Illinois Review

Illinois Review "Don't Miss" posts for Sept 2016's third week

Been too busy this week to catch the best of Illinois Review? Here's some you don't want to miss: 

DI LEO: CELEBRATING THE VISION OF AMERICA'S FRAMERS

WHERE'S WEYERMULLER? GOP FALL KICK OFF 2016 IN PARK RIDGE

BIGA: EXPECT TRUMP TO WIN BIG, DESPITE OPPOSITION ON MULTIPLE FRONTS

THORNER/INGOLD: MUSINGS FROM THE RIGHT

LASONDE: TEN TIMES MORE SYRIAN REFUGEES? FOUR REASONS WHY THAT’S WRONG

Cruz endorses Trump for President

HOUSTON - Despite Donald Trump dubbing him "Lyin' Ted" for an unconfirmed ruckus during the Iowa caucuses, Trump claiming his father was somehow associated with Kennedy assassin Lee Harvey Oswald and suggesting his wife was emotionally unstable while circulating an insulting graphic of her, U.S. Senator Ted Cruz succumbed to pressure from Republican hierarchy Friday and publicly endorsed Trump for President over Hillary Clinton.

Cruz posted the following on his Facebook page saying that because Donald Trump is the only thing standing in Hillary Clinton's way of being the next president, he's going to vote for Trump. 

Could Ed Secretary's home schooling remarks hint of more government oversight?

Secretary of Education John B. King Jr with President Obama | US News photo

WASHINGTON - The Obama Administration has made it clear in their view education is an issue just too crucial to be left entirely in parents' hands. 

While the President has supported high-performing publicly-funded charter schools, he and former Secretary of Education Arne Duncan successfully worked to remove private school vouchers from Washington D.C. students' options. 

The Obama Administration's antagonistic view of parental school choice gained attention again this week when new Secretary of Education John B. King Jr. was asked his thoughts about home schooling at a breakfast for Christian Science Monitor reporters. 

The Washington blog Politico reported Secretary King said he is concerned that home taught students aren’t “getting the range of options that are good for all kids.”

Downers Grove official rejects revealing further info that led to Sandack's sudden resignation

Former State Rep. Ron Sandack with House Minority Leader Jim Durkin | Sun-Times photo

DOWNERS GROVE - Last week's redacted police report concerning former State Rep. Ron Sandack's reason for suddenly resigning from the Illinois House last month stirred more questions rather than putting the issue to rest. 

Despite Sandack's substantial list of allies commenting on Illinois Review and elsewhere that the whole matter is now private and none of the public's business, five Chicago area news sources appealed to the Downers Grove Police Department to release un-redacted versions of Sandack's complaint. The village's attorney refused the news sources requests.

What were the Downers Grove officials to do? Sandack's history with the village is substantial.

Trump releases second list of potential nominees to U.S. Supreme Court

NEW YORK, NY - Friday, Donald Trump beefed up the issue of who will fill the current U.S. Supreme Court vacancy and others expected in the upcoming presidential term. He released a second list of potential nominees, built on the list he named earlier this year.

“We have a very clear choice in this election. The freedoms we cherish and the constitutional values and principles our country was founded on are in jeopardy," Trump said in a statement. "The responsibility is greater than ever to protect and uphold these freedoms and I will appoint justices, who like Justice Scalia, will protect our liberty with the highest regard for the Constitution. This list is definitive and I will choose only from it in picking future Justices of the United States Supreme Court."

This week's news from members of IL's GOP Congressional Caucus

U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam (IL-06) with Americans from which the IRS wrongly confiscated assets

WASHINGTON - This week, with the U.S. Congress in session, Republican Congress members Peter Roskam, Randy Hultgren and Darin LaHood had the following news for their Illinois District constituents:

Lasonde: Ten Times More Syrian Refugees? Four Reasons Why That’s Wrong

By Joan McCarthy Lasonde-

The United States recently met its target of admitting 10,000 Syrian refugees. My opponent for the U.S. Congress, Jan Schakowsky, supports expanding that number to “at least” 100,000, a tenfold increase. President Obama also recently endorsed an additional 11,000.

Either way, that would be a horrible mistake.

First, I have a different priority: Americans who deserve help. We have homeless veterans and others living under ‘L’ lines here in my Ninth District of Illinois. Tent cities for homeless Americans have become so common that Wikipedia now catalogs them by name.

Trump on Charlotte riots: We need a national anti-crime agenda

PITTSBURGH - In an keynote in Pittsburgh Thursday, GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump addressed the racial riots that are escalating in Charlotte North Carolina this week.

Before going any further today, I want to address the turmoil unfolding right now in our country.

Our country desperately needs unity, and it needs the spirit of togetherness that has not only got us through our toughest times – but which has lifted us up, in the past, to our greatest achievements as a nation. Every day, I see people of different backgrounds working together for a common good, and we need to bring that spirit to every part of our country – and become One American Nation, united by our shared values and principles as American Citizens.

We all have to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes, see things through their eyes, and then get to work fixing our wounded country.

Many Americans are watching the unrest in Charlotte unfolding on their TV screens. Others are witnessing the chaos and the violence firsthand. 

New NRA ad says "Don't let Hillary leave you defenseless"

WASHINGTON - "Don't let Hillary leave you protected with nothing but a phone."

The National Rifle Association has a new anti-Clinton ad out, suggesting Clinton's choices for Supreme Court nominees would side with limiting the right for women to defend themselves against intruders. 

Harlan pans Cheri Bustos' Biden endorsement

GALESBURG – Vice President Joe Biden endorsed Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (D-East Moline) Wednesday, saying the Democrat incumbent is a "champion" for Illinois families. Unfortunately, Illinois families know that is not the case, her Republican challenger Patrick Harlan replied.

"When it comes to supporting Illinois families, Cheri Bustos consistently votes the wrong way, siding with corporate elites and party interests over the people she was elected to represent," Harlan said in a statement. "We need a representative in Congress who will protect manufacturing, support the Rock Island Arsenal and our military, and fight for farmers in our district."

Where's Weyermuller? At GOP Fall Rally 2016

By Mark Weyermuller -

Chicago area suburban Republicans came out in force last Saturday for the annual GOP Fall Rally 2016. It was held at the Fifth Third Ballpark in Geneva, Illinois. The beautiful ball park is home of the Kane County Cougars who just finished their season.  

The afternoon featured fun, hot dogs, brats, burgers, beer, and of course political speeches.  The Jumbotron in centerfield showed  local and national candidates, including a big ad for Donald Trump. The rally was hosted by local committeeman Stan Bond with Bob Grogan as master of ceremonies. The evening ended with a magnificent fireworks show.

Abstinence group to honor former Rep. Penny Pullen October 20th

PALATINE - The Abstinence & Marriage Education Partnership will honor former Illinois State Representative and President of Life Advocacy Resource Project at the group's Annual Banquet on Thursday, October 20th at the Cotillion in Palatine, IL.

The evening's keynote speaker will be author and political commentator David Limbaugh.

A&M Partnership will present Penny Pullen with the Lifetime Achievement Award for her pro-life work over the past several decaes as well as for her longtime support for abstinence education.

DiCianni places hopes on IL 8th CD being winnable for Republicans

ELMHURST - When Pete DiCianni graduated from high school, his dad had news for him: Start a business and pay your own way through college. 

Being one of seven children in an Italian Catholic family, he set out to follow his dad's instructions and started a printing business while attending the local community college. The business took off while DiCianni finished his graphics arts degree at Elmhurst College. DiCianni Graphics has grown to be a million a year business.

Where's Weyermuller? GOP Women's PAC backs Munger for Comptroller

By Mark Weyermuller -

There is nothing like hanging out on the Chicago River at a outdoor cafe on a beautiful fall day. What better setting to see current Illinois State Comptroller Leslie Munger then at a meet and greet fundraiser. This event was hosted by the Illinois Republican Women PAC.  

Foster: The high price of silence

By Howard Foster - 

The pathetic cycle of slow death goes on and on. More bombings by another Muslim radical legally admitted to this country in the name of “diversity.” Just think about what we have endured in the last 15 years because our leaders have silently decreed we shall become more diverse.

We are endlessly told that we must have a “diverse” society which includes porous borders, liberally issued visas which can be overstayed without consequence, and hundreds of thousands of foreign students, partially responsible for sky high tuitions in higher education. Diversity advocates tell us they add  “vitality” to American life.

Follow up and try to define that “vitality” and they will, one way or another, settle on two things: cheap labor and ethnic dining. As for the first, it is true, porous borders have saturated the low-end labor market with foreigners looking for jobs Americans used to do - at lower wages. That has benefited the elites at the expense of everyone else. And I’ll leave it to you to decide how much you value ethnic restaurants. I think Devon Avenue in Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago and most of Miami look and feel like the third world. I avoid them at all costs.

Dissatisfied with 2016 presidential picks? You're not alone

DuBUQUE IA - If you as an Illinoisan are not happy with the presidential choices on the November ballot, you're not alone, a poll by DuBuque's Loras College found last week. Nearly six out of 10 Illinois voters are dissatisfied with the choices of Democrat Hillary Clinton, Republican Donald Trump, Libertarian Gary Johnson and Green Partier Jill Stein. 

Hillary Clinton is viewed more favorably than Donald Trump in Illinois, with Clinton at a -6 favorability rating compared to Donald Trump's -40 rating.

“Many voters are thinking of this election in almost defensive terms—of which outcome they most want to avoid,” Christopher Budzisz, Ph.D., associate professor of politics and director of the Loras College Poll said. "Fear and anxiety can be great motivators in electoral politics, and given the unfavorable ratings of both candidates this year, voting against someone may be an easier sell to voters than voting for someone. It remains to be seen if such appeals to fear and anxiety will impact voter turnout.”

And with the higher favorability ratings, the former secretary of state maintains a double-digit lead over the New York businessman in Illinois: 

Hillary Clinton	43 percent
Donald Trump	30 percent
Gary Johnson	8 percent
Jill Stein	3 percent
Unsure	14 percent

How pro-small business are your state lawmakers?

SPRINGFIELD - This week, the Illinois chapter of the National Federation of Independent Businesses released its record of votes Illinois state legislators made on key small business issues over the past two years in the 99th General Assembly.

Eleven votes are listed among those most crucial to the NFIB, including leave mandate legislation, workers' compensation reform, prevailing wage requirements and minimum wage hike bills.

Lawmakers that received a 100% rating were named "Guardian of Small Businesses." 

Veteran Affairs' whistleblowers featured in new anti-Duckworth ad

ANNA - "She said to me point blank, 'Keep your mouth shut and you won't be fired," Denise Goins, who blew the whistle on activities at the Veterans Home in Anna Illinois, opens in a new political ad from the Mark Kirk campaign. 

Duckworth, who served as the director of the state's Veterans Affairs, settled out of court with a $26,000 fine paid by taxpayers. The accusation? Duckworth worked to silence staff that was pointing to abuse and neglect of veterans in their care.

Duckworth's legal counsel was provided by Attorney General Lisa Madigan, also at taxpayers' expense.

"Director Tammy Duckworth was trying to protect Governor Rod Blagojevich," says Christine Butler, another whistleblower at the facility, in the ad. "The veteran was not Tammy Duckworth's top priority."  

Tammy Duckworth is the Democrats' nominee for U.S. Senate in November, challenging incumbent U.S. Senator Mark Krik. 

New Bost ad shines on Belleville Boot saga

MURPHYSBORO – Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Mike Bost released the second television advertisement in his re-election campaign for Illinois' 12th Congressional District, titled "Belleville Boot." The ad, narrated by Belleville Boot Company President Mark Ferguson, highlights Bost's successful efforts to stop a federal rule change that would have made it more difficult for the company to compete with big corporations for supplying boots to our men and women in uniform. 

"When Washington politicians tried to change the rules and put big businesses ahead of a Southern Illinois job creator, I went down to the House floor and helped stop them," said Bost. "Because we were successful, Belleville Boot Company will remain one of the largest providers of military boots in the nation.  That's the type of positive result that hardworking Southern Illinois families deserve."

Kirk schedules hearing on Iran Cash-for-Hostages links to Terror Financing

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), Chairman of the Senate Banking Subcommittee on National Security and International Trade and Finance, announced Tuesday his plans to hold an oversight hearing on the terror financing dangers of the Administration’s three airlift payments to the Iranian regime totaling $1.7 billion in difficult-to-trace foreign cash as part of a quid pro quo for the January 2016 release of American hostages.

The hearing will be held Wednesday, September 21st, at 10:30 a.m. at the nation's Capitol. The Senate Banking Subcommittee has oversight of the Treasury Department, Iran sanctions laws, and terrorist financing.