GOPUSA ILLINOIS
— Needless-to-say, if Republicans eliminate or limit the real estate tax deduction, a) the Senior Citizens’ Homestead Exemption should be dramatically increased (SEE: http://www.dupageco.org/SOA/1482/) and b) the maximum “total household income” requirement for the Senior Citizens’ Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption should be dramatically increased (SEE: http://www.dupageco.org/SOA/1480/). – Dave Diersen
https://gopillinois.com
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Rauner challenger Ives reveals who’s bankrolling her bid – Rick Pearson (DIERSEN: How much money do you give activists, candidates, elected officials, party leaders, major donors, political consultants, churches, etc.? My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes stress that I give little or no money to the aforesaid. In my defense, a) my $50,856/year Civil Service Retirement System pension is only 41% of what my $122,991/year GAO salary was in 1997 in today’s dollars; b) my Social Security is only $2,028/year; c) my and my wife’s medical and dental expenses last year were $21,433, our state and local taxes were $14,303, and our 501(c)(3) contributions were $2,728; and d) the GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails that I send out each and every morning and each and every evening to the aforesaid free of charge and without any advertising are worth at least $1,000/year. It looks like if Republicans get their “tax reform,” the Diersens will be paying much more federal income tax in the future and they will have even less money to give the aforesaid. I certainly hope that Bost, Davis, Hultgren, Kinzinger, LaHood, Roskam, and Shimkus will work hard in conference with the Senate to keep all the current itemized deductions and the personal exemption.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-jeanne-ives-illinois-governor-20171117-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: That information was revealed Thursday, when Ives showed 15 donations — with the top ones coming ahead of a high-dollar fundraiser scheduled for Monday at a Downers Grove restaurant. Vince Kolber, a Chicagoan who founded a transportation leasing business and twice unsuccessfully ran for Congress as a Republican, was the top donor to the Ives for Illinois fund with $100,000. Kolber is the chairman of Ives fundraising event and previously has given the three-term lawmaker from Wheaton $1,500 in November 2015, records show. Ives also reported $50,000 from William Dixon of Wheaton, the founder of a trade-show exhibition firm. Dixon and wife Barbara are listed as co-chairs of the fundraiser, a title that carries a $50,000 price tag. Previously, they had given Ives a total of $19,000 since March 2012. Ives also tapped into her legislative campaign fund for $25,000 and got similar-sized donations from Peter Huizenga and Elizabeth Weiss. A $25,000 contribution merits the title of “underwriter” of the fundraiser. Of Ives’ donors, Kolber gave $13,000 to Rauner for his 2014 race for governor post-primary, and another $1,000 on June 29 of this year. William Dixon gave Rauner $500 in September 2014, and Huizenga gave Rauner $20,000 in May 2014. Rauner had nearly $65.6 million in his campaign fund at the end of September and has since added $116,100.)
— FRONT PAGE: DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasing, pot pushers use the problems with opioids to push pot.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-medical-marijuana-doctors-pain-20171116-story.html
— The House just passed its big tax bill. Here’s what is in it and what deductions vanish. – Heather Long (DIERSEN: I certainly hope that Bost, Davis, Hultgren, Kinzinger, LaHood, Roskam, and Shimkus will work hard in conference with the Senate to keep all the current itemized deductions and the personal exemption.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-house-tax-bill-details-20171116-story.html
— FBI needs to explain its war on ‘black identity extremists’ – Clarence Page (DIERSEN: Anti-Trumps want Blacks to be 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.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/page/ct-perspec-page-fbi-black-identity-extremists-sessions-1117-20171115-story.html
— Partisan divide grows in U.S., states, with mixed results – AP (DIERSEN: Anti-Trumps want everyone to be 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.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-bc-us–state-legislatures-red-or-blue-20171112-story.html
— U. of I. president, UIC chancellor receive $175K in bonuses for second straight year – Dawn Rhodes (DIERSEN: While I worked for the federal government, the real reason why my superiors and supervisors got bonuses was their success in wasting the careers of and getting rid of their employees who were Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran who did not make GS-13 (currently $94,610) by age 25, GS-14 (currently $111,801) by age 30, GS-15 (currently $131,508) by age 35, and Senior Executive Service (currently $161,900) by age 40.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-university-of-illinois-bonuses-20171116-story.html
— HARDCOPY ARTICLE TITLE: Franken, like Moore, should vanish into the woods – John Kass (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, if you are charged with wrongdoing by a member of any of the following groups, you are presumed to be guilty, and you will be gotten rid of: 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.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/kass/ct-met-al-franken-kass-1117-story.html
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD IN NAPERVILLE SUN: Naperville projected to be No. 1 in U.S. for holiday spending, finance report says – Erin Hegarty (DIERSEN: What is the main reason why you spend less money than you do? For me, it is my $50,856 Civil Service Retirement System pension being only 41% of what my $122,991 GAO salary was in 1997.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/naperville-sun/ct-nvs-holiday-spending-naperville-st-1117-20171115-story.html
NEW YORK TIMES
— Confused by the Tax Bills? Be Glad You’re Not an Accountant – RON LIEBER (DIERSEN: Do you prepare and file your own income tax returns? I have since 1964. I worked for IRS 1971-1980 and for GAO on audits of IRS 1986-1988. I itemized 1972-1977 and my wife and I have itemized since 1978. I won a split decision in Tax Court when my Democrat IRS superiors and Money Magazine disallowed my education deductions in 1978. I passed the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979. I earned a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul in 1980. I have used Quicken and Turbotax since they became available. Notwithstanding the aforesaid, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes viciously demonize, viciously denigrate, and viciously condemn my knowledge of IRS and federal taxes. What do you say to people who do not even know if they take the standard deduction or if they itemize who viciously demonize, viciously denigrate, and viciously condemn my knowledge of IRS and federal taxes.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/17/your-money/tax-bills-accountants.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: If only that were easy to figure out. We know that nearly a quarter of households with incomes between $100,000 and $500,000 would see their tax bills go up next year under the Senate’s proposal. Compared with current law, the House bill, which was passed Thursday, would raise personal federal income taxes on California, New Jersey, New York and Maryland residents by $16.7 billion in 2027, according to an Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy analysis. Florida and Texas, however, would get $31.2 billion in cuts. Still at a loss? If you’re hoping that TurboTax will rerun your 2016 data or scan your 1040 and spit out constantly updating projections based on the House bill or the evolving Senate proposals, its owner, Intuit, will not do that for you. At first, TurboTax’s spokeswoman, Lisa Greene-Lewis, told me via email that it was “premature to speculate or second guess the decisions policymakers will make.” When I pressed further, wondering about the people who want to be well-informed citizens and decide whether to cheer or jeer their elected representatives while it might still make a difference, she got on the phone and simply told me that the company would be creating only tools based on current laws. And so, we turn to the accountants. Pity them, because for at least the next month, theirs will be a world of what-ifs and if-thens. Already, many are receiving multiple messages each day from clients.)
— Middle-Class Families Confront Soaring Health Insurance Costs – Robert Pear (DIERSEN: Last year, my and my wife’s medical and dental expenses last year were $21,433, our state and local taxes were $14,303, and our 501(c)(3) contributions were $2,728.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/16/us/politics/obamacare-premiums-middle-class.html
— HARDCOPY EDITORIAL HEADLINE: A Cartoonishly Evil Tax-Cut Bill – Editorial
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/16/opinion/republican-tax-bills-trump.html
— Everybody Hates the Trump Tax Plan Ordinary families would be big losers, and even C.E.O.s aren’t showing much love. – Paul Krugman
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/16/opinion/trump-tax-plan-hate.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Poles side with anti-Poles.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/16/opinion/poland-pure-blood-march.html
CBS2
— Gov. Rauner Silent On Tax-Cut Plan – Craig Dellimore (DIERSEN: Government should encourage homeownership and taking job-related graduate courses. The deductibility of mortgage interest, real estate taxes, and job-related education a) encouraged me to take job-related graduate courses 1972-1983 and 1992-1997, b) encouraged me to buy a new town home in 1972, a studio condo in 1974, and a one bedroom condo in 1976, and c) encouraged my wife and I to buy a home in 1978 and to have one built in 1984.)
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2017/11/16/gov-rauner-silent-on-tax-cut-plan/
FOX NEWS CHICAGO
— Illinois lawmaker Lisa Hernandez accepted campaign money from adult entertainment club – Dane Placko
http://www.fox32chicago.com/news/local/illinois-lawmaker-accepted-campaign-money-from-adult-entertainment-club
DAILY HERALD
— Impeachment filing is naive, harmful – Editorial
http://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20171116/editorial-impeachment-filing-is-naive-harmful
— AS THE DEMOCRAT PARTY’S STRANGLEHOLD ON AMERICA, ON ILLINOIS, ON COOK COUNTY, AND ON CHICAGO TIGHTENS: FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: Suburbs, like rest of country, reporting more hate crimes – Charles Keeshan and Susan Sarkauskas
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20171117/suburbs-like-rest-of-country-reporting-more-hate-crimes
NORTHWEST HERALD
— More than 100 protestors turn out for Roskam appearance at GOP fundraiser in Downers Grove – BOB RAKOW (DIERSEN: Government should encourage homeownership and taking job-related graduate courses. The deductibility of mortgage interest, real estate taxes, and job-related education a) encouraged me to take job-related graduate courses 1972-1983 and 1992-1997, b) encouraged me to buy a new town home in 1972, a studio condo in 1974, and a one bedroom condo in 1976, and c) encouraged my wife and I to buy a home in 1978 and to have one built in 1984.)
http://www.nwherald.com/2017/11/17/more-than-100-protestors-turn-out-for-roskam-appearance-at-gop-fundraiser-in-downers-grove/dg63lsa/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Reid McCollum, a leader of the Coalition for a Better Illinois 6th, said the proposed tax plan was the primary reason for the protest. “There’s not one thing in that bill for the middle class,” said McCollum, who specifically criticized the proposal to eliminate state and local tax deductions. The tax plan also would increase the federal deficit by as much as $1.7 trillion and lead to massive cuts to services and programs such as Medicare, Social Security and Medicaid, opponents said.)
SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Tax reform is key to Illinois growth – Lynette Shaeffer (DIERSEN: Government should encourage homeownership and taking job-related graduate courses. The deductibility of mortgage interest, real estate taxes, and job-related education a) encouraged me to take job-related graduate courses 1972-1983 and 1992-1997, b) encouraged me to buy a new town home in 1972, a studio condo in 1974, and a one bedroom condo in 1976, and c) encouraged my wife and I to buy a home in 1978 and to have one built in 1984.)
http://www.sj-r.com/opinion/20171116/guest-view-tax-reform-is-key-to-illinois-growth
— Londrigan accused of attacking Davis for ‘opposite’ of remarks – Bernard Schoenburg (DIERSEN: Of course, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes read GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails to find anything that they can use against me. My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes are moral relativists who believe that their end justifies their means. They are disciples of Saul Alinsky.)
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20171116/londrigan-accused-of-attacking-davis-for-opposite-of-remarks
CHAMPAIGN/URBANA NEWS GAZETTE
— Davis, Shimkus laud their colleagues’ tax-reform bill – Tom Kacich (DIERSEN: I certainly hope that Bost, Davis, Hultgren, Kinzinger, LaHood, Roskam, and Shimkus will work hard in conference with the Senate to keep all the current itemized deductions and the personal exemption.)
http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2017-11-17/davis-shimkus-laud-their-colleagues-tax-reform-bill.html
ROCKFORD REGISTER STAR
— Officials, public discuss opioid abuse, possible solutions at community forum – Adam Poulisse
http://www.rrstar.com/news/20171116/officials-public-discuss-opioid-abuse-possible-solutions-at-community-forum
STAR TRIBUNE
— In Illinois, a looming battle over the bankrupting ‘blue model’ – George Will
http://trib.com/opinion/columns/will-in-illinois-a-looming-battle-over-the-bankrupting-blue/article_8da96037-d777-5778-a78e-eb8d934c41e2.html
ENEWS PARK FOREST
— Senators Durbin, Duckworth Press Rauner To Weigh In On GOP Tax Plans
https://enewspf.com/2017/11/16/senators-durbin-duckworth-press-rauner-to-weigh-in-on-gop-tax-plans/
FOX ILLINOIS
— Graduate students rally against tax reform bill – Jacqueline Francis (DIERSEN: I certainly hope that Bost, Davis, Hultgren, Kinzinger, LaHood, Roskam, and Shimkus will work hard in conference with the Senate to keep all the current itemized deductions and the personal exemption.)
http://foxillinois.com/news/local/graduate-students-rally-against-tax-reform-bill
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The act is focused on providing tax relief, but graduate students said for them it would have the opposite effect. U of I graduate student, Jason Rock, said the act would eliminate tax exemptions for teaching and research assistants’ tuition waivers. “A tuition waiver is essentially a coupon for making their tuition-free,” Rock said. A tuition waiver tax is something many graduate students said they can’t afford. “I’m out here because without my tuition waiver I won’t be able to stay in graduate school,” graduate student Andy Bowman said. “And that’s true for my friends here today.” Rock said if the tuition waiver tax becomes law, it could change the post-graduate educational opportunities for students now and in the future. “There will be a significant number of graduate students that have to drop out,” Rock said. “Ultimately graduate school would only be something wealthy people can do.” Protesters called on Congressman Rodney Davis, just hours after the House voted the bill forward. Congressman Davis voted in favor of the bill. “Today we lost Representative Davis,” graduate student Emily Rodriguez said. “13 other members of his caucus did not vote for this tax reform bill, but our Representative folded like a lawn chair,” Congressman Davis said he doesn’t support the tuition waiver tax, but he does support other parts of the bill. Especially the tax reforms that would benefit middle-class families and small businesses. The Congressman’s office responded to the rally in a statement by saying, “Congressman Davis has fought hard to protect these benefits and Chairman Brady has committed to working to fix them when we get to conference with the Senate.)
DAILY EGYPTIAN
— State senators urge ISBE to accelerate teacher shortage study – JOHN REIDY (DIERSEN: Why were you hired? My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes hint/imply/argue/shout a) that GAO hired me in 1980 because it could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, younger person, or veteran who would take the job; b) that IRS hired me in 1971 because it could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, or veteran who would take the job; and c) that the Post Office hired me in 1966 because it could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, or veteran who would take the job.)
https://dailyegyptian.com/75904/state/state-senators-urge-isbe-to-accelerate-teacher-shortage-study/
WILLIAM J. KELLY
— Conservatives must hold the Rauner Swamp accountable
http://www.williamjkelly.org/news/kelly-conservative-voters-must-hold-the-rauner-swamp-accountable
DUPAGE POLICY JOURNAL
— Ives credits bipartisan effort for broader health care options, stronger property rights – Mark Heinz
https://dupagepolicyjournal.com/stories/511259574-ives-credits-bipartisan-effort-for-broader-health-care-options-stronger-property-rights
PRAIRIE STATE WIRE
— Ives cites culture surrounding ‘phony property tax freeze’ in her decision to run for governor – W.J. Kennedy
https://prairiestatewire.com/stories/511270034-ives-cites-culture-surrounding-phony-property-tax-freeze-in-her-decision-to-run-for-governor
ILLINOIS FAMILY ACTION
— “Progressives” Suddenly “Woke” to Sexual Harassment! – Laurie Higgins
https://illinoisfamilyaction.org/2017/11/progressives-suddenly-woke-to-sexual-harassment/
ILLINOIS FAMILY INSTITUTE
— Shifting Trends in Christianity – Micah Clark (DIERSEN: What do you say to those who say that they are Christian, but who do lots of anti-Christian things like promoting dependency on government, promoting dependency on charity, promoting LGBTQ activity, promoting abortion, promoting illegal immigration, and promoting booze, gambling, pot, and other vices? I should write a book about the aforesaid in Wheaton, in Glen Ellyn, in Milton Township, in DuPage County, and in Illinois. The aforesaid have always worked very hard against me.)
https://illinoisfamily.org/uncategorized/shifting-trends-christianity/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: I was given a booklet from Haggai International Ministries called “What in the World is Going On?” It presents the changing demographics of faith around the globe. Here are some interesting findings: 100 years ago the geographical picture of Christianity was pretty simple: most Christians lived in the U.S. and Europe. Everywhere else was unreached. In 1900, 83 percent of the world’s Christians were in “the west.” Today, in 2017 only 34 percent of the world’s Christians are in the west, (i.e. areas like Europe, North America and Australia). Now 66 percent of the world’s Christians are in Latin America, Africa and Asia. By 2050 those numbers are expected to be 24 percent in the west and 76 percent in Latin America, Africa and Asia. While Christianity is on the decline in the U.S., it is on the rise in the former USSR, China and large portions of Africa. Today 25 percent of the Christians in the world live in Africa and 25 percent live in Latin America. On any given Sunday there are more Christians worshiping in China than in the United States. Muslims are increasingly mobile. Where they go, Islam goes. As Christians have fled from areas of the Middle East, Islam has moved in. In Jesus’ birthplace of Bethlehem the current population is 80 percent Muslim. 75 percent of the world’s population lives in areas with religious restrictions. Approximately one in 12 Christians today experience persecution. Of the world’s 7.5 billion people, 2.4 billion (33 percent) profess to be Christians. However, one in four people in the world have never heard the Gospel message.)
CAPITOL FAX
— Republican Party wants Durbin, Duckworth to give away Franken’s cash
https://capitolfax.com/2017/11/17/republican-party-wants-durbin-duckworth-to-give-away-frankens-cash/
FOX NEWS
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Fox News, a company charged with sexual harassment, uses Adam Andrzejewski to say “Across the USA, governments have a gender hypocrisy gap.” Andrzejewski should look at GAO. During the 1980s and 1990s, to hire, to retain, and to promote young Democrat women and young Democrat minorities, GAO wasted the careers of and got rid of its employees who were Republican, White, male, older, and/or non-veteran. GAO uses Affirmative Action, Diversity, Inclusion, and its “up-or-out” policy to waste the careers of its employees who are Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran who GAO does not promote to GS-13 (currently $94,610) by age 25, GS-14 (currently $111,801) by age 30, GS-15 (currently $131,508) by age 35, and Senior Executive Service (currently $161,900) by age 40.
http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2017/11/17/across-usa-governments-have-gender-hypocrisy-gap.html
GOPUSA
— Limbaugh: Al Franken’s groping scandal ‘screwing up’ Dems’ plans for Trump
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=33580
— 77% of ‘educated’ Democrats believe your gender can be different than that ‘assigned at birth’
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=33577
WASHINGTON TIMES
— When a Miss America runs for office – David Keene
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/nov/16/erika-harold-running-for-states-attorney-general-i/
BLAZE
— Starbucks celebrated for the ‘gay agenda’ campaign on their holiday cups – Carlos Garcia
http://www.theblaze.com/news/2017/11/16/starbucks-celebrated-for-the-gay-agenda-campaign-on-their-holiday-cups
NATIONAL LAW REVIEW
— Illinois Senate Fails to Override Governor’s Veto of Salary History Ban (DIERSEN: If you work for government, your salary is public record.)
https://www.natlawreview.com/article/illinois-senate-fails-to-override-governor-s-veto-salary-history-ban
THE HILL
— The GOP tax bill will be a health care financial burden on American families – JANNI LEHRER-STEIN (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes stress that I give them little or no money. In my defense, a) my $50,856/year Civil Service Retirement System pension is only 41% of what my $122,991/year GAO salary was in 1997 in today’s dollars; b) my Social Security is only $2,028/year; c) my and my wife’s medical and dental expenses last year were $21,433, our state and local taxes were $14,303, and our 501(c)(3) contributions were $2,728; and d) the GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails that I send out each and every morning and each and every evening to the aforesaid free of charge and without any advertising are worth at least $1,000/year. It looks like if Republicans get their “tax reform,” the Diersens will be paying much more federal income tax in the future and they will have even less money to give the aforesaid. I certainly hope that Bost, Davis, Hultgren, Kinzinger, LaHood, Roskam, and Shimkus will work hard in conference with the Senate to keep all the current itemized deductions and the personal exemption.)
http://thehill.com/opinion/healthcare/360801-the-gop-tax-bill-will-be-a-health-care-financial-burden-on-american
— Franken releases new statement, calls for ethics investigation of himself – AVERY ANAPOL
http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/360697-franken-releases-new-statement-calls-for-ethics-investigation-of-himself
ROLL CALL
— Congressional Hispanic Caucus Rejects Carlos Curbelo’s Membership Bid Florida Republican calls decision “shameful” (DIERSEN: Which groups do NOT want you to be a member? The following groups do NOT want me to be a member: a) those that 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 anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors. Further, those who dominate the Milton Township Republican Central Committee, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, Illinois Republican Party, TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois, Wheaton Chamber of Commerce, Illinois Center Right Coalition, American Association of Political Consultants, GAO, etc. do NOT want me to be a member. The aforesaid a) reject planks in the Republican Party platform and/or the Illinois Republican Party platform and work against those like me who support those planks, b) reject the Milton Township Republican Central Committee resolution against video gambling and work against those like me who support that resolution, c) focus on destroying those like me who they cannot manipulate/dominate, d) were defendants in lawsuits that I have filed, and/or e) are operatives or dupes for the aforesaid.)
http://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/congressional-hispanic-caucus-rejects-carlos-curbelo-bid-membership
WASHINGTON POST
— Those bans on asking about salary history? Most employers don’t think they’ll work. – Jena McGregor (DIERSEN: If you work for government, your salary is public record.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/on-leadership/wp/2017/11/16/those-bans-on-asking-about-salary-history-most-employers-dont-think-theyll-work/
WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Tax Proposals Most Likely to Pass in Washington While the differences between the two versions stand out, the similarities are an indicator of items that could actually pass – Laura Saunders (DIERSEN: I certainly hope that Bost, Davis, Hultgren, Kinzinger, LaHood, Roskam, and Shimkus will work hard in conference with the Senate to keep all the current itemized deductions and the personal exemption.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/tax-proposals-most-likely-to-pass-in-washington-1510883590
— No Republicans Need Apply Congressional Hispanic Caucus rejects Cuban-American legislator. – Editorial (DIERSEN: By way of contrast, “Republicans” a) let Democrat plants, Libertarian plants, Green plants, and RINOs hold leadership positions in the Republican Party and b) elect and reelect Democrat plants, Libertarian plants, Green plants, and RINOs.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/no-republicans-need-applyno-republicans-need-apply-1510872449
— The Politics of Apps Has Silicon Valley programmed its products to disadvantage women, minorities and the poor? An indictment of bias in the tech industry. Meghan C. Kruger reviews ‘Technically Wrong’ by Sara Wachter-Boettcher.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/review-the-politics-of-apps-1510871571
— FRONT PAGE: Google Has Picked an Answer for You—Too Bad It’s Often Wrong Going beyond search, the internet giant is promoting a single result over all others, and many are contentious, improbable or laughably incorrect – Jack Nicas
https://www.wsj.com/articles/googles-featured-answers-aim-to-distill-truthbut-often-get-it-wrong-1510847867
USA TODAY
— Protect net neutrality and Internet freedom: World Wide Web inventor – Tim Berners-Lee (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents want to limit the information that you get to the information that they give you.)
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2017/11/16/protect-net-neutrality-and-internet-freedom-world-wide-web-inventor-tim-berners-lee-column/866318001/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Now that vision is threatened. That choice you have to use the Web for whatever you want could be taken away. Today, one of the greatest threats to the Web in America is the plan by the Federal Communications Commission to roll back America’s open Internet safeguards. Net neutrality is the fundamental principle that all content should be treated equally online. It’s what ensures those millions of local businesses can compete on an equal footing with corporate giants. It’s what stops Internet and cable providers from slowing down services for those who don’t pay a premium, or blocking content that doesn’t boost their own bottom lines. Why should this matter to you? Most Americans — 87% — use the Internet for everything from accessing information to earning money to watching their favorite shows and movies.)
STANDARD REPUBLIC
— Killing medical tax break will hammer U.S. middle-class seniors – Reuters (DIERSEN: I certainly hope that Bost, Davis, Hultgren, Kinzinger, LaHood, Roskam, and Shimkus will work hard in conference with the Senate to keep all the current itemized deductions and the personal exemption.)
http://www.standardrepublic.com/2017/11/killing-medical-tax-break-will-hammer-u-s-middle-class-seniors/43549.htm
(FROM THE ARTICLE: U.S. Republican lawmakers want to cut taxes for corporations and wealthy people by $1.3 trillion – and they seem to want seniors to foot a good chunk of the bill. Their 2018 budget plan would chop $473 billion out of Medicare and $1.3 trillion from Medicaid. (reut.rs/2mq1UhL). But the House tax plan also calls for elimination of the itemized deduction for high medical expenses. The deduction allows taxpayers who itemize to deduct medical expenses exceeding 10 percent of adjusted gross income. This is helpful to anyone dealing with disabilities, acute or chronic conditions or long-term care and assisted living costs. But the medical expense deduction is especially useful for older people, for the simple reason that they are more likely to struggle with acute and chronic health problems. And it is used mainly by middle-class households. Nearly half (49 percent) of taxpayers who deducted medical expenses in 2015 had income below $50,000 according to analysis of IRS records by the AARP Public Policy Institute; 69 percent had income less than $75,000. The importance of the deduction is growing, because the number of underinsured Americans is rising. At the end of 2016, 28 percent of adults who had health insurance were underinsured, according to the Commonwealth Fund (bit.ly/2zKKMqe) – a percentage that translates to 41 million people. Commonwealth defines “underinsured” as people whose out-of-pocket health expenses are 10 percent or more of household income, and the number has more than doubled since 2003. In Medicare, total out-of-pocket spending by beneficiaries in 2013 averaged $6,150, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF). Nearly half of that (47 percent) was for insurance premiums, followed by three categories of health care services – long-term care facilities (18 percent), prescription drugs (12 percent) and dental services (9 percent).)
FORBES
— The New Tax Plan And The Death Of Homeownership – Mark Greene (DIERSEN: Government should encourage homeownership and taking job-related graduate courses. The deductibility of mortgage interest, real estate taxes, and job-related education a) encouraged me to take job-related graduate courses 1972-1983 and 1992-1997, b) encouraged me to buy a new town home in 1972, a studio condo in 1974, and a one bedroom condo in 1976, and c) encouraged my wife and I to buy a home in 1978 and to have one built in 1984.)
https://www.forbes.com/sites/markgreene/2017/11/16/the-new-tax-plan-and-the-death-of-homeownership/
PBS
— Who really benefits from GOP’s tax overhaul is battle point as House passes its bill – Lisa Desjardins and Judy Woodruff (DIERSEN: I certainly hope that Bost, Davis, Hultgren, Kinzinger, LaHood, Roskam, and Shimkus will work hard in conference with the Senate to keep all the current itemized deductions and the personal exemption.)
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/who-really-benefits-from-gops-tax-overhaul-is-battle-point-as-house-passes-its-bill
ZILLOW
— FOR SALE: 1013 James Court, Wheaton – $399,900
https://www.zillow.com/wheaton-il/1_fs/X1-SS1apc9gppw622z_3o1g1_sse/4448314_zpid/