ABC7
— Pritzker budget address: Proposal includes closing corporate tax loopholes, no income tax hike as partisan battle brews. Pritzker won’t raise income taxes, proposes closing corporate tax loopholes – Craig Wall
https://abc7chicago.com/politics/gov-pritzker-gives-budget-address-as-partisan-battle-brews/10347722/
— Illinois COVID Update: IL reports 1,795 new coronavirus cases, 24 deaths; vaccine shipments from federal government impacted by weather. IDPH says state hasn’t received most COVID vaccine shipments from federal government, likely due to weather. – Diane Pathieu and John Garcia
https://abc7chicago.com/health/il-reports-1785-new-covid-cases-24-deaths/10348063/
NBC5
— Rush Limbaugh, Talk Radio Host and Voice of American Conservatism, Has Died at 70. The media figure’s endorsement and friendship is a conservative political treasure.
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/national-international/rush-limbaugh-dead-at-70-due-to-lung-cancer-complications/2440261/
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Statues of four U.S. presidents among 40 under the microscope by Chicago committee. Mayor Lori Lightfoot is confronting the “hard truths of Chicago’s racial history,” launching a public process to review the fate of 40 statues and other monuments, including some of former presidents Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, Ulysses S. Grant and William McKinley. – Fran Spielman
https://chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/2021/2/17/22288203/chicago-statues-monuments-committee-public-review-white-supremacy-christopher-columbus-protests
— Pritzker pitches budget mix of corporate tax changes, flat spending as ‘right equilibrium’ – but GOP rival dubs plan ‘out of whack’ In a pre-recorded speech from the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Pritzker focused first on the impact of the pandemic on the state’s businesses and the “tiny joys” it’s taken away from residents. – Rachel Hinton and Andrew Sullender
https://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/2021/2/17/22287425/illinois-state-budget-2022-jb-pritzker-flat-spending-close-tax-loopholes
— Pritzker shifts from bold to balance in budget — after voters shifted gears on him. It’s a live-to-fight-another-day budget, a budget that if adopted should allow state government to survive until next year, which not coincidentally will be an election year, when we can do it all over again. – Mark Brown
https://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/2021/2/17/22288263/pritzker-balance-budget-bold-graduated-income-tax-corporate-loopholes-progressives
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Gov. J.B. Pritzker goes after Republicans in budget, State of State speech, saying ‘their idea of bipartisanship ends when hard choices must be made’ – RICK PEARSON and DAN PETRELLA
https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-pritzker-illinois-budget-proposal-20210217-4pmjnii7mvfnthjsq6e6ewhdza-story.html
— Gov. J.B. Pritzker blasts GOP in budget speech | State Republicans launch ‘Fire Pritzker’ campaign | A look at Kinzinger’s family feud over his Trump vote – LISA DONOVAN
https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-pritzker-budget-kinzinger-family-letter-lightfoot-statues-spin-20210218-hobnxgizlffttngg3aewmwxn5q-story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly Democrat-run schools demonize, denigrate, and condemn Whites as being White supremacists, Nazis, KKK members, haters, racists, sexists, bigots, and even worse things, and especially Whites who are law enforcement officers, Trump supporters, conservative, patriotic, Republican, male, older, heterosexual, married, non-poor, gun owners, Christian, Protestant, Italian American, German American, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/park-ridge/ct-prh-maine-south-equity-tl-0218-20210217-tota6ecasvgebha4fa5fwlz3by-story.html
— Chicago statues of Columbus, Presidents Washington and Lincoln among commission’s list of 41 controversial monuments throughout city – GREGORY PRATT
https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-chicago-monuments-lightfoot-commission-20210217-jkgsfclt6ne5rh6674pfbkb4ua-story.html
— DuPage health officials, citing ‘insufficient’ supply, decline to join state COVID-19 vaccine expansion to people with underlying conditions – SARAH FREISHTAT
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/ct-abn-dupage-no-expand-phase-1-b-20210218-knx3fv2jyfdf5brja7udewdr6m-story.html
DAILY HERALD
— Virtual forum to feature Naperville council candidates March 9
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20210217/virtual-forum-to-feature-naperville-council-candidates-march-9
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Panel approves ‘culturally responsive’ teaching standards – Peter Hancock
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20210217/panel-approves-culturally-responsive-teaching-standards
— League to host forum for Bloomingdale Township candidates Feb. 28
https://www.dailyherald.com/submitted/20210217/league-to-host-forum-for-bloomingdale-township-candidaes-feb-28
CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Biz leaders rip guv’s spending plan. Hiking business taxes $932 million to close the gap is poorly timed and undoes Pritzker’s own work, they say. “The governor talks about the need to recover, but these (proposed taxes) are the exact opposite of that.” – GREG HINZ
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/greg-hinz-politics/biz-leaders-rip-guvs-spending-plan
WGN RADIO
— Walter Jacobson’s Perspective: Breaking Down Adam Kinzinger
https://wgnradio.com/wgn-plus/walter-jacobsons-perspective/walter-jacobsons-perspective-breaking-down-adam-kinzinger/
ROCKFORD REGISTER STAR
— Illinois Rep. Adam Kinzinger Named to the 2021 TIME100 Next List – Corina Curry (DIERSEN: How soon, if not already, a) will Democrats, Libertarians, Greens, Independents, and RINOs across America use Kinzinger’s words to sue Republicans and b) will liberals and moderates use Kinzinger’s words to sue conservatives?)
https://www.rrstar.com/story/news/politics/elections/2021/02/17/illinois-rep-adam-kinzinger-named-2021-time-100-list/6779441002/
— What Kinzinger vs. Trump tells us about the Illinois GOP – Jim Nowlan
https://www.rrstar.com/story/opinion/2021/02/17/what-kinzinger-vs-trump-tells-us-illinois-gop/6782056002/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: So, Adam has become the darling of suburban Dems and maybe 15-20% of GOP voters who, like me, agree with his criticism of Trump. Not a recipe for success in a statewide primary for U.S. Senate or governor, unless he stirs up several opponents, and can then win with 30% or so of the vote. Trump loyalists in my rural area appear to be sticking with the ex-president. They believe he speaks their blunt language to the powers that be and represents them more effectively than anyone ever has or ever will. Their loyalty to him is fierce; to the GOP, their faithfulness is secondary, if at all. For the near term, Trump needs a big objective, and that has to be the presidency in 2024. He will seek to become the first non-successive, two-term president since Grover Cleveland. But the Trump Party, post-insurrection, will always be a minority in America, probably 35% or so of voters. GOP officials are desperate to make their party more than the Trump Party, but Trump will make that nigh impossible. Trump is a cult figure, not a party leader. If you’re not for him 100%, you’re against him, to his mind. GOP candidates will have to pass the Trump loyalty litmus test, or face his wrath and that of his base. In downstate Illinois, Trump loyalty from candidates will come easy, and be mostly sincere. It will certainly be required to avoid a primary challenge next spring. I think the loyalty test will be trickier in the vote rich suburbs. I expect many district-level GOP primary contests between pro- and anti-Trump candidates. Also here in Illinois, Big Money appears to have replaced party organizations as the critical element in election contests. Gov. JB Pritzker and billionaire investor Ken Griffin each put more than $50 million into the single contest over whether to tax the rich more than others, which Pritzker favored and lost. Without Griffin’s money to blanket the airwaves with trenchant advertising attacks on increased taxation, Priztker would likely have won. Pritzker is vulnerable to defeat in a 2022 re-election bid. But who will credibly take on him and his money? (The governor spent $171 million of his own money in his election win in 2018.) The answer is only someone who can find a Daddy Warbucks funder of the Ken Griffin class. Not to be cast aside entirely, the Illinois GOP recently narrowly defeated a Trump conservative, and elected as state chairman a calm, mainstream Republican lawyer from the remarkably successful Tracy family of western Illinois. Tracy siblings operate and wholly own the 6,000-employee DOT Foods enterprise of tiny Mount Sterling in equally miniscule Brown County. Don Tracy may not himself be in the Griffin billionaire class (I don’t know), but he sure has the stature to get his phone calls returned from traditional, major GOP donors. At present, the Illinois GOP holds no state offices and but one-third of legislative and congressional seats. It has no money, and an uncomfortable, at best, relationship with the Trump base; after all, the Tracy forces worked hard to eke out a narrow win over a Trump candidate for party chair. Illinois needs a competitive two-party political system. I commend Don Tracy for taking on a thankless role, but I worry that the GOP, both nationally and in Illinois, is in for a rough ride until we get past the Trump era. Trump backer and suburban businessman Gary Rabine has already announced his candidacy for governor in the 2022 GOP primary. Expect more. Will Kinzinger join the fray? Stay tuned.)
NPR ILLINOIS
— Trump Praises Limbaugh, Who Died Wednesday, As A ‘Legend’ – ALANA WISE
https://www.nprillinois.org/post/trump-praises-limbaugh-who-died-wednesday-legend#stream/0
WGLT
— State Republicans Attack Pritzker For ‘Reckless’ Budget Proposal – CHRISTINE HATFIELD
https://www.wglt.org/post/state-republicans-attack-pritzker-reckless-budget-proposal#stream/0
WREX
— Stateline lawmakers respond to controversial new teaching standards in Illinois
https://wrex.com/2021/02/17/stateline-lawmakers-respond-to-controversial-new-teaching-standards-in-illinois/
WROK
— Freeport Rep’s Bill Would Get Rid Of Illinois’ FOID Card
https://1440wrok.com/freeport-reps-bill-would-get-rid-of-illinois-foid-card/
PEORIA PUBLIC RADIO
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, Democrats, Libertarians, Greens, Independents, and RINOs get rid of you if you do not promote LGBTQ. I should write a book about the aforesaid who ever-increasingly focus on getting rid of individuals, organizations, and companies that do not promote LGBTQ. I would on the aforesaid in Wheaton’s West District, in Wheaton, in Wheaton’s Chamber of Commerce, in Milton Township, in DuPage County’s 4th District, in DuPage County, and in Illinois. I would focus on the aforesaid who have lots of religious, government, political, and/or financial clout. I would focus on those who falsely claim to be religious, conservative, and/or Republican.)
https://www.peoriapublicradio.org/post/illinois-fight-lgbtq-rights-continues-0#stream/0
STATELINE
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Illinois adopts new ‘culturally responsive’ teaching standards
https://www.mystateline.com/news/local-news/illinois-adopts-new-culturally-responsive-teaching-standards/
— Illinois police union: reform bill will ’embolden criminals, threaten officers’
https://www.mystateline.com/news/local-news/illinois-police-union-reform-bill-will-embolden-criminals-threaten-officers/
HINSDALE PATCH
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: WHITE PRIVILEGE TRAINING FOR D86 TEACHERS.
https://patch.com/illinois/hinsdale/ep/1739192
EVANSTON PATCH
— ‘Destroyer of Newspapers’ To Purchase Chicago Tribune Publishing Tribune Publishing agrees to sell the Chicago Tribune and nine other newspapers to Alden Global Capital for $630 million. – Mark Konkol
https://patch.com/illinois/evanston/s/hfl3j/destroyer-of-newspapers-to-purchase-chicago-tribune-publishing
BLOCK CLUB CHICAGO
— Chicago Lists 40 Statues That Could Be Problematic For Public Review — Including 5 Of Abe Lincoln. The city did not say what will happen to the artwork it has flagged, though it’s asking for residents to provide feedback. – Kelly Bauer and Justin Laurence (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, it is more difficult to placate White-haters, men-haters, heterosexual-haters, etc. – haters.)
https://blockclubchicago.org/2021/02/17/city-lists-40-statues-that-could-be-problematic-for-public-review-including-5-of-abe-lincoln/
ILLINOIS REPUBLICAN PARTY
— After Voters Reject His Progressive Tax, Pritzker Seeks Revenge on People of Illinois With Budget Proposal
https://mailchi.mp/843c518811de/icymi-pritzker-admin-mia-while-over-20-of-lasalle-veterans-home-residents-die-of-covid-4752324
ILLINOIS FAMILY INSTITUTE
— Despite Nationwide Condemnation, Illinois Passes Leftist Teacher-Training Mandate – Laurie Higgins
https://illinoisfamily.org/education/despite-nationwide-condemnation-illinois-passes-controversial-leftist-teacher-training-mandate/
ILLINOIS REVIEW
— VETERAN CONSERVATIVE TALK SHOW HOST RUSH LIMBAUGH DIES AT AGE 70
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2021/02/veteran-conservative-talk-show-host-rush-limbaugh-dies-at-age-70.html
— KINZINGER NAMED TO TIME 100 LIST
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2021/02/kinzinger-named-to-time-100-list-.html
— ILLINOIS CHAMBER: PRITZKER’S BUDGET PROPOSAL “MISGUIDED;” WILL HURT IL BUSINESSES ALREADY STRUGGLING
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2021/02/illinois-chamber-pritzkers-budget-proposal-misguided-will-hurt-il-businesses-already-struggling.html
— UNION COALITION SUPPORTS PRITZKER’S TAX HIKES TO RAISE BUSINESS TAXES
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2021/02/union-coalition-supports-pritzkers-tax-hikes-to-raise-business-taxes-.html
CAPITOL FAX
— DPI responds *** “Fire Madigan” is now “Fire Pritzker”
https://capitolfax.com/2021/02/17/fire-madigan-is-now-fire-pritzker/
— 1,795 new confirmed and probable cases; 24 additional deaths; 1,719 hospitalized; 375 in ICU; 2.8 percent average case positivity rate; 3.4 percent average test positivity rate; 60,552 average daily doses
https://capitolfax.com/2021/02/17/1795-new-confirmed-and-probable-cases-24-additional-deaths-1719-hospitalized-375-in-icu-28-percent-average-case-positivity-rate-34-percent-average-test-positivity-rate-60552-average-daily-doses/
— Pritzker unveils budget plan
https://capitolfax.com/2021/02/17/pritzker-unveils-budget-plan/
— Pritzker SOTS/Budget address react
https://capitolfax.com/2021/02/17/pritzker-sotsbudget-address-react/
WASHINGTON TIMES
— Trump calls Fox News to praise Limbaugh as ‘great man’ – Dave Boyer
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/feb/17/rush-limbaugh-great-man-donald-trump-calls-fox-new/
— Rush Limbaugh, voice of American conservatism, dead at 70 – James Varney
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/feb/17/rush-limbaugh-voice-american-conservatism-dead-70/
— Rush Limbaugh’s passing elicits conservative tributes, liberal sniping – James Varney
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/feb/17/rush-limbaughs-passing-elicits-conservative-tribut/
— CNN, NBC paid accused rioter for his ‘let’s burn’ Capitol video – Rowan Scarborough
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/feb/17/cnn-nbc-paid-accused-rioter-his-lets-burn-capitol-/
WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Trump praises late Rush Limbaugh in first interview since leaving White House – Mike Brest
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/trump-praises-rush-limbaugh-cancer-interview
FOX NEWS
— Rush Limbaugh, conservative talk radio pioneer, dead at 70. Limbaugh’s death, following Stage IV lung cancer diagnosis, announced by family. – Brian Flood
https://www.foxnews.com/media/rush-limbaugh-dead-talk-radio-conservative-icon
— Celebrities react to Rush Limbaugh’s death. He was diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer last year. – Jessica Napoli
https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/celebrities-react-rush-limbaugh-death
GOPUSA
— Rush Limbaugh, Conservative Talk Radio Pioneer, Dead At 70
https://www.gopusa.com/?p=106612
— Will The Radical Left Reunite The GOP? – Patrick J. Buchanan
https://www.gopusa.com/?p=106548
— Fuel to the fire? Mitch McConnell rips Trump following impeachment acquittal vote (DIERSEN: How soon, if not already, a) will Democrats, Libertarians, Greens, Independents, and RINOs across America use McConnell’s words to sue Republicans and b) will liberals and moderates use McConnell’s words to sue conservatives?)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNdcGT4R4LM
— ‘Verbal Stumble’ Or Blatant Lie? Biden Says US Had No Vaccine When He Took Office As New Admin Criticizes Trump’s Jab Rollout
https://www.gopusa.com/verbal-stumble-or-blatant-lie-biden-says-us-had-no-vaccine-when-he-took-office-as-new-admin-criticizes-trumps-jab-rollout/
BREITBART
— President Biden Falsely Claims Trump Did Not Condemn Proud Boys – JOEL B. POLLAK (DIERSEN: To call for a person to condemn a bad thing is to accuse that person of causing that bad thing.)
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2021/02/16/fact-check-president-biden-falsely-claims-trump-did-not-condemn-proud-boys/
— Noted leftists celebrate Rush Limbaugh’s death with hateful tweets: ‘Bigoted King of Talk Radio’ – DAVE URBANSKI
https://www.theblaze.com/news/leftists-celebrate-rush-limbaughs-death
BLAZE
— BREAKING: Rush Limbaugh has passed away Farewell to the leading voice of conservatism – CHRIS FIELD
https://www.theblaze.com/news/breaking-rush-limbaugh-has-passed-away
— House Democrat files lawsuit against Trump over Capitol riot, cites violation of ‘Ku Klux Klan Act’ The lawsuit uses Mitch McConnell’s own words. – CHRIS ENLOE (DIERSEN: How soon, if not already, a) will Democrats, Libertarians, Greens, Independents, and RINOs across America use Kinzinger’s own words to sue Republicans and b) will liberals and moderates use Kinzinger’s own words to sue conservatives?)
https://www.theblaze.com/news/house-democrat-files-lawsuit-against-trump-over-capitol-riot
— Don’t say ‘aliens’: Biden admin instructs officials to use ‘inclusive language’ to describe people in the country illegally. Messaging makeover. – PHIL SHIVER (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, Democrats make it clear that they prefer illegal aliens over citizens of America.)
https://www.theblaze.com/news/biden-inclusive-immigration-language-aliens
CHRISTIAN POST
— Trump cabinet member Russell Vought launches think tank to restore ‘consensus of a nation under God’ – Ryan Foley,
https://www.christianpost.com/news/trump-official-launches-think-tank-to-restore-nation-under-god.html
DAILY CALLER
— Rush Limbaugh Dead At 70 – SHELBY TALCOTT
https://dailycaller.com/2021/02/17/rush-limbaugh-dead-wife-announces/
TOWNHALL
— President Trump Reacts to Rush Limbaugh’s Death – Cortney O’Brien
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/cortneyobrien/2021/02/17/lawmakers-mourn-rush-n2584884
EPOCH TIMES
— CNN, NBC Paid Antifa Activist for Footage From Capitol Breach – ZACHARY STIEBER
https://www.theepochtimes.com/cnn-nbc-paid-antifa-activist-for-footage-from-capitol-breach_3700090.html
— Trump Impeachment Attorney Canceled by Law School, Civil Rights Law Group – IVAN PENTCHOUKOV (DIERSEN: From what I see, ever-increasingly, if you do not hate Trump, hate-filled Trump-hating Democrats, Libertarians, Greens, Independents, and RINOs will get rid of you. Ever-increasingly, those who do not hate Trump are buying more and more and more firearms and ammunition for their self-defense.)
https://www.theepochtimes.com/trump-impeachment-attorney-canceled-by-law-school-civil-rights-law-group_3700521.html
NEWSGUARD
— A Diet of 87% Hoaxes: Data shows news articles shared on Parler in the time period surrounding Capitol insurrection came overwhelmingly from misinformation websites – Matt Skibinski (DIERSEN: According to my critics/opponents, www.gopillinois.com is a misinformation website. Should I sue my critics/opponents?)
https://www.newsguardtech.com/special-report-parler-data/
THE HILL
— Trump breaks media silence after Limbaugh’s death – BRETT SAMUELS
https://thehill.com/homenews/media/539233-trump-breaks-media-silence-after-limbaughs-death
REUTERS
— White House says Biden supports study of slavery reparations (DIERSEN: From what I see, ever-increasingly, the more of the following that you are, the more reparations that Democrats want you to pay: law enforcement officer, Trump supporter, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, heterosexual, married, non-poor, gun owner, Christian, Protestant, Italian American, German American, and/or if your ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-biden-slavery/white-house-says-biden-supports-study-of-slavery-reparations-idUSKBN2AH2K9?il=0
NEW YORK TIMES
— Promotions for Female Generals Were Delayed Over Fears of Trump’s Reaction. Under a Biden administration, the nominations are expected to go from the Pentagon to the White House within weeks and then to the Senate for approval. – Eric Schmitt and Helene Cooper (DIERSEN: Were your promotions delayed, and if so, how long and why? The Republican GAO manager who arranged for my transfer from IRS to GAO 1980 when I was 31 years old did not succeed in getting me assigned to audits of IRS and promoted to GS-13, currently $102,188/year, until 1986. He succeeded in 1986 only because the Democrat GAO manager who had focused on getting rid of me since 1980 went on extended sick leave. The Democrat GAO manager came back in 1987 and then succeeded in getting rid of the Republican manager in 1987. My GAO career went dramatically downhill from there.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/17/us/politics/trump-biden-promotions-women-generals.html
— Google Is Suddenly Paying for News in Australia. What About Everywhere Else? Pathbreaking legislation showed that even a small nation can get the tech giant to bend. But the United States seems unlikely to follow. – Damien Cave (DIERSEN: GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletter subscriptions are worth at least $1,000/year. I should write a book about my critics/opponents who are beyond furious that I have the money, time, ability, good health, and motivation needed to put together and to send out a GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletter each and every morning and each and every evening free of charge and without any advertising.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/17/business/media/australia-google-pay-for-news.html
WASHINGTON POST
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: A hate-filled Trump-hating Trump-hater says “The overwhelming lesson of the Trump era: Republicans often rebuke Trump — when they have latitude.” How much latitude do you have? I have lots of latitude, but I do not rebuke Trump. I have latitude because my critics/opponents cannot take my Civil Service Retirement System pension, my Social Security, my Medicare, or my 72% federal health, dental, and vision insurance subsidy away from me.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/02/17/overwhelming-lesson-trump-era-republicans-rebuke-trump-when-its-convenient/
TIME
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Hate-filled Trump-hating Trump-haters promote Kinzinger. How soon, if not already, a) will Democrats, Libertarians, Greens, Independents, and RINOs across America use Kinzinger’s words to sue Republicans and b) will liberals and moderates use Kinzinger’s words to sue conservatives?)
https://time.com/5940222/introducing-the-people-who-will-shape-washington-for-the-next-generation/
NEWSGUARD
— A Diet of 87% Hoaxes: Data shows news articles shared on Parler in the time period surrounding Capitol insurrection came overwhelmingly from misinformation websites – Matt Skibinski (DIERSEN: According to my critics/opponents, www.gopillinois.com is a misinformation website. Should I sue my critics/opponents?)
https://www.newsguardtech.com/special-report-parler-data/
DAILY MAIL
— Tucker Carlson blasts America’s mainstream media and its ‘disgusting, corrupting love affair’ with Joe Biden – EMILY CRANE
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9269971/Tucker-Carlson-blasts-medias-love-affair-Joe-BIden.html
