CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Before legalizing pot in Illinois, learn from other states – Editorial (DIERSEN: To promote pot in Illinois is to promote the destruction of Illinois.)
http://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/before-legalizing-pot-in-illinois-learn-from-other-states/
(FROM THE EDITORIAL: Sometimes, when a big new issue presents itself, such as a deadly disease epidemic, lawmakers must respond on the fly. They craft laws without knowing the full facts, taking a gamble on the unintended consequences. When it comes to legalizing recreational marijuana in Illinois, precisely the opposite is true. There is no compelling reason to rush a decision, and plenty of reasons not to. To be precise, there are nine excellent reasons not to — eight states plus the District of Columbia, where recreational pot already has been legalized. They offer Illinois a terrific opportunity to sit back, watch and learn. The benefits and dangers of legal pot will become more clear fairly quickly, at which time Illinois can proceed accordingly. In Illinois, two state legislators are proposing to legalize recreational marijuana for people 21 or older. Users would be limited to possessing about an ounce or less and could not drive under the influence of the drug. Lighting up in public would be banned. That sounds reasonable enough, and we certainly understand the attraction of more taxable revenue for our financially troubled state. But skeptics continue to warn of the dangers, such as the potential physiological effects and the questionable message sent to young people about the casual use of drugs. Far better, then, to take a breath. Let’s see how recreational marijuana plays out in, say, Colorado or California. We might also learn a few things from Canada, which is expected to legalize recreational pot soon. If access to recreational pot were a fundamental matter of civil rights, Illinois would be wrong to delay legalization any further. But it is not. The urgency does not rise to the level of, say, legalizing same-sex marriage or eliminating unconstitutional barriers to voting. Canada already has identified some concerns about recreational marijuana that Illinois would have to address. Testing equipment similar to breathalyzers must be developed for marijuana, to guard against increase in impaired drivers. The testing equipment also would have to be made available to many workplaces, such as factories, to safeguard against workplace accidents. Concerns remain whether young people would have easier access to a drug that some scientists warn inhibits brain development. Taking a wait-and-see approach also will allow lawmakers to see how the Trump administration’s plans to enforce federal laws against marijuana play out. The Obama administration’s policy was to avoid interfering with state legalization of non-medical marijuana use. States can’t count on that anymore. Conflicts between federal and state could create huge legal headaches. The strongest argument for legalizing recreational pot in Illinois right now is money. Last year, the state of Colorado pocketed nearly $200 million in tax revenue from recreational marijuana. State Sen. Heather Steans and state Rep. Kelly Cassidy, Chicago Democrats, who are pushing legalization in the General Assembly, expect Illinois would pull in between $350 million and $700 million a year. In one fell swoop, our state’s finances would be in much better shape. But then there is this, again giving us pause: The National Institute on Drug Abuse says marijuana impairs judgment, reaction time and motor coordination. If more motorists use marijuana, more people could die on our highways. A legitimate worry? Or anti-pot alarmism? We don’t know and don’t have to guess. The answer to that question — and many others — will be coming soon enough from those eight other states, the District of Columbia and Canada. Each is a laboratory studying the social and medical impact of recreational pot.)
— Kennedy name’s magic is fading among black voters – Laura Washington
http://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/kennedy-names-magic-is-fading-among-black-voters/
— Chicago Guns Matter founder isn’t done with fight for a gun range – Frank Main
http://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/chicago-guns-matter-founder-isnt-done-with-fight-for-a-gun-range/
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— New York lawmakers devise plan to release Trump’s state taxes – AP
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-trump-tax-return-legislation-20170430-story.html
— Top cop’s SUV broken into during ‘crime of opportunity’
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-top-cop-s-suv-burglarized-during-crime-of-opportunity-20170430-story.html
— Trump administration still considering how to make it easier to sue the media, Priebus says – Cleve R. Wootson Jr. (DIERSEN: When something that they do not like is posted on a website, rather than contracting the person who posted it, the first thing that my critics/opponents want to do is stop me from including a link to it in a GOPUSA ILLINOIS email.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-trump-administration-sue-media-20170430-story.html
— CPS eludes a reckoning, but the rolling fiscal disaster doesn’t end – Editorial
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-chicago-schools-funding-last-day-edit-0429-20170428-story.html
DAILY HERALD
— Batavia resident, teacher hopes to challenge Hultgren – Lauren Rohr
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20170430/batavia-resident-teacher-hopes-to-challenge-hultgren
— How losing the breadwinner role affects a man’s political views – Jena McGregor (DIERSEN: The Democrats who run the federal government use Affirmative Action, Diversity, and Inclusion to waste the careers of and to get rid of their employees who are Republican, White, male, older, and/or non-veteran.)
http://www.dailyherald.com/business/20170430/how-losing-the-breadwinner-role-affects-a-manx2019s-political-views
WGN RADIO
— Politics with Rick Pearson Full Show 4/30/17 – JASMINE COOPER
http://wgnradio.com/2017/04/30/the-sunday-spin-politics-with-rick-pearson-full-show-43017/
QUAD CITIES ONLINE
— Republican leaders emphasize budget issues at Lincoln Day dinner – Allie Arnell
http://www.qconline.com/news/local/republican-leaders-emphasize-budget-issues-at-lincoln-day-dinner/article_53ae6751-ab7c-5afa-8253-22db2e22ccb9.html
HERALD AND NEWS
— Chicago, law firms cultivate new pot-specific practices (DIERSEN: To promote pot in Illinois is to promote the destruction of Illinois.)
http://www.heraldandnews.com/news/local_news/business/in-chicago-law-firms-cultivate-new-pot-specific-practices/article_a3866543-1fcb-51e9-a570-98376ac848dd.html
CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— Samantha Bee: There isn’t a “smug liberal problem” Comedian talks role of comedy in Trump era – ALEXANDRA KING (DIERSEN: All my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes are extremely smug.)
http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/entertainment/samantha-bee-there-isnt-a-smug-liberal-problem/702471608
CHICAGO CITY WIRE
— Racism only part of problem, Chicago author says – S. Laney Griffo
http://chicagocitywire.com/stories/511083860-racism-only-part-of-problem-chicago-author-says
SANGAMON SUN
— St. Louis blues called better than Illinois ills – Karen Kidd
http://sangamonsun.com/stories/511083581-st-louis-blues-called-better-than-illinois-ills
FEDERALIST PAPERS
— Obama’s EPIC Hypocrisy Summed Up In One Undercover Photo
http://thefederalistpapers.org/us/obamas-epic-hypocrisy-summed-up-in-one-undercover-photo
JP MEDIA
— Democrats Least Tolerant of Opposing Views – TOM KNIGHTON
https://pjmedia.com/trending/2017/04/28/study-finds-democrats-least-tolerant-of-opposing-views/
THE BLAZE
— Conservative Larry Elder instructs parents on how to ‘un-brainwash’ their liberal kids – Justin Haskins
http://www.theblaze.com/news/2017/04/30/conservative-larry-elder-instructs-parents-on-how-to-un-brainwash-their-liberal-kids/
DAILY CALLER
— McCain Calls Liberal Rejection Of Nuclear Power ‘Concerning’ – AMBER ATHEY
http://dailycaller.com/2017/04/30/mccain-calls-liberal-rejection-of-nuclear-power-concerning-video/
NEWS BUSTERS
— Samantha Bee on CNN: There Is No ‘Smug Liberal Problem’ – Nicholas Fondacaro (DIERSEN: All my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes are extremely smug.)
http://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/nb/nicholas-fondacaro/2017/04/30/samantha-bee-cnn-there-no-smug-liberal-problem
LIFEZETTE NEWS
— Priebus: Trump Could Take Action Against Fake News White House chief of staff says changing libel laws ‘something that we’ve looked at’
– Edmund Kozak (DIERSEN: When something that they do not like is posted on a website, rather than contracting the person who posted it, the first thing that my critics/opponents want to do is stop me from including a link to it in a GOPUSA ILLINOIS email.)
https://www.lifezette.com/polizette/priebus-trump-take-action-fake-news/
THE HILL
— Trump draws sharp correspondents’ dinner contrast with wild rally – MAX GREENWOOD
http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/331261-trump-draws-dc-dinner-contrast-with-wild-rally
— White House Correspondents’ Association chief: ‘We are not fake news’ – MAX GREENWOOD
http://thehill.com/homenews/media/331258-whca-president-we-are-not-fake-news
WASHINGTON POST
— Trump administration still considering how to make it easier to sue the media, Priebus says – Cleve R. Wootson Jr. (DIERSEN: When something that they do not like is posted on a website, rather than contracting the person who posted it, the first thing that my critics/opponents want to do is stop me from including a link to it in a GOPUSA ILLINOIS email.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/04/30/trump-administration-still-considering-how-to-make-it-easier-to-sue-the-media-priebus-says/
NEW YORK POST
— The media assault on Trump could win him a second term – Salena Zito
http://nypost.com/2017/04/29/the-media-assault-on-trump-could-win-him-a-second-term/
FED SMITH
— Is a Buyout Worth Taking? – Jeff Neal (DIERSEN: In 1993, when I was 45 years old, GAO offered all its employees, including me, who had 25 or more years of federal service a $25,000 buyout to take early retirement. I would have had to suffer 10 years of “early retirement penalty.”)
https://www.fedsmith.com/2017/04/30/is-a-buyout-worth-taking/
NEW YORK MAGAZINE
— Reince Priebus Says White House Has ‘Looked at’ Changing Libel Laws – Chas Danner (DIERSEN: When something that they do not like is posted on a website, rather than contracting the person who posted it, the first thing that my critics/opponents want to do is stop me from including a link to it in a GOPUSA ILLINOIS email.)
http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2017/04/priebus-says-white-house-has-looked-at-changing-libel-laws.html
SALON
— Reince Priebus: White House has “looked at” opening up libel laws Reince Preibus talked about possibly changing libel laws on ABC’s “This Week” – CHARLIE MAY (DIERSEN: When something that they do not like is posted on a website, rather than contracting the person who posted it, the first thing that my critics/opponents want to do is stop me from including a link to it in a GOPUSA ILLINOIS email.)
http://www.salon.com/2017/04/30/reince-priebus-white-house-has-looked-at-opening-up-libel-laws/
