January 8 Evening Edition

WHITE HOUSE
— President Trump Addresses the Nation: 8:00 PM CST
https://www.whitehouse.gov/live/
— Congress Must Do More to Address The Border Crisis
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/congress-must-do-more-to-address-the-border-crisis/

 

FOX NEWS CHICAGO
— President Trump to take case for border wall to prime-time audience – AP
http://www.fox32chicago.com/politics/president-trump-to-take-case-for-border-wall-to-prime-time-audience

 

ABC7
— TRUMP TO ADDRESS NATION TUESDAY NIGHT
https://abc7chicago.com/politics/trump-to-address-nation-amid-government-shutdown/5033862/
— Woman with concealed carry license fatally shoots would-be robber in Fernwood, police say – Diane Pathieu
https://abc7chicago.com/video-woman-with-concealed-carry-license-fatally-shoots-would-be-robber-in-fernwood/5034294/
— More than 2M IL residents could lose SNAP benefits if shutdown continues – AP
https://abc7chicago.com/politics/trump-to-address-nation-amid-government-shutdown/5033862/
— Senator Dick Durbin calls for end to shutdown as TSA workers fear they won’t get paychecks – Jessica D’Onofrio
https://abc7chicago.com/travel/sen-durbin-tsa-workers-victims-of-trump-shutdown/5033508/

 

CBS2
— Lawmakers Convene For Last Full Day Of The 100th General Assembly
https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2019/01/08/lawmakers-convene-for-last-full-day-of-the-100th-general-assembly/

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— New state lawmakers to be sworn in Wednesday. Some big names are out, but the biggest remain. – Mike Riopell
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-illinois-legislature-new-class-20190108-story.html#nt=oft13a-2gp1
— After 4-year political war, House Speaker Michael Madigan calls Gov. Bruce Rauner’s term an ‘epic struggle’ – Mike Riopell
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-bruce-rauner-final-report-20190108-story.html
— Government shutdown hits Chicago-area workers: ‘We have a big swath of people … who are just very concerned about putting food on their plates’ – Morgan Greene (DIERSEN: How have federal government shutdowns impacted you? I was a federal retiree and Social Security recipient during shutdowns in 2013 and this year. I was an IRS employee during shutdowns in 1976, 1977, 1978, and 1979. I was a GAO employee during shutdowns in 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1995, and 1996. My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes would stress that neither my wife nor I have never had any dependents to support and that my wife had income during all the shutdowns since we got married in 1978.)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-federal-government-shutdown-chicago-update-20190107-story.html
— Congressmen give up pay during shutdown – Lisa Donovan
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-shutdown-congress-pay-brian-hopkins-sterling-bay-20190108-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Capitol Hill publication Roll Call, which is keeping a tally of lawmakers diverting their pay during the shutdown, points out: “Of course, members of Congress are typically much wealthier than federal employees. More than 200 members of the last Congress enjoyed a minimum net worth of $1 million or more, according to Roll Call’s Wealth of Congress report.”)
— Chicago student organizing local Women’s March rally: ‘We are ready to fight for humanity’ – Elvia Malagon (DIERSEN: Women’s marches 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, anti-draft avoiders, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-chicago-young-women-march-rally-20190108-story.html
— A Dem showdown in Springfield: Will Stava-Murray persist against Madigan? – Kristen McQueary
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-perspec-mcqueary-stava-murray-madigan-speaker-0109-20190108-story.html

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Rauner riffs: ‘Scared’ for state, ‘appalled’ by Trump, ‘ecstatic’ Burke charged – Tina Sfondeles
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/rauner-scared-pritzker-tax-appalled-trump-ecstatic-edward-burke-charged/
— Trump seeks an edge in shutdown fight with TV address – AP
https://chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/trump-border-wall-speech-oval-office-crisis-government-shutdown/

 

DAILY HERALD
— Illinois House votes to remove tollway board directors amid concerns of ‘unethical behavior’ – Marni Pyke
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20190108/illinois-house-votes-to-remove-tollway-board-directors-amid-concerns-of-unethical-behavior
— Pence calls on Democrats to accede to demand for wall money, end shutdown – John Wagner
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20190108/pence-calls-on-democrats-to-accede-to-demand-for-wall-money-end-shutdown

 

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Lawmakers order Illinois Tollway shake-up The Illinois House today overwhelmingly approved a bill to fire tollway Chairman Bob Schillerstrom and the rest of his board. – GREG HINZ
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/greg-hinz-politics/lawmakers-order-illinois-tollway-shake

 

WTTW
— In Final Days as Governor, Rauner Opens Up on Trump, Taxes, Unions and Burke – Amanda Vinicky
https://news.wttw.com/2019/01/08/final-days-governor-rauner-opens-trump-taxes-unions-and-burke

 

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Rauner calls education achievements most important of administration – Doug Finke
https://www.sj-r.com/news/20190108/rauner-calls-education-achievements-most-important-of-administration

 

BLOOMINGTON PANTAGRAPH
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Trump-haters say that a Trump-hater “unravels Trump’s border wall claims.”
https://www.pantagraph.com/news/national/govt-and-politics/cuomo-unravels-trump-s-border-wall-claims/video_fa58bf99-ef57-58e6-a188-a150ac1fb6c2.html

 

FOX ILLINOIS
— Trump to take case for border wall to prime-time audience – AP
https://foxillinois.com/news/nation-world/trump-to-take-his-case-to-build-wall-to-prime-time-audience
— Networks to air Pelosi, Schumer rebuttal to Trump – AP
https://foxillinois.com/news/nation-world/pelosi-schumer-will-give-democratic-response-to-trump-primetime-remarks

 

NPR ILLINOIS
— Where U.S. Battles Over Abortion Will Play Out In 2019 – JULIE ROVNER
http://www.nprillinois.org/post/where-us-battles-over-abortion-will-play-out-2019#stream/0
— Despite 70,000 Furloughed IRS Workers, White House Vows Refunds Will Be Issued – BRIAN NAYLOR
http://www.nprillinois.org/post/despite-70000-furloughed-irs-workers-white-house-vows-refunds-will-be-issued#stream/0

 

WQAD
— Outgoing Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner presents the highlights of his term – AP
https://wqad.com/2019/01/08/outgoing-illinois-governor-bruce-rauner-presents-the-highlights-of-his-term/

 

FOX ST. LOUIS
— Rauner touts less red tape, union-fee win – AP
https://fox2now.com/2019/01/08/rauner-touts-less-red-tape-union-fee-win/

 

WMAY
— Rauner’s Final Report To Lawmakers Repeats Call For Turnaround Agenda
https://www.wmay.com/2019/01/08/rauners-final-report-to-lawmakers-repeats-call-for-turnaround-agenda/

 

WHEATON PATCH
— DuPage, Kane Co. Sheriffs Join Forces To Fight Drugs, Sex Traffic “It’s all about public safety, not politics,” Republican Mendrick said of his partnership with Democrat Hain. – Lisa Marie Farver
https://patch.com/illinois/wheaton/dupage-kane-co-sheriffs-join-forces-fight-drugs-sex-traffic

 

MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— McSweeney’s McHenry County Township Abolition by Referendum Bill Sent to Governor
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2019/01/08/mcsweeneys-mchenry-county-township-abolition-by-referendum-bill-sent-to-governor/
— McHenry County Clerk Tirio Sues Noonan, Tenner, Illinois Integrity Fund; Jack Franks, Breaker Press Cited as “Respondents in Discovery”
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/?p=123161

 

DUPAGE POLICY JOURNAL
— Ives says state GOP should go back to basics – Glenn Minnis
https://dupagepolicyjournal.com/stories/511717576-ives-says-state-gop-should-go-back-to-basics
(FROM THE ARTICLE: State Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) thinks it is time Republican lawmakers have a meeting of the minds to have any chance of saving themselves from themselves. “Republican Party leadership should meet and openly discuss [outgoing Gov. Bruce] Rauner’s wholesale betrayal and ineptitude,” Ives, who narrowly lost to Rauner in the Republican primary, told the DuPage Policy Journal. “The result should be throwing out the current head of the Illinois GOP [IGLOP}, Tim Schneider.” With Illinois in dire straits and many voters desperate for change, Ives said, Republican leaders should consider it a personal insult that the party did as poorly as it did in November’s general election, when Democrats easily captured both chambers of the legislature in Springfield as well as the governorship. “The ILGOP’s massive inability to win campaigns in the worst-run state in the nation is embarrassing,” she said. “Every aspect of our campaigns should be reassessed.” According to the Illinois Review, Ives joined Sean Morrison, Cook County GOP chairman and Cook County commissioner, in calling for immediate action. The two have been publicly backed by John McGlasson, an Illinois GOP State Central Committee member. Ives said many of the party’s issues could be solved by Republicans simply electing to be real Republicans again. “We have a party platform,” she said. “If leaders and candidates would agree to uphold the well-thought-out tenets of the Republican Party platform, there would be no division.” Finally, Ives said, it is time that Republican lawmakers make sure voters are well aware of why the state is as bad off as it is right now. “Our minority status in the legislature gives us an opportunity to place the blame squarely where it belongs, on the Democrats who have run this state into a fiscal mess,” she said.)

 

ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE
— LAME-DUCK HOUSE PASSES STATE GOVERNMENT PAY HIKES – Joe Kaiser (DIERSEN: How big of a paycut would you take to get a government job?)
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/lame-duck-general-assembly-pushes-for-state-government-pay-hikes/
— MOVING COMPANY RANKS ILLINOIS 2ND IN NATION FOR OUTBOUND MOVES – Joe Barnas
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/moving-company-ranks-illinois-2nd-in-nation-for-outbound-moves/

 

ILLINOIS CHANNEL
— Rep Jeanne Ives (R): Lessons Learned as a State Representative
http://www.illinoischannel.org/2019/01/07/rep-jeanne-ives-r-lessons-learned-as-a-state-representative/

 

CAPITOL FAX
— Rauner talks about the current state of the GOP and its future
https://capitolfax.com/2019/01/08/rauner-talks-about-the-current-state-of-the-gop-and-its-future/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Speaking of politics, Rauner refused to comment on who should run for governor next, but said he hoped “reform-minded leaders” would step forward, saying he would “encourage them” and perhaps help them. He appeared to wave off a direct return to politics for himself, but said it’s “yet to be determined” what he would do. “We live in such volatile times. I can’t predict yet what makes sense.” When asked about former Gov. Jim Edgar’s admonition that the party choose a moderate and Rep. Jeanne Ives’ warning that the party needs to choose someone who will adhere to the party’s conservative platform, Rauner said the two “are both right [and] they’re both partly wrong, and unfortunately I think they’re both part of the problem”… Republicans won’t win unless we’re moderate in many ways on many things. And I certainly consider myself a moderate on many things. If you look at my record, and the things I’ve advocated and the bills I’ve signed, most people would say I’m a moderate. That said, if you’re gonna be a moderate to win elections, but you’re not going to be a reformer and fix the problems, what’s the point of winning? And, in Illinois, Republicans have won, in the 80s and 90s, but then they did the same bad stuff that the Democrats did. Kick the can on pension payments, don’t reform the system, raise taxes with no reforms, over-regulate businesses. If you’re gonna moderate to win and then do the same thing that the guy or gal that you were running against would do, what’s the point? And I think Rep. Ives is correct that you got to have some principles, and you’ve got to be fiscally responsible/conservative… balance budgets. To me, I hope the Republican Party rallies around a unifying message of being pro-taxpayer and pro-job-creator. I think that can be a unifying message and that should define the party. The other things, we’re going to have some vehement disagreements on. Obviously, some of my fellow party members disagree with me on some of my more moderate views. OK, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t all be Republicans and push for responsible things for taxpayers and for job-creators. And he had a few words about the president… “I support most of the President’s policy goals … and I’m appalled by his personal behavior. Just appalled.” Specifically, Rauner says he agrees on ending “illegal” immigration, with a focus on the “illegal”)
— Rauner predicts out-migration will “get a lot worse” under Pritzker (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, Democrats do everything that they can to drive out of Illinois individuals, organizations, and companies that are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German American, and those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://capitolfax.com/2019/01/08/rauner-predicts-out-migration-will-get-a-lot-worse-under-pritzker/

 

TOWNHALL
— Oval Office Opportunity: What Trump Should, and Shouldn’t, Say Tonight – Guy Benson
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/guybenson/2019/01/08/trumps-oval-office-opportunity-n2538642

 

CONSERVATIVE HQ
— Mr. President, Here’s What You Must Tell The American People Tonight
http://www.conservativehq.com/node/29440

 

GOPUSA
— All four living former presidents deny supporting a border wall (DIERSEN: That is, all four living former presidents side with foreign countries against America.)
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=62047

 

FOX NEWS
— Trump must defeat the crisis of border crisis denial in Tuesday’s address – Laura Ingraham
https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/laura-ingraham-trump-must-defeat-the-crisis-of-border-crisis-denial-in-tuesdays-address

 

FEDERALIST
— Central American Countries Are Helping Middle Easterners Illegally Enter The United States – Todd Bensman
http://thefederalist.com/2019/01/02/central-american-countries-helping-middle-easterners-illegally-enter-united-states/

 

THE HILL
— Jimmy Kimmel says he’s putting federal employees to work on his show amid shutdown – JUDY KURTZ (DIERSEN: Do you know anyone who is/was a federal employee? I was a federal employee for almost 30 years.)
https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/in-the-know/424323-jimmy-kimmel-says-hes-putting-federal-employees-to-work-on-his

 

ROLL CALL
— As Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez flies high, eyes are rolling on the ground We all know who she is. But is that good for her agenda? – Patricia Murphy
https://www.rollcall.com/news/opinion/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-flies-high

 

ABC
— Jimmy Kimmel Puts Federal Employees to Work During Government Shutdown Today is Day 17 of the U.S. government shutdown. Nearly 800,000 federal employees are working without pay. So we are putting a federal employee to work every night until the shutdown ends. Tonight, Jimmy gives a job to John Kostelnik, a Law Enforcement Prison Guard at the Federal Correctional Complex in Victorville, CA. (DIERSEN: Do you know anyone who is/was a federal employee? I was a federal employee for almost 30 years.)
https://abc.go.com/shows/jimmy-kimmel-live/video/vdka7402553

 

WASHINGTON POST
— Single moms, small-business owners among those forced to crowdfund to pay bills during shutdown – Colby Itkowitz (DIERSEN: How have federal government shutdowns impacted you? I was a federal retiree and Social Security recipient during shutdowns in 2013 and this year. I was an IRS employee during shutdowns in 1976, 1977, 1978, and 1979. I was a GAO employee during shutdowns in 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1995, and 1996. My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes would stress that neither my wife nor I have never had any dependents to support and that my wife had income during all the shutdowns since we got married in 1978.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/01/08/single-moms-small-business-owners-among-those-forced-crowdfund-pay-bills-during-shutdown/

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Shutdown Weighs on Federal Workers Employees who are set to miss a paycheck feel a pinch; ‘state of being unsure’ – Natalie Andrews and Andrew Duehren (DIERSEN: How have federal government shutdowns impacted you? I was a federal retiree and Social Security recipient during shutdowns in 2013 and this year. I was an IRS employee during shutdowns in 1976, 1977, 1978, and 1979. I was a GAO employee during shutdowns in 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1995, and 1996. My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes would stress that neither my wife nor I have never had any dependents to support and that my wife had income during all the shutdowns since we got married in 1978.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/shutdown-weighs-on-federal-workers-11546906831

 

FORTUNE
— New York Mayor Announces Healthcare For Low-Income and Undocumented Residents – ERIN CORBETT
http://fortune.com/2019/01/08/new-york-mayor-announces-healthcare-for-low-income-and-undocumented-residents-medicare-for-all/

 

ABC11
— Are you a federal employee? Here’s how you can make sure your finances remain in good standing during shutdown – DeJuan Hoggard
https://abc11.com/politics/how-federal-workers-can-handle-their-finances-during-shutdown/5035853/

 

INDEPENDENT JOURNAL REVIEW
— America First or the Free Market: Republicans Struggle to Agree Over Using E-Verify to Curb Illegal Immigration – Madison Dibble (DIERSEN: If you oppose E-Verify, you are a Democrat or Democrat plant, a Libertarian or Libertarian plant, a Green or Green plant, a RINO, or even worse things.)
https://ijr.com/republicans-struggle-to-agree-over-e-verify/

 

FEDERAL NEWS NETWORK
— Shut down and nowhere to go: Federal employees frustrated with furlough ‘limbo’ – Jory Heckman
https://federalnewsnetwork.com/workforce/2019/01/shut-down-and-nowhere-to-go-federal-employees-frustrated-with-furlough-limbo/
— Top House Armed Services Republican: Using defense funds for border wall would hurt troops – Scott Maucione
https://federalnewsnetwork.com/defense-main/2019/01/top-house-armed-services-republican-using-defense-funds-for-border-wall-would-hurt-troops/

 

GOVERNMENT EXECUTIVE
— White House Takes Risk Directing IRS to Un-Furlough Staff to Process Tax Refunds – Charles S. Clark
https://www.govexec.com/management/2019/01/white-house-takes-risk-directing-irs-un-furlough-staff-process-tax-refunds/154016/

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.