January 9 Morning Edition

ABC7
— Ill. lawmakers probe Legionnaires’ outbreak at Quincy veterans home – Jessica D’Onofrio
http://abc7chicago.com/politics/il-lawmakers-probe-legionnaires-outbreak-at-quincy-veterans-home/2917455/

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Illinois lawmakers to hear about veterans home with deadly water problems today – Kim Geiger (DIERSEN: What do your critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes blame you for? My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes a) blame me and my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails for all of their problems, for all of your problems, for all of my problems, and for all of everyone’s problems and b) blame me and my emails for all the losses that Republicans have suffered in Illinois since 2000.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-quincy-veterans-home-hearing-20180109-story.html
— Durbin, Duckworth file brief in sanctuary case – Rick Pearson
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-quincy-veterans-home-hearing-20180109-story.html
— College Democrats form PAC – Rick Pearson (DIERSEN: If I had been active in Republican politics when I attended high school 1962-1966, the Post Office would not have offered me a job in 1966. If I had been active in Republican politics when I attended UIC 1966-1968 or NIU 1969-1970, IRS would not have offered me a job in 1971. If I had been active in Republican politics when I attended Loyola 1972-1976 or DePaul 1976-1980, GAO would not have offered me a job in 1980.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-quincy-veterans-home-hearing-20180109-story.html
— Pot vote put off? (DIERSEN: Republicans oppose pot. Democrats and Democrat plants, Libertarians and Libertarian plants, Greens and Green plants, and RINOs promote pot. If a candidate does not oppose pot, that is, if a candidate does not promise to vote against pot, that candidate should run as a Democrat, as a Libertarian, or as a Green, but NOT as a Republican.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-quincy-veterans-home-hearing-20180109-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: A trio of state lawmakers pushing to legalize marijuana for recreational use in Illinois suggested 2018 might not be the year to ask for a vote. State Sen. Heather Steans told the Chicago Tribune editorial board on Monday that supporters hope to unveil a new version of their legalization legislation by early February. The Chicago Democrat said backers will assess how much support they have among lawmakers, but she noted that legalizing marijuana might be a vote some want to avoid in an election year. “We really suspect that it’s not this session we’ll take a vote, we’re really just going to have a new bill that we think is closer,” Steans said. She made the pitch alongside Democratic Rep. Kelly Cassidy of Chicago and Republican Rep. Jason Barickman of Bloomington, saying the state should tax and regulate weed because many thousands of Illinoisans are already using it illegally.)
— Trump is right to bully America’s enemies – Gary Abernathy
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-perspec-bully-trump-north-korea-tough-0109-20180108-story.html
— The future of pumping gas and other make-work jobs – Noah Smith (DIERSEN: I pumped gasoline in 1966 and 1970-1972.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-perspec-gaspump-oregon-make-work-jobs-0109-20180108-story.html

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Rauner vows fairness in school funding veto, but lawmaker sees ‘absolute chaos’ – Tina Sfondeles
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/rauner-vows-fairness-in-school-funding-veto-but-lawmaker-sees-absolute-chaos/
— Aldermen, do your job and ask the hard questions – Madeleine Doubek (DIERSEN: Members of the following groups do not want me to ask any questions: 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://chicago.suntimes.com/news/doubek-alderman-do-your-job-and-ask-the-hard-questions/
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, anti-Trumps put citizens of foreign countries ahead of citizens of America.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-politics/brown-then-trump-came-for-the-salvadorans/

 

DAILY HERALD
— The importance of persistence in government consolidation – Editorial (DIERSEN: I should write a book about those individuals, organizations, companies, and governments that punish me a) because they believe that I promote government consolidation or b) because they believe that I oppose government consolidation.)
http://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20180109/editorial-the-importance-of-persistence-in-government-consolidation
— An anti-Trump says “The increasing signs that president isn’t up to the job.”
http://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20180109/the-increasing-signs-that-president-isnt-up-to-the-job
— Few shelters from cold for intoxicated homeless in suburbs – Elena Ferrarin (DIERSEN: What do you say to my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes a) who drink lots of booze, b) who want to drink lots of booze, and/or c) who encourage others to drink lots of booze?)
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20180109/few-shelters-from-cold-for-intoxicated-homeless-in-suburbs

 

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Google eyes adding thousands of jobs in new Chicago office – GREG HINZ (DIERSEN: What would discourage Google from offering you a job? The following would discourage Google from offering me a job: I am American, White, male, old (69), conservative, patriotic, Republican, Trump supporter, gun owner, non-poor, non-veteran, Protestant, 100% German American, my ancestors have been in America since the 1840s, former union member, federal retiree, married, childless, pet-less, and I have only owned American nameplate cars.)
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20180109/BLOGS02/180109919
— Swedish cozies up to its heritage – KRISTEN SCHORSCH (DIERSEN: What if from the beginning I had pretended to be Swedish-American? While all my ancestors immigrated from what is now Germany to northeast Illinois during the 1840s and 1850s, according to DNA Ancestry at http://dna.ancestry.com, my ancestry is 33% Europe West, 28% Scandinavia, 24% Great Britain, 11% Ireland, 2% Europe East, 1% Finland/Northwest Russia, and 1% Italy/Greece. My grandfather on my father’s side fought the Germans in WWI. My uncles on my mother’s side fought the Germans in WWII. My father would have fought the Germans in WWII if he had not been 4-F.)
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20180105/ISSUE01/180109946

 

WGN TV
— Response to Legionnaires at Quincy Veterans Home met with controversy – TAHMAN BRADLEY
http://wgntv.com/2018/01/08/response-to-legionnaires-at-quincy-veterans-home-met-with-controversy/
— ‘It’s a mess’: DACA negotiations hit a snag ahead of White House meeting – CNN
http://wgntv.com/2018/01/09/its-a-mess-daca-negotiations-hit-a-snag-ahead-of-white-house-meeting/

 

CHAMPAIGN/URBANA NEWS GAZETTE
— Politicians’ SALT-iness over tax law steeped in irony – Jim Dey (DIERSEN: Have you itemized your deductions or have you taken the standard deduction? Democrats and Democrat plants, Libertarians and Libertarian plants, Greens and Green plants, RINOs, renters, those who have little or no medical or dental expenses, those who pay little or no state income tax, those who give little or nothing to 501 (c)(3) organizations, those who pay little or nothing for job-related education, and/or others demonize, denigrate, and condemn those who itemize their deductions as being undeservedly filthy rich. I itemized my deductions 1972-1977 and my wife and I have itemized our deductions since we got married in 1978.)
http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2018-01-09/jim-dey-politicians-salt-iness-over-tax-law-steeped-irony.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Whatever the number turns out to be, it’s the taxpayers, not the states where they live, who will pay. Taxpayers still will owe the same amount of money to state and local governments. But because of the limit on the SALT deduction, they will owe more money to the federal government. In other words, it’s a tax on the “millionaire and billionaires” so many populist politicians rail against. The greater their incomes, the more money the SALT-deduction limitation will cost them. Affected taxpayers have noted the new rules and acted accordingly. Many prepaid in 2017 the property taxes they would have paid in 2018 so they can get the full benefit of the SALT deduction before it’s limited. The savings could be significant. For a taxpayer in the 35 percent tax bracket, a fully deductible $20,000 local property-tax bill would generate $7,000 in federal tax savings. Now that higher-income taxpayer who pays $20,000 in property taxes and another $20,000 in state income taxes will see what would have been a $40,000 deduction, worth $14,000 in federal tax savings, limited to $10,000, worth $3,500 in federal tax savings. So why are the governors in high-tax states crying over the rich? Actually, they’re not. They’re crying for themselves because the new $10,000 SALT-deduction limitation will make it more difficult politically to raise taxes on upper-income families. Higher-income earners are already paying a disproportionate share of federal and state income taxes, and they won’t be happy if they’re asked to pay even more in state and local taxes on top of the higher federal taxes they’ll be required to pay.)

 

TIMES
— 128 signatures ‘not genuine’ on DeBates petitions – David Giuliani
http://www.mywebtimes.com/news/local/signatures-not-genuine-on-debates-petitions/article_a3a8cbe6-cf53-5e16-9e33-aece2b6243b7.html

 

SAUK VALLEY
— Illinois Dems running for Atty. General vow to fight Trump policies – AP
http://www.saukvalley.com/2018/01/09/illinois-dems-running-for-atty-general-vow-to-fight-trump-policies/anjgqtm/

 

WGLT
— Chuck Erickson Won’t Seek Re-Election As McLean County Republican Party Chairman – RYAN DENHAM
http://wglt.org/post/chuck-erickson-wont-seek-re-election-republican-party-chairman#stream/0

 

PEORIA PUBLIC RADIO
— Illinois Higher Ed Enrollment Continues to Decline – DUSTY RHODES
http://peoriapublicradio.org/post/illinois-higher-ed-enrollment-continues-decline#stream/0

 

POLITICO
— MAZESKI CASH HAUL – Natasha Korecki (DIERSEN: Of course, those who want Roskam to lose advise him a) 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 and b) to dump those who are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German American, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2018/01/09/veterans-home-hearing-today-durkin-to-attend-rauners-school-funding-bill-veto-judge-orders-dorothy-brown-to-exit-stone-age-235598
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Kelly Mazeski, among a cadre of Democrats running in the 6th district primary to compete against U.S. Rep. Republican Peter Roskam, expects to report raising $680,000 to date and more than $510,000 cash on hand, her campaign tells POLITICO. Mazeski has received the backing of EMILY’s List, U.S. Reps. Jan Schakowsky and Cheri Bustos as well as the Illinois Democratic County Chairmen’s Association, Feminist Majority PAC, and two dozen environmental and community leaders.)

 

DUPAGE POLICY JOURNAL
— Khouri receives endorsements from GOP state lawmakers – Angela Underwood
https://dupagepolicyjournal.com/stories/511312215-khouri-receives-endorsements-from-gop-state-lawmakers

 

MCHENRY TIMES
— Dundee Township resident backing Ives, urges GOP to do same – Glenn Minnis
https://mchenrytimes.com/stories/511308536-dundee-township-resident-backing-ives-urges-gop-to-do-same

 

LAKE COUNTY GAZETTE
— Fremont Township GOP backing Ives’ governor bid – Glenn Minnis
https://lakecountygazette.com/stories/511308738-fremont-township-gop-backing-ives-governor-bid

 

ILLINOIS HOMEPAGE
— Candidates for governor linked to oil and gas companies – Raquel Martin
http://www.illinoishomepage.net/news/local-news/candidates-for-governor-linked-to-oil-and-gas-companies/907270004

 

ILLINOIS NEWS NETWORK
— Not much happening in high-tax Illinois in reaction to federal tax reform – Greg Bishop (DIERSEN: Have you itemized your deductions or have you taken the standard deduction? Democrats and Democrat plants, Libertarians and Libertarian plants, Greens and Green plants, RINOs, renters, those who have little or no medical or dental expenses, those who pay little or no state income tax, those who give little or nothing to 501 (c)(3) organizations, those who pay little or nothing for job-related education, and/or others demonize, denigrated, and condemn those who itemize their deductions as being undeservedly filthy rich. I itemized my deductions 1972-1977 and my wife and I have itemized our deductions since we got married in 1978.)
https://www.ilnews.org/news/statewide/not-much-happening-in-high-tax-illinois-in-reaction-to/article_451cf994-f4af-11e7-92be-a723dde73e32.html

 

DAILY CALLER
— LEAKED MEMO: DREAMers Are ‘Critical’ To Dems ‘Future Electoral Success’ – Michael Bastasch (DIERSEN: Democrats shout at everyone, but especially at illegals, that Republicans are White supremacists, Nazis, KKK members, haters, racists, sexists, bigots, and even worse things. Democrats want illegals to become citizens so that they can help Democrats get rid of Republicans once and for all.)
http://dailycaller.com/2018/01/08/leaked-memo-dreamers-are-critical-to-dems-future-electoral-success/
— Trump Took The Field For The National Anthem — But This Special Moment Makes The Audience Roar – Benny Johnson
http://dailycaller.com/2018/01/08/trump-took-the-field-for-the-national-anthem-but-this-special-moment-makes-the-audience-roar/

 

BREITBART
— President Trump Invites 23 Hill Leaders To Argue Amnesty on Tuesday – NEIL MUNRO (DIERSEN: Democrats shout at everyone, but especially at illegals, that Republicans are White supremacists, Nazis, KKK members, haters, racists, sexists, bigots, and even worse things. Democrats want illegals to become citizens so that they can help Democrats get rid of Republicans once and for all.)
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/01/08/trump-invites-23-hill-leaders-to-argue-amnesty-at-the-white-house/

 

NEWSMAX
— Republicans Looking at Justice Department Officials’ Contacts With Reporters – Jeffrey Rodack (DIERSEN: What do you say to “Republican” activists, candidates, elected officials, party leaders, major donors, political consultants, etc. in Illinois a) who pander to Rich Miller and to the rest of the Democrat news media in Illinois, b) who refuse to keep diersen@aol.com on their press advisory and press release lists, c) who do not want Diersen to know about their events or other activities, d) who do not want Diersen to promote their events or other activities, e) who do not want Diersen to attend their events, and f) who do not want Diersen to report on their events or other activities?)
https://www.newsmax.com/politics/republican-lawmakers-justice-department-fbi/2018/01/09/id/835959/

 

CONSERVATIVE HQ
— No Mr. President We Don’t ‘Hope’ To Work Out A Deal With Democrats – George Rasley
http://www.conservativehq.com/node/27150

 

LUTHERAN CHURCH CHARITIES
— The Golden Rule – Tim Hetzner (DIERSEN: Do you retaliate against  your critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes?  My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes know that I do not. They talk and act like they reject the golden rule a) because they blame me and my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails for all their problems, b) because they demonize, denigrate, and condemn me and my emails, c) because they ascribe bad judgment and evil motive to everything that I do or do not do, d) because they do everything that they can to stop me from putting the emails together and sending them out, and e) because the do everything that they can to stop everyone from reading the emails. Previously, they ended my TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois chairmanship, Wheaton Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee membership, Milton Township Republican Central Committee webmaster service, Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee membership, American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter board membership, GAO employment, etc.)
http://devotions.lccharities.org/2018/01/09/golden-rule-part-1/

 

NATIONAL REVIEW
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Pot pushers promote medical pot to promote recreational pot. If you promote pot, you promote destruction.
http://www.nationalreview.com/article/455249/attorney-general-jeff-sessions-medical-marijuana-medical-cannabis-cancer-patients

 

FOX BUSINESS
— Six-figure construction jobs are going unfilled – Brittany De Lea
http://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/2018/01/05/six-figure-construction-jobs-are-going-unfilled.html

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps say “Trump Overstates Size of Tax Cuts in Speech to Farmers.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/08/us/politics/trump-tax-cuts-farmers-speech.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: An anti-Trump says “To Pay for Wall, Trump Would Cut Proven Border Security Measures.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/08/us/politics/trump-border-wall-funding-surveillance.html
— HARDCOPY ARTICLE TITLE: At Chinese Border, No Visas Needed, No Beards Allowed – Andrew Higgins
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/08/world/asia/kazakhstan-china-border.html
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: HARDCOPY ARTICLE TITLE: He Sought Dirt, Then Spotlight Shone on Him – Matt Flegenheimer (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents have lots of skeletons in their closets and they do not want me or anyone else to shine light on those skeletons. Therefore, my critics/opponents focus on a) stopping me from putting GOPUSA ILLINOIS together and sending them out and b) stopping everyone from reading those emails.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/08/us/politics/fusion-gps-glenn-simpson.html

 

WASHINGTON POST
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps say “The White House struggles to silence talk of Trump’s mental fitness.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/the-white-house-struggles-to-silence-talk-of-trumps-mental-fitness/2018/01/08/2a7d4092-f493-11e7-a9e3-ab18ce41436a_story.html
— Trump greeted by cheers, some boos and protests at college football’s biggest game – Sonam Vashi and Marwa Eltagouri
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2018/01/08/protesters-prepare-for-trumps-arrival-at-college-football-championship-game/

 

LOS ANGELES TIMES
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Americans say “Political agenda keeps Trump and Congress apart on a fix for immigrant Dreamers.”
http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-congress-immigration-dreamers-20180109-story.html

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— GOP Tax Reformers Are Lousy Salesmen – Matt Salisbury
https://www.wsj.com/articles/gop-tax-reformers-are-lousy-salesmen-1515457871
— Make It Easier to Work Without a License – Alexander Acosta and Dennis Daugaard (DIERSEN: I became a licensed CPA in 1981 when I was 32 years old based on my a) having passed the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979, b) having worked for GAO for more than a year, c) having worked for IRS for almost 9 years, d) having passed the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt in 1981, e) having earned a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul in 1980, f) having earned an MBA from Loyola in 1976, and g) having earned a bachelor’s degree in management from NIU in 1970.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/make-it-easier-to-work-without-a-license-1515457813

 

USA TODAY
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries that are members of the following groups do not want the census to ask about citizenship: 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.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2018/01/08/census-2020-no-citizenship-question-editorials-debates/1007921001/

 

U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT
— Democrats Ask GAO to Review New IRS Tax Guidelines – Reuters (DIERSEN: I worked for GAO on audits of IRS for 3 years at the GS-13 Step 1-3 levels, currently $96,403-$102,830. I worked for IRS for almost 9 years, the last 5 1/2 years at the GS-12 Step 1-5 levels, currently $81,071-$91,880. If my Democrat GAO superiors had not wasted my GAO career, had not wasted my knowledge of IRS, and had not forced me to take their early retirement offer in 1997 when I was 49 years old, I might still be working for GAO on audits of IRS.)
https://www.usnews.com/news/top-news/articles/2018-01-08/democrats-ask-watchdog-to-review-new-irs-tax-guidelines
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Two U.S. Democratic politicians asked a government watchdog on Monday to scrutinize implementation of President Donald Trump’s tax law, warning that the administration could use new tax guidelines to create the appearance of a large middle-class tax cut ahead of the 2018 mid-term elections. In a letter to U.S. Comptroller General Gene Dodaro, Democratic Senator Ron Wyden and Representative Richard Neal said they were concerned that the U.S. Treasury could be pressured to adopt tax withholding tables that take too little federal tax out of employee paychecks to make good on White House predictions of a middle-class windfall. Such a move would inflate after-tax pay this year but leave workers to pay sizeable tax bills in 2019 when they file their 2018 federal tax returns, the lawmakers said. Wyden and Neal, the top Democrats on the tax-writing Senate Finance Committee and House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee, asked that the watchdog Government Accountability Office review new Internal Revenue Service withholding tables to “assure Congress and the American public that there is no political influence.” Treasury, IRS and GAO officials had no immediate comment.)

 

GOVERNMENT EXECUTIVE
— Pentagon IG Offers Details of Biggest Audit Ever – Charles S. Clark (DIERSEN: I worked on GAO’s audit of DOD’s fiscal year 1990 ammunition budget. SEE: https://www.gao.gov/products/NSIAD-90-23)
http://www.govexec.com/management/2018/01/pentagon-ig-offers-details-biggest-audit-ever/145045/

 

FED SMITH
— Happy 20th Anniversary Roth IRA! – Carol Schmidlin (DIERSEN: Of course, during the last 20 years, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have been furious that my wife and I have always contributed the maximum to Roth IRAs.)
https://www.fedsmith.com/2018/01/08/happy-20th-anniversary-roth-ira/

(FROM THE ARTICLE: Investing in a Roth allows you to pay tax on the seed (the smaller, contribution amount) and reap the bounties of the harvest (the contributions plus earnings) tax free! Hoorays for the Roth IRA Earnings come out tax free as long as five years have passed since you opened your Roth IRA and you are 59½ or older. Contributions to a Roth IRA can be withdrawn anytime, for any reason, tax-free and penalty free. In contrast, all withdrawals from a traditional IRA are subject to income tax and generally subject to a 10% early withdrawal penalty if taken before age 59½. There is no age limit on making contributions to Roth IRA’s, while one can no longer contribute to a traditional IRA upon reaching the year in which one turns age 70½. You can contribute the maximum to a Roth employer plan and the maximum to a Roth IRA, as long as you are under the income limits in the chart below. You are not required to take a Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) from a Roth IRA.
Contribution limits for 2018 are $5,500 ($6,500 age 50 or over), however there are income restrictions that may not permit you to contribute to a Roth IRA.)

January 8 Evening Edition

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

DAILY CALLER
— Wolff Didn’t Interview Pence, Cabinet Members For Book – Derek Hunter
http://dailycaller.com/2018/01/08/wolff-didnt-interview-pence-cabinet-members-for-book-video/
— Bannon Gives Democrats Ammo With Attacks On Trump’s Family – Peter Hasson (DIERSEN: Since 2000, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have hinted/implied/argued/shouted that my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails give ammunition to the Democrats. They dishonestly ignore the fact that all the information in the emails is already posted on websites, that is, the information is already in the public realm.)
http://dailycaller.com/2018/01/03/bannon-gives-democrats-ammo-with-attacks-on-trumps-family/
— Ex-Google Engineer James Damore Fired For Anti-Diversity Views Announces Lawsuit Against His Former Company – Eric Lieberman (DIERSEN: If Damore had taken a job with the federal government, the federal government would have wasted his career and would have gotten rid of him if he had not made GS-13 (currently $96,403) by age 25, GS-14 (currently $113,920) by age 30, GS-15 (currently $134,000) by age 35, and Senior Executive Service (currently $164,200) by age 40.)
http://dailycaller.com/2018/01/08/ex-google-engineer-fired-for-anti-diversity-views-announces-lawsuit-against-his-former-company/

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

LOS ANGELES TIMES
— Politics at the Golden Globes leads some to call for ‘Oprah for President’ – Christina Bellantoni (DIERSEN: What percent of those at the Golden Globes are members of one or more of the following groups: anti-Trump, anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-patriotic, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, anti-German Americans, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors – 98%, 99%, 100%?)
http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-essential-politics-20180108-story.html

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Former Google Engineer Fired Over Diversity Memo Files Suit James Damore alleges discrimination against conservative, white men – Jack Nicas (DIERSEN: If Damore had taken a job with the federal government, the federal government would have wasted his career and would have gotten rid of him if he had not made GS-13 (currently $96,403) by age 25, GS-14 (currently $113,920) by age 30, GS-15 (currently $134,000) by age 35, and Senior Executive Service (currently $164,200) by age 40.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/former-google-engineer-who-wrote-diversity-memo-files-suit-1515440507

 

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

 

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

January 8 Morning Edition

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

January 5 Evening Edition

ABC7
— 328 Cook County employees laid off due to budget cuts, officials say – Leah Hope
http://abc7chicago.com/politics/328-cook-county-employees-laid-off-due-to-budget-cuts-officials-say/2867105/

 

NBC5
— Kennedy, Emanuel Exchange Barbs Over Plans for Chicago – James Neveau
https://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/chris-kennedy-rahm-emanuel-exchange-barbs-over-plans-for-chicago-468178373.html
— Durbin Challenges Rauner to Act After Veterans’ Home Visit
https://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/dick-durbin-visits-quincy-veterans-home-after-legionnaires-controversy-468156673.html

 

CBS2
— Rauner Gets Mixed Reviews While Staying At Veterans Home – Derrick Blakley
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2018/01/05/rauner-gets-mixed-reviews-for-staying-at-veterans-home/

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Illinois suspends second Outcome Health tax break deal – Ally Marotti
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-outcome-health-edge-tax-credit-20180105-story.html
— How to reinvent Illinois higher ed (and reduce the brain drain) – Editorial
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-edit-college-siu-rauner-20180103-story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Pot promoters say: “Congress, let the states set marijuana policy.” If you promote pot, you promote destruction.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-edit-sessions-marijuana-laws-20180105-story.html
— Like a good neighbor: Illinois sees record loss of people to nearby states – Austin Berg
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/daily-southtown/opinion/ct-sta-berg-column-st-0107-20180105-story.html
— Durbin pulls back on call to close Quincy veterans home hounded by deadly water problems – Rick Pearson, John Byrne
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-dick-durbin-bruce-rauner-veterans-20180105-story.html
— Chicagoans scramble to find copies of highly anticipated new book on Trump presidency – Leonor Vivanco-Prengaman
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-trump-book-search-20180105-story.html
— Emanuel responds to Kennedy accusations: ‘Where are the solutions?’ – John Byrne
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-rahm-emanuel-chris-kennedy-black-population-drop-20180105-story.html
— Or they could just lower the taxes … Nah. – Editorial
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-edit-tax-salt-state-deduction020180103-story.html
— OUTSTANDING: Team Trump pushes back the clock on legal pot – Clarence Page
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/page/ct-perspec-page-jeff-sessions-pot-marijuana-laws-0107-20180105-story.html
— Make no little failures, Chicago – Editorial
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-edit-failure-museum-for-chicago-20180105-story.html

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Emanuel fires back at Kennedy for suggesting plot to ‘whiten’ Chicago – Fran Spielman
https://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-politics/emanuel-fires-back-at-kennedy-for-suggesting-plot-to-whiten-chicago/
— Kennedy’s ‘hard slap’ prompts howls, but may be what he needs to win – Rich Miller
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/miller-kennedys-hard-slap-prompts-howls-but-may-be-what-he-needs-to-win/
— Trump-Bannon feud lays bare new fissure in fractious GOP
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/trump-bannon-feud-lays-bare-new-fissure-in-fractious-gop/
— AS THE DEMOCRAT PARTY’S STRANGLEHOLD ON CHICAGO TIGHTENS: The growing Chicago gap between white ‘haves’ and black ‘have nots’ – Laura Washington
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/washington-the-growing-chicago-gap-between-white-haves-and-black-have-nots/
— Durbin rips Trump for ‘hardline anti-immigrant demands’ in Dreamer negotiations – Lynn Sweet (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, Democrats side with citizens of foreign countries against citizens of America.)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/durbin-rips-trump-for-hardline-anti-immigrant-demands-in-dreamer-negotiations/

 

DAILY HERALD
— Kane County Assessor: No guaranteee your tax prepayment will benefit you – James Fuller
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20180105/kane-county-assessor-no-guaranteee-your-tax-prepayment-will-benefit-you
— ‘Fire and Fury’ book released, blowing open GOP feud – AP
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20180105/fire-and-fury-book-released-blowing-open-gop-feud
— Federal pot policy change sparks confusion, crackdown fears – AP
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20180105/news/301059971/

 

WLS AM
— Emanuel responds to Chris Kennedy’s attacks – Bill Cameron
http://www.wlsam.com/2018/01/05/emanuel-responds-to-chris-kennedys-attacks/

 

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Federal tax revamp could force changes in Illinois law – GREG HINZ
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20180105/BLOGS02/180109949/federal-tax-revamp-could-force-changes-in-illinois-law

 

BUREAU COUNTY REPUBLICAN
— Ives, Marter to meet voters Sunday at Prouty Building Sunday, January 7
http://www.bcrnews.com/lists/2018/01/03/5722cef6ac6e41dd9536a2713b721c74/index.xml

 

SUBURBAN LIFE
— Wheaton planners continue to review plans for residential drug treatment center Next hearing set for Jan. 9 – ERIC SCHELKOPF
http://www.mysuburbanlife.com/2018/01/05/wheaton-planners-continue-to-review-plans-for-residential-drug-treatment-center/a2ipxpv/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Illinois Lt. Gov. Evelyn Sanguinetti, who previously served on the Wheaton City Council, has come out in support of the project. She recently toured the Haymarket facility in Chicago. “This residential and outpatient substance abuse facility has been on the front lines of addiction and treatment since 1975,” Sanguinetti said in a letter to the City Council. “I was impressed by their work and consider them a strong ally in the ongoing fight against the opioid epidemic.”)

 

WJBD RADIO
— Video Gaming Terminals Broke Into at Farina While Attempt at Salem Fails
http://www.wjbdradio.com/local-news/2018/01/05/video-gaming-terminals-broke-into-at-farina-while-attempt-at-salem-fails

 

DUPAGE POLICY JOURNAL
— Ives sees latest out-migration numbers as just tip of iceberg – Glenn Minnis
https://dupagepolicyjournal.com/stories/511304582-ives-sees-latest-out-migration-numbers-as-just-tip-of-iceberg
— Kinzler has plan to stop the Illinois exodus – Chandra Lye
https://dupagepolicyjournal.com/stories/511303211-kinzler-has-plan-to-stop-the-illinois-exodus

 

IVES FOR GOVERNOR
— Is It Rauner’s $17 Billion Lobbyist Who’s in Charge? “Rather than shaking up Springfield and turning around Illinois, Gov. Rauner has allowed Springfield insiders to shake down Illinois families while he turned away from the fight.”
http://mailchi.mp/7d28c3590b0c/is-it-rauners-17-billion-lobbyist-whos-in-charge

 

REAL GOP ILLINOIS
— 2017: Rauner’s Crummy New Year – Video Review
https://realgopillinois.com/2018/01/05/2017-rauners-crummy-new-year-video-review/

 

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— RAUNER FROM QUINCY VETERANS’ HOME: CARE IS “IMPRESSIVE, CARING, FULL OF HONOR”
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2018/01/rauner-from-quincy-veterans-home-care-is-impressive-caring-full-of-honor.html
— MARCH FOR LIFE CHICAGO LEADER: ILLINOIS’ NEW ABORTION LAW IS “HEINOUS VIOLATION OF OUR CONSCIENCES”
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2018/01/march-for-life-chicago-leader-illinois-new-abortion-law-is-heinous-violation-of-our-consciences.html
— THORNER: MOORE’S US SENATE DEFEAT IGNITES BATTLE OVER 2018 GOP PARTY CONTROL
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2018/01/thorner-moores-us-senate-defeat-ignites-battle-over-2018-gop-party-control.html

 

CAPITOL FAX
— Bustos says she agrees with Rauner about “Paul Ryan’s tax scam”
https://capitolfax.com/2018/01/05/bustos-says-she-agrees-with-rauner-about-paul-ryan%E2%80%99s-tax-scam/
— If the federal ban is killed off, should Illinois legalize sports betting? (DIERSEN: No)
https://capitolfax.com/2018/01/05/question-of-the-day-2601/
— Rauner issues statement about his stay in Quincy
https://capitolfax.com/2018/01/05/rauner-issues-statement-about-his-stay-in-quincy/
— Kennedy campaign responds *** Emanuel fires back at Kennedy
https://capitolfax.com/2018/01/05/emanuel-fires-back-at-kennedy/
— Tribune editorial board claims Kennedy is hallucinating
https://capitolfax.com/2018/01/05/tribune-editorial-board-claims-kennedy-is-hallucinating/
— ILGOP responds *** Rate Pritzker’s two new TV ads
https://capitolfax.com/2018/01/05/rate-pritzkers-two-new-tv-ads/

 

GOPUSA
— Study: Many DACA illegals have limited or no English skills
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=36492
— Millennials, Gen Z depressed and sad
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=36540

 

BREITBART
— President Trump’s Poll Numbers Boom with the Economy – JOHN NOLTE5
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/01/05/president-trumps-poll-numbers-boom-economy/

 

NEWSMAX
— Trump: Fake News Media ‘Barely Mentions’ Market Records, Booming Business
https://www.newsmax.com/finance/economy/trump-economy-fake-news/2018/01/05/id/835449/

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Climate-Change Policies Can Be Punishing for the Poor America should learn from Europe’s failure to protect the needy while reducing carbon emissions. – Bjorn Lomborg
https://www.wsj.com/articles/climate-change-policies-can-be-punishing-for-the-poor-1515110743

 

AUGUSTA CHRONICLE
— No good deed goes unpunished – Bill Kirby (DIERSEN: Since 2000, I have tried to help campaigns by telling them about negative rumors that I have heard. But all too often, those campaigns then charge me with spreading those rumors.)
http://chronicle.augusta.com/columnists/news/2017-12-28/kirby-no-good-deed-goes-unpunished

January 4 Evening Edition

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

January 3 Evening Edition

ABC7
— Trump unloads on ex-strategist Steve Bannon: ‘He lost his mind’ – CNN
http://abc7chicago.com/politics/trump-unloads-on-ex-strategist-steve-bannon-he-lost-his-mind/2856363/

 

NBC5
— Hastert Accuser Seeks to Reinstate Case – Phil Rogers
https://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/dennis-hastert-accuser-seeks-to-reinstate-case-467744683.html
— Doug Jones Becomes Only Democratic Senator With a Black Chief of Staff Dana Gresham served for eight years as assistant secretary for governmental affairs at the Department of Transportation during the Obama administration – Liz Lane
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/politics/Doug-Jones-Chief-of-Staff-Dana-Gresham-Senate-Democrats-467880803.html

 

WGN TV
— Chris Kennedy accuses Emanuel of plan to force out black Chicagoans – TAHMAN BRADLEY
http://wgntv.com/2018/01/03/chris-kennedy-accuses-emanuel-of-plan-to-force-out-black-chicagoans/

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Kennedy accuses Emanuel of ‘strategic gentrification plan’ to force blacks out of Chicago – Rick Pearson (DIERSEN: One could argue that Emanuel wants to force more than just Blacks out of Chicago. Emanuel talks and acts like he wants to force out of Chicago 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.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-chris-kennedy-rahm-emanuel-black-voters-20180103-story.html
— Trump slams Bannon: ‘When he was fired, he not only lost his job, he lost his mind’ – Alex Wayne, Jennifer Jacobs
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-steve-bannon-book-treasonous-20180103-story.html
— Bonus or no, don’t get your hopes up for a raise – Rebecca Greenfield (DIERSEN: What raises have you gotten? My salary increased every year that I worked for the federal government 1966-1969 and 1971-1997 because of COLAs, step increases, and/or promotions except 1980 when I took a $19,203 (26%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO. In my defense, I earned a) a job-related bachelor’s degree when I was 21 in 1970 and job-related master’s degrees when I was 27, 31, and 48, b) job-related professional certifications when I was 30, 32, 41, 45, 47, and 48, and c) a job-related professional license when I was 32.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-employee-raises-20180103-story.html
— Will County plans to demolish old courthouse – Susan DeMar Lafferty
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/daily-southtown/news/ct-sta-will-demo-courthouse-st-0103-20180102-story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Pot promoters promote pot. If you promote pot, you promote destruction.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/columnists/reed/ct-biz-pot-legalization-illinois-robert-reed-1418-story.html
— 2017 was bad, but 2018 could be much worse – Steve Chapman
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chapman/ct-perspec-chapman-trump-war-recession-20180103-story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: An anti-Trump says “Trump doesn’t have some master plan. He’s just angry and impulsive.”
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-trump-tweets-angry-impulsive-20180103-story.html

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Kennedy contends Rahm behind plan to push blacks out of city – Mark Brown
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/chris-kennedy-accuses-rahm-emanuel-pushing-people-color-out-chicago/
— Army vet’s fight to avoid deportation lands in federal appeals court – Ashlee Rezin
https://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-politics/army-vets-fight-to-avoid-deportation-lands-in-federal-appeals-court/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Her son served two tours in Afghanistan, but now faces deportation for a drug conviction. . .He had spent seven years behind bars for delivering cocaine. His family and supporters blame the error in judgement on head injuries and PTSD resulting from his time in the military that went untreated until Perez Jr. finally received medical attention behind bars.)
— Trump sinks to a new low in 2018, and the world shudders – Editorial
https://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/trump-north-korea-nuclear-button-sinks-to-a-new-low-in-2018-and-the-world-shudders/
— Garry McCarthy inches closer to challenging Rahm Emanuel – Fran Spielman
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/garry-mccarthy-inches-closer-to-challenging-rahm-emanuel/
— Sessions sends Illinois four more federal prosecutors to focus on violent crime – Matthew Hendrickson
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/sessions-sends-illinois-four-more-federal-prosecutors-to-focus-on-violent-crime/

 

DAILY HERALD
— Trump: Bannon ‘lost his mind’ after leaving White House – Bloombrerg
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20180103/trump-bannon-lost-his-mind-after-leaving-white-house
— College of DuPage helps students navigate toward success – Ann Rondeau
http://www.dailyherald.com/submitted/20180103/college-of-dupage-helps-students-navigate-toward-success

 

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Taxpayers give $36M to scholarships on 1st day of new credit – AP (DIERSEN: My outstanding parents saved Crete-Monee School District 201-U (http://www.cm201u.org/) lots of money during the 1950s and 1960s by sending my brother and me to Trinity Lutheran Grade School in Crete and then to Hope Lutheran Grade School in Park Forest to stay with the Missouri Synod.)
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20180103/taxpayers-give-36m-to-scholarships-on-1st-day-of-new-credit

 

GALESBURG REGISTER MAIL
— Right wing targets Medicare, Social Security – Bill Knight (DIERSEN: Of course, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes are furious that I have gotten Medicare since 2013 and Social Security since 2010. Medicare costs me $1,308 a year. My $2,064/year Social Security is dramatically reduced because I get a Civil Service Retirement System pension.)
http://www.galesburg.com/opinion/20180103/bill-knight-right-wing-targets-medicare-social-security

 

BELLEVILLE NEWS DEMOCRAT
— Police seek suspects in string of gambling machine burglaries; company offers reward – DANA RIECK
http://www.bnd.com/news/local/article192782539.html

 

WGLT
— Davis Defends Trump’s ‘Strong Stance’ in North Korea Nuclear Button Tweet – RYAN DENHAM
http://wglt.org/post/davis-defends-trumps-strong-stance-north-korea-nuclear-button-tweet#stream/0

 

WNNS
— Rauner Vows to Roll Back “Madigan Tax Hike”
http://www.wnns.com/2018/01/03/rauner-vows-to-roll-back-madigan-tax-hike/

 

IVES FOR GOVERNOR
— Ives Responds To California Becoming A Sanctuary State
http://mailchi.mp/f246a4c57a0b/ives-responds-to-california-becoming-a-sanctuary-state?e=985ad8c00b

 

WILL COUNTY GAZETTE
— Balich sees high taxes as fueling exodus from ‘broke state’ – Angela Underwood
https://willcountygazette.com/stories/511306950-balich-sees-high-taxes-as-fueling-exodus-from-broke-state

 

CAPITOL FAX
— Ives pledges to repeal “extreme and dangerous” Trust Act
https://capitolfax.com/2018/01/03/ives-pledges-to-repeal-extreme-and-dangerous-trust-act/
— Mayor Emanuel, CPD Supt. Johnson respond *** Kennedy claims a “strategic gentrification plan” is deliberately forcing people of color to leave Chicago
https://capitolfax.com/2018/01/03/kennedy-claims-a-strategic-gentrification-plan-is-deliberately-forcing-people-of-color-to-leave-chicago/
— Rauner makes some budget promises
https://capitolfax.com/2018/01/03/rauner-makes-some-budget-promises/
— Rauner foundation donates $100K to Cairo Port project, but lots more needed
https://capitolfax.com/2018/01/03/rauner-foundation-donates-100k-to-cairo-port-project-but-lots-more-needed/
— Pressed on anti-violence specifics, Kennedy says banning legislators from property tax appeals work is his top issue
https://capitolfax.com/2018/01/03/pressed-on-anti-violence-specifics-kennedy-says-banning-legislators-from-property-tax-appeals-work-is-his-top-issue/

 

BLAZE
— Pennsylvania State Police urge gun owners to give up firearms to get medical marijuana – Sarah Taylor (DIERSEN: Further, to buy pot, you should be required to give up your driver’s license.)
http://www.theblaze.com/news/2018/01/03/pennsylvania-state-police-urge-gun-owners-to-give-up-firearms-to-get-medical-marijuana

 

HOT AIR
— “Morale Has Never Been Lower”: Federal Gov’t Employment Declines In First Trump Year – ED MORRISSEY (DIERSEN: While I worked for the federal government for almost 30 years, a) virtually all my superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates were Democrats and b) whenever Republican politicians did something harmful to federal employees, they took their anger out on me.)
https://hotair.com/archives/2018/01/02/morale-never-lower-federal-govt-employment-declines-first-trump-year/

 

FOX NEWS INSIDER
— ‘Essentially Un-American’: Varney Calls Out Bloated Salaries of Federal Gov’t Employees – Stuart Varney (DIERSEN: Varney should acknowledge that many millions have not and will not seek a job with the federal government a) because the pay and benefits are terrible, b) because the advancement opportunities are terrible, c) because they lack required education, work experience, professional certifications, and/or professional licenses, d) because they cannot pass an employment examination, e) because they cannot pass a background investigation, f) because they cannot pass a physical examination, g) because they cannot take the demonization, denigration, and condemnation that comes with being a federal employee or federal retiree, and/or h) because they are Republican, White, male, older, and/or non-veteran and they know that the federal government discriminates against the aforesaid. I doubt that Varney or anyone who agrees with him would ever stoop to take a job with the federal government.)
http://insider.foxnews.com/2018/01/03/stuart-varney-report-federal-employee-pay-reveals-essentially-un-american-bureaucracy

 

GOPUSA
— Felons welcome! Fake road signs mock California’s new status as ‘sanctuary state’
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=36358
— Hillary donors paid $700K in hunt for Trump accusers
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=36301
— Trump to announce awards for worst ‘fake news’ journalism (DIERSEN: It would be great if my critics/opponents would a) get together, b) review each of the almost 290,400 articles that I have included links to in GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails since 2004, c) identify all those articles that they disapprove of and explain in detail why they disapprove of each of them, d) identify all my comments in those emails that they disapprove of and explain in detail why they disapprove of each of them, and e) provide me with the aforesaid information in writing so that I could respond to it. In addition, it would be great if my critics/opponents would provide me with a written list of all those who are on their blacklists so that I could respond to that.)
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=36361
— Renters Win in Tax Law; Dems Lie About It (DIERSEN: Government should encourage homeownership.)
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=36307
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Renters came out winners under the new tax law. For over a century, the federal tax code catered to homeowners and treated renters like second-class citizens. Homeowners have been able to deduct interest on their mortgages and home equity loans, as well as property taxes. Meanwhile, everyone, including renters, footed the bill for these deductions by paying higher rates. The new tax law at last begins leveling the playing field between renters and homeowners. Millions of New Yorkers and Californians reap the benefits, because these states have among the lowest rates of homeownership in the nation, and renting is common. So ignore the hyperventilating from Democratic politicians that tax reform is a gift to the rich. New York Senator Chuck Schumer condemns the new tax law as “a gut shot to the middle class” while “rewarding the wealthiest among us.” Just the opposite is true. Tax reform benefits renters living in urban areas — a key Democratic constituency. Democrats are usually eager to slap taxes on millionaires. But today, they’re defending deductions that benefit only the wealthiest homeowners in the country’s most expensive East and West Coast enclaves. Places like Westchester County, New York, and Marin County, California. Under the new tax law, everyone — renters and homeowners alike — will have their tax rates cut and their standard deduction almost doubled. Most will end up paying less tax. To cover the cost of these cuts, the law caps the mortgage deduction for buyers of the priciest real estate. Few homebuyers will even notice it, because they’re not borrowing $750,000 or more. Last year, only 4 percent of homebuyers borrowed that much, and only about 100,000 buyers will take out such huge mortgages in 2018. It’s true that the cap will likely hit the wallets of the bicoastal elite. Some 64 percent of buyers in Manhattan’s rarefied real estate market took out a mortgage that big, and 58 percent of San Francisco buyers did. But the tax change certainly won’t hurt middle class first-time homebuyers. On average, they buy homes with a median price of $182,500. In the past, the tax code encouraged wealthy homeowners to buy even bigger homes and borrow more. Great for the wealthy and the banks. No much help for the average Joe. Homeownership isn’t any higher than in the late 1960s — with only 64 percent of households owning their own home. For minorities, the goal is even farther out of reach, with only 46 percent of black families and Hispanic families owning their home. So disregard the partisan claim that lowering the cap on the mortgage interest deduction is going to hurt the middle class. The other major deduction for homeowners has been property taxes. The new law puts a $10,000 lid on deducting all state and local taxes combined, whether income, sales, or property taxes. Homeowners in most of the nation don’t have much to worry about. Hardest hit are a few tony counties with multimillion dollar homes like Westchester County, New York, where the average property tax tab is a whopping $15,000. For that, the streets should be paved with gold. But only one-fifth of New York property owners pay over $10,000 and about 30 percent of New Jersey homeowners do. Schumer rants against the new tax law, claiming it hurts “middle-class and working families.” Baloney. Tax reform makes the tax code more progressive, not less. It imposes added costs on the wealthiest homeowners to fund across-the-board tax breaks for all filers. Including renters. Homeowners still have the option of taking deductions for most mortgage interest and property taxes, but almost all will crunch the numbers and find it pays to take the nearly doubled standard deduction instead. Only 5 percent of filers are expected to itemize. California’s Jerry Brown calls the tax law “evil in the extreme.” That’s demagoguery. Most taxpayers will end up with more money in their wallets. Betsy McCaughey is a senior fellow at the London Center for Policy Research and a former lieutenant governor of New York State.)

 

DAILY SIGNAL
— The ‘Dreamers’ Have No Right to Demand Anything – Peter Parisi
http://dailysignal.com/2018/01/03/why-dreamers-have-no-right-to-demand-anything/

 

HERITAGE FOUNDATION
— Not-So-Beautiful Dreamers: The Reality Behind the Media Airbrushing – Hans A. von Spakovsky
http://www.heritage.org/immigration/commentary/not-so-beautiful-dreamers-the-reality-behind-the-media-airbrushing

 

THE HILL
— Labor Department eyes drug test rule for unemployment pay – LYDIA WHEELER
http://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/367154-labor-department-eyes-drug-test-rule-for-unemployment-pay
— In the long run, low-wage workers lose out in ‘Fight for $15’ – JACK SALMON
http://thehill.com/opinion/finance/367111-in-the-long-run-low-wage-workers-lose-out-in-fight-for-15

 

POLITICO
— Trump disbands voter fraud commission
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/01/03/trump-disbands-voter-fraud-commission-322621

 

WASHINGTON POST
— Cuomo says New York will sue over GOP tax law – Jeff Stein (DIERSEN: Will all those across America who prepaid their real estate taxes have the opportunity to be parties in class action lawsuits?)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2018/01/03/cuomo-says-new-york-will-sue-over-gop-tax-law/?utm_term=.83aff040f025
(FROM THE ARTICLES: Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo (D-N.Y.) said Wednesday that New York state will sue the federal government over the new Republican tax law, but legal experts are skeptical the lawsuit will hold up in court. Cuomo said New York will challenge a provision of the law that limits how much Americans can deduct from their federal taxes for payments made to state and local governments. Many of the people most affected by that provision live in states run by Democrats, which tend to have higher state and local tax rates. Cuomo, widely seen as a potential contender for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020, said the provision is “violative of states’ rights and the principle of equal protection.”)
— Trump portrayed as uninformed, unprepared and lacking focus in unflattering new book – John Wagner
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-portrayed-as-uninformed-unprepared-and-lacking-focus-in-unflattering-new-book/2018/01/03/f63895f8-f0bd-11e7-b390-a36dc3fa2842_story.html
— Trump abolishes controversial commission studying voter fraud – John Wagner
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-abolishes-controversial-commission-studying-voter-fraud/2018/01/03/665b1878-f0e2-11e7-b3bf-ab90a706e175_story.html

 

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
— Why Steve Bannon’s revolt may only wind up strengthening establishment Republicans – NOAH ROTHMAN
http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/bannon-revolt-wind-strengthening-establishment-article-1.3735860

 

FED WEEK
— Mileage Rates Increase Slightly (DIERSEN: Of course, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes remain furious that the Post Office paid me millage when I a) used my 1966 Pontiac Tempest Sprint to deliver mail during 1966 and 1967, b) used my 1968 Oldsmobile 442 to deliver mail in 1968, and used my 1969 Dodge Charger SE to deliver mail in 1969. Of course, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes remain furious that IRS paid me mileage when I used my 1962 Chevy BelAir to collect delinquent taxes 1971-1978.)
http://www.fedweek.com/federal-managers-daily-report/mileage-rates-increase-slightly/

(FROM THE ARTICLE: GSA has announced the calendar year 2018 mileage reimbursement rates for federal employees using personal vehicles while on official business and as authorized by the agency. The new rates are: for the use of a privately owned automobile, 54.5 cents per mile if no government-owned vehicle is available and 18 cents per mile if one is available; for a motorcycle, 51.5 cents per mile; for a privately owned airplane, $1.21 per mile. The so-called “POV” rate, the most closely watched, mirrors a recent increase by the IRS in a comparable rate used for certain tax deduction purposes. The GSA typically mirrors the IRS regarding that rate in setting the federal employee rate, although it is not required to.)

January 2 Evening Edition

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Conservative groups file appeal in taxpayer-funded abortion challenge – AP
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-illinois-abortion-lawsuit-20180102-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The Catholic Thomas More Society filed a notice of appeal Tuesday on behalf of conservative groups and legislators. They’re seeking an emergency injunction to keep the law from taking effect. State Rep. Peter Breen, a Lombard Republican who’s special counsel for the society, says lawmakers passed the measure too late in 2017 for it to take effect Jan. 1 and didn’t appropriate funding. Breen says there’s still time to block the law from being implemented since processing requests for procedure reimbursements takes months.)
— Giving up booze for Dry January? Here’s some advice from the experts – Fritz Hahn
http://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/health/ct-dry-january-tips-20180102-story.html
— Michele Bachmann mulls run for Al Franken’s Senate seat – Sarah Pulliam Bailey
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-michele-bachmann-al-franken-senate-20180102-story.html
— State Senator Michael Connelly to speak at Republican monthly meeting Saturday, January 6th
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/arlington-heights/community/chi-ugc-article-state-senator-connelly-to-speak-at-republican-2018-01-02-story.html
— Trump takes hard line on ‘dreamers,’ but remains interested in a deal – Robert Costa, David Nakamura and Ashley Parker
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-trump-immigration-daca-20180102-story.html

 

DAILY HERALD
— Cronin: Merging two county offices (county clerk’s office with the DuPage Election Commission) a top issue – Robert Sanchez
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20180102/cronin-merging-two-county-offices-a-top-issue
— State Sen. Michael Connelly meeting with Palatine Republicans Saturday, Jan. 6
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20180102/state-sen-connelly-meeting-with-palatine-republicans

 

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Cook County property tax prepayments reach $750 million. How high will they go? – GREG HINZ
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20180102/BLOGS02/180109991/cook-county-property-tax-prepayments-reach-750-million-how-high-will

 

WTTW
— Conservative Lawmakers Back Effort to Block Publicly Funded Abortions – Nick Blumberg
https://chicagotonight.wttw.com/2018/01/02/conservative-lawmakers-back-effort-block-publicly-funded-abortions

 

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Conservative groups appeal in public-pay abortion challenge – AP
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20180102/conservative-groups-appeal-in-public-pay-abortion-challenge

 

QUAD CITY TIMES
— Mail carriers walk to stay warm ‘when it’s this extreme’ – Jack Cullen (DIERSEN: I worked part-time for the Park Forest Post Office 1966-1969.)
http://qctimes.com/news/local/mail-carriers-walk-to-stay-warm-when-it-s-this/article_65185e78-06a8-57df-80df-e0b88540be02.html

 

WJBC
— Illinois ACLU: Trust Act not a substitute for Bloomington ‘welcoming city’ ordinance – Howard Packowitz (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, ACLU makes it clear that it is 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 for a long time.)
http://www.wjbc.com/2018/01/02/illinois-aclu-trust-act-not-a-substitute-for-bloomington-welcoming-city-ordinance/

 

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— U.S. calls on Iran to unblock social media sites amid protests – AP
http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/us-calls-on-iran-to-unblock-social-media-sites-amid-protests/897164460

 

IVES FOR GOVERNOR
— Fremont Township Republicans Unanimously Endorse Ives for Governor
http://mailchi.mp/36f517dd81d2/fremont-township-republican-organization-unanimously-endorses-ives-for-governor
— Ives On Fox News Channel Report on Deaths in Quincy Veterans Home
http://mailchi.mp/f3d3f5bc2eff/ives-on-fox-news-channel-report-on-deaths-in-illinois-veterans-home

 

REAL GOP ILLINOIS
— 2017 IN REVIEW: Bruce Rauner and his money grabbers ruin Illinois
https://realgopillinois.com/2018/01/02/2017-rauner-gop-ruin-illinois/

 

ILLINOIS NEWS NETWORK
— Researcher: Government shares some blame in opioid crisis – Benjamin Yount
https://www.ilnews.org/news/health/researcher-government-shares-some-blame-in-opioid-crisis/article_c1173f46-ecc1-11e7-820a-0735050da85d.html

 

ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE
— LAND OF LEAVING: MOVING COMPANIES RANK ILLINOIS NO. 1 FOR OUTBOUND VANS – Brendan Bakala
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/land-of-leaving-moving-companies-rank-illinois-no-1-for-outbound-vans/

 

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— FIRST GOP TOWNSHIP ORG ENDORSES IVES OVER GOVERNOR RAUNER
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2018/01/first-gop-township-org-endorses-ives-over-governor-rauner.html

— KEY DEMOCRATS RIPPED FOR STICKING WITH COOK COUNTY ASSESSOR JOE BERRIOS
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2018/01/key-democrats-ripped-for-sticking-with-cook-county-assessor-joe-berrios.html
— EARLY VOTING STARTS FEBRUARY 21 IN ILLINOIS PRIMARY CONTESTS
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2018/01/early-voting-starts-february-21-in-illinois-primary-contests.html

 

CAPITOL FAX
— Ives suggests Rauner to blame for veterans’ home deaths – Stephen Dinan
https://capitolfax.com/2018/01/02/ives-suggests-rauner-to-blame-for-veterans-home-deaths/
— Illinois pulls EDGE credit for spiraling company after investors (including Pritzker) are subpoenaed
https://capitolfax.com/2018/01/02/illinois-pulls-edge-credit-for-spiraling-company-after-investors-including-pritzker-are-subpoenaed/

 

WASHINGTON TIMES
— Democrats plan MLK holiday ‘teach-ins’ to rally against Trump – Stephen Dinan
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/jan/2/dems-plan-mlk-holiday-teach-ins-against-trump/

 

CNS NEWS
— Planned Parenthood: We Did 321,384 Abortions; Got $543.7 Million in Tax Dollars – Terence P. Jeffrey
https://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/terence-p-jeffrey/planned-parenthood-we-did-321384-abortions-got-5437-million-tax

 

FOX NEWS
— ‘How MUCH is that federal salary?’ Now you (and all taxpayers) can help drain the swamp – Adam Andrzejewski (DIERSEN: Those who have represented me in Washington have acted like my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have shouted at them a) that the federal government has always overpaid me, b) that my Civil Service Retirement System pension is too generous, and c) that my federal health, dental, and vision subsidies are too generous. Of course, they protested a) when the Post Office hired me in 1966 and let me work there for almost 3 years, b) when IRS hired me in 1971 and let me work there for almost 9 years, c) when IRS promoted me in 1972, 1973, and 1974, d) when GAO hired me in 1980 and let me work there for almost 18 years, and e) when GAO promoted me in 1986. In my defense, I earned a) a job-related bachelor’s degree when I was 21 in 1970 and job-related master’s degrees when I was 27, 31, and 48, b) job-related professional certifications when I was 30, 32, 41, 45, 47, and 48, and c) a job-related professional license when I was 32.)
http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2018/01/02/how-much-is-that-federal-salary-now-and-all-taxpayers-can-help-drain-swamp.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: It’s past time to take on the governing elite and reform federal civil service compensation and you should feel that way too. The source of the problem is often not the employees themselves, who are spread across the country, but politicians in Washington who refuse to set priorities and make hard choices. You may feel like trying to put some reformist heat on them after checking out what’s happening in your own area. What will you find in your own backyard? Whatever it is, let Washington know. Call it entitlement reform for bureaucrats and the politicians who fund them.)

 

THE HILL
— Legally, slashing federal payrolls won’t save us any money – SAM WICE
http://thehill.com/opinion/finance/367048-legally-slashing-federal-payrolls-wont-save-us-any-money

 

ASSOCIATED PRESS
— GOP’s Bachmann mulling bid for Franken’s Senate seat
https://wtop.com/congress/2018/01/gops-bachmann-mulling-bid-for-frankens-senate-seat/

 

CNN
— Liberal media pushes Democrats’ tax propaganda
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=36155

 

NEW YORK POST
— New York and co. are paying the price for being Deep Blue – John Podhoretz
https://nypost.com/2018/01/02/new-york-and-co-are-paying-the-price-for-being-deep-blue/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: But what we do know is this: Had there been a single Republican senator in any of the high-tax states in America — a senator in New York or New Jersey or Illinois or California or Oregon or Minnesota or Hawaii — the elimination of the SALT deduction would likely not have been included in the final tax-reform bill.)

 

WASHINGTON POST
— Trump takes hard line on ‘dreamers,’ but remains interested in a deal – Robert Costa, David Nakamura and Ashley Parker
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-takes-hard-line-on-dreamers-but-remains-interested-in-a-deal/2018/01/02/45a47e20-efdf-11e7-b390-a36dc3fa2842_story.html

 

NEWSWEEK
— TRUMP SAYS HISPANICS WILL START ‘FALLING IN LOVE’ WITH HIM AND REPUBLICANS OVER DACA – MARIA PEREZ (DIERSEN: Will Trump say that all those who prepaid their real estate taxes will start falling in love with him over the Republican tax bill?)
http://www.newsweek.com/trump-says-hispanics-will-start-falling-love-him-and-republicans-over-daca-768263

January 1 Evening Edition

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

THE HILL
— Most key federal agencies have cut staff under Trump: report – JULIA MANCHESTER (DIERSEN: Democrats run the federal government. They use budget cuts to get rid of their employees who are Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran who did not make GS-13 (currently $96,403) by age 25, GS-14 (currently $113,920) by age 30, GS-15 (currently $134,000) by age 35, and Senior Executive Service (currently $164,200) by age 40.)
http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/366925-most-key-federal-agencies-have-cut-staff-under-trump-report

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

December 30 Morning Edition

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

December 29 Morning Edition

ABC7
— IRS warns only some can benefit from filing property taxes early – MEGHAN KENEALLY
http://abc7chicago.com/irs-warns-only-some-can-benefit-from-filing-property-taxes-early/2836065/

 

CBS2
— Effort To Delay Abortion-Funding Law Fails – Derrick Blakley
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2017/12/28/effort-to-delay-abortion-funding-law-fails/
— Gambling Watchdog Hits Jackpot – Charlie De Mar
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2017/12/28/gambling-watchdog-hits-jackpot/

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Prepaying property taxes to cut federal tax bill a confusing mess for now – Lynn Sweet
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/sweet-congress-or-courts-will-have-to-fix-property-tax-prepayment-confusion/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Who is to blame for this confusion? Congress. In the conference report that accompanies the new tax law, Congress was explicit in stating that one could not prepay state income taxes — but was silent about property taxes. Lawmakers should have anticipated the IRS concerns and address property tax prepayment. Congress “could have given explicit guidance,” about property taxes Jaffe said. “.. . If they had put that in the bill, everybody would be a happy camper at this point.” Congress “could have given explicit guidance,” Jaffe said. “… If they had put that in the bill, everybody would be a happy camper at this point.” What happens to the extra tens of millions of dollars being collected by the counties? The money will be held in escrow, put in short-term investments with the interest likely apportioned among the local taxing districts.)
— Secret political donors to judges hurt the image of the bench – Editorial
https://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/undisclosed-donors-hurt-image-judges-editorial/

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Thousands in Chicago area prepay property taxes, with payoff uncertain – Erin Hegarty and Nereida Moreno
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-property-taxes-prepaid-20171228-story.html
— Lake County continues accepting property tax prepayments in wake of tax code overhaul – Emily K. Coleman
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/lake-county-news-sun/news/ct-lns-lake-county-property-taxes-st-1229-20171228-story.html
— Chicago’s homicide total drops by over 100, but violence still ‘intolerably high’ – Jeremy Gorner
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-chicago-violence-2017-story.html
— FRONT PAGE: #MeToo in 2018: Will the movement create real change in the workplace? – Samantha Bomkamp
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-metoo-sexual-harassment-future-20171214-story.html

 

DAILY HERALD
— Will property tax prepayments matter in all counties?
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20171228/will-property-tax-prepayments-matter-in-all-counties
— California law enforcement readies for new marijuana laws – AP
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20171229/news/312299976/
— How a fact becomes fabrication Hyped-up ‘spin’ can bury grain of truth under layers of innuendo and opinion – Editorial (DIERSEN: Virtually everything published by the mainstream media is anti-Trump and promotes the Democrat Party platform, the Libertarian Party platform, and/or the Green Party platform.)
http://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20171229/editorial-how-a-fact-becomes-fabrication

 

NORTHWEST HERALD
— Rep. Steve Reick launches petition against bill that would give Jack Franks power of appointments – ED KOMENDA
http://www.nwherald.com/2017/12/28/rep-steve-reick-launches-petition-against-bill-that-would-give-jack-franks-power-of-appointments/ai4et43/

 

JOURNAL COURIER
— Anti-gambling crusader wins $25,000 in sweepstakes – Robert McCoppin
http://www.myjournalcourier.com/news/117574/anti-gambling-crusader-wins-25000-in-sweepstakes

 

JOURNAL STAR
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, anti-Trumps make it clear that they are also 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://journalstar.com/opinion/columnists/ruben-navarrette-racists-claim-trump-s-name/article_4c112b89-0027-51eb-a7f5-62fd7b281e38.html

 

WSIL TV
— A busy year ahead in Illinois politics – Brandon Richard
http://www.wsiltv.com/story/37155001/a-busy-year-ahead-in-illinois-politics
— What’s on the agenda for Congress in 2018? – Brandon Richard
http://www.wsiltv.com/story/37155124/whats-on-the-agenda-for-congress-in-2018

 

WJPF
— Newsradio WJPF interview with Jeanne Ives
http://www.wjpf.com/episode/newsradio-wjpf-interview-with-jeanne-ives-3/

 

NPR ILLINOIS
— Trump Scorns Mainstream News, But Not The Christian Broadcasting Network – SARAH MCCAMMON
http://nprillinois.org/post/trump-scorns-mainstream-news-not-christian-broadcasting-network#stream/0

 

NORTH COOK NEWS
— Illinois GOP criticizes Pritzker for silence on Barrios ‘corruption’ allegations – Robert Hadley
https://northcooknews.com/stories/511306049-illinois-gop-criticizes-pritzker-for-silence-on-barrios-corruption-allegations

 

WILL COUNTY GAZETTE
— Straub: Term limits are needed in Springfield – Glenn Minnis
https://willcountygazette.com/stories/511304318-straub-term-limits-are-needed-in-springfield

 

ROCK ISLAND TODAY
— Businessman Kleine hopes to ride anti-incumbent tide to unseat Bustos
https://rockislandtoday.com/stories/511306132-businessman-kleine-hopes-to-ride-anti-incumbent-tide-to-unseat-bustos

 

WHEATON PATCH
— All Eyes On Illinois’ 6th District In 2018 Political experts have pegged the race for Rep. Pete Roskam’s seat as one of the most important contests in 2018. – Lisa Marie Farver
https://patch.com/illinois/wheaton/all-eyes-illinois-6th-district-2018

 

ILLINOIS FAMILY INSTITUTE
— Crazy College Courses and the Religion of Sex – Dr. Frank Turek
https://illinoisfamily.org/education/crazy-college-courses-religion-sex/

 

WASHINGTON TIMES
— ‘Fake News’: Half of all Americans believe the media make up anti-Trump stories – Bradford Richardson
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/dec/28/fake-news-half-all-americans-believe-media-make-an/

 

BREITBART
— ‘A Presidency-Defining Moment’ Looms: All Eyes on Donald Trump as DACA Amnesty Deal Lurks in January Spending Fight – MATTHEW BOYLE
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/12/28/a-presidency-defining-moment-looms-all-eyes-on-donald-trump-as-daca-amnesty-deal-lurks-in-january-spending-fight/

 

CNN
— Trump tweets that ‘cold’ East Coast ‘could use a little bit of’ global warming – Dan Merica
http://www.cnn.com/2017/12/28/politics/trump-global-warming-tweet/index.html

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— Last-Minute Rush to Prepay Taxes Gives Way to Confusion and Anger – Ben Casselman and Jeffery C. Mays
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/28/business/economy/irs-prepay-property-tax.html

 

LOS ANGELES TIMES
— The economic riddle for 2018: Will the middle and working classes see any gains from the big tax cut? – Michael Hiltzik
http://www.latimes.com/business/hiltzik/la-fi-hiltzik-2017-yearend-20171228-story.html

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— FRONT PAGE WITH COLOR GRAPHIC: Looking to Prepay Property Taxes? Check Local Timetables First IRS says only property taxes that have been assessed prior to 2018 are deductible on 2017 returns – David Harrison, Joseph De Avila, and Jennifer Levitz
https://www.wsj.com/articles/looking-to-prepay-property-taxes-check-local-timetables-first-1514479088
— Five Things to Know If You Want to Prepay Your Property Taxes Speaking with your mortgage provider is just one important step to make sure you aren’t creating a headache for yourself – David Harrison
https://www.wsj.com/articles/five-things-to-know-if-you-want-to-prepay-your-property-taxes-1514486522
— Who’s the Center of Attention at Holiday Parties? Your Tax Accountant Accountants face long hours, anxious clients, but ‘it’s never been a better time to be a CPA’ – Michael Rapoport
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-tax-law-makes-cpas-interesting-for-now-1514457000
— A Big, Beautiful Trump 2018 Issue Civil-service reform could get bipartisan support, even in a rough election year. – Kimberley A. Strassel (DIERSEN: Because I have always been a Republican, were it not for federal civil service protections, a) the Post Office would NOT have hired me in 1966 or let me work there for almost 3 years, b) IRS would NOT have hired me in 1971 or let me work there for almost 9 years, c) IRS would NOT have promoted me in 1972, 1973, or 1974, d) GAO would NOT have hired me in 1980 or let me work there for almost 18 years, and e) GAO would NOT have promoted me in 1986.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-big-beautiful-trump-2018-issue-1514499989
— Baby Boomers Looking for Reinvention Try College—Again – Douglas Belkin (DIERSEN: To get rid of me, in 1988, my Democrat GAO superiors made it clear that they would never again assign me to audits of IRS. But in 1990, they implied that they would assign me to audits of federal financial industry regulators at least until I would be eligible to retire in 2003. That was a major reason I spent lots of my personal time and money earning a master’s degree in financial markets and trading from IIT in 1997.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/baby-boomers-looking-for-reinvention-try-collegeagain-1514466001

 

USA TODAY
— FRONT PAGE: HARDCOPY ARTICLE TITLE: TRAGIC: California sees plenty of green in legal pot – Trevor Hughes
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2017/12/28/legal-marijuana-arriving-california-after-decades-underground-dealing/975323001/
— HARDCOPY ARTICLE TITLE: Plan to partake in pot? Read This. California permits marijuana for recreation, but there are still rules to follow. Trevor Hughes
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2017/12/28/what-californias-legalization-marijuana-means-you/975348001/