January 10 Morning Edition

GOPUSA ILLINOIS
— What questions should be asked of Republican candidates during candidate forums? – Dave Diersen
https://gopillinois.com
(THE ARTICLE: Political parties exist to help elect candidates who can and will defend and advance their platform. The first question that Republican candidates should be asked during candidate forums should be: If elected, do you promise to defend and advance all the planks in the Republican Party and Illinois Republican Party platforms including their traditional family, right to life, immigration, illegal drugs, Second Amendment, and equal opportunity (no race or gender based preference giving) planks? The second question should be: What have you done that shows that you oppose the promotion of LGBTQ activity, abortion, mass/illegal immigration, booze, gambling, pot, and other vices, diminution of Second Amendment rights, patronage, political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, and age discrimination?)

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Burr Ridge Board threatens lawsuit over Durkin campaign fliers – Jesse Wright
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/western-springs/news/ct-dbr-straub-durkin-campaign-tl-0111-20180109-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Burr Ridge Village Board members are threatening to sue state Rep. Jim Durkin of Western Springs for allegedly slandering the village with his political advertisements. Durkin, the Illinois House Republican leader, is running for re-election in the 8th House District and Burr Ridge Mayor Mickey Straub, also a Republican, has filed to run against him in the primary. The district includes all or portions of Burr Ridge, La Grange and Western Springs. Board member Albert Paveza said a group called Citizens for Durkin has been mailing out numerous fliers alleging the village has run unbalanced budges while driving up property taxes. The advertisements also allege the village raised fees to pay for a Chicago bailout. Paveza said he consulted with the village’s attorney, and the attorney agreed Durkin’s political ads may have crossed a line. Scott Uhler, the village’s attorney, confirmed that opinion. Paveza said he’s fielded numerous calls from constituents who have received the fliers and who were confused by the allegations. In response, Paveza drafted a letter to Durkin, Citizens for Durkin and the Illinois Republican Party demanding an apology and asking that the campaign cease “further distribution of false information.” Paveza said he expects an apology by or during the next board meeting on Jan. 22, saying if that doesn’t happen, legal action might. Durkin’s campaign did not return a call for comment on Monday. A spokesman for the Illinois Republican Party said they would comment after speaking to their attorney, who was not available Monday.)
— DuPage updates harassment policies to mirror the state’s – Gary Gibula
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/naperville-sun/news/ct-nvs-dupage-board-sex-harassment-policy-st-0110-20180109-story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: In an editorial unethically made to look like a news article, anti-Trumps blast Trump’s immigration policies.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/ct-life-mother-daughter-refugee-volunteer-0128-story.html
— Ethics board fines Cook County assessor $41,000 over political donations from lawyers – Ray Long, Jason Grotto
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-ethics-board-fines-assessor-berrios-cook-county-20180109-story.html
— AS THE DEMOCRAT PARTY’S STRANGLEHOLD ON CHICAGO TIGHTENS: 39,000 homicides: Retracing 60 years of murder in Chicago – Kyle Bentle, Jonathon Berlin, Ryan Marx and Kori Rumore
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-history-of-chicago-homicides-htmlstory.html
— Jeff Bezos’ net worth tops $105 billion as Amazon climbs in New Year – Bloomberg (DIERSEN: Are/were you rich? To demonize me, to denigrate me, and to condemn me as being “rich,” my Democrat superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates in the federal government stressed the money that I spent on new cars, real estate, tuition, collector cars, etc. and they stressed the money that I saved. Should it be illegal to say that someone is “rich” unless their annual income is more than $250,000, $500,000, $750,000, $1,000,000? Should it be illegal to say that someone is “rich” unless their net worth is more than $5,000,000, $10,000,000, $15,000,000, $20,000,000? My federal salary in today’s dollars was $16.33/hour when I was 18, $45,703/year when I was 22, $55,905/year when I was 23, $67,638/year when I was 24, $81,071/year when I was 25, $91,880/year when I was 31, $96,403/year when I was 38, and $125,325/year when I was 49. I earned a) a job-related bachelor’s degree when I was 21 in 1970 and job-related master’s degrees when I was 27, 31, and 48, b) job-related professional certifications when I was 30, 32, 41, 45, 47, and 48, and c) a job-related professional license when I was 32.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-jeff-bezos-net-worth-20180109-story.html
— Axelrod chides Rahm: You’re not from Chicago either – Kim Janssen (DIERSEN: Where are you from? All my ancestors were Lutherans who immigrated from what is now Germany to northeast Illinois during the 1840s and 1850s. My ancestors on my father’s side lived in Chicago 1844-1854 and then in Crete ever since. I lived in Crete 1948-1972 and my brother continues to live there in a home that my grandfather had built in 1926 on land that his grandfather bought in 1864.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chicagoinc/ct-met-axelrod-emanuel-0109-chicago-inc-20180108-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: “You’re not originally from Chicago,” Emanuel said by way of introduction to Axelrod, who was raised in New York. “But then, neither are you,” responded Axelrod. Ooh, burn! “Hey that’s getting close, buddy,” a laughing Emanuel, who grew up in Wilmette, chided Axelrod. Both men come from families that fled Europe to escape anti-Semitism, and they bonded in their chat over their shared Jewish faith.)
— Report ranks software developer as the best job in the U.S. this year – Corilyn Shropshire (DIERSEN: Are/were any of your jobs bad? According to my current critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes, all the jobs that I had were bad and they would never stoop to take any of them. I did yard work and delivered newspapers 1962-1964; washed dishes 1964-1966; cleaned golf shoes, chipped slag, and pumped gasoline in 1966; delivered mail 1966-1969; worked on an automobile assembly line and as a security guard in 1970; sold tires, automotive services, and major appliances 1970-1971; pumped gasoline 1971-1972; collected delinquent taxes 1971-1980; and audited federal agencies 1980-1997.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-us-news-top-jobs-ranking-20180109-story.html
— If Google’s workplace is biased, what about its algorithms? – Leonid Bershidsky (DIERSEN: Who blacklists who? Members of Group A blacklist members of Group B. Members of Group A 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/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors and members of Group B are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German Americans, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-perspec-google-bias-discrimination-algorithms-0110-20180109-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Culture of blacklisting The real complaint, of course, is about that. Google’s prevailing culture appears to be hostile to right-wing political views. As one manager wrote on an internal bulletin board (the screenshot is used in the lawsuit), “If you express a dunderheaded opinion about religion, about politics, or about ‘social justice,’ it turns out I am allowed to think you’re a halfwit” and refuse to work with such a person on a project. “As evidenced by the fact that the blacklisting posts remain live on Google’s internal corporate network, it is clear that Google took no action to prevent blacklisting,” Damore and Gudeman wrote in the lawsuit. “Google seems to ignore most cases, and occasionally ‘coach’ the worst offenders. However, Google will not openly come out against the practice; instead, it relies on crowdsourced harassment and ‘pecking’ to enforce social norms (including politics) that it feels it cannot write directly into its policies.” Gudeman claims his open support for Donald Trump directly contributed to his being blacklisted and fired. There’s a reason, however, that Damore and Gudeman need to bring race and gender into their accusations. Companies are not legally obliged to maintain a diversity of views among their employees. Opinions, unlike race, gender or sexual orientation, can be treated as a lifestyle choice, and these work better with some corporate cultures than with others. For example, Nike might prefer a workout fanatic to a smoker, while a tobacco company would be comfortable making the opposite choice. It can be argued that, because of the talent pool from which it draws — smart millennials who tend to value tolerance over the freedom of expression — Google builds a more cohesive working environment by hiring, to quote from the lawsuit, “an employee who sexually identifies as ‘a yellow-scaled wingless dragonkin’ and ‘an expansive ornate building’” than a #MAGA cap wearer. That, however, is exactly the problem. Google is not just a company, it’s the owner of the world’s biggest conduit to information, with a 69 percent global search market share. It leads people to it by using proprietary algorithms and artificial intelligence. And it’s acutely aware of the problem of algorithm bias. There’s a Google-produced video about it: “YouTube: Machine Learning and Human Bias.”)
— Fewer teens having sex as decline in risky behaviors continues – Lenny Bernstein
http://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/health/ct-fewer-teens-sex-decline-20180104-story.html
— Supreme Court to take up Ohio’s purges of inactive voters – Julie Carr Smyth and Mark Sherman (DIERSEN: How much deadwood is on the voter rolls in your precinct, in your municipality, in your township/ward, in your county, in Illinois, and in America?)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-ohio-inactive-voters-supreme-court-20171231-story.html
— Will County considers nursing home rate hike – Susan DeMar Lafferty (DIERSEN: My 87-year-old aunt is paying $238 a day to live in an assisted living facility.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/daily-southtown/news/ct-sta-will-ups-nursing-rates-st–0107-20180108-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Current rates are $220 for a private room and $210 for a semi-private room with skilled care; and $201 and $181 for intermediate care, respectively.)

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Transcript: Trump discusses immigration reform with Durbin, other lawmakers (DIERSEN: Democrats shout at immigrants and at everyone else that Republicans are White supremacists, Nazis, KKK members, haters, racists, sexists, bigots, and even worse things. Democrats use immigrants to destroy individuals, to destroy organizations, and to destroy companies that are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German American, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-politics/transcript-trump-discusses-immigration-reform-with-durbin-other-lawmakers/
— Yep, President Trump, have a heart and stand with the ‘Dreamers’ – Editorial (DIERSEN: Democrats shout at immigrants and at everyone else that Republicans are White supremacists, Nazis, KKK members, haters, racists, sexists, bigots, and even worse things. Democrats use immigrants to destroy individuals, to destroy organizations, and to destroy companies that are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German American, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/president-trump-stand-with-dreamers-editorial/
— A lesson for Chris Kennedy in how not to play the race card – Editorial
https://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/chris-kennedy-race-card-rahm-emanuel-city-hall-sam-rayburn/

 

DAILY HERALD
— The nuance behind Biss criticism of Madigan – Editorial
http://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20180110/editorial-the-nuance-behind-biss-criticism-of-madigan
— Biss: Illinois suffocating under too many pension systems – Marni Pyke
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20180109/biss-illinois-suffocating-under-too-many-pension-systems

 

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Roskam rival leads in fundraising; Biss hits Pritzker on TV – GREG HINZ
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20180109/BLOGS02/180109903/illinois-campaign-fundraising-disclosures-from-peter-roskam-rival
— Durbin on Dreamers: ‘Lives are hanging in the balance’ – Bloomberg (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, Democrats use children as cannon fodder. Ever-increasingly, Democrats shout at immigrants and at everyone else that Republicans are White supremacists, Nazis, KKK members, haters, racists, sexists, bigots, and even worse things. Democrats use immigrants to destroy individuals, to destroy organizations, and to destroy companies that are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German American, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20180109/NEWS02/180109909/durbin-on-dreamers-lives-are-hanging-in-the-balance

 

NBC5
— Study Ranks Illinois in the Top 20 States to Raise a Family Financial site WalletHub looked at all 50 states to find the most family-friendly places – Daniela Prizont-Cado (DIERSEN: I should write a book about those in Illinois, in DuPage County, in Milton Township, in Glen Ellyn, and in Wheaton who have worked the hardest to destroy the traditional family. They focus on: promoting dependency on government, promoting dependency on charity, promoting LGBTQ activity, promoting abortion, promoting mass/illegal immigration, promoting booze, gambling, pot, and other vices, promoting patronage, promoting political affiliation discrimination, promoting reverse discrimination, promoting age discrimination, promoting abolition of the First and Second Amendments, etc.)
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/study-ranks-illinois-in-top-20-states-to-raise-a-family-468477323.html

 

WTTW
— How Gentrification Takes Shape Across Chicago Neighborhoods – Evan Garcia
https://chicagotonight.wttw.com/2018/01/09/how-gentrification-takes-shape-across-chicago-neighborhoods

 

CHICAGO MAGAZINE
— Chicago Is Now Better Educated Than Its Suburbs A flood of college graduates has made Chicago one of the best-educated cities in America, but an unequal one as well. – WHET MOSER (DIERSEN: I spent lots of my personal time and my personal money taking job-related courses while I worked for the federal government 1966-1969 and 1971-1997.  However, my Democrat superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates always hinted/implied/argued/shouted that the courses that I took a) were not job-related, b) did not help me carry out my job duties, c) were taken by me to get a job in the private sector, and d) were a distraction. To keep their jobs and to get promoted, my Democrat superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates in the federal government focused on getting rid of federal employees who were Republican, White, male, older, and/or non-veteran. I earned a bachelor’s degree in management from NIU in 1970 when I was 21, 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.)
http://www.chicagomag.com/city-life/January-2018/Chicago-Is-Now-Better-Educated-Than-Its-Suburbs/

 

BLOOMINGTON PANTAGRAPH
— Erickson won’t seek re-election as McLean County GOP chair – Lenore Sobota (DIERSEN: Are the following seeking re-election: a) the officers of your township/ward and county Republican Party organizations, b) your representative on the Illinois Republican Party (IRP) State Central Committee, and c) the IRP chairman?)
http://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/erickson-won-t-seek-re-election-as-gop-chair/article_9e86fc89-c13b-5567-9d4b-bb5b124c5686.html

 

SOUTHERN
— Illinois lieutenant governor visits Carbondale treatment center with opioid task force – DUSTIN DUNCAN
http://thesouthern.com/news/local/communities/carbondale/illinois-lieutenant-governor-visits-carbondale-treatment-center-with-opioid-task/article_13c6f0d1-1bf1-592e-93e8-60d5cc91e442.html

 

WSIL TV
— Sanguinetti tours Carbondale drug treatment center – Joe Ragusa
http://www.wsiltv.com/story/37230113/sanguinetti-tours-carbondale-treatment-center

 

DUPAGE POLICY JOURNAL
— Bellock focuses on behavioral health at Medicaid revamp plan hearing – Angela Underwood (DIERSEN: Anti-Republicans want Illinois residents to spend their time and their money on booze, gambling, pot, and other vices.)
https://dupagepolicyjournal.com/stories/511309620-bellock-focuses-on-behavioral-health-at-medicaid-revamp-plan-hearing

 

WEST COOK NEWS
— Durkin chief of staff cited a number of times in Tribune’s lottery investigation – W.J. Kennedy
https://westcooknews.com/stories/511312599-durkin-chief-of-staff-cited-a-number-of-times-in-tribune-s-lottery-investigation
— ‘Truth’ ad raises trust issue over Durkin ties to strip club scheme – Glenn Minnis
https://westcooknews.com/stories/511312655-truth-ad-raises-trust-issue-over-durkin-ties-to-strip-club-scheme

 

LAKE COUNTY GAZETTE
— McSweeney urges swift state action at Quincy veterans home – Angela Underwood
https://lakecountygazette.com/stories/511312621-mcsweeney-urges-swift-state-action-at-quincy-veterans-home

 

WILL COUNTY GAZETTE
— Straub questions Durkin, Rauner decision making in wake of lottery controversy – Glenn Minnis
https://willcountygazette.com/stories/511311906-straub-questions-durkin-rauner-decision-making-in-wake-of-lottery-controversy

 

ILLINOIS HOMEPAGE
— Hastings drops primary bid, White to run unopposed Democrat bows out of primary race – Mark Maxwell
http://www.illinoishomepage.net/capitol-connection/hastings-drops-primary-bid-white-to-run-unopposed/908698123

 

ILLINOIS NEWS NETWORK
— Illinois Treasurer uses college savings investment money to pressure Facebook on fake news – Cole Lauterbach
https://www.ilnews.org/news/state_politics/illinois-treasurer-uses-college-savings-investment-money-to-pressure-facebook/article_9427f20a-f4c3-11e7-bad7-d3e2998dd44d.html

 

ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE
— FOR YOUR OWN GOOD: ILLINOIS THE SEVENTH-MOST ‘PATERNALISTIC’ STATE IN THE COUNTRY, STUDY FINDS – Vincent Caruso (DIERSEN: The less responsible that residents of a state are, they more that paternalistic laws are needed. Far too many residents of Illinois not only harm themselves, they harm everyone around them.)
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/for-your-own-good-illinois-the-seventh-most-paternalistic-state-in-the-country-study-finds/

 

ILLINOIS FAMILY INSTITUTE
— Planned Parenthood: This Evil, Baby Murder Mill Must Be Defunded – Tami Jackson
https://illinoisfamily.org/life/planned-parenthood-evil-baby-murdering-business-must-defunded/

 

CAPITOL FAX
— Kennedy: “To use the chief of police for political motives… That’s what they do in fascist countries”
https://capitolfax.com/2018/01/09/kennedy-to-use-the-chief-of-police-for-political-motives-that%e2%80%99s-what-they-do-in-fascist-countries/

 

FOX NEWS
— Coulter Blasts Trump for ‘DACA Lovefest’ With Dems, Plan for Amnesty
http://insider.foxnews.com/2018/01/09/ann-coulter-trumps-daca-lovefest-dems-worse-anything-fire-and-fury
— Mr. Trump and Republicans, Democrats want to force you into a game of chicken on immigration. Don’t let them – Lauren DeBellis Appell
http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2018/01/10/mr-trump-and-republicans-democrats-want-to-force-into-game-chicken-on-immigration-don-t-let-them.html

 

DAILY CALLER
— Google’s New Fact-Check Feature Almost Exclusively Targets Conservative Sites – Eric Lieberman
http://dailycaller.com/2018/01/09/googles-new-fact-check-feature-almost-exclusively-targets-conservative-sites/
— After DACA Comments, Tucker Asks Trump: ‘What Was The Point Of Running For President?’ – Justin Caruso
http://dailycaller.com/2018/01/09/tucker-rips-trump-on-immigration-what-was-the-point-of-running-for-president-video/
— Why Immigration Hawks Shouldn’t Be Worried (Yet) About Trump Surrendering On DACA – Scott Greer
http://dailycaller.com/2018/01/10/why-immigration-hawks-shouldnt-be-worried-yet-about-trump-surrendering-on-daca/
— Gutfeld: NYC Prof Calls Merit-Based Education ‘Tool of Whiteness’
http://insider.foxnews.com/2018/01/09/brooklyn-college-professor-calls-merit-based-education-tool-whiteness-racist

 

BLAZE
— California judge says Trump must reinstitute Obama’s amnesty for ‘Dreamers’ – Carlos Garcia
http://www.theblaze.com/news/2018/01/09/breaking-california-judge-says-trump-must-reinstitute-obamas-amnesty-for-dreamers

 

BREITBART
— Popular Mandatory E-Verify Ignored by Trump, GOP in WH Immigration Meeting – JOHN BINDER
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/01/09/popular-mandatory-e-verify-ignored-by-trump-gop-in-wh-immigration-meeting/
— GOP ‘Bill of Love’ Immigration Bill To End Chain Migration, Visa Lottery, Catch-and-Release – NEIL MUNRO
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/01/09/gop-house-immigration-bill-end-chain-migration-visa-lottery-catch-and-release/
— Donald Trump Promises to Sign DACA Amnesty Bill — Even If It Has Things He Doesn’t Like – CHARLIE SPIERING (DIERSEN: Democrats shout at immigrants and at everyone else that Republicans are White supremacists, Nazis, KKK members, haters, racists, sexists, bigots, and even worse things. Democrats use immigrants to destroy individuals, to destroy organizations, and to destroy companies that are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German American, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/01/09/donald-trump-promises-to-sign-daca-amnesty-bill-even-if-it-has-things-he-doesnt-like/

 

WORLD NET DAILY
— ANOTHER ESTABLISHMENT REPUBLICAN (RAUNER) FACING CHALLENGE ‘The tipping point really became when he signed taxpayer funding of abortion’ – GREG COROMBOS
http://www.wnd.com/2018/01/another-establishment-republican-facing-challenge/

 

AMERICAN THINKER
— Trump promises to ‘take the heat’ to sign DREAMer ‘Bill of Love’ – Ed Straker
http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2018/01/trump_promises_to_take_the_heat_to_sign_dreamer_bill_of_love.html

 

FREEDOM’S JOURNAL
— DIRTY COLLEGE SECRETS – Walter E. Williams
https://freedomsjournalinstitute.org/latest-news/opinion/dirty-college-secrets/

 

GOPUSA
— Trump Can Take Credit for Black Unemployment Drop – Star Parker
http://www.gopusa.com/trump-can-take-credit-for-black-unemployment-drop/

 

WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Republicans to propose $30 billion to fund border wall – Pete Kasperowicz
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/republicans-to-propose-30-billion-to-fund-border-wall/article/2645472

 

THE HILL
— White House aides told to decide in whether staying in administration: report – JOSH DELK (DIERSEN: To meet their Affirmative Action, Diversity, and Inclusion quotas, goals, and targets, my Democrat superiors in the federal government focused on making their employees who were Republican, White, male, older, and/or non-veteran to feel miserable so that they would leave.)
http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/368240-white-house-aides-told-to-decide-in-whether-staying-in

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, anti-Trumps glorify and praise citizens of foreign countries.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/09/opinion/dont-deport-the-salvadorans.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/09/us/immigrant-work-force-salvadorans-haitians.html

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— U.S. to Seek Death Penalty More Often for Violent Crimes Attorney General Jeff Sessions authorizes federal prosecutors to seek capital punishment in two murder cases and is said to be weighing it in others, including Manhattan terror attack – Nicole Hong and Aruna Viswanatha
https://www.wsj.com/articles/sessions-signals-greater-willingness-to-use-death-penalty-1515493800
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Democrats want immigrants because they vote for Democrats. RINOs want immigrates because they want cheap labor.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/progress-on-immigration-1515545203
— The IRS Evades Accountability—and Its Excuse Is Ridiculous It claims its rules lack a ‘significant economic impact’ because they’re ‘derived from’ statutes. – John J. Vecchione and James Valvo
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-irs-evades-accountabilityand-its-excuse-is-ridiculous-1515544992

 

USA TODAY
— Retirement crisis: 37% of Gen X say they won’t be able to afford to retire – Adam Shell
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2018/01/10/retirement-crisis-37-gen-x-say-they-wont-able-afford-retire/1016739001/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Add Gen Xers to the long list of Americans who fear they won’t have a sizable enough nest egg to retire. Nearly four out of 10 (37%) of Generation X — those born between 1965 and the late 1970s — say they would like to stop working for good and “fully retire” someday, “but will not be able to afford to,” a new survey from TD Ameritrade, an online broker based in Omaha, found. Other gloomy Gen X retirement findings: 43% say “they are behind” in their savings. Half (49%) are “worried about running out of money” once they leave the workforce. Nearly two out of 10 (17%) say they “aren’t saving or investing for anything.” Only a third expect to be “very secure” in retirement — vs. nearly half of Baby Boomers. The savings shortfall has been exacerbated by the phasing out of traditional pensions funded by employers. In their place is the increasing reliance on 401(k) plans and IRAs that require workers to do most of the saving on their own.)

 

NEWSWEEK
— TRUMP STAFFERS ARE SO MISERABLE THAT WHITE HOUSE FEARS MASS EXODUS IN 2018 – TOM PORTER (DIERSEN: To meet their Affirmative Action, Diversity, and Inclusion quotas, goals, and targets, my Democrat superiors in the federal government focused on making their employees who were Republican, White, male, older, and/or non-veteran to feel miserable so that they would leave.)
http://www.newsweek.com/trump-staffers-are-so-miserable-white-house-fears-mass-exodus-2018-776477

 

GAO
— Tackling the Tax Gap (DIERSEN: While my Democrat GAO superiors wasted my knowledge of IRS that I gaining by working for IRS for almost 9 years, the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step 1-5 levels, currently $81,071-$91,880, they did let me work on audits of IRS’s Criminal Investigation Division for 3 years.)
https://blog.gao.gov/2018/01/09/tackling-the-tax-gap/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Tax season is upon us, and many of us will soon be sitting down to figure out and pay our share. But this year, like every year, some taxpayers intentionally or inadvertently won’t fully pay what they owe. The difference between the amount that taxpayers owe and what they actually pay is known as the tax gap, and it’s hundreds of billions of dollars each year. Today’s WatchBlog discusses some of our recent reports on the tax gap, and what IRS might do to address it. How big is it? In 2016, the Internal Revenue Service estimated an average gap of $458 billion each year from 2008 to 2010. IRS expects eventually to collect part of this, but the rest—$406 billion per year for those years—will never be collected. That’s more than it costs to fund 10 of the largest federal agencies for a year. It’s more than 20 times what it costs to fund NASA for a year.)

 

MARKET WATCH
– New tax law is hitting these 4 states hard – ROBERT C. POZEN
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/new-tax-law-is-hitting-these-4-states-hard-2018-01-10
(FROM THE ARTICLE: These large increases in state revenues are not feasible, as illustrated by Illinois. To cope with its mammoth unfunded benefit obligations, Illinois has sharply raised tax rates on both individuals and businesses over the past few years. But higher tax rates in Illinois have backfired — driving local residents and firms to other states. In 2015, for example, Illinois lost $4.75 billion in adjusted gross income to other states, according to IRS data.)

 

FED SMITH
— EPA Touts Success With Buyouts, Shrinking Workforce – Ian Smith (DIERSEN: In 1993, when I was 45 years old, GAO offered a $25,000 buyout to all its employees including me who had 25 years or more of federal service.)
https://www.fedsmith.com/2018/01/10/epa-touts-success-buyouts-shrinking-workforce/

 

MONEY MAGAZINE
— Jeff Bezos Is Now Worth More Than Bill Gates Ever Was – BLOOMBERG (DIERSEN: Are/were you rich? To demonize me, to denigrate me, and to condemn me as being “rich,” my Democrat superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates in the federal government stressed the money that I spent on new cars, real estate, tuition, collector cars, etc. and they stressed the money that I saved. Should it be illegal to say that someone is “rich” unless their annual income is more than $250,000, $500,000, $750,000, $1,000,000? Should it be illegal to say that someone is “rich” unless their net worth is more than $5,000,000, $10,000,000, $15,000,000, $20,000,000? My federal salary in today’s dollars was $16.33/hour when I was 18, $45,703/year when I was 22, $55,905/year when I was 23, $67,638/year when I was 24, $81,071/year when I was 25, $91,880/year when I was 31, $96,403/year when I was 38, and $125,325/year when I was 49. I earned a) a job-related bachelor’s degree when I was 21 in 1970 and job-related master’s degrees when I was 27, 31, and 48, b) job-related professional certifications when I was 30, 32, 41, 45, 47, and 48, and c) a job-related professional license when I was 32.)
http://time.com/money/5094811/jeff-bezos-is-now-worth-more-than-bill-gates-ever-was/

(FROM THE ARTICLE: Jeff Bezos’s net worth reached $105.1 billion Monday on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index as Amazon.com Inc. shares added to a 12-month surge that’s lifted the online shopping giant’s market value by almost 57%. Amazon shares have risen 6.6% this year, with a report showing the Seattle-based company captured 89% of online spending among dominant holiday retailers in the five-week period beginning the day after Thanksgiving in the U.S. The latest jump has pushed Bezos’s fortune definitively above the high reached by Microsoft Corp.’s Bill Gates in 1999. The Amazon founder passed Gates in October with a net worth of $93.8 billion and his fortune crossed $100 billion for the first time a month later when the holiday shopping season kicked off on Black Friday.)

January 8 Evening Edition

ABC7
— Duckworth says Rauner not doing enough at Quincy Veterans Home – Craig Wall
http://abc7chicago.com/politics/duckworth-says-rauner-not-doing-enough-at-quincy-veterans-home/2913283/
— Former CPD Supt. Garry McCarthy to hold fundraiser for potential mayoral run
http://abc7chicago.com/politics/former-cpd-supt-mccarthy-to-hold-fundraiser-for-potential-mayoral-run/2914398/

 

NBC5
— Handwriting Expert Needed in Silverstein Petition Challenge On Monday, the embattled state senator remained 19 signatures short of the requirement to remain on the ballot – Mary Ann Ahern
https://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/state-sen-ira-silverstein-petition-challenge-468383213.html
— Here’s Who’s Running for Governor of Illinois – Shelby Bremer
https://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/whos-running-for-governor-of-illinois-468328653.html
— A Look at the Candidates Running for Illinois Attorney General – Shelby Bremer
https://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/whos-running-for-illinois-attorney-general-468343803.html
— Democratic Attorney General Candidates to Face Off at Forum (DIERSEN: If I was still the TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois chairman, the organization would be hosting candidate forums for a) Rauner v. Ives, b) Sanguinetti v. Morthland, c) Harold v. Grasso, d) Diganvker v. Jhingan, e) Stella v. Vlakancic, f) Minor v. Grant v. Byrne v. Augustynowicz, g) Kinzler v. Orozco, h) Zito v. Khouri, i) Mendrick v. Bibbiano, j) Tornatore v. DeMichele v. Fichtner v. Gavanes, k) Hart v. Abbott v. Tully v. Broline, l) McGowen v. Almiron v. Eckhoff v. Zaruba v. Tatro v. Chinchilla, m) Wiley v. Zay v. McQuade, n) Russo v. MacKay, o) Illinois Republican Party State Central Committee candidates, p) etc.)
https://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/Democratic-Attorney-General-Candidates-to-Face-Off-at-Forum-468301693.html

 

CBS2
— Wheaton Receives Over 1,000 Objections To Proposed Haymarket Center – Nancy Harty
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2018/01/08/wheaton-objections-haymarket-center/

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Rauner vetoes education funding bill over private school concerns – Monique Garcia
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-bruce-rauner-education-bill-veto-20180108-story.html
— Garry McCarthy schedules campaign fundraiser as he mulls challenging Mayor Emanuel – Bill Ruthhart
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-garry-mccarthy-mayor-campaign-fundraiser-20180108-story.html
— Author of Google diversity memo files lawsuit, accusing company of discrimination – Elizabeth Dwoskin and Craig Timberg
http://www.chicagotribune.com/bluesky/technology/ct-google-memo-author-discrimination-lawsuit-20180108-story.html
— Chicago activists seek answers from Ben Carson after delay of segregation rule – Lolly Bowean
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-ben-carson-chicago-20180108-story.html
— Oprah for president! Just kidding. Hey, maybe not. – Editorial
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-edit-oprah-20180108-story.html
— ‘Not enough white men in the room’ – Leonard Pitts Jr.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-perspec-pitts-mueller-race-white-men-jury-0109-20180108-story.html
— Residents near proposed drug treatment center in Wheaton say it will bring crime, lower property values – John Keilman
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/wheaton-glen-ellyn/news/ct-met-wheaton-haymarket-heroin-treatment-20180108-story.html

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Oprah Winfrey ‘actively thinking’ about White House run, friends tell CNN – AP
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/oprah-winfrey-actively-thinking-about-white-house-run-friends-tell-cnn/
— Oprah for president? There are no rules anymore – Lynn Sweet
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/sweet-oprah-for-president-there-are-no-rules-anymore/
— Garry McCarthy ‘standing by’ on Rahm challenge — but jumping into fundraising – Tina Sfondeles
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/garry-mccarthy-standing-by-on-rahm-challenge-but-jumping-into-fundraising/
— Fed judge orders Dorothy Brown to make electronically filed lawsuits accessible – Jon Seidel
https://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-politics/fed-judge-orders-dorothy-brown-to-make-electronically-filed-lawsuits-accessible/
— If Oprah decides to run, it may be ‘Time’s up!’ for Trump – Mary Mitchell
https://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-politics/mitchell-if-oprah-decides-to-run-it-may-be-times-up-for-trump/
— Trump to tout tax overhaul as boon for rural US – AP
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/trump-rural-us-tax-overhaul-american-farm-bureau-federation/
— Sessions stands for outmoded, unjust law-and-order policies – Jesse Jackson
https://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/jackson-sessions-stands-for-outmoded-unjust-law-and-order-policies/

 

DAILY HERALD
— Kane County state’s attorney calls grant rejection ‘reckless,’ reassigns victim advocates – Harry Hitzeman
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20180108/kane-county-states-attorney-calls-grant-rejection-reckless-reassigns-victim-advocates
— Broken water pipe triggers 2 evacuations at DuPage courthouse
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20180108/broken-water-pipe-triggers-2-evacuations-at-dupage-courthouse

 

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Ives, Biss report decent fundraising in governor races – GREG HINZ
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20180108/BLOGS02/180109929/ives-biss-report-decent-fundraising-in-governor-races
— How pot is cutting into MillerCoors’ light beer biz – BRIGID SWEENEY
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20180105/ISSUE01/180109947/how-pot-is-cutting-into-millercoors-light-beer-biz

 

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— Why not President Oprah? Awards speech has Democrats buzzing – AP
http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/oprah-for-president-twitter-fans-make-the-case/906379756

 

WQLZ
— Sanguinetti Will Remain Alongside Rauner On 2018 Ticket
http://www.wqlz.com/2018/01/08/sanguinetti-will-remain-alongside-rauner-on-2018-ticket/

 

WJBD RADIO
— NBC apologizes for, deletes “Our president” Oprah tweet
http://www.wjbdradio.com/entertainment-news/2018/01/08/nbc-apologizes-for-deletes-our-president-oprah-tweet

 

NPR ILLINOIS
— Trump Touts Low Unemployment Rates For African-Americans, Hispanics – DANIELLE KURTZLEBEN
http://nprillinois.org/post/fact-check-trump-touts-low-unemployment-rates-african-americans-hispanics#stream/0

 

IVES FOR GOVERNOR
— Ives Statement on $100K Cap on Wrongful Death Lawsuits Against the State
http://mailchi.mp/00a482fd3e6b/ives-statement-on-100k-cap-on-wrongful-death-lawsuits-against-the-state

 

CITY CLUB OF CHICAGO
— Hon. Jeanne Ives Republican Candidate for Governor Monday, Feb 5, 2018 11:30 a.m. reception/12:00 p.m. luncheon
https://www.cityclub-chicago.org/event/2/1274/hon-jeanne-ives

 

POLITICO ILLINOIS
— IVES GOES AFTER NATIONAL MONEY — State Rep. Jeanne Ives, the Republican challenging incumbent Gov. Bruce Rauner from the right in the March 20 gubernatorial primary, is headed to Washington D.C. this week to meet with potential donors, her campaign tells POLITICO. “She’s meeting with some of her contacts out there,” Ives spokeswoman Kathleen Murphy said Sunday. “She is reaching out to people outside of Illinois.” Rauner, a multi-millionaire himself, has some $65 million in his campaign account. Murphy says Ives has landed some $800,000 in earned media and expects to expand more conservative radio talk, including a weekly spot at a Decatur station. – Natasha Korecki
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2018/01/08/ramirez-rosa-to-drop-out-of-congressional-race-internal-poll-newman-could-overtake-lipinski-ives-hunts-for-cash-in-dc-ctus-karen-lewis-on-obit-reports-of-my-death-are-greatly-exaggerated-235364
— CTU’s KAREN LEWIS on OBIT: ‘Report of my death was an exaggeration’ – Natasha Korecki (DIERSEN: Of course, to discredit me, my critics/opponents have their operatives and their dupes search each and every GOPUSA ILLINOIS email to find any kind of typo, error, mistake, etc.)
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2018/01/08/ramirez-rosa-to-drop-out-of-congressional-race-internal-poll-newman-could-overtake-lipinski-ives-hunts-for-cash-in-dc-ctus-karen-lewis-on-obit-reports-of-my-death-are-greatly-exaggerated-235364

 

MCHENRY TIMES
— Reick asks Rauner to veto increased powers of county chairman – Keri Carbaugh
https://mchenrytimes.com/stories/511295996-reick-asks-rauner-to-veto-increased-powers-of-county-chairman
— John Reinert withdraws from 32nd Senate District race – Glenn Minnis
https://mchenrytimes.com/stories/511312257-john-reinert-withdraws-from-32nd-senate-district-race

 

ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE
— SOME ILLINOIS VILLAGE MANAGERS OUTEARN EVERY STATE GOVERNOR – Joe Kaiser
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/some-illinois-village-managers-outearn-every-state-governor/

 

ILLINOIS FAMILY ACTION
— Will Illinois Choose Pot Before Jobs? – John Biver
https://illinoisfamilyaction.org/2018/01/will-illinois-choose-pot-before-jobs/

 

ILLINOIS FAMILY INSTITUTE
— What’s at Stake in the U.S. Supreme Court’s Decision on Forced Abortion Speech – Andrew Willis
https://illinoisfamily.org/life/whats-stake-supreme-courts-decision-forced-abortion-speech/

 

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— IL GOP HANDS OUT RAUNER FUNDS BEFORE MARCH 20TH PRIMARY (DIERSEN: He who pays the piper calls the tunes. The list includes a $3,000,000 and a $125,000 contribution to the House Republican Organization, $1,000,000 contribution to the Republican State Senate Campaign Committee, $42,572.40 in-kind contribution to Citizens for Durkin, $25,000 to the DuPage County Republican Central Committee, $25,000 to the Cook County Republican Party, $25,000 to the Will County Republican Central Committee, and $25,000 to the Lake County Republican Central Committee. Of course, the aforesaid contributions encourage the aforesaid organizations to support Rauner over Ives.)
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2018/01/il-gop-hands-out-rauner-funds-before-march-20th-primary.html
— LIBERTARIAN CANDIDATES TO DEBATE IN BELLEVILLE SATURDAY (DIERSEN: There tremendous conflicts between the Libertarian Party platform and the Republican Party platform.)
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2018/01/libertarian-candidates-to-debate-in-belleville-saturday.html
— THORNER & INGOLD: DESPITE MAINSTREAM MEDIA RHETORIC, U.S. ECONOMY IS ALIVE AND VERY WELL
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2018/01/thorner-ingold-despite-mainstream-media-rhetoric-us-economy-is-alive-and-very-well-.html
— THORNER & WEYERMULLER: LIFE BECOMES FOCUS OF CHICAGO MARCHES, CLINIC PROTESTS AND BILLS
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2018/01/thorner-weyermuller-life-becomes-focus-of-chicago-marches-clinic-protests-and-bills.html

 

GOPUSA
— Colorado Politicians Ignore Major Pot Problems
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=36623
— Antifa leader ordered to pay ex-UC Berkeley College Republicans leader
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=36617
— WH adviser takes it to CNN’s Jake Tapper; gets kicked off show
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=36639

 

FOX NEWS
— Dem-ordered GAO study to expose illegal online gun sales backfires – Brooke Singman
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/01/08/dem-ordered-study-to-expose-illegal-online-gun-sales-backfires.html

 

BREITBART
— Why Republicans Should Not Cave to Democrat Demands on DACA – JOEL B. POLLAK
http://www.breitbart.com/california/2018/01/08/pollak-democrats-will-not-agree-daca-deal/

 

LIFESITE NEWS
— Alumni threaten Notre Dame with legal investigation for offering birth control coverage – Dorothy Cummings McLean
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/alumni-threaten-notre-dame-with-legal-investigation-for-offering-birth-cont

 

DAILY CALLER
— Wolff Didn’t Interview Pence, Cabinet Members For Book – Derek Hunter
http://dailycaller.com/2018/01/08/wolff-didnt-interview-pence-cabinet-members-for-book-video/
— Bannon Gives Democrats Ammo With Attacks On Trump’s Family – Peter Hasson (DIERSEN: Since 2000, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have hinted/implied/argued/shouted that my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails give ammunition to the Democrats. They dishonestly ignore the fact that all the information in the emails is already posted on websites, that is, the information is already in the public realm.)
http://dailycaller.com/2018/01/03/bannon-gives-democrats-ammo-with-attacks-on-trumps-family/
— Ex-Google Engineer James Damore Fired For Anti-Diversity Views Announces Lawsuit Against His Former Company – Eric Lieberman (DIERSEN: If Damore had taken a job with the federal government, the federal government would have wasted his career and would have gotten rid of him if he had not made 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.)
http://dailycaller.com/2018/01/08/ex-google-engineer-fired-for-anti-diversity-views-announces-lawsuit-against-his-former-company/

 

WASHINGTON FREE BEACON
— 10 Percent of Amazon’s Ohio Workforce on Food Stamps – David Rutz
http://freebeacon.com/politics/report-10-percent-of-amazons-ohio-workforce-on-food-stamps/

 

WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Democrats warn Trump IRS chief against inflating tax cuts with new withholding tables – Joseph Lawler
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/democrats-warn-trump-irs-chief-against-inflating-tax-cuts-with-new-withholding-tables/article/2645303

 

THE HILL
— Immigration reform: An Army recruitment opportunity – ERIC FANNING (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have always hinted/implied/argued/shouted a) that instead of me, the Post Office should have hired a veteran in 1966, b) that the Post Office should gotten rid of me much sooner than it did so that a veteran could have my job, c) that instead of me, IRS should have hired a veteran in 1971, d) that instead of me, IRS should have promoted veterans in 1972, 1973, and 1974, e) that instead of me, GAO should have hired a veteran in 1980, f) that instead of me, GAO should have promoted a veteran in 1986, and g) that GAO should have gotten rid of me much sooner than it did so that a poor Democrat, a veteran could have my job and my preferred corner office.)
http://thehill.com/opinion/national-security/367839-immigration-reform-an-army-recruitment-opportunity

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps say “To Pay for Wall, Trump Would Cut Proven Border Security Measures.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/08/us/politics/trump-border-wall-funding-surveillance.html

 

LOS ANGELES TIMES
— Politics at the Golden Globes leads some to call for ‘Oprah for President’ – Christina Bellantoni (DIERSEN: What percent of those at the Golden Globes are members of one or more of the following groups: 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 – 98%, 99%, 100%?)
http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-essential-politics-20180108-story.html

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Former Google Engineer Fired Over Diversity Memo Files Suit James Damore alleges discrimination against conservative, white men – Jack Nicas (DIERSEN: If Damore had taken a job with the federal government, the federal government would have wasted his career and would have gotten rid of him if he had not made 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.wsj.com/articles/former-google-engineer-who-wrote-diversity-memo-files-suit-1515440507

 

ONLINE NEWS ORGANIZATION
— Journalism Mentorship Collaborative (DIERSEN: What happened to your mentors? My Democrat IRS superiors got rid of the IRS manager who promoted me in 1972, 1973, and 1974. My Democrat GAO superiors got rid of the GAO manager who hired me in 1980, who got me assigned to audits of IRS in 1986, and who promoted me in 1986.)
https://journalists.org/programs/journalism-mentorship-collaborative/about/#fellowship

 

RASMUSSEN REPORTS
— Many Think All Our Leaders Clueless About America’s Future (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries that are members of Group A want to get rid of those that are members of Group B. Members of Group A 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/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors and members of Group B are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German Americans, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/general_politics/january_2018/many_think_all_our_leaders_clueless_about_america_s_future

January 8 Morning Edition

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— AUGUST 28, 2017 FLASHBACK: Rauner signs immigration, automatic voter registration bills into law – Kim Geiger
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-bruce-rauner-immigration-voting-met-0829-20170828-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Rauner entered a bill signing ceremony at Mi Tierra restaurant in Little Village to cheers from at least 200 supporters of the measure. Outside, an opponent carried a sign that said, “Illinois victim families say no sanctuary state.” The governor’s approach to the immigration bill signing was an indication of his efforts to walk the line between his conservative base and the more moderate constituencies he’ll need in order to win reelection in 2018. Rauner faced an intense lobbying campaign over the bill and warnings last week that he might lose support from conservatives if he were to sign it into law. State Sen. Kyle McCarter, a Republican from Lebanon outside St. Louis, said “this could be the last straw” for Downstate voters who have backed the governor if Rauner failed to veto the bill. So before the governor inked his signature to the legislation, an array of supporters, including members of the law enforcement community and business advocates, appeared on stage to demonstrate broad support. “Contrary to popular belief, this bill does not turn Illinois into a sanctuary state,” said Lt. Gov. Evelyn Sanguinetti, a fluent Spanish speaker who kicked off a slate of more than a dozen speakers with remarks in both English and Spanish.)
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: Lt. Gov. Sanguinetti sticks with Gov. Rauner despite disagreements – Kim Geiger (DIERSEN: If I was still the chairman of TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois, the organization would have invited Sanguinetti and Morthland to debate each other. Conservatives oppose anything that encourages people to come to America illegally, to stay in America illegally, or to bring others to America illegally. Outrageously, if not unethically, Geiger fails/refuses to discuss in this article Sanguinetti’s promoting Rauner’s sanctuary state bill.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-lieutenant-governor-sanguinetti-rauner-20180105-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: As Gov. Bruce Rauner weighed the fate of a controversial abortion bill last fall, Lt. Gov. Evelyn Sanguinetti had a decision to make. Born to a teenage mother and deeply religious, Sanguinetti opposes abortion rights. Rauner, who gave money to Planned Parenthood, was about to sign into law a measure expanding taxpayer-funded abortions. “It was not easy,” said Sanguinetti, recalling the discussion she’d had with the governor. “And him and I talked about it, and he did tell me at the end of the day that he needed me to be there with him. And I told him I needed to pray on it.” A re-election bid quickly approached. Would she stay on the team or opt out of the 2018 ticket? She says she took a few days to decide. “I talked to my family about it. And I decided to stand by the governor because in Illinois we have a lot of things that we need to focus on,” Sanguinetti said during a recent interview with the Tribune. “And so here I am, next to him. But was I upset? Yes. Do I remain upset? Yes.” If it’s uncommon to hear about the state’s chief executive and his running mate disagreeing on issues, that’s at least in part due to the fact that it’s rare to hear about Illinois’ lieutenant governor at all. Aside from being first in the line of succession, the office is so light on responsibilities that conversations often crop up about doing away with it altogether. During her first term, Sanguinetti has focused on studying the opioid epidemic and Illinois’ unusually high number of local governments, with mixed results. A newly created task force on opioid abuse, which Sanguinetti co-chairs, has successfully advocated for the creation of a hotline to help addicts, and for a new law requiring doctors to register with a prescription drug monitoring program. But Sanguinetti’s task force on local government consolidation has produced few changes to help rein in Illinois’ 7,000 units of government, beyond a four-year moratorium on the creation of new ones. Despite its longtime punchline status, the office was made a bit more politically useful when election procedures were changed so that candidates for governor and lieutenant governor now run as a team in the primary. The change allows candidates for governor to boost their ticket’s appeal by adding a running mate with a different pedigree. In Rauner’s case, Sanguinetti checked off several important boxes as a Latina woman who grew up poor, counterbalancing Rauner’s background as a wealthy white man who came from privilege. Unlike Rauner, Sanguinetti is a social conservative. In addition, she hailed from the collar counties, a key swing voting region. She also lacked political experience, having served only on the Wheaton City Council for a few years. One of her council colleagues was Jeanne Ives, who’s now a state lawmaker challenging the Rauner-Sanginuetti ticket in the March Republican governor primary. Ives declined an interview request through a spokeswoman. Sheila Simon, who was lieutenant governor under Democrat Pat Quinn but opted to run for a different office in 2014 where she could make a “greater impact,” said she respects Rauner’s running mate choice. Sanguinetti “has different access points than he does — a woman, someone who is fluent in Spanish and is literally going to hear things he doesn’t hear or understand things he doesn’t understand,” Simon said. Simon also noted that the lieutenant governor is “an adviser to the governor that the governor can’t fire.” Indeed, Sanguinetti remains one of the few original Rauner team members following a tumultuous period that included several departures by the “superstars” Rauner had hired early on, plus a spate of staff firings and resignations over the summer. Asked what she and Rauner disagree on, Sanguinetti listed two areas — one serious, one not so much. “So, he doesn’t know how to dress. And I’ve tried to help, but brother won’t listen,” Sanguinetti said, referring to Rauner’s typical uniform of casual ranch-hand slacks with a plaid button-down shirt and ultra-long sport coat. Sometimes, the governor swaps the coat for a vest. “He’s his own person. He beats to his own fashion drum, but that’s one disagreement,” Sanguinetti said. The two also have been at odds over clemency requests. Sanguinetti said she’s often more inclined to grant clemency petitions to people who want their record cleared so they can take a job in law enforcement or help turn around struggling youth in their community. “Because of my backdrop, I’m the one to say, ‘I want him (to get clemency). I would only listen to somebody like this if I was a youth in trouble because he’s an authentic messenger. He’s not somebody starting out of college telling me how I should behave. He’s been through it, and he’s risen from it,’” she said. But as Rauner has diligently cleared a massive backlog of clemency petitions in recent years, he’s granted just 3 percent of the requests. Quinn, by contrast, had an approval rate of around 36 percent. And, of course, the two clashed on the abortion bill. Though she decided to “stand by” Rauner, Sanguinetti was not at the news conference the governor held to announce his position on the bill. Instead, she issued a brief statement saying she “wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for a 15-year-old refugee who chose to have me and keep me.” “While I disagree with the governor on this, we must focus on our areas of agreement — enacting real reforms we need to turn Illinois around,” the statement said. Rauner offered similar logic when he was asked recently why it was important for him to keep Sanguinetti on board. “Getting our state going the right way is going to be a big team effort,” he said. “She’s my lieutenant governor,” Rauner later added. Still, Sanguinetti says, the two are on the same page about most things — a dynamic she credits to the new election system that required them to campaign as a team from the start. “From day one when we were sworn in, we were on the same plane, you know, we were in sync as far as messaging and the things that we believed in and what we wanted to deliver for the people of the state of Illinois,” Sanguinetti said. After winning election, Sanguinetti quickly went to work settling into her Thompson Center office, bringing in a collection of modern art paintings she’d inherited from her father. “My husband hates modern art, so he was very happy to see it in my office,” she said. She held on to several of Simon’s staff members to help with the transition, but ultimately cut her staff size in half and closed down office spaces in Carbondale and Springfield. Sanguinetti says that move was made possible by her close working relationship with the governor — the two are able to share staff for policy issues. But it does limit her independence. Even before the election, Rauner had been traveling the state telling voters that he planned to task Sanguinetti with figuring out ways to consolidate Illinois’ 7,000 units of local government to save taxpayer money. Creating the task force was one of the first things he did when he took office, and Sanguinetti went quickly to work, though she says she was less than excited about the idea. “I wanted to dedicate myself to more issues that are more sexy to your usual person,” Sanguinetti said. “And when you think about consolidation and unfunded mandates, it’s not very sexy, right?” As she set out on her task force mission, Sanguinetti got an on-the-job education about the issue, finding that oftentimes school districts or local fire departments were already cooperating with one another to share resources and reduce duplication. The task force produced 27 recommendations for ways to consolidate local governments and reduce unfunded mandates. But so far, only a handful have made it into law. Sanguinetti says she now sees the issue as “the gift that keeps on giving.” And she’s taken what she learned on the task force and turned it into a journal of “best practices” to highlight areas where local governments are already consolidating and sharing services and expenses. Ives spokeswoman Kathleen Murphy suggested the task force was an example of the Rauner administration’s failure to live up to its promises. Also on Sanguinetti’s list of duties is the opioid epidemic — another issue that she says she didn’t know much about before taking office. It was the DuPage County coroner, she said, who alerted her last year that the epidemic had reached into the suburbs. “You know about Wheaton, Ill. We are very religious and conservative there,” Sanguinetti said. “And he was telling me about all the people that were dying and the fact that it knew no neighborhood and no class.” Drug use and gang violence associated with the drug trade have plagued Chicago for decades, and Downstate communities have battled meth use for years. Sanguinetti traveled the state to hear about the crisis and says she now views the opioid epidemic as a public health issue. She’s been trained to administer Narcan, an antidote that’s used to reverse opioid overdoses, and is defensive when challenged by people who question giving addicts access to unlimited doses of the antidote. “The first thing I tell these people is it’s time to change the lexicon because science is telling us that this is a disease,” she said, likening Narcan to the drugs she uses to treat her multiple sclerosis. “The way I choose to treat my disease, nobody questions it because it’s a disease. We need to think of substance abuse disorder and accept it for what it is, it’s a disease.”)
— Senator Silverstein accused of sexual harassment fighting to stay on ballot – Monique Garcia
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-ira-silverstein-ballot-challenge-20180108-story.html
— In next round of budget talks, ‘dreamers’ are set to dominate – Ed O’Keefe, Mike Debonis and Erica Werner
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-budget-talks-dreamers-20180107-story.html
— Age gap awkwardness – Brent Gleeson (DIERSEN: Have you had to work for some who was younger than you? During my last 4 years at GAO 1993-1997, I reported directly to a GS-15 Step 10 (currently $164,200) who was much younger than me. During the previous 4 years, my supervisor reported to her. Most, if not virtually all of my GAO superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates DID NOT want to work for her or work with her because she was very demanding, female, younger, Jewish, and wealthy. She had an MBA from the University of Chicago and had passed the CPA examination on her first attempt. To turn her against me, my Democrat GAO superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates stressed to her that I was conservative (she was liberal), Republican (she was Democrat), I was 100% German national origin (she was 100% Russian national origin), I was baptized, raised, and confirmed as a Missouri Synod Lutheran (she was Jewish), and that my ancestors had been in America since the 1840s (her ancestors were recent immigrants.)
https://www.pressreader.com/usa/chicago-tribune/20180108/281852938962479
— HARDCOPY ARTICLE TITLE: New mindset needed for budgeting goals – Jill Schlesinger DIERSEN: What are you spending less on? Since my Democrat GAO superiors succeeded in 1997 in cutting my income by $73,528/year (59%), that is, from $125,392 down to $51,869 in today’s dollars, my wife and I have spent even less on immediate pleasures including vacations, restaurant meals, entertainment, etc.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/success/jillonmoney/tca-new-mindset-needed-for-successful-saving-20180105-story.html
— It’s time for the Census Bureau to stop dividing America – Ward Connerly and Mike Gonzalez (DIERSEN: How bad are your demographics? My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes talk and/or act like they believe that the following demographics are terrible: Trump supporter, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owner, German American, and/or if your ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-perspec-census-bureau-race-population-trump-0108-20180104-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The American people are dangerously divided, but one event looming on the horizon has the potential to put us on a path toward unity: the U.S. census. If President Donald Trump makes no changes, the U.S. Census Bureau in 2020 will again seek to shoehorn some 330 million Americans into official racial and ethnic categories. This system doesn’t just ignore science. It also completely overlooks a burgeoning “mixed-race” population that resents arbitrary racial straitjackets.)
— Could Texas’ Big Bend be the border’s weakest link? Smuggling of drugs and immigrants is on the rise – Molly Hennessy-Fiske
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-border-patrol-big-bend-texas-20171226-story.html

 

DAILY HERALD
— Steve Bannon’s olive branch said to be too late for angry Trump – Bloomberg
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20180108/steve-bannons-olive-branch-said-to-be-too-late-for-angry-trump
— Some shopping malls may be in deeper trouble than you think – Bloomberg
http://www.dailyherald.com/business/20180108/some-shopping-malls-may-be-in-deeper-trouble-than-you-think

 

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: GateHouse Media Illinois likes watching scantily clad young women fight each other.
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20180107/lincoln-fighter-sets-her-goal-to-reach-ufc

 

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps say “Protests urged for Trump Atlanta visit.”
http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/the-latest-protests-urged-for-trump-atlanta-visit/906401747
— Trump allies defend him against book’s claims – AP (DIERSEN: You find out who your allies are when your critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes attack you.)
http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/entertainment/trump-allies-defend-him-against-books-claims/905943506

 

WJBD RADIO
— Trump administration officials defend president’s mental fitness (DIERSEN: You find out who your allies are when your critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes attack you.)
http://www.wjbdradio.com/politics/2018/01/07/trump-administration-officials-defend-presidents-mental-fitness

 

CHICAGO FEDERALIST SOCIETY
— Tavern Debate Thursday, January 18: Resolved: The Media are Biased, So Tweet Away, Mr. President
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tavern-debate-resolved-the-media-are-biased-so-tweet-away-mr-president-tickets-41643594111

 

WIRE POINTS
— Illinois Treasurer Frerichs Playing Activist Shareholder With College Savers’ Money – Mark Glennon
http://www.wirepoints.com/illinois-treasurer-frerichs-playing-activist-shareholder-with-college-savers-money-wirepoints-original/

 

ILLINOIS NEWS NETWORK
— Report shows federal bloat in Illinois – Greg Bishop (DIERSEN: Of course, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have always hinted/implied/argued/shouted that I was federal bloat and that a) the Post Office should NOT have hired me in 1966 or let me work there for almost 3 years, b) IRS should NOT have hired me in 1971 or let me work there for almost 9 years, c) IRS should NOT have promoted me in 1972, 1973, or 1974, d) GAO should NOT have hired me in 1980 or let me work there for almost 18 years, and e) GAO should NOT have promoted me in 1986. In my defense, I earned a) a job-related bachelor’s degree when I was 21 in 1970 and job-related master’s degrees when I was 27, 31, and 48, b) job-related professional certifications when I was 30, 32, 41, 45, 47, and 48, and c) a job-related professional license when I was 32.))
https://www.ilnews.org/news/statewide/report-shows-federal-bloat-in-illinois/article_dd852dd4-f255-11e7-a9d6-fba849f89a97.html

 

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— MARCH FOR LIFE CHICAGO 2018 NEXT WEEKEND
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2018/01/march-for-life-chicago-2018-next-weekend.html
— ABORTION COULD BE KEY ISSUE IN IL 3RD CD DEMOCRAT PRIMARY
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2018/01/abortion-could-be-a-key-issue-in-il-3rd-cd-democrat-primary.html

 

BLAZE
— Democratic billionaire is sending controversial Trump book to every member of Congress – Teri Webster
http://www.theblaze.com/news/2018/01/07/democratic-billionaire-is-sending-controversial-trump-book-to-every-member-of-congress

 

WASHINGTON TIMES
— GOP strategist Karl Rove: Republicans in ‘big trouble,’ could lose House in 2018 – Bradford Richardson
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/jan/7/karl-rove-gop-strategist-republicans-in-big-troubl/
— Obama gun boom ends: Background checks fall from record-breaking 2016 – David Sherfinski
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/jan/7/gun-purchase-background-checks-drop-2017/
— Feminism, once noble — now nutty – Cheryl K. Chumley
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/jan/4/feminism-once-noble-now-nutty/

 

FOX NEWS
— Bannon expresses ‘regret’ for comments attributed to him in ‘Fire and Fury’ – Joseph Weber
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/01/07/bannon-expresses-regret-for-comments-attributed-to-him-in-fire-and-fury.html
— Media go crazy over book claiming Trump is mentally unfit to be president, and other journalistic garbage – Dan Gainor
http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2018/01/06/media-go-crazy-over-book-claiming-trump-is-mentally-unfit-to-be-president-and-other-journalistic-garbage.html
— Will disgraced Steve Bannon be invited to speak at CPAC? – Todd Starnes (DIERSEN: Which organizations do not invite you? Organizations that promote dependency on government, dependency on charity, LGBTQ activity, abortion, mass/illegal immigration, abolition of the First and/or Second Amendments, booze, gambling, pot, and other vices, patronage, political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, and/or even worse things do not invite me. Organizations 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/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors do not invite me. The aforesaid organizations that claim to be conservative and/or Republican refuse to keep diersen@aol.com on their press advisory and press release lists. The aforesaid organizations do not want me a) to know about their events and other activities, b) to promote their events and other activities, c) to attend their events, or d) to report on their events and other activities. One could argue that if the aforesaid organizations invite me, I should decline the invitation.)
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/01/07/will-disgraced-steve-bannon-be-invited-to-speak-at-cpac.html

 

NATIONAL REVIEW
— The Diversity Mania Rages On – George Leef
http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/455173/michigan-university-diversity-plan-martin-center

 

WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Tell-all author: Trump’s White House staffers talk about the 25th Amendment ‘all the time’ – Kyle Feldscher
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tell-all-author-trumps-white-house-staffers-talk-about-the-25th-amendment-all-the-time/article/2645221

 

THE HILL
— Democrats out of order on DREAM Act – NOLAN RAPPAPORT
http://thehill.com/opinion/immigration/367744-democrats-out-of-order-on-dream-act

 

CNN
— Oprah Winfrey ‘actively thinking’ about running for president – Brian Stelter
http://money.cnn.com/2018/01/08/media/oprah-golden-globes/index.html

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: HARDCOPY ARTICLE HEADLINE: Bannon Wilts Under Attacks From Ex-Allies – Jeremy W. Peters and Michael Tackett
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/07/us/politics/stephen-miller-cnn-trump-bannon-apology.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: An anti-Trump demonizes, denigrates, and condemns Trump.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/07/opinion/trump-stable-genius-smart.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, pot promoters promote pot. If you promote pot, you promote destruction.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/07/opinion/jeff-sessionss-war-marijuana.html
— Trump Administration Rules That Nearly 200,000 Salvadorans Must Leave, Officials Say – Miriam Jordan (DIERSEN: Because Democrats shout at everyone that the U.S. is run by White supremacists, Nazis, KKK members, haters, racists, sexists, and bigots, why would these Salvadorans want to stay in the U.S.?)
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/08/us/salvadorans-tps-end.html

 

WASHINGTON POST
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps say “Public school buildings are falling apart, and students are suffering for it While the grown-ups argue over whether federal aid would interfere with local control, kids sit in freezing classrooms. – Rachel Cohen
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/posteverything/wp/2018/01/08/public-school-buildings-are-falling-apart-and-students-are-suffering-for-it/
— White House adviser Stephen Miller calls Bannon an ‘angry, vindictive person’ – David Nakamura (DIERSEN: I should write a book about the most “angry, vindictive” people in my precinct, in Wheaton, in Glen Ellyn, in Milton Township, in DuPage County, and in Illinois. They blame me and my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails for all of their problems, for all of your problems, for all of my problems, and for all of everyone’s problems. They blame me for all defeats that Republicans have suffered in Illinois since 2000.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2018/01/07/white-house-adviser-stephen-miller-calls-bannon-an-angry-vindictive-person-over-comments-in-wolff-book/
— Bannon apologizes, but Trump’s fury persists – David Nakamura, Ashley Parker and Josh Dawsey
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/bannon-apologizes-but-trumps-fury-persists/2018/01/07/e12942f4-f3c2-11e7-a9e3-ab18ce41436a_story.html

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Refugee Admissions to U.S. Off to Slow Start in Fiscal Year 2018 Trump refugee policies helped slow inflow to just over 5,000 in first quarter – Laura Meckler (DIERSEN: Because Democrats shout at everyone that the U.S. is run by White supremacists, Nazis, KKK members, haters, racists, sexists, and bigots, why would any refugee want to come to the U.S.?)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/refugee-admissions-to-u-s-off-to-slow-start-in-fiscal-year-2018-1515330001
— Scholars Get The Real Scoop on ‘Fake News’ It turns out the people likeliest to read false stories are the ones who read lots of hard news too. – Allysia Finley (DIERSEN: I read “lots of hard news” while I spend 10+ hours each and every day putting GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails together and sending them out. Ever-increasingly, I see editorials that promote the Democrat Party platform being published that are unethically made to look like news articles. Ever-increasing, I see that news that cannot be spun to promote the Democrat Party platform is downplayed if not censured.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/scholars-get-the-real-scoop-on-fake-news-1515360315
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: Bannon Works to Mend Rift Over Book Critical of White House Ex-Trump strategist tones down some of his comments as fallout reverberates – Rebecca Ballhaus and Harriet Torry
https://www.wsj.com/articles/bannon-apologizes-for-role-in-book-critical-of-white-house-1515349254
— My Favorite Writers on Retirement Planning Retirement columnist Glenn Ruffenach also answers questions about Social Security and volunteering – Glenn Ruffenach (DIERSEN: What do you base your knowledge of retirement on? I base my knowledge on what I have learned from being retired since 1997 when I was 49 years old.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/my-favorite-writers-on-retirement-planning-1515098781
— Book Banning Bunkum Trump’s feckless bluster isn’t a threat to the First Amendment. – Editorial (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes want to ban me and ban my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails. They blame me and my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails for all of their problems, for all of your problems, for all of my problems, and for all of everyone’s problems. They blame me for all defeats that Republicans have suffered in Illinois since 2000.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/book-banning-bunkum-1515361290

 

BLOOMBERG
— Trump Allies Flood Airwaves to Defend the President – Ros Krasny and Jordan Yadoo (DIERSEN: You find out who your allies are when your critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes attack you.)
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-01-07/trump-allies-flood-airwaves-to-defend-president-from-new-book

 

USA TODAY
— In reversal, anti-immigration groups are open to deal to let 800,000 DREAMers stay – Alan Gomez
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/01/08/reversal-anti-immigration-groups-open-deal-let-800-000-dreamers-stay/1004430001/
— Haley: World perception of Trump as ‘unpredictable’ isn’t a bad thing – Nicole Gaudiano (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes know that they cannot call me unpredictable. They know that I always promote the Republican Party and the Illinois Republican Party platforms and especially their traditional family, right to life, immigration, illegal drugs, Second Amendment, and equal opportunity (no race or gender based preference giving) planks. They know that I always promote the Milton Township Republican Central Committee resolution against video gambling. They know that I always oppose the promotion of dependency on government, dependency on charity, LGBTQ activity, abortion, mass/illegal immigration, abolition of the First and/or Second Amendments, booze, gambling, pot, and other vices, patronage, political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, and other terrible things things.)
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/01/07/haley-world-perception-trump-unpredictable-isnt-bad-thing/1011070001/
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: An anti-Trump gives advice on how to get rid of Trump.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2018/01/08/donald-trump-stable-genius-reality-check-america-doesnt-have-new-normal-column/1011220001/

 

U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT
— Trump Washes His Hands of Insurgency Against GOP Incumbents Trump says he’ll campaign aggressively for Republicans in the 2018 midterm elections but not for the GOP insurgents. – AP
https://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2018-01-07/trump-washes-his-hands-of-insurgency-against-gop-incumbents

 

NEW YORKER
— When Deportation Is a Death Sentence hundreds of thousands of immigrants in the U.S. may face violence and murder in their home countries. What happens when they are forced to return? – Sarah Stillman (DIERSEN: Anti-Trumps glorify and praise foreign countries.)
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/01/15/when-deportation-is-a-death-sentence

 

ATLANTIC
— The False Promises of Worker Retraining Despite assurances from policymakers that retraining is the key to success, such programs have consistently failed to equip workers with the preparation they need to secure jobs. – JEFFREY SELINGO (DIERSEN: GAO audits IRS. One could say that between 1992 and 1997, I retained myself. In 1992, I started taking graduate courses at IIT, and in 1997, I earned a master’s degree in financial markets and trading. I did that because my Democrat GAO superiors had assigned me to audits of federal financial industry regulators and they had made it clear that they would never again assign me to audits of IRS. I had worked on audits of IRS 1986-1988 and I had worked for IRS 1971-1980.)
https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2018/01/the-false-promises-of-worker-retraining/549398/

January 4 Evening Edition

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Rauner spends night in Quincy veterans home plagued by deadly water problems – Monique Garcia
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-bruce-rauner-quincy-veterans-20180104-story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps say “New Trump book details Bannon’s ‘treasonous’ claim, Ivanka’s presidential ambitions and Melania’s first-lady concerns.”
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-trump-bannon-book-analysis-20180103-story.html
— Investigation details secretive contacts with lobbyist on $2 billion Illinois lottery contract – Joe Mahr and Matthew Walberg
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/watchdog/ct-met-lottery-lobbyists-0104-story.html
— U. of I. plans in-state tuition freeze for 4th straight year – Dawn Rhodes
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-university-of-illinois-tuition-freeze-20180103-story.html
— Rapper Chief Keef had eight different drugs in his system during DUI arrest – Rachel DeSantis
http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/ct-chief-keef-arrest-20180104-story.html
— Hello, exodus deniers: No, it isn’t Illinois’ weather – Kristen McQueary
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-perspec-mcqueary-opinion-illinois-population-0105-20180104-story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps say “Chris Kennedy’s divisive fantasy.”
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-edit-kennedy-chicago-rahm-gentrification-20180104-story.html
— Chuy Garcia: Kennedy was right about Emanuel’s ‘strategic gentrification plan’ to force minorities out of city – Kim Janssen
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chicagoinc/ct-chuy-rahm-0105-chicago-inc-20180104-story.html
— Orland Park voters to see 2 ballot proposals on video gambling – Mike Nolan (DIERSEN: If you promote video gambling, you promote destruction.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/daily-southtown/news/ct-sta-orland-video-gambling-st-0105-20180104-story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Those who promote pot say: “New federal pot policy unlikely to affect Ill. medical marijuana; legalization push continues.” If you promote pot, you promote destruction.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-met-illinois-cannabis-industry-sessions-20180104-story.html

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Local leaders say Sessions’ rollback on pot policy won’t stop them – Rachel Hinton and Tina Sfondeles (DIERSEN: If you promote pot, you promote destruction.)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/us-to-end-policy-that-let-legal-pot-flourish-sources/
— The pols created Illinois’ property tax monster — and they love it – Phil Kadner
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/kadner-the-pols-created-illinois-property-tax-monster-and-they-love-it/
— Gov. Rauner staying at Quincy veterans home under fire for Legionnaires’ disease – Tina Sfondeles
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/gov-rauner-staying-at-quincy-veterans-home-under-fire-for-legionnaires-disease/
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps say “Trump’s latest claim of voter fraud is an assault on democracy.”
https://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/trumps-latest-claim-of-voter-fraud-is-an-assault-on-democracy/
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps say “Quick way to undermine the U.S. Census? Ask about citizenship.”
https://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/quick-way-to-undermine-the-u-s-census-ask-about-citizenship/
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Jacob Sullum promotes pot big time. If you promote pot, you promote destruction.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/sullum-stop-pretending-sober-drivers-are-stoned/

 

DAILY HERALD
— Trial delayed for DuPage judge accused of reckless conduct – Justin Kmitch
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20180104/trial-delayed-for-dupage-judge-accused-of-reckless-conduct
— Legislators to meet with Naperville homeowners Saturday, Jan. 20
http://www.dailyherald.com/submitted/20180104/legislators-meet-with-naperville-homeowners
— OUTSTANDING: U.S. to end policy that let legal marijuana flourish – AP
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20180104/news/301049947/

 

ABC7
— Rauner staying at veterans home during Legionnaires’ crisis – AP
http://abc7chicago.com/politics/rauner-staying-at-veterans-home-during-legionnaires-crisis/2861624/

 

NBC5
— Rauner’s Former General Counsel Offers Rare Statement – Mary Ann Ahern
https://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/former-top-rauner-attorney-new-years-message-468053403.html
— Rauner Moves Into Quincy Vets’ Home Amid Controversy
https://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/governor-bruce-rauner-moves-into-quincy-veterans-home-amid-controversy-468083373.html

 

CBS2
— Rauner Checks Into Veterans’ Home Under Fire For Deadly Legionnaires’ Outbreak
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2018/01/04/rauner-veterans-home-legionnaires-disease/
— Trump Sends Cease And Desist Letter To Publishers Of Tell-All Book
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/video/category/spoken-word-wbbmtv/3787359-trump-sends-cease-and-desist-letter-to-publishers-of-tell-all-book/

 

WGN TV
— Rauner visits veterans home where several residents died from Legionnaires’ disease – CHARLES HAYES AND TAHMAN BRADLEY
http://wgntv.com/2018/01/04/rauner-visits-veterans-home-where-several-residents-died-from-legionnaires-disease/

 

WLS AM
— Rauner stay at vets home called publicity stunt – Bill Cameron
http://www.wlsam.com/2018/01/04/rauner-stay-at-vets-home-called-publicity-stunt/
— Rauner stunt reminds some of Jane Byrne’s Cabrini Green stay – Bill Cameron
http://www.wlsam.com/2018/01/04/rauner-stunt-reminds-some-of-jane-byrnes-cabrini-green-stay/

 

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Rauner, Roskam, Ives trade barbs over GOP tax bill – GREG HINZ (DIERSEN: Will the mainstream media ask Rauner, Roskam, and Ives a) if they prepaid their real estate taxes and b) why they did or did not do that?)
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20180104/BLOGS02/180109961/rauner-roskam-ives-trade-barbs-over-gop-tax-bill
— Hot assessor race sparks financial flap: Who pays?
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20180104/BLOGS02/180109968/hot-assessor-race-sparks-financial-flap-who-pays

 

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Rauner to spend ‘several days’ at Quincy veterans home – Doug Finke
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20180104/rauner-to-spend-several-days-at-quincy-veterans-home

 

HERALD & REVIEW
— Congressman Rodney Davis predicts more charitable giving with new tax bill – RYAN VOYLES (DIERSEN: Being deductible motivated me to give more money to 501(c)(3) organizations.)
http://herald-review.com/news/national/govt-and-politics/congressman-rodney-davis-predicts-more-charitable-giving-with-new-tax/article_549c9f6b-65ed-5151-ab17-e5c75096ade0.html

 

MADISON RECORD
— Judge who overturned Rauner ‘fair share’ executive order had worked as Madigan staffer in earlier days – Ann Maher
https://madisonrecord.com/stories/511309644-judge-who-overturned-rauner-fair-share-executive-order-had-worked-as-madigan-staffer-in-earlier-days

 

WGLT
— Davis: Tax Bill Will Win Over Voters Before November Election – RYAN DENHAM (DIERSEN: What about those voters who pay more than $10,000 a year in SALT each year?)
http://wglt.org/post/davis-tax-bill-will-win-over-voters-november-election#stream/0

 

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— OUTSTANDING: Sessions terminates US policy that let legal pot flourish – AP
http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/national/ap-newsbreak-us-to-end-policy-that-let-legal-pot-flourish/901877894

 

NPR ILLINOIS
— OUTSTANDING: Attorney General Rescinds Obama-Era Marijuana Guidelines – RYAN LUCAS
http://nprillinois.org/post/attorney-general-rescinds-obama-era-marijuana-guidelines#stream/0
— Despite Takedown And Legal Threat, Bannon Says He Still Backs Trump – SCOTT DETROW
http://nprillinois.org/post/despite-takedown-and-legal-threat-bannon-says-he-still-backs-trump#stream/0

 

IVES FOR GOVERNOR
— Ives Responds to Rauner Criticism of Congressional Tax Reform “Bruce Rauner is out trying to sell a success as failure, and failure as success. It is little wonder Illinois Republicans can feel they can no longer trust the man they elected in 2014.”
http://mailchi.mp/88d2ae75c1bd/ives-responds-to-rauner-criticism-of-congressional-tax-reform?e=985ad8c00b
— Ives Response to Rauner’s Illinois Veterans Home Stay “This is a cynical and transparent publicity stunt.”
http://mailchi.mp/d8f4da241352/ives-response-to-rauners-illinois-veterans-home-stay?e=985ad8c00b

 

CHICAGO PRESS RELEASE
— Former Top Rauner Attorney’s Facebook Post Raises Eyebrows
http://chicagopressrelease.com/news/former-top-rauner-attorneys-facebook-post-raises-eyebrows

 

CHICAGO CITY WIRE
— Democrats, Madigan backing Pritzker to control redistricting, state GOP says – Caitlin Nordahl
https://chicagocitywire.com/stories/511302009-democrats-madigan-backing-pritzker-to-control-redistricting-state-gop-says
— Pritzker accused of throwing low, middle class under the bus – Caitlin Nordahl
https://chicagocitywire.com/stories/511296671-pritzker-accused-of-throwing-low-middle-class-under-the-bus

 

ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE
— LIKE A GOOD NEIGHBOR: ILLINOIS SEES RECORD LOSS OF PEOPLE TO NEARBY STATES – Austin Berg
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/like-a-good-neighbor-illinois-sees-record-loss-of-people-to-nearby-states/

 

ILLINOIS FAMILY ACTION
— Is It Okay to Be Angry with Leftists Promoting Transgenderism? – John Biver
https://illinoisfamilyaction.org/2018/01/is-it-okay-to-be-angry-with-leftists-promoting-transgenderism/

 

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— DEMOCRATS COO OVER RAUNER BLASTING TRUMP’S TAX PLAN AS “PUNISHING” THE MIDDLE CLASS (DIERSEN: What percent of those who prepaid their real estate taxes were Republicans and what percent were Democrats?)
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2018/01/democrats-coo-over-rauner-blasting-trumps-tax-plan-as-punishing-the-middle-class.html
— IVES BLAMES RAUNER’S POOR LEADERSHIP FOR ILLINOIS’ HIGH TAX MISERIES (DIERSEN: Will the mainstream media ask Rauner, Roskam, and Ives a) if they prepaid their real estate taxes and b) why they did or did not do that?)
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2018/01/ives-blames-rauners-poor-leadership-for-illinois-high-tax-miseries.html
— THORNER/O’NEIL: ANYONE CONCERNED ABOUT THE SEXUAL HARASSMENT OF SCHOOL CHILDREN?
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2018/01/thorneroneil-anyone-concerned-about-school-children-being-sexually-harassed.html

 

CAPITOL FAX
— Roskam, Ives, DCCC, Biss respond *** Rauner calls new Republican tax law “punishing” for Illinois
https://capitolfax.com/2018/01/04/rauner-calls-new-republican-tax-law-punishing-for-illinois/

 

FOX NEWS
— JFK’s nephew says Emanuel has plan to force black people out of Chicago – Andrew O’Reilly
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/01/04/jfks-nephew-says-emanuel-has-plan-to-force-blacks-out-chicago.html

 

GOPUSA
— Some law schools drop the LSAT to increase diversity (DIERSEN: Ever-since the 1960s, to increase diversity, the federal government has lowered its hiring standards and made them more subjective.)
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=36249
— California tax scam coming?
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=36397
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Cooper on CNN’s New Year’s Eve pot party coverage: ‘The whole thing surprised me’
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=36460

 

NATIONAL REVIEW
— OUTSTANDING: Is That Marijuana Legal? Attorney General Jeff Sessions Says No. – Jim Geraghty
http://www.nationalreview.com/morning-jolt/455135/marijuana-legal-attorney-general-jeff-sessions-says-no
— OUTRAGEOUS: It’s Time to Decriminalize Marijuana – DAVID FRENCH
http://www.nationalreview.com/article/455147/marijuana-decriminalization-congress-must-act

 

THE HILL
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: An anti-Trump says “Trump’s failed fraud commission: Flawed from the start, dissolved in disgrace.”
http://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/367496-trumps-failed-fraud-commission-flawed-from-the-start-dissolved-in

 

NBC NEWS
— Trump: Give me the wall, I’ll give you ‘Dreamers’ – ALI VITALI
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/trump-border-wall-must-be-part-any-daca-deal-n834671

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: An anti-Trump says “Everyone in Trumpworld Knows He’s an Idiot.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/04/opinion/fire-fury-wolff-trump-book.html

 

WASHINGTON POST
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: An anti-Trump says “Trump’s cease-and-desist letter: A ‘desperate’ attempt to silence Bannon.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2018/01/04/trumps-cease-and-desist-letter-a-desperate-attempt-to-silence-bannon/
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: An anti-Trump says “The Trump potboiler is important, even if you don’t believe a lot of it.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/right-turn/wp/2018/01/04/the-trump-potboiler-is-important-even-if-you-dont-believe-a-lot-of-it/

 

NEWSWEEK
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: An anti-Trump says “TRUMP TEAM’S MANY INSULTS FOR THE PRESIDENT INCLUDED ‘DUMB’ AND A ‘DOPE,’ CLAIMS NEW BOOK.”
http://www.newsweek.com/trump-insults-wolff-fire-fury-insults-priebus-mnuchin-mcmaster-770887
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: An anti-Trump says “TRUMP IS LOSING IT: NEW BOOK SAYS PRESIDENT CAN’T REMEMBER OLD FRIENDS AND BANNON SAW CHANCE OF ‘UNFIT’ DETERMINATION.”
http://www.newsweek.com/trump-cant-remember-faces-friends-and-has-childlike-fits-according-new-book-770518

January 3 Morning Adition

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— A look at who’s raised the most in race to replace Lisa Madigan
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-illinois-attorney-general-cash-20180103-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: On the Republican side, former congressional candidate Erika Harold raised about $116,000 in the last three months. Harold, who has the backing of much of the state’s Republican establishment, has collected nearly $250,000 so far. DuPage County Board member Gary Grasso raised about $90,000. Some caveats: The numbers reported so far only reflect donations of $1,000 or more, and some donations made in the waning days of December might not have shown up yet.)
— Ives gets Fremont Township GOP backing – Rick Pearson
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-illinois-attorney-general-cash-20180103-story.html
— Does speaking Spanish make one Latino? – Anne Vasquez (DIERSEN: How soon, if not already, will members of the following groups succeed in stopping you from getting an education, from getting a job, from etc. unless you speak, read, and write Spanish: 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/commentary/ct-perspec-spanish-language-latino-cultural-identity-0103-20180102-story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: An anti-Trump says “Trump’s misguided ideas about Chicago crime.”
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/page/ct-perspec-page-trump-murder-rate-jeff-sessions-0103-20180102-story.html
— Universities face #MeToo movement over sexual harassment – AP
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-bc-us–sexual-misconduct-universities-20171228-story.html
— Victim behind Dennis Hastert downfall seeks protective order in lawsuit – Christy Gutowski
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-met-dennis-hastert-lawsuit-protective-order-20180101-story.html
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD IN NAPERVILLE SUN: Naperville Township officials want responsibility for highway department – Erin Hegarty
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/naperville-sun/news/ct-nvs-naperville-township-road-merger-st-0103recovered-tue-jan–2-110643-201-20180102-story.html
— Trump to have medical exam in January, release results – Justin Sink
https://www.pressreader.com/usa/chicago-tribune/20180103/281706910065438
— Advocates debate helping homeless – Amy Taxin and Geoff Mulvihill
https://www.pressreader.com/usa/chicago-tribune/20180103/281736974836510

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Animal Care and Control Chief orders pit bull that bit her euthanized – Fran Spielman
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/animal-care-and-control-shelter/
— Man suing Dennis Hastert wants to keep some details secret – Jon Seidel
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/man-suing-ex-house-speaker-dennis-hastert-wants-some-details-secret/

 

DAILY HERALD
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: Who gets the interest from the property taxes you paid early? – Jake Griffin
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20180103/who-gets-the-interest-from-the-property-taxes-you-paid-early

 

OUR QUAD CITIES
— Stopping the Illinois population’s downward spiral State is now 6th largest in the nation, dropping behind Pennsylvania – Kelley Bowles (DIERSEN: Overwhelmingly, those who are being driven out of Illinois are members of the following groups: Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German Americans, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time. Soon, if not already, virtually everyone left in Illinois will be members of the following groups: 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.ourquadcities.com/news/4-the-record/stopping-the-illinois-populations-downward-spiral/897305431

 

CHAMPAIGN/URBANA NEWS GAZETTE
— Another load of laws from Legislature – Editorial
http://www.news-gazette.com/opinion/editorials/2018-01-03/another-load-laws-legislature.html

 

ALTON DAILY NEWS
— Davis Verbally Pokes at Bernie Sanders (DIERSEN: What if all those who prepaid their real estate taxes were surveyed about the recently passed tax reform plan?)
http://www.altondailynews.com/news/details.cfm?clientid=17&id=257837
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Republican Congressman Rodney Davis of Taylorville says he continues to get positive feedback about the recently passed tax reform plan as he travels along the 13th Congressional District. Davis recently blasted one of the high profile opponents of the reform plan while touting its benefits. (AUDIO CLIP) Davis says Illinoisans will see the benefits of the tax plan in less than a month.)

 

SOUTHERN
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, anti-Trumps glorify and praise those who come to America illegally, who stay in America illegally, and who bring others to America illegally.
http://thesouthern.com/news/local/the-undocumented-immigrant-next-door-he-came-to-america-to/article_3fbbb0c3-31f6-5331-9307-54f6fa10dc47.html

 

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— Trump: My ‘nuclear button’ is bigger than Kim’s
http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/politics/the-latest-trump-says-his-nuclear-button-is-bigger/897688798

 

ROCK ISLAND TODAY
— Rock Island County Republicans support Ives
https://rockislandtoday.com/stories/511306020-rock-island-county-republicans-support-ives

 

ILLINOIS CHRONICLE
— Scathing Fox News report caps “rough first term” for Rauner
https://theillinoischronicle.com/chronicle-scathing-fox-news-report-caps-rough-first-term-for-rauner/

 

GOPUSA
— Where is the feminist support for the oppressed women in Iran?
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=36323

 

FREEDOM’S JOURNAL
— OPTIMISM ABOUT TRUMP IN 2018 – Star Parker
https://freedomsjournalinstitute.org/latest-news/opinion/optimism-about-trump-in-2018/
— DANGERS OF GOVERNMENT CONTROL – Walter E. Williams
https://freedomsjournalinstitute.org/latest-news/opinion/dangers-of-government-control/

 

TOWNHALL
— An Unfond Farewell to Un-statesman Orrin Hatch – Michelle Malkin
https://townhall.com/columnists/michellemalkin/2018/01/03/an-unfond-farewell-to-unstatesman-orrin-hatch-n2429306
— GOP President and Congress Still Funding Planned Parenthood – Terry Jeffrey
https://townhall.com/columnists/terryjeffrey/2018/01/03/gop-president-and-congress-still-funding-planned-parenthood-n2429315

 

FOX BUSINESS
— Government watchdog group could be the key to ‘draining the swamp’ (DIERSEN: What about political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, and retaliation for complaining about the aforesaid? What percent of federal employees are a) Democrat, b) minority, c) female, and d) non-veteran?)
http://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/2018/01/02/government-watchdog-group-could-be-key-to-draining-swamp.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Throughout Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign, he promised to “drain the swamp” and to end political corruption in Washington. An organization called OpenTheBooks.com could be the key to making President Trump’s promise a reality. The government watchdog organization discloses the amount of spending at every level of government across the U.S. Recently, the website released a 40-page report called “Mapping the Swamp” that reveals all publicly disclosed federal salaries and bonuses of government employees for the 2016 fiscal year. OpenTheBooks.com CEO Adam Andrzejewski said Tuesday that his organization could help provide President Trump with data supporting his claims of government corruption. “One thing that drives taxpayers crazy is the $1.5 billion worth of bonuses that are given out each year. So all of these agency heads and the president leading on this can bring forth civil service reform this year-we’ve got the data to back it all up,” he told FOX Business’ David Asman on “After the Bell.” According to the “Mapping the Swamp” report, 29,852 federal employees make over $190,823 a year, which out earned each of the 50 state governors.)

 

THE HILL
— Trump ICE pick: Politicians who run sanctuary cities should be charged with crimes – BRANDON CONRADIS
http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/367167-trump-ice-pick-politicians-who-run-sanctuary-cities-should-be-charged

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— Iranian Authorities Block Access to Social Media Tools – Sheera Frenkel (DIERSEN: What do your critics/opponents want to block? My critics/opponents want to block everyone a) from getting GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails and b) from visiting www.gopillinois.com.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/02/technology/iran-protests-social-media.html
— Critics Say Questions About Citizenship Could Wreck Chances for an Accurate Census – Michael Wines (DIERSEN: How many illegals are there in your precinct, in your municipality, in your township/ward, in your county, in Illinois, and America?)
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/02/us/census-citizenship-status-immigrants.html
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: Democrats Outline Demands as Threat of Shutdown Looms – Sheryl Gay Stolberg and Thomas Kaplan (DIERSEN: What have the Democrats, Libertarians, and Greens in your precinct, in your municipality, in your township/ward, in your county, and in Illinois demanded? From what I see, they have demanded that Republican township, ward, and county organizations and the Illinois Republican Party (IRP) a) GET RID OF those like me who support 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 IRP platform; b) GET RID OF those like me who support the Milton Township Republican Central Committee resolution against video gambling; c) GET RID OF those like me who do not promote dependency on government, dependency on charity, LGBTQ activity, abortion, mass/illegal immigration, booze, gambling, pot, and other vices, abolition of the First and Second Amendments, patronage, political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, and retaliation for complaining about the aforesaid; and d) GET RID OF those like me who are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, non-poor, gun owners, German American, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/02/us/politics/senate-democrats-government-shutdown-immigration.html

 

LOS ANGELES TIMES
— CHICAGO TRIBUNE FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD HARDCOPY ARTICLE TITLE: President boasts of ‘my’ arsenal – Tracy Wilkinson
http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-fg-trump-korea-20180102-story.html

 

WASHINGTON POST
— Why do so many Republicans hate college? – Catherine Rampell (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, colleges focus on cranking out “good little Democrats.”)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/why-do-so-many-republicans-hate-college/2017/12/28/db55f5f6-ec16-11e7-b698-91d4e35920a3_story.html

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Should Business Be ‘Grateful’? In fact, we should all be grateful when tax reform leads to better incentives. – Holman W. Jenkins, Jr. (DIERSEN: Those who prepaid their real estate taxes are not grateful.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/should-business-be-grateful-1514940942
— ‘White-Informed Civility’ Is the Latest Target in the Campus Wars The rules of collegiate debate are also coming under attack as racist and patriarchal. – Steve Salerno
https://www.wsj.com/articles/white-informed-civility-is-the-latest-target-in-the-campus-wars-1514938758
— Looking for a Few Good Men A society that won’t let boys be boys will pay a price in the end. – Angela Rocco DeCarlo
https://www.wsj.com/articles/looking-for-a-few-good-men-1514941459
— Even If Your New Job Is a Bad Fit, Don’t Quit How to evaluate whether the challenges can be overcome or it’s really a toxic workplace – Sue Shellenbarger (DIERSEN: Have you worked in toxic workplaces? Soon after I took a $19,203 (26%) pay cut in today’s dollars (a downgrade from GS-12 Step 5, currently $91,880, to GS-9 Step 10, currently $72,677) to transfer from IRS to GAO in 1980 when I was 31 years old, I learned how toxic its Chicago office was for those who shared my demographics. Nevertheless, I counted on the GAO manager who had arranged for my transfer a) to protect me from political affiliation discrimination, from reverse discrimination, and from age discrimination, b) to get me assigned to audits of IRS, c) to get me promoted to GS-11 Step 10 (currently $87,933), to GS-12 Step 5 (currently $91,880), to GS-13 Step 1 (currently $96,403), etc. However, ever-increasingly, the Democrats who ran the office did everything that they could to get rid of him. Nevertheless, in 1986, he succeeded a) in getting me assigned to audits of IRS and b) in promoting me to GS-13 Step 1 (currently $96,403). However, the Democrats succeeded a) in getting rid of him in 1987, b) in throwing me off audits of IRS in 1989, c) in keeping me off audits of IRS for the rest of my GAO career, d) in giving me unfair performance expectations and unfair performance appraisals, e) in always ranking me the bottom half of my coworkers for pay-for-performance purposes, and f) in forcing me to take their early retirement “offer” in 1997 when I was 49 years old.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/even-if-your-brand-new-job-is-a-bad-fit-dont-quit-1514906394
— Iranians Turn to Telegram App Amid Protests People have used the messaging tool to share information and videos – Sam Schechner and Stu Woo (DIERSEN: In Illinois, what tools should Republicans make better use of to protest a) Democrats and Democrat plants, b) Libertarians and Libertarian plants, c) Greens and Green plants, and d) RINOs?)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/iranians-turn-to-telegram-app-amid-protests-1514919114

THE WEEK
— Why are Illinois Democrats banking on a billionaire in 2018? – David Faris
http://theweek.com/articles/742925/why-are-illinois-democrats-banking-billionaire-2018

 

INDEPENDENT JOURNAL REVIEW
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: California’s New Pot Law May Popularize Weed Weddings, Budtenders, Canna-bus Rides and Pot ‘Church’ – VICTORIA TAFT
https://ijr.com/the-declaration/2018/01/1042948-californias-new-pot-law-will-popularize-weed-weddings-bud-tenders-canna-bus-rides-pot-church/

 

VANITY FAIR
— WILL 2018 BE THE YEAR THE INTERNET KILLS OLD MEDIA? Experts share their fears—and their hopes—for another year of reckoning with the digital apocalypse. – JAMES WARREN
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2018/01/will-2018-be-the-year-the-internet-kills-old-media

 

MONEY MAGAZINE
— America’s Next Retirement Crisis Could Be That Baby Boomers Are Living Too Long – ELANA HOLODNY (DIERSEN: What is your life expectancy?)
http://time.com/money/5072402/americas-next-retirement-crisis-could-be-that-baby-boomers-are-living-too-long/

 

FED WEEK
— New Year’s Resolutions for your Career – Nancy Segal (DIERSEN: What would have helped you move up your career ladder? The federal government would have promoted me into its Senior Executive Service long before I was 40 if I had been a Democrat. If I had been a Democrat, I would have focused on helping my superiors meet their Affirmative Action, Diversity, and Inclusion quotas, goals, and targets, that is, I would have helped them get rid of their employees who were Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran who did not 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. If I had been a Democrat, I would not have complained about political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, or retaliation. If I had been a Democrat, I would not have become an active member in a class action lawsuit in 1988 when I was 40 years old that charged the federal government with reverse discrimination, age discrimination, and retaliation.)
https://ask.fedweek.com/career-resolutions-made-2018/

January 1 Evening Edition

ABC7
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: California pot shops ring in 2018, ring up first legal sales – AP
http://abc7chicago.com/politics/california-pot-shops-ring-in-2018-ring-up-first-legal-sales/2848154/

 

NBC5
— Hastert Case Returns to Court Tuesday – Phil Rogers (DIERSEN: Needless-to-say, if you have ever done anything that subjects you to blackmail, you should not seek or hold any kind of government or political office.)
https://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/Hastert-Case-Returns-to-Court-Tuesday-467535533.html
— 2018 Brings Governor’s Race, Other Big Contests in Illinois – Sara Burnett
https://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/2018-Brings-Governors-Race-Other-Big-Contests-in-Illinois-467558543.html

 

CBS2
— Trump Rings In New Year At Mar A Lago Before the clock struck midnight, the President spoke with the press about his expectations for 2018. CBS 2’s Diane King Hall reports.
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/video/category/spoken-word-wbbmtv/3785563-trump-rings-in-new-year-at-mar-a-lago/

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: A ‘monumental moment’ for fully legal marijuana in California – Patrick McGreevy
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-california-legal-marijuana-20180101-story.html
— Keeping stoners from driving cars – John O’Halloran, DeKalb
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/letters/ct-keep-pot-heads-off-road-legalize-marijuana-20171228-story.html
(FROM THE LETTER: As a commercial driver, I don’t want to share the road with pot heads. But I do support legalization of marijuana in Illinois. The state legislature should pass a law that says a citizen who chooses to purchase marijuana may be issued a special drug-use license, but will first have to surrender their driver’s license. You can use drugs. Or you can drive. But you can’t do both safely.)

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— How to make regular folks’ $50 donations count in elections – Editorial (DIERSEN: Should I write a book about “Republican” candidates who hint/imply/argue/shout that unless I give them lots of money, a) they do not want me to know about their fundraisers, b) they do not want me to promote their fundraisers, c) they do not want me to attend their fundraisers, and d) they do not want me to report on their fundraisers? They hint/imply/argue/shout that I fraudulently claim to be a member of the news media to get information to intentionally/unintentionally use to harm them. They blame me for their problems. They blame me for your problems. They blame me for my problems. They blame me for everyone’s problems. They blame me for all the losses that Republicans have suffered in Illinois since 2000.)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/editorial-how-to-make-average-voters-50-donation-count/
— Remember, rekindle the spirit of Emancipation Proclamation – Jesse Jackson (DIERSEN: When did your ancestors immigrate to America? What do you say to those who hint/imply/argue/shout that if you are an old White male Republican, the longer that your ancestors have been in America, a) the more that you have benefited from their discrimination against minorities and against women and b) the more that you should pay the price of Affirmative Action, Diversity, and Inclusion?)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/jackson-remember-rekindle-the-spirit-of-emancipation-proclamation/

 

DAILY HERALD
— Armed with new data, officials target ‘drug-dealing’ doctors – AP
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20180101/news/301019948/

 

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— 2018 Brings Governor’s Race, Other Big Contests in Illinois The new year will be one of big decisions in Illinois. – SARA BURNETT
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20180101/2018-brings-governors-race-other-big-contests-in-illinois
(FROM THE ARTICLE: All statewide offices will be on the ballot on Nov. 8, but no contest will be as fevered — or costly — as the governor’s race. Democratic candidates including billionaire J.B. Pritzker, wealthy businessman Chris Kennedy and state Sen. Daniel Biss are seeking their party’s nomination in the March 20 primary, when Rauner also faces a GOP primary challenge from conservative state Rep. Jeanne Ives. Already, the candidates are raising and spending money at a pace that could make this the most expensive governor’s race in U.S. history. Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s unexpected announcement that she won’t seek a fifth term created a crowded Democratic primary for that office. Some congressional races also will be closely watched. Several Democrats are vying for the seat held by U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez of Chicago, who’s retiring. And Republican Congressman Peter Roskam will try to hold his seat representing suburban Chicago, a district Democrats are eyeing as one of the party’s best chances to gain a seat in the U.S. House after voters there supported Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump in 2016.)
— Police seize $5 million in pot at Morgan Co. truck stop (DIERSEN: If the Democrats legalize pot for recreational use in Illinois, what percent of those in your precinct, in your municipality, in your township/ward, in your county, and in Illinois will become stoners, that is, what percent will become wards of the state?)
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20180101/police-seize-5-million-in-pot-at-morgan-co-truck-stop

 

NPR ILLINOIS
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Legal Recreational Marijuana Sales Begin In California
http://nprillinois.org/post/legal-recreational-marijuana-sales-begin-california#stream/0

 

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Californians line up to legally buy recreational pot Seen as another milestone of mainstreaming weed – THERESA WALDROP
http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/business/californians-line-up-to-legally-buy-recreational-pot/895012072

 

ILLINOIS LEAKS
— Help make your Government accountable in 2018! – KIRK ALLEN
http://edgarcountywatchdogs.com/2018/01/help-make-your-government-accountable-in-2018/

 

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— INCUMBENTS FACE PRIMARY CHALLENGES IN ILLINOIS CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2018/01/incumbents-face-primary-challenges-in-illinois-congressional-districts.html
— THORNER & INGOLD: DAY OF RECKONING FOR GOP TAX BILL NAYSAYERS
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2018/01/thorner-ingold-day-of-reckoning-for-gop-tax-bill-naysayers.html
— PETITION SIGNATURE INVESTIGATION LEADS TO 16TH CD GOP CANDIDATE WITHDRAWING
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2018/01/marter-investigation-into-petition-signatures-leads-to-16th-cd-candidate-withdrawing.html
— CHICAGO 2017 MURDERS AVERAGED 2 A DAY
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2018/01/chicago-2017-murders-averaged-2-a-day.html
— DEMOCRAT-CONTROLLED LEGISLATURE MAKES ILLINOIS FIRST IN BANNING LIVE ELEPHANT SHOWS (DIERSEN: The elephant is the symbol of the Republican Party. In 2007, I had the honor of raising $2,000 from DuPage Republicans on short notice to sponsor an elephant that walked behind Congressman Peter Roskam in Wheaton’s Independence Day parade. Outstandingly, Roger Claar contributed $500 of that $2,000. SEE: http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2007/07/photos-from-the.html)
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2018/01/democrat-controlled-legislature-makes-illinois-first-in-banning-live-elephant-shows.html

 

NEWSMAX
— Blue States Look to Blunt Tax Law by Legal Challenges – Jeff Rodack (DIERSEN: Did you prepay your real estate taxes? Will the Democrats try to get all those who prepaid their real estate taxes to join in a class action lawsuit against the Republicans? What percent of those who prepaid their real estate taxes are Democrats and what percent are Republicans?)
https://www.newsmax.com/politics/blue-states-california-new-york-tax-cuts-and-jobs-act/2018/01/01/id/834551/

 

GOPUSA
— Obama worried about rollback of his so-called ‘legacy’ (DIERSEN: Obama condemned my 1996 Ford Thunderbird LX V-8 as being a clunker. SEE: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Car_Allowance_Rebate_System Will Trump pardon my 1996 Ford Thunderbird LX V-8? It gets 24 MPG on the highway.)
http://www.gopusa.com/obama-worried-about-rollback-of-his-so-called-legacy/
— Bloody Chicago: It took 2 hours to record city’s first homicide of 2018
http://www.gopusa.com/bloody-chicago-it-took-2-hours-to-record-citys-first-homicide-of-2018/
— Chain migration concerns grow as millions enter US with legal status
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=36066
— Fighting for religious liberty proving costly for average Americans (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries that are members of the following groups force individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries to promote LGBTQ activity: 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.gopusa.com/?p=36153

 

FOX NEWS
— Hillary Clinton backer paid $500G to fund women accusing Trump of sexual misconduct before Election Day, report says – Robert Gearty
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/12/31/hillary-clinton-backer-paid-500g-to-fund-women-accusing-trump-sexual-misconduct-before-election-day-report-says.html

 

BREITBART
— California Ushers in 2018 with Ammunition Control – AWR HAWKINS
http://www.breitbart.com/california/2018/01/01/california-ushers-2018-ammunition-control/
— Weak 17: A Frozen Wasteland of Empty Seats on the Final Week of the NFL Year – WARNER TODD HUSTON
http://www.breitbart.com/sports/2017/12/31/weak-17-frozen-wasteland-empty-seats-final-week-nfl-year/

 

BLAZE
— Republicans and Democrats open 2018 by arguing over how much to grow the size of government – Leon Wolf
http://www.theblaze.com/news/2018/01/01/republicans-and-democrats-open-2018-by-arguing-over-how-much-to-grow-the-size-of-government

 

DAILY CALLER
— Trump Really Is Draining The Swamp – ROBERT DONACHIE (DIERSEN: One could say that Trump supporters promote hatred of past, present, and future federal employees. How should past, present, and future federal employees react to that?)
http://dailycaller.com/2017/12/31/trump-really-is-draining-the-swamp/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The federal workforce grew sizably under both former Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, ballooning from roughly 1.8 million employees in 2000 to 2.14 million at the height of Obama’s presidency. Trump’s administration is moving at a historically slow pace in filling political positions at federal agencies, whether it be part of his “draining the swamp” promise or a slow movement on the part of the Senate is unclear. The Senate has only confirmed 240 of the over 600 political appointments that are supposed to help carry out the administration’s agenda.)

 

THE HILL
— Most key federal agencies have cut staff under Trump: report – JULIA MANCHESTER (DIERSEN: Democrats run the federal government. They use budget cuts to get rid of their employees who are Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran who did not 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.)
http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/366925-most-key-federal-agencies-have-cut-staff-under-trump-report

 

WASHINGTON POST
— Winners and losers from 2017, the year in politics – Aaron Blake (DIERSEN: One could argue that those who have itemized their deductions are losers, and especially those who pay lots of mortgage interest, real estate taxes, state income taxes, medical and dental expenses, 501(c)(3) contributions, and/or job-related education.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2018/01/01/winners-and-losers-from-2017-the-year-in-politics/

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Congress’s Gift to Blue-State Taxpayers Limiting the SALT deduction will enforce fiscal discipline. – Alfredo Ortiz (DIERSEN: Those who dominate Illinois talk and/or act like they want to drive out of Illinois those who itemize their deductions. Most commonly, those who itemize their deductions spend lots of money on mortgage interest, real estate tax, state income tax, medical and dental expenses, contributions to 501(c)(3) organizations, and/or job-related education.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/congresss-gift-to-blue-state-taxpayers-1514823290
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The great American migration out of high-tax states like New York and Illinois may be about to accelerate. The tax reform enacted last month caps the deduction for state and local taxes, known as SALT, at $10,000. This means millions of people will finally feel the full tax burden imposed by state and local politicians. When the SALT shield shrinks, so may people’s willingness to put up with these high taxes. Such states already are losing population, and new Census Bureau data—released the same day tax reform passed the House and Senate—shows the continued migration. Of the seven states that grew the fastest between July 1, 2016, and July 1, 2017, four (Nevada, Washington, Florida and Texas) have no income tax, and the other three (Idaho, Utah and Arizona) have low taxes. On the flip side, high-tax states like New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Illinois and Rhode Island either lost residents or stagnated. Pennsylvania quietly became the fifth-most-populous state in the nation, displacing Illinois. When people move, they take their money with them. The five high-tax states listed above have lost more than $200 billion of combined adjusted gross income since 1992, according to the website HowMoneyWalks.com, which aggregates IRS data. In contrast, Nevada, Washington, Florida and Texas gained roughly the same amount. If politicians in high-tax states want to prevent this migration from becoming a stampede, they will have to deliver fiscal discipline.)
— What New Tax Law? Caterpillar Fights to Protect Its Swiss-Made Profits American manufacturing icon pays little on parts sales outside U.S., so the IRS wants $2 billion – Andrew Tangel and Michael Rapoport
https://www.wsj.com/articles/what-new-tax-law-caterpillar-fights-to-protect-its-swiss-made-profits-1514834745
— California Poses Problem for GOP as 2018 Dawns Party policies ranging from taxes to immigration cast a shadow over midterm prospects – Gerald F. Seib
https://www.wsj.com/articles/california-poses-problem-for-gop-as-2018-dawns-1514819328
— In Cities With Low Unemployment, Wages Finally Start to Get Bigger Ending an economic riddle, pay is moving higher and could point to improved incomes nationally in 2018 – Shayndi Raice and Eric Morath (DIERSEN: Overwhelmingly, my critics/opponents want cheap labor.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/in-cities-with-low-unemployment-wages-finally-start-to-get-bigger-1514808001

 

USA TODAY
— Trump rings in new year at glitzy Mar-a-Lago party, predicts ‘fantastic 2018’ – AP
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/01/01/trump-rings-new-year-glitzy-mar-lago-party-predicts-fantastic-2018/994015001/
— Retirement planning: Here’s how much money you should have saved at every age – Kathleen Elkins (DIERSEN: How much had you saved for your retirement when you were 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, and 65. I was 65 in 2013. In today’s dollars, my salary in 1997 when I was 49 years old was $122,991. Eight times $122,991 is $983,928.)
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/retirement/2018/01/01/retirement-planning-heres-how-much-money-you-should-have-saved-every-age/990172001/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: In your 20s: Aim to save 25% of your overall gross pay, Greene tells CNBC. “That 25% is the combination of 401(k) withholdings, matching funds from your employer and any cash savings that you have,” she notes. “It can also include debt repayment. “Just make sure your lifestyle expenses don’t exceed 75% of your gross income.” By age 30: Have the equivalent of your annual salary saved, Greene says. If you earn $50,000 a year, aim to have $50,000 in savings when you hit 30. Again, this includes any retirement account contributions, matching funds from your company, cash savings, or money you have invested elsewhere, in index funds or robo-advisers. By age 35: Have twice your annual salary saved. By age 40: Have three times your annual salary saved. By age 45: Have four times your annual salary saved. By age 50: Have five times your annual salary saved. By age 55: Have six times your annual salary saved. By age 60: Have seven times your annual salary saved. By age 65: Have eight times your annual salary saved.)

 

OAKLAND PRESS
— Financial advisor suggests couples try to live like a retired person before retiring – Debra Kaszubski (DIERSEN: My Civil Service Retirement System pension is only 41% of my ending salary in today’s dollars.)
http://www.theoaklandpress.com/lifestyle/20171226/financial-advisor-suggests-couples-try-to-live-like-a-retired-person-before-retiring

December 30 Morning Edition

NBC5
— Silverstein Has Petition Troubles, May Not Make it to Primary Ballot – Mary Ann Ahern
https://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/Silverstein-Has-Petition-Troubles-May-Not-Make-It-To-Primary-Ballot-467220783.html

 

ABC7
— New Illinois Laws 2018: Laws that take effect January 1
http://abc7chicago.com/politics/new-illinois-laws-2018-laws-that-take-effect-january-1/2785524/

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Time at Mar-a-Lago is a respite for Trump — and a headache for his staff – Ashley Parker and Josh Dawsey
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-trump-staff-mar-a-lago-20171229-story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: An anti-Trump says “In a 30-minute interview, President Trump made 24 false or misleading claims.”
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/factcheck/ct-trump-interview-fact-check-20171229-story.html
— Trump administration fires all members of HIV/AIDS advisory council – Ben Guarino
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-trump-hiv-aids-council-20171229-story.html
— Cheap Amazon shipping leaves the Postal Service ‘dumber and poorer,’ Trump tweets – AP
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-trump-postal-service-rates-amazon-20171229-story.html
— How 2018 will transport Americans back to 1968 – Editorial (DIERSEN: What did you do in 1968? I worked as a part-time mailman for the Democrats who ran the Park Forest Post Office. I was a full-time student at UIC. I lived with my parents and brother in Crete. I sold my 1968 Oldsmobile 442 and bought a 1969 Dodge Charger SE. I saved money for college expenses.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-edit-nineteen68-0101-story.html
— Bernie Sanders to Republicans: Stop saying I support your tax bill – David Weigel
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-bernie-sanders-republican-tax-bill-20171229-story.html

 

DAILY HERALD
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH BIG COLOR PICTURES: Suburban homeowners flock to prepay property tax bills to beat looming deadline – Katlyn Smith
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20171229/suburban-homeowners-flock-to-prepay-property-tax-bills-to-beat-looming-deadline#autoplay
— FRONT PAGE: New consolidation twist surfaces about Naperville township roads – Marie Wilson
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20171229/new-consolidation-twist-surfaces-about-naperville-township-roads

 

WBEZ
— Chicago Murder Rate Drops, But Not In All Neighborhoods – Patrick Smith, Natalie Moore
https://www.wbez.org/shows/wbez-news/chicago-murder-rate-drops-but-not-in-all-neighborhoods/3658ab1f-3cbd-4c50-b60b-73cf87dad6e3

 

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Gov. Rauner announces staff changes
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20171229/gov-rauner-announces-staff-changes
— Springfield’s Winter Warming Center seeing big crowds during first month – Crystal Thomas
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20171228/springfields-winter-warming-center-seeing-big-crowds-during-first-month

 

NORTHWEST HERALD
— Abortion on decline in McHenry County Declines seen among most age groups, especially teens since start of decade – ERIC R. OLSON
http://www.nwherald.com/2017/12/30/abortion-on-decline-in-mchenry-county/af4haa/

 

TIMES
— In 2018, Illinois needs to stop the decline – Editorial (DIERSEN: Members of Group A run Illinois and they focus on driving out of Illinois those individuals, organizations, and companies that are members of Group B. Members of Group A 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/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors and members of Group B are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German Americans, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
http://www.mywebtimes.com/news/editorial/our-view-in-illinois-needs-to-stop-the-decline/article_d752af8e-f266-5fc6-89e0-52dc6f4933ea.html

 

JOURNAL COURIER
— Governor rejects elderly home care plan – AP
http://www.myjournalcourier.com/news/117604/governor-rejects-elderly-home-care-plan

 

ALTON DAILY NEWS
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Alton Daily News badmouths those who prepaid their real estate taxes; says they want to “skirt the new law.”
http://altondailynews.com/news/details.cfm?clientid=17&id=257637#.Wkd2Dt-nGM8

 

NPR ILLINOIS
— Transgender Rights Lead NPR’s Top LGBTQ Stories of 2017 – DANNY NETT (DIERSEN: Soon, if not already, if you do not promote LGBTQ activity, you will be barred from getting an education, barred from getting a job, etc.)
http://nprillinois.org/post/transgender-rights-lead-nprs-top-lgbtq-stories-2017#stream/0

 

CHICAGO PATCH
— Year In Review: Trump’s 5 Biggest Clashes With Chicago In 2017 The president and the city were constant sparring partners throughout the year. But who won in the end? – Joe Vince
https://patch.com/illinois/chicago/year-review-trumps-5-biggest-clashes-chicago-2017

 

PRAIRIE STATE WIRE
— Ives points finger at Rauner following report on Legionnaires’ outbreak at veterans home – Glenn Minnis
https://prairiestatewire.com/stories/511306058-ives-points-finger-at-rauner-following-report-on-legionnaires-outbreak-at-veterans-home

 

WILL COUNTY GAZETTE
— Will County Clerk candidate McPhillips: Taxes causing residents to flee Illinois – Glenn Minnis
https://willcountygazette.com/stories/511304245-will-county-clerk-candidate-mcphillips-taxes-causing-residents-to-flee-illinois

 

FOX NEWS
— Capitol Hill’s sexual harassment scandal reignites debate about thrifty lawmakers sleeping in their office – Chad Pergram
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/12/30/capitol-hill-s-sexual-harassment-scandal-reignites-debate-about-thrifty-lawmakers-sleeping-in-their-office.html
— Facebook rolling back controversial initiative to fight fake news
http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2017/12/28/facebook-rolling-back-controversial-initiative-to-fight-fake-news.html

 

BREITBART
— Judge Upholds Controversial Bill Requiring Taxpayers to Fund Abortions in Illinois – THOMAS D. WILLIAMS, PH.D.
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/12/29/judge-upholds-controversial-bill-requiring-taxpayers-to-fund-abortions-in-illinois/

 

DAILY CALLER
— REPORT: Obama’s DOJ Suffered From ‘Systemic’ Sexual Misconduct – Joe Simonson
http://dailycaller.com/2017/12/28/obamas-doj-suffered-from-systemic-sexual-misconduct/

 

AMERICAN THINKER
— Is amnesty for DREAMers worth it if we get a border wall? – Ed Straker
http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2017/12/is_amnesty_for_dreamers_worth_it_if_we_get_a_border_wall.html
— White Privilege: An Article of Left-Wing Faith – Eileen F. Toplansky (DIERSEN: To be accepted by Democrats, you have agree with them that the more of the following that you are, the more that you have benefited from discrimination against minorities and against females and the more that you should pay the price of Affirmative Action, Diversity, and Inclusion: Trump supporter, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owner, German American, and/or if your ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2017/12/white_privilege_an_article_of_leftwing_faith.html

 

TOWNHALL
— Mr. President: No DACA, Build The Wall, or No Deal at All! – Arthur Schaper
https://townhall.com/columnists/arthurschaper/2017/12/30/mr-president-no-daca-build-the-wall-or-no-deal-at-all-n2428356

 

THE HILL
— Nonprofits are the unintended victims of the new tax bill – CHRIS GATES
http://thehill.com/opinion/finance/366773-nonprofits-are-the-unintended-victims-of-new-tax-bill

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— Don’t Cheer as the I.R.S. Grows Weaker – Editorial (DIERSEN: What do you base your knowledge of IRS on? I worked for IRS for almost 9 years, the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step 1-5 levels, currently $79,563-$90,173. I worked for GAO on audits of IRS for 3 years at the GS-13 Step-1-3 levels, currently, $94,610-$100,917. I have filed federal income tax returns since 1964 and itemized returns since 1972. I took IRS to Tax Court and won a split decision on my education deductions. Nevertheless my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes continue to viciously demonize, viciously denigrate, and viciously condemn my knowledge of IRS.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/29/opinion/dont-cheer-as-the-irs-grows-weaker.html
(FROM THE EDITORIAL: No federal agency generates as much rancor as the Internal Revenue Service, part of that duo of inevitability, taxes and death. Despite its reputation for toughness, the I.R.S. relies on voluntary compliance, as in Americans’ sense of duty, to collect the money that powers our government. That’s more true than ever, because as it prepares to implement the most sweeping tax overhaul in 30 years, the I.R.S. is perhaps weaker than it has ever been. In 1986, the last time Congress passed major changes in the tax code, it included a budget increase for the agency, allowing it to hire 2,100 more employees to carry out the changes. Earlier this year, as the agency struggled to do its job with a decimated staff, a shrinking budget and decrepit computers, its commissioner pleaded with Congress to at least give it time to prepare for the big tax overhaul Republicans wanted. That didn’t happen. Instead, Republicans rushed hastily written legislation larded with amendments through both chambers. Even before this hash hit their desks, I.R.S. officials were warning about the potential for a catastrophic breakdown that could imperil our tax system. Then, at its busiest time of year, the agency was given a week before the tax law goes into effect to translate hundreds of pages of conflicting provisions, potential loopholes and unintended consequences into coherent guidance for taxpayers.)
— America, Can We Talk About Your Drinking? More people are consuming alcohol in risky ways. That’s not a good trend. – GABRIELLE GLASER
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/29/opinion/sunday/alcohol-binge-drinking.html
— Germans Will Ring in New Year With Extra Security, Especially for Women – Melissa Eddy
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/29/world/europe/germans-will-ring-in-new-year-with-extra-security-especially-for-women.html

 

NEW YORK MAGAZINE
— The GOP Tax Bill Has Affluent Homeowners Enraged and Confused – Eric Levitz (DIERSEN: Those who itemize their deductions have always been demonized, denigrated, and condemned as being affluent. I itemized my deductions 1972-1977 and my wife and I have itemized our deductions since we got married in 1978.)
http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2017/12/the-gop-tax-bill-has-wealthy-homeowners-enraged-and-confused.html

 

BLOOMBERG
— Ken Griffin Kicks in $3 Million for Soccer – Amanda L Gordon
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-12-29/ken-griffin-kicks-in-3-million-for-soccer-philanthropy-tracker

 

INEWS
–UK: Millennials will get an ‘inheritance boom’ – but too late to help housing struggles – Karl McDonald
https://inews.co.uk/news/uk/millennials-will-get-inheritance-boom-late-help-housing-struggles/

 

COMMUNITIES DIGITAL NEWS
— Why 20% of American households will not benefit from tax cut – Michael Busler (DIERSEN: One could argue that the tax bill is designed to reward renters and to punish homeowners.)
https://www.commdiginews.com/business-2/economic-politics/why-20-percent-households-will-not-benefit-tax-cut-97552/

 

SLATE
— Homeowners Lining Up to Pay Early Taxes Is a Sign of Blue-State Pain to Come – Henry Grabar (DIERSEN: Those who itemize their deductions have always been demonized, denigrated, and condemned as being wealthy. I itemized my deductions 1972-1977 and my wife and I have itemized our deductions since we got married in 1978. High real estate taxes depress home values.)
https://slate.com/business/2017/12/the-first-drops-of-rain-from-a-tax-bill-hurricane.html

(FROM THE ARTICLE: And now, in these frigid waning days of December, come the tax bill’s first visible losers: wealthy blue-state property owners (and the governments their taxes support). In the four days since Christmas, homeowners have lined up at city halls across the Northeast, doing something whose unnatural aspect reveals the scale of damage the tax bill will wreak in the Northeast: voluntarily handing over thousands of dollars in taxes months and months in advance. Hundreds of people waited on lines at city halls and county seats from Fairfax County, Virginia, to the suburbs of Baltimore, New York, and Boston, trying to pay their property taxes while they remain fully deductible on federal returns. Starting next year, the IRS will impose a limit of $10,000 on all state and local tax deductions. Of course, the bracket here is pretty limited to a certain privileged class: homeowners who not only have enormous property tax bills but also the money and the wherewithal to pay them in advance. It is overwhelmingly a wealthy group, and one concentrated in a handful of Democratic states and counties. Real estate taxes make up only about a third of SALT deductions, but they are easy to pay in advance. And if filing now means taking $10,000 off your 2018 tax return, a little dead-week trip to the Finance Department could save you thousands on next year’s taxes. So it’s not surprising that early payers are dedicating a few hours to fixing cash-flow issues in cities, suburbs, and counties up and down the Northeast Corridor, and in Illinois, Texas, and California as well. On the one hand, it’s hard to drum up much sympathy for the winners of a home price run that has sent the collective value of real estate in the Los Angeles metropolitan area, to take one example, higher than the GDP of the United Kingdom.)

December 28 Morning Edition

WASHINGTON POST
— IRS says many who prepaid property taxes may still face cap on deductions – Peter Jamison, Jeff Stein and Patricia Sullivan (DIERSEN: Will the Republicans amend the tax bill so that real estate taxes due in 2018 that were not assessed in 2017 but were prepaid in 2017 can be deducted in 2017?)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/tax-bill-spawns-new-holiday-ritual-waiting-in-line-to-pay-taxes/2017/12/27/1e7ea59a-eb12-11e7-b698-91d4e35920a3_story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: However, the IRS said Wednesday that filers could only avoid the cap by paying property taxes that have been assessed in 2017. Many local governments, including most Washington-area jurisdictions, have not completed assessments for upcoming years. Critics said the last-minute confusion underscored the haste with which Republicans passed their tax bill, completed in record time for such a far-reaching piece of legislation. “This is not the way to do legislation that will massively impact the entire economy. It sets off a flurry of action from people trying to save money, and they act as rash as the legislators who pushed this thing through,” said Philip Hackney, a tax expert at Louisiana State University. That confusion was echoed among thousands of taxpayers in the Washington region and elsewhere — some following the advice of their accountants — who interrupted their holiday activities to line up in subfreezing temperatures at tax offices.)
— Can you save a lot of money by prepaying your property taxes? Key questions and answers. – Zachary A. Goldfarb
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2017/12/27/essential-questions-and-answers-about-prepaying-your-property-taxes/
— Most Americans do not support making cuts to programs for people with low incomes – Eugene Scott (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, under the Democrats, more and more and more people have low incomes. What did you do to qualify yourself for better paying jobs? I earned a) a job-related bachelor’s degree when I was 21 in 1970 and job-related master’s degrees when I was 27, 31, and 48, b) job-related professional certifications when I was 30, 32, 41, 45, 47, and 48, and c) a job-related professional license when I was 32.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/12/27/most-americans-do-not-support-making-cuts-to-programs-for-people-with-low-incomes/

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— Prepaying Your Property Tax? I.R.S. Cautions It Might Not Pay Off – Ben Casselman
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/27/business/prepaying-your-property-taxes-irs-cautions-it-might-not-pay-off.html
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: In a Complex Tax Bill, Let the Hunt for Loopholes Begin – Natalie Kitroeff (DIERSEN: What deductions do your critics/opponents hint/imply/argue/shout are loopholes? My critics/opponents hint/imply/argue/shout that the following deductions are loopholes: mortgage interest, real estate tax, state income tax, medical and dental expenses, 501(c)(3) contributions, and job-related education.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/27/business/economy/tax-loopholes.html

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— IRS Says 2018 Property Taxes Have to Be Assessed to Qualify for Deduction Agency says taxes on real estate that haven’t been assessed before 2018 won’t be deductible on 2017 returns – Joseph De Avila
https://www.wsj.com/articles/irs-2018-property-taxes-have-to-be-assessed-to-qualify-for-prepayment-1514417581

 

FORBES
— When You Shouldn’t Prepay Your 2018 Property Taxes – Kate Ashford
https://www.forbes.com/sites/kateashford/2017/12/28/property-taxes/#5e95fa6d5513
(FROM THE ARTICLE: If you don’t have a bill yet for 2018, it’s not officially deductible. “The IRS ruled that you cannot pay and deduct in 2017 unless assessed,” says Scott Bishop, a financial planner with STA Wealth Management in Houston. If, for instance, your locality assessed property taxes earlier in the year and you generally pay in installments, you can pay the full balance in 2017 and deduct it. But if property taxes haven’t been assessed yet, you’re out of luck. “That seems to be the bigger issue now,” says Howard Hook, a financial planner and CPA in Princeton, NJ. “If you’re not assessed for 2018, you can’t make the payments.”)

 

NBC5
— How to Prepay Property Taxes in Chicago Suburbs
https://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/How-to-Prepay-Property-Taxes-in-Chicago-Suburbs-466954723.html

 

ABC7
— Homeowners rush to pre-pay property taxes after GOP tax bill – Eric Horng
http://abc7chicago.com/finance/homeowners-rush-to-pre-pay-property-taxes-after-gop-tax-bill/2832246/

 

DAILY HERALD
— IRS: Many who prepay taxes may still face caps – Peter Jamison, Jeff Stein and Patricia Sullivan
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20171227/irs-many-who-prepay-taxes-may-still-face-caps
— 6 essential questions and answers about prepaying your property taxes – Zachary A. Goldfarb
http://www.dailyherald.com/business/20171228/6-essential-questions-and-answers-about-prepaying-your-property-taxes
— Charity gets a jolt from tax law _ but due to drop next year – AP
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20171228/business/312289970/
— How 6th District Democrats would change Republican tax law – Marie Wilson
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20171228/how-6th-district-democrats-would-change-republican-tax-law
— Activists seek injunction against Illinois abortion law – AP
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20171228/news/312289983/
— Group wants photos of every service member killed in Vietnam War – Katlyn Smith
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20171228/group-wants-photos-of-every-service-member-killed-in-vietnam-war
— Trump’s unjust insults to undermine Washington Post – Editorial (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, the MSM (main stream media) makes it clear that it exists a) to defend and advance the Democrat, Libertarian, and Green party platforms and b) to get rid of individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries that are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German American, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
http://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20171228/editorial-trumps-unjust-insults-to-undermine-washington-post
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: State requires new sexual harassment policies for all local governments – Eric Peterson
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20171228/state-requires-new-sexual-harassment-policies-for-all-local-governments

 

ILLINOIS PATCH
— Illinois Homeowners Rush To Pay Taxes Before GOP Plan Kicks In Friday is your last day to prepay taxes ahead of the new GOP plan, which caps tax deductions at $10,000. – Shannon Antinori
https://patch.com/illinois/across-il/illinois-homeowners-rush-pay-taxes-gop-plan-kicks

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Roy Moore files lawsuit to block Alabama Senate result – AP
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-roy-moore-lawsuit-alabama-senate-20171227-story.html
— Husband blames owner of two dogs who killed wife on Christmas Eve in Kentucky – Kristine Phillips
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-kentucky-dog-attack-20171227-story.html
— Will #metoo movement speed up the number of women in leadership — or slow it down? – Jena McGregor (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, under the anti-Trumps, if a woman accuses a man of something, that man is presumed to be guilty, and especially if that man is a Trump supporter, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, older, rich, gun owner, German American, and/or if his ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-metoo-movement-female-leadership-20171227-story.html
— FRONT PAGE: Anti-gambling crusader Kathy Gilroy who shut down raffles wins $25,000 in gaming parlor sweepstakes – Robert McCoppin
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/ct-met-anti-gambling-crusader-wins-sweepstakes-20171227-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Kathy Gilroy has crusaded against gambling in Illinois for decades, speaking out against casinos, illegal raffles and the recent wave of video poker cafes. As one of the most visible gaming opponents in the state, she has warned that the vice erodes society’s values and work ethic, takes money from poor people and can lead to addiction, bankruptcy, crime and suicide. Just this year, she blew the whistle on a $1.6 million Queen of Hearts raffle put on by the Veterans of Foreign Wars post in rural Morris, forcing it to shut down hours before the planned drawing, until the raffle was properly licensed. So even she concedes it may seem ironic that she recently won $25,000 by playing a sweepstakes game at a gambling cafe in her hometown of Villa Park. “I called a pastor friend, and said, ‘Oh my God, should I send it back? What do I do? Do I donate it?’” she said. “He said, ‘Don’t feel guilty. You just got paid for all your volunteer work against gambling.’ It’s God showing his grace on me.” Despite her longtime anti-gambling activism, it turns out Gilroy has a history of playing and winning sweepstakes. She said she’s landed prizes including electronics and trips to the Bahamas and California. She once won a big-screen TV from a mechanic, but asked instead for $1,000 in service. A week later, her transmission went out, and she quickly got her money’s worth. She’ll even play the video poker machines at gambling cafes if she is given a free promo card. The distinction Gilroy makes is that she was not spending her own money to gamble. She enters sweepstakes because, by state law, they must be made available free of charge. And — unlike the VFW game that was not licensed, as required by law — she says the sweepstakes she plays are perfectly legal. Still, Morris VFW Commander Jerry Zeborowski was perplexed to hear that Gilroy had won a sweepstakes. “It’s ironic that someone who’s anti-gambling would enter something like that,” he said. “That’s a little hypocrisy there, don’t you think?” Gilroy, 68, who works selling supplemental health insurance for people on Medicare, shrugs off the negative comments she’s gotten over the years, such as when she succeeded in halting a raffle to raise money for needy college students because it was unlicensed and not put on by a nonprofit, as required by law. But she admitted she did have to think twice about this situation. She worried that her winnings were proceeds from money that people lost gambling, but decided that it comes out of the profits of the parent company, Laredo Hospitality Ventures. Gilroy said she was raised on a farm near Lost Nation, Iowa, in a family that never had much money. She worked her way through school, and traveled to fairs and trade shows around the country, selling everything from books to blenders. Decades ago, she used to gamble at racetracks, she said. But her attitude towards gambling started to change when she won $700, only to lose it back swiftly to the track. She took part in an anti-gambling seminar by the Rev. Tom Grey, leader of the National Coalition Against Legalized Gambling, formed in 1994. She began speaking out against any effort to expand gambling, including most recently with video poker cafes, which have grown to offer more than 24,000 machines statewide. Last year, as one example, she asked the Lincolnwood Village Board to reject a request to lift its ban on video gambling. At issue was a proposal by Laredo Hospitality to open a Stella’s Cafe — the same Des Plaines company and gambling parlor chain through which Gilroy ended up winning her drawing. As Gilroy tells it, she heard about the sweepstakes after signing up for the gambling cafes’ emails. After every fifth visit to a cafe, she got a scratch-off card, which occasionally won her a $5 card to play the machines or entries for the grand prize, a new Ford Mustang convertible. Finalists were drawn from each of Laredo’s 52 locations in Illinois, and Gilroy was one of them. Winners had to be present, so she attended the grand prize drawing at a restaurant in Rosemont on Dec. 16. She drew No. 7, and when her number was pulled from a fishbowl, she was amazed to hear that she had won. She opted for $25,000 in cash instead of a car, and has already bought some stocks with the money. To get the winnings, Gilroy had to sign an agreement to let Laredo take her photo and use it as they wish — so she might end up promoting the very industry she fights. Laredo officials didn’t return calls for comment, and didn’t allow the Tribune to take Gilroy’s picture inside the Stella’s in Villa Park, so they may not be eager to use her as their poster child. Years ago, just before she quit betting on the ponies, Gilroy said, she looked around and was struck by the smoke and the broken-down players at the track. “I said, ‘What am I doing?’ This is so stupid,’” she recalled. “It dawned on me, this is not the lifestyle I want. I don’t want to even associate with these people.” Still, after all these years, after shutting down numerous illegal raffles and raising awareness statewide that raffles need to be locally licensed, Gilroy said she takes advantage of sweepstakes whenever she can. “It’s the gambling I oppose,” she said, “not the sweepstakes.”)

 

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— WMAY using stories of network linked to Illinois Policy Institute – Bernard Schoenburg (DIERSEN: Virtually every story in the MSM (main stream media) is linked to the Democrat Party, to the Libertarian Party, and/or to the Green Party.)
http://www.sj-r.com/opinion/20171227/bernard-schoenburg-wmay-using-stories-of-network-linked-to-illinois-policy-institute

 

TIMES
— More pay for public defenders? – David Giuliani
http://www.mywebtimes.com/news/local/more-pay-for-public-defenders/article_c53f4fb4-9c10-537d-a0d5-193545880ec7.html

 

BELLEVILLE NEWS DEMOCRAT
— You owe $52K for state employee pensions, and the bill is overdue
http://www.bnd.com/opinion/editorials/article190917849.html

 

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— Democrat: GOP rep. calling for ‘purge’ needs a history lesson Call reminiscent of McCarthyism during Cold War – JASON SQUITIERI (DIERSEN: While I worked for the federal government for almost 30 years, my superiors always acted like Democrat politicians had called for a purge of all federal employees who were Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran who had not made 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. Democrats use Affirmative Action, Diversity, and Inclusion to purge the aforesaid employees. While I worked for GAO in its Chicago office 1980-1997, every time a new manager took over the office, they were given a list of the office’s employees who they were supposed to purge. Of course, I was always on those lists.)
http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/politics/democrat-gop-rep-calling-for-purge-needs-a-history-lesson/889700747

 

LCBC RADIO
— TRAGIC: Gamblers in Biggest Illinois Valley Cities Lost Nearly $20 Million in Last 12 Months
http://www.lcbcradio.com/wlpo/gamblers-in-biggest-illinois-valley-cities-lost-nearly-million-in/article_f971ea5c-ebd2-11e7-abf8-1f467db27161.html

 

WIREPOINTS
— Illinois Comptroller: Moving Debt From One Credit Card To Another Is ‘A Win Win Win’ – Mark Glennon
http://www.wirepoints.com/illinois-comptroller-moving-debt-from-one-credit-card-to-another-is-a-win-win-win-wirepoints-original/

 

DUPAGE POLICY JOURNAL
— Kinzler blames Illinois’ exodus on ‘dysfunctional system’ – Glenn Minnis
https://dupagepolicyjournal.com/stories/511303230-kinzler-blames-illinois-exodus-on-dysfunctional-system

 

METRO EAST SUN
— Top-down change needed to reverse Illinois exodus, Don Moore says – Glenn Minnis
https://metroeastsun.com/stories/511305596-top-down-change-needed-to-reverse-illinois-exodus-moore-says

 

ILLINOIS FAMILY INSTITUTE
— Coalition Letter Urges Trump Administration to Resist Courts on “Transgenders” in Military – John Biver
https://illinoisfamily.org/religious/coalition-letter-urges-trump-administration-resist-courts-transgenders-military/

 

GOPUSA
— Food, showers, tents: Are the homeless helped or enabled?
http://www.gopusa.com/food-showers-tents-are-the-homeless-helped-or-enabled/

 

REDSTATE
— Americans Fled Blue States In The Hundreds Of Thousands Due To High Taxes, Leaving Fewer To Pay The Democrats’ Tab – Brandon Morse
https://www.redstate.com/brandon_morse/2017/12/27/americans-fled-blue-states-hundreds-thousands-due-high-taxes-high-crime-rates/

 

NEWSMAX
— A Guide to the 2018 Midterm Elections – Scott Rasmussen
https://www.newsmax.com/scottrasmussen/democrats-races-gop-seats/2017/12/27/id/834000/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: There are, however, a few races to give a sense of how good a night the Democrats are likely to have. The first is Illinois-6, currently held by Republican Peter Roskam. This suburban district was carried by Hillary Clinton. Not only that, special elections this year have shown that the GOP is struggling to hang on to suburban voters. If Roskam is still competitive come November, the GOP might hold their losses to a dozen seats or so.)

 

BLAZE
— Ron Paul: The economic boom under Trump is ‘an illusion’ that will come crashing down – Chris Enloe
http://www.theblaze.com/news/2017/12/27/ron-paul-the-economic-boom-under-trump-is-an-illusion-that-will-come-crashing-down

 

INVESTORS BUSINESS DAILY
— The ‘Swamp’ Trump Is Trying To Drain Isn’t Really A Swamp — It’s An Ocean (DIERSEN Democrats run the federal government. If Republicans cut a federal agency’s budget, those cuts will be used to get rid of the agency’s employees who are 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.)
https://www.investors.com/politics/editorials/the-swamp-trump-is-trying-to-drain-isnt-really-a-swamp-its-an-ocean/

 

LIFEZETTE NEWS
— ‘Mapping The Swamp’ Report Shows It’s Even Bigger, Costlier Than You Think Paying federal workforce costs taxpayers $1.1M per minute, according to a pro-transparency group, Open The Books – Mark Tapscott (DIERSEN Democrats run the federal government. If Republicans cut a federal agency’s budget, those cuts will be used to get rid of the agency’s employees who are 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.)
https://www.lifezette.com/polizette/mapping-the-swamp-report-shows-its-even-bigger-costlier-than-you-think/?preview_id=873085

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Roy Moore Files Suit to Block Certification of Alabama Senate Election Result Defeated GOP candidate’s attorney said in complaint he believed there were irregularities during the election and a new one should be held – AP
https://www.wsj.com/articles/roy-moore-files-suit-to-block-certification-of-alabama-senate-election-result-1514453058
— The Tax Law Makes CPAs Interesting (for Now) Accountants face long hours, anxious clients, but ‘it’s never been a better time to be a CPA’ – Michael Rapoport (DIERSEN: In 1979, when I was 30 years old, I passed the CPA examination on my first attempt. In 1981, I became a licensed CPA.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-tax-law-makes-cpas-interesting-for-now-1514457000
— Employee Mentorship Program Gets a Reboot – Rachel Feintzeig (DIERSEN: What happened to your mentors? My Democrat IRS superiors got rid of the IRS manager who promoted me in 1972, 1973, and 1974. My Democrat GAO superiors got rid of the GAO manager who hired me in 1980, who got me assigned to audits of IRS in 1986, and who promoted me in 1986.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/employee-mentorship-program-gets-a-reboot-1514376000

 

USA TODAY
— HARDCOPY ARTICLE HEADLINE: Republicans accuse American Bar Association of bias – Richard Wolf (DIERSEN: What percent of ABA members are Democrats?)
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/12/26/lawyers-group-fuels-republicans-ire-over-its-negative-reviews-trump-judicial-picks/974095001/
— Hot housing market could cool in 2018 – Paul Davidson
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2017/12/28/hot-housing-market-could-cool-2018/971539001/

 

FED SMITH
— Compensation for Federal Workforce Costs the Government $1 Million Per Minute
https://www.fedsmith.com/2017/12/28/compensation-federal-workforce-costs-government-1-million-per-minute/

 

ATLANTIC
— Employers Are Looking for Job Candidates in the Wrong Places – LOLADE FADULU (DIERSEN: Did you meet legal requirements when you were hired? I did. I had a job-related master’s degree (MBA Loyola 1976), a job-related professional certification (CPA 1979), almost 9 years of job-related work experience (the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step 1-5 levels (currently $79,563-$90,173), and I had almost completed the requirements for a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul when GAO hired me at the GS-9 Step 10 level (currently $71,326) in 1980. I had a job-related bachelor’s degree (management NIU 1970) and I had passed the Federal Service Entrance Examination when IRS hired me at the GS-7 Step 1 level (currently $54,864) in 1971. I had a high school diploma and I had passed an employment examination when the Post Office hired me at the GS-4 Step 1 level (currently $15.56/hour) level in 1966.)
https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2017/12/employers-are-looking-for-job-candidates-in-the-wrong-places/549080/

December 26 Evening Edition

ABC7
— New Laws 2018: Illinois laws that take effect January 1
http://abc7chicago.com/politics/new-laws-2018-illinois-laws-that-take-effect-january-1/2785524/
— CHILD ABUSE: More pregnant women are using pot – CNN
http://abc7chicago.com/health/more-pregnant-women-are-using-pot-study-finds/2826461/
— Woman killed by pit bulls while putting bird seed outside her home
http://abc7chicago.com/woman-killed-by-pit-bulls-while-putting-bird-seed-outside-her-home/2826226/

 

CBS2
— New Illinois Laws That Take Effect In 2018 – Derrick Blakley
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2017/12/26/new-illinois-laws-2018/

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Key factors point to higher Chicago voter turnout in March – Marisel A. Hernandez (DIERSEN: PREDICTION: Members of Group A will vote for those candidates who promise to do the most to get rid of those who are members of Group B. Members of Group A 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/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors. Members of Group B are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German American, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/opinion-key-factors-point-to-higher-chicago-voter-turnout-in-march/
— U.S. industries can start counting their benefits from tax law – AP
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/tax-overhaul-industries-craft-beer-retailers-benefits/
— Tax overhaul seems mostly designed to confuse the masses – Phil Kadner
https://www.pressreader.com/usa/chicago-sun-times/textview
— Politicians care about school funding — only in election years – Phil Kadner
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/school-funding-illinois-candidates-governor-promise-money-kadner/
— As Trump weakens EPA, citizens must lead fight to protect environment – Editorial
https://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/scott-pruitt-donald-trump-cathy-stepp-weakens-epa-fight-to-protect-environment-great-lakes-air-quality-drinking-water-wisconsin/

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— The aging Senate is a problem – Jonathan Bernstein (DIERSEN: What is your position on age discrimination? I have always opposed age discrimination. My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes a) have always promoted age discrimination and b) have always hinted/implied/argued/shouted that if you are a non-veteran White male federal employee, you are a bad employee, a loser, lazy, stupid, and even worse things if you do 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. In today’s dollars, what were you earning when you were 25, 30, 35, and 40?)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-perspec-senate-aging-old-octogenarians-20171226-story.html
— Chicago sees drop in Divvy income following expansion into South, West sides – Mary Wisniewski, Gregory Pratt
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-divvy-income-drop-20171226-story.html
— Democrats build case against tax bill, but don’t call for repeal – David Weigel
http://www.chicagotribune.com/ct-democrats-tax-bill-20171226-story.html
— Federal court rejects challenge to Trump voting commission – Rachel Weiner
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-trump-voting-commission-challenge-20171226-story.html
— Trump slams FBI, Obamacare in post-Christmas tweets – Michelle Ye Hee Lee
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-trump-twitter-fbi-obamacare-20171226-story.html

 

DAILY HERALD
— Lake County residents can now prepay property taxes online – Kim Mikus
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20171226/lake-county-residents-can-now-prepay-property-taxes-online

 

QUINCY HERALD WHIG
— More than 200 laws take effect Monday in Illinois – Matt Hopf
http://www.whig.com/20171226/more-than-200-laws-take-effect-monday-in-illinois

 

DANVILLE COMMERCIAL NEWS
— Effective leaders find ways to get job done – Southern Illinoisan
http://www.commercial-news.com/editorials/guest-editorial-effective-leaders-find-ways-to-get-job-done/article_22828f57-7110-5a15-b348-acafa4aa10ac.html

 

BUREAU COUNTY REPUBLICAN
— Ives only pol who wants to trim school district numbers Illinois has 852 vs. Florida’s 100 districts – Scott Reeder
http://www.bcrnews.com/2017/12/23/ives-only-pol-who-wants-to-trim-school-district-numbers/ad1t4dg/
— Old South sticks it to beleaguered Illinois Land of Lincoln is a loser in this new sectionalism – Jim Nowlan
http://www.bcrnews.com/2017/12/22/old-south-sticks-it-to-beleaguered-illinois/aj0grwl/

 

NPR ILLINOIS
— Trump Administration Touts A Smaller U.N. Budget (And Takes Credit For It) – LAUREL WAMSLEY
http://nprillinois.org/post/trump-administration-touts-smaller-un-budget-and-takes-credit-it#stream/0
— Pick The Biggest Political Story Of 2017 – DOMENICO MONTANARO (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents want only themselves to tell you what the biggest political stories are.)
http://nprillinois.org/post/pick-biggest-political-story-2017#stream/0

 

ILLINOIS LEAKS
— Cahokia School District #187 hired guard facing 34 felony charges – JOHN KRAFT
http://edgarcountywatchdogs.com/2017/12/cahokia-school-district-187-hired-guard-facing-34-felony-charges/
— Coles County Taxpayers file federal appeal in property tax assessment scandal – KIRK ALLEN
http://edgarcountywatchdogs.com/2017/12/coles-county-taxpayers-file-federal-appeal-in-property-tax-assessment-scandal/

 

NEWSMAX
— Rep. Rodney Davis: Rollbacks, Economic Growth Mark Good 2018 for GOP – Sandy Fitzgerald
https://www.newsmax.com/politics/rodney-davis-gop-primary-challenge-democrats/2017/12/26/id/833778/
— Democrats Split on Pursing Impeachment If They Win Back House – Brian Freeman
https://www.newsmax.com/politics/democrats-split-impeachment-trump/2017/12/26/id/833710/

 

DAILY CALLER
— GOP Lawmaker Calls For ‘Purge’ Of FBI And DOJ – Chuck Ross (DIERSEN: While I worked for the federal government for almost 30 years, my superiors always acted like Democrat politicians had called for a purge of all federal employees who were Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran who had not made 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. Democrats use Affirmative Action, Diversity, and Inclusion to purge the aforesaid employees. While I worked for GAO in its Chicago office 1980-1997, every time a new manager took over the office, they were given a list of the office’s employees who they were supposed to purge. Of course, I was always on those lists.)
http://dailycaller.com/2017/12/26/gop-lawmaker-calls-for-purge-of-fbi-and-doj-video/
— NBC Reportedly Tells Staff To Tattle On Misbehaving Colleagues – Amber Athey (DIERSEN: Democrats run the federal government. In the federal government, to “misbehave” is a) to oppose patronage, b) to oppose political affiliation discrimination, c) to oppose reverse discrimination, d) to oppose age discrimination, and/or e) to NOT promote dependency on government, dependency on charity, LGBTQ activity, abortion, mass/illegal immigration, booze, gambling, pot, and other vices, abolition of the First and Second Amendments, etc.)
http://dailycaller.com/2017/12/26/nbc-reportedly-tells-staff-to-tattle-on-misbehaving-colleagues/

 

THE HILL
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps say “Dems see 2018 as best chance in years to win back House.”
http://thehill.com/homenews/house/366249-dems-see-2018-as-best-chance-in-years-to-win-back-house

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Illinois’s Tax Burden Is Keeping People Away The state loses one person every five minutes on net to other states. – Mailee Smith, Illinois Policy Institute (DIERSEN: Yes, but many other things also keep people away. Those who dominate Illinois, Cook County, and Chicago governments promote dependency on government, dependency on charity, LGBTQ activity, abortion, mass/illegal immigration, booze, gambling, pot, and other vices, patronage, political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, abolition of the First and Second Amendments, and even worse things. Those who dominate Illinois, Cook County, and Chicago governments 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/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/illinoiss-tax-burden-is-keeping-people-away-1514316972

 

NEWSWEEK
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps use Moore to turn White college-educated women against Republicans.
http://www.newsweek.com/college-educated-women-will-have-their-revenge-republican-party-2018-poll-759513

 

FINANCIAL ADVISOR MAGAZINE
— Rising Number Of Older Americans Carrying Debt Into Retirement – JADAH RILEY (DIERSEN: My Democrat GAO superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates were furious when my wife and I paid off our mortgage in 1the 1990s.)
https://www.fa-mag.com/news/rising-number-of-older-americans-carrying-debt-into-retirement-36356.html

FEDERAL NEWS RADIO
— What constitutes sexual harassment in the federal workforce? What to do if you are a victim – Isabel Cottrell (DIERSEN: If you are a female federal employee, and especially if you are a Democrat, minority, and/or younger, you can expect to receive preferential treatment.)
https://federalnewsradio.com/commentary-analysis/2017/12/what-constitutes-sexual-harassment-in-the-federal-workforce-what-to-do-if-you-are-a-victim/

 

FED SMITH
— Congressmen Want Federal Employee Pay Cuts Taken Off the Table – Ian Smith (DIERSEN: Are/were you accused of being overpaid? My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have always accused me of being overpaid. In my defense, I earned a) a job-related bachelor’s degree when I was 21 in 1970 and job-related master’s degrees when I was 27, 31, and 48, b) job-related professional certifications when I was 30, 32, 41, 45, 47, and 48, and c) a job-related professional license when I was 32.)
https://www.fedsmith.com/2017/12/26/congressman-want-federal-employee-pay-cuts-taken-off-table/
— Biggest and Smallest 2018 Raises for Federal Employees – Ralph R. Smith
https://www.fedsmith.com/2017/12/26/biggest-smallest-2018-raises-federal-employees/

 

SALON
— Trump is mad at Jeff Sessions for taking the job Trump offered him – CHARLIE MAY (DIERSEN: My Democrat superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates in the federal government were always mad at me because I refused to become a Democrat.)
https://www.salon.com/2017/12/26/trump-is-mad-at-jeff-sessions-for-taking-the-job-trump-offered-him/

December 19 Morning Edition

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— What you need to know about Rauner’s ‘Top 10’ accomplishments list (DIERSEN: What will your top 10 accomplishments list for 2017 include? Mine will include putting together and sending out a GOPUSA ILLINOIS email each and every morning and each and every evening.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-bruce-rauner-top-10-20171219-story.html
— Twitter suspends white nationalists as it enforces new rules – AP (DIERSEN: How soon will Twitter suspend the following groups: Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German Americans, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time?)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/sns-bc-us–twitter-abuse-enforcement-20171218-story.html

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Jump into the fight, Illinois, to keep the internet free and open to all Americans – Editorial (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents do not want the internet or any other form of communication to be “free and open to all Americans.” My critics/opponents are moral relativists who believe that their end justifies their means. They want to manipulate/dominate all forms of communication including GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails. They focus on destroying those like me who they cannot manipulate/dominate.)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/editorial-jump-into-the-fight-illinois-to-keep-the-internet-free/

 

DAILY HERALD
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: With deduction changes, should you pay next property taxes now? – Jake Griffin
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20171218/with-deduction-changes-should-you-pay-next-property-taxes-now
— We’re intrigued by Ives’ unit district proposal – Editorial
http://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20171219/editorial-were-intrigued-by-ives-unit-district-proposal
— ‘Simplified’ tax reform has plenty to offer ‘regulatory parasites’ – Catherine Rampell
http://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20171219/simplified-tax-reform-has-plenty-to-offer-regulatory-parasites
— St. Charles wants to require massage employees to report sexual misconduct – James Fuller
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20171219/st-charles-wants-to-require-massage-employees-to-report-sexual-misconduct

 

WGN TV
— Twitter suspends white nationalists as it enforces new rules on ‘hateful’ content (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes want everything that they cannot manipulate/dominate to be shut down.)
http://wgntv.com/2017/12/18/twitter-suspends-white-nationalists-as-it-enforces-new-rules-on-hateful-content/

 

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Tobacco mogul stokes Raoul’s bid for Illinois AG – GREG HINZ
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20171219/BLOGS02/171219876

 

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Illinois lawmakers fear low Medicaid-provider rates could doom plan – AP
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20171218/illinois-lawmakers-fear-low-medicaid-provider-rates-could-doom-plan

 

ALTON RECORD
— Illinois Republicans Ready To Pass Tax Reform – Greg Bishop
http://altondailynews.com/news/details.cfm?clientid=17&id=257096#.Wjj1c4zR-M8

 

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— Public opposition to tax bill grows as vote approaches 55% now oppose GOP tax bill – JENNIFER AGIESTA
http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/politics/public-opposition-to-tax-bill-grows-as-vote-approaches/883480025
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Two-thirds see the bill as doing more to benefit the wealthy than the middle class (66%, vs. 27% who say it’ll do more to benefit the middle class) and almost four in 10 (37%) say that if the bill becomes law, their own family will be worse off. That’s grown five points since early November. Just 21% say they’ll be better off if the bill becomes law. President Donald Trump, the bill’s salesperson-in-chief, lands at an overall 35% approval rating in this poll, his worst mark yet in CNN polling by one point. Trump’s approval ratings continue to be the lowest for any modern president at this point in his presidency. As of December of their first year in office, all first-time elected presidents back to Eisenhower have approval ratings of 49% or higher except for Trump. More than six in 10 (63%) see the tax bill as leaving the President and his family better off. Just 5% think it harms the Trump clan. And disapproval of the President’s handling of taxes has risen six points in the last month, to 57%. Almost three-quarters, 73%, say the President should release his tax returns for public review, about the same share that said so as his inauguration approached in January.)

 

OSWEGO PATCH
— Oswego GOP County Leader Takes On Kinzinger Oswego Republican James Marter is running in the primaries against a three-term incumbent from the 16th congressional district. – Caitlin Ketel
https://patch.com/illinois/oswego/oswego-gop-county-leader-takes-kinzinger

 

CHICAGO CITY WIRE
— Ives says Illinois taxpayer flight a result of Rauner’s broken promises – Glenn Minnis (DIERSEN: Who wants those who share your demographics to leave your precinct, your municipality, your township/ward, your county, and Illinois? I should write a book about “leaders” who have lots of religious, government, political, and/or financial clout in Wheaton, Glen Ellyn, Milton Township, DuPage County, and in Illinois who want those who share my demographics to leave. These “leaders” 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/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors and/or they 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. If they do not want you to leave, it means that they are manipulating you or dominating you.)
https://chicagocitywire.com/stories/511298809-ives-says-illinois-taxpayer-flight-a-result-of-rauner-s-broken-promises

 

PRAIRIE STATE WIRE
— GOP lawmakers heading to court to block bill that funds abortions – Caitlin Nordahl
https://prairiestatewire.com/stories/511296455-gop-lawmakers-heading-to-court-to-block-bill-that-funds-abortions

 

ILLINOIS CHRONICLE
— Rauner echoes Trump complaining about “fake news”
https://theillinoischronicle.com/chronicle-rauner-echoes-trump-complaining-about-fake-news/

 

ILLINOIS FAMILY INSTITUTE
— Women in America: Once Protected and Honored, Now Objectified – Tami Jackson
https://illinoisfamily.org/marriage/women-america-protected-honored-now-objectified/

 

WASHINGTON TIMES
— Senate Republicans deny buying votes for tax bill – David Sherfinski
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/dec/18/senate-republicans-deny-buying-votes-for-tax-bill/

 

BREITBART
— Trump: ‘We Cannot Secure Our Nation If We Do Not Secure Our Borders’ – PAM KEY
http://www.breitbart.com/video/2017/12/18/trump-cannot-secure-nation-not-secure-borders/
— Illegal Aliens Arrested in Push for Christmas Amnesty – PENNY STARR
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/12/18/illegal-aliens-continue-push-amnesty-spending-bill-despite-cost-americans/

 

BLAZE
— Facebook admitted the site is bad for your mental health. Here’s what they recommend. – Aaron Colen (DIERSEN: Of course, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes a) want you to know only what they want you to know and b) have always hinted/implied/argued/shouted that reading GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails is bad for your health.)
http://www.theblaze.com/news/2017/12/18/facebook-admitted-the-site-is-bad-for-your-mental-health-heres-what-they-recommend

 

POLITICO
— Tax bill whacks liberal big cities ‘This is the screw-New Jersey bill,’ the mayor of Piscataway said. – AARON LORENZO
https://www.politico.com/story/2017/12/19/cities-republican-tax-bill-304123

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: Have You Ever Felt Sorry for the I.R.S.? Now Might Be the Time – Patricia Cohen (DIERSEN: How much do you know about IRS? I know a lot about IRS because I worked for IRS for almost 9 years, the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step 1-5 levels, currently $79,563-$90,173 and I worked for GAO on audits of IRS for 3 years at the GS-13 Step 1-3 levels, currently $94,610-$100,917. However, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have always viciously demonized, denigrated, condemned, and wasted my knowledge of IRS. I should write a book about my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/18/business/irs-tax-bill.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: After years of upbraiding and even threatening to abolish the Internal Revenue Service, Republicans must now depend on the agency to carry out their signature legislative accomplishment: a comprehensive revision of the tax code. The task is monumental. While processing tens of millions of tax returns for 2017 under the current rules, the I.R.S. would also have to figure out how to interpret and explain a new system and put it into practice. “Beware,” said John A. Koskinen, who retired last month as I.R.S. commissioner. “If the budget keeps being cut and the agency keeps being given more things to do, the I.R.S. is simply not going to work.” Either the information technology will fail, forcing the filing and refund systems to collapse, he warned, or enforcement and audits will become so scarce that fewer people will be inclined to pay the taxes they owe. The House and Senate were expected to vote on the $1.5 trillion tax overhaul as soon as Tuesday. Vice President Mike Pence planned to preside over the vote and, if needed, break a tie and pass the bill.)
— Tax Cuts Benefit the Ultra Rich, but Not the Merely Rich – Andrew Ross Sorkin
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/18/business/dealbook/tax-bill-wealthy.html
— Republican Tax Cuts Would Lift Some Industries More Than Others – Jim Tankersley and Ben Casselman
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/18/us/politics/republican-tax-cuts-industries-.html

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Evanston, Illinois: Teacher Segregation ‘Staff that identifies as individuals of color will meet in Room 226.’
https://www.wsj.com/articles/notable-quotable-teacher-segregation-1513538452
— The Google-Facebook Duopoly Threatens Diversity of Thought A political website pulled an article after Google’s AdSense team threatened to withdraw advertising. – Mark Epstein (DIERSEN: He who pays the piper calls the tunes. Since 2000, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have been beyond furious that I have enough time and money that I do not have to ask any individual, any organization, any company, any government, or any country to give me money to put out GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-google-facebook-duopoly-threatens-diversity-of-thought-1513642519
— Middle Class to Get 23% of Tax Cuts for Individuals Under GOP Bill Benefits mostly peter out after a decade, joint committee on taxation finds – Siobhan Hughes and Shayndi Raice
https://www.wsj.com/articles/middle-class-to-get-23-of-tax-cuts-for-individuals-under-gop-bill-1513644268
— Higher Education Bill Could Heat Up Competition for Adult Students Focus on shorter programs, competency-based offerings is seen providing more options for older students – Melissa Korn and Douglas Belkin (DIERSEN: I was 23 when I started taking graduate business courses at Loyola. I was 27 when I started taking graduate accounting courses at DePaul. I was 43 when I started taking graduate finance courses at IIT. Because I took only one course at a time, it took me 4 years to graduate from Loyola, 4 years to graduate from DePaul, and 5 years to graduate from IIT.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/higher-education-bill-could-heat-up-competition-foradultstudents-1513598400

 

BLOOMBERG
— Trump Asks ‘How’s Your 401(k)?’ But Most Voters Don’t Have One New campaign slogan celebrates growth of stock market Only 45 percent of private-sector workers have 401(k) plans – Toluse Olorunnipa (DIERSEN: To be able to save for your retirement, you have to qualify yourself for better paying jobs. What have you done to qualify yourself for better paying jobs? I earned a) a job-related bachelor’s degree when I was 21 in 1970 and job-related master’s degrees when I was 27, 31, and 48, b) job-related professional certifications when I was 30, 32, 41, 45, 47, and 48, and c) a job-related professional license when I was 32.)
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-12-19/trump-asks-how-s-your-401-k-but-most-voters-don-t-have-one
(FROM THE ARTICLE: President Donald Trump is trying out a new campaign slogan: “How’s your 401(k) doing?” The answer for more than half of Americans is that they don’t have one. Trump has tested out the line this month at a fundraiser, a campaign rally and in a White House meeting, predicting that the rising U.S. stock market will help him win re-election. But only about 45 percent of private-sector workers participate in any employer-sponsored retirement plan, and the lower-income workers in Trump’s political base are the least likely to hold money in such an account, according to the Government Accountability Office. Trump mentions the stock market almost daily in tweets or public remarks, taking direct credit for record highs by the Dow Jones Industrial Average and other indexes. But only about 14 percent of U.S. families directly own stocks, an asset class dominated by the country’s top earners, according to the Federal Reserve. Meanwhile, the president has also rolled back efforts to expand retirement savings options to more middle-class and low-income workers. For a president propelled into office in no small part by resentment that a broad swath of the country has been left behind while an entrenched establishment prospers, continual references to the stock market and 401(k) accounts risk alienating his supporters, said Austan Goolsbee, a former chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers under President Barack Obama. How America’s Inequality Machine Is Firing the Dow Into Orbit “As a political slogan, ‘how is your 401(k) doing?’ suggests he’s most interested in the one-third of people who have a 401(k),” said Goolsbee, who teaches economics at the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business. “The more you highlight how great that group of financial winners is doing, you at least run the risk of angering and irritating the very people who revolted against what they perceived as the financial and political elites in the first place.” White House spokeswoman Lindsay Walters said Trump’s statements reflect “a strong economy” that is “good news for everyone.” “For the Americans that don’t have the opportunity to invest in a 401(k) plan or who choose not to, the Trump agenda of lower taxes, higher wages, and better jobs allows them to save more on their own, and potentially have a better chance of finding a job in the future that provides those benefits,” Walters added in an emailed statement. . .‘Privileged Few’ “And, by the way, how are your 401(k)s doing?” Trump said during a Dec. 8 rally in Pensacola, Florida, where median household income is about $46,000. “ Not too bad, right?” The line was met with light applause. “I’m not sure he understands that only a fraction of the population has 401(k)s,” said Alicia Munnell, director of the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College. “So he just may not realize that he’s speaking to the privileged few.” Only a third of people contribute anything to their retirement accounts, according to a Census study released this year. Among workers in the bottom half of the income scale, less than 25 percent participate in a retirement program, according to the GAO.)

 

USA TODAY
— Minimum wage hikes: 18 states, 20 cities to lift pay floors Jan. 1 – Paul Davidson
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2017/12/19/minimum-wage-hikes-18-states-20-cities-lift-pay-floors-jan-1/961213001/

 

FEDERAL NEWS RADIO
— 6 things agencies did to improve employee engagement this year – Nicole Ogrysko (DIERSEN: QUESTION: What demonstrates employee engagement? ANSWER: Earning job-related college degrees, professional certifications, and professional licenses. I worked for the Post Office 1966-1969, IRS 1971-1980, and GAO 1980-1997. I earned a) a job-related bachelor’s degree when I was 21 in 1970 and job-related master’s degrees when I was 27, 31, and 48, b) job-related professional certifications when I was 30, 32, 41, 45, 47, and 48, and c) a job-related professional license when I was 32. However, my Democrat superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates in the federal government always hinted/implied/argued/shouted that the undergraduate and graduate courses that I took a) were not job-related, b) did not help me carry out my job duties, c) were taken by me to get a job in the private sector, and d) were a distraction. To keep their jobs and to get promoted, my Democrat superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates in the federal government focused on getting rid of federal employees who were Republican, White, male, older, and/or non-veteran.)
https://federalnewsradio.com/workforce/2017/12/6-things-agencies-did-to-improve-employee-engagement-this-year/