January 30 Evening Edition

ABC7
— State of the Union 2018: Donald Trump makes first address tonight – Rob Elgas
http://abc7chicago.com/politics/state-of-the-union-trump-makes-first-address-tonight/3007383/
— Celebs, activists speak at ‘hopeful, public alternative to Trump’s State of the Union’
http://abc7chicago.com/politics/celebs-speak-at-counter-event-to-state-of-the-union/3007780/
— 2 candidates drop out of 4th Congressional District race ahead of forum – Craig Wall
http://abc7chicago.com/politics/2-candidates-drop-out-of-4th-congressional-district-race-ahead-of-forum/3008182/

 

NBC5
— Trump to Call for Unity in Address After Divisive Year Democrats, seeking to set the tone for their election-year strategy, have tapped Massachusetts Rep. Joe Kennedy, the grandson of Robert F. Kennedy, to deliver a post-speech rebuttal – Julie Pace and Zeke Miller
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/politics/Trump-State-of-the-Union-Address-471729224.html
— Board Says Silverstein Is 1 Signature Short in Ballot Challenge
https://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/ira-silverstein-signatures-ballot-challenge-illinois-primary-471802484.html

 

WLS AM
— RTA’s Dillard: Gas tax increase needed for Trump infrastructure push – Bill Cameron
http://www.wlsam.com/2018/01/30/rtas-dillard-gas-tax-increase-needed-for-trump-infrastructure-push/

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Democrats promote Democrat candidates for the 6th Congressional District.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-politics/democrats-in-6th-cd-look-to-send-trump-message-by-sending-roskam-home/
— McCarthy gets $5,600 from Giuliani, won’t be goaded into talking about Trump – Fran Spielman
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/mccarthy-gets-5600-from-giuliani-wont-be-goaded-into-talking-about-trump/
— The same old flimflam game on school funding – Phil Kadner
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/kadner-the-same-old-flimflam-game-on-school-funding/
— Democrat Schneider, Republican Hultgren sitting together at State of the Union – Lynn Sweet
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/democrat-schneider-republican-hultgren-sitting-together-at-state-of-the-union/
— Before Trump’s 2018 State of the Union: Democrats pitching for millennials – Lynn Sweet (DIERSEN: What are your demographics? Which candidates pitch for those who share your demographics?)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/before-trumps-2018-state-of-the-union-democrats-pitching-for-millennials/
— Report shows Cook County’s revenue flow misses projected mark – Rachel Hinton
https://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-politics/report-shows-countys-revenue-flow-misses-projected-mark/
— More job-selling allegations emerge in Dorothy Brown investigation – Robert Herguth and Jon Seidel (DIERSEN: GAO hired me in 1980 because it could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, younger person, or veteran who would take the job. IRS hired me in 1971 because it could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, or veteran who would take the job. The Post Office hired me in 1966 because it could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, or veteran who would take the job. Because I have always been a Republican, were it not for federal civil service protections, a) the Post Office would NOT have hired me in 1966 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://chicago.suntimes.com/news/more-job-selling-allegations-emerge-in-dorothy-brown-investigation/
— Rauner to call for end to ‘partisan sniping’ in State of State speech – AP
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/rauner-to-call-for-end-to-partisan-sniping-in-state-of-state-speech/

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps say “Two Chicago-area ‘Dreamers’ to attend Trump’s State of the Union address.”
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/immigration/ct-met-chicago-dreamers-state-of-the-union-0131-story.html
— Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., calls for police to arrest undocumented immigrants at State of the Union – Elise Viebeck
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-state-of-the-union-gosar-immigration-arrests-20180130-story.html
— Cubs co-owner Todd Ricketts expected to take RNC finance job – Katherine Skiba (DIERSEN: At the September 28, 2016 Trump fundraiser in Bolingbrook, Todd Ricketts predicted a) that the Cubs would win the World Series and b) that Trump would win the presidency.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-todd-ricketts-wynn-rnc-finance-chair-20180130-story.html
— Harley-Davidson shuts plant as woes worsen for Trump’s model manufacturer – Bloomberg
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-harley-davidson-shuts-down-plant-20180130-story.html
— By Rauner’s own standards, he’s a miserable failure on jobs – Eric Zorn
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/zorn/ct-perspec-zorn-rauner-jobs-ives-illinois-governor-0131-20180129-story.html
— Rauner to issue bipartisan call in Wednesday speech after ripping Madigan – Monique Garcia and Kim Geiger
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-rauner-state-of-state-preview-20180130-story.html
— The smart way to dispatch Chief Illiniwek – Editorial
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-edit-chief-illiniwek-mascot-university-20180130-story.html
— Ex-Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour arrested with gun at airport – AP
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-former-mississippi-governor-arrested-20180130-story.html

 

DAILY HERALD
— Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz.: Police should arrest undocumented immigrants at State of the Union – Elise Viebeck
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20180130/congressman-police-should-arrest-undocumented-immigrants-at-state-of-the-union
— Cubs co-owner Todd Ricketts could succeed Wynn as RNC fundraiser – Bloomberg (DIERSEN: At the September 28, 2016 Trump fundraiser in Bolingbrook, Todd Ricketts predicted a) that the Cubs would win the World Series and b) that Trump would win the presidency.)
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20180130/cubs-co-owner-todd-ricketts-could-succeed-wynn-as-rnc-fundraiser
— Lawmakers sending their own messages during Trump’s speech – AP
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20180130/news/301309994/

 

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Cubs co-owner Todd Ricketts to be named RNC finance chair (DIERSEN: At the September 28, 2016 Trump fundraiser in Bolingbrook, Todd Ricketts predicted a) that the Cubs would win the World Series and b) that Trump would win the presidency.)
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20180130/NEWS02/180139981/todd-ricketts-to-be-named-rnc-finance-chair-report
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: The Democrat news media gives Rauner advice on how to defeat Ives.
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20180130/BLOGS02/180139983/jeanne-ives-is-vulnerable-if-gov-rauner-dares-to-attack
(FROM THE ARTICLE: You want to avoid that fate, governor? Then quit whining about Mike Madigan and start acting like you would against any Democratic foe: Attack. Engage. Contrast your views and record with hers. There’s plenty of material to use, if Rauner chooses to do so. For instance, Ives told Crain’s editorial board last week she’d balance the state budget in large part by shifting the tax load to the people of Chicago and suburban Cook County. She’d do so by slashing aid to Chicago Public Schools under the state’s new formula, and by working to end the Obamacare expansion, which shifted to the federal government and, to a lesser degree, the state hundreds of millions of dollars a year in costs for caring for indigent patients at Cook County’s network of hospitals and clinics. Yes, that might mean a local tax hike, she conceded. Are you listening, Governor? Your opponent seems to favor a tax hike in Cook County, which, despite its reputation of being a Democratic stronghold, cast more than a third of the vote statewide in the 2014 GOP primary—a cool 428,345. When pressed if dropping Obamacare might also result in a reduction of health care to people without the funds to pay for it, Ives notes they run a nice voluntary dental clinic in DuPage County. Now, there’s a campaign plank that will sell with moderate voters, not only in Cook County but also in the five suburban collar counties, which provided another quarter of the statewide vote in the 2014 Republican primary. It has a real ring, doesn’t it? “Let ’em go to the free clinic.” Of course, most voters don’t know that Ives said that, because Rauner hasn’t told them. Over at the Tribune, Ives had another budget solution. If employee groups won’t cave with financial concessions, “lay them off,” she said. Right! Start with the state troopers and prison guards, and work your way down to university professors and doctors in the health department. The latter can use their free time to volunteer at the community clinic! Of course, Ives could spark another crisis like the one that left Illinois without a budget for two years. That certainly was a big success. Ives, at the Trib, also bragged about being one of a handful of lawmakers to vote against extending the state’s Edge payroll incentive program to woo jobs. I understand her zeal that lower taxes for everybody is the libertarian gold standard. But in a country in which almost every state offers something like Edge, unilateral disarmament would leave Illinois even worse off. Guv, you might consider communicating Ives’ stance on Edge to people who work for Amazon in Will County, Sears in Hoffman Estates and Ford at the Torrence Avenue plant, all of which received Edge. And you might cc: everyone who hopes to land a job at Amazon’s possible HQ2 here. There’s other material out there, material that could be effective not only in a general election against a Democrat, but in a primary against Ives. Sure, doing so would provoke some conservative voters who might not come home in November. But I suspect most of them already are mad over Rauner’s actions on abortion and so-called sanctuary cities. The question this fall: Would they rather have a liberal—or very liberal—Democrat in office? “I think Rauner’s folks are making a mistake. They need to take her straight on,” says one top party insider, who asks not to be named. In this predominantly blue state, that insider adds, the message ought to be: “A vote for Jeanne Ives is a vote for (Illinois House Speaker) Mike Madigan to draw the new legislative map that will be in place until 2031.” That source is right. You want to keep your job, Governor? It’s time to start acting like you mean it.)
— Condo owners: New law erodes privacy – DENNIS RODKIN (DIERSEN: What do you say to those who want to be Republican Precinct Committeemen, but do not want anyone to know their home address, email address, or phone number? I have been a Republican Precinct Committeeman since 1999. I have lived at 915 Cove Court in Wheaton since June of 1984. My email address has been diersen@aol.com since January of 1995. My phone number has been 630-653-0462 since April of 1978.)
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/realestate/20180130/CRED0701/180139995/condo-owners-new-law-erodes-privacy
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Two Chicago aldermen want to give condo boards in the city the power to ignore a piece of Illinois condo law that some homeowners consider a threat to their privacy. The state rule, which went into effect Jan. 1, requires a condo association to provide a list of contact information—including mailing address, phone number and email address—on all unit owners to any owner who requests it. The rule is intended to “provide transparency,” said state Rep. Andre Thapedi, the chief sponsor of HB 189. His district runs from Park Manor on the city’s South Side west to suburban Hickory Hills.)
— One guess who Rauner is blaming for the state of the state – GREG HINZ
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20180130/BLOGS02/180139968/one-guess-who-rauner-is-blaming-for-the-state-of-the-state

 

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— What happened to last year’s State of the State goals? – Doug Finke (DIERSEN: What were your goals for 2017 and did you meet them? My goals included sending out a GOPUSA ILLINOIS email each and every morning and each and every evening and I met that goal.)
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20180130/what-happened-to-last-years-state-of-state-goals
— Jeb Bush praises Gov. Rauner for private school scholarship program
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20180130/jeb-bush-praises-gov-rauner-for-private-school-scholarship-program

 

QUINCY HERALD WHIG
— Pritzker blames Rauner for vets home crisis – Doug Wilson (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes blame me for a) all the losses that Republicans have suffered in Illinois since 2000, b) their problems, c) your problems, d) my problems, and e) everyone’s problems. Should I write a book about my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes? Unlike many of them, I have never been a Milton Township Republican Central Committee officer, DuPage County Republican Central Committee officer or employee, Illinois Republican Party (IRP) State Central Committee member, IRP officer or employee, Wheaton elected official or employee, Milton Township elected official or employee, DuPage County elected official or employee, State of Illinois official or employee, or federal elected official.)
http://www.whig.com/20180130/pritzker-blames-rauner-for-vets-home-crisis#

 

ALTON DAILY NEWS
— State of the State Preview – Doug Jenkins
http://altondailynews.com/news/details.cfm?clientid=17&id=259397#.WnD-EsuKSM8

 

PEORIA PUBLIC RADIO
— GOP’s Erika Harold: Public Corruption Focus Goes Beyond Politics – RYAN DENHAM
http://peoriapublicradio.org/post/gops-erika-harold-public-corruption-focus-goes-beyond-politics#stream/0

 

WAND TV
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Pot promoters promote pot. If you promote pot, you promote destruction.
http://www.wandtv.com/story/37384182/state-hashes-out-details-for-the-legalization-of-recreational-marijuana

 

PRAIRIE STATE WIRE
— Ives blames Rauner for stalling property tax reform effort – Glenn Minnis
https://prairiestatewire.com/stories/511323742-ives-blames-rauner-for-stalling-property-tax-reform-effort

 

CAPITOL FAX
— Should Rauner retaliate against Ives?
https://capitolfax.com/2018/01/30/question-of-the-day-2612/
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps say “Trump’s 2017 Illinois job disapproval rating was 62 percent.”
https://capitolfax.com/2018/01/30/gallup-trumps-2017-illinois-job-disapproval-rating-was-62-percent/

 

BREIBART
— WATCH: Conservative Jeanne Ives Debates Republican Establishment Gov. Bruce Rauner – WARNER TODD HUSTON
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/01/30/jeanne-ives-crushes-gop-gov-bruce-rauner-illinois-candidates-meet-first-time/
— John Kass: Conservative Jeanne Ives ‘Crushed’ Gov. Bruce Rauner in Chicago Tribune ‘Debate’ – JOEL B. POLLAK
http://www.breitbart.com/big-journalism/2018/01/30/columnist-jeanne-ives-crushed-gov-bruce-rauner-chicago-tribune-debate/

 

GOPUSA
— If Pelosi Brings Illegals to SOTU, Trump Should Bring ICE Agents
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=38180
— Judge rules illegals have constitutional right to ‘say goodbye’ to family (DIERSEN: I should write a book about those lawsuits in which judges denied me my 7th Amendment right to a jury trial. The judges did not like the law and/or facts on which I based my arguments, they disapproved of my demographics, they had a tremendous conflict of interest, they believed that a jury would not rule in my favor because I lack “jury appeal,” and/or the defendants had tremendous clout.)
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=38155
— Obama’s presidential library ripped as ‘ugly waste of taxpayer resources’ by Chicagoans
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=38153

 

NEWSMAX
— Newsmax’s 30 Most Influential Republicans Under 30 – Jen Krausz
https://www.newsmax.com/bestlists/30-under-30-influential-republicans/2018/01/30/id/840225/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: 13. Diante Johnson—At only 21 years old, Johnson has already founded the Black Conservative Foundation, a millennial-targeted organization that promotes policies that lead to economic stability, educational opportunities, and community service and leadership. The Chicago native has run for local office in Illinois, been featured on CNN and other media outlets, and recently wrote a piece for the Washington Examiner about the benefits of the tax reform bill — all while attending college at the University of Illinois as a political science major.)

 

FOX NEWS
— Trump’s border wall prototypes virtually impassable, pass rigorous testing – William La Jeunesse
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2018/01/30/trump-s-border-wall-prototypes-virtually-impassable-pass-rigorous-testing.html

 

DAILY SIGNAL
— Immigration Legislation Should Stress Border Security and Enforcement, Not Incentivize Bad Behavior – Hans von Spakovsky
http://dailysignal.com/2018/01/30/immigration-legislation-stress-border-security-and-enforcement/

 

DAILY CALLER
— Steve Scalise Tells Illegal Immigrants To ‘Get In Line Like Everybody Else’ – Nick Givas
http://dailycaller.com/2018/01/30/steve-scalise-illegal-immigrants-fox-news/

 

TOWNHALL
— Guess Who Kirsten Gillibrand Is Bringing as Her Plus One to the State of the Union – Cortney O’Brien
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/cortneyobrien/2018/01/30/gillibrand-trolling-trump-with-her-state-of-the-union-guest-n2441289

 

JUDICIAL WATCH
— Trump EEOC Gets Settlement for Muslim Security Guard Discriminated by Co.’s Grooming Policy (DIERSEN: Under Trump, Democrats continue to run the federal government just like they did under Nixon, Ford, Reagan, and the Bushes. Further, Democrats continue to run GAO no matter which party controls the U.S. House and/or the U.S. Senate.)
https://www.judicialwatch.org/blog/2018/01/trump-eeoc-gets-settlement-muslim-security-guard-discriminated-co-s-grooming-policy/

 

NATIONAL REVIEW
— Three Reasons the Left Wants Ever More Immigrants – Dennis Prager (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, because immigrants overwhelmingly vote for Democrats, Democrats want to give immediate U.S. citizenship to ANYONE who promises to vote for Democrats.)
http://www.nationalreview.com/article/455887/democrats-immigration-policy-even-more

 

THE HILL
— If Dreamers get a deal, it will be because of Trump, not Schumer – NOLAN RAPPAPORT
http://thehill.com/opinion/immigration/371380-if-dreamers-get-a-deal-it-will-be-because-of-trump-not-schumer

 

REUTERS
— #MeToo movement puts pressure on U.S. banks to disclose diversity data – Ross Kerber (DIERSEN: The federal government has always been under far more pressure than any other employer to meet Affirmative Action, Diversity, and Inclusion quotas, goals, and targets, that is, the federal government has always been under far more pressure than other employers a) to hire, retain, and promote young Democrat minorities and young Democrat females and b) to make way for them by getting rid of employees who were Republican, White, male, older, and/or non-veteran. Because of the aforesaid, extremely few federal employees who are Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran make GS-13 (currently $96,403) by age 25, GS-14 (currently $113,920) by age 30, GS-15 (currently $134,000) by age 35, and Senior Executive Service (currently $164,200) by age 40.)
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-financials-diversity/metoo-movement-puts-pressure-on-u-s-banks-to-disclose-diversity-data-idUSKBN1FJ2WF

 

LOS ANGELES TIMES
— Bill to evade President Trump’s tax overhaul gets watered down – LIAM DILLON
https://www.latimes.com/politics/essential/la-pol-ca-essential-politics-updates-legislation-to-help-californians-evade-1517344326-htmlstory.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: A bid to help Californians dodge the effects of President Trump’s tax plan has gotten a little less generous. State Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de León (D-Los Angeles) has changed his bill allowing those who donate to a new state-run nonprofit to receive relief on both their state and federal taxes. In the new version of the bill, those who give to the nonprofit will reduce their state income taxes by 85% of the donation plus receive a federal charitable deduction. Previously, De León was aiming to provide a dollar-for-dollar reduction in state taxes for those who donated. But tax law experts working on the bill with De León worried that amount could cause the federal Internal Revenue Service to crack down on the plan, and advised that a lower percentage was more legally defensible. “The proposed 85% tax credit … will give Californians the opportunity to fund programs they care deeply about while at the same time shielding them from some of the most egregious elements of Trump’s tax reform plan,” De León said in a statement. De León, who also is running for U.S. Senate, introduced his bill after Trump and the GOP-led Congress passed a federal tax overhaul that capped state and local tax deductions at $10,000, an amount that disproportionately affects high-tax states like California. De León’s measure aims to allow Californians who previously used the state and local tax deduction — primarily single- and joint-filers reporting annual incomes of $100,000 or more — to instead take advantage of the charitable deduction.)

 

NEWSWEEK
— GOOD-LOOKING PEOPLE TEND TO VOTE REPUBLICAN BECAUSE THEY’VE HAD EASIER LIVES, SAYS STUDY – DANA DOVEY
http://www.newsweek.com/attractive-people-vote-democrat-republican-easier-lives-study-794966

 

FORBES
— 10 Cars Owners Keep 10 Years Or More – Jim Gorzelany (DIERSEN: I have owned my 1972 Corvette since 1971, my 1996 Thunderbird LX since 1995, my 2003 Cavalier since 2010, my 2005 Corvette since 2005, my 2013 Charger R/T since 2012, and my 2016 Mustang since 2016.)
http://www3.forbes.com/business/10-cars-owners-keep-10-years-or-more/

 

REASON
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: QUESTION: Which individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries oppose E-Verify? ANSWER: Those that are Democrat, Libertarian, Green, and/or 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://reason.com/blog/2018/01/30/national-id-by-any-other-name-still-stin

 

GUARDIAN
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps promote “celebrities” who are “protesting at Trump’s State of the Union.”
https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2018/jan/30/how-celebrities-are-protesting-trumps-state-of-the-union

 

GOPUSA ILLINOIS
— QUESTION: If you are a Republican in Illinois, are the following legitimate reasons to NOT support a Republican candidate in a primary election? – Dave Diersen
https://gopillinois.com
— The candidate lacks education, experience, professional certifications, etc. needed for the office sought
— The candidate’s opponent(s) is doing better in the polls
— The candidate’s opponent(s) has more money
— You believe the candidate’s opponent(s) has a better chance of winning in the general election
— You believe that the candidate has little or no chance of winning in the general election
— The candidate rejects planks in the Republican Party platform and/or the Illinois Republican Party platform
— The candidate has said and/or done things that hint/imply/argue/shout that the candidate does not want your support
— Those who the candidate support and/or those who support the candidate have said and/or done things that hint/imply/argue/shout that the candidate does not want your support
— The candidate, those who the candidate supports, and/or those who the support the candidate hint/imply/argue/shout that they have a low opinion of you and/or those who share your demographics, values, priorities, etc.
— The candidate, those who the candidate supports, and/or those who the support the candidate demonize, denigrate, and condemn you and others who they cannot manipulate/dominate
— The candidate, those who the candidate supports, and/or those who the support the candidate have threatened you if you support the candidate’s opponent(s)

 

My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have always hinted/implied/argued/shouted that any Republican candidate who I might support in contested Republican primary election is “too conservative” to win in the general election, and therefore, no Republican candidate should seek or accept my support in a contested Republican primary election.

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.