December 20 Evening Edition

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

BELLEVILLE NEWS DEMOCRAT
— Illinois drops from 5th to 6th in population. What’s driving people out? – JOSEPH BUSTOS (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, Democrats focus on driving out of Illinois people, organizations, and companies that are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German American, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
http://www.bnd.com/news/local/article190772804.html

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

LOS ANGELES TIMES
— Chants of protest drown out any caroling this holiday season at the Capitol – Lisa Mascaro (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, members of Group A make it clear that they want the federal government to get rid of members of Group B. Members of Group A are anti-Trump, anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-patriotic, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, anti-German Americans, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors and members of Group B are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German Americans, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-capitol-holiday-protests-20171219-story.html

December 20 Morning Edition

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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


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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

December 19 Evening Edition

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

December 19 Morning Edition

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

CHICAGO CITY WIRE
— Ives says Illinois taxpayer flight a result of Rauner’s broken promises – Glenn Minnis (DIERSEN: Who wants those who share your demographics to leave your precinct, your municipality, your township/ward, your county, and Illinois? I should write a book about “leaders” who have lots of religious, government, political, and/or financial clout in Wheaton, Glen Ellyn, Milton Township, DuPage County, and in Illinois who want those who share my demographics to leave. These “leaders” are anti-Trump, anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-patriotic, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, anti-German Americans, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors and/or they a) reject planks in the Republican Party platform and/or the Illinois Republican Party platform and work against those like me who support those planks, b) reject the Milton Township Republican Central Committee resolution against video gambling and work against those like me who support that resolution, c) focus on destroying those like me who they cannot manipulate/dominate, d) were defendants in lawsuits that I have filed, and/or e) are operatives or dupes for the aforesaid. If they do not want you to leave, it means that they are manipulating you or dominating you.)
https://chicagocitywire.com/stories/511298809-ives-says-illinois-taxpayer-flight-a-result-of-rauner-s-broken-promises

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

December 18 Evening Edition

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Rauner reminds abortion foes he’s got deep pockets to help them – Rick Pearson
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-bruce-rauner-abortion-campaign-contributions-20171218-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Facing a primary challenge amid Republican unrest over his expansion of taxpayer-funded abortions, Gov. Bruce Rauner is offering a new answer to why abortion opponents should support him: Look at what his wallet has done. “I am the strongest supporter of candidates for office who are pro-life. Nobody has worked harder to elect pro-life Republicans than I have and I remind everybody of that. I have fought hard,” Rauner said Friday on WJPF 1340-AM in Herrin when asked what he was telling angry social conservatives. “I supported Bill Brady when he ran. I’m supporting Erika Harold,” the governor said of the unsuccessful 2010 GOP candidate for governor and current Republican contender for attorney general, respectively. “I’m supporting legislators who are pro-life. I am a strong ally and strong supporter for pro-life candidates.” During his interview with the radio station, which bills itself as “The Voice of Southern Illinois,” Rauner did not explain his reasons for signing the legislation or his personal values in support of abortion rights — a motivating factor behind the Republican primary challenge he now faces from state Rep. Jeanne Ives of Wheaton. When Rauner signed the controversial abortion measure in September, he acknowledged he had “voted for and supported public officials and public servants who are pro-life.” But the governor also said by signing the measure, he was “being true to my values and my views. I have always been true to those.” David Yepsen, the former director of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, said he doubts Rauner’s latest explanation will satisfy social conservatives — particularly Downstate. “I don’t think this is going to wash with pro-life Republicans. Rauner’s just coming off as being all over the map on this, trying to have it both ways and it’s already earned him a primary. He needs to come up with a better answer,” Yepsen said. To be sure, Rauner, a wealthy former private equity investor, has a history of giving to Republican candidates who oppose abortion rights, including Mitt Romney, Jon Huntsman and Tim Pawlenty in the 2012 battle for the GOP presidential nomination. But Rauner also has given money to GOP candidates who support abortion rights, including Carl DeMaio of San Deigo, a gay Republican who unsuccessfully ran for Congress, and, closer to home, former U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk and former North Shore congressman Robert Dold. Previously, Rauner contributed to Democratic candidates and causes backing abortion rights, including the Democratic National Committee in 2000 and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in 2003. In 2001, Rauner gave to U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s congressional fund, and then-Montana Sen. Max Baucus. The governor and wife Diana Rauner also were listed as $50,000 sponsors of a Planned Parenthood Illinois fundraiser in April. At the time, Gov. Rauner had vowed to veto the abortion-expansion legislation. State Rep. David McSweeney, a frequent critic of Rauner who has endorsed Ives for governor, said that in the southern Illinois interview, it sounded to an uninformed listener that Rauner was opposed to abortion rights. “He happened to be on a very popular southern Illinois radio station and of course down there he told everybody he’s pro-life. That’s what you would actually think if you didn’t know the real story,” said McSweeney, a Barrington Hills Republican. “It’s another example of him going into different places and saying different things. Do you think he would ever say that to a Planned Parenthood meeting?” McSweeney asked. The lawmaker also said it’s another sign that for Rauner, “the issue is that it’s all about the money again.” Rauner pumped millions of dollars into GOP legislative campaigns last year, in part earning the allegiance of rank-and-file Republican lawmakers until earlier this year. Ives’ campaign did not respond to a request for comment Monday.)
— Will Rauner’s re-election campaign be, ‘Negative, negative, negative, negative?’ – Kim Janssen
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chicagoinc/ct-met-miller-rauner-1219-chicago-inc-20171218-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Gov. Bruce Rauner touted his top 10 accomplishments of 2017 in a news release Monday. But not everyone was buying the spin. Veteran Springfield journalist and Capitol Fax Publisher Rich Miller brought down the house at a City Club of Chicago downtown where he was asked by an audience member how Rauner can win re-election in 2018. “In a wave like this, he’s not going to win by touting his accomplishments,” Miller said to widespread laughter in a packed room of business and civic leaders that it’s fair to say tilted heavily Democratic. “He has to run the most negative campaign anyone in this room has ever seen, period. He has to drive down the black turnout, the woman turnout, Latino turnout, young people turnout — he’s got to drive them all down,” he said of discouraging voters most likely to cast a ballot for the Democrat running against Rauner. “The only way to do that — the only way to do that — is to be unbelievably negative, so negative that you just gasp at the TV ads.” Short of Twitter going out of business and “solving a lot of Republican problems” by silencing President Donald Trump’s social media output, “that’s what (Rauner) has to do,” Miller said, citing the higher than expected black voter turnout in Alabama’s recent special election as evidence of an energized Democratic base. “Negative, negative, negative, negative … what Rod (Blagojevich) did to Judy (Baar Topinka) times 50,” Miller said, referring to the expensive 2006 campaign ads in which Blagojevich painted the late Topinka as irresponsible by repeating the phrase “What’s she thinking?” over and over again. Rauner’s office didn’t respond to Miller’s comments. For the record, the list of Rauner accomplishments it was touting included passing education funding, the scholarship tax credit program, the Clean Energy Jobs Act, pushing EDGE tax credits, the state’s opioid task force, vetoing a “Madigan Tax Hike” and “ethical government and fighting corruption.”)
— No more valedictorian, class ranks at Kankakee High School – AP
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-bc-il–class-rankings-kankakee-20171217-story.html

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Education funding, Amazon touted in Rauner’s top 10 ‘accomplishments’ – Tina Sfondeles
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/education-funding-amazon-touted-in-rauners-top-10-accomplishments/

 

DAILY HERALD
— DISGUSTING: Why Prospect Heights wagered $500,000 on a sports bar – Chacour Koop
http://www.dailyherald.com/business/20171218/why-prospect-heights-wagered-500000-on-a-sports-bar
— Heroin found near Elmhurst middle school
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20171218/heroin-found-near-elmhurst-middle-school

 

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— How City Colleges manipulated graduation rates and won a national award – BGA
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20171218/NEWS02/171219913#utm_medium=email&utm_source=ccb-morning10&utm_campaign=ccb-morning10-20171218

 

CHAMPAIGN/URBANA NEWS GAZETTE
— Eat, drink and be merry? – Editorial
http://www.news-gazette.com/opinion/editorials/2017-12-18/eat-drink-and-be-merry.html

 

WTAX
— Rich Miller is on the loose
http://wtax.com/news/101101-rich-miller-is-on-the-loose/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The people following state politics and government the closest read the Capitol Fax web site, and the people at the City Club heard from the man behind that one-man operation Monday. Rich Miller knows not to make predictions, but he has seen enough Illinois government and politics to say this: “(Gov. Bruce) Rauner or whomever the Democrat is will be left with another mess,” Miller said before raising his voice. “We really suck at this governing thing in Illinois!” And in the Republican primary, where’s the money? “We don’t know yet where (Republican uberdonor) Richard Uihlein is going to stand on this,” Miller said. “You pretty much can’t take any more money from him now, because (as a donor to (the U.S. Senate campaign of Alabama’s Roy Moore) he’s kind of tainted. He put a lot of money behind an alleged pedophile.” Miller, whose annual holiday address to the City Club is also a toy drive for Lutheran Social Services of Illinois, says so far Gov. Rauner is ignoring his March 20 challenger, State Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton).)

 

REPUBLICAN NEWS WATCH
— Rahm Emanuel’s jealousy of President Trump is killing Chicago, literally – DOUG IBENDAHL
http://republicannewswatch.com/wp/?p=14401

 

MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— Jeannie Ives Plays to Those Who Don’t Know How Salary Costs Would Increase If Dual Districts Became Unit Districts
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2017/12/18/jeannie-ives-plays-to-those-who-dont-know-how-salary-costs-would-increase-if-dual-districts-became-unit-districts/

 

WILL COUNTY GAZETTE
— Straub accuses Durkin of creating fake groups and using GOP to spread lies – Glenn Minnis
https://willcountygazette.com/stories/511299048-straub-accuses-durkin-of-creating-fake-groups-and-using-gop-to-spread-lies

 

ROCK ISLAND TODAY
— Mercer County GOP hopes to flip two courthouse positions, fill board seats, vice chair says
https://rockislandtoday.com/stories/511296626-mercer-county-gop-taking-aim-at-capturing-two-county-posts

 

LAKE COUNTY GAZETTE
— McSweeney backing Ives in bid to unseat ‘failed governor’ – Robert Hadley
https://lakecountygazette.com/stories/511286623-mcsweeney-backing-ives-in-bid-to-unseat-failed-governor

 

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— RAUNER BOASTS HIS TOP 10 BIGGEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN 2017
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2017/12/rauner-boasts-his-top-10-biggest-accomplishments-in-2017-.html
— REPUBLICANS NEED A BETTER SALES PITCH FOR TAX REFORM
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2017/12/republicans-need-a-better-sales-pitch-for-tax-reform.html
— TRUMP NEEDS HIS OWN PEOPLE RUNNING FEDERAL BUREAUCRACIES
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2017/12/trump-needs-his-own-people-running-federal-bureaucracies.html

 

WASHINGTON TIMES
— Chicago Bears co-owner Patrick McCaskey to speak at March for Life – Bradford Richardson
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/dec/18/chicago-bears-co-owner-speak-march-for-life/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The co-owner of the NFL’s Chicago Bears will address tens of thousands of pro-life advocates at the March for Life in Chicago next month. Patrick McCaskey, grandson of legendary Bears founder George Halas, is one of several high-profile speakers slated to address what is expected to be the largest pro-life rally ever held in the Midwest. Other speakers include U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam, Illinois Republican, former Planned Parenthood director Ramona Trevino and Sarah Storto, vice president of Loyola Students for Life. Dawn Fitzpatrick, president of the March for Life Chicago board of directors, called on “religious, civic and community leaders to renew every effort to build a nation and culture dedicated to protecting life at every stage and eliminating the violence of abortion.” “Thousands of individuals and groups will come together on January 14 to proclaim that our women, men, children and families deserve better than abortion,” Ms. Fitzpatrick said in a statement.)

 

BREITBART
— WSJ: The Tax Cuts Will Grow the Economy by Much More than Expected – JOHN CARNEY
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/12/18/wsj-the-tax-cuts-will-grow-the-economy-by-much-more-than-expected/
— American Economic Optimism Soars, Breaks CNBC Survey Record – JOHN CARNEY
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/12/18/american-economic-optimism-soars-breaks-cnbc-survey-record/

 

DAILY CALLER
— Democrats’ Favored DACA Amnesty Bill Would Cost $26 Billion – Will Racke
http://dailycaller.com/2017/12/18/democrats-favored-daca-amnesty-bill-would-cost-26-billion/
— Flawed Heritage Report On Refugee Resettlement Misses The Mark – Jim Simpson
http://dailycaller.com/2017/12/17/analysis-flawed-heritage-report-on-refugee-resettlement-misses-the-mark/

 

TOWNHALL
— Left Eats Left: Progressives Go After One of Few Remaining Moderate Democrats (Lipinski) – Leah Barkoukis
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/leahbarkoukis/2017/12/18/dems-go-after-their-own-rep-dan-lipinski-n2424128

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— John Skipper Resigns as ESPN President, Citing Substance Addiction Former president George Bodenheimer will oversee transition at sports network over 90 days – Joe Flint
http://www.wsj.com/articles/john-skipper-resigns-as-espn-president-citing-substance-addiction-1513615590

December 17 Evening Edition

ABC7
— Boy, 15, shot to death delivering newspapers with stepdad on SW Side
http://abc7chicago.com/boy-15-shot-to-death-delivering-newspapers-with-stepdad-on-sw-side/2792120/

 

FOX NEWS CHICAGO
— Keeping ‘Dreamers’ would cost taxpayers $26B over next 10 years, feds say
http://www.fox32chicago.com/news/national/keeping-dreamers-would-cost-taxpayers-26b-over-next-10-years-feds-say

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— One more way GOP tax plan sticks it to Chicago – Editorial
https://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/editorial-one-more-way-gop-tax-plan-sticks-it-to-chicago/
— Trump dislikes being investigated; so did Al Capone – Neil Steinberg
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/trump-fbi-academy-chicago-crime-statistics/
— Illinois horse tracks say more gambling can stop ‘downward spiral’ – Taylor Hartz (DIERSEN: Gambling is a vice. If you promote gambling, you promote vice.)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-politics/horse-racing-tracks-illinois-gambling-regulations/

 

DAILY HERALD
— 2 candidates gone after challenges in Lake County Board races – Mick Zawislak
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20171217/2-candidates-gone-after-challenges-in-lake-county-board-races
— Collateral damage of “credibly accused” – KATHLEEN PARKER
http://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20171217/collateral-damage-of-x201ccredibly-accusedx201d

 

STATELINE
— BEYOND OUTRAGEOUS: Republican Tax Bill Expected To Impact Property Tax Deductions Limits deductions to 10,000 dollars a year – Gregory Cormier
http://www.mystateline.com/news/republican-tax-bill-expected-to-impact-property-tax-deductions/882614534

 

WGN RADIO
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Democrats use Barickman to promote pot. If you promote pot, you promote destruction.
http://wgnradio.com/2017/12/17/the-sunday-spin-politics-with-rick-pearson-full-show-12-17-17/

 

KMOV
— Illinois State Rep. Dan Beiser to step down effective immediately – Michael Ritter
http://www.kmov.com/story/37086576/illinois-state-rep-dan-beiser-to-step-down-effective-immediately

 

PRAIRIE STATE WIRE
— Ives: ‘Rauner is not in charge in Springfield’ – Glenn Minnis
https://prairiestatewire.com/stories/511297583-ives-rauner-is-not-in-charge-in-springfield

 

MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— Algonquin Township Road Commissioner Andrew Gasser’s Amended Complaint Against Local 150
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2017/12/17/algonquin-township-road-commissioner-andrew-gassers-amended-complaint/
— Reick Steps into Township Efficiency Issue
nrycountyblog.com/2017/12/16/reick-steps-into-township-efficiency-issue/
— Discussion of November Referendum to Put McHenry Township Road District Under Township Board Set for January Meeting
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2017/12/15/discussion-of-november-referendum-to-put-mchenry-township-road-district-under-township-board-set-for-january-meeting/
— Republicans on McHenry Township Board Make Next Term’s Posts Voluntary–No Salary
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2017/12/15/republicans-on-mchenry-township-board-make-next-terms-posts-voluntary/

 

DAILY CALLER
— Poll Shows Nation Divided Between America First And Blame America First – GINNI THOMAS
http://dailycaller.com/2017/12/16/poll-shows-nation-divided-between-america-first-and-blame-america-first-video/
— Final Tax Bill Contains Language Allowing Illegal Immigrants To Get Tax Credit – Alex Pfeiffer
http://dailycaller.com/2017/12/16/final-tax-bill-contains-language-allowing-illegal-immigrants-to-get-tax-credit/

 

CNN
— McCain returning to Arizona, will miss tax bill vote – Dana Bash, Jeff Zeleny and Maegan Vazquez
http://www.cnn.com/2017/12/17/politics/mccain-return-arizona-tax-bill/index.html

December 17 Morning Edition

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Ethics, redemption become issues in Will County clerk race – Ted Slowik
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/daily-southtown/opinion/ct-sta-slowik-will-county-clerk-st-1214-20171213-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: I wondered this week how Lauren Staley-Ferry’s admission and apology for a felony forgery charge she faced 15 years ago in Arizona would affect her candidacy for Will County clerk. Staley-Ferry, 39, of Joliet, is one of two candidates running in the March 20 Democratic primary for county clerk. The other is Denise Mushro-Rumchak, 59, of Crest Hill.)
— I got kicked out of diversity training – Joanne Cleaver (DIERSEN: Democrats use Affirmative Action, Diversity, and Inclusion to get rid of Republicans, and especially to get rid of Republicans who are White, male, older, and/or non-veteran.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-perspec-diversity-feminism-white-privilege-20171217-story.html

 

WBEZ
— Are Taxpayers Footing The Bill For Patriotic Tributes At College Games? – Monica Eng (DIERSEN: Anti-Trumps are anti-patriotic.)
https://www.wbez.org/shows/curious-city/are-taxpayers-footing-the-bill-for-patriotic-tributes-at-college-games/d81a450a-b7e5-41a7-bbcd-46a3dbce251f

 

ALTON DAILY NEWS
— Illinois Has Highest Pension Liability In Nation – Greg Bishop
http://altondailynews.com/news/details.cfm?clientid=17&id=256991#.WjaRKt-nGM8

 

QUINCY HERALD WHIG
— TRAGIC: Quincy City Council considers raising cap on video gaming terminals – Doug Wilson
http://www.whig.com/20171216/quincy-city-council-considers-raising-cap-on-video-gaming-terminals#//

 

HERALD & REVIEW
— POLL: As Chicago contemplates pot legalization, Decatur officials still skeptical – JAYLYN COOK
http://herald-review.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/poll-as-chicago-contemplates-pot-legalization-decatur-officials-still-skeptical/article_a2b4b6f6-eb83-56c6-95ad-ad49c5f0d80a.html

 

SOUTHERN
— At campaign stop, Pritzker tells Southern Illinois Democratic Women he’s ‘ready to resist’ – K. JANIS ESCH (DIERSEN: Ever-increasing, Pritzker makes it clear that if he is elected, he will drive out of Illinois all the individuals, organizations, and companies that are a member of one or more of the following groups: Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German Americans, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
http://thesouthern.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/at-campaign-stop-pritzker-tells-southern-illinois-democratic-women-he/article_0f2d9e0e-80f6-5606-b20f-33b82437a0b0.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: During a campaign-stop luncheon hosted by the Southern Illinois Democratic Women on Saturday afternoon, Democratic gubernatorial hopeful J.B. Pritzker billed himself as a feminist ally and a proud member of the anti-Trump resistance. Pritzker, a billionaire investor and entrepreneur, told a crowd of 250 people at the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 318 that he was “ready to listen … ready to resist and ready for the fight ahead.” After his speech, Pritzker moderated a panel discussion featuring female leaders. His running-mate, Juliana Stratton, state representative of the 5th District, noted in her introductory remarks that Pritzker was the first candidate in the race to choose a woman for the lieutenant governor position. “This is a partnership, and together, we’re going to put Springfield back on the side of women and families,” she said. In 2016, Stratton said, Illinois women made an average of $41,327, compared to the average for men of $52,161. She said equal pay for equal work will be a top priority for Pritzker’s administration. Pritzker spoke about his disappointment after the 2016 election, when Donald Trump won the presidency in a stunning upset over Hillary Clinton. “I was sad for our country, I was sad for the direction that it would take us in and for what it meant about and for our values. I was sad that my daughter witnessed a misogynistic, racist man defeating a deeply qualified woman for president,” Pritzker said.)

 

RIVER CITIES READER
— Can Rauner Really Take Out Madigan? – Rich Miller
https://www.rcreader.com/commentary/can-rauner-take-out-madigan

 

PRAIRIE STATE WIRE
— Ives outscores Rauner in tax group’s policy survey – W.J. Kennedy
https://prairiestatewire.com/stories/511287066-ives-outscores-rauner-in-tax-group-s-policy-survey

 

HUFFINGTON POST
— If Congress Doesn’t Act Soon To Save Dreamers, It Might Not Save Them At All Immigration reform advocates want legal status for undocumented young people as part of a government spending bill. – Elise Foley
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/government-shutdown-dreamers_us_5a2989ece4b0b185e53a3098

 

BLAZE
— Pope Francis says journalists commit ‘sins of communication’ – Teri Webster (DIERSEN: Of course, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes will hint/imply/argue/shout that the Pope is talking about me and my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails.)
http://www.theblaze.com/news/2017/12/16/pope-francis-says-journalists-commit-sins-of-communication
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Pope Francis weighed in on the issue of freedom of the press as he delivered a sermon to a group of journalists Saturday about “the sins of communication,” NPR News reported. Who was there? The Pope made his comments to members of the Italian Periodical Press Union and the Italian Federation of Catholic Weeklies, reports state. According to the Pope, journalism is a field “dominated by the anxiety of speed” and is driven by sensationalism. Reliable information, he said, is at a premium. Pope Francis also spoke about the perils of disinformation and slander, NPR reported. What did Pope Francis say? “You shouldn’t fall into the ‘sins of communication:’ disinformation, or giving just one side, calumny that is sensationalized, or defamation, looking for things that are old news and have been dealt with and bringing them to light today,” he said. Pope Francis added: “We must not fall prey to the ‘sins of communication’: disinformation that is, giving just one side of the argument, slander, which is sensationalistic, or defamation, looking for outdated and old things, and bringing them to light today. They are very grave sins, which damage the heart of the journalist and harm people.” The world can expect to hear similar sermons from the pope in the future. Pope Francis plans to make “fake news and journalism for peace,” the topic of his 2017 World Communications Day speech. The pope has waded into media issues in the past, as well. NPR reported last year that the pope told “journalists and media consumers” that an interest in dredging up scandals is similar to “the sickness of coprophilia,” which is an abnormal interest in feces “that can include elements of sexual arousal.”)

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— The Tax Bill That Inequality Created – Editorial
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/16/opinion/sunday/tax-bill-inequality-created.html
— HARDCOPY ARTICLE TITLE: Many Want Nothing to Do With the ‘R’ Word A growing number of older Americans continue to work for a variety of reasons. – Claudia Dreifus (DIERSEN: According to my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes, what I do 10+ hours each and every day putting GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails together and sending them out is NOT work. They hint/imply/argue/shout that because no one pays me for what I do as your GOPUSA Illinois Editor, that because I send the emails out free of charge, and that because the emails contain no advertising, what I do as your GOPUSA Illinois Editor is worthless.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/16/business/asked-about-retiring-they-have-a-simple-answer-why.html
— Bringing Down Our Monsters – Maureen Dowd (DIERSEN: The more of the following that you are, the harder that anti-Trumps work to destroy you: 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.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/16/opinion/sunday/sexual-harassment-salma-hayek.html
— Are You Old? Infirm? Then Kindly Disappear – FRANK BRUNI (DIERSEN: If you work for the federal government and you are Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran, the federal government wants you to disappear if you do not make GS-13 (currently $94,610) by age 25, GS-14 (currently $111,801) by age 30, GS-15 (currently $131,508) by age 35, and Senior Executive Service (currently $161,900) by age 40.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/16/opinion/sunday/are-you-old-infirm-then-kindly-disappear.html

 

WASHINGTON POST
— Trump labor adviser’s plan for cutting federal compensation, potentially even paid holidays – Joe Davidson (DIERSEN: 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.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2017/12/18/trump-labor-advisers-plan-for-cutting-federal-compensation-potentially-even-paid-holidays/

December 15 Morning Edition

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— Republicans Despise the Working Class Unless you own a business or live off assets, you’re a second-class citizen in their eyes. – Paul Krugman (DIERSEN: All of my critics/opponents despise the working class. I was a member of the working class 1962-1997. I did yard work and delivered newspapers 1962-1964; washed dishes 1964-1966; cleaned golf shoes, chipped slag, and pumped gasoline in 1966; delivered mail 1966-1969; worked on an automobile assembly line and as a security guard in 1970; sold tires, automotive services, and major appliances 1970-1971; pumped gasoline 1971-1972; collected delinquent taxes 1971-1980; and audited federal agencies 1980-1997.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/14/opinion/republicans-working-class-taxes.html

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

December 14 Evening Edition

NBC5
— Community Groups File Suit Against Assessor’s Office Over Allegations of Racial Bias – James Neveau
https://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/community-groups-file-suit-against-assessors-office-over-allegations-of-racial-bias-464185233.html
— Lisa Madigan Joins Group of Officials Opposing Net Neutrality Rollback – James Neveau
https://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/madigan-joins-group-of-officials-opposing-net-neutrality-rollback-464222233.html

 

CBS2
— Cook County Commissioner Richard Boykin Suggests U.N. Send Troops To Fight ‘Quiet Genocide’ Of Gun Violence In Chicago
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2017/12/14/richard-boykin-united-nations-gun-violence/

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC, ILLEGAL, AND EVEN WORSE THINGS: Emanuel on Thursday unveiled an example of the municipal ID card he wants to offer to people in this country illegally and others as part of his stand against President Donald Trump’s immigration policies – John Byrne
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-rahm-emanuel-municipal-id-launch-20171214-story.html
— Lawsuit targets Berrios over biased residential assessments in Cook County – Jason Grotto and Hal Dardick
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-cook-county-assessor-berrios-sued-met-20171214-story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: An anti-Trump says “How the 2018 election could end the nightmare of Trump.”
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-trump-2018-election-nightmare20171214-story.html
— Survey finds 42 percent of women report discrimination at work – Jena McGregor
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-sexual-harassment-survey-20171214-story.html
— Evanston District 202 board takes a swipe at transparency – Editorial
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-edit-evanston-school-board-foia-20171214-story.html
— House to vote on spending bill that Senate won’t pass, rekindling shutdown showdown – Mike Debonis and Ed O’Keefe
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-spending-bill-government-shutdown-20171214-story.html

 

DAILY HERALD
— What’s in GOP tax accord: Big cuts for business, wealthy – AP
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20171214/whats-in-gop-tax-accord-big-cuts-for-business-wealthy
— Vernon Twp. board: Assessor shouldn’t be investigating harassment claims – Doug T. Graham
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20171214/vernon-twp-board-assessor-shouldnt-be-investigating-harassment-claims
— AUGUST 11, 2005 FLASHBACK: Milton Twp. Assessor, Accuser Reach Settlement – James Fuller (DIERSEN: Have you been charged with sexual harassment? Because I refused to take sides in Carol Scholl v. Jim Gumm, those who continue to side with Scholl a) continue to demonize me, denigrate me, and condemn me and b) continue to hint/imply/argue/shout that I am a White supremacist, Nazi, KKK member, hater, racist, sexist, bigot, and even worse things.)
https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-135085189.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The woman who once accused Milton Township Assessor Jim Gumm of sexually harassing her agreed to settle a lawsuit Wednesday that could have made her liable for up to $1 million in damages. The settlement all but ends a legal battle that began with former township employee Carol Scholl accusing Gumm of sexual harassment. The township eventually settled that claim. Gumm then fired Scholl, and she filed a claim with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for improper dismissal. Gumm soon filed his own lawsuit against several township officials and employees, including Scholl, claiming a clandestine effort to smear his name and have him booted from office.)

 

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— Rubio a ‘no’ on tax bill unless he gets child tax credit Floor vote on bill possible next week – LAUREN FOX (DIERSEN: They all should be a big ‘no’ unless all itemized deductions and the personal exemption are kept.)
http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/politics/rubio-a-no-on-tax-bill-unless-he-gets-child-tax-credit/881230438

 

WGLT
— Durbin Fears ‘Mistakes’ In Rushed Republican Tax Bill – RYAN DENHAM
http://wglt.org/post/durbin-fears-mistakes-rushed-republican-tax-bill#stream/0

 

WIFR
— Governor candidate William Kelly speaks out on his decision to run as Independent
http://www.wifr.com/content/news/Governor-candidate-William-Kelly-speaks-out-on-his-decision-to-run-as-Independent-464236053.html

 

CHICAGO NOW
— Character counts in Alabama, but still not in Chicago and Illinois – Dennis Byrne
http://www.chicagonow.com/dennis-byrnes-barbershop/2017/12/character-counts-in-alabama-but-still-not-in-chicago-and-illinois/

 

WILL COUNTY NEWS
— Ives Leads the Charge on Property Tax Reform – Steve Balich
http://willcountynews.com/2017/12/14/ives-leads-the-charge-on-property-tax-reform/

 

CHICAGO CITY WIRE
— McSweeney joins Ives in calling for investigation into resignation of Rauner’s top lawyer – Caitlin Nordahl
https://chicagocitywire.com/stories/511297090-mcsweeney-joins-ives-in-calling-for-investigation-into-resignation-of-rauner-s-top-lawyer

 

ILLINOIS NEWS NETWORK
— After financial crash, Illinois property taxes rise despite drop in home value – Cole Lauterbach (DIERSEN: High property taxes depress home values.)
https://www.ilnews.org/news/economy/after-financial-crash-illinois-property-taxes-rise-despite-drop-in/article_6a626bc6-e04b-11e7-ab49-9ff680d1fb77.html

 

CAPITOL FAX
— Pritzker apologizes for language he used to describe American Muslims Council in 1998
https://capitolfax.com/2017/12/14/pritzker-apologizes-for-language-he-used-to-describe-american-muslims-council-in-1998/

 

GOPUSA
— Loyola Muslims bemoan Catholic university’s Christmas bias, unequal ‘public festivity’
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=35279
— Time to Understand: Accusations Are Not Convictions
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=35152

 

BREITBART
— Poll: Majority of Americans Continue to Believe Amnesty Encourages More Illegal Immigration – JOHN BINDER
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/12/14/poll-majority-of-americans-continue-to-believe-amnesty-encourages-more-illegal-immigration/

 

PATRIOT POST
— The Government’s Gender Hiring Gap Politicians who hypocritically criticize the private sector for gender gaps should first examine their own staffs. – Caroline Camden Lewis (DIERSEN: Lewis should write an article about what GAO did during the 1980s and 1990s a) to hire, retain, and promote young Democrat women and young Democrat minorities and b) to make way for them by wasting the careers of and by getting rid of GAO employees who were Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran who had not made GS-13 (currently $94,610) by age 25, GS-14 (currently $111,801) by age 30, GS-15 (currently $131,508) by age 35, and Senior Executive Service (currently $161,900) by age 40.)
https://patriotpost.us/articles/52940

 

POLITICO
— The FCC repealed its Obama-era net neutrality rules on Thursday, a step critics warn will upend the internet by allowing cable companies to control where their customers can go online. – MARGARET HARDING MCGILL
https://www.politico.com/story/2017/12/14/fcc-votes-to-repeal-net-neutrality-rules-295500

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— F.C.C. Repeals Net Neutrality Rules Internet providers will have more power over the web, allowing them to favor certain sites. – Cecilia Kang
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/14/technology/net-neutrality-repeal-vote.html

 

WASHINGTON POST
— The FCC just voted to repeal its net neutrality rules, in a sweeping act of deregulation FCC repeals net neutrality rules, allowing Internet providers to speed up, slow down or block service for apps and websites – Brian Fung
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2017/12/14/the-fcc-is-expected-to-repeal-its-net-neutrality-rules-today-in-a-sweeping-act-of-deregulation/

 

ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
— Fear compromises health, well-being of immigrant families, survey finds – Anna Gorman (DIERSEN: Who has wanted you to be fearful? While I worked for the federal government for almost 30 years, my Democrat superiors always wanted me to fear that they would take stronger adverse actions against me. 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. Adverse actions that my Democrat GAO superiors took against me included forcing me to retire in 1997 when I was 49 years old, always ranking me in the bottom half of my coworkers for pay-for-performance purposes, not promoting me beyond GS-13, keeping me off audits of IRS for all but 3 of the almost 18 years that I worked for GAO, and forcing me to take an $18,847 pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO in 1980. Adverse actions that my Democrat IRS superiors took against me included not promoting me beyond GS-12, disallowing my education deductions in 1978, and disallowing my partial day per diem claims in 1974. Adverse actions that my Democrat Post Office superiors took against me included forcing me resign in 1969 and disallowing my sick leave requests in 1969 and 1968.)
http://www.ocregister.com/2017/12/13/570027/

 

RASMUSSEN REPORTS
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps say “Most Call for Trump’s Resignation If Sex Allegations Are True.”
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/trump_administration/december_2017/most_call_for_trump_s_resignation_if_sex_allegations_are_true

December 13 Evening Edition

GOPUSA ILLINOIS
— The Milton Township Republican Central Committee held an outstanding Christmas party Wednesday evening, December 13, 2017, at the Wheaton Bowl Banquet Hall. The many outstanding speakers included Jeanne Ives. Attendees included Almiron, Berlin, Bibbiano, Carlson, Caruso, Cherry, Cleveland, Connelly, Cooper, Crane, Dangelo, Falbo, Fitzpatrick, Grant, Hinds, Hinkle, Holan, A. & R. Jorgensen, Keller, Krzyzewski, C. & A. LeVan, Lofgren, Lollino, McGowen, Minor, Molitor, Muehlfelt, A. & B. Murphy, Nathwani, Prater, Rash, Romano, Russo, Shaw, Tatro, Wehling, Whelan, Wilson, C. & J. Zaruba, and Zay. – Dave Diersen
https://gopillinois.com

 

ABC7
— Alabama election reaction pours in; Illinois comptroller Mendoza: ‘Loser perv lost anyway’ – Craig Wall (DIERSEN: With their success in defeating Moore, anti-Trumps will increasingly allege that all Republicans are White supremacists, Nazis, KKK members, haters, racists, sexists, bigots, and even worse things. Are you a Republican? How soon, if not already, will Mendoza say that you are a White supremacist, Nazi, KKK member, hater, racist, sexist, bigot, and even worse things?)
http://abc7chicago.com/politics/alabama-election-reaction-pours-in;-mendoza-loser-perv-lost-anyway/2777327/

 

NBC5
— Governor Rauner Under Fire for Deaths at Quincy Veteran’s Home – Mary Ann Ahern
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/governor-bruce-rauner-under-fire-for-legionnaires-deaths-in-quincy-464005493.html
— Democratic Candidates for Illinois’ 6th District Speak at Forum – Mary Ann Ahern (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-candidates-6th-district-illinois-roskam–463936223.html

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— BEYOND DISGUSTING, BEYOND TRAGIC: Cook County voters to be asked next year about legalizing marijuana – Hal Dardick (DIERSEN: If you promote pot, you promote destruction.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-cook-county-recreational-marijuana-20171212-story.html
— Republicans reach compromise plan on taxes, expanding tax cuts for the wealthy – Damian Paletta and Erica Werner (DIERSEN: From what I see, the more that you have benefited from itemizing your deductions, the more federal income tax that you will pay.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-gop-tax-package-20171213-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Overall, the tax rewrite would impact virtually every American household and business because of how the plan lowers tax rates while putting new curbs on tax deductions that have been in place for decades. . .Several analyses have found that most Americans would see their taxes fall, at least in the short term, but millions would see an increase because they would loser certain deductions.)
— Illinois video gambling parlors must split profits with terminal operators, judge rules – Ally Marotti
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-gambling-parlor-lawsuit-20171213-story.html
— ‘He is a bully’: Sen. Gillibrand hits back at Trump over tweet on ‘Today’ – Amy B. Wang
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-trump-gillibrand-20171213-story.html
— With net neutrality decision imminent, Thursday could be the day the internet died – Robert Reed
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/columnists/reed/ct-biz-net-neutrality-debacle-robert-reed-1214-story.html
— Steve Bannon gets a pro-abortion Democrat elected in Alabama – Marc A. Thiessen (DIERSEN: How fast would the Washington Post fire Thiessen if he was charged with sexual harassment? My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes blame me and my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails for all the losses that Republicans have suffered in Illinois since 2000. Should I write a book about my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes?)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-steve-bannon-roy-moore-20171213-story.html
— Trump unintentionally advances sexual equality – Steve Chapman (DIERSEN: What do you say to men who demonize, denigrate, and condemn men to curry favor with women?)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chapman/ct-perspec-chapman-trump-sexual-harssment-women-1214-story.html
— Tom Cullerton: “Governor Rauner has failed our veterans once again”
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/glen-ellyn/community/chi-ugc-article-tom-cullerton-governor-rauner-has-failed-ou-2017-12-13-story.html
— Roskam praises Republican tax compromise as Democrats push back hard – Katherine Skiba
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-peter-roskam-tammy-duckworth-taxes-20171213-story.html
— ‘We should hold our public officials to the highest ethical standards’ – Ted Slowik
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/daily-southtown/opinion/ct-sta-slowik-will-county-clerk-st-1214-20171213-story.html

 

DAILY HERALD
— Megyn Kelly finds audience by delving into sexual misconduct – AP (DIERSEN: From what I see, Kelly’s goal in life is not only to use “sexual misconduct” to bring down Trump, but to use “sexual misconduct” to bring down all heterosexual men. Those who promote LGBTQ activity are overjoyed with Kelly.)
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20171213/entlife/312139920/
— Governor candidate Ives: ‘Every school district should be a unit district’ – Marni Pyke
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20171213/governor-candidate-ives-every-school-district-should-be-a-unit-district

 

WLS AM
— Gov candidate Biss: Let’s not have a “coronation” for Pritzker.
http://www.wlsam.com/2017/12/13/gov-candidate-biss-lets-not-have-a-coronation-for-pritzker/
— Pritzker blaming Rauner for Legionnaires’ deaths at Quincy – Bill Cameron
http://www.wlsam.com/2017/12/13/pritzker-blaming-rauner-for-legionnaires-deaths-at-quincy/

 

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Families blame state in veterans home Legionnaires’ outbreak
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20171213/families-blame-state-in-veterans-home-legionnaires-outbreak
— Pritzker foundation gave $50 million in 3 years – Bernard Schoenburg
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20171213/schoenburg-pritzker-foundation-gave-50-million-in-3-years

 

TIMES
— Now is the time to commit to being an informed voter – Editorial (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. and 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.)
http://www.mywebtimes.com/news/editorial/now-is-the-time-to-commit-to-being-an-informed/article_bdf46aa7-65c6-580c-9057-3d50ce492ea2.html

 

NORTHWEST HERALD
— Rep David McSweeney calls for abolishment of Algonquin Township
http://www.nwherald.com/2017/12/08/rep-david-mcsweeney-calls-for-abolishment-of-algonquin-township/avu6pst/

 

BELLEVILLE NEWS DEMOCRAT
— Illinois lawmakers keep leash on their sexual harassment watchdog – Editorial
http://www.bnd.com/opinion/editorials/article189532219.html

 

ROCK RIVER TIMES
— Springfield, communications key to home rule discussion – Shane Nicholson
http://rockrivertimes.com/2017/12/13/rockford-home-rule-springfield/

 

CHICAGO CITY WIRE
— McSweeney sides with Ives in call for an investigation into Rauner firing of top attorney – Glenn Minnis
https://chicagocitywire.com/stories/511296200-mcsweeney-sides-with-ives-in-call-for-an-investigation-into-rauner-firing-of-top-attorney

 

ILLINOIS FAMILY INSTITUTE
— Common Core: School Test Scores Are Nosediving – Jane Robbins and Emmett McGroarty
https://illinoisfamily.org/education/common-core-school-test-scores-nosediving/

 

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— IVES RESPONDS TO WALL STREET JOURNAL’S EDITORIAL ON ILLINOIS
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2017/12/ives-responds-to-wall-street-journals-editorial-on-illinois-.html
— WALL STREET JOURNAL SCORCHES ILLINOIS’ DISMAL FINANCES
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2017/12/wall-street-journal-scorches-illinois-dismal-finances.html
— 13 ILLINOIS VETERANS DIE OF LEGIONNAIRES IN STATE-RUN FACILITY; 11 FAMILIES SUE FOR NEGLIGENCE
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2017/12/13-illinois-veterans-die-of-legionnaires-in-state-run-facility-11-families-sue-for-negligence.html
— RAUNER RESPONDS TO QUINCY VETERANS’ HOME STORY
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2017/12/rauner-responds-to-quincy-veterans-home-story.html
— 61% SAY FOOD STAMP AND WELFARE RECIPIENTS SHOULD BE DRUG TESTED
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2017/12/61-say-food-stamp-and-welfare-recipients-should-be-drug-tested.html

 

CAPITOL FAX
— Leader Durkin’s campaign now out-Profting Dan Proft
https://capitolfax.com/2017/12/13/leader-durkins-campaign-now-out-profting-dan-proft/
— Rauner refuses to answer questions about Murashko’s departure
https://capitolfax.com/2017/12/13/rauner-refuses-to-answer-questions-about-murashkos-departure/
— Kennedy, Ives, Rauner respond *** Political blowback begins over Quincy Veterans Home debacle
https://capitolfax.com/2017/12/13/political-blowback-begins-over-quincy-veterans-home-debacle/
— Rauner does bill-signing event at center which was whacked hard by impasse
https://capitolfax.com/2017/12/13/rauner-does-bill-signing-event-at-center-which-was-whacked-hard-by-impasse/
— Ives responds *** We’re number one! (and not in a good way)
https://capitolfax.com/2017/12/13/were-number-one-and-not-in-a-good-way/

 

FOX NEWS
— Results suggest allegations weighed heavily on Moore candidacy – Benjamin Brown (DIERSEN: With their success in defeating Moore, anti-Trumps will increasingly allege that all Republicans are White supremacists, Nazis, KKK members, haters, racists, sexists, bigots, and even worse things.)
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/12/13/sexual-misconduct-allegations-weighed-heavily-on-moore-candidacy-results-suggest.html

 

DAILY CALLER
— The Truth About Racial Profiling Is That Everyone Does It, Especially Leftists – Lloyd Marcus
http://dailycaller.com/2017/12/13/the-truth-about-racial-profiling-is-that-everyone-does-it-especially-leftists/
— Alabamians Rejected A Creepy Kook, Not Trump – Scott Greer
http://dailycaller.com/2017/12/13/alabamians-rejected-a-creepy-kook-not-trump/

 

THE HILL
— Kinzinger rips ‘RINO’ Bannon for ‘morally inept strategies’ – AVERY ANAPOL
http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/364655-gop-lawmaker-rips-rino-bannon-for-morally-inept-strategies

 

POLITICO
— Alabama shocker threatens GOP agenda Republicans will struggle next year as their fragile majority narrows. – SEUNG MIN KIM
https://www.politico.com/story/2017/12/13/what-does-doug-jones-victory-mean-for-senate-294244

 

AOL NEWS
— Republicans blame Steve Bannon for Roy Moore’s shocking loss in Alabama – MAXWELL TANI (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes blame me and my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails for all the losses that Republicans have suffered in Illinois since 2000. Should I write a book about my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes?)
https://www.aol.com/article/news/2017/12/13/republicans-blame-steve-bannon-for-roy-moores-shocking-loss-in-alabama/23305953/

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— Republican Tax Bill Overhauls Rules Many Were Counting On – Deborah B. Solomon
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/13/business/republican-tax-bill-overhauls.html

 

FOX RENO
— Republicans say Alabama loss was rejection of Roy Moore, not the GOP – Stephen Loiaconi
http://foxreno.com/news/connect-to-congress/republicans-say-alabama-loss-was-rejection-of-roy-moore-not-the-gop

 

NEWSWEEK
— BILL CLINTON, ACCUSED RAPIST, CELEBRATES ROY MOORE LOSS IN ALABAMA IN CAMPAIGN ABOUT WOMEN’S RIGHTS – NICOLE RODRIGUEZ
http://www.newsweek.com/bill-clinton-accused-rapist-celebrates-roy-moore-loss-alabama-campaign-about-746422

 

FORBES
— Working In Retirement: Wishful Thinking? – Richard Eisenberg (DIERSEN: Who does not want you to work in retirement? My critics/opponents do not want me to get a job that would be appropriate for someone with my education, work experience, professional certifications, and professional license. My getting a good job would raise questions about why they wasted my career and forced me to retire. My Democrat GAO superiors stress that they forced me to retire in 1997 when I was 49 years old, always ranked me in the bottom half of my coworkers for pay-for-performance purposes, did not promote me beyond GS-13, kept me off audits of IRS for all but 3 of the almost 18 years that I worked for GAO, and forced me to take an $18,847 pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO in 1980. My Democrat IRS superiors stress that they did not promote me beyond GS-12, disallowed my education deductions in 1978, and disallowed my partial day per diem claims in 1974. My Democrat Post Office superiors stress that they forced me resign in 1969 and disallowed my sick leave requests in 1969 and 1968.)
https://www.forbes.com/sites/nextavenue/2017/12/13/working-in-retirement-wishful-thinking/#1b3dfefa3f28

 

BLOOMBERG
— Alabama Win Gives Democrats More Leverage on Budget, Immigration – Laura Litvan
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-12-13/alabama-win-gives-democrats-more-leverage-on-budget-immigration

 

BBC
— Roy Moore defeat: Republicans ponder ‘humbling’ result (DIERSEN: Anti-Trumps want Republicans to lose elections. Anti-Trumps will use Moore’s defeat to hint/imply/ague/shout that Republicans should stop running candidates 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.)
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-42342377