December 23 Morning Edition

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Democrats who supported spending bill face angry backlash over immigration – David Weigel and Ed O’Keefe
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-daca-democrats-spending-bill-20171222-story.html
— Proposed bill would ban sale of commercially bred pets in Will, DuPage counties – Erin Hegarty
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/naperville-sun/news/ct-nvs-commercial-pet-sale-ban-bill-st-1224-20171222-story.html
— How to know when holiday drinking is hurting your brain – AP
http://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/health/ct-holiday-drinking-brain-health-20171219-story.html
— Carpentersville doubles video gaming fee – Erin Sauder
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/elgin-courier-news/news/ct-ecn-carpentersville-gaming-machine-fees-st-1227-20171226-story.html

 

DAILY HERALD
— A month-by-month look at what you should expect from the Republican tax bill – Philip Bump
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20171223/a-month-by-month-look-at-what-you-should-expect-from-the-republican-tax-bill
— New year to be a challenge for Republicans in Congress – AP
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20171223/news/312239976/

 

ABC7
— Miss America suspends CEO in email flap – AP
http://abc7chicago.com/entertainment/miss-america-suspends-ceo-in-email-flap/2815659/

 

TIMES
— Kinzinger: Trump has done ‘great job’ – David Giuliani
http://www.mywebtimes.com/news/local/column-kinzinger-trump-has-done-great-job/article_49d55ebf-1cf3-519c-a795-49448d475d6b.html
— Kinzinger and Marter disagree on DACA – David Giuliani
http://www.mywebtimes.com/news/local/congressman-rival-disagree-on-daca/article_2ba5ffe5-4963-5021-beda-faa623b484ce.html

 

ALTON DAILY NEWS
— Federal Tax Plan Hits Illinois – Benjamin Yount
http://www.altondailynews.com/news/details.cfm?clientid=17&id=257293#.Wj5TO4zR-M8

 

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— Justice Department rolls back guidance on fining poor defendants – DAVID SHORTELL AND JESSICA SCHNEIDER (DIERSEN: One could look at it this way: Since September 30, 1997, in today’s dollars, my Democrat GAO superiors have been fining me $198 a day or $1,387 a week or $6,011 a month or $72,135 a year for my opposing political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, and age discrimination. On September 30, 1997, to punish me for the aforesaid opposition, they succeeded in forcing me to take their early retirement “offer” of $50,856 a year, or only 41% of my $122,991 a year salary in today’s dollars. So far, in today’s dollars, I have been fined $1,460,673 or $6,011 X 243 months.)
http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/politics/justice-department-rolls-back-guidance-on-fining-poor-defendants/886728546

 

WSIL TV
— Congressman Bost predicts tax law will become more popular – Brandon Richard
http://www.wsiltv.com/story/37130399/congressman-bost-predicts-tax-law-will-become-more-popular

 

KANE COUNTY CONNECTS
— KANE BOARD CHAIRMAN: UNFUNDED STATE PENSION LIABILITIES ARE ‘FISCAL CALAMITY’
http://kanecountyconnects.com/2017/12/kane-board-chairman-unfunded-state-pension-liabilities-are-fiscal-calamity/

 

NPR ILLINOIS
— What The Tax Bill Could Mean For Lawmakers During The Midterms
http://nprillinois.org/post/what-tax-bill-could-mean-lawmakers-during-midterms#stream/0
— Why Mental Health Is A Poor Measure Of A President – JON HAMILTON (DIERSEN: Sooner or later, Democrats paint all non-Democrats as being mentally ill.)
http://nprillinois.org/post/why-mental-health-poor-measure-president#stream/0

 

PRAIRIE STATE WIRE
— Ives proposes constitutional amendment to address pension reform – Glenn Minnis
https://prairiestatewire.com/stories/511301761-ives-proposes-constitutional-amendment-to-address-pension-reform

 

SOUTHEAST ILLINOIS NEWS
— Bailey vows to reverse trend of taxpayers fleeing the state – Glenn Minnis
https://seillinoisnews.com/stories/511301836-bailey-vows-to-reverse-trend-of-taxpayers-fleeing-the-state

 

ILLINOIS NEWS NETWORK
— Batinick: More than 200 new laws adopted, none tackle Illinois’ major issues – Greg Bishop
https://www.ilnews.org/news/state_politics/lawmaker-more-than-new-laws-adopted-none-tackle-illinois-major/article_50ac2fc4-e680-11e7-99fa-4b0ef07a8c8c.html

 

CAPITOL FAX
— Berrios spox says Tribune story “extremely unbalanced and, typically, unfair” *** ILGOP, Kaegi react to new Tribune story on Berrios
https://capitolfax.com/2017/12/21/ilgop-kaegi-react-to-new-tribune-story-on-berrios/

 

BREITBART
— Cardinal Cupich: ‘It Would Be a Horrible Injustice’ Not to Give Amnesty to DACA Illegal Aliens at Americans’ Expense – JOHN BINDER (DIERSEN: It appears that the overwhelming majority of those who are in America state that they are Catholic. What if Cupich proposed that the Catholic Church would support the illegals, that is, provide them with medical care, food, clothing, housing, transportation, education, jobs, etc.? But, of course, very soon, the Catholic Church would be bankrupt.)
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/12/22/cardinal-cupich-horrible-injustice-not-to-give-amnesty-to-daca-illegal-aliens/

 

COLLEGE FIX
— Enough with race-based admissions
http://www.thecollegefix.com/bulletin-board/enough-race-based-admissions/

 

THE HILL
— Karl Rove: ‘Bad idea’ for Trump to hold a lot of rallies in 2018 – MAX GREENWOOD
http://thehill.com/homenews/news/366273-karl-rove-a-very-bad-idea-for-trump-to-hold-a-lot-of-rallies-in-2018

 

ABC NEWS
— Tax overhaul leads to end-of-year rush to pay property bills – GEOFF MULVIHILL (DIERSEN: Are you a homeowner? How much will the “GOP tax overhaul” harm you? The more that you have paid in real estate tax and/or state income tax over $10,000 a year, the more that you will be harmed. How much of your estimated real estate tax bill due next year can you afford to pre-pay by the end of this year?)
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/tax-overhaul-leads-end-year-rush-pay-property-51957744

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— Tax Bill Is Great for Accountants — Unless They Have Holiday Plans – Tiffany Hsu and Julie Creswell
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/22/business/republican-tax-plan-accountants-auditors-holidays.html
— Homeowners Rush to Soften Tax Bill’s Impact – Jeffery C. Mays
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/22/nyregion/cuomo-assist-as-homeowners-rush-to-prepay-property-tax-bill.html
— E.P.A. Officials, Disheartened by Agency’s Direction, Are Leaving in Droves – Lisa Friedman, Marina Affo and Derek Kravitz (DIERSEN: QUESTION: Which GAO employees left GAO in drovers during the 1980s and 1990s? ANSWER: Those who were Republican, White, male, older, non-veteran, and/or accounting degree holders. WHY? Democrat politicians wanted to replace them with employees who were Democrat, minority, female, younger, and/or public policy degree holders.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/22/climate/epa-buyouts-pruitt.html

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— HARDCOPY ARTICLE TITLE: VERY SAD: Households Are Spending Rather Than Saving – Harriet Torry and Suzanne Kapner
https://www.wsj.com/articles/americans-shop-more-save-less-this-holiday-season-1513978732

 

NEWSWEEK
— MISS AMERICA CEO SAM HASKELL’S WEBSITE IS LITTERED WITH VIAGRA ADS – EMILY GAUDETTE
http://www.newsweek.com/miss-america-2018-sam-haskell-emails-viagra-756975

 

FED SMITH
— Order Issued on 2018 Pay Raise for Federal Employees – Ralph R. Smith (DIERSEN: If was still working for GAO at the GS-13 Step 10 level, my 2018 salary would increase by $2,334 or by 1.9% to $125,325.)
https://www.fedsmith.com/2017/12/22/order-issued-2018-pay-raise-federal-employees/

December 22 Evening Edition

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— And now, folks, let’s hear it for Illinois Governor Money! – Laura Washington
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/and-now-folks-lets-hear-it-for-illinois-governor-money/
— How Chicago sausage is made when progressives take on regulars – Rich Miller
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/miller-how-chicago-sausage-is-made-when-progressives-take-on-regulars/

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Illinois has too many school districts – Scott Reeder
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/daily-southtown/opinion/ct-sta-reeder-column-st-1224-20171221-story.html
— The top 10 Chicago political stories of 2017
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-chicago-politics-top-10-stories-20171222-story.html
— AT&T hands out bonuses to some workers, pink slips to others – Robert Channick
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-att-layoffs-20171222-story.html
— Syverson says proposed Wisconsin casino would ‘devastate’ Rockford – AP
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-wisconsin-casino-rockford-concerns-20171222-story.html
— Two Chicago-area residents sue Apple over its practice of slowing older iPhones – Lauren Zumbach
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-apple-iphone-slowdown-lawsuit-1223-story.html
— Will tax cuts help Republicans in 2018? – Steve Chapman
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chapman/ct-perspec-chapman-tax-cuts-mcconnell-ryan-20171224-story.html
— Illinois Supreme Court grants Dorothy Brown’s request to delay e-filing in Cook County – Steve Schmadeke
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-illinois-supreme-court-e-filing-20171222-story.html
— Comptroller calls for hearing on food stamp computer contract in wake of problems – Greg Trotter
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-snap-system-hearing-20171222-story.html

 

DAILY HERALD
— Maine Township highway commissioner says trustees broke law – Chacour Koop
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20171222/maine-township-highway-commissioner-says-trustees-broke-law

 

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: What do you say to employers that prefer hiring citizens of foreign countries over citizens of America?
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20171222/OPINION/171229997/daca-recipients-dreamers-good-for-gdp

 

ABC7
— Trump signs, lauds $1.5 trillion tax overhaul; off to Florida for holidays – AP
http://abc7chicago.com/politics/trump-signs-lauds-$15-trillion-tax-overhaul/2811909/
— Officials in Will, DuPage counties call for ban on sale of commercially bred pets – Sarah Schulte
http://abc7chicago.com/pets-animals/officials-in-will-dupage-counties-call-for-ban-on-sale-of-commercially-bred-pets/2813018/
— Gubernatorial candidate Kennedy highlights Chicago gun violence to call for change – Craig Wall
http://abc7chicago.com/politics/kennedy-highlights-chicago-gun-violence-to-call-for-change/2812483/

 

NBC5
— Trump Signs Tax Cut in ‘Rush Job’ Oval Office Signing Event Asked if he had any regrets, Trump shook his head and said, “No” – Laurie Kellman and Jonathan Lemire
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/national-international/Trump-Signs-1-Trillion-Tax-Overhaul-Package-465927733.html
— Chris Kennedy Discusses Different Approach to Combating Gun Violence – Charlie Wojciechowski
https://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/kennedy-takes-different-approach-to-combating-gun-violence-466000553.html

 

CBS2
— Chris Kennedy Hopes 2018 Brings New Life — And Cash — To Campaign – Derrick Blakley
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2017/12/22/chris-kennedy-hopes-2018-brings-new-life-and-cash-to-campaign/

 

WLS AM
— Bill Cameron sits down with the Chairman of the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) Board of Directors, Kirk Dillard.
http://www.wlsam.com/2017/12/22/connected-to-chicago-12-24-2017/

 

SUBURBAN LIFE
— Will, DuPage County officials to propose banning sale of commercially-bred pets in stores
http://www.mysuburbanlife.com/2017/12/22/will-dupage-county-officials-to-propose-banning-sale-of-commercially-bred-pets-in-stores/ax568z7/

 

DAILY HERALD
— State looks to control dog, cat sales at DuPage, Will pet shops – Marie Wilson
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20171222/state-looks-to-control-dog-cat-sales-at-dupage-will-pet-shops

 

WJPF
— Newsradio WJPF interview with Evelyn Sanguinetti
http://www.wjpf.com/episode/newsradio-wjpf-interview-with-evelyn-sanguinetti/

 

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps a) want women to see heterosexual Republican men as being sexual harassers, if not rapists and b) want women to vote only for Democrat women or for Democrat men who demonize, denigrate, and condemn heterosexual Republican men and/or who are gay, transsexual, or queer.)
http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/politics/poll-7-in-10-americans-say-sexual-harassment-is-a-very-serious-problem/886512273
— Hundreds of EPA employees leave under Trump Scientists out, political appointees in – SOPHIE TATUM (DIERSEN: During the 1980s and 1990s, overwhelmingly, a) GAO employees who were pushed out were Republican, White, male, older, non-veteran, and/or accounting degree holders and b) those who replaced them were Democrat, minority, female, younger, and/or public policy degree holders.)
http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/politics/report-hundreds-of-epa-employees-leave-under-trump/886369616

 

CHICAGO ARGUS
— Pot is the Republican boogeyman. Or so says governor candidate Jeanne Ives – Gregory Tejeda (DIERSEN: If you promote pot, you promote destruction.)
http://chicagoargus.blogspot.com/2017/12/pot-is-republican-boogeyman-or-so-says.html

 

WILL COUNTY NEWS
— Ives Statement on WBEZ Report, ‘Beginning of an Epidemic: Email Shows State Wanted to Wait 6 Days to Publicize Legionnaires’ Outbreak’ – Steve Balich
http://willcountynews.com/2017/12/21/ives-statement-on-wbez-report-beginning-of-an-epidemic-email-shows-state-wanted-to-wait-6-days-to-publicize-legionnaires-outbreak/

 

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— CAN WE EXPECT TO SEE BLUE UN HELMETS PROTECTING VIOLENT CHICAGOANS FROM THEMSELVES?
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2017/12/can-we-expect-to-see-blue-un-helmets-protecting-violent-chicagoans-from-themselves.html
— U OF I URBANA-CHAMPAIGN SEEKS ADMIN FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE ‘ADVOCACY AND ACTIVISM’ (DIERSEN: To promote social justice is 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 Americans, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2017/12/u-of-i-urbana-champaign-seeks-admin-for-social-justice-advocacy-and-activism.html

 

CAPITOL FAX
— Reader comments closed for the holidays I’ll be back in the new year. (DIERSEN: Since 2004, I have sent a GOPUSA ILLINOIS email out each and every morning, and since 2015, each and every evening too free of charge and without any advertising. Those emails have included links to more than 289,600 articles and information on many upcoming events.)
https://capitolfax.com/2017/12/22/reader-comments-closed-for-the-holidays-7/

 

BREITBART
— Liberals Celebrate Christmas with ‘I Am So Sick of White Guys’ Coloring Book – WARNER TODD HUSTON
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/12/22/liberals-celebrate-christmas-sick-white-guys-coloring-book/

December 21 Morning Edition

CAPITOL FAX
— Ives says Democrats are all running on pot, taxes and spending
https://capitolfax.com/2017/12/21/ives-says-democrats-are-all-running-on-pot-taxes-and-spending/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Ives insisted that she could win a general election with her fiscally and socially conservative agenda. “Yes, I can absolutely win the general election,” she said. “Look, the Democrats have destroyed the state and the people know that. And what are all the Democratic candidates selling you? Recreational marijuana, higher taxes, more spending. “Is anybody buying that shtick? Anybody? No, and that’s the entire agenda of those folks.”)

 

CBS2
— Governor Rauner Shares Thoughts On Republican Tax Plan – Craig Dellimore
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2017/12/21/governor-rauner-republican-tax-plan/

 

WLS AM
— Rauner won’t move Vets from Quincy home – Bill Cameron
http://www.wlsam.com/2017/12/21/raunder-wont-move-vets-from-quincy-home/

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Going down ‘fake news’ low road, Gov, is bad for democracy – Editorial (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, the Main Stream Media (MSM) a) promotes news that it can spin to promote the Democrat, Libertarian, and/or Green party platforms and b) downplays if not censures news that shows the Republican Party platform is the way to go. Ever-increasingly, the MSM publishes editorials that are unethically made to look like news articles.)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/rauner-wbez-trump-democracy-going-down-fake-news-journalism/
(FROM THE EDITORIAL: On Tuesday, Rauner accused WBEZ, the public radio station, of dropping its monthly “Ask the Governor” feature, in which he took questions from callers, because WBEZ is “really more of a Democrat station.” That was factually untrue, and the governor owes the station an apology. . .The governor’s shot at WBEZ came five days after, on a Downstate radio show, he attacked the integrity of much of the local media as a whole. “What’s frustrating to me and many people around the state,” he said to Tom Miller of WJPF, “is how biased a lot of the media is around Chicago, around the state. Biased for the status quo.” If the governor believes that certain columnists, editorial pages, bloggers, radio commentators and the like have it in for him, by all means he should call them out. He’s taken a whack at this editorial page plenty of times. But most media companies operate from two separate silos — one for commentary, the other for news. One silo serves up opinion. The second serves up an honest effort to report the true facts of current events in a fair manner. Inevitably, the personal values of editors and reporters play a role, beginning with the choices they make about which stories to pursue. News shops are run by human beings. But to broadly brand the news coverage of much of the mainstream media as biased and untrustworthy, just as a general rule, is to undermine the role of an institution — a free press — that is essential to a democracy. It is dangerous.)

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— The Top 10 Illinois political stories of 2017
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-illinois-politics-top-10-stories-2017-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: 1. Republicans break with Rauner as Madigan leads major income tax hike, ends budget impasse. . .2. Lisa Madigan won’t run again, sets off crowded race to succeed her. . .3. J.B. Pritzker enters governor race, quickly consolidates support, sets Democratic self-funding record with $42.2 million. . . 4. State school funding formula revised for first time in decades. . . 5. Pritkzer sought political office from Rod Blagojevich, 2008 FBI wiretaps show. . . 6. Rauner flip-flops on abortion bill, angers conservative Republicans. . . 7. Exodus from the Capitol. . . 8. Rauner gets a primary challenger in Ives. . . 9. Rauner’s summertime right turn, staff struggles. . . 10. Illinois’ richest man Ken Griffin gives $20 million to Rauner campaign.)
— Roskam a no-show at White House – Katherine Skiba
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-illinois-politics-top-10-stories-2017-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam skipped Wednesday’s White House celebration with President Donald Trump after passage of the $1.5 trillion tax overhaul he has touted. The Wheaton Republican “was invited but he’s in meetings on the Hill so was unable to make it,” spokeswoman Veronica Vera said in an email. Several of his GOP colleagues stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Trump outside the White House as the president enthused: “It’s always a lot of fun when you win.” Roskam is on the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee, chairs its Tax Policy Subcommittee and helped shape and sell the bill. Urging passage of the measure on Tuesday, he said his constituents were longing for tax relief. “After months of work developing a tax code that prioritizes middle-income families and small businesses, Congress has sent a bill to the President’s desk that I am pleased to say accomplishes that goal,” Roskam said in a statement. Seven Democrats have signed up for the primary race to take on the six-term Republican in the northwest suburban 6th Congressional District. One rival, Sean Casten of Downers Grove, in a statement Wednesday said: “Republicans in the House and Senate put corporations and the wealthiest Americans first, while again turning their backs on middle-class families.”)
— ‘Feminism’ is the word of the year. Should we be celebrating? – Nicole Brodeur (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, anti-Trumps encourage women to hate Trump supporters, and especially Trump supporters who are 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.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-perspec-feminism-word-of-year-1221-20171220-story.html

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Where are America’s well-informed citizens? – Ned L. McCray, Tinley Park (DIERSEN: QUESTION: Who does not want you to be a well-informed citizen? ANSWER: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes. They want you to know what they want you know, no more and no less.)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/letters-where-are-americas-well-informed-citizens/

 

DAILY HERALD
— Suburbs contribute to Illinois’ population decline – Diane Dungey and Tim Broderick (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, by their words and/or by their actions, Democrats make it clear that they want you to leave Illinois if you are a member of any 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. Who takes the lead in your precinct, in your municipality, in your township/ward, in your county, and in Illinois in driving out of Illinois members of the aforesaid groups?)
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20171220/suburbs-contribute-to-illinois-population-decline
— Paying twice for conference asks too much of taxpayers – Editorial
http://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20171220/editorial-paying-twice-for-conference-asks-too-much-of-taxpayers

 

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— The rush is on—to pay taxes before cap kicks in – STEVEN R. STRAHLER
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20171221/NEWS02/171229977

 

WBEZ
— ‘Beginning Of An Epidemic’: Email Shows State Waited 6 Days To Publicize Legionnaires’ Outbreak – Dave McKinney
https://www.wbez.org/shows/wbez-news/email-shows-state-waited-6-days-to-publicize-legionnaires-outbreak/474d8281-7c0b-41f7-9baf-0ccebea3a100

 

CHAMPAIGN/URBANA NEWS GAZETTE
— Rep. Ives: GOP should kick Rauner to the curb – Tom Kacich
http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2017-12-21/rep-ives-gop-should-kick-rauner-the-curb.html

 

NORTHWEST HERALD
— McHenry County joining other officials to sue opioid drugmakers
http://www.nwherald.com/2017/12/20/mchenry-county-joining-other-officials-to-sue-opioid-drugmakers/ae92cxu/

 

TIMES
— Candidate Jaye DeBates spreads false claim – David Giuliani
http://www.mywebtimes.com/news/local/candidate-spreads-false-claim/article_3a33258c-e365-54a2-807b-d3be2fa4dd8a.html

 

QUAD CITIES ONLINE
— Illinois strikes a blow against doctor-shopping – Editorial
http://qconline.com/opinion/editorial/editorial-illinois-strikes-a-blow-against-doctor-shopping/article_8da669bf-9b8a-5eea-ab36-d55adf62dcfa.html

 

PAXTON RECORD
— Senator Barickman’s stance on recreational pot spurs debate
http://www.paxtonrecord.net/news/politics-and-government/2017-12-20/senator%E2%80%99s-stance-recreational-pot-spurs-debate.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The Ford County Republican Central Committee met last Saturday and erupted when the legalization of marijuana came up for discussion. Noting that state Sen. Jason Barickman, R-Bloomington, put out a memo earlier in the week in support of legislation to legalize recreational marijuana, many comments and questions arose among precinct committeemen and the public. Many voiced their objection to Barickman’s position, stating that marijuana is an addictive gateway drug that will lead to using other illicit drugs. Since its use for medical purposes, many factions have been pushing for legalizing the drug for recreational use. That caused one participant to ask what such use would do to DUI violations, or the use by teens. “How accessible will it become for younger people?” the person said. Already, there is no significant penalty for possession or use of small amounts of marijuana in Illinois. And the court system has not worked well in preventing use. Barickman postulated that its legalization would raise money for the state.)

 

WREX
— Illinois lawmakers weigh in on state’s declining population – Taylor Utzig
http://www.wrex.com/story/37114834/2017/12/Wednesday/illinois-lawmakers-weigh-in-on-states-declining-population

 

NPR ILLINOIS
— Trump’s Tax Win: The Political Risks – ARI SHAPIRO
http://nprillinois.org/post/trumps-tax-win-political-risks#stream/0

 

CHICAGO READER
— Police misconduct exacts a heavy toll on Chicago Cops’ bad behavior corrodes trust in law enforcement and costs taxpayers millions in legal settlements. – Maya Dukmasova
https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/police-misconduct-worst/Content?oid=37060248

 

ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE
— WHAT’S DRAGGING DOWN ILLINOIS’ ECONOMY? – Orphe Divounguy (DIERSEN: Who in your municipality, in your township/ward, in your county, and in Illinois takes the lead in driving out of Illinois individuals, organizations, and companies that are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German American, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time? I should write a book about those in Wheaton, in Glen Ellyn, in Milton Township, in DuPage County, and in Illinois who take the lead in driving the aforesaid out of Illinois.)
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/whats-dragging-down-illinois-economy/

 

ILLINOIS NEWS NETWORK
— Illinois elections board removes Democrat governor candidate who turned in zero signatures – Greg Bishop
https://www.ilnews.org/news/state_politics/illinois-elections-board-removes-governor-candidate-who-turned-in-zero/article_89cf45d8-e5dc-11e7-9fb9-af0bbc625a1b.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: There’s also a citizen objection to Gary Grasso’s bid for the Republican attorney general slot.)
— Policy ideas promoted in Illinois’ governor’s race would only make things worse – Dan McCaleb
https://www.ilnews.org/opinion/op-ed-policy-ideas-promoted-in-illinois-governor-s-race/article_e6a422a6-e587-11e7-8f91-afe3c20641f9.html

 

WASHINGTON TIMES
— Democrats ‘betray’ illegal immigrant Dreamers – Stephen Dinan and Alex Swoyer
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/dec/20/democrats-betray-illegal-immigrant-dreamers/
— Trump slams media for negative take on tax plan – Sally Persons
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/dec/21/donald-trump-slams-media-for-negative-take-on-tax-/

 

WORLD NET DAILY
— THE ESTABLISHMENT FEARS ANNIHILATION — FOR GOOD REASON Erik Rush sees desperation in eyes of those hoping to destroy Trump
http://www.wnd.com/2017/12/the-establishment-fears-annihilation-for-good-reason/

 

THE HILL
— VERY SAD: Top Hollywood stars call on Congress for DACA fix – JUDY KURTZ
http://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/in-the-know/365828-top-hollywood-stars-call-on-congress-for-daca-fix

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— In Protests of Net Neutrality Repeal, Teenage Voices Stood Out – Cecilia Kang (DIERSEN: Since 2000, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have made it very clear that they want to a) stop me from sending out GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails, b) stop everyone from reading the emails, and c) stop everyone from reading copies of the emails at www.gopillinois.com.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/20/technology/net-neutrality-repeal-teens.html
— FRONT PAGE: Facebook Job Ads Raise Concerns About Age Discrimination – Julia Angwin, Noam Scheiber and Ariana Tobin (DIERSEN: How old are you? I am 69. Do you promote age discrimination? All my critics/opponents, all their operatives, and all their dupes have always promoted age discrimination big time.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/20/business/facebook-job-ads.html
— Facebook Ads That Let Employers Target Younger Workers Focus of U.S. Lawsuit – Reuters (DIERSEN: How old are you? I am 69. Do you promote age discrimination? All my critics/opponents, all their operatives, and all their dupes have always promoted age discrimination big time.)
https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2017/12/21/technology/21reuters-facebook-lawsuit-discrimination.html

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— VERY TROUBLING: GOP Tax Overhaul Makes Homeownership Less Appealing Prices in more expensive markets are forecast to be as much as 10% lower by mid-2019 than they otherwise would have been – Laura Kusisto (DIERSEN: Government should encourage homeownership.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/gop-tax-overhaul-makes-homeownership-less-appealing-1513765800
— Overdose Deaths Drive Down U.S. Life Expectancy—Again Last year marked first back-to-back annual decline in life expectancy since early 1960s – Jeanne Whalen
https://www.wsj.com/articles/overdose-deaths-drive-down-u-s-life-expectancyagain-1513832460

 

USA TODAY
— Life expectancy is down for a second year. Drug overdoses are a big reason why. – Kim Painter
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2017/12/21/u-s-life-expectancy-drops-second-year-drug-deaths-spike-cdc/970283001/

 

MONEY MAGAZINE
— AT&T Is Giving Employees a $1,000 Bonus to Celebrate the Tax Bill – SCOTT MORITZ
http://time.com/money/5074566/att-republican-tax-cuts-bonuses/

 

GOVERNMENT EXECUTIVE
— Oversight Democrat Asks White House to Release Plans for ‘Massive’ Agency Downsizing – Eric Katz (DIERSEN: Democrats run the federal government. They use any kind of downsizing to get rid of a) any remaining employees who are Republican, and then b) employees who are White, male, and/or non-veteran who did not GS-13 (currently $94,610) by age 25, GS-14 (currently $111,801) by age 30, GS-15 (currently $131,508) by age 35, and Senior Executive Service (currently $161,900) by age 40.)
http://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2017/12/oversight-dems-ask-white-house-release-plans-massive-reductions-staffing/144719/

 

SSA
— Life Expectancy Calculator (DIERSEN: What is your life expectancy, that is, how many more years are you expected to live? For me, it is 16. But that may me optimistic because I have type 2 diabetes, I am overweight, and I do not get nearly enough exercise because I spend 10+ hours each and every day putting GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails together and sending them out.)
https://www.ssa.gov/cgi-bin/longevity.cgi

 

WINDY CITY TIMES
— Three pro-LGBTQ equality laws to take effect in the new year (DIERSEN: Soon, if not already, if you do not promote LGBTQ activity, colleges will not accept you and employers will not hire you.)
http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Three-pro-LGBTQ-equality-laws-to-take-effect-in-the-new-year/61443.html

December 20 Evening Edition

ABC7
— Rauner defends state handling of fatal Legionnaires outbreak at veterans’ home – Craig Wall
http://abc7chicago.com/health/rauner-defends-state-handling-of-fatal-legionnaires-outbreak-at-veterans-home/2805149/
— Trump celebrates after Congress wraps up massive tax package – AP
http://abc7chicago.com/politics/trump-celebrates-after-congress-wraps-up-massive-tax-package/2802688/

 

NBC5
— Wheaton, Palatine Ranked Among Safest Cities in Illinois
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/wheaton-palatine-named-safest-cities-to-live-in-illinois-465506123.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: For families looking to raise families, certain communities stand out for a variety of reasons, and a new ranking has revealed the safest city in the state. According to security company SafeHome, Wheaton is the safest city in the state. The ranking cites the city’s dramatic decrease in violent crime, which is down 17.8 percent in 2017, and their strong citizen-to-police officer ratio as the factors that pushed it to the top of the list. Narrowly finishing behind Wheaton is Palatine, which also saw drops in both violent crime and property crime. Hoffman Estates, Arlington Heights, and Mount Prospect rounded out the top five, according to the company. Naperville, recently ranked the second-best city in America to live by Niche, finished in seventh place among the safest cities in America. The security company used a variety of criteria to come up with its rankings, which took cities of 50,000 or more people and evaluated them on statistics such as violent crime rate, property crime rate, and other data made available by the FBI and the Census Bureau. While smaller cities tend to rank highly on the list, some of Illinois’ biggest cities made the cut as well. Champaign, home to the University of Illinois, ranked in the 22nd spot, and Chicago itself, despite making national headlines for gun violence, was ranked as the 23rd-safest city in the state according to SafeHome.)
— GOP Tax Bill Could Be a Windfall for Dozens of Lawmakers Only two Republicans found to have sizable real estate holdings voted against the bill
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/politics/Tax-Bill-Loophole-Windfall-Lawmakers-465480623.html

 

CBS2
— Rauner: State Is Taking Action For Deaths At Quincy Veteran’s Home – Derrick Blakley
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2017/12/20/veterans-home-quincy-legionnaires/

 

FOX NEWS CHICAGO
— Illinois loses population, drops to 6th-largest state – AP
http://www.fox32chicago.com/news/local/illinois-loses-population-drops-to-6th-largest-state

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Rauner: Federal tax changes help tax-cut agenda – Rick Pearson (DIERSEN: Are you a homeowner in a “traditionally Republican-leaning suburban (area) with high property tax bills?” Will Republicans making you pay more federal income tax inspire you to help Rauner fight Democrats for lower property tax bills and for lower state income taxes? According to the Democrats, if you itemize your deductions, and especially if you pay more than $10,000 a year in property and income taxes, you are undeservedly filthy rich and you can easily afford to pay more federal income tax.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-bruce-rauner-federal-tax-bill-20171220-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner said Wednesday that federal tax code changes limiting how much in state and local taxes Illinoisans can deduct could give a boost to his call for freezing property taxes and rolling back a state income tax hike. Under the measure sent to Trump, federal income taxpayers will see a larger standard deduction. But taxpayers used to itemizing their deductions will see a $10,000 limit on the deductibility of state income taxes and local property taxes. Previously, there were no limits on state and local tax deductibility. Supporters of capping the tax deduction contended it amounted to a federal subsidy for high-tax states. Opponents noted most of the high-tax states pay more in federal taxes than they receive back in federal benefits and are largely Democratic-leaning states, such as Illinois. Prior to the legislation’s passage, Rauner had declined to publicly weigh in on the effects of changing the state and local tax deduction on Illinois residents, though it could have negative effects on homeowners in traditionally Republican-leaning suburban areas with high property tax bills. “The simple fact is for states that are high-tax, high-spending states, it makes it more difficult… For states like Illinois and others, it makes it more difficult,” Rauner said. “It makes it all the more important that we make the type of changes that…I’ve been recommending from day one. That we bring down our property taxes, that we work down the income tax hike that Speaker (Michael) Madigan forced through last (July),” he said. “It makes it all the more essential that we in Illinois make those changes.” Rauner has called for freezing local property taxes and making it easier for residents to put on the ballot referendum questions that would lower real estate taxes. In addition, Rauner has called for a rollback of the income tax hike Democratic and some Republican lawmakers enacted over his veto to end the state’s historic budget stalemate.)
— Rauner won’t say if he has moral responsibility for Quincy veterans’ illnesses, deaths – Rick Pearson
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-bruce-rauner-quincy-veterans-home-legionnaires-20171220-story.html
— Elgin faith leaders call out U46 school board member for critique of religion assignment – Rafael Guerrero
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/elgin-courier-news/news/ct-ecn-elgin-faith-leaders-jeanette-ward-st-1220-20171219-story.html
— Trump stands to save millions under new tax measure, experts say – Drew Harwell
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-trump-save-millions-tax-plan-20171220-story.html
— The new tax challenge for Illinois Democrats – Editorial
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-edit-illinois-progressive-income-tax-20171220-story.html
— How the tax bill impacts homeowners, buyers and sellers – Kathy Orton
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-tax-bill-impact-homeowners-real-estate-20171220-story.html
— Trump just admitted the GOP’s tax cuts were deceptively sold – Aaron Blake
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-trump-gop-taxes-analysis-20171220-story.html
— Triumphant Trump celebrates tax win — but some fear backlash – AP
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-gop-tax-bill-20171220-story.html

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Drink water at vets’ home linked to deaths? ‘Absolutely,’ Rauner says – Tina Sfondeles
https://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-politics/drink-water-at-vets-home-linked-to-deaths-absolutely-rauner-says/
— Declining population knocks Illinois down to 6th-largest state – Rachel Hinton
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/declining-population-knocks-illinois-down-to-sixth-largest-state/
— Trump has scored a solid year of accomplishments. What now? – Byron York
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/trump-has-scored-a-solid-year-of-accomplishments-what-now/

 

DAILY HERALD
— Ives says she’s the real social conservative running for governor – Marni Pyke
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20171220/ives-says-shes-the-real-social-conservative-running-for-governors
— How tax bill impacts homeowners, buyers and sellers – Kathy Orton
http://www.dailyherald.com/business/20171220/how-tax-bill-impacts-homeowners-buyers-and-sellers
— DuPage sheriff dispatch center supervisor faces misconduct charge – Justin Kmitch
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20171220/dupage-sheriff-dispatch-center-supervisor-faces-misconduct-charge
— A sweeping tax plan whose promises face widespread doubts – AP
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20171220/business/312209938/

 

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— The GOP tax bill is good for you—buh-leeve me! – GREG HINZ
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20171220/BLOGS02/171229981/the-gop-tax-bill-is-good-for-you-x2014-buh-leeve-me
— Somebody’s getting a pay raise from the tax bill. Probably not you. – STEPHEN GANDEL
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20171219/NEWS02/171219872/somebodys-getting-a-pay-raise-from-the-tax-bill-probably-not-you
— Illinois’ population dips again—and now trails Pennsylvania – GREG HINZ
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20171220/BLOGS02/171229989/illinois-population-dips-again-and-now-trails-pennsylvania

 

WLS AM
— Rauner sees pros and cons with tax reform bill – Bill Cameron
http://www.wlsam.com/2017/12/20/rauner-sees-pros-and-cons-with-tax-reform-bill/
— Kinzinger: Republicans handling of govt. shutdown threat “extremely frustrating.” – John Dempsey
http://www.wlsam.com/2017/12/20/gop-congressman-republicans-handling-of-govt-shutdown-threat-extremely-frustrating/

 

BELLEVILLE NEWS DEMOCRAT
— Illinois drops from 5th to 6th in population. What’s driving people out? – JOSEPH BUSTOS (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, Democrats focus on driving out of Illinois people, organizations, and 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.bnd.com/news/local/article190772804.html

 

SOUTHERN
— Rauner says he’s been kicking HUD ‘in the pants’; HUD says try ‘kick-starting the Cairo economy’ instead – MOLLY PARKER
http://thesouthern.com/news/local/acha/rauner-says-he-s-been-kicking-hud-in-the-pants/article_b46c3ac1-20ad-59a7-90d1-921dc24e7fd3.html

 

ROCKFORD REGISTER STAR
— It’s time to consolidate school districts – Scott Reeder
http://www.rrstar.com/opinion/20171220/my-view-its-time-to-consolidate-school-districts

 

STATELINE
— What the Tax Bill Means for Illinois Taxpayers Story includes calculator to see how you and your family is impacted – Scott Picken
http://www.mystateline.com/news/what-the-tax-bill-means-for-illinois-taxpayers/884695096

 

WAND
— Ives, challenging Rauner, campaigns in Coles County – Joe Astrouski
http://www.wandtv.com/story/37112873/ives-challenging-rauner-campaigns-in-coles-county

 

IVES FOR ILLINOIS
— Ives Outlines Benedict Rauner’s Top Ten Betrayals
http://mailchi.mp/2ebbd210a631/ives-outlines-benedict-rauners-betrayals?e=985ad8c00b

 

HEARTLAND INSTITUTE
— HUFFINGTON POST PREPARES TO SMEAR HEARTLAND AGAIN – Joseph Bast
https://www.heartland.org/news-opinion/news/huffington-post-prepares-to-smear-heartland-again

 

WILL COUNTY NEWS
— Ives Outlines Benedict Rauner’s Top Ten Betrayals – Steve Balich
http://willcountynews.com/2017/12/20/ives-outlines-benedict-rauners-top-ten-betrayals/

 

CHICAGO CITY WIRE
— As a high property tax state, Illinois is not attractive, CNN economist says – Glenn Minnis
https://chicagocitywire.com/stories/511298937-as-a-high-property-tax-state-illinois-is-not-attractive-cnn-economist-says

 

ILLINOIS LEAKS
— Gubernatorial Candidate Jeanne Ives interviewed by ECWd – KIRK ALLEN
http://edgarcountywatchdogs.com/2017/12/gubernatorial-candidate-jeanne-ives-interviewed-by-ecwd/

 

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— IVES RESPONDS: BENEDICT RAUNER’S 10 BETRAYALS IN 2017
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2017/12/ives-responds-.html

 

CAPITOL FAX
— Ives puts together her own top ten list
https://capitolfax.com/2017/12/20/ives-puts-together-her-own-top-ten-list/
— Rauner dodges questions about veterans’ home problems
https://capitolfax.com/2017/12/20/rauner-dodges-questions-about-veterans-home-problems/

 

GOPUSA
— Trump: A nation without borders is not a nation
http://www.gopusa.com/trump-a-nation-without-borders-is-not-a-nation/

 

WASHINGTON TIMES
— ‘Dreamers’ flock to Capitol to protest lack of action on amnesty – Stephen Dinan
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/dec/20/dreamers-flock-capitol-protest-lack-action-amnesty/

 

DAILY CALLER
— Media Bias Against GOP Tax Bill Misleads The Public – Amber Athey
http://dailycaller.com/2017/12/20/media-bias-against-gop-tax-bill-misleads-the-public-video/

 

BREITBART
— Pro-Life Coalition Warns: Obamacare ‘Stability’ Deal Without Hyde Amendment Will Force Taxpayers to Fund Abortion – DR. SUSAN BERRY
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/12/20/pro-life-coalition-warns-obamacare-stability-deal-without-hyde%E2%80%A8-amendment-will-force-taxpayers-to-fund-abortion/

 

BLAZE
— Catholic priest comes out as gay during his homily — and parishioners give him a standing ovation – Dave Urbanski (DIERSEN: How soon, if not already, will “religious leaders” send you straight to HELL if you do not promote LGBTQ activity?)
http://www.theblaze.com/news/2017/12/20/catholic-priest-comes-out-as-gay-during-his-homily-and-parishioners-give-him-a-standing-ovation
— Rosie O’Donnell offers $2 million each to GOP senators to vote against tax reform bill – Sarah Taylor (DIERSEN: I should write a book about those in Wheaton, in Glen Ellyn, in Milton Township, in DuPage County, and in Illinois who claim to be conservative and/or Republican, but treat me like they have been offered lots of money, a new home, a new car, a sweetheart job, a sweetheart contract, favorable legislation, and/or lots more if they succeed in stopping me from putting out GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails.)
http://www.theblaze.com/news/2017/12/20/rosie-odonnell-offers-2-million-each-to-gop-senators-to-vote-against-tax-reform-bill

 

THE HILL
— Amnesty for the ‘best and brightest’ will still cost taxpayers – IRA MEHLMAN (DIERSEN: Are/were you one of the “best and brightest?” For federal employees, if you are White, male, and/or non-veteran, you are not one of the “best and brightest” unless you make GS-13 (currently $94,610) by age 25, GS-14 (currently $111,801) by age 30, GS-15 (currently $131,508) by age 35, and Senior Executive Service (currently $161,900) by age 40.)
http://thehill.com/opinion/immigration/365847-amnesty-for-the-best-and-brightest-will-still-cost-taxpayers

 

LOS ANGELES TIMES
— Chants of protest drown out any caroling this holiday season at the Capitol – Lisa Mascaro (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, members of Group A make it clear that they want the federal government to get rid of 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.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-capitol-holiday-protests-20171219-story.html

December 20 Morning Edition

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— FRONT PAGE WITH COLOR PHOTO: Rauner lays out how second term will be different, blames Emanuel for first-term failures – Rick Pearson and Bill Ruthhart
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-bruce-rauner-emanuel-sacks-madigan-20171219-story.html
— Rauner on messaging woes: ‘Very, very difficult’ to explain complex issues to 12.5 million people (DIERSEN: It would be great if Rauner would read GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails. Reading GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails helps you keep up to date with Illinois government and political news and commentary that is put out by television stations, newspapers, radio stations, political organizations, activists, etc. GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails go out each and every morning and each and every evening; their format allows for quick reading, they contain no advertising, and they are free.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-bruce-rauner-messaging-20171220-story.html
— FRONT PAGE: Strategist Christopher Robling touted volunteer work for College of DuPage while chairwoman secretly paid his son’s tuition to Georgetown – Stacy St. Clair and Christy Gutowski
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/watchdog/cod/ct-met-college-of-dupage-consultant-20171204-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: When former College of DuPage board Chairwoman Kathy Hamilton ordered the school to hire her political strategist as a special assistant to the president, she and the strategist repeatedly described him as a volunteer and promised he would donate his salary to charity. But here’s what they didn’t disclose: He was getting money all along. Newly filed court documents show Hamilton was secretly paying the college tuition of strategist Christopher Robling’s son while Robling was employed at the state’s largest community college — payment that experts say may run counter to the state’s ethics and election laws. The private payment became public as part of Hamilton’s divorce case in DuPage County, where she and her estranged husband, John, have been battling over a $45 million estate for more than a year, according to court records. The divorce case explains Hamilton’s departure from the college’s board of trustees for “personal reasons” just months after she became its chairwoman, and it also contains allegations she used marital assets to, among other things, help pay for Robling’s son to attend Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. The exact amount wasn’t included in the court documents, but sources say she paid Georgetown about $20,000 between June 2015 and November 2015. During that six-month period Robling served as special assistant to then-college President Joseph Collins, earning and then donating roughly the same amount that Hamilton paid to Georgetown. This wasn’t an unusual arrangement for the Hamiltons, their divorce case shows. The couple paid one year of American University tuition for John Hamilton’s assistant’s daughter, according to records. Robling, who owns a strategic communications firm and serves as a political commentator on local television and radio, acknowledged the money paid to Georgetown during a recent deposition. “I am an alum of Georgetown and he happens to attend Georgetown and I’m very proud of that,” Robling said in the deposition. In portions of the deposition filed as part of the divorce case, Robling declined to say whether he paid taxes on the tuition paid to Georgetown or whether it was considered a gift. Though John Hamilton refers to Robling as his wife’s “paramour” in court filings, Robling declined to answer questions about his personal relationship with Kathy Hamilton during his deposition. Attorney Aldo Botti, who represents both Kathy Hamilton and Robling in the divorce proceedings, says the allegation is false and meant to embarrass Kathy Hamilton. Both Hamilton and Robling declined interview requests through Botti. “She’s a woman of integrity who’s going through a very difficult divorce and who is seeking her fair share of the marital estate,” Botti said. “She’s been through a lot.” One day after the Tribune asked Botti about Hamilton’s tuition arrangement with Robling, Hamilton petitioned the court to seal her divorce file. DuPage County Judge Neal Cerne refused the request, siding with the Tribune after it intervened and asked that the case remain open for public viewing. The divorce proceeding is scheduled to go to trial Wednesday. Before Robling worked for COD, Hamilton personally paid him $2,500 a month between August 2014 and June 2015 for crisis management and to protect her political image, according to Robling’s deposition.)
— The risk of speaking up – Alexandra Olson (DIERSEN: If I had never spoken out against political affiliation discrimination, against reverse discrimination, or against age discrimination, the federal government would have promoted me into its Senior Executive Service long before I was 40 years old in 1988 notwithstanding the fact that I am Republican, White, male, and non-veteran.)
https://www.pressreader.com/usa/chicago-tribune/20171220/281865823832319

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Gov. Rauner wages war with … WBEZ? – Tina Sfondeles (DIERSEN: GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails are put together from a Republican perspective. That is why Democrats and Democrats, Libertarians and Libertarian plants, Greens and Green plants, and RINOs do not like them.)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/gov-rauner-wages-war-on-wbez/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Gov. Bruce Rauner on Tuesday accused Chicago public radio station WBEZ of discontinuing an “Ask the Governor” segment with him because “it’s really more of a Democrat station” — a charge the station is adamantly denying. The remarks were made during a Chicago Tribune editorial board meeting. Columnist Eric Zorn tweeted that the governor complained to the board that WBEZ discontinued the segment for political reasons. “Some of the powers that be didn’t want me goin’ on there, it’s really more of a Democrat station,” the governor said, per Zorn’s tweet. That accusation didn’t gel well for the public radio station, which offers extensive local and national political coverage. “WBEZ and Governor Rauner’s team agreed that the ‘Ask the Governor’ segment would have a limited run and end by Labor Day, as it would not be fair to gubernatorial candidates of all parties to allow the governor an hour of airtime each month during the election campaign,” Goli Sheikholeslami, WBEZ’s president and CEO, said in a statement. “WBEZ is committed to providing voters with fair coverage of all candidates, and we look forward to having Governor Rauner join us for our upcoming GOP primary candidate forum in 2018.”)
— Chicago area households may likely lose under GOP tax plan – Lynn Sweet
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/sweet-chicago-area-households-may-likely-lose-under-gop-tax-plan/

 

DAILY HERALD
— Former DuPage sheriff’s supervisor being investigated in wake of firing – Justin Kmitch
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20171219/former-dupage-sheriffs-supervisor-being-investigated-in-wake-of-firing
— GOP tax bill would usher in a bleak future – Fareed Zakaria
http://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20171220/gop-tax-bill-would-usher-in-a-bleak-future
— Vernon Township harassment probe shows need for outsider’s credibility – Editorial
http://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20171219/editorial-township-harassment-probe-shows-need-for-outsiders-credibility

 

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— ‘Implicit racial bias’ training is coming to your school, for better or worse – MARK GLENNON
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20171220/OPINION/171229999
— GOP House hopeful Shah admits to taking improper tax breaks – GREG HINZ
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20171219/BLOGS02/171219867/gop-house-hopeful-shah-got-tax-breaks-for-two-homes-at-the-same-time

 

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Rauner administration to appeal AFSCME step pay ruling – Doug Finke (DIERSEN: Have you gotten step increases? My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have always been beyond furious that I got step increases and COLAs while I worked for the federal government. They have also always been beyond furious a) that the Post Office hired me in 1966 and let me work there for almost 3 years, b) that IRS hired me in 1971 and let me work there for almost 9 years, c) that IRS promoted me in 1972, 1973, and 1974, d) that GAO hired me in 1980 and let me work there for almost 18 years, and e) that GAO promoted me in 1986.)
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20171219/rauner-administration-to-appeal-afscme-step-pay-ruling

 

CHAMPAIGN/URBANA NEWS GAZETTE
— Request period open for voting by mail in Illinois Primary – Carol Vorel
http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2017-12-20/request-period-open-voting-mail-illinois-primary.html

 

MADISON RECORD
— Local governments challenged by underfunded pension plans; Ives calls for amending constitution – Ann Maher
https://madisonrecord.com/stories/511301780-local-governments-challenged-by-underfunded-pension-plans-candidate-for-governor-calls-for-amending-constitution

 

JACKSONVILLE JOURNAL COURIER
— Ives makes campaign stop – Greg Olson
http://www.myjournalcourier.com/news/117249/ives-makes-campaign-stop

 

FOX NEWS ILLINOIS
— Representative Jeanne Ives hosts meet and greet in Jacksonville
http://foxillinois.com/news/local/representative-jeanne-ives-hosts-meet-and-greet-in-jacksonville

 

NORTHERN PUBLIC RADIO
— Ives Wants State Pension Changes – BRIAN MACKEY
http://northernpublicradio.org/post/gubernatorial-challenger-wants-state-pension-changes

 

NPR ILLINOIS
— 3 Trump Judicial Nominees Withdraw, Raising Some Questions About Vetting – NINA TOTENBERG (DIERSEN: Who vettes Republican candidates in your municipality, in your township/ward, in your county, and in Illinois? Are they a) the officers of your township/ward Republican party organization, b) the officers of your Republican county party organization, c) your representative on the Illinois Republican Party (IRP) State Central Committee, d) the IRP offices, and/or e) those who have the most religious, government, political, and/or financial clout? Because Rauner dominates everything that is Republican in Illinois, one could paint Rauner as being responsible for vetting all Republican candidates in Illinois.)
http://nprillinois.org/post/three-trump-judicial-nominees-withdraw-raising-some-questions-about-vetting#stream/0

 

NEWS CHANNEL 20
— Representative Jeanne Ives hosts meet and greet in Jacksonville
http://newschannel20.com/news/local/representative-jeanne-ives-hosts-meet-and-greet-in-jacksonville-12-20-2017

 

WJBC
— Congressional candidate’s views shaped by his religious faith, sees tax bill as morally ‘awful’ – Howard Packowitz
http://www.wjbc.com/2017/12/20/congressional-candidates-views-shaped-by-his-religious-faith-sees-tax-bill-as-morally-awful/

 

OAK LAWN PATCH
— Dist. 218 Knew Employee Was An Alleged ‘Peeping Tom:’ LAWSUIT New lawsuit claims Dist. 218 had received earlier complaints about an employee being an alleged locker room peeper before his 2015 arrest. – Lorraine Swanson
https://patch.com/illinois/oaklawn/dist-218-knew-employee-was-alleged-peeping-tom-lawsuit

 

CHICAGO REPORTER
— Thousands of black students leave Chicago for other segregated districts – Kalyn Belsha (DIERSEN: Democrats run Illinois and they especially Cook County and Chicago. Democrats used to promote integration, but now they promote segregation.)
http://chicagoreporter.com/black-cps-student-migration/#new_tab

 

INJUSTICE WATCH
— Rauner appointee to Illinois board accused of racial slurs, ethics violations – Emily Hoerner and Jeanne Kuang
http://www.injusticewatch.org/news/2017/rauner-prisoner-review-board-ethics-racial-slur/

 

WIREPOINTS
— Chicago’s Pension And Debt Load Worse Than Puerto Rico’s, And A New Moody’s Report Zaps Chicago – Mark Glennon
http://www.wirepoints.com/chicagos-pension-and-debt-load-worse-than-puerto-ricos-and-a-new-moodys-report-zaps-chicago-wirepoints-original/
— Squeezed out, fed up: Property tax hikes from Wilmette to Danville threaten Illinois’ tax base – Ted Dabrowski and John Klingner
http://www.wirepoints.com/squeezed-out-fed-up-more-property-tax-hikes-from-wilmette-to-danville-means-illinois-risks-losing-its-tax-base-wirepoints-original/

 

NORTH COOK NEWS
— Rauner loses big in Palatine straw poll – W.J. Kennedy (DIERSEN: In your township/ward and county, which candidates would win straw polls in the following races: a) Rauner/Sanguinetti v. Ives/Morthland and b) Harold v. Grasso? In DuPage County, which candidates would win straw polls in the following races: a) Diganvker v. Jhingan, b) Stella v. Vlakancic, c) Minor v. Grant v. Byrne v. Augustynowicz, d) Kinzler v. Orozco, e) Zito v. Khouri, f) Mendrick v. Bibbiano, g) Tornatore v. DeMichele v. Fichtner v. Gavanes, h) Hart v. Abbott v. Tully v. Broline, i) McGowen v. Almiron v. Eckhoff v. Zaruba v. Tatro v. Chinchilla, j) Wiley v. Zay v. McQuade, k) Russo v. MacKay, l) Illinois Republican Party State Central Committee candidates, m) etc.?)
https://northcooknews.com/stories/511301118-rauner-loses-big-in-palatine-straw-poll

 

DUPAGE POLICY JOURNAL
— Wheaton Chamber of Commerce to honor members’ efforts at Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon – C. M. Schmidlkofer (DIERSEN: What do those who dominate your Chamber of Commerce think of you? Sadly, those who dominate the Wheaton Chamber of Commerce have an extremely low opinion a) of me, b) of my conservatism, c) of my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails, d) of my opposition to video gambling, and e) of what I do each year to promote Wheaton’s Independence Day parades. 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 the Wheaton Chamber of Commerce’s problems. They blame me for Wheaton’s problems. In 2011, they abolished the chamber’s Government Affairs Committee to get rid of me, the committee’s senior member.)
https://dupagepolicyjournal.com/stories/511301116-wheaton-chamber-of-commerce-to-honor-members-efforts-at-volunteer-appreciation-luncheon

 

PRAIRIE STATE WIRE
— Rauner’s “betrayal” could be costing him endorsements from Illinois congressmen – W.J. Kennedy
https://prairiestatewire.com/stories/511299891-rauner-s-betrayal-could-be-costing-him-endorsements-from-illinois-congressmen

 

ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE
— STATE LAWMAKER PLANS TO INTRODUCE TOWNSHIP CONSOLIDATION BILL State Rep. David McSweeney, R-Barrington Hills, is working on the framework for a bill that would dramatically improve taxpayers’ ability to eliminate township governments, of which Illinois has about 1,400. – Joe Kaiser
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/state-lawmaker-plans-to-introduce-township-consolidation-bill/

 

ILLINOIS NEWS NETWORK
— Views differ on importance of Cook County’s non-binding pot legalization question – Greg Bishop (DIERSEN: If you promote pot, you promote destruction.)
https://www.ilnews.org/news/statewide/views-differ-on-importance-of-cook-county-s-non-binding/article_f830ea08-e439-11e7-b113-6336b50453ca.html

 

ILLINOIS LEAKS
— Illinois Prisoner Review Board Member – Use of racial slur found in member records – JOHN KRAFT
http://edgarcountywatchdogs.com/2017/12/illinois-prisoner-review-board-member-use-of-racial-slur-found-in-member-records/

 

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— THE UNBEARABLE WEIGHT OF THE IRS (DIERSEN: IRS does what politicians tell it to do. If you do not like what IRS does, you should be mad at the politicians who tell IRS what to do. Did you vote for politicians who told IRS to do things that you do not like?)
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2017/12/the-unbearable-weight-of-the-irs.html
— HOLLYWOOD WANTS YOUR MONEY…AND YOUR MIND
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2017/12/hollywood-wants-your-moneyand-your-mind.html

 

CAPITOL FAX
— Rauner: “We had the possibility of a transformation for the state with the crisis that we had”
https://capitolfax.com/2017/12/20/rauner-we-had-the-possibility-of-a-transformation-for-the-state-with-the-crisis-that-we-had/
— Rauner now says his second term will be successful because the courts will let him bypass Madigan
https://capitolfax.com/2017/12/20/rauner-now-says-his-second-term-will-be-successful-because-the-courts-will-let-him-bypass-madigan/

 

FOX NEWS
— Half of Americans Think Their Taxes Will Go Up Under GOP Plan, Poll Shows
http://insider.foxnews.com/2017/12/19/half-americans-think-their-taxes-will-go-under-gop-plan-poll-says

 

DAILY CALLER
— It’s Time For Jeff Sessions To Bring Hate Crime Charges Against Chicago’s Facebook Live Torture Suspects – William J. Kelly
http://dailycaller.com/2017/12/19/its-time-for-jeff-sessions-to-bring-hate-crime-charges-against-chicagos-facebook-live-torture-suspects/

 

WESTERN FREE PRESS
— Immigration: E-Verify A Must For American Workers – JOHN WALKER
http://westernfreepress.com/2017/12/19/immigration-e-verify-a-must-for-american-workers/


LIFE SITE NEWS
— Dear Cosmopolitan: Your evil sexual advice is literally destroying countless women
https://www.lifesitenews.com/blogs/dear-cosmopolitan-your-evil-sexual-advice-is-literally-destroying-countless

 

CNN
— A fractured GOP unified to pass a landmark tax plan: Here’s how it came together – Phil Mattingly and Lauren Fox
http://www.cnn.com/2017/12/20/politics/republican-tax-bill-behind-the-scenes/index.html
— GOP borrows ‘Obamacare’ playbook to defend tax bill: You’ll like it once you see it – Stephen Collinson
http://www.cnn.com/2017/12/20/politics/republicans-tax-reform-democrats-obamacare/index.html

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH THREE BIG COLOR PICTURES: How Tough Is It to Change a Culture of Harassment? Ask Women at Ford Decades after the company tried to tackle sexual misconduct at two Chicago plants, continued abuse raises questions about the possibility of change.  – SUSAN CHIRA and CATRIN EINHORN
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/12/19/us/ford-chicago-sexual-harassment.html

 

WASHINGTON POST
— With this tax bill, the GOP has finally killed family-friendly conservatism – Jonathan Coppage
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/posteverything/wp/2017/12/20/with-this-tax-bill-the-gop-has-finally-killed-family-friendly-conservatism/
— Federal agency reports show ‘continuum of harm’ from workplace sexual misconduct – Joe Davidson (DIERSEN: I saw no sexual misconduct while I worked for the Post Office 1966-1969, IRS 1971-1980, and GAO 1980-1997. What I did see was that my Democrat superiors and supervisors always gave preference to their employees who were Democrat, and especially to their employees who were female, minority, and/or younger, that is, I saw that they discriminated against their employees who were Republican, White, male, older, and/or non-veteran.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2017/12/20/federal-agency-reports-show-continuum-of-harm-from-workplace-sexual-misconduct/

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— What the Tax Bill Does to Homeowners The Republican tax-code overhaul would reduce or eliminate some of the benefits of homeownership that Americans have come to expect. – Christina Rexrode (DIERSEN: Government should encourage homeownership. I have been a homeowner since I was 24 years old in 1972, and my wife and I have been homeowners since we got married in 1978. Government should encourage homeownership.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/what-the-tax-bill-does-to-homeowners-1513737287
— Tax Reform Means Your Paycheck Will Grow – Paul Ryan (DIERSEN: What do growing paychecks mean for you? Growing paychecks mean nothing for me because the last time I got a paycheck was in 1997 when I was 49 years old. My $50,856/year Civil Service Retirement System pension is only 41% of what my $122,991 GAO salary was in 1997 in today’s dollars.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/tax-reform-means-your-paycheck-will-grow-1513728131
— Republican Tax Bill Has Grown More Unpopular, Poll Shows Overall, 41% of Americans in the survey said the tax plan was a bad idea, up from 35% in October. – Janet Hook
https://www.wsj.com/articles/republican-tax-bill-has-grown-more-unpopular-poll-shows-1513720886
— Sexual-Harassment Training Gets a Revamp – Sue Shellenbarger (DIERSEN: Employees who take such training will be even more 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/sexual-harassment-training-gets-a-revamp-1513696545

 

MOTLEY FOOL
— Why You’ll Need More Retirement Savings Than You Think (and What to Do About it) If retirement savings will be your main source of retirement income, you’ll need to have way more than the typical saver manages. – Wendy Connick (DIERSEN: Where you live in retirement is extremely important. If you live in DuPage County, the cost of living is very high.)
https://www.fool.com/retirement/2017/12/20/why-youll-need-more-retirement-savings-than-you-th.aspx

December 19 Evening Edition

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— GOP on verge of huge tax overhaul — with one hiccup Stephen Ohlemacher and Marcy Gordon
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-gop-tax-bill-20171219-story.html
— Illinois Republicans, Democrats in Congress stick with their parties on tax vote – Katherine Skiba
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-illinois-congress-taxes-20171219-story.html
— Tax plan a windfall for companies, but will anything trickle down to the rank and file? – Robert Reed
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/columnists/reed/ct-biz-tax-plan-wages-jobs-robert-reed-1220-story.html
— When people wouldn’t believe two dogs killed their owner, the sheriff described the horror – Kristine Phillips
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-dogs-maul-owner-virginia-20171219-story.html
— Suicide expert says rampant stress not a new problem for Naperville students – Suzanne Baker
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/naperville-sun/news/ct-nvs-naperville-suicide-expert-st-1220-20171219-story.html
— The toughest job in state government – Editorial
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-edit-dcfs-walker-rauner-abuse-20171219-story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: If you promote pot in Illinois, you promote the destruction of Illinois.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/daily-southtown/opinion/ct-sta-slowik-marijuana-legalization-st-1220-20171219-story.html
— Why doesn’t Trump get credit for revving up the economy? – Ed Rogers
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-perspec-economy-trump-gross-domestic-product-ed-rogers-1220-story.html

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— How Illinois lawmakers voted on House tax bill. But there is a snag. – Lynn Sweet
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/how-illinois-lawmakers-and-others-voted-on-house-tax-bill/

 

DAILY HERALD
— Aurora Election Commission could be on chopping block in March vote – Susan Sarkauskas
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20171219/aurora-election-commission-could-be-on-chopping-block-in-march-vote

 

ABC7
— Senate expected to pass massive tax reform bill after hiccup – AP
http://abc7chicago.com/politics/senate-expected-to-pass-massive-tax-reform-bill-after-hiccup/2799415/
— Mauled by dogs: Sheriff offers gruesome details about death of woman killed by her own pets – CNN
http://abc7chicago.com/mauled-by-dogs-sheriff-offers-gruesome-details-about-death-of-woman-killed-by-her-own-pets/2799855/

 

NBC5
— House Needs to Vote Again on $1.5T GOP Tax Bill Democrats called the bill a giveaway to corporations and the wealthy – Stephen Ohlemacher and Marcy Gordon
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/politics/GOP-Roll-Trillion-Final-Tax-Bill-House-Senate-465150303.html

 

CBS2
— Palatine Township Board Delays Vote On Hiring Parliamentarian – Craig Dellimore
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2017/12/19/palatine-township-parliamentarian/

 

FOX NEWS CHICAGO
— GOP on the verge of huge tax overhaul — with one hiccup – AP
http://www.fox32chicago.com/news/congress-tax-vote

 

WLS AM
— Ives out with a rescue plan for state’s pension problem – Bill Cameron
http://www.wlsam.com/2017/12/19/ives-out-with-a-rescue-plan-for-states-pension-problem/
— Chicago area Congressmen on WLS to debate tax bill – John Dempsey
http://www.wlsam.com/2017/12/19/chicago-area-congressmen-on-wls-to-debate-tax-bill/

 

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Rauner says nobody will buy plant that state helped sell – Bernard Schoenburg
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20171219/schoenburg-rauner-says-nobody-will-buy-plant-that-state-helped-sell

 

PEORIA JOURNAL STAR
— Teen arrested trying bring pot into Peoria County courthouse – Phil Luciano
http://www.pjstar.com/news/20171218/teen-arrested-trying-bring-pot-into-peoria-county-courthouse

 

TIMES
— High school journalists should not be censored – Liza Buhr
http://www.mywebtimes.com/news/youth/buhr-high-school-journalists-should-not-be-censored/article_89269742-8887-51ee-a00d-7ef52119ebec.html

 

WSIL TV
— Political expert weighs in on “Rauner’s Top 10 Accomplishments” – Roni LeForge
http://www.wsiltv.com/story/37104258/political-expert-weighs-in-on-rauners-top-10-accomplishments

 

SOUTHEAST ILLINOIS NEWS
— Bailey sees flight from Illinois as another Rauner failure – Glenn Minnis
https://seillinoisnews.com/stories/511300724-bailey-sees-flight-from-illinois-as-another-rauner-failure

 

DUPAGE POLICY JOURNAL
— Straub notes Durkin role in aiding taxpayer flight from state – Glenn Minnis
https://dupagepolicyjournal.com/stories/511301030-straub-notes-durkin-role-in-aiding-taxpayer-flight-from-state

 

REAL GOP ILLINOIS
— Shades of Rauner’s nursing home scandal in Quincy veterans death case
https://realgopillinois.com/2017/12/18/shades-rauners-nursing-scandal-quincy-veterans-home-case/

 

ILLINOIS LEAKS
— Ives for Governor “Meet and Greet” – Coles County – December 20, 2017 – KIRK ALLEN
http://edgarcountywatchdogs.com/2017/12/ives-for-governor-meet-and-greet-coles-county-december-20-2017/
— John Clough, Illinois Prisoner Review Board Member Electioneering with State Vehicle – JOHN KRAFT
http://edgarcountywatchdogs.com/2017/12/john-clough-illinois-prisoner-review-board-member-electioneering-with-state-vehicle/

 

CAPITOL FAX
— Rauner claims WBEZ canceled monthly show for political reasons
https://capitolfax.com/2017/12/19/rauner-claims-wbez-canceled-monthly-show-for-political-reasons/
— ILGOP weighs in against Straub *** Oppo dump!
https://capitolfax.com/2017/12/19/oppo-dump-10/
— Ives proposes pension changes
https://capitolfax.com/2017/12/19/ives-proposes-pension-changes/
— Rauner touts his top 10 accomplishments
https://capitolfax.com/2017/12/19/rauner-touts-his-top-10-accomplishments/
— The most negative campaign ever
https://capitolfax.com/2017/12/19/the-most-negative-campaign-ever/
— Rauner talks up contributions to pro-life candidates while campaign highlights Dems’ worst moments of 2017
https://capitolfax.com/2017/12/19/rauner-talks-up-contributions-to-pro-life-candidates-while-campaign-highlights-dems-worst-moments-of-2017/

 

CNS NEWS
— Rep. Roskam: ‘Low Expectations’ on Tax Plan Will Work in Republicans’ Favor – Susan Jones
https://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/susan-jones/rep-roskam-low-expectations-tax-plan-will-work-republicans-favor

 

LIFE NEWS
— Illinois Gov Bruce Rauner: Pro-Life People Should Vote for Me Even Though I Forced Them to Fund Abortions – MICAIAH BILGER
http://www.lifenews.com/2017/12/19/illinois-gov-bruce-rauner-pro-life-people-should-vote-for-me-even-though-i-forced-them-to-fund-abortions/

 

GOPUSA
— University of Virginia stonewalls conservative club for restricting membership to conservatives (DIERSEN: I should write a book about those in Wheaton, Glen Ellyn, Milton Township, DuPage County, and Illinois who claim to be conservative and/or Republican, but a) who do lots of anti-conservative and/or anti-Republican things and/or b) focus on destroying those who are conservative and/or Republican. They really are Democrat plants, Libertarian plants, Green plants, or RINOs. Most commonly, they reject the traditional family, right to life, immigration, illegal drugs, Second Amendment, and equal opportunity (no race or gender based preference giving) planks. Most commonly, they promote LGBTQ activity, abortion, mass/illegal immigration, booze, gambling, pot, and other vices, age discrimination, political affiliation discrimination, and patronage.)
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=35538

 

WASHINGTON POST
— Trump cheers on a stock market he once called a ‘big, fat, ugly bubble’ – Michael Scherer and Jenna Johnson
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-cheers-on-a-stock-market-he-once-called-a-big-fat-ugly-bubble/2017/12/19/811cce82-e4de-11e7-833f-155031558ff4_story.html

 

NEW REPUBLIC
— The Democrats’ Risky Pursuit of Suburban Republicans The strategy threatens to alienate the party’s base in the age of Trump. – JEET HEER
https://newrepublic.com/article/146345/democrats-risky-pursuit-suburban-republicans

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/

December 15 Evening Edition

ABC7
— President Trump on violent crime in US: ‘What the hell is going on in Chicago?’ – Jesse Kirsch
http://abc7chicago.com/politics/trump-on-violent-crime-in-us-what-the-hell-is-going-on-in-chicago/2784892/

 

NBC5
— Trump: ‘What the Hell is Going On in Chicago?’ – James Neveau
https://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/president-trump-again-bemoans-chicago-gun-violence-in-fbi-speech-464455663.html

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Why Gov. Rauner probably still won’t be ‘in charge’ next year – Rich Miller
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/miller-why-gov-rauner-probably-still-wont-be-in-charge-next-year/
— Rahm’s trust a bust? Fails to raise a dime but has cost taxpayers $5M – Tim Novak
https://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-politics/rahm-emanuel-infrastructure-trust-a-bust-fails-to-raise-a-dime-in-5-years-but-has-cost-chicago-taxpayers-over-5-million-dollars-the-watchdogs/
— Here’s what’s in final tax bill Republicans plan to send to Trump
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/heres-whats-in-final-tax-bill-republicans-plan-to-send-to-trump/
— We need a broader conversation on sex, workplace issues – Mary Mitchell (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, if you are a male, the more of the following that you are, the more that you are demonized, denigrated, and condemned as being a sexual harasser and even worse things: Trump supporter, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, older, rich, gun owner, German American, and/or if your ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/mitchell-we-need-a-broader-conversation-on-sex-workplace-issues/
— Will ‘Me Too’ or general GOP awfulness be the Democratic banner in 2018? – Caitlin Huey-Burns
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/will-me-too-or-general-gop-awfulness-be-the-democratic-banner-in-2018/
— Close veterans home where Legionnaires’ outbreaks persist – Editorial
https://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/legionnaires-disease-quincy-illinois-veterans-home/

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Trump singles out Chicago violence again — but underestimates the problem – William Lee
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chicagoinc/ct-met-trump-chicago-shootings-chicago-inc-20171215-story.html
— GOP tax bill slashes rates for corporations and wealthy with smaller benefits for middle class – AP
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-republicans-tax-bill-20171215-story.html
— No tears from African-Americans after Omarosa booted from White House – Dahleen Glanton
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/glanton/ct-met-omarosa-trump-dahleen-glanton-20171215-story.html
— State rep’s daughter, boyfriend given probation for attack on primary rival – Megan Crepeau
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-state-rep-daughter-guilty-misdemeanor-20171215-story.html
— Trump judicial nominee fumbles through painfully awkward confirmation hearing gone viral – Derek Hawkins (DIERSEN: I should write a book about what I learned about the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure when I pursued Diersen v. Chicago Car Exchange and Diersen v. GAO in federal court.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-trump-judicial-nominee-matthew-petersen-20171215-story.html
— GOP gubernatorial candidate Jeanne Ives says U46 too big, needs to be reduced – Rafael Guerrero
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/elgin-courier-news/news/ct-ecn-ives-u46-downsizing-st-1217-20171215-story.html
— Some brush off politics unless it affects their daily lives – Ted Slowik
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/daily-southtown/opinion/ct-sta-slowik-why-it-matters-st-1217-20171215-story.html

 

DAILY HERALD
— 3 weeks into new budget, Kane County sheriff coming up short – James Fuller
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20171215/3-weeks-into-new-budget-kane-county-sheriff-coming-up-short
— German government says it backs ‘open and free internet’ – AP (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents do not want an “open and free” internet. They only want an internet that they can manipulate if not dominate. They do not want anyone to first learn of anything by reading GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails. They refuse to keep diersen@aol.com on their press advisory and press release lists. They do not want me to know about their events and other activities. They do not want me to promote their events and other activities. They do not want me to attend their events. They do not want me to report on their events or activities. They want me to carry out their blacklist orders. They are furious that I circulate nominating petitions in my precinct for all the candidates instead just for candidates they approve of. I should write a book about my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes. They claim to be conservative and/or Republican, but ever-increasingly they talk and act like they are Democrat plants, Libertarian plants, Green plants, or RINOs.)
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20171215/news/312159952/

 

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Chicago lawyers: not a diverse lot – CLAIRE BUSHEY
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20171215/NEWS04/171219914/chicago-lawyers-not-a-diverse-lot

 

PEORIA PUBLIC RADIO
— Durbin Fears ‘Mistakes’ In Rushed Republican Tax Bill – RYAN DENHAM (DIERSEN: Cutting/eliminating itemized deductions will cause the housing market to crash. Will renters take advantage of that crash and buy homes?)
http://peoriapublicradio.org/post/durbin-fears-mistakes-rushed-republican-tax-bill#stream/0

 

WGAL
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Second-grader brings marijuana to school, shares with a friend (DIERSEN: Who is leading the fight against pot in your precinct, in your municipality, in your township/ward, in your county, and in Illinois?)
http://www.wgal.com/article/second-grader-brings-marijuana-to-school-shares-with-a-friend/14440593

 

CHICAGO CITY WIRE
— Illinois GOP release states Pritzker ‘continues to lie to Illinoisans’ – Robert Hadley
https://chicagocitywire.com/stories/511281883-illinois-gop-release-states-pritzker-continues-to-lie-to-illinoisans

 

KANE COUNTY REPORTER
— Oberweis says he’s ‘extremely disappointed’ Rauner signed sanctuary state bill – Karen Kidd
https://kanecountyreporter.com/stories/511286741-oberweis-says-he-s-extremely-disappointed-rauner-signed-sanctuary-state-bill

 

WEST COOK NEWS
— Leader Durkin Had Role in Strip Club vs. Broadview Fight – Lgistheme Reports
https://westcooknews.com/stories/511298864-leader-durkin-had-role-in-strip-club-vs-broadview-fight

 

METRO EAST SUN
— Don Moore, Republican candidate in the 108th House District, is uneasy about Durkin-Madigan relationship – Carrie Bradon
https://metroeastsun.com/stories/511296463-moore-is-uneasy-about-durkin-madigan-relationship

 

ILLINOIS LEAKS
— Citizens of Illinois pay attention: 36 Counties- 55 illegal assessors! – KIRK ALLEN (DIERSEN: Did you meet legal requirements when you were hired? I did. I had both a job-related master’s degree and a job-related professional certification when GAO hired me at the GS-9 level in 1980. I had a job-related bachelor’s degree and I had passed the Federal Service Entrance Examination when IRS hired me at the GS-7 level 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 level in 1966.)
http://edgarcountywatchdogs.com/2017/12/citizens-of-illinois-pay-attention-36-counties-55-illegal-assessors/

 

ILLINOIS HOMPAGE
— Duckworth responsible for legionnaires issue? – Raquel Martin
http://www.illinoishomepage.net/news/capitol-news/duckworth-responsible-for-legionnaires-issue/881873477

 

ILLINOIS FAMILY ACTION
— GOP Gubernatorial Primary 2018: Competent Uniter v. Incompetent Divider – John Biver
https://illinoisfamilyaction.org/2017/12/gop-gubernatorial-primary-2018-competent-uniter-v-incompetent-divider/

 

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— THORNER: PARTY DIVISIONS SPARK AT REPUBLICAN WOMEN’S EVENT IN LAKE COUNTY (DIERSEN: Are you a Republican Precinct Committeeman? What policy does your Republican township and/or county party organization have on committeemen supporting candidates in contested Republican primaries? Officially, the Milton Township Republican Central Committee (MTRCC) does not endorse candidates, committeemen are free to support whichever candidates that they want to support, but committeemen are required to support the candidates who win the primaries. However, sadly, if not tragically, that is not how it works in real life. Those who have dominated MTRCC at least since 2000 have lots of religious, government, political, and financial clout in Wheaton, in Glen Ellyn, in Milton Township, and in DuPage County. They do everything that they can to destroy committeemen who support candidates who they do not like. I should write a book about their efforts to destroy me since 2000. They blame me for all losses that Republican candidates have suffered in general elections in Wheaton, in Glen Ellyn, in Milton Township, in DuPage County, and in Illinois since 2000.)
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2017/12/thorner-party-divisions-spark-at-republican-womens-event-in-lake-county.html

 

CAPITOL FAX
— Rauner complains it’s “hard to overcome” the “biased” Illinois media
https://capitolfax.com/2017/12/15/rauner-complains-its-hard-to-overcome-the-biased-illinois-media/
— Reader comments closed until Tuesday (DIERSEN: GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails have gone out each and every morning since 2004 and each and every evening too since 2015. Those emails have included links to more than 289,200 articles and information on many upcoming events.)
https://capitolfax.com/2017/12/15/reader-comments-closed-until-tuesday-25/

 

ONE NEWS NOW
— Way down deep, Dems want folks hooked on gov’t largess – Steve Jordahl
https://www.onenewsnow.com/politics-govt/2017/12/15/way-down-deep-dems-want-folks-hooked-on-govt-largess

 

DAILY CALLER
— Google Is Using Its Immense Power To Censor Content That Doesn’t Fit Its Political Goals. Everyone In America Should Be Concerned About That – Neil Patel
http://dailycaller.com/2017/12/15/google-is-using-its-immense-power-to-censor-content-that-doesnt-fit-its-political-goals/
— America’s Longest-Serving Bomber (B-52) Sets New Record For Most Smart Bombs Dropped On An Enemy – RYAN PICKRELL
http://dailycaller.com/2017/12/15/americas-longest-serving-bomber-sets-new-record-for-most-smart-bombs-dropped-on-an-enemy/

 

GOPUSA
— Black women seek rewards from Democrats after Alabama race
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=35324
— Democrat lawmaker: Women’s clothing an ‘invitation’ for harassment
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=35223
— Prominent lawyer sought donor cash for two Trump accusers (DIERSEN: If you accuse Trump of sexual harassment, anti-Trumps will give you lots of money.)
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=35361
— Kirstjen Nielsen, new DHS chief, says agents cause ‘fear’ in illegals (DIERSEN: My Democrat superiors in the federal government focused on causing “fear” in their employees like me who were Republican, and especially those like me who were White, male, older, and non-veteran. They used Affirmative Action, Diversity, and Inclusion to waste the careers of and to get rid of their employees like me who were Republican, and especially those like me who were White, male, older, and non-veteran.)
http://www.gopusa.com/kirstjen-nielsen-new-dhs-chief-says-agents-cause-fear-in-illegals/

 

BREITBART
— CBO Report: DACA Amnesty Would Cost American Taxpayers $26 Billion – JOHN BINDER
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/12/15/cbo-report-daca-amnesty-would-cost-american-taxpayers-26-billion/
— CNN: Four GOP Senators Negotiate Amnesty With Democrats – NEIL MUNRO
http://www.breitbart.com/economics/2017/12/15/cnn-four-gop-senators-negotiate-amnesty-democrats/
— Exodus: Jews Flee Paris Suburbs over Rising Tide of Anti-Semitism – SIMON KENT
http://www.breitbart.com/jerusalem/2017/12/15/exodus-french-jews-forced-islamists-anti-semitism-rises-across-europe/

 

AMERICAN THINKER
— Why Al Franken should not resign – Robin Wolf
http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2017/12/why_al_franken_should_not_resign.html

 

FEDERALIST
— Why Criminalizing Sexual Harassment Fosters Witch Hunts Sexual harassment digests a degenerate thug like Harvey Weinstein with a college student who makes an awkward pass or a well-intentioned boss who compliments a dress. – Maureen Mullarkey
http://thefederalist.com/2017/12/15/criminalizing-sexual-harassment-fosters-witch-hunts/

 

NATIONAL REVIEW
— Too Many Americans Are Going to College – Too Many Americans Are Going to College – Kyle Smith
http://www.nationalreview.com/article/454680/bryan-caplans-case-against-education-persuasive&arubalp=8e2c40a0-eb99-4df9-ad36-82ce3139f3

 

CONSERVATIVE HQ
— Cultural Divide Deepens in First Year of Trump Presidency – George Rasley (DIERSEN: What percent of those in your precinct, in your municipality, in your township/ward, in your county, and in Illinois 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?)
http://www.conservativehq.com/node/27033
(FROM THE ARTICLE: A pair of recent polls assessing patriotism attitudes in the American population reveal that, as the first year of the Trump presidency ends, there are two competing definitions of patriotism and distinct divergence in the underlying priorities of Americans operating in our country. The vast differences that were found between how those who self-identified as Liberal or Conservative rated the meaning of traditional components of patriotism, such as “Freedom of Speech,” the “National Anthem,” and the “American flag,” suggest that there is a deepening division in the American understanding of patriotism in terms of its symbols and freedoms. Most Americans surveyed reflected this same concern – only 13% of the adults surveyed believe the citizens of the United States are becoming more patriotic; 50% believe their fellow citizens are becoming less so. Only 22% of Americans surveyed said they strongly agree they would feel safe wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat. The findings suggest that we are more divided than ever – and neither the Left nor the Right are content to cede patriotism to the other. We see that general terms, such as “freedom of speech,” which in the past may have been associated with patriotism are murkier in meaning than before; those who want to communicate about American patriotism should know their audiences have quite different ideas about what that means. While results suggest political affiliation can predict how patriotism is defined, 85% of liberals consider themselves to be patriotic in some sense, compared to 97% of conservatives and 83% of moderates. Drilling down into the differences in the perceived patriotism of brands according to political party affiliation, Conservatives said the NRA is “very patriotic” – the highest ranked of the choices by them, Moderates deemed it is the U.S. Supreme Court, and Liberals chose the Democrat Party. Planned Parenthood was one percentage point behind the Democrat Party in Liberals’ estimation of “very patriotic” brands. Likewise, overall, the National Rifle Association was considered “very patriotic” by a plurality, 33%; the same percent said the National Football League’s Colin Kaepernick was most strongly understood to be “not at all” patriotic.)

 

POLITICO
— Democratic lawmaker: Women’s clothing an ‘invitation’ to harassment ‘I saw a member yesterday with her cleavage so deep it was down to the floor,’ Rep. Marcy Kaptur tells fellow Democrats at a private meeting. – HEATHER CAYGLE
https://www.politico.com/story/2017/12/13/marcy-kaptur-womens-clothing-sexual-harassment-294974

 

CNN
— Want to fix sexual harassment? Don’t hire jerks – Robert Sutton (DIERSEN: According to those who are anti-men, all men are jerks, and those men who are members of the following groups are especially jerks: Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, older, rich, gun owners, German Americans, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
http://www.cnn.com/2017/12/15/opinions/sexual-harassment-dont-hire-jerks-sutton-opinion/index.html

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— Has Support for Moore Stained Evangelicals? Some Are Worried – Laurie Goodstein (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes do everything that they can to turn religious people against me. They stress a) that I am not a member of any church, b) that I do not attend church services, c) that I do not give money to a church, d) that I was baptized, raised, and confirmed as a Missouri Synod Lutheran, and e) that I oppose the promotion of dependency on government, dependency on charities, LGBTQ activity, abortion, mass/illegal immigration, booze, gambling, pot and other vices, race and gender based preference giving, age discrimination, abolition of the First and Second Amendments, etc.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/14/us/alabama-evangelical-christians-moore.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: “It grieves me,” said Ed Stetzer, executive director of the Billy Graham Center at Wheaton College, a prominent evangelical school in Illinois. “I don’t want ‘evangelical’ to mean people who supported candidates with significant and credible accusations against them. If evangelical means that, it has serious ramifications for the work of Christians and churches.” . . . People have had the impulse to jettison the evangelical label before, according to Mr. Stetzer of Wheaton College. It came up after the televangelist scandals involving Jim Bakker and Jimmy Swaggart in the 1980s. But the idea received new attention and momentum soon after Mr. Trump was elected.)

 

WASHINGTON POST
— Rubio’s last stand highlights tax bill’s corporate skew – Tory Newmyer (DIERSEN: Cutting/eliminating itemized deductions will cause the housing market to crash. Will renters take advantage of that crash and buy homes?)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/paloma/the-finance-202/2017/12/15/the-finance-202-rubio-s-last-stand-highlights-tax-bill-s-corporate-skew/5a33032830fb0469e883fbd3/
— Trump judicial nominee fumbles basic questions about the law – Derek Hawkins (DIERSEN: I should write a book about what I learned about the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure when I pursued Diersen v. Chicago Car Exchange and Diersen v. GAO in federal court.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2017/12/15/trump-judicial-nominee-fumbles-basic-questions-about-the-law/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: For five painfully awkward minutes, Petersen, a member of the Federal Election Commission and a lawyer with no trial experience, fumbled with Kennedy’s questions, visibly uncomfortable as the lawmaker pressed him about how things work in a federal courtroom. “Hoo-boy,” Whitehouse wrote in a widely circulated tweet of the exchange, seizing on the moment for maximum political effect. In Wednesday’s hearing, Kennedy started by asking Petersen and the four other nominees who appeared with him: “Have any of you not tried a case to verdict in a courtroom?” Petersen alone raised his hand. Kennedy, a first-term Republican who has challenged some of Trump’s previous judicial nominations, bore down. Had Petersen ever handled jury trial? “I have not,” the nominee responded. Civil? No. Criminal? No. Bench trial? No. State or federal court? No. How many depositions had he taken — fewer than five? “Probably somewhere in that range,” Petersen said. Had he ever argued a motion in state court? Federal court? No on both counts. Kennedy then asked the last time Petersen had read the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure — the standards that govern civil cases in U.S. District Court, where Petersen is hoping to get a lifetime appointment.)
— Racial divides have been holding American workers back for more than a century – Calvin Schermerhorn (DIERSEN: Schermerhorn should write about what GAO did during the 1980s and 1990s a) to hire, retain, and promote young Democrat minorities and young Democrat females and b) to make way for them by wasting the careers of and by getting rid of GAO employees who were Republican, White, male, older, and/or non-veteran.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/made-by-history/wp/2017/12/15/racial-divides-have-been-holding-american-workers-back-for-more-than-a-century/

 

HOUSTON CHRONICLE
— GOP lawmakers race to pass tax bill without regard to details, fallout – Editorial (DIERSEN: Cutting/eliminating itemized deductions will cause the housing market to crash. Will renters take advantage of that crash and buy homes?)
http://www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/editorials/article/Breaking-the-bank-12432073.php

 

NEWSWEEK
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: MARIJUANA-INFUSED WINE IS COMING TO LEGAL WEED STATES – JANICE WILLIAMS
http://www.newsweek.com/marijuana-legal-states-wine-california-747711

 

GOVERNMENT EXECUTIVE
— OPM Tells Agencies to Stop Working Collaboratively with Unions – Erich Wagner
http://www.govexec.com/management/2017/12/opm-tells-agencies-stop-working-collaboratively-unions/144617/?oref=top-story

 

FEDERAL NEWS RADIO
— Despite having 7 ways to recruit, retain mission critical talent, agencies rarely use them – Nicole Ogrysko (DIERSEN: In 1980, I had almost 9 years of “mission critical talent.” GAO audits IRS. In 1980, I had worked for IRS’s Collection Division 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. But instead of offering me a promotion to GS-13 to transfer from IRS to GAO, GAO forced me to take an $18,847 pay cut to transfer. During the 1980s and 1990s, GAO’s Chicago office almost always led audits of IRS’s Collection Division. While GAO did assign me to audits of IRS’s Criminal Investigation Division 1986-1988, all during the almost 18 years that I worked for GAO, it never assigned me to an audit of IRS’s Collection Division. In my opinion, GAO’s refusal to assign me to audits of IRS’s Collection Division is almost criminal if not criminal.)
https://federalnewsradio.com/your-job/2017/12/agencies-have-7-different-ways-to-recruit-and-retain-mission-critical-talent-but-they-rarely-use-them/

December 15 Morning Edition

ABC7
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC, ILLEGAL, AND TREASONOUS: Chicago has unveiled the design of a new municipal identification card that will be available next year to immigrants living in the country without legal permission and others. – AP
http://abc7chicago.com/society/chicago-unveils-municipal-ids-to-be-available-in-march/2782904/

 

NBC5
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC, ILLEGAL, AND TREASONOUS: Chicago has unveiled the design of a new municipal identification card that will be available next year to immigrants living in the country without legal permission and others. – AP
https://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/Chicago-Unveils-Municipal-IDs-to-Be-Available-in-March–464286113.html

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— On the Republican side, state Rep. Jeanne Ives of Wheaton reported raising $369,500 so far to take on wealthy Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner. Of the total, $25,000 came from what had been her state legislative campaign account. Rauner had put $50 million in his re-election account a year ago and had $65.6 million to start October. Since then he’s added $185,787, state records show. – Rick Pearson
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-illinois-governor-fundraising-20171215-story.html
— Oak Brook trustee Michael Manzo doesn’t believe allegations against Roy Moore, alleges smear campaign by Democrats – Chuck Fieldman
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/oak-brook/news/ct-dob-manzo-comments-tl-1221-20171214-story.html
— ‘It can be really ostracizing’: After Trump and Moore, some evangelicals find label too toxic to use – Julie Zauzmer
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-trump-moore-evangelicals-20171215-story.html
— Mundelein approves property tax hike to cover pension payments – Rick Kambic
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/mundelein/news/ct-mun-property-tax-levy-approved-pensions-tl-1221-story.html#new_tab

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Families blame state in veterans home Legionnaires’ outbreak – AP
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/families-blame-state-in-veterans-home-legionnaires-outbreak/

 

DAILY HERALD
— Ives poses legitimate threat to both Rauner and Democrats – Ed Murnane
http://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20171215/ives-poses-legitimate-threat-to-both-rauner-and-democrats
— FRONT PAGE: 3 DuPage candidates (Daniel Hebreard, Irfan M. Ibrahim, and Jim Broline) must fight to stay on the March ballot – Robert Sanchez
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20171214/3-dupage-candidates-must-fight-to-stay-on-the-march-ballot
— Lt. Gov. Evelyn Sanguinetti will join several local leaders from various public entities in Schaumburg on Friday, to recognize their efforts to consolidate, share services and save taxpayers money.
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20171214/sanguinetti-in-schaumburg-friday-to-honor-local-governments
— Kane County Board attorney selected by Lauzen resigns – James Fuller
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20171214/kane-county-board-attorney-selected-by-lauzen-resigns
— Shaughnessy named Antioch Township Supervisor – Mick Zawislak
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20171214/shaughnessy-named-antioch-township-supervisor

 

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Chicago housing strength rises—from dead last – DENNIS RODKIN (DIERSEN: Taking away itemized deductions will cause the housing market to crash.)
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/realestate/20171214/CRED0701/171219942

 

SOUTHERN
— Families blame state in veterans home Legionnaires’ outbreak – AP
http://thesouthern.com/news/state-and-regional/families-blame-state-in-veterans-home-legionnaires-outbreak/article_b052b8e6-cb7b-5dab-a2de-35a9734e25dc.html

 

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Video gambling numbers level off in Springfield – Tim Landis
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20171214/video-gambling-numbers-level-off-in-springfield

 

WIRE POINTS
— US markets up 200 percent, Illinois pensions down 65 percent – Ted Dabrowski and John Klingner
http://www.wirepoints.com/us-markets-up-200-percent-illinois-pensions-down-65-percent-wirepoints-original/

 

CHICAGO WIRE
— Ives calls report on deaths at veterans home ‘sickening’ – Glenn Minnis
https://chicagocitywire.com/stories/511297558-ives-calls-report-on-deaths-at-veterans-home-sickening

 

ILLINOIS NEWS NETWORK
— State senator Dan McConchie warns day of reckoning is near as Illinois’ pension liability leads nation – Greg Bishop
https://www.ilnews.org/news/state_politics/state-senator-warns-day-of-reckoning-is-near-as-illinois/article_451a8772-e0ff-11e7-8ee6-1382a64156f3.html

 

SOUTHEAST ILLINOIS NEWS
— Bailey calls for change in direction as he takes on Reis in District 109 – Glenn Minnis
https://seillinoisnews.com/stories/511297140-bailey-calls-for-change-in-direction-as-he-takes-on-reis-in-district-109

 

REAL GOP ILLINOIS
— Bruce Rauner’s watch: 13 deaths at Quincy veteran’s home and GOP said nothing
https://realgopillinois.com/2017/12/14/bruce-rauners-watch-15-deaths-quincy-home-gop-said-nothing/

 

CAPITOL FAX
— Republicans get into the “holiday spirit”
https://capitolfax.com/2017/12/15/republicans-get-into-the-holiday-spirit/

 

BREITBART
— Wealthy CEOs Lecture Americans To Show ‘Courage’ by Submitting to Diversity and Amnesty – NEIL MUNRO (DIERSEN: If you are a White and/or male citizen of America, the less money that you have, the more that Affirmative Action, Diversity, Inclusion, and Amnesty harm you.)
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/12/14/wealthy-ceos-lecture-americans-show-courage-submit-to-diversity-amnesty/

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— Republicans Despise the Working Class Unless you own a business or live off assets, you’re a second-class citizen in their eyes. – Paul Krugman (DIERSEN: All of my critics/opponents despise the working class. I was a member of the working class 1962-1997. 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.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/14/opinion/republicans-working-class-taxes.html

 

WASHINGTON POST
— After Trump and Moore, some evangelicals are finding their own label too toxic to use – Julie Zauzmer and Sarah Pulliam Bailey
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/social-issues/after-trump-and-moore-some-evangelicals-are-finding-their-own-label-too-toxic-to-use/2017/12/14/b034034c-e020-11e7-89e8-edec16379010_story.html

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Corrupting the Body Politic What’s breaking our politics, says the author, is not ideological polarization but our sense that politicians are in it for themselves. Barton Swaim reviews ‘The Republic of Virtue’ by F.H. Buckley. – Barton Swaim
https://www.wsj.com/articles/review-corrupting-the-body-politic-1513293821

 

USA TODAY
— FRONT PAGE: HARDCOPY ARTICLE TITLE: Frats thrive as hazing trauma fades – Sean Rossman and Trevor Hughes (DIERSEN: Were you a member of a frat? I was not. My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes stress that I a) lived with my parents and brother in Crete while I attended UIC 1966-1968, b) came home weekends during my first semester at NIU in 1969 to keep my part-time Post Office job, and c) lived with my parents and brother in Crete during the summer of 1969.)
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/12/14/collateral-damage-how-fraternities-can-continue-thrive-after-pledges-die/920502001/

 

NPR
— Federal Investigation Finds ‘Significant Issues’ At Immigrant Detention Centers – Richard Gonzales
https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/12/14/570984026/federal-investigation-finds-significant-issues-at-immigrant-detention-centers

December 13 Morning Edition

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— DuPage Election Commission merger question OK’d for spring ballot – Gary Gibula (DIERSEN: What has disappointed you the most about the DuPage County Election Commission (DCEC). For me, it has been DCEC’s a) failure/refusal to do more to remove deadwood from the voting rolls and b) failure/refusal to deal directly with elected precinct committeemen concerning proposed changes to their polling place and to their precinct lines.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/naperville-sun/news/ct-nvs-dupage-board-election-commission-st-1213-20171212-story.html
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Question about legalizing marijuana could go on Cook County ballots – Hal Dardick (DIERSEN: If you promote pot, you promote destruction.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-cook-county-marijuana-20171213-story.html
— Illinoisans want Trump sexual misconduct investigation – Katherine Skiba
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-cook-county-marijuana-20171213-story.html
— Illinois’ home health care industry rife with fraud, tainted by unscrupulous physicians – Michael J. Berens
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/watchdog/ct-home-health-main-met-20171212-story.html
— Making way for transgender troops – Editorial (DIERSEN: While I worked for the Democrats who ran the federal government 1966-1969 and 1971-1997, they made way for young Democrat minorities and for young Democrat females by wasting the careers of and by getting rid of their employees who were Republican, White, male, older, and/or non-veteran. Democrats use Affirmative Action, Diversity, and Inclusion to get rid of Republicans, and especially to get rid of Republicans who are White, male, older, and/or non-veteran.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-edit-transgender-20171211-story.html
— A cooking fire at a homeless encampment sparked a wildfire last week that destroyed six homes in the Bel Air neighborhood of Los Angeles, authorities said Tuesday, while the fifth-largest wildfire in California history burning northwest of the city kept expanding and kept thousands out of their homes. – AP
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-california-wildfires-20171212-story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Those who 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 march in Naperville.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/naperville-sun/news/ct-nvs-community-unity-march-st-1213-20171212-story.html

 

DAILY HERALD
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH BIG COLOR PICTURE AND GRAPHIC: Why four small Lake County suburbs spent thousands at the Illinois Municipal League conference in Chicago – Jake Griffin
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20171213/why-four-tiny-suburbs-spent-thousands-at-chicago-conference
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: If you vote against the Second Amendment, those who will never vote for a Republican love you.
http://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20171213/editorial-roskam-gets-gun-vote-right-hultgren-doesnt
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: Adjunct faculty, Elmhurst College at odds over union vote – Marie Wilson
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20171212/adjunct-faculty-elmhurst-college-at-odds-over-union-vote

 

WTTW
— List of Top 200 Pension Earners Shows Potential for Big Payouts – Paris Schutz
http://chicagotonight.wttw.com/2017/12/12/list-top-200-pension-earners-shows-potential-big-payouts

 

WBEZ
— Protesters Disrupt Meeting, Call For Palos Trustee To Quit Over ‘Racist’ Comments – Linda Lutton
https://www.wbez.org/shows/wbez-news/protesters-disrupt-meeting-call-for-palos-trustee-to-quit-over-racist-comments/18461cd8-0df1-403c-9024-e06b85f91b97

 

NORTHWEST HERALD
— Time to get rid of township government – Editorial
http://www.nwherald.com/2017/12/08/our-view-time-to-get-rid-of-township-government/a38rxj9/

 

DEKALB DAILY JOURNAL
— Kendall GOP chief James Marter to challenge Kinzinger in 16th District No requirement for residency in congressional district, only in state – TONY SCOTT (DIERSEN: How long have you lived in Illinois, in your county, in your township/ward, in your municipality, and in your precinct. I have lived in Illinois since 1948, in DuPage County, Milton Township, and Wheaton since 1978, and in my precinct since 1984.)
http://www.daily-chronicle.com/2017/12/11/kendall-gop-chief-to-challenge-kinzinger-in-16th-district/a9e321v/

 

CHAMPAIGN/URBANA NEWS GAZETTE
— Government for the insiders – Editorial
http://www.news-gazette.com/opinion/editorials/2017-12-13/government-the-insiders.html

 

WSIL TV
— Candidates set for March Primaries – Andrew Feather
http://www.wsiltv.com/story/37053669/candidates-set-for-march-primaries

 

WTAX
— “Top integrity” demanded, says guv (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents do not demand integrity. They demand blind loyalty. They do everything that they can to punish and destroy those individuals, those organizations, those companies, those governments, and those countries that they cannot manipulate/dominate.)
http://wtax.com/news/101101-top-integrity-demanded-says-guv/

 

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— USA Today bashes Trump as ‘not fit to clean the toilets’ in Obama’s presidential library Editorial board reacts to Trump’s Gillibrand tweet – CHRIS CILLIZZA
http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/politics/usa-today-trump-as-not-fit-to-clean-the-toilets-in-obamas-presidential-library/880252842

 

SOUTHERN
— HUD’s new Midwest director Joseph Galvan was forced out as chairman of Illinois’ housing finance agency – MOLLY PARKER
http://thesouthern.com/news/local/acha/hud-s-new-midwest-director-was-forced-out-as-chairman/article_06c340dc-a3f9-528a-83b6-f0615b732d3f.html

 

RIPON ADVANCE
— Republicans oppose tax provision hitting graduate students (DIERSEN: What about proposed tax provisions that hit homeowners, hit people who have high medical and dental expenses, and hit those who pay for job-related graduate courses?)
https://riponadvance.com/featured/republicans-oppose-tax-provision-hitting-graduate-students/

 

DUPAGE COUNTY ELECTION COMMISSION
— Results of Lottery Drawing for Simultaneous Filing 2018 General Primary Election

http://www.dupageco.org/Election/Election_Commission_News/2017/56460/

WIRE POINTS
— Fitch Ratings: Illinois debt burden highest in nation – Ted Dabrowski and John Klingner
http://www.wirepoints.com/fitch-ratings-illinois-debt-burden-highest-in-nation-wirepoints-original/
— Major attention to Illinois emigration data from Wall Street Journal but nothing in Illinois press. What gives? – Mark Glennon
http://www.wirepoints.com/major-attention-to-irs-data-from-wall-street-journal-but-nothing-in-illinois-press-what-gives-quicktake/

 

CHICAGO CITY WIRE
— Ives running mate says Rauner sold state ‘a bill of goods’ – Glenn Minnis
https://chicagocitywire.com/stories/511285544-ives-running-mate-says-rauner-sold-state-a-bill-of-goods

 

PRAIRIE STATE WIRE
— Ives slams Rauner during appearance on southern Illinois radio show – Caitlin Nordahl (DIERSEN: Who slams you and why? I should write a book about those who slam me and why they do it.)
https://prairiestatewire.com/stories/511286619-ives-slams-rauner-during-appearance-on-southern-illinois-radio-show
— Illinois lost 86,000 people, $4.75 billion to other states in 2015-16, Illinois Policy Institute says – Caitlin Nordahl
https://prairiestatewire.com/stories/511286611-illinois-lost-86-000-people-4-75-billion-to-other-states-in-2015-16-illinois-policy-institute-says

 

HEARTLAND INSTITUTE
— Occupational Licensing Craziness (DIERSEN: I became a licensed CPA in 1981. I had worked for GAO for more than a year, I had passed the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt in 1981, I had earned a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul in 1980, I had passed the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979, I had earned an MBA from Loyola in 1976, and I had worked for IRS 1971-1980, the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step 1-5 levels, currently $79,653-$90,173.)
http://www.icontact-archive.com/maf-9-s7_-akggRj2BorjvoB8XVQ7Odf?w=4

 

ILLINOIS HOMEPAGE
— Rauner on Murashko: ‘A gentleman resigned’ Video shows state employee on Rauner campaign turf – Mark Maxwell
http://www.illinoishomepage.net/news/local-news/rauner-on-murashko-a-gentleman-resigned/880350773

 

ILLINOIS NEWS NETWORK
— AG says Illinois taxpayers to begin paying for elective abortions Jan. 1 – Greg Bishop
https://www.ilnews.org/news/state_politics/ag-says-illinois-taxpayers-to-begin-paying-for-elective-abortions/article_9824953e-df88-11e7-934e-bbe2af49a82c.html

 

CAPITOL FAX
— Ethics complaint filed against Murashko, Deputy Governor Childress probed
https://capitolfax.com/2017/12/13/report-ethics-complaint-filed-against-murashko-deputy-governor-childress-probed/
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: If you seek a government office or a political office, sooner or later, your critics/opponents will draw attention big time to assessed valuation reductions that you sought/obtained. There is a lot in the public record about my success during the 1980s and 1990s in getting a small reduction of the assessed valuation of my home at 915 Cove Court in Wheaton.)
https://capitolfax.com/2017/12/13/apples-and-organges/

 

GOPUSA
— Sex Vigilantes Trash Due Process
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=35084

 

FOX NEWS

— Washington Post reporters barred from Roy Moore election night party – Nicole Darrah
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/12/12/washington-post-reporters-barred-from-roy-moore-election-night-party.html

 

INDEPENDENT JOURNAL REVIEW
— Rep. Peter King (R-NY) Says Steve Bannon Doesn’t Belong in Politics: ‘He Looks Like a Disheveled Drunk’ – JOSH BILLINSON
http://ijr.com/the-response/2017/12/1033978-gop-rep-says-steve-bannon-doesnt-belong-in-politics-he-looks-like-a-disheveled-drunk/

 

CNS NEWS
— Trump Congratulates Democrat Doug Jones on ‘Hard-Fought Victory’; Says He Knew Moore Couldn’t Win – Susan Jones
https://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/susan-jones/trump-congratulates-democrat-doug-jones-hard-fought-victory

 

AMERICAN THINKER
— Illinois residents still fleeing state in record numbers – Rick Moran
http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2017/12/illinois_residents_still_fleeing_state_in_record_numbers.html
— Leftists: Establishing a Religion – Tom Trinko
http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2017/12/leftists__establishing_a_religion.html

 

NET RIGHT DAILY
— Are Americans losing faith in the U.S. justice system? – Printus LeBlanc (DIERSEN: How bad are your demographics? Ever-increasingly, the more of the following that you are, the more likely that you will lose in court: Trump supporter, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, non-poor, non-veteran, gun owner, German American, and/or if your ancestors have been in America for a long time. The more of the aforesaid that you are, the more likely that summary judgment will be granted against you. The more of the aforesaid that you are, the worst that your “jury appeal” is.)
http://netrightdaily.com/2017/12/americans-losing-faith-u-s-justice-system/

 

COLUMBIA JOURNALISM REVIEW
— The media today: The loss of net neutrality threatens local journalism – Mathew Ingram
https://www.cjr.org/the_media_today/net-neutrality-local-news.php

 

THE HILL
— Jones wins Alabama Senate seat for Dems – BEN KAMISAR AND LISA HAGEN
http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/364547-jones-wins-alabama-senate-seat-for-dems

 

HUFFINGTON POST
— Four Reasons Why The Republican Tax Bill is a Disaster for Latinos – Hector E. Sanchez Barba
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/four-reasons-why-the-republican-tax-bill-is-a-disaster_us_5a311d58e4b0b73dde46a8ce

 

POLITICO
— Alabama earthquake: Democrat Jones wins Republican Roy Moore is defeated in a huge blow for President Donald Trump and his former strategist Steve Bannon. – DANIEL STRAUSS
https://www.politico.com/story/2017/12/12/alabama-election-results-2017-293309

 

CNN
— Alabama election: Doug Jones scores stunning win, but Moore won’t concede – Eric Bradner
http://www.cnn.com/2017/12/12/politics/alabama-senate-election-mainbar/index.html

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— FRONT PAGE: ‘Fake News,’ Trump’s Obsession, Is Now a Cudgel for Strongmen – Steven Erlanger (DIERSEN: Who are the strongmen in your municipality, in your township/ward, in your county, and in Illinois? I should write a book about past and present strongmen, their operatives, and their dupes in Wheaton, in Glen Ellyn, in Milton Township, in DuPage County, and in Illinois.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/12/world/europe/trump-fake-news-dictators.html
— Tax Plan’s Biggest Cuts Could Be in Living Standards – Eduardo Porter (DIERSEN: What has cut your living standards? For me, since 1997 when I was 49 years old, it has been my Democrat GAO superiors’ success in forcing me to take their early retirement “offer.” My pension is only 41% of my ending salary in today’s dollars. Previously, they always ranked me in the bottom half of my coworkers for pay-for-performance purposes, did not promote me beyond GS-13, kept me off audits of IRS for all but 3 of the almost 18 years that I worked for GAO, and forced me to take an $18,847 pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO in 1980. Before that, my Democrat IRS superiors did not promote me beyond GS-12, disallowed my education deductions in 1978, and disallowed my partial day per diem claims in 1974. Before that, my Democrat Post Office superiors forced me resign in 1969 and disallowed my sick leave requests in 1969 and 1968.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/12/business/economy/tax-plan-standard-of-living.html
— Once a Long Shot, Democrat Doug Jones Wins Alabama Senate Race – Alexander Burns and Jonathan Martin
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/12/us/politics/alabama-senate-race-winner.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, female anti-Trumps viciously demonize men, viciously denigrate men, and viciously condemn men. Ever-increasingly, female anti-Trumps make it clear that they want to get rid of men once and for all.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/11/upshot/sexual-harassment-workplace-prevention-effective.html

 

WASHINGTON POST
— Doug Jones declared victor in Alabama race for Senate; Roy Moore may seek recount – Sean Sullivan, David Weigel and Michael Scherer
https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/voters-head-to-the-polls-in-contentious-senate-race-in-alabama/2017/12/11/26e36b56-deb7-11e7-8679-a9728984779c_story.html
— Alabama presented the demographic nightmare that’s been looming for the Republican Party – Philip Bump (DIERSEN: Those who want Republicans to lose want Republicans to pander to those who 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.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2017/12/12/alabama-presented-the-demographic-nightmare-thats-been-looming-for-the-republican-party/

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Illinois Drives People Away The taxpayer migration continues from the Land of Ever Higher Taxes. – Editorial
https://www.wsj.com/articles/illinois-drives-people-away-1513125224
— Democrat Doug Jones Wins Alabama Senate Seat, AP Calls Upset victory in Alabama shrinks GOP Senate majority – Janet Hook and Joshua Jamerson
https://www.wsj.com/articles/republicans-look-beyond-alabama-senate-race-1513124366
— When It’s Illegal to Ask, ‘How Much Do You Make?’ – Gerald Skoning (DIERSEN: If you are/were a government employee, your salary is public record. From the beginning of time, government employees have been viciously demonized, viciously denigrated, and viciously condemned as being overpaid by those who would never seek or take a government job because they view the salaries as being too low. In my defense, I earned a) a job-related bachelor’s degree when I was 21 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.wsj.com/articles/when-its-illegal-to-ask-how-much-do-you-make-1513124971

 

NEW YORK MAGAZINE
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Republicans say “Doug Jones’s Victory Shows Why Democrats Must Compete Everywhere.”
http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2017/12/joness-victory-shows-why-democrats-must-compete-everywhere.html

 

SALON
— Never mind the sex scandals: Roy Moore is a son of the Confederacy Controversial Alabama U.S. Senate candidate has extensive ties to white nationalists and Christian supremacists – MATTHEW SHEFFIELD (DIERSEN: Have you or any of your ancestors ever lived in one of the Confederate states? Ever-increasingly, if you, or any of your ancestors have ever lived in one of the Confederate states, anti-Trumps demonize, denigrate, and condemn you as being a White supremacist, Nazi, KKK member, hater, racist, sexist, bigot, and even worse things. I have lived in Illinois since 1948, in DuPage County, Milton Township, and Wheaton since 1978, and in my precinct since 1984. All my ancestors have lived in northeast Illinois since the 1840s and 1850s.)
https://www.salon.com/2017/12/12/never-mind-the-sex-scandals-roy-moore-is-a-son-of-the-confederacy/

 

BBC
— Who are the poor Americans? – Jay Shambaugh
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-41930107