May 26 Evening Edition

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— OUTRAGEOUS: DuPage committee to revisit ban on video gaming in unincorporated areas – Gary Gibula  (DIERSEN: Please join Kathy Gilroy, me, and others who will speak at the DuPage County Finance Committee meeting Tuesday, June 13, 2017, at 7:30 AM, in favor of keeping the ban on video gambling in unincorporated DuPage County.  If you are in DuPage County, please urge DuPage County Board Chairman Dan Cronin, the 18 DuPage County Board members, and especially, the 3 board members who represent your district, to vote to keep the ban.  In 2009, the Milton Township Republican Central Committee (MTRCC) unanimously passed a resolution against video gambling throughout DuPage County.  Since then, no MTRCC member has done anything to rescind that resolution.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/naperville-sun/news/ct-nvs-dupage-video-gaming-revisited-st-0528-20170527-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: DuPage County Board committee will discuss the possible repeal of its 2009 ban on video gaming for businesses located in unincorporated areas. Board member Paul Fichtner told the board last week the matter will be discussed at the June 13 Finance Committee meeting. “It was the consensus of the committee to discuss this and perhaps make a decision at that same meeting three weeks from now,” Fichtner said. “Because of the nature of the topic and the interest it may bring, I’m suggesting we start at 7:30 a.m.”  Board member Jim Zay requested the committee address the matter. “Obviously, we’ve been getting emails and public comment (from people interested in the repeal), so I think it’s time to take another look at it,” Zay said. “I’m not saying we’re in favor of it or against it, but it’s time to listen to their concerns and see what’s going on. A lot of things have changed since 2009 with video gaming so I think it’s time for the board to give these people an opportunity to hear their concerns and look at it again.” Individuals both for and against video gaming have spoken at the last three county board meetings. Jeremy Truex, co-owner of a tavern located in an unincorporated part of Lombard, is among those who think the prohibition should be removed. “The county is missing out on some serious tax revenue,” Truex said. “You’ve got people going to other municipalities and spending their money, whereas they could be spending it in unincorporated DuPage County with all its small businesses.” Will County, which does allow video gaming in unincorporated areas, collected $198,915 in tax distributions in 2016 from the 27 establishments licensed for video gaming, according to the Illinois Gaming Board. In Kane County, 12 such businesses earned $134,694 in tax distributions last year, and 61 businesses with video gaming earned $623,636 for Lake County over the same 12-month period, state numbers show. Some counties, like Cook, do not permit video gaming in unincorporated areas. Will County instituted a ban on any new licenses in April 2015, citing loopholes and liberal state regulations that permit video gaming in unexpected places like gas stations. The 31 Aurora businesses with licenses for video gaming include restaurants, pubs, private social clubs and fraternal organizations such as Amvets and a Moose lodge. The city of Aurora took in $332,045 in tax distributions from those establishments in 2016. Naperville adopted a city-wide ban on video gaming in October 2009. In an email statement, Naperville communications manager Linda LaCloche affirmed Wednesday, “the city of Naperville continues to support our decision to opt out of the Illinois Video Gaming Act.” While video gaming has earned nearly $171 million in tax distributions for counties and municipalities since 2012, some critics say the activity erodes the amount of money gamblers spend at casinos and boats, where it is permitted. In its ordinance prohibiting video gaming, Naperville cited the activity as being inconsistent with family values, being associated with corruption and enticing players to game faster for longer periods of time and at higher rates of wagering, according to a study by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. At a previous DuPage County Board meeting, Villa Park resident Kathy Gilroy asserted that the board “had no duty to level the playing field. This board has a duty to the welfare of county residents.” Zay and Jim Healy were on the board eight years ago when the video gaming ban was instituted. “I don’t think attitudes have changed very much since 2009,” Healy said. “Obviously, we’ll wait to hear what people have to say. At this moment, nothing has changed in my mind.” The Finance Committee will meet at 7:30am on June 13 in the County Board Room of the Jack T. Knuepfer Administration Building, 421 North County Farm Road, in Wheaton.)
— A casino bill raises a red flag in Chicago – Editorial
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-casinos-rauner-emanuel-gambling-edit-0527-jm-20170526-story.html
— 340 pounds of pot, weapons found at Bull Valley mansion  2 held in bust tied to Rockford-area drug trafficking – Amanda Marrazzo
http://digitaledition.chicagotribune.com/infinity/article_popover_share.aspx?guid=df486c88-9b1a-439a-91d9-1b3e9dce51ba
— Balancing a budget the Republican way – John McCarron
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-perspec-mccarron-0530-md-20170526-story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, Democrats promote gender confusion.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/norridge/news/ct-fhj-transgender-bathrooms-tl-0601-20170526-story.html
— Rauner pushes for property tax freeze as time winds down in Springfield – Rick Pearson, Monique Garcia and Kim Geiger
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-bruce-rauner-property-taxes-springfield-met-0528-20170527-story.html
— No pension for Cook County judge who refused traffic court and quit – Steve Schmadeke  (DIERSEN: To get me to quit, my Democrat GAO superiors forced me to retire in 1997 when I was 49 years old, did not promote me beyond GS-13, kept me off audits of IRS for all but 3 of the almost 18 years that I worked for GAO 1980-1997, always ranked me in the bottom half of my coworkers for pay-for-performance purposes, and forced me to take an $18,847 pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO in 1980.  My Democrat IRS superiors did not promote me beyond GS-12, disallowed my education deductions in 1978, and disallowed my partial day per diem claims in 1974.  My Democrat Post Office superiors forced me resign in 1969 and disallowed my sick leave requests in 1969 and 1968.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-judge-cooke-resigns-no-pension-chicago-inc-20170524-story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps demonize, denigrate, and condemn Trump.  Anti-Trumps focus on demonizing, denigrating, and condemning those who are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, 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.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-trump-russia-impeach-congress-edit-0528-20170526-story.html

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Gov says Madigan pressured Senate Dems; speaker lays crisis on Rauner – Tina Sfondeles
http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/gov-says-madigan-pressured-senate-dems-speaker-lays-crisis-on-rauner/
— ‘Fed up’ voters call lawmakers ‘dirt bags’ as budget crisis drags on – Tina Sfondeles
http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/voters-take-out-anger-on-dirt-bag-lawmakers-over-budget-impasse/
— Clinton warns of authoritarianism, mentions ‘impeachment’ in speech – USA TODAY
http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/clinton-warns-of-authoritarianism-mentions-impeachment-in-speech/

 

DAILY HERALD
— Poll: Most older Americans want Medicare for long-term care – AP  (DIERSEN: My 86-year-old aunt is paying $230/day or $6,900/month or $83,950/year out of her retirement savings to live at Sunrise of Flossmoor.)
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20170526/news/305269985/
— ‘Token’ recounts black actress’ upbringing in ‘white’ Naperville – Amy Fuller (DIERSEN: If I sought a government office or a political office, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes would stress that none of my grade school or high school classmates were minorities.)
http://www.dailyherald.com/entlife/20170526/token-recounts-black-actress-upbringing-in-white-naperville

 

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— The surprise in Chicago’s latest Census tally – GREG HINZ
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20170526/BLOGS02/170529911/the-surprise-in-chicagos-latest-census-tally
— One doc’s concern about Chicago’s ‘death gap’ fuels sobering new book – Kristen Schorsch
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20170526/NEWS03/170529915/one-docs-concern-about-chicagos-death-gap-fuels-sobering-new-book
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, Democrats put foreign countries and their citizens ahead of America and its citizens.
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20170526/OPINION/170529913/yes-trump-is-making-xenophobia-more-acceptable
— VERY SAD: DraftKings is shopping for downtown Chicago office – DANNY ECKER
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20170525/BLOGS04/170529933/draftkings-eyeing-downtown-chicago-office
— Why Rauner won’t stop talking about a property tax freeze – RICH MILLER
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20170526/NEWS02/170529899/why-rauner-wont-stop-talking-about-a-property-tax-freeze

 

ABC7
— Time running out for governor to pass Illinois budget plan – Sarah Schulte
http://abc7chicago.com/news/time-running-out-for-governor-to-pass-illinois-budget-plan/2040731/

 

NBC5
— Rauner, Pritzker Point Fingers as Budget Impasse Continues – Mary Ann Ahern
http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/rauner-pritzker-point-fingers-as-illinois-budget-impasse-continues-424686874.html
— Rauner Rocks Out, and Emanuel Gets a Call From DC – Carol Marin and Mary Ann Ahern
http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/WEB-deep-dish-rauner-rocks-out-and-emanuel-gets-a-call-from-dc-424675824.html
— Madigan Writes to Civic Committee About Budget Impasse, Rauner  In a new letter to the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club Madigan writes, “unfortunately the Governor has chosen not to meet with these members.” – Mary Ann Ahern
http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/madigan-civic-committee-letter–424609954.html

 

CBS2
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: The anti-Rauner “Emanuel Calls Out Rauner For Watching Golf Instead Of Fixing State Budget.”
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2017/05/26/emanuel-rauner-golf-budget/

 

WTTW
— Lawmakers Adjourn as Budget Agreement Remains Elusive – Amanda Vinicky
http://chicagotonight.wttw.com/2017/05/26/lawmakers-adjourn-budget-agreement-remains-elusive

 

DNA INFO
— Chicago Is Shrinking, But People Still Move Here! U-Haul Data Excites Rahm – Tanveer Ali  (DIERSEN: One would expect that virtually everyone who moves to Chicago is anti-Trump, anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, 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.)
https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20170526/loop/after-gloomy-census-numbers-u-haul-says-chicago-still-top-destination

 

QUAD CITY TIMES
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Rauners say “Rauner faces uncertain future in next election.”
http://qctimes.com/news/local/government-and-politics/gov-rauner-faces-uncertain-future-in-next-election/article_bbbc5985-0c75-57b5-af31-48d57c08f6e9.html

 

PEORIA PUBLIC RADIO
— Billionaire JB Pritzker Campaigns in Peoria, Throws Shade at Rauner – CASS HERRINGTON
http://peoriapublicradio.org/post/billionaire-jb-pritzker-campaigns-peoria-throws-shade-rauner#stream/0

 

CHICAGO MAGAZINE
— Why Illinois Is Closing in on 700 Days Without a Budget  And why we might actually get one by then. – WHET MOSER
http://www.chicagomag.com/city-life/May-2017/Why-Illinois-Is-Closing-In-On-700-Days-Without-a-Budget/

 

CHICAGOIST
— Gov. Candidate JB Pritzker Trolls Rauner With Giant Clock Mascot
http://chicagoist.com/2017/05/26/pritzker_trolls_rauner_tick_tock_budget_clock.php

 

UPSTREAM IDEAS
— “Ponzi Scheme” Is Accurate  The Chicago Teacher Pension Fund paid out $1.5 billion in the last fiscal year, but it only earned $7.8 million on its investments. Can CNBC’s Rick Santelli make that math work? Why is something that is illegal in the private sector common practice in the public sector? CNBC’s On-Air Editor crunches the numbers with Dan and Amy.
http://upstream-ideas.com/upstream-ideas/ideas/ponzi-scheme-is-accurate

 

CAPITOL FAX
— Pritzker attacks Rauner property tax freeze as “political stunt,” outlines his own idea
https://capitolfax.com/2017/05/26/pritzker-attacks-rauner-property-tax-freeze-as-political-stunt-outlines-his-own-idea/
— Et tu, Diana?
https://capitolfax.com/2017/05/26/et-tu-diana-2/
— Rauner claims SDems “caved” to Madigan, Cullerton’s office responds
https://capitolfax.com/2017/05/26/rauner-claims-sdems-caved-to-madigan-cullertons-office-responds/

 

GATEWAY PUNDIT
— “Soros Is Stepping Up His Game” – Unmarked Deluxe Busses Arrive In Chicago Full Of “Protestors” – Lucian Wintrich
http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2017/05/soros-stepping-game-unmarked-deluxe-busses-arrive-chicago-full-protestors/

 

FOX NEWS
— Newt Gingrich: Lock up the leakers – Newt Gingrich  (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have always demonized me, denigrated me, and condemned me as being a leaker. In my defense, I stress that virtually everything in GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails is already in the public record, that is, someone else has already posted it on a website.  Needless-to-say, I should sue anyone who calls me a leaker.)
http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2017/05/26/newt-gingrich-lock-up-leakers.html

 

GOPUSA
— Gourmet Pizza in Chicago Jails
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=24959
— NY library presents ‘Drag Queen Story Hour’ to kids  (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, Democrats promote sexual confusion.)
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=24862
— A conservative think tank is calling to task the CEO of Amazon for being overtly political and alienating potentially half of his company’s customer base that supports Donald Trump. (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, companies exist not to make a profit, but instead, to push the Democrat Party platform. Ever-increasingly, companies serve as fronts for the Democrat Party. Ever-increasingly, companies act as operative or dupes for the Democrat Party. The federal government exists to push the Democrat Party platform. The federal government is a front for the Democrat Party. The federal government serves as an operative and as a dupe for the Democrat Party.)
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=24951
— After the Confederates, Who’s Next? – Patrick J. Buchanan
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=24928
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Behind this remorseless drive to blast the greatest names from America’s past off public buildings, and to tear down their statues and monuments, is an egalitarian extremism rooted in envy and hate. Among its core convictions is that spreading Christianity was a cover story for rapacious Europeans who, after discovering America, came in masses to dispossess and exterminate native peoples. “The white race,” wrote Susan Sontag, “is the cancer of human history.” Today, the men we were taught to revere as the great captains, explorers, missionaries and nation-builders are seen by many as part of a racist, imperialist, genocidal enterprise, wicked men who betrayed and eradicated the peace-loving natives who had welcomed them. What they blindly refuse to see is that while its sins are scarlet, as are those of all civilizations, it is the achievements of the West that are unrivaled. The West ended slavery. Christianity and the West gave birth to the idea of inalienable human rights. As scholar Charles Murray has written, 97 percent of the world’s most significant figures and 97 percent of the world’s greatest achievements in the arts, architecture, literature, astrology, biology, earth sciences, physics, medicine, mathematics and technology came from the West. What is disheartening is not that there are haters of our civilization out there, but that there seem to be fewer defenders. Of these icon-smashers it may be said: Like ISIS and Boko Haram, they can tear down statues, but these people could never build a country. What happens, one wonders, when these Philistines discover that the seated figure in the statue, right in front of D.C.’s Union Station, is the High Admiral of the Ocean Sea, Christopher Columbus?)

 

BREITBART
— Michael Steele on Mark Zuckerberg’s Universal Income Idea: ‘Why Doesn’t He Start with His Own Organization’ – DAN RIEHL26
http://www.breitbart.com/radio/2017/05/26/michael-steele-on-mark-zuckerbergs-universal-income-idea-why-doesnt-he-start-with-his-own-organization/

 

TOWNHALL
— Fact Check: No, the Republican Healthcare Bill Would Not Cause 23 Million People to “Lose” Insurance – Guy Benson
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/guybenson/2017/05/25/no-the-republican-healthcare-bill-would-not-cause-23-million-people-to-lose-insurance-n2331434

 

DAILY CALLER
— ‘Fight For $15’ Leader Claims He’s Not Paid To Protest — Actually Paid Six Figures By Labor Union – Peter Hasson
http://dailycaller.com/2017/05/25/fight-for-15-leader-claims-hes-not-paid-to-protest-actually-paid-six-figures-by-labor-union/

 

AMERICAN GREATNESS
— Why Chicago Is Sinking Fast – Joseph L. Bast
https://amgreatness.com/2017/05/24/chicago-sinking-fast/

 

ONE NEWS NOW
— Akin, Illinois: Boy’s graduation speech pulled over Christian content – Todd Starnes
https://www.onenewsnow.com/perspectives/todd-starnes/2017/05/26/boys-graduation-speech-pulled-over-christian-content

 

MSN
— Rauner, Madigan Continue To Place Blame For Lack Of Budget – Derrick Blakley  (DIERSEN: What do your critics/opponents blame?  My critics/opponents a) blame me and my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails, b) the traditional family, right to life, immigration, illegal drugs, Second Amendment, equal opportunity (no race or gender based preference giving), and other planks in the Republican Party platform and the Illinois Republican Party platform, and c) the Milton Township Republican Central Committee resolution against video gambling.)
https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/rauner-madigan-continue-to-place-blame-for-lack-of-budget/vp-BBBzclo

 

WASHINGTON POST
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: An anti-Trump says “Gianforte’s victory after assaulting reporter reflects rising tribalism in American politics.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/paloma/daily-202/2017/05/26/daily-202-gianforte-s-victory-after-assaulting-reporter-reflects-rising-tribalism-in-american-politics/59275c2ae9b69b2fb981dba2/
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: An anti-Trump says “The GOP inherits what Trump has wrought.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/the-gop-inherits-what-trump-has-wrought/2017/05/26/4e1943ea-4177-11e7-adba-394ee67a7582_story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: An anti-Trump says “Trump’s behavior at NATO is a national embarrassment.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/global-opinions/wp/2017/05/25/trumps-behavior-at-nato-is-a-national-embarrassment/

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Nice Speech, Mark Zuckerberg! You’re Still a Few Credits Short  Facebook’s CEO, who delivered a commencement address, joins a growing roster of degree-less entrepreneurs and entertainers doing the honors; ‘I am fake graduating.’ – Deepa Seetharaman and  Sarah E. Needleman (DIERSEN: I earned a bachelor’s degree in management from NIU in 1970 when I was 21 years old, an MBA from Loyola in 1976, a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul in 1980, and a master’s degree in financial markets and trading from IIT in 1997.  I passed the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979 and I passed the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt in 1981.  I became a licensed CPA in 1981, a Certified Fraud Examiner in 1990, a Certified Government Financial Manager in 1994, a Certified Financial Services Auditor in 1996, and a Forensic Accountant in 1997.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/nice-speech-mark-zuckerberg-youre-still-a-few-credits-short-1495805944
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Mark Zuckerberg returned to Harvard University to give advice to students who differed from him in one noteworthy way. They graduated. The Facebook Inc. chief executive, who dropped out of Harvard in 2005, came back to deliver the commencement address on Thursday. He finally got a diploma, an honorary degree. “If I get through this speech,” Mr. Zuckerberg, 33 years old, told the assembled, who huddled under umbrellas as it rained, “it’ll be the first time I actually finish something at Harvard.” Ellen DeGeneres addressed Tulane University in 2009, telling grads she didn’t go to college. Kanye West, who titled his debut studio album “College Dropout,” spoke at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2015. Apple Inc.’s late co-founder Steve Jobs, a Reed College dropout, took to Stanford University’s podium in 2005. Oracle Corp. co-founder Larry Ellison, who left University of Illinois and University of Chicago, donned cap and gown at University of Southern California in 2016.)
— RURAL AMERICA IS THE NEW ‘INNER CITY’  A Wall Street Journal analysis shows that since the 1990s, sparsely populated counties have replaced large cities as America’s most troubled areas by key measures of socioeconomic well-being—a decline that’s accelerating – Janet Adamy and Paul Overberg
https://www.wsj.com/articles/rural-america-is-the-new-inner-city-1495817008

 

WQCS
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: The anti-Trump “Boehner Says Apart From Foreign Policy, Trump Has Been A Complete Disaster.”
http://wqcs.org/post/boehner-says-apart-foreign-policy-trump-has-been-complete-disaster#stream/0

 

FEDERAL TIMES
— GAO says feds’ salaries should be based on performance, not seniority – Tony Ware  (DIERSEN: In 1989, the Democrats who ran GAO implemented their pay-for-performance system to help them get rid of GAO employees who were Republican, White, male, older, and/or non-veteran.)
http://www.federaltimes.com/articles/gao-says-feds-salaries-should-be-based-on-performance-not-seniority

 

FEDERAL NEWS RADIO
— CSRS & FERS programs in the budget bullseye – Mike Causey  (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, if you are in line to get a penion or if you are getting a pension, those who are not in line to get a pension or are not getting a pension viciously demonize you, viciously denigrated you, and viciously condemn you.)
https://federalnewsradio.com/mike-causey-federal-report/2017/05/csrs-fers-programs-in-the-budget-bullseye/

 

VANITY FAIR
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: An anti-Trump says “AS TRUMP’S PROBLEMS MOUNT, BREITBART’S NUMBERS ARE CRATERING.”
http://www.vanityfair.com/news/2017/05/breitbart-traffic-numbers-are-cratering

 

SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTS
— The attacks must stop. SPJ stands with journalists and supports their right to do their job free of threats, bullying and violence.  (DIERSEN: I should write a book about those who focus on a) stopping me from putting GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails together and sending them out and b) stopping everyone from reading those emails.  They talk and act like they have been promised lots of money, a new home, a new car, a sweetheart job, a sweetheart contract, favorable legislation, and/or lots more if they succeed in stopping me. They talk and act like they have been threatened with destruction if they do not stop me.)
https://www.spj.org/fight/

 

GUARDIAN
— Welfare dependency ‘poison’ for jobless, human services minister says  Alan Tudge, speaking at a $300 a head lunch, says welfare system has become a ‘destination, not a safety net’ for many – Christopher Knaus
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/may/26/welfare-dependency-poison-for-jobless-human-services-minister-says

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.