Illinois Review

Latest Leftist attempt to revive the ERA won't work, Andy Schlafly says

SPRINGFIELD - One excuse some faux conservatives in the Illinois General Assembly gave to vote for the Equal Right Amendment was that it was meaningless and wouldn't be going anywhere, so why not support and give the Liberals one less vote to complain about? 

The answer they should have heard is the Left never gives up - unlike many conservatives do. ERA being decades past the deadline to be amended to the US Constitution is a mere hurdle for Leftists. They intend to be successful. 

Indeed, the ERA advocates in Illinois are placing pressure on US Congress members now to support an effort to remove the ERA's 1979 deadline - after all, the Left argues, isn't the Constitution and anything to do with it "living and breathing?"

National legal immigration group: With Republicans like Rauner, who needs Democrats?

SPRINGFIELD - Friday, a national immigration group defied Governor Rauner's claim earlier this week that Illinois is not a sanctuary state. 

"ALIPAC finds Governor Bruce Rauner's comments ... to be false, disingenuous and dangerous ..." William Gheen of Americans for Legal Immigration PAC told Illinois Review.

In an effort to unite his Republican base, Rauner said Wednesday, "...We can have issues where we can disagree, and by the way, I'm adamantly against illegal immigration and we are not a sanctuary state, and we'll never be one. I oppose that. But, you know what? We gotta unite."

Governor Rauner and his advocates have insisted for a year that Illinois is NOT a sanctuary state - despite the bill he signed last year forbids local law enforcement from being in direct contact with the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency about persons that are in the country illegally that law enforcement is releasing from local imprisonment. 

Ives: "Any Dem that says they support business is lying to you"

WHEATON - There's plenty of reason to vote Democrats out of office, State Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) said in a Facebook post Friday morning.

Every single Democrat received negative ratings on issues of importance to Illinois small businesses, showing they are bent on destroying the state's economy, not building it.

"Any Dem that says they support business is lying to you. Get it. They are lying to you ..." she wrote.

The representative then pointed out legislative scorecards proving her point from Illinois business groups such as Technology & Manufacturing Association, Illinois Chamber of Commerce and the National Federation of Independent Businesses. 

Gov Rauner tells conservatives why they should vote for him in November

SPRINGFIELD - What's Governor Rauner's message to Illinois conservatives so unhappy about how he ignored the IL GOP platform on several crucial issues during his first term?  He finally answered the million dollar question succinctly on Wednesday during a press conference at the State Fair.

"Republicans now need to come together," Rauner said. "We can have issues where we can disagree, and by the way, I'm adamantly against illegal immigration and we are not a sanctuary state, and we'll never be one. I oppose that. But, you know what? We gotta unite.

"This is the time for everybody to come together. It's not only Republicans, it's independent voters, it's Democrats that actually want a good future for their children and grandchildren. We can have our differences on policy issues, but what really matters is that we don't give total control to Madigan, his machine, funded by Pritzker. More corruption, higher taxes, more job losses. That's what they'll bring. We've gotta fight against that."

He didn't like the idea that some conservatives are promoting Rauner as "lesser than two evils." 

During the 10 minute press conference recorded by Illinois One, he congratulated Trump's policies on cutting taxes, cutting red tape on business regulations and promoting fair trade. 

It's a must-listen if you want to know where we're headed in the next 80 days leading up to November's election.

The bright side of the trade war with China?

This year marks the 40th anniversary of one of the most consequential anti-poverty programs in human history. Now, there is evidence that its spillover effects may lift millions more out of dire need.

In 1978, 18 farmers from the Chinese village of Xiaogang secretly signed “the document that changed the world.” Madsen Pirie of the Adam Smith Institute writes:

Thorner: Again, Liberals lose gun and economy debates

 
Daily Beast photo

By Nancy Thorner - 

In 480 B.C., the Persians demanded that the Spartans surrender their arms at Thermopylae. To which King Leonidas replied “Molon labe.”  For those who have forgotten their high school Greek, that literally translates to “Having come, take,” but, in English, that would be the equivalent of “Come and take them, if you think you can.” 

The colonials were always being told to surrender their arms to the Brits.  Fortunately for all of us and for the world at large, they refused in no uncertain terms.

In 1835, the Mexicans were demanding the surrender of a cannon by the Texans.  The Texans refused and, against superior numbers, managed to hang on to it.  A few months later, the Mexicans, outnumbering the Texans by at least five-to-one, demanded that a handful of Texans surrender the Alamo.  Once again the Texans refused.  The ensuing battle was bloody.  The aftermath was even worse, as the Mexicans continued shooting and bayoneting the bodies long after Sam Houston, Davy Crockett and the others were dead.

What Was the Cold War? [video]

The decades-long “Cold War” (1947-1989) between the United States and the Soviet Union was so named because the two global powers never came to direct blows. Yet, the war was not without its victims. In fact, millions of Cubans, Koreans and Vietnamese suffered under Communist tyranny. In this video, Renowned British historian Andrew Roberts explains why “The Cold War” could just as easily be called “The Third World War.”

The Future of SB 1564

There’s uncertainty surrounding the future of an Illinois law now that the Supreme Court has ruled against a similar statute in California requiring pro-life pregnancy care centers to inform expecting mothers about the availability of abortions.

Illinois ranks as one of most anti-Trump states in new survey

CHICAGO - If you've ever wondered why you don't see very many Trump bumper stickers or red MAGA caps when you're out and about in Illinois, well there's a reason: Trump isn't well-liked here, in case you haven't noticed.

In fact, Illinois is one of the nation's most anti-Trump states, according to a state-by-state approval rating poll released by Morning Consult. Illinois disapproves of Trump almost as much as Left Coast California and East Coast New York do.

Governor calls for revved-up ground game as "most important election of his lifetime" nears

SPRINGFIELD - Wednesday, Governor Rauner spoke to supporters at the Governor's Day rally at the State Fair. He focused on the need for lower taxes, more jobs, and ending corruption. His speech highlights the clear distinction between him and Madigan's handpicked candidate JB Pritzker, his campaign office said in a press release distributed after the speech. 

Some excerpts from the governor's speech:

Every election is important. This one is the most important election of my lifetime. I've lived in Illinois since 1956, the year I was born. 62 years, I don't know of a more important election than this one. Everything is on the line, everything. The fundamental question: can we continue to fight back and break the stranglehold the Madigan Machine has had on our state? Can we break that lock hold and grow jobs, cut taxes, get term limits, end the corruption. Can we really continue on the battle to restore our state or will we fall backwards? Will we fall backwards? No. We are not going to fall backwards, we're not. We cannot let Madigan and Pritzker get total control of this state. That is going to mean more taxes, more corruption, more job losses, and a devastating future for our children and our grandchildren in the state of Illinois. We can't let that happen. We cannot let that happen. And this is the key time. 

Chicago-based Ozinga pours solid foundation for Wisconsin's Foxconn

Good things are happening in the Midwest while America's economy is charging ahead on all cylinders. What's happening north of Illinois is making its way to at least one Illinois-based business: Ozinga Concrete, which now has locations beyond Illinois - in Indiana, Florida, Wisconsin and Michigan.

Electronics manufacturer Foxconn recently began construction on a new plant in Mount Pleasant, WI. During the first week, Chicago's own Ozinga filled trenches with over 300 yards of concrete. When complete, the 20 million-square-foot complex will create 13,000 jobs in the state.

Dabrowski: It’s the pension promises, stupid!

By Ted Dabrowski - 

You can trust public pension apologists to deflect any critique that calls out the failure of defined benefit plans. Unsurprisingly, their response to a recent Wall Street Journal editorial highlighting Wirepoints’ research was just that – deflection via misdirection and victim playing.

Wirepoints found that a skyrocketing growth in pension benefits, what are known as accrued liabilities, is behind most of the state pension crises playing out across the country. Uncontrolled pension benefit growth is swamping many state economies and the residents who pay for those benefits.

The apologists find the facts inconvenient, so they deflect. But they don’t disprove the core findings of our research: that unrestrained benefit growth is behind many state fiscal crises.

That was the subject of our two most recent reports: Illinois state pensions: Overpromised, not underfunded and Overpromising has crippled public pensions: A 50-state survey.

The numbers are undeniable. And it’s not just the growth rate of accrued liabilities that’s daunting. It’s how they’re crowding out everything in their path.

For example, look at the chart below. It compares the total of Illinois’ state pension promises to the state’s operating budget over time. You’ll quickly see why those promises are swallowing the budget and crowding out spending for everything else.

In 1987, total promises made to active workers and retirees were 1.6 times, or 162%, the size of the state’s yearly operating budget.

Libertarianism vs. Conservatism [video]

Interns from the Cato Institute and the Heritage Foundation will go head-to-head to answer the question: Is libertarianism or conservatism the superior political philosophy?

Thorner & O'Neil - Importance of Religion and Moral Values in Restoring Our Republic

By Nancy Thorner & Bonnie O'Neil - 

How can God continue to bless America if the Christian church remains silent on issues that oppose God's Word?  Atheists and agnostics have no trouble blatantly telling their supporters to vote for specific candidates who oppose Christian values, but many churches won’t even have voter registration tables or Christian voter guides as encouragement for Christians to engage in the process of electing our leaders. Is it any wonder why we are losing our Christian nation given one immoral law after another?

Our opponents are fully engaged in this battle, while Christians largely ignore the growing dangers to our families and the Christian church. Those who founded our country and protected our founders’ values through the centuries understood the need for a nation to stay engaged.  That was most often accomplished when a majority of citizens believed in Christian-Judea principles and fought against that which was harmful, if not evil.  

The Tax Cuts Simplified Tax Filing Process for Millions of Households

How much did tax reform save in compliance costs? Erica York and Alex Muresianu write:

The simplification of the tax code will lead to economic savings thanks to less time spent filing. Using estimates of how many hours it takes taxpayers to comply with certain forms, we can estimate the value of time saved by certain reforms made by the TCJA. Specifically, the reduction in filers owing AMT liability and the simplified process of filing individual income taxes could greatly reduce compliance costs for certain households.

Revision of Obama-era Fuel Economy Rules Is No Climate Disaster

Fuel economy non-change will have no impact on global warming. The Trump administration has canceled a scheduled increase in Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards. Automakers will be marginally freer to make and sell vehicles they think consumers actually want. Environmentalists are criticizing the move, but how much will it really add to global warming? The answer, Marlo Lewis writes, is zero degrees give or take a few thousandths of a degree 82 years from now:

Specifically, under the agencies’ revised standards, atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration would reach 789.76 parts per million in the year 2100 instead of 789.11 ppm—an 8/100th of a percent increase.

Why Democratic Socialists Can’t Legitimately Claim Sweden, Denmark as Success Stories

Denmark, Norway, and Sweden are capitalist, not socialist, success stories. Julia Howe and Anthony Kim debunk a popular socialist talking point:

Denmark ranks as the 10th most economically free country in The Heritage Foundation’s Index of Economic Freedom, which cites free-market policies and regulatory efficiency as reasons for the high standard of living. Sweden is ranked 15th and Norway 23rd, both with similar descriptions of thriving private sectors and open markets.

These three countries are clearly not operating under centrally planned economies, or their economic freedom scores would be significantly lower.

Democratic Socialism Threatens Minorities

If you don’t like how other people vote, imagine that their votes determine a larger number of issues. That’s what socialism will bring, as Conor Friedersdorf attempts to explain to leftists:

Popular control is finally realized! So: How popular is Islam? How many Muslim prayer rugs would the democratic majority of workers vote to produce? How many Korans? How many head scarves? How much halal meat would be slaughtered? What share of construction materials would a majority of workers apportion to new mosques?

Under capitalism, the mere existence of buyers reliably gives rise to suppliers. Relying instead on democratic decisions would pose a big risk for Muslims. And Sikhs. And Hindus. And Jews. And maybe even Catholics.  

Democrats More Positive About Socialism Than Capitalism

For the first time in Gallup's measurement over the past decade, Democrats have a more positive image of socialism than they do of capitalism. Attitudes toward socialism among Democrats have not changed materially since 2010, with 57% today having a positive view. The major change among Democrats has been a less upbeat attitude toward capitalism, dropping to 47% positive this year -- lower than in any of the three previous measures. Republicans remain much more positive about capitalism than about socialism, with little sustained change in their views of either since 2010.

• 47% of Democrats view capitalism positively, down from 56% in 2016
• 57% of Democrats now view socialism positively, little changed from 2010
• Republicans very positive about capitalism; 16% positive on socialism

More HERE

Japan: America’s Neglected Ally?

America’s trade war with China and diplomatic engagement with North Korea have captured the headlines. But what of America’s stalwart ally Japan? Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had established the closest relationship with President Trump of any world leader. But Tokyo didn’t receive preferential treatment on tariffs and was surprised by the U.S. policy reversal on North Korea. Abe traveled to the U.S. to ensure Japanese priorities were addressed during the Trump-Kim summit.