Tag: marijuana

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Passage of Illinois minimum wage bill generates worker optimism, employer anxiety – Lauren Zumbach, Greg Trotter and Gail MarksJarvis
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-illinois-minimum-wage-0602-biz-20170601-story.html
— Size of billionaire-bashing Chris Kennedy’s fortune a mystery, still – Kim Janssen  (DIERSEN: I should write a book about my critics/opponents who demonize, denigrate, and condemn a) those who have more money than they have, b) those who have less money than they have, and c) those who have more or less money than they have.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chicagoinc/ct-chris-kennedys-money-0601-chicago-inc-20170601-story.html
— Why we stay: Notable Chicagoans talk about why they call city home – William Lee  (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, Chicagoans elect leaders who are anti-Trump, anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, anti-German Americans, anti-draft avoiders (except Bill Clinton), and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-why-we-stay-met-20170531-story.html
— City Council’s 30-minute limit on public comment would be an insult to taxpayers – Editorials  (DIERSEN: What do those who run your municipality think of you and think of your opinions? If you spoke at a city council meeting, how much weight would they give to what you said?  What if the mayor of your city makes it clear to everyone that he hates you and that he blames you for all of his problems, blames you for all of your problems, and blames you for all of everyone’s problems?)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-city-council-open-meetings-act-perspec-0602-md-20170601-story.html

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Two good ways to kill the property tax insider’s game – Editorial
http://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/two-good-ways-to-kill-the-property-tax-insiders-game/

DAILY HERALD
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH BIG COLOR PICTURES: 6 examples of how the state budget mess hurts in suburbs – Jake Griffin and Marni Pyke  (DIERSEN: Has the state budget mess hurt you personally in any major ways?  Democrats hint/imply/argue/shout that if the state budget mess has not hurt you personally in a major way, it is because you are an undeservedly filthy rich Republican.)
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20170602/6-examples-of-how-the-state-budget-mess-hurts-in-suburbs
— FRONT PAGE WITH COLOR PICTURE: Kane County inmate suing jail for $1 billion over not being allowed to vote – Charles Keeshan and Susan Sarkauskas
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20170602/kane-county-inmate-suing-jail-for-1-billion-over-not-being-allowed-to-vote

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— We’re in this mess because of Mike Madigan – Editorial
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20170602/ISSUE07/170609975/were-in-this-mess-because-of-mike-madigan
— Here’s who killed Illinois – GREG HINZ
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20170602/ISSUE05/170609974
— To this parent, school fight a sign that segregation alive and well in South Loop – VALERIE LEVAN
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20170602/OPINION/170609983

WLS AM
— Rauner blames Democrats for budget failure – John Dempsey  (DIERSEN: Who blames you for their problems?  I should write a book about scapegoaters in Wheaton, scapegoaters in Glen Ellyn, scapegoaters in Milton Township, scapegoaters in DuPage County, and scapegoaters in Illinois.)
http://www.wlsam.com/2017/06/02/rauner-blames-democrats-for-budget-failure/

WGN RADIO
— Governor Bruce Rauner: ‘It’s ridiculous. I feel your pain 100%.’ – MARY SANDBERG BOYLE
http://wgnradio.com/2017/06/02/governor-bruce-rauner-its-ridiculous-i-feel-your-pain-100/

WTTW
— Rauner: ‘We May Have to Resort to a Special Session’
http://video.wttw.com/video/3001460301/

WBEZ
— 3 Things To Know About Illinois’ Proposed Overhaul Of School Funding
https://www.wbez.org/shows/wbez-news/3-things-to-know-about-illinois-proposed-overhaul-of-school-funding/5baa148a-ef94-4eef-89fd-5b618764962a

WJBD RADIO
— Ivanka Trump tweets in honor of Pride month  (DIERSEN: If you do not promote LGBTQ activity, those who do promote LGBTQ activity focus on destroying you.)
http://www.wjbdradio.com/politics/2017/06/02/ivanka-trump-tweets-in-honor-of-pride-month

UPSTREAM IDEAS
— Any Budget Madigan Would Pass Would Be Impossible For Rauner To Sign
http://upstream-ideas.com/upstream-ideas/ideas/any-budget-madigan-would-pass-would-be-impossible-for-rauner-to-sign

SANGAMON SUN
— Freshmen legislators vent frustration at failure of budget deal – Michael McGrady
http://sangamonsun.com/stories/511122407-freshmen-legislators-vent-frustration-at-failure-of-budget-deal

ILLINOIS LEAKS
— OEIG: “Pres Baker Mismanaged NIU” – “Pattern of Circumventing Procurement Rules” – John Kraft
http://edgarcountywatchdogs.com/2017/06/oeig-pres-baker-mismanaged-niu-pattern-of-circumventing-procurement-rules/

ILLINOIS FAMILY INSTITUTE
— Leftists Ban Catholic Vendor from Farmers’ Market – Laurie Higgins
https://illinoisfamily.org/religious/leftists-ban-catholic-vendor-farmers-market/

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— HULTGREN SCORES HIGHEST CONSERVATIVE RATING AMONG IL CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2017/06/hultgren-recognized-by-american-conservative-union-for-conservative-achievement-award.html
— THORNER: KEY WOMEN EDUCATORS DISCUSS AMERICA’S LEARNING CLIMATE AT HEARTLAND INSTITUTE
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2017/06/thorner-key-women-educators-discuss-americas-learning-climate-at-heartland-institute.html

CAPITOL FAX
— Rauner now claims he favors Manar’s education funding bill
https://capitolfax.com/2017/06/02/rauner-now-claims-he-favors-manars-education-funding-bill/

GOPUSA
— ‘Sanctuary cities’ have until end of June to comply  (DIERSEN: How soon, if not already, will Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, and other sanctuary cities, counties, and states formally declare war on America?  Needless-to-say, those cities, counties, and states that formally declare war on America will lose.)
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=25246
— City: You Can’t Sell Blueberries Unless You Affirm Gay Marriage  (DIERSEN: How soon, if not already, will those who run your municipality, your township/ward, your county, Illinois, and America get rid of you if you do not promote LGBTQ activity?)
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=25224
— Homelessness surges by 23 percent in LA County
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=25187

NEWS BUSTERS
— Alt-Left Insanity: Don’t Blame Muslims for Terror Done By … Muslims – Dan Gainor
http://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/culture/dan-gainor/2017/06/02/alt-left-insanity-dont-blame-muslims-terror-done-%E2%80%A6-muslims

DAILY CALLER
— Kathy Griffin Will Hold Press Conference To Complain About ‘Bullying’ From Trump Family – Chuck Ross  (DIERSEN: What do you say to activists, candidates, elected officials, party leaders, major donors, political consultants, etc. in Illinois, in DuPage County, in Milton Township, in Glen Ellyn, and in Wheaton a) who say that they are Republican and who complaint that I bully them because they work against planks in the Republican Party platform and/or the Illinois Republican Party platform and b) who say that they are conservative and who complaint that I bully them because they work against conservative principles?)
http://dailycaller.com/2017/06/01/kathy-griffin-will-hold-press-conference-to-complain-about-bullying-from-trump-family/

WASHINGTON TIMES
— Parents sue San Diego school district over ‘Anti-Islamopobia Initiative’  Say CAIR’s alleged ties to terror present a conflict – Alex Swoyer
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/may/31/san-diego-school-anti-islamophobia-program-leads-t/

LIFE SITE NEWS
— Christians who reject transgenderism banned from adoption, working with children in Illinois – Doug Mainwaring
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/state-agencys-new-rules-accept-transgenderism-or-face-ban-from-working-with

THE HILL
— Trump cements ‘America First’ doctrine with Paris withdrawal – JONATHAN EASLEY
http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/336014-trump-cements-america-first-doctrine-with-paris-withdrawal

POLITICO
— Trump’s nationalism wins out again  ‘This will wake people up,’ Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel says after Trump’s climate decision. – EDWARD-ISAAC DOVERE (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, anti-Trumps like Emanuel paint themselves as being anti-American.)
http://www.politico.com/story/2017/06/01/trump-nationalism-climate-decision-239042

CBS NEWS
— Several threats made against Trump per day: Secret Service director
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/several-threats-made-against-president-trump-secret-service-director-randolph-alles/

ABC NEWS
— A look at the damage of Illinois’ 3-year budget impasse – AP
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/damage-illinois-year-budget-impasse-47761391

NEW YORK TIMES
— In Texas, Some Rare Good News About Cities With Pension Woes – MARY WILLIAMS WALSH  (DIERSEN HEADLINE: Needless-to-say, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes would be overjoyed if Trump would cut if not end my Civil Service Retirement System pension, my Social Security, and my COLAs.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/01/business/dealbook/municipal-pensions-dallas-houston-bankruptcy.html
— Walmart Is Accused of Punishing Workers for Sick Days – RACHEL ABRAMS  (DIERSEN: My Democrat supervisor during the almost 3 years that I worked part-time for the Park Forest Post Office 1966-1969 disapproved of my demographics, and especially that I was a draft avoider, Republican, German-American, Missouri Synod Lutheran, younger, good health, non-poor, college student, and that my ancestors had been in America since the 1840s.  He especially disapproved of the 1966 Pontiac Tempest Sprint, the 1968 Oldsmobile 442, and 1969 Dodge Charger SE that I had bought new and that I used to deliver mail.  I requested sick days only twice during the almost 3 years that I worked for him, and of course, he disapproved those requests.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/01/business/walmart-workers-sick-days.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, anti-Trumps promote Islam and the Islamic domination of America and the Islamic domination of the rest of the world.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/02/opinion/illegal-immigration-italian-americans.html

WASHINGTON POST
— Members of Congress serve in the military. They shouldn’t.  Holding positions in the executive and legislative branches simultaneously is a conflict. – M.L. Cavanaugh
https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2017/06/02/members-of-congress-shouldnt-serve-in-the-military/
— ‘Democrats take them for granted’: Black women call out party leaders on post-election strategy – Vanessa Williams  (DIERSEN: While I worked for the federal government for almost 30 years, my Democrat superiors’ top priority was hiring, retaining, and promoting young Democrat minorities and young Democrat females.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2017/06/01/black-women-and-the-dnc/

USA TODAY
— Paris deal harms U.S. prosperity.  Job creation is one of President Trump’s principal goals. – Roger Wicker
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2017/06/01/paris-deal-harms-us-prosperity-opposing-view/102401950/
— President Trump hasn’t declared June as Pride Month — at least, not yet – Jessica Estepa  (DIERSEN: Does Trump understand that the more that he promotes LBGTQ activity, the more that anti-Trumps use that to get rid of Trump supporters who do not promote LGBTQ activity?)
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2017/06/01/president-trump-hasnt-declared-june-pride-month-least-not-yet/102393004/
— Can attending church really help you live longer? This study says yes – Holly Meyer
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/06/02/can-attending-church-really-help-you-live-longer-study-says-yes/364375001/
— Walmart tests employee delivery in its battle with Amazon – Charisse Jones  (DIERSEN: Often, while I worked part-time for the Park Forest Post Office 1966-1969, I used my 1966 Pontiac Tempest Sprint, my 1968 Oldsmobile 442, and my 1969 Dodge Charger SE to deliver mail.)
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2017/06/01/walmart-tests-employee-delivery-its-battle-amazon/102382666/
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, LGBTQ advocate make it clear that if you do not promote LGBTQ activity, they will get rid of you.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2017/06/01/good-states-lgbt-advocates-say-there-work-done/102387378/
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2017/06/01/onslaught-anti-lgbt-bills-2017/102110520/
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/06/01/religious-liberty-battle-still-rages-over-gay-marriage/102389040/

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— FRONT PAGE: S&P Downgrade Brings Illinois Debt One Step Closer to Junk  Illinois may become the first U.S. state to be given a junk rating – Heather Gillers
https://www.wsj.com/articles/s-p-downgrade-brings-illinois-debt-one-step-closer-to-junk-1496350098
— The News You Didn’t Hear – Kimberley A. Strassel  (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents want you to hear ONLY the news that they put out.  They do NOT want you to hear news that promotes the traditional family, right to life, immigration, illegal drugs, gambling, equal opportunity (no race or gender based preference giving), and/or other planks in the Republican Party platform and/or the Illinois Republican Party platform. They do NOT want you to hear news that promotes the Milton Township Republican Central Committee resolution against video gambling.  They do NOT want you to hear news that opposes the promotion of booze, gambling, pot, and other vices.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-news-you-didnt-hear-1496358236

MONEY MAGAZINE
— DIERSEN HEADINE: Pot pushers promote pot big time.  If you promote pot, you promote destruction.
http://time.com/money/4801768/colorado-marijuana-industry-tax-revenue/
— This Free Website Helps High School Students Line Up College Scholarships – Kaitlin Mulhere  (DIERSEN: If I sought a government office or a political office, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes would stress that I never got any scholarships.)
http://time.com/money/4795982/raiseme-free-college-scholarship-service/

FEDERAL NEWS RADIO
— Poking the retiree beehive – Mike Causey  (DIERSEN: I am one of the 70,215 federal retirees in Illinois. Needless-to-say, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes would be overjoyed if Trump would cut if not end my Civil Service Retirement System pension, my Social Security, and/or my COLAs.)
https://federalnewsradio.com/mike-causey-federal-report/2017/06/poking-the-retiree-beehive/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Currently there are 2,625, 261 federal retirees or their survivors.  Right now, as you read this, another 300,000 active duty federal workers are eligible to retire and will, sooner or later, do so.  That’s a lot of people. Go into any McDonald’s, from Scottsville, Ky., to Pismo Beach, Calif., at any time of the day and you will likely see a former fed, or six, chowing down and talking.  The same for your local grocery store whether it is in Washington, D.C., to Washington Court House, Pa.  Or on Guam or American Samoa.  Former feds, and their wallets, purses or credit cards, are just about everywhere. Years ago a very sophisticated federal retiree — my mother — who lived near Fort Myers, Fla., explained that lots of people continue to eat out after retirement “we just do it earlier.”  So we may not see them, but they are definitely there.  According to data from the Office of Personnel Management just over 17 percent of all federal retirees have monthly annuities of $4,000 or more.  Another 22 percent get between $3,000 and $2,999 while 14 percent get $1,000 to $1,999.  Fewer than 9 percent get $1,000 or less per month from their civil service retirement benefit.   Most of the current retirees are under the older CSRS system which fully indexes their annuities to inflation regardless of age.   Workers retiring under the FERS system get cost of living adjustments (starting at age 62) that are partially indexed to inflation.  At least since the Reagan administration. But life-after-retirement (for current feds too) could change drastically if Congress goes along with the Trump administration plan to charge current workers 6 percent more for their retirement benefits, to reduce COLAs for CSRS retirees by giving them 0.5 percent less than the actual increase in inflation each year, by eliminating COLAs completely for FERS retirees (9 out of every 10 current workers is under FERS and would become part of the Zero Diet COLA group), and to eliminate an annual “gap” payment that now goes to FERS retirees until they reach age 62 and become eligible for Social Security. Although they too retire under an enhanced version of the civil service retirement program, many politicians at the House, Senate and now White House level view federal workers either as clowns, drones or creatures from the swamp.  They lap up studies — usually from conservative think tanks —showing federal workers are overpaid and ignore those that show feds, particularly at higher grade and skill levels, are dramatically underpaid compared to their private sector counterparts in Washington, Houston, San Francisco and New York City. Reducing the buying power of federal workers (by making them pay more for their pensions) and retirees, by reducing or eliminating COLAs in the future, could hurt many communities that depend on the federal pay or pension dollar to stay afloat.  So how big a deal is the federal-postal retiree dollar.  Check out this chart from the OPM.  It shows the number of retirees (and their survivor annuitants in each state, and the value of their annuity payments.  The chart does not include the value of Thrift Savings Plan accounts the retirees have or any Social Security payments they received for covered work before or after they were in government:)