Written by Ted Dabrowski and John Klingner
Illinois Senate members have a drafted a new budget plan that relies on multibillion-dollar tax hikes, but little in structural spending reforms.
The plan punishes taxpayers with more than $5 billion in additional income and other taxes, borrows $7 billion from the bond market and adds casinos in Chicago – none of which provide relief to struggling Illinoisans. The plan also leaves pensions unreformed, does little to workers’ compensation costs and burdens job creators with a higher minimum wage cost.
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Written by Michael Bargo, Jr.
The 1964 Voting Rights Act and revisions addressed the right of the individual citizen in the U.S. to vote without obstruction or discrimination. The concept of one person one vote has been repeatedly upheld. While Illinois became infamous for having the dead vote and allowing multiple votes by one person, its legislature has adopted rules that seriously infringe upon the rights of all voters.
This more subtle, abstract, and far more dangerous practice implements a new method of vote theft: administratively denying voters any input into legislation; thereby violating the concept that government can only legislate with the “consent of the governed.”
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Written by Ted Dabrowski and John Klingner
One of the most foolish things politicians can do to an economy suffering from a weak recovery and a shrinking tax base is to pass tax hikes. Hitting residents and businesses when they’re struggling risks sending a faltering economy into a tailspin.
And for an economy edging toward recession, tax hikes are even worse.
Unfortunately, a multibillion-dollar tax hike is exactly what Illinois politicians are proposing for a state economy that’s been remarkably weak and is now showing signs of recession-like shrinkage.… Continue Reading
Written by John Biver
For a number of years now, the Illinois Republican Party has been making Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan the focus of their attacks on our failed state government policies. Madigan has been in office since the early 1970s, and Speaker for all but two years since the early 1980s.
The Illinois Policy Institute’s Joe Tabor and Ted Dabrowski recently penned an extensive over-view of Madigan’s power as Speaker in the article, “Madigan’s rules: How Illinois gives its House speaker power to manipulate and control the legislative process.”… Continue Reading
Written by Adam Andrzejewski
After Illinois Auditor General William Holland retired last fall, three years into his third ten-year term, the General Assembly appointed state representative Frank Mautino (D-Spring Valley) as his replacement. Mautino, the former Deputy Leader in the general assembly, was the anointed pick of powerful House Speaker Michael J. Madigan (D-Chicago).
But for one state senator and 10 mostly freshman state representatives, the Mautino appointment vote exposed the bipartisan corruption that is Illinois politics.
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Written by Adam Andrzejewski
Earlier this spring, at OpenTheBooks.com, we identified more than 50,000 Illinois public employees who make at least $100,000 per year.
These “highly compensated” public servants cost Illinois taxpayers over $8 billion. We found Cook County animal-control officers making $105,000; suburban school administrators at $503,000; university doctors earning $1.3 million; and 72 small-town ‘managers’ out-earning every governor of all 50 states.
This research helps explain why Illinois has a net outward migration of residents.… Continue Reading
Written by John Biver
Are you curious about how the vote turned out in your area? What did voters decide in your precinct? Did they vote to continue “hope and change,” or did they instead cast their ballot to “make America great again”? This information is especially important for elected Precinct Committeemen who worked their precincts.
Precinct-level election results and more can be found with a few points and clicks at the website “Illinois Election Data,” “a data driven website … created to share and display useful campaign data on Illinois elections.”… Continue Reading
Written by Sara Burnett
Associated Press
The state where both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton used to live is still reliably Democratic when it comes to picking a president.
But drill a little deeper and it’s clear the political map changed, with more counties flipping from Democrat to Republican just as they did in states like Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, helping Donald Trump become president.
While Trump won a smaller percentage of the state’s overall vote than Mitt Romney did in 2012 due to dismal support in Chicago and its suburbs, he won a dozen more counties than Romney.… Continue Reading
Tags: Adrienne Logue, Barack Obama, Bruce Rauner, Democrat, Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, Mitt Romney, Pat Quinn, Republican, Ronald Reagan, Susan Gilbert
Federal Elections, Illinois Politics | David E. Smith | 
November 14, 2016 7:00 AM | 
Comments Off on A Turning of GOP Tide in Solidly Democratic Illinois
Drs. Hiram and Jaronda Crawford visited Illinois Family Action earlier this week and were kind enough to join Dave and Monte on a special episode of Illinois Family Spotlight. The Crawfords discuss the upcoming General Election and their recent efforts to promote pro-life policies and values in Chicago.
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Who endorses the candidates can be just as helpful as knowing where they stand on the issues – especially when the candidates refuse to respond to pro-life and pro-family candidate questionnaires.
See who’s endorsed them!
Click HERE for the presidential and federal office Endorsement Guide.
Click HERE for the state candidate Endorsement Guide.
Click HERE for Cook County Judges and various county candidates.
–> For more great election information, check out our online voter guide at: ILVoterGuide.com… Continue Reading
