by female pronouns, although the student was born male. The teacher refused.

Looming Doctor Shortage Demands Innovative Solutions

Occupational licensure reform helps address the doctor shortage. Jeffrey Singer writes:

The Association of American Medical Colleges projects a severe physician shortage by the year 2032, particularly in the primary care fields, as the population of patients as well as doctors continues to age, according to a report today by CNBC.com. AAMC projects the national primary care shortage will range from roughly 47,000 to 122,000.

The news report focused on Arizona, one of the fastest growing states in the union, which has a shortage of primary caregivers in every county. Arizona ranks 44th out of the 50 states in total active primary care providers (PCPs), at 77.9 per 100,000 population (the national average is 91.7 per 100,000) according to a recent report from the University of Arizona.

Court Considers Obamacare Constitutionality

A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit is deciding the constitutionality of the 2010 Affordable Care Act (ACA) after hearing 90 minutes of arguments in a packed courtroom in New Orleans.

The panel will determine whether a federal district judge in Texas was correct in striking down the ACA because Congress eliminated the individual mandate penalty when it passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. Nineteen states joined Texas in a February 2018 lawsuit arguing the ACA was no longer constitutional because the tax enforcing the mandate was central to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision declaring parts of the law constitutional.

Gun rights orgs should be illegal, 28% of Democrats say

The National Rifle Association is America’s largest gun rights organization with more than five million members. But a sizable number of Democrats views it as a terrorist group and believes it should be against the law for Americans to belong to pro-gun rights organizations like the NRA, according to a recent Rasmussen Report survey.

Police union credits Trump with crime rate decrease, endorses him in 2020

WASHINGTON - Monday, President Sam A. Cabral announced that the International Union of Police Associations, AFL-CIO, formally endorsed the campaign for the re-election of President Donald J. Trump.

"President Trump has done more for Law Enforcement in the past two and a half years than was accomplished in the eight years that preceded his election. He has even undone some of the harmful acts of his predecessor<" the group's announcement said. 

Where’s Weyermuller: At the Dundee Township Republican Picnic 2019

By Mark Weyermuller - 

The Dundee Township Republican Organization held their annual picnic Sunday at the Randall Oaks Zoo & Parks in West Dundee. Attendees feasted on pasta, hot dogs, and shish kabobs as candidates made their pitches for the upcoming primaries. 

The weather was challenging at 62 degrees and light rain. The enthusiastic crowd was able to hear from various Republican candidates for statewide as well as national offices. Linda Prestia, precinct chairperson, was responsible for gathering the candidates.

Rossi: First I Was a Republican “Deplorable” and Now I am an NRA Terrorist?

By Randy Rossi - 

For those of us that were raised by the “Greatest Generation” who taught us our great traditional American values, love of country, love and respect for our great Constitution and Bill of Rights, and respect for the rule of law; the current slanderous attacks on Republicans by Democrats for simply doing our civic duty is beyond belief.

It started with Democrat President Obama who made fun of those of us that “cling to their God and guns." Think about that for a moment. As many of our Founding Fathers said, democracy cannot exist without a belief in God who gave us the Ten Commandments and who will hold us accountable for our actions. And our Founding Fathers gave us the 2nd Amendment to protect our freedom.

Thorner: CNN's climate crisis town hall meeting a loser for America

By Nancy Thorner - 

CNN's marathon town hall Wednesday, September 4th, put the climate crisis closer to the center of a presidential election than ever before. Over the course of CNN's 14-hour television extravaganza, Democrats' leading 2020 presidential candidates explained their positions with respect to climate change and floated a variety of proposals to cut Americans' energy use and, ostensibly, to stop the climate from changing.

A central theme of the night was sacrifice. Many of the candidates’ climate change strategies require vast amounts of capital, from Joe Biden’s $1.7 trillion to Bernie Sanders’ $16.3 trillion. Who is going to end up paying that bill?

Illinois audit shows devastating $47 billion state budget loss in 2018

CHICAGO - Over the last 16 years, Illinois has plunged deeper and deeper into financial ruin - something everyone paying attention knows well. As if that weren't bad enough, an even deeper $47 billion loss was unveiled last month, due to a change in fiscal accounting. 

The State of Illinois' finances is, well, bad. Very bad. If it were any other situation anywhere in the world, it would be hopeless.

But you didn't hear that reported in the regular media, Wirepoints.com reports:

The State of Illinois recently reported its biggest annual financial loss ever. Instead of clear reporting on that, we’ve seen perhaps the most glaring example yet of how the state’s finances can be misunderstood, misreported and intentionally distorted.

The loss of $47 billion for the state’s 2018 fiscal year, shown in audited financial statements released late last month, is an astonishing number. For some perspective, that’s about $7 billion more than the entire, current annual budget.

Corporations Aren’t the Problem with Broadband Access

Getting broadband into rural areas is difficult everywhere. Is the United States, as Sen. Elizabeth Warren contends, doing a poor job of expanding high-speed internet to rural areas? Not compared to other countries, writes Will Rinehart:

Every country struggles with getting broadband into hard-to-reach places, yet Warren still chides policymakers because the United States doesn’t have the same speed and access as Europe. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) report she cites undermines her argument that the United States is an outlier, however. The report explains that “the United States had higher deployment rates than the EU21 countries as a whole during the period both generally and separately in rural and non-rural areas.” Further, while the United States does come in tenth place for average download speed among developed countries, it is dense countries such as Denmark, Japan, and South Korea—where it is much easier to deploy fast Internet broadly—that rank higher.

Fracking Makes U.S. into Global Petroleum Leader

New data released in late August by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) shows the United States, already the world’s leading producer of natural gas, is also now the world’s leading producer of petroleum, passing Saudi Arabia.

Petroleum production jumped 16 percent in 2018, while natural gas production increased by 12 percent. “Last year’s increase in the United States was one of the largest absolute petroleum and natural gas production increases from a single country in history,” the EIA report notes. In 2018, EIA data show U.S. crude oil production grew 18 percent, to a record 10.96 million barrels per day, passing the previous record set in 1970.

More HERE

Left's "Think Progress" news site prepares to shut down

Townhall.com reports Friday that the Left's longtime news site "Think Progress" is having a hard time finding a publisher to replace the one they lost.

Planned Parenthood "Doe 9" director admits scandalous conversations were not edited

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – A former Planned Parenthood “medical” director, known in court as “Doe 9,” contradicted her testimony during the preliminary criminal hearing in the San Francisco Superior Court this week.

Liberty Counsel, which released a statement concerning this week's proceedings in San Francisco, is defending Sandra Merritt for her undercover journalism work which exposed Planned Parenthood’s trade in baby body parts.

Merritt and David Daleiden from the Center for Medical Progress (CMP) are charged with felony charges under Penal Code section 632 of “intentionally and without the consent of all parties” recording “confidential” communications, and another count of conspiracy to violate section 632, in connection with undercover videos they released in 2015.

Durkin calls for law to allow banning ethylene oxide in Illinois

House GOP Leader Jim Durkin and State Rep. Deanne Mazzochi 

WESTERN SPRINGS - In light of today’s disappointing court ruling concerning Sterigenics, Illinois House Republican Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) introduced new legislation that will give local municipalities the authority to ban the use of ethylene oxide in their communities.

Wirepoints: Illinois' financial decay hits home

If you're looking for an excellent resource on Illinois' financial condition, Illinois Review highly recommends Wirepoints.org. 

From Wirepoints: 

 

Illinois’ financial decay isn't just happening at the top, it has likely spread to your community, too. Households from Peoria to Harvey and from Alton to Rockford are seeing property values fall, city populations shrink, tax burdens jump and incomes stagnate.

 

Much of that decline is due to the state’s one-size-fits-all pension laws and overly generous benefits, which have left many cities suffocating under impossible pension debts.

 

Without an amendment to the Illinois Constitution’s pension protection clause – and subsequent pension reforms – expect many cities' crises to get even worse.

Plummer says he's "taking a hard look" at running for Shimkus' open seat

EDWARDSVILLE - State Senator Jason Plummer told Illinois Review Friday that he's "taking a hard look" at running for the 15th CD seat that Congressman John Shimkus (IL-15) said last week he won't be running for again in 2020. 

"I've been out of town on business for the last several days, and Congressman Shimkus' announcement was a surprise," Plummer said via phone. "But I've been getting lots of encouragement from Republicans in the district to run for the seat. I'm taking a hard look at it."

Thorner: Take time to honor our US Constitution September 17th

By Nancy Thorner - 

We are fast approaching the week to honor our U.S. Constitution, the supreme law of our land. It was signed in Philadelphia by the delegates to the Constitutional Congress on September 17, 1787, 232 years ago, to be effective when ratified by the nine States, and actually effective in June in 1788 when ratified by the State of New Hampshire. George Washington was inaugurated at the first president under the Constitution on April 30, 1789.

Thirty-nine men of all ages with diverse political thinking and from many walks of life each took a quill in hand and solemnly affixed his signature.  George Washington, chairman of the Constitutional Convention, was first to sign.  The last was Abraham Baldwin, a kindly lawyer from Georgia, who thought God has willed that we make this instrument for the people.

Wilhour to run for second term in Illinois House

EFFINGHAM – Citing his consistent voting record against tax increases and the far-left policies being pushed by Governor JB. Pritzker, State Representative Blaine Wilhour (R-Beecher City) announced this week he is running for re-election as State Representative in the 107^th District.

“I ran for office because I wanted to be an advocate for reform,” Wilhour said. “Springfield needs leaders who have the courage to push for reform and who will prioritize the way we spend and allocate taxpayer money. We are in dire straits in Illinois and we cannot achieve our goals of lowering property taxes, making continuing investments in infrastructure, properly funding education and protecting our most vulnerable until we have leaders who are willing to make the tough choices. Raising taxes is not a tough choice. It is the easy way out. Illinois is broke because too many career politicians have taken the easy way out for far too long.”

Rossi: Dem Candidates Go Loony Left on Climate Change

By Randy Rossi - 

Just when you think that the Democrat candidates for president can’t get any crazier, they do!

CNN just collaborated with the Democrat candidates for president and invested 7 hours to allow them to pontificate on the most insane and destructive proposals imaginable to address the manufactured crisis of manmade climate change which would not only bankrupt America and send us to the Dark Ages, it would destroy our Republic and give the government total control over every aspect of our lives including what kind of food we eat, what cars we drive, and how many babies we can have!

AJ+ Is Al Jazeera

There’s a social media site whose glitzy videos populate your newsfeed. Its content overflows with typical leftist tropes. No, it’s not CNN or MSNBC. You should know what it is and the nefarious people backing it. Raheem Kassam, author of No Go Zones, explains why, when you come across these videos, you should swipe left.

Weyermuller: Remembering Phyllis Schlafly

By Mark Weyermuller -

Phyllis Schlafly passed away three years ago yesterday. Born August 24, 1924 - Died September 5, 2016.

She worked her way through college testing machine guns during World War II. She and her husband had six children, after which she earned a law degree. She ran for the U.S. Congress, then became active in protecting the traditional American family. She founded the Eagle Forum while resisting the Leftists' Equal Rights Amendment and was one of the first champions in the pro-life movement.

What’s the Purpose of a Corporation?

The modern corporation, as we know it today, was born of state power. It was chartered specifically as a vessel for a variety of anti-competitive privileges.

Earlier this month, a group of 181 CEOs, including those of many of the country’s largest and most influential companies, signed a statement signaling commitment to the betterment of society and to “an economy that serves all Americans.”

Are Catholicism and America compatible?

"America,” proclaimed Pope St. John Paul II in 1995, “has always wanted to be a land of the free. Today, the challenge facing America is to find freedom’s fulfillment in the truth.”

Skillicorn takes a pass on 14th CD GOP primary bid; endorses Oberweis

CRYSTAL LAKE – Instead of challenging him in the 14th CD, State Rep. Allen Skillicorn announced Wednesday he's endorsing Jim Oberweis in the 2020 IL GOP Primary. The winner of the March 2020 primary will challenge Democrat newbie Lauren Underwood in the General Election.

“It is no secret that one of the issues I am most passionate about is taxes,” Skillicorn said. “From Day One in the State Legislature, I have been a consistent opponent to tax increases. The one member in the State Senate with a similar record of opposition to taxes is Jim Oberweis. Lauren Underwood will do nothing but vote for tax increases. Jim Oberweis will stand up for taxpayers.”

Feds officially drop charges against provocative former IL congressman

PEORIA - Federal prosecutors officially dropped all charges against former US Rep. Aaron Schock Wednesday. 

Schock, who represented Illinois' congressional district that included Peoria, was charged in a 24-count indictment in November 2016. Those charges included wire fraud, mail fraud, theft of government funds, making false statements, filing false reports with federal election officials and filing false tax return.

He pled guilty to some charges, agreed to pay back misspent funds and pay taxes he owed to the federal government. A judge dismissed two counts.

Another ILGOP US Senate candidate announces primary bid

SPRINGFIELD - Dr. Tim Tarter of Springfield has joined the list of Republican candidates vying to challenge incumbent Dick Durbin in 2020. He has the support of Congressman Rodney Davis (IL-13) and Congresswoman Liz Cheney of Wyoming.

Where’s Weyermuller? At Chicago NW Side GOP Club Election Kickoff Meeting

By Mark Weyermuller -

Newsflash: There really are Republicans in Chicago!

How the LGBTQ Community became Illinois' most feared political force

The late Michael Bauer (r) with Mayor Lightfoot (c) and Bauer's husband Roger Simon (l) 

CHICAGO - In Crain's Chicago Wednesday, columnist Greg Hinz writes about a funeral he attended Tuesday of one of Chicago's most powerful and influential gay rights leaders, activist Michael Bauer. 

Illinois political leaders attended the funeral to pay their respects for Bauer including, Hinz writes, Governor Pritzker, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Cook Co Board President Toni Preckwinkle, US Senator Dick Durbin, as well as "Illinois General Assembly leaders and so many union bosses, newspaper publishers and sundry movers and shakers."

Rep. Miller says reforming Illinois government is an uphill battle, but he's in for 2020

OAKLAND – State Representative Chris Miller (R-Oakland) says there is too much unfinished business in Springfield and he will be running for re-election in 2020.

“The need for reform in Illinois government is greater than ever,” the downstate rep said in a press statement. “There is a growing dissatisfaction with state government because too often our legislative leaders are listening more to politically-connected insiders than they are to the people of this great state. I know it is an uphill battle and I know the challenges we have in getting real reforms passed into law, but I am not one to back down from a challenge. I am running again to keep the pressure on Springfield to finally put politics aside and put the needs of people of Illinois first.”

Thorner: Does the Declaration of Independence still matter?

By Nancy Thorner - 

On the program at the 4th Annual Conservative Activist Conference held at Bolingbrook , IL, on Saturday August 24, 2019, hosted by the Illinois Conservative Union, Carol Davis, Chairman, ICU, was one of many excellent speakers, Chicago author and lawyer, David Shestokas. Shestokas shared a fascinating story about his book, "Creating the Declaration of Independence." 

Chicago's Gun Offender Website is Problematic

Lennie Jarratt fears the new Chicago Police Department’s (CPD) Gun Offender Dashboard website could end up being a case of a well-intended plan having too many unintended consequences.

“It would have people charged with things like unlawful possession on the same page as those facing much more serious crimes,” Jarratt, project manager for the Center for Transforming Education at the Heartland Institute, told Chicago City Wire.

The Taxman Misses....Again

The taxman misses. French lawmakers wanted to tax digital giants like Amazon, but their tax plan, write Elke Asen and Daniel Bunn, hit the wrong target:

Ruling Against Johnson & Johnson raises more questions

It could be that Johnson & Johnson is not the culprit the media reports it to be. Johnson & Johnson must pay $572 million for helping create the opioid crisis, an Oklahoma judge ruled this week. The company, said the judge, minimized the addictive hazards of prescriptions opioids in promoting the drug. But, writes Jacob Sullum, the evidence shows that medically prescribed uses of opioids are not a significant source of addiction or overdose:

Shimkus to retire in 2020; says he's "just tired"

COLLINSVILLE - After 20 years, Congressman John Shimkus announced last Friday that he would not be running for re-election again in 2020. 

"It has been the honor of my lifetime to be asked by the people of Illinois to represent them in our nation’s capitol. Each day I have tried to do this as best as I possibly could, and my success lies squarely at the feet of my incredible staff in Illinois and Washington, DC," Shimkus wrote on his Facebook page.

"I will leave the political field knowing that I have served honorably and, with the help of many, accomplished a lot for my constituents, our state, and our nation."

Monday, Shimkus - prolific on Twitter and Facebook - said he is tired.

Trump on Labor Day: We honor those that turned the US into an economic powerhouse

Issued from the White House on August 30, 2019: 

On Labor Day, we recognize the remarkable American workers who comprise the greatest labor force in the world.  American workers are the heart and soul of our Nation’s economic resurgence.  Since my first day in office, I have followed through on my promise to fight for an agenda that puts American workers first.

Chicago marks 154 shooting homicides thus far this summer

ABCNews photo

CHICAGO - The HeyJackass.com website reports thus far this Labor Day weekend, nine killed in Chicago and 31 wounded - but that's just the latest.

"Since opening day on Friday, May 24th, we’ve tallied 154 homicides plus another 850+ shot & wounded. This particular weekend, like other holiday weekends, tend to be stupider than most, so we’ll no doubt be adding to those totals before it’s all over," the website writes.

The Poorest 20% of Americans Are Richer on Average Than Most Nations of Europe

America’s poor are surprisingly wealthy. If the poorest 20 percent of Americans were a country, they would rank in the top half (13th) in material well being among the countries in the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. This finding, writes James Agresti, contradicts a recent New York Times video op-ed by Taige Jensen and Nayeema Raza, who “claim that the U.S. has ‘fallen well behind Europe’ in many respects and has ‘more in common with “developing countries” than we’d like to admit.’”

The most glaring evidence against the Times’ rhetoric is a note located just above the OECD’s data for poverty rates. It explains that these rates measure relative poverty within nations, not between nations. As the note states, the figures represent portions of people with less than “half the median household income” in their own nations—and thus—”two countries with the same poverty rates may differ in terms of the relative income-level of the poor.”

Rossi: Is Equal Justice Dead?

By Randy Rossi - 

Finally the IG report on James Comey’s abuse of power by leaking documents to the news media to start the “Russian Collusion” investigation is out and it is devastating to Mr. Comey. It clearly points out that James Comey absolutely broke FBI rules, processes, and his employment agreement by keeping and leaking FBI documents with the admitted intent to start that phony investigation because he hated President Trump. The IG report summed it up by saying that Comey “Set a dangerous example for FBI employees” and they made a criminal referral to have Comey prosecuted. That’s the good news!

Sadly, the bad news is that despite the overwhelming evidence, the DOJ has chosen not to prosecute James Comey on this particular issue. Just like Hillary Clinton was not prosecuted for committing multiple felonies by not submitting the 30,000 of her e-mails that were subpoenaed and then destroying them and “acid washing” her computers hoping to hide those e-mails from the American people. My law professor told us 35 years ago that if we were subpoenaed by the feds to give them documents and refused to provide them and then destroyed those documents, we would go to jail for 10-20 years. Everybody but Hillary Clinton that is!

Ozinga takes message directly to 37th House District voters

It's 2019, and social media is no longer something "nice" to have for a political campaign ... it's now a way to get a candidate's message directly to potential voters. It's cheaper than TV, mailings or radio and it allows an authentic insight into how the candidate thinks - something skeptical voters want.

In Illinois' 37th House District, Republican Tim Ozinga is taking the social media path to a new level in his bid to be the party's nominee in the November 2020 election.  

North Carolina Paves Way for Patient Freedom

Every year, millions of Americans needlessly suffer from debilitating diseases because the process of bringing new drugs to patients is hopelessly outdated and convoluted. Fortunately, federal legislation known as Right to Try (RTT) was passed into law in 2017. In essence, RTT allows terminally ill patients access to some unapproved therapies. As RTT was a successful step toward patient freedom there are still improvements to be made to expedite the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) drug approval process. RTT effectively started the discussion around the shortfalls of the current FDA drug approval process and drew attention to the need for reform. 

As the North Carolina Legislature concluded its 2019 legislative session, Republicans and Democrats came together in support of patient freedom and further reform by passing House Bill 934, which was signed into law in July by Gov. Roy Cooper (D). 

More HERE

AOC Bad Idea: Abolishing the Electoral College

You can always count on Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., to say things that don’t make any sense. Last week the radical democratic socialist proposed yet another in a long series of impractical, unachievable and harmful ideas: abolishing the Electoral College.

Before explaining why this is a very bad idea, let me give some breaking news to Ocasio-Cortez, who apparently was absent the day her high school social studies teacher explained how the Constitution is amended.

More HERE

Di Leo: Illinois and the Great Path Downward

By John F. Di Leo

First, the state of Illinois’ new governor signed a record number of tax and regulatory increase bills in Springfield, and then Chicago’s new mayor delivered a State of the City address announcing her plans to do the same to Chicago.

It’s been a good week for the tax collector, the political hack and the bureaucrat; it’s been a bad week for everyone else.

As statewide progressive income taxes - and many other forms of property grabs - loom large on the horizon, the message is clear to any Illinoisan with a house, a job, a business, a bank account, or in fact anything of value at all:

Get Out.

Get out now.  

Get out while you still can.

Thorner: "Beware of free gifts," Rev CL Bryant tells Chicago area audience

Chicago radio hosts Charles Love (l), John Anthony (r) with Rev CL Bryant (c)

By Nancy Thorner -    

Rev. C.L. Bryant's closing message at the Illinois Conservative Activist Conference last weekend was fiery, forceful, and passionate.  The day-long conference audience was spellbound.

Foster, Krishnamoorthi join Democrat ranks in calling for Trump impeachment inquiry

Foster

Krishnamoorthi

WASHINGTON DC - Only two Democrat Congress members from Illinois are holding out from the US House Democrat effort to launch an impeachment investigation of President Donald Trump. 

This week, 11th CD's Bill Foster and 8th CD's Raja Krishnamoorthi joined the other nine Democrats from Illinois that signed on earlier. The last two Democrats that have yet to sign on are the 3rd CD's Dan Lipinski and 17th CD's Cheri Bustos.

Weyermuller: Pro Life Advocates hit the Streets of Chicago

By Mark Weyermuller -  

The main stream media doesn’t give abortion much coverage, but that doesn’t stop people that support life from getting the word out. This week about 25 pro life advocates took to the streets of Chicago to "Show Victims of Abortion."

GOPer McCullagh announces bid for 49th District Senate seat

SHOREWOOD - Republican Thomas Scott McCullagh of Shorewood announced Wednesday his bid for the 49th State Senate district, now held by Senator Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant (D). 

McCullagh said in his announcement, “I want to have a state where my children and everyone's children can grow up and have a future. I want Illinois to be a place where you know that when you buy a house, you can afford it without outrageous property taxes and where your retirement accounts will be secure. Everyone wants to live in a place where they know their voice and their opinion matters.”

The tax and fee structure in Illinois is causing a mass outflow of residents to states with better tax rates, McCullagh said.

Thorner: Illinois Conservative activists energized after one-day conference

L to R: Carol Davis, James Marter and David Krupa

By Nancy Thorner - 

(Photos by Mark Weyermuller) 

The Illinois Conservative Union held its one-day 4th Annual Conservative Activist Conference on Saturday, August 24, at the Bolingbrook Golf Club, Bolingbrook, IL. It was appropriate that the event was held in the Ronald Reagan Ballroom.

ICU is a coalition of conservative grassroots groups and activists organized as a not-for-profit 501(c)(4), non-partisan, Illinois Bona Fide State Civic Organization, whose vision exists to build and maintain a coalition of conservative organizations and grassroots activists throughout the state of Illinois. Its goal is to have a positive impact on the financial and moral trajectory of the state. Conservative values and principles are time-tested, having a proven historical record of success in improving the lives of people around the globe.Publish

Beckman: As much rhetoric from Left as Right to blame for mass shootings

By Hank Beckman -

Another mass shooting and another completely predictable and pointless exercise in assigning blame to someone other that the person who actually pulled the trigger.

Sometimes the NRA and gun manufacturers are the bad guys; sometimes it’s a lack of attention to mental health; other times we blame local law enforcement for not being vigilant enough in enforcing local firearm laws.

But now we also have President Trump to blame.