Illinois Review

Life-affirming messages challenge abortion business in Chicago

CHICAGO - On Saturday, we ran a story (HERE) about young, pro-life activists holding life-affirming signs on the bridges, streets and sidewalks surrounding the Family Planning Associates Medical Group, and abortion facility located at 659 W. Washington in Chicago.

In the video below, courageous young women author sidewalk chalk messages. Abortion clinic escorts used bottled water & brooms to erase life & mom messages, tragically symbolizing what was occurring inside the abortion clinic at that very moment.

Religious Freedom and the American Settlement

Religious freedom is declining in the United States. If the history of freedom were graphed, this would be the lowest point in a curve since the 1960s, when the Supreme Court issued several momentous decisions on school prayer. Our level of religious freedom is falling, and all signs indicate that it will continue to do so.

In his new book, The Rise and Decline of American Religious Freedom, University of San Diego law professor Steven D. Smith notes this trend and explains its causes. In this sense, the book is pessimistic. Yet there is a hopeful note in the midst of this pessimism. According to Smith, the original genius of the United States, what he calls “the American settlement,” which used to protect religious freedom, has long been lost. But is it gone forever? Nothing lasts forever in this world, the author reminds us, including governments. But here’s the hopeful part: Smith argues that, although it will be difficult, it is still possible to recover what made the United States a land of free and flourishing belief.

Casual marijuana use linked with brain abnormalities, study finds

After making medical marijuana legal, Illinois legislators are now considering full legalization of pot as a way to increase tax revenue for the state.

However, a new study shows that even casual marijuana use may come with some not-so-casual side effects.

For the first time, researchers at Northwestern University have analyzed the relationship between casual use of marijuana and brain changes – and found that young adults who used cannabis just once or twice a week showed significant abnormalities in two important brain structures.

The study’s findings, to be published in the Journal of Neuroscience, are similar to those of past research linking chronic, long-term marijuana use with mental illness and changes in brain development.

Hultgren pushes to repeal "death tax," create 1.5M new jobs

WASHINGTON DC – U.S. Representative Randy Hultgren (IL-14) joined a renewed effort with 59 colleagues to repeal the punitive Estate Tax, also known as the “Death Tax.”

“Growing up in a family funeral home, I saw first-hand the grief families endured following the death of a parent. The estate tax diminishes the ability of families to pass on their life’s work to their children and grandchildren. Burdening family farmers and small-business owners in Illinois only adds insult to injury,” said Hultgren. “All Americans agree that it is unfair to tax the same assets over and over again. Yet, this IRS injustice continues to threaten the livelihood of family-owned businesses—a lifeblood of our nation—and stunts their continuity, harming economic growth.

“Furthermore, a report by former CBO Director Douglas Holtz-Eakin estimated that a full repeal of the estate tax would create 1.5 million new jobs. To bolster economic recovery, we must do more to make life more affordable and encourage people to make the investments in their businesses that will get our economy moving again.”

See the letter HERE

Kinzinger: It's time to build on Illinois' nuclear-energy legacy

By Congressman Adam Kizinger & Mark Peters - 

When we think of renewable energy sources, most envision solar panels or wind turbines. But as our world's need for safe, reliable, affordable, abundant sources of clean energy continues to grow, nuclear energy remains the only source of energy that can meet our daily needs safely without adding further pollution to our planet's atmosphere — a crucial issue as Illinois and other states seek to reduce pollution without hampering our economy.

In 2012, nuclear energy produced nearly 20 percent of America's total electrical output. But for 30 years, no new power plants have been brought on line in this country, forcing us to rely on higher-carbon energy sources to create our electricity.

Those environmental impacts are significant. A recent analysis by the Illinois Clean Energy Coalition found that, last year alone, emission-free nuclear power avoided the creation of more than 90 million tons of carbon dioxide emission — just in Illinois.

Right-to-Life groups endorse Cook in 14th State Central Committeeman race

CRYSTAL LAKE – The officers of the Lake and McHenry County Right to Life groups announced that they have unanimously voted to endorse Bob Cook for 14th Congressional State Central Committeeman.

“Bob has earned our trust, and we believe he has the credentials to represent the conservative values of the families within the 14th congressional district” said Irene Napier of McHenry County Right-to-Life.

Both the Lake and McHenry County right-to-life organizations rejected Cook's opponent, Barbara Wheeler, telling Illinois Review that Wheeler's recent campaign contributions and endorsements of candidates who don't share the right-to-life community's position on traditional marriage raised questions about her policy positions.

“Barb has proven to be untrustworthy in the defense of these positions” said Bonnie Quirk of the Lake County Right to Life.

The election is tonight.

Illinois transgender sues doctor under Obamacare non-discrimination provision

Naya Taylor | Photo: Lambda Legal Defense Fund

URBANA - Lambda Legal has filed a lawsuit on behalf of Naya Taylor Yesterday, , Lambda Legal filed a lawsuit on behalf of Naya Taylor, a transgender woman who claims she was denied medical care after she requested hormone replacement therapy. The lawsuit, which was filed in U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois, Urbana Division, alleges a violation of the Obamacare's non-discrimination provisions prohibiting discrimination on the basis of gender identity.

"The provisions of the Affordable Care Act are clear: doctors receiving federal funds cannot discriminate in providing patient care just because a person is transgender," said Kenneth Upton, Senior Counsel for Lambda Legal.

Taylor is a transgender woman living in Mattoon, Illinois. Dr. Aja Lystila had been Taylor's primary care physician, but when Taylor requested to start hormone replacement therapy as part of her transition-related healthcare to treat her gender dysphoria, Dr. Lystila declined, stating that she was not experienced in providing hormones to individuals with gender dysphoria.

The lawsuit names Dr. Lystila and an integrated group of health care services, as defendants. A complaint was also filed with the Illinois Human Rights Commission.

Metra files reveal years of political patronage hiring

CHICAGO - Files documenting political patronage hiring at Chicago's Metra commuter rail agency reveal that some of Illinois' most well-known politicians were pushing job candidates.

The nearly 800 index cards list the names of candidates for jobs, promotions or raises and the powerful politicians weighing in on their behalf over a period from 1983 to 1991. Their existence was made public March 31 by a panel scrutinizing the agency.

Copies released Tuesday by Metra in response to Freedom of Information Act requests show prominent Democrats and Republicans were named in the cards.

The Chicago Sun-Times reports that they included Democrats such as Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan, late U.S. Sen. Paul Simon (D) and late Illinois Comptroller Dawn Clark Netsch (D). Former Gov. George Ryan (R) was also listed.

Aurora Planned Parenthood Draws Good Friday 'Way of the Cross' Observance

AURORA - On Good Friday, the day Christians observe the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, Illinoisans will gather outside the Aurora Planned Parenthood abortion center to recognize the unborn children who have been aborted at the facility.

Ever since the massive abortion facility opened in 2007, community members have used peaceful means to try and force America's largest abortion provider to leave the large suburban community west of Chicago.

"Thousands of unborn babies have been put to death by abortion at the intersection of New York and Oakhurst since Planned Parenthood opened its doors in Aurora," declared Eric Scheidler, executive director of the Pro-Life Action League. "For six years, we have gathered there on Good Friday to mourn for these children and pray that their brothers and sisters will be spared. This annual event has proved so impactful that last year I invited pro-life groups across the country to join us with their own prayer vigils." At forty abortion clinics across the country -- in cities like Philadelphia, Saint Louis, Denver, Nashville, Milwaukee and Tucson -- clergy will lead solemn prayer services this year, a 40% increase over last year.

Christians of all denominations have been invited to participate in the ecumenical prayer service:

86M full-time, private-sector workers now sustaining 108M benefit takers

Buried deep on the website of the U.S. Census Bureau is the number 86,429,000. That is the number of Americans who in 2012 who worked and paid for the 108,592,000 Americans who receive taxpayer-funded benefits.

Terence Jeffrey at CNSnews.com is reporting on the breakdown (HERE)

As more baby boomers retire, and as Obamacare comes fully online — with its expanded Medicaid rolls and federally subsidized health insurance for anyone earning less than 400 percent of the poverty level — the number of takers will inevitably expand. And the number of full-time private-sector workers might also contract.

Eventually, there will be too few carrying too many, and America will break.

Rhoads: Lincoln's advice to Chicago GOP

By Mark Rhoads - 

Often politicians in both parties think the smart move is to avoid principles that might be inconvenient in order to win an election. Abraham Lincoln disagreed with that idea and believed that principles were important to winning elections. Here is what he said to a victory rally of Chicago Republicans on the night of March 1, 1859:

"All you have to do is to keep the faith, to remain steadfast to the right, to stand by your banner. Nothing should lead you to leave your guns. Stand together, ready, with match in hand. Allow nothing to turn you to the right or to the left. Remember how long you have been in setting out on the true course; how long you have been in getting your neighbors to understand and believe as you now do. Stand by your principles; stand by your guns; and victory complete and permanent is sure at the last."

Source: Collected writings of Abraham Lincoln, Volume 3 on digital file at the University of Michigan.

Illinois driver chastised through unsolicited text message from state police

Police State USA is reporting about an Illinois man who was startled to receive a text message from a strange number chastising him for using his cell phone while driving.

After admittedly taking a phone call during his daily commute, the driver received an unsolicited text message from a number he had never seen before. It read: “Get off the phone when you are driving!”

The sender then provided an identity of “Illinois State Police Officer Robinson #54367.”

The driver, who wished to remain anonymous, told Police State USA about this strange new enforcement technique. After interviewing the driver and seeing the message directly on his phone, Police State USA has little doubt about the driver's story.

Some are wondering whether the incident was the result of the State Police using a “Stingray,” a mobile device which can be used to track location data of nearby cell phones. The suitcase-sized device has recently been acquired by 125 police agencies and 33 states, according to USA Today.

Another theory is that the Illinois State Police have a database of cell phone numbers that are be associated with license plate numbers.

Few Illinois teachers feel completely ready for Common Core

By Benjamin Yount - 

SPRINGFIELD - Fewer than two in 10 teachers in Illinois say they’re completely ready for Common Core, despite Illinois being in its fourth year of the new learning standards.

The Illinois State Board of Education’s own teacher survey shows just 17.5 percent of teachers say they are fully prepared for Common Core.

That’s slightly more than the 11.5 percent of teachers who say they are completely unprepared to teach the new benchmarks for reading and math.

Most teachers, 67 percent of those asked, say they are only somewhat prepared for the learning standards that will be tested for the first time next year.

Lerner was in contact with DOJ about prosecuting tax-exempt groups

Former head of the IRS tax-exempt division Lois Lerner communicated with the Justice Department about the possibility of criminally prosecuting certain tax-exempt groups, new documents reveal.

According to the conservative government accountability group Judicial Watch, email exchanges between Lerner and Nikole C. Flax, the Chief of Staff to then-Acting IRS Commissioner Steven T. Miller, reveal there were discussions about possible prosecution of tax-exempt groups that were believed to have “lied” about political activities.

More at Daily Caller

Thorner: U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson keynotes Lake County GOP gala

By Nancy Thorner - 

The Lake County Republican Federation held its 52nd Annual Spring Gala with U.S. Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) as keynote speaker.

A "Call to Order" was presented by president Larry Falbe, after which the Pledge of Allegiance was led by Don Wilson, Candidate, State Senate 30th District. Daniela Sloan sang the national anthem; Carla Wyckoff, Candidate, Lake County Clerk, offered the invocation.

Remarks were made by Robert "Bob" Cook, Chairman of the Lake County Republicans; Jim Oberweis, Republican candidate for U.S. Senate; and Robert Dold, former U.S. Representative, and candidate, for Illinois's 10th Congressional District.

Larry Farber introduced Senator Mark Kirk, calling Kirk "the Favorite Son of Lake County." Kirk, in turn, introduced Keynote Speaker, Senator Ron Johnson, referring to Johnson as "the embodiment of Mr. Smith goes to Washington."

Union dues are a $15 billion tax deduction

By Justin Hegy - 

Union members are allowed to deduct their union dues on their taxes, equating to an estimated $15 billion nationwide.

According to the Internal Revenue Service, workers are allowed to deduct union dues as part of their itemized deductions:

“You can deduct dues and initiation fees you pay for union membership… You can also deduct assessments for benefit payments to unemployed union member.”

And although there’s a clause stating the portion of dues being used for political lobbying are excluded, unions often blur the lines and misrepresent what activities dues actually fund. Either way, the majority of dues are still deductible.

This not only means lost tax revenue for the federal government, but it also means taxpayers are indirectly subsidizing labor unions – many of which are often overtly political in nature.

Worse yet, in states such as Illinois, workers in unionized workplaces are often forced to pay union dues as a condition of employment.

So states such as Illinois can force you to pay union dues, then pat you on the back come year’s end, essentially  saying: “Don’t worry… other taxpayers will help pick up the tab.”

Justin Hegy is a Policy Analyst at the Illinois Policy Institute

Illinois school board urges state to oppose Common Core standards

ST. CHARLES - School board members in west suburban St. Charles are so concerned about the federal Common Core curriculum mandates that they passed a resolution Monday night to caution state lawmakers about plunging deeper into the Obama Administration's education plan.

In a 6-1 decision, St. Charles Community Unit School District 303 passed the resolution. They are hopeful other districts will follow suit.

"We have heard from parents and fewer teachers - I don't think they are able to speak up so easily," board member Judith O'Connell told Illinois Review. "We're hopeful other districts will follow suit, legislators and candidates will pay attention and consider. In three years, this was my favorite board meeting."

O'Connell said she has been sharing information about the Common Core curriculum with other board members. Indiana recently pulled out of the program, while 14 other states are either considering pulling out or delaying implementation due to the high costs and unfunded mandates associated with the program. Most of all, parents, teachers and now school board members are concerned about losing local control to a federal bureaucracy.

The Common Core Standards resolution passed Monday night states:

Money an issue in Cook County GOP chairman's race

CHICAGO - Wednesday Cook County Republican township and ward committeemen will be choosing who will be their GOP county chairmen for the next four years. Incumbent chairman Aaron Del Mar is being challenged by Chicago GOP vice-chairman Chris Cleveland.

The contest has been tense, with both sides actively campaigning to lead the state's largest Republican party. As this is politics, one of the issues being discussed is money.

The Cook County Republican Party filed its D-2 report report Tuesday with $478.67 in the bank. It reported receipts of $1,400 and expenditures of $2,144 for the quarter ending March 31.

The Chicago GOP filed its D-2 report with $38,108.34 in the bank. It reported receipts of $22,629.56 and expenditures of $36,141.17 for the quarter ending March 31.

IR will report the winner when the results are available. Stay tuned.

Millennial women rejecting the hard work of motherhood?

By Irene F. Starkehaus - 

A New York Post article posted on April 10, 2014 reported that over the last seven years, the number of live births from women between the ages of 15 and 29 is down a startling 9%. Studies show that women are replacing the joys of motherhood with the simplicity of pet ownership:

"Women are not only having fewer children but are also getting married later. There are more single and unmarried women in their late 20s and early 30s, which also happens to be the demographic that buys the most small dogs."

These statistics – if scientifically supportable – are more than a little troubling. Were feminists truly concerned about the reproductive choice they so ardently champion, they would (but won't) be sounding the alarm over this growing fashion among Millennial women. Superficially, this act of replacement presents feminist leaders with the partial attainment of their goal which is to destabilize the traditional family. Realistically, it heralds emergent government intrusion into reproductive concerns.

This is a terrible trend for the feminist movement because the current population replacement rates are not sustainable and can too effortlessly lead experts to the wrong conclusions about the role of government in gender equality (specifically the constitutional protection of gender equality) over fears that the lack of social engineering into matters once left to individuals necessarily ends in a cultural death spiral.

Illinois spends millions paying people for their tardiness

Say you’re scheduled to work at 8 a.m. Instead, you mosey in around 8:50 a.m.. Would you expect to be paid for those first 50 minutes? Moreover, would you expect to still have a job if you regularly showed up late?

For most people, the answer to both questions is “no.” But allow me to introduce you to the world of Illinois state government — where not only is such behavior permissible, it’s incentivized.

Read more

State appeals Naperville police chief pension ruling

State officials are continuing their fight to keep Naperville’s police chief from collecting both a police pension and his chief’s salary.

The Illinois attorney general’s office this week filed an appeal of a DuPage County judge’s ruling that police Chief Bob Marshall doesn’t count as a police officer for pension purposes.

That ruling allows Marshall to collect his $154,775 salary as well as his annual police pension, which currently stands at $104,109.

Read more

Details on admissions of bribery by state Rep. Derrick Smith

Democrat State Rep. Derrick Smith admitted to the FBI that he had pocketed a bribe of $7,000 and even took agents to his home to retrieve $2,500 in bribe money he still had in his possession there, federal prosecutors say in a court filing.

An FBI account of the alleged confession – made public as part of the filing – portrayed Smith as desperate to win his first campaign for state representative, broke and feeling under pressure to raise money to pay campaign workers.

Smith’s lawyers are trying to block his admissions to the FBI in 2012 from his corruption trial, scheduled for late next month. He is accused of accepting $7,000 cash, believing it was from a day care operator in return for writing an official letter supporting the operator’s bid for a $50,000 state grant.

Read more

Rutherford seeks dismissal of sexual harassment, political coercion lawsuit

SPRINGFIELD - Lawyers for Illinois Treasurer Dan Rutherford filed a motion Monday in U.S. District Court in Chicago asking a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit by ex-employee Ed Michalowski who alleged sexual harassment and forced political work on state time.

Michalowski, who worked in the Treasurer's office for three years, left in January and filed the lawsuit, just weeks before Rutherford finished last in a four-way GOP primary. Rutherford blamed GOP gubernatorial nominee Bruce Rauner for the incident.

According to the The Republic, the motion to dismiss says Michalowski's free speech rights were not violated because he doesn't allege he complained about the work, only that he was criticized for not doing it well. It also contends that Michalowski has not shown that Rutherford had a reason to discriminate against him because of his gender, that he was treated differently than other employees, or any pattern of discrimination in the one-term treasurer's office.

In addition, the motion says Michalowski was not subject to a hostile work environment because if the alleged harassment occurred, the incidents were fairly isolated and not sufficient to support the claim. It also claims Rutherford should be covered by limited immunity afforded government officials when "the unlawfulness of an official's conduct is not clearly established."

Kirk belatedly agrees to support Oberweis over Durbin in U.S. Senate race

QUINCY - U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk has belatedly agreed to support fellow Republican U.S. Senate candidate Jim Oberweis.

In a brief statement on Tuesday, Kirk told Michael Calhoun of the Illinois Radio Network “I will be campaigning for Jim Oberweis.” 

A month ago Kirk said he would not campaign for Oberweis, in order to protect his working relationship with Durbin. The announcement angered many Republicans and alienated conservatives who have been suspicious of Kirk's close relationship with Durbin.  

Durbin says Kirk flip-flop is news to him.

“He said he wasn’t going to campaign against me," Durbin said. "I called him and thanked him, and that’s where we left the conversation in Washington.”

Loving Politicians is a Losing Proposition: The Case of Gina Raimondo

Rhode Island State Treasurer Gina Raimondo

By Dan Proft - 

“Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.” – Alfred Lord Tennyson

There is an exception to Tennyson’s truism: politicians.

Tis better to have never loved a politician and lost perspective on their rightful role as a vessel for policy choices.

Politicians are properly seen as the means to the ends of those they were elected to represent. Inverting that relationship, as we have done, begets our political ruling class of false prophets and sunshine saviors.

Take the case of Rhode Island State Treasurer Gina Raimondo.

Oberweis releases federal tax returns

SUGAR GROVE - Republican U.S. Senate nominee Jim Oberweis released his 2012 and 2013 federal income tax returns today, which seem to show he pays a higher effective tax rate than his opponent U.S. Senator Dick Durbin.

Oberweis showed $1,053,490 in adjusted gross income in 2012 and $1,371,671 in 2013. In 2012 he paid $299,785 in taxes for an effective federal tax rate of 28.3 percent. In 2013, he paid $439,300 in taxes for an effective federal tax rate of 32 percent.

Durbin paid an effective tax rate of 20.9 percent, according to his 2012 return.

“I have been blessed to have business success and am grateful that success has translated into jobs and prosperity for Illinois families,” said Oberweis. “I want every Illinoisan to have a piece of the American dream. Unfortunately, under the leadership of Dick Durbin and his big government allies, jobs are scarce, poverty is rising and the poor and middle class are suffering in Illinois and America. We need to change that.”

See Oberweis' 2012 tax return HERE and his 2013 return HERE

Family and religious leaders to speak out against Chicago casino

CHICAGO - Wednesday, during a scheduled noon break of a House Executive Committee hearing on a proposed Chicago casino, representatives from a diverse coalition of faith-based and family values community leaders will explain why they oppose gambling expansion for Chicago and Illinois.

The legislation, SB 1739, sponsored in the House by State Rep. Robert Rita, authorizes up to a 10,000 positions at a mega- casino on Chicago’s lakefront plus four casinos statewide while creating five racinos, which turn horse tracks into casinos with large slots parlors.

Based on the mounting independent evidence that casinos are contributing to unfairness and inequality in American society, and in response to past statements from Gov. Quinn and GOP nominee Bruce Rauner, some coalition members will call upon both candidates to support binding referenda at the state and local level before gambling is drastically expanded and taxpayers are indebted $900 million to build a massive state-owned casino in Chicago.

Winnetka businessman Bruce Rauner hasn't been clear on his position on gambling expansion, saying for the most part, "I don't gamble. I don't like gambling. I believe casinos and gambling is here. We should allow our local governments to decide for themselves."

And while in the past Governor Pat Quinn has vetoed a Chicago casino, he's working with Mayor Rahm Emanuel now to get a deal on a casino that he could sign into law if it got to the governor's desk.

Rauner Releases First Quarter Fundraising Report

The Rauner campaign announced today that it raised more than $9 million in the first quarter of 2014, and has $1.3 million on hand.

“Voters are ready to end Pat Quinn’s reign of broken promises, higher taxes and fewer jobs,” Rauner said. “Our campaign is in a strong position to beat Pat Quinn and bring back Illinois.”

Illinois Policy Institute releases budget solutions

CHICAGO - On Tax Day 2014, the Illinois Policy Institute released "Budget Solutions 2015," a plan to balance Illinois budget and turnaround Illinois fiscal condition. Some of the key reform points the plan makes is:

Balanced budget | Illinois hasn’t had a balanced budget since 2001. Illinois needs a more stringent and enforceable balanced budget requirement that will force lawmakers to rein in spending.

Spending limit | Illinois government is spending more money than it takes in and must learn to live within its means. State spending would total $24 billion, or $10 billion less than the $34 billion in 2012 if the state would have limited spending to the rate of inflation and population growth since 1979. Illinois needs to enact a spending limit tied to the growth of population and inflation.

Spending cuts | Across-the-board spending cuts of 4.9 percent would save the state $1.8 billion in fiscal year 2015, and cuts of 9 percent would save the state $3.1 billion in fiscal year 2016.

Education | More than $870 million of Illinois’ general fund for education subsidizes funding that’s not based on district need. Eliminating inappropriate subsidies and returning the General State Aid to its original intent – paying school districts based on need – would save more than $870 million.

Heritage: Where does all the Money Go?

via Heritage Foundation