January 24 Morning Edition

CBS2
— Suit Suggests No Firewall Between Gov. Rauner, His Fortune
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/video/3797571-suit-suggests-no-firewall-between-gov-rauner-his-fortune/

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Is a fair immigration compromise possible out of failed Schumer shutdown? – John Kass
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/kass/ct-met-shutdown-immigration-kass-0124-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The Dreamers are in limbo through no fault of their own, trapped between two cultures, with no place of their own to legally call home. Yet opinion polls show that much of the America public is sympathetic to their plight. So let the Dreamers stay. Those who are in criminal gangs or have violent criminal records have no right to be here. But the others, sure, why not? It would be quite easy to protect the Dreamers and their parents, except for the politics. Democrats want them as votes. Republicans are worried this could tip elections. So why not take the politics out of it? Here’s a possibility to consider: Let Dreamers stay — given permanent work and resident status — but not citizenship and voting rights. Conferring something as precious as citizenship upon people as a reward for their parents’ breaking the law isn’t the right way to go about this. If they want to become American citizens and vote, they’d be free to leave and attempt to re-enter the country as legal immigrants. If protecting Dreamers is the issue, then you’ll agree with me. But if weaponizing the Dreamers for the next election is your plan, then you won’t. And what about their parents, who crossed the border illegally and who worry about being deported? We can protect them, too, with some reasonable amnesty. Why not give them permanent work status, like green cards? But no welfare. Yes, you read that correctly.)
— Pritzker-Biss rivalry emerges at first televised Democratic governor debate – Rick Pearson and Kim Geiger
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-illinois-governor-candidate-debate-20180123-story.html
— Shutdown deal paves way for Senate to take up immigration, but will House and Trump follow? – Mike Debonis
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-shutdown-deal-immigration-vote-20180122-story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: An anti-Trump says “Democrats caved on immigration, leaving progressives furious.” Ever-increasingly, Democrats, that is, progressives, count on immigrants to get rid of Republicans, and especially Republicans who are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German American, draft avoiders, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/page/ct-perspec-page-trump-immigration-gutierrez-dreamers-daca-shutdown-0124-20180123-story.html
— Republican governor candidate Jeanne Ives will announce endorsements at a Chicago news conference. (DIERSEN: Which candidates want your endorsement? Which candidates want you to work against them? I should write a book about candidates since 2000 who have stated that they were conservative and/or Republican, but have talked and acted like they want me to work against them.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-illinois-attorney-general-democrats-20180124-story.html
— Joe Walsh — who promises to vote for Chuy Garcia if he’s proved wrong — is proved wrong – Kim Janssen
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chicagoinc/ct-met-walsh-versus-chuy-0123-chicago-inc-20180123-story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: How soon, if not already, will those who are anti-men paint Benjamin Biancofiori as being a typical man?
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-sex-trafficking-me-too-trial-delay-20180123-story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Members of the following Naperville groups to meet with Biss this evening: anti-Trump, anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-patriotic, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, anti-German Americans, anti-draft avoiders (except Bill Clinton), and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/naperville-sun/news/ct-nvs-indivisible-naperville-city-hall-st-0124-20180123-story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps promote female anti-Trump marchers.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/opinion/ct-abn-crosby-marchers-st-0121-20180119-column.html
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD IN NAPERVILLE SUN: Naperville executive shuttle service to Chicago launches in February – Suzanne Baker (DIERSEN: What do the anti-Trumps have to say about this? What do you say to those in the suburbs who hint/imply/argue/shout that those who work in the Loop are overpaid, undeservedly filthy rich, and even worse things?)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/naperville-sun/news/ct-nvs-squire-executive-shuttle-st-0124-20180123-story.html

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Gov debate: Request to say something nice about Pritzker stumps Kennedy
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/gov-debate-request-to-say-something-nice-about-pritzker-stumps-kennedy/

 

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Condo building to be named for pioneering gay entrepreneur – DENNIS RODKIN
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/realestate/20180123/CRED0701/180129964

 

DAILY HERALD
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: U-46 charged with discriminating against Black students.
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20180123/u-46-leaders-discuss-racial-equity-student-discipline
— In today’s environment, even small mistakes devastating for journalism – Steven & Cokie Roberts
http://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20180123/in-todays-environment-even-small-mistakes-devastating-for-journalism

 

BLOOMINGTON PANTAGRAPH
— LaHood optimistic about agreement on budget, DACA – Lenore Sobota (DIERSEN: Overwhelmingly, when “Republicans” agree to something with Democrats, individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries that are members of the following groups suffer: Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German Americans, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.
http://www.pantagraph.com/news/national/government-and-politics/lahood-optimistic-about-agreement-on-budget-daca/article_5ba11419-5ad1-54f2-b821-4929840eec62.html

 

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Unacceptable waste of taxpayer money cannot happen again – Editorial
http://www.sj-r.com/opinion/20180123/our-view-unacceptable-waste-of-taxpayer-money-cannot-happen-again

 

FREEPORT JOURNAL STANDARD
— State’s financial picture clearer, but just as ugly – Editorial
http://www.journalstandard.com/opinion/20180123/our-view-states-financial-picture-clearer-but-just-as-ugly

 

STAR COURIER
— Erika Harold, Republican candidate for Illinois attorney general, will be the featured guest speaker at the Stark County Lincoln Day luncheon Saturday, February 3 – Tammy Wilkinson
http://www.starcourier.com/news/20180123/harold-to-speak-at-lincoln-day

 

TIMES
— Consolidation not a 4-letter word – David Giuliani (DIERSEN: Overwhelmingly, consolidation is used to get rid of employees who are Republican White, male, older, and/or non-veteran.)
http://www.mywebtimes.com/news/local/column-consolidation-not-a–letter-word/article_c46cef93-2f61-55f0-92ee-8a1a1d9f26e7.html

 

ALTON DAILY NEWS
— Illinois Lawmakers Explore Tax Workaround – Cole Lauterbach (DIERSEN: Why not just cap real estate taxes at $10,000 per home?)
http://www.altondailynews.com/news/details.cfm?clientid=17&id=258980#.WmhmRIzR-M8
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Rather than working to lower one of the nation’s highest property tax burdens, some Illinois lawmakers want to sidestep the federal tax reform bill by allowing for donations to government. One bill would create the Illinois Excellence Fund. It would allow taxpayers to donate and receive a tax credit for the exact amount. This shuffling of money back and forth would allow a taxpayer to deduct that amount on their federal taxes, effectively thwarting the $10,000 cap on state and local tax deductions put in place by the tax reform bill passed last month. The state treasurer can then use that money as he sees fit. “[The SALT deduction cap] sort of came out of nowhere,” said state Rep. Jonathan Carroll, D-Northbrook. “This is trying to offer a solution to give tax relief to the middle class.” The bill has a populist tone, appealing to the cries of high property taxes across the state. Nearly all of the current sponsors of the bill are likely to face a challenging re-election effort this November. Carroll said he expects the Internal Revenue Service would object to such a law. “They’re not likely to take it lying down,” he said. The IRS classifies a charitable donation as “voluntary and is made without getting, or expecting to get, anything of equal value.” Being a federal tax deduction as well, the state-bound donation would actually turn into a money maker. In addition to a 100 percent credit from the state, the donor would get up to 37 percent of that donation back in a federal write off. The bill would also allow a county to set up a similar charity, which could cause different issues. Local taxes are devised in reverse compared to state and federal taxes. A taxing district sets percentages based on a target revenue number and then properties are taxed at that percentage of the assessed value of their homes. State Rep. Steven Reick, R-Woodstock, said in an online post that the sponsors would tell counties that “they can set up a fund to accept donations to be used for undefined charitable purposes in exchange for a reduction or elimination of your property tax bill, which will either raise taxes on everybody else or destroy the budgets of every school district and taxing body in the County.”)

 

SUBURBAN LIFE
— Wheaton planners reject proposed drug treatment center – Eric Schelkopf
http://www.mysuburbanlife.com/2018/01/24/wheaton-planners-reject-proposed-drug-treatment-center/a1jijez/

 

NPR ILLINOIS
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps blame Trump for all the problems that Illinois has had, is having, and will have.
http://nprillinois.org/programs/state-trump#stream/0

 

NAPERVILLE COMMUNITY TELEVISION
— State Legislators Meet for Round Table in Naperville
https://www.nctv17.com/news/state-legislators-meet-for-round-table-in-naperville/

 

DAILY NORTHWESTERN
— Infighting among candidates characterizes first Democratic gubernatorial forum – Ryan Wangman
https://dailynorthwestern.com/2018/01/23/city/infighting-among-candidates-characterizes-first-democratic-gubernatorial-forum/

 

DUPAGE POLICY JOURNAL
— Policy changes needed to ease tax burden, Kinzler says – Chandra Lye
https://dupagepolicyjournal.com/stories/511319548-policy-changes-needed-to-ease-tax-burden-kinzler-says


— Kinzler warns of fewer taxpayers to shoulder state’s growing liabilities – Chandra Lye (DIERSEN: I should write a book about those in Wheaton, in Glen Ellyn, in Milton Township, in DuPage County, and in Illinois who focus on driving out of Illinois a) those like me who fail/refuse to glorify and praise them, b) those like me who fail/refuse to pander to them, c) those like me who fail/refuse to serve as one of their operatives or dupes, and d) those like me who fail/refuse to give them money.)
https://dupagepolicyjournal.com/stories/511319546-kinzler-warns-of-fewer-taxpayers-to-shoulder-state-s-growing-liabilities

 

ILLINOIS FAMILY INSTITUTE
— “Trans”-ing the Little Ones – Laurie Higgins
https://illinoisfamily.org/homosexuality/trans-ing-little-ones/

 

FOX NEWS
— DOJ Threatens Subpoenas for 23 Jurisdictions in Sanctuary City Crackdown
http://insider.foxnews.com/2018/01/24/sanctuary-city-crackdown-doj-threatens-subpoenas-23-cities
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Americans love Vicente Fox and Bush.
http://insider.foxnews.com/2018/01/23/vicente-fox-mexico-border-wall-i-worked-bush-trump-acts-offensive

 

FREEDOM’S JOURNAL
— WHY DO BLACK PEOPLE ALLOW THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA TO CHOOSE THEIR LEADERS? – Raynard Jackson
https://freedomsjournalinstitute.org/latest-news/opinion/why-do-black-people-allow-the-mainstream-media-to-choose-their-leaders/

 

BREITBART
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Will Trump fall for those who argue that if Republicans give illegals citizenship, those illegals will eventually vote for Republicans? Ever-increasingly, illegals and their supporters talk and act like they are anti-Trump, anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-patriotic, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, anti-German Americans, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors.
http://www.breitbart.com/radio/2018/01/24/rep-roger-marshall-on-daca-recipients-these-kids-are-the-american-dream/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Pollak questioned Marshall’s prediction of future voting trends among Hispanics. Americans originally from Mexico and Central America do not typically transition toward support for conservatism or the Republican Party, he said. . .Pollak challenged narratives framing DACA recipients as wholly Americanized, noting DACA-amnesty movement’s expression of hostility toward America and alignment with Mexican nationalism. “I’m again asking, for people who want to do something for DACA beneficiaries, for people who say that they’re Americans, why can’t they find a public face to this movement who at least appeals to Republicans or conservatives?” asked Pollak. “I’ve got to tell you, I was open to the idea of this DACA thing until I started covering some of these demonstrations, and you see the Mexican flag, and you see the hostility toward Republicans, the hostility toward America; and you ask yourself, ‘We’re being told these are just like other Americans, but they’re so radical, or at least they’re being led by radicals, why would we want them as fellow citizens?’ They don’t seem to be want to be part of a broader American community. They want to change that community. I mean, I think it’s a serious problem for anybody who wants to legalize 700,000 or 800,000 DACA recipients. . .Asked to address the concerns of parents whose children has been killed or murdered by illegal aliens, Marshall broadly called for more effective deportation measures to remove illegal aliens who “commit crimes.”)
— Rep. Lamar Smith: ‘E-Verify Would Stop the Jobs Magnet’ for Illegal Immigration and ‘Put Americans First’ – ROBERT KRAYCHIK (DIERSEN: QUESTION: What kind of employers prefer citizens of foreign countries over citizens of America? ANSWER: Employers that want cheap labor and are anti-Trump, anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-patriotic, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, anti-German Americans, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors.)
http://www.breitbart.com/radio/2018/01/24/rep-lamar-smith-e-verify-would-stop-the-jobs-magnet-for-illegal-immigration-and-put-americans-first/
— Illegal Aliens Block Disneyland to Protest for Immigration Deal – MICHELLE MOONS
http://www.breitbart.com/california/2018/01/23/illegal-alien-dreamers-block-disneyland-in-protest/

 

DAILY SIGNAL
— Why We Don’t Need Libel and Blackmail Laws – Walter E. Williams
http://dailysignal.com/2018/01/24/dont-need-libel-blackmail-laws/

 

NATIONAL REVIEW
– The Donald Trump GOP Generation Gap Is Very Real – David French (DIERSEN: How old are you? I am 69. I have always opposed age discrimination. I should write a book about activists, candidates, elected officials, party leaders, major donors, political consultants, etc. in Illinois, in DuPage County, in Milton Township, in Glen Ellyn, and in Wheaton who claim to be conservative and/or Republican, but who have done the most to promote age discrimination.)
http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/455706/donald-trump-gop-generation-gap-very-real
— Graham-Durbin, a DACA Amnesty for Millions – Rich Lowry
http://www.nationalreview.com/article/455715/graham-durbin-daca-dreamers-good-intentions-bad-policy

 

WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Blocking Disneyland, DACA protesters prove their arrogant idiocy – Tom Rogan
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/blocking-disneyland-daca-protesters-prove-their-arrogant-idiocy/article/2646773

 

PUBLIUS FORUM
— You Can’t Be Both a Liberal AND an American at the Same Time – Warner Todd Huston
http://www.publiusforum.com/2018/01/23/cant-liberal-american-time/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Liberals live in America, but they don’t love America. So, it’s not a surprise that they have an affinity for law breaking illegal aliens. After all, liberals don’t care about our laws or our sovereignty any more than transient illegals who come to the U.S. only to use it for its freebies and welfare, or to get a job to make a quick dollar to send back to their home country. These transient illegals don’t have any more interest in being an American than liberals do. So, when liberals fight for illegals, understand that they are doing so not out of love, but hate. Indeed, the modern Democrat Party is the biggest hate group in American history. Today’s liberals are all about hate. They hate democracy, they hate the Constitution, they hate white people, they hate capitalism, they hate democracy, they hate republican government, they hate religion, they hate the family structure, they hate guns, they hate history, they hate freedom of speech and liberty… in short they hate everything about the U.S.A. and you can’t love a place that you hate so thoroughly. In fact, the only thing they love about America is their assumption that they can “do whatever they want,” a concept they treat with licentiousness and wanton instead of the virtue and probity the founders hoped Americans would observe. It might seem a natural progression, this party now having drifted to its logical extremes. Born of a hate for the equality of negroes, the Democrat Party morphed into a party that hates America itself as the nation struggled with the post Civil War reconstruction era.)

 

THE HILL
— The difference between ‘DACA’ and ‘Dreamers’ – NOLAN RAPPAPORT
http://thehill.com/opinion/immigration/370367-the-difference-between-daca-and-dreamers-a-primer

 

POLITICO
— DACA’s political tribes: A user’s guide Most partisan disputes have two sides. This one has five. – TED HESSON (DIERSEN: Needless-to-say, nothing should be done that encourages people a) to come to America illegally, b) to stay in America illegally, or c) to bring others to America illegally. I should write a book about activists, candidates, elected officials, party leaders, major donors, political consultants, etc. in Illinois, in DuPage County, in Milton Township, in Glen Ellyn, and in Wheaton who claim to be conservative and/or Republican, but who have done the most to encourage people a) to come to America illegally, b) to stay in America illegally, and c) to bring others to America illegally.)
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/01/24/daca-has-many-political-sides-users-guide-364622

 

CNN
— Black unemployment is at a record low. – Lydia DePillis
http://money.cnn.com/2018/01/23/news/economy/black-unemployment/index.html

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— One Year Later, a Look at Trump’s Pledges About the Presidency – LINDA QIU
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/23/us/politics/trump-campaign-pledges-first-year.html
— HARDCOPY ARTICLE TITLE: Apple Caves In to China The tech giant appears to be selling out to the Communist Party. – Chen Guangcheng (DIERSEN: What do you say to “American” individuals, organizations, companies, and governments that put their own interests ahead of America’s interests?)
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/23/opinion/apple-china-data.html%2Fopinion&action=click&contentCollection=opinion®ion=rank&module=package&version=highlights&contentPlacement=7&pgtype=sectionfront
— French Companies Have Newfound Freedom … to Fire – Liz Alderman (DIERSEN: Democrat employers use Affirmative Action, Diversity, and Inclusion to get rid of their employees who are Republican, White, male, older, and/or non-veteran. Because I have always been Republican, White, male, and non-veteran, were it not for federal civil service protections, a) the Post Office would NOT have hired me in 1966 when I was 18 years old or let me work there for almost 3 years, b) IRS would NOT have hired me in 1971 or let me work there for almost 9 years, c) IRS would NOT have promoted me in 1972, 1973, or 1974, d) GAO would NOT have hired me in 1980 or let me work there for almost 18 years, and e) GAO would NOT have promoted me in 1986.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/23/business/france-labor-jobs.html
— Under Fire for Harassment, Congressman Says Aide ‘Invited’ Behavior – Kenneth P. Vogel and Katie Rogers (DIERSEN: Should inviting behavior be illegal?)
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/23/us/politics/patrick-meehan-sexual-misconduct-complaint.html

 

WASHINGTON POST
— Google for the first time outspent every other company to influence Washington in 2017 – Hamza Shaban (DIERSEN: What does Google think of those who share your demographics? One could argue that Google has a very low opinion of those who are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German American, draft avoiders (except Bill Clinton), and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2018/01/23/google-outspent-every-other-company-on-federal-lobbying-in-2017/
— President Trump’s claim that ‘we’re way down’ in people crossing the border – Salvador Rizzo
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2018/01/24/president-trumps-claim-that-were-way-down-in-people-crossing-the-border/
— New cost controls sought in federal employee health-care program – Eric Yoder (DIERSEN: Needless-to-say, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes are beyond furious that because I am a federal retiree, the federal government continues to subsidize my and my wife’s health, dental, and vision insurance.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2018/01/24/new-cost-controls-sought-in-federal-employee-health-care-program/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Almost all federal employees and retirees are eligible for coverage under the FEHBP, the largest employer-sponsored health-insurance program in the country. The program has about 4 million enrollees, approximately the same number of covered spouses and children up to age 26, and about 260 participating plans — a dozen available nationally and the rest only regionally. The government pays about 70 percent of a plan’s total premium cost on average. The enrollee share of premiums has increased about 6 to 7 percent annually in recent years, about in line with other large employer-sponsored health plans.)

 

USA TODAY
— Blame Mexico, not U.S. immigration policies – Dan Stein, President, Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) (DIERSEN: By its sending many millions of its citizens into America illegally, by its keeping many millions of its citizens in America illegally, and by its sending many mountains of illegal drugs into America illegally, constructively, Mexico has declared war on America.)
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2018/01/23/blame-mexico-not-us-immigration-policies-editorials-debates/109746002/
— Facebook is addictive and should be regulated like a cigarette company: Salesforce CEO – Jessica Guynn (DIERSEN: Facebook is a Democrat/Libertarian/Green website.)
https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/news/2018/01/23/facebook-addictive-and-should-regulated-like-cigarette-company-salesforce-ceo/1059920001/
— Facebook, admitting it can be bad for democracy, tries to end voter meddling before midterms – Jessica Guynn
https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2018/01/22/facebook-tries-wipe-out-election-meddling-before-2018-midterms/1055710001/
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH COLOR PICTURE: An anti-Trump says “Trump tariffs on solar panels, washing machines could raise prices.”
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2018/01/24/trump-tariffs-solar-panels-washing-machines-could-raise-prices/1059542001/

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Americans glorify and praise those who come to America illegally, who stay in America illegally, and who bring others to America illegally.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/daca-and-deportation-1516755033
— Get Food Stamps Out of the Candy Store Maine wants a waiver to stop SNAP paying for sweets and soda. – Paul R. LePage (DIERSEN: Does/will SNAP pay for pot?)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/get-food-stamps-out-of-the-candy-store-1516754921

 

BLOOMBERG
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: An anti-Trump says “Trump’s Border Wall May Fade as Obstacle in Immigration Debate.”
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-01-24/trump-s-border-wall-may-fade-as-obstacle-in-immigration-debate

 

FED TIMES
— Employee groups slam playing politics with feds’ jobs – Jessie Bur (DIERSEN: Overwhelmingly, federal employees are Democrats.)
https://www.federaltimes.com/management/pay-benefits/2018/01/23/employee-groups-slam-playing-politics-with-feds-jobs/

 

ZILLOW
— FOR SALE: 408 West Elm Street, Wheaton – $409,000
https://www.zillow.com/wheaton-il/1_fs/X1-SS1apc9gppw622z_3o1g1_sse/4447956_zpid/

Author: David Diersen

The opinions that I express in GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails are based on experience that I have gained doing many things since 1948. I base my opinions on what I learned a) working for the federal government for almost 30 years -- Post Office 1966-1969, IRS 1971-1980, and GAO 1980-1997, serving on the Executive Committee of the Association of Government Accountants Chicago Chapter 1983-1996, and being a union member while I worked for the Post Office and IRS; b) earning an MBA from Loyola in 1976, a masters degree in accounting from DePaul in 1980, and a masters degree in financial markets and trading from IIT in 1997; c) passing the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979 and passing the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt in 1981; c) serving as a Republican Precinct Committeeman since 1999, the GOPUSA Illinois Editor since 2000, the TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois Chairman 2005-2012, a member of the 2008 Illinois Republican Party (IRP) Platform and Resolutions Committee, a Wheaton Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee member 2003-2011, the Milton Township Republican Central Committee webmaster 2008-2010 and 2000-2004, an Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee member 2003-2007, and an American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter board member 2001-2004; d) attending the 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016 IRP State Conventions as a delegate; e) being the subject of a nasty 4-page article in the February 1978 issue of Money Magazine; f) pursing litigation including Diersen v. GAO and Diersen v. Chicago Car Exchange; g) being married since 1978; h) living in Crete 1948-1972, in University Park 1972-1976, in Chicago 1976-1978, and in DuPage County, Milton Township, and Wheaton since 1978; and i) being baptized, raised, and confirmed as a Missouri Synod Lutheran.