January 12 Evening Edition

ABC7
— Twitter users tell Trump no one wants to leave Norway for the U.S.
http://abc7chicago.com/politics/social-media-no-one-wants-to-leave-norway-for-the-us/2934806/

 

NBC5
— Illinois Attorney General Candidate Robbed While Taking Promotional Photos
https://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/Illinois-Attorney-General-Candidate-Robbed-While-Taking-Promotional-Photos-469000533.html
— Pritzker Says Rauner ‘Injecting Himself’ Into Democratic Primary – Mary Ann Ahern
https://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/pritzker-says-rauner-is-injecting-himself-into-democratic-primary-469057363.html

 

CBS2
— Local Republicans Distance Themselves From Trump’s Words On Immigration – Craig Dellimor
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2018/01/12/local-republicans-trumps-words-immigration/

 

FOX NEWS CHICAGO
— Patti Blagojevich unhappy with Rauner campaign wiretap ad
http://www.fox32chicago.com/news/local/patti-blagojevich-unhappy-with-rauner-campaign-wiretap-ad

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Elgin-area schools upset with Rauner veto of education funding bill – Rafael Guerrero
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/elgin-courier-news/news/ct-ecn-amendatory-veto-schools-reaction-st-0112-20180111-story.html
— Pritzker says Rauner guilty of ‘fatal mismanagement’ at veterans home – Rick Pearson
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-jb-pritzker-rauner-dcfs-quincy-20180112-story.html
— State school officials rebuke Rauner over education veto, citing ‘disruption,’ confusion’ – Monique Garcia and Juan Perez Jr.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-bruce-rauner-education-funding-veto-20180112-story.html
— White House doctor declares Trump in ‘excellent health’ after checkup – AP
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-trump-medical-checkup-20180112-story.html

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Durbin, 5 other senators say they’ve reached immigration compromise – AP
https://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/daca-dreamers-immigration-legislation-senators/
— Rauner: Trump ‘shithole’ remark ‘has no place in political conversation’ –
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/rauner-trump-shithole-remark-has-no-place-in-political-conversation/
— State education board says Rauner veto ’caused disruption to agency’ – Tina Sfondeles
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/state-education-board-says-rauner-veto-caused-disruption-to-agency/

 

DAILY HERALD
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: The anti-Trump Durbin says Trump’s denial of vulgar comment is “not true.”
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20180112/durbin-trumps-denial-of-vulgar-comment-not-true
— Hultgren, Democrats decry Trump’s language on Haiti, Africa – Eric Peterson
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20180112/hultgren-democrats-decry-trumps-language-on-haiti-africa
— Facebook edits feeds to bring less news, more sharing – AP (DIERSEN: What do you share? Since 2004, I have used GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails to share links to more than 291,200 articles and to provide information on many upcoming events free of charge and without any advertising. I spend about an hour putting the emails together for every six articles linked in the emails, that is, more than 45,500 hours since 2004.)
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20180112/business/301129971/
— Pritzker floats idea for revamped gas tax, refutes Blagojevich ties – Marni Pyke
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20180112/pritzker-floats-idea-for-revamped-gas-tax-refutes-blagojevich-ties
— McSweeney wants to end towns’ spending for conventions, training – Elena Ferrarin (DIERSEN: If I sought a government office or a political office, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes would stress all the money that IRS and GAO spent training me, especially out-of-town training that GAO paid for.)
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20180112/suburban-lawmaker-wants-to-end-towns-spending-for-conventions-training
— Trump turbocharges Democrats – Steven & Cokie Roberts (DIERSEN: Every time that Trump does something controversial, Democrats use that to promote hatred against Republicans, and especially against Republicans who are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, draft avoiders, German American, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
http://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20180112/trump-turbocharges-democrats
— McHenry County auditor Pam Palmer retires – Pam Palmer
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20180112/mchenry-county-auditor-pam-palmer-retires
— Kane sheriff’s lieutenant contests suspension, suggests politics played a role – Harry Hitzeman
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20180112/kane-sheriffs-lieutenant-contests-suspension-suggests-politics-played-a-role

 

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: The anti-Trump Durbin is “at center of bitter, high-stakes Trump feud.”
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20180112/BLOGS02/180119948/durbin-at-center-of-bitter-high-stakes-trump-feud

 

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Illinois pols condemn Trump’s ‘vile’ remark – Brenden Moore
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20180112/illinois-pols-condemn-trumps-vile-remark

 

NORTHWEST HERALD
— Gov. Bruce Rauner vetoes bill aiming to allow County Board chairman to create committees – ED KOMENDA
http://www.nwherald.com/2018/01/12/gov-bruce-rauner-vetoes-bill-aiming-to-allow-county-board-chairman-to-create-committees/a8d358v/

 

WMAY
— Rauner Declines Republican Primary Debate Invitation (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) Illinois Republican Party State Central Committee candidates, o) etc.)
http://www.wmay.com/2018/01/12/rauner-declines-republican-primary-debate-invitation/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Governor Bruce Rauner’s campaign says thanks, but no thanks. The Rauner camp has declined an invitation from WMAY and the State Journal-Register to participate in a Republican primary debate against challenger Jeanne Ives next month. The Ives campaign had agreed to take part, but without Rauner’s participation, the event has been canceled. WMAY and the SJ-R will sponsor a debate with the Democratic candidates for governor in February.)

 

NORTHERN PUBLIC RADIO
— Gov. Rauner Discusses Taxes, Disease, And Trump At Rockford Press Conference – CHASE CAVANAUGH
http://northernpublicradio.org/post/gov-rauner-discusses-taxes-disease-and-trump-rockford-press-conference
— Home Rule Returns To The Conversation (And Ballot) In Rockford – JENNA DOOLEY
http://northernpublicradio.org/post/home-rule-returns-conversation-and-ballot-rockford

 

UPSTREAM IDEAS
— The Victims Of The Chicago Way
http://upstream-ideas.com/upstream-ideas/ideas/the-victims-of-the-chicago-way

 

IVES FOR GOVERNOR
— Ives Rolls Out Property Tax Reform Plan
http://mailchi.mp/bad8a57852a5/video-ives-rolls-out-property-tax-reform-plan

 

PRAIRIE STATE WIRE
— Rauner bucks national trend by extending costly welfare waiver for the able-bodied – W.J. Kennedy
https://prairiestatewire.com/stories/511314335-rauner-bucks-national-trend-by-extending-costly-welfare-waiver-for-the-able-bodied

 

ILLINOIS FAMILY INSTITUTE
— The One-Sided Din Over Taxes – Robert Knight (DIERSEN: Government should encourage homeownership.)
https://illinoisfamily.org/media/one-sided-din-taxes/
— Heresy Infecting the Evangelical Covenant Church
https://illinoisfamily.org/podcast/podcast-heresy-infecting-evangelical-covenant-church/

 

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— COOK COUNTY GOP CHAIRMAN SLAMS CHICAGO GOP FOR ENDORSING IVES OVER RAUNER
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2018/01/cook-county-gop-chairman-slams-chicago-gop-for-endorsing-ives-over-rauner.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Thursday Illinois Review reported that the Chicago GOP held a straw poll among the group’s committeemen, and Republican challenger Jeanne Ives won over incumbent Governor Bruce Rauner with a 17 to 3 vote. That news prompted an agitated response from Cook County GOP chairman Sean Morrison posted on the Cook County GOP website. In that announcement, Morrison condemned Chicago Republican Party chairman Chris Cleveland as holding the straw poll with the expressed intent to “usurp the statutory authority” of the Cook County Republican Party and Morrison himself by “illegitimately claiming the authority to appoint individuals to the position of Ward Committeeman.” That’s not the whole story, Cleveland told Illinois Review via email after reading Morrison’s post.)
— STATE REP. MCSWEENEY ENDORSES IVES OVER “FAILED GOVERNOR” RAUNER (DIERSEN: Because my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have been so successful in demonizing me, denigrating me, and condemning me, I have to advise those who seek my endorsement in contested Republican primaries that sadly, my endorsement would cause them to get far fewer votes, especially in my precinct, in Wheaton, in Glen Ellyn, in Milton Township, and DuPage County. My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes include past and present Milton Township Republican Central Committee leaders and DuPage County Republican Central Committee leaders. They would rather see a Democrat elected than any candidate who I might endorse. My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes 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.)
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2018/01/state-rep-mcsweeney-endorses-ives-over-failed-governor-rauner.html
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: DEMOCRAT PRITZKER CALLS FOR LEGALIZING MARIJUANA IN ILLINOIS
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2018/01/democrat-pritzker-calls-for-legalizing-marijuana-in-illinois.html

 

CAPITOL FAX
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Pritzker reiterates support for legalized marijuana (DIERSEN: If you support pot, you support destruction.)
https://capitolfax.com/2018/01/12/pritzker-reiterates-support-for-legalized-marijuana/
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: GOP Rep. Skillicorn favors legalization (DIERSEN: If you promote pot, you promote destruction.)
https://capitolfax.com/2018/01/12/pritzker-reiterates-support-for-legalized-marijuana/
— Rauner, others respond to Trump
https://capitolfax.com/2018/01/12/rauner-others-respond-to-trump/
— Rauner vetoes Jack Franks bill
https://capitolfax.com/2018/01/12/rauner-vetoes-jack-franks-bill/

 

GOPUSA
— MAGA: Chrysler to move 2,500 jobs from Mexico to Michigan
http://www.gopusa.com/maga-chrysler-to-move-2500-jobs-from-mexico-to-michigan/

 

DAILY CALLER
— John Lewis Claims Trump’s ‘DNA’ Makes Him Racist – Peter Hasson (DIERSEN: How many demographics do you share with Trump? Of course, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes hint/imply/argue/stress/shout that both Trump and I are Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, married, male, old, rich, draft avoiders, gun owners, German American, and our ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
http://dailycaller.com/2018/01/12/john-lewis-claims-trumps-dna-makes-him-racist-video/
— FLASHBACK: That Time Obama Called Libya A ‘S**t Show’ – Benny Johnson
http://dailycaller.com/2018/01/12/flashback-that-time-obama-called-libya-a-st-show/

 

FOX NEWS
— Trump not a barbarian and he’s right. America is far too nice – Wayne Allyn Root
http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2018/01/12/trump-not-barbarian-and-hes-right-america-is-far-too-nice.html

 

ONE NEWS NOW
— Leaked Dem memo: DACA ‘critical’ to ‘future electoral success’ – Michael F. Haverluck
https://www.onenewsnow.com/politics-govt/2018/01/12/leaked-dem-memo-daca-critical-to-future-electoral-success

 

LIFE SITE NEWS
— Georgetown approves LGBT-only campus housing – Doug Mainwaring
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/georgetown-approves-lgbt-only-campus-housing

 

NUMBERS USA
— Pres. Trump Rejects ‘Gang of 6’ Deal that Would Give Amnesty to 9 MILLION Illegal Aliens
https://www.numbersusa.com/news/pres-trump-rejects-%E2%80%98gang-6%E2%80%99-deal-would-give-amnesty-9-million-illegal-aliens

 

BREITBART
— French Media Pushing Pro-Migrant Narrative: Claims It is ‘Beautiful’ To Be ‘Invaded By Migrants’ – CHRIS TOMLINSON
http://www.breitbart.com/london/2018/01/12/french-paper-pushes-pro-migrant-story-beautiful-invaded-migrants/

 

BLAZE
— Pew Research Center report: U.S. divided on media’s ability to report political issues fairly – Kevin Ryan (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, virtually everything that the mainstream media puts out is designed to promote the Democrat Party platform, the Libertarian Party platform, and/or the Green Party platform.)
https://www.theblaze.com/news/2018/01/11/pew-research-center-report-us-divided-on-medias-ability-to-report-political-issues-fairly
(FROM THE ARTICLE: A report by Pew Research Center published Thursday found that of 38 countries polled, the U.S. is the most divided in public opinion regarding news organizations’ ability to report political issues fairly. While 78 percent of Americans say the news media “should never favor one political party over another . . . there are sharp political differences in views of the media – with the largest gap among Americans.” The division runs along partisan lines, with Republicans expressing the highest levels of dissatisfaction toward the media. The study found that only 21 percent of Trump supporters “believe the media is doing a worse job covering politics than the supporters of any of the other international political leaders in countries surveyed.” The report builds on a May 2017 report by Pew, which revealed that 89 percent of Democrats believe that journalists’ role as a watchdog “keeps leaders in line,” compared to only 42 percent of Republicans. The report determined that Americans turn to news outlets along partisan lines. Right-leaning audiences insist that there is a liberal bias in the media, to which left-leaning audiences insist that there is only the perception of bias, that it is a conservative fabrication. Liberal audiences tend not only to deny a liberal bias, but to insist that there is no bias at all. The insistence on a liberal bias in the media comes mostly from conservative audiences, although, according to a 2017 Gallup poll, “[n]early half of Democrats agree that the media favors their own party, which means most Americans think reporters have a liberal predilection.” They do. The majority of journalists are liberal, 34 percent, compared to the 7 percent that identify as conservative. And a disproportionate amount, 50 percent, identify as Independent. Liberals tend to view the news media as neutral, while conservatives tend to view the news media as slanted against them. But I’m sure none of this is news to you.)

 

WASHINGTON FREE BEACON
— Durbin Claims ‘Chain Migration’ Term Is Offensive to Descendants of Slaves – Alex Griswold (DIERSEN: What are your demographics? What do those who share your demographics find offensive?)
http://freebeacon.com/politics/durbin-claims-chain-migration-term-offensive-descendants-slaves/

 

THE HILL
— Dems face hard choice for State of the Union response – REID WILSON AND AMIE PARNES
http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/368609-dems-face-hard-choice-for-state-of-the-union-response
— Ryan calls Trump ‘s—hole’ remarks ‘unhelpful’ and ‘unfortunate’ – SCOTT WONG
http://thehill.com/homenews/house/368737-speaker-ryan-calls-trump-shithole-remarks-unhelpful-and-unfortunate

 

HUFFINGTON POST
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: An anti-Trump says “Few Republicans Acknowledged Trump’s ‘Shithole’ Slur.”
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/republicans-trump-shithole_us_5a5815b4e4b02cebbfda6179

 

ABC NEWS
— Trump unapologetic about Africa, Haiti remarks – AP
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/latest-trump-defends-immigration-stance-tweet-52303473

 

CBS NEWS
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps say “Dick Durbin refutes Trump, says he did say “sh*tholes” — repeatedly.”
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/dick-durbin-refutes-trump-says-he-did-use-the-word-shitholes-repeatedly/

 

REUTERS
— Despite political risk, U.S. Republicans tinker with welfare – Susan Cornwell
https://www.reuters.com/article/usa-congress-welfare/despite-political-risk-u-s-republicans-tinker-with-welfare-idUSL1N1P61CT

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: The Anti-Trump Durbin “Insists Trump Used ‘Vile and Racist’ Language.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/12/us/politics/trump-immigration-congress.html

 

WASHINGTON POST
— ‘Here is what my #shithole looks like’: African countries and Haiti react to Trump’s remark – Paul Schemm and Eli Rosenberg
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2018/01/11/here-is-what-my-shithole-looks-like-african-countries-and-haiti-react-to-trumps-remark/

 

SAN FRANCISCO GATE
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Illinois judge allows 11-year-old to use medical marijuana at school – Oscar Pascual
http://blog.sfgate.com/smellthetruth/2018/01/12/illinois-judge-allows-11-year-old-to-use-medical-marijuana-at-school/

 

USA TODAY
— Today’s kids love socialism — but it’s not because of their radical professors – James Piereson and Naomi Schaefer Riley
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2018/01/10/students-more-liberal-but-its-not-because-their-professors-james-piereson-naomi-riley-column/1012622001/
— Recall of faulty lead poisoning test means kids need to be retested – Carrie Blackmore Smith and Hannah Sparling (DIERSEN: How much lead did you ingest when you were young? For the first 5 years of my life, I lived in an apartment above a hardware store that was built in the 1860s. For the next 19 years, I lived in a home built in 1926.)
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2018/01/11/recall-faulty-lead-poisoning-test-means-kids-need-retested/1023681001/
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: HARDCOPY ARTICLE HEADLINE: Debt still dragging down Gen Xers – Paul Davidson
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2018/01/11/which-generation-has-most-debt-and-worst-credit-scores-hint-its-not-millennials/1021927001/

 

TIME
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: An anti-Trump says “Democrats Must Not Only Denounce Trump’s Racist Agenda — They Must Defeat It.”
http://time.com/5101721/donald-trump-racist-democrats/

 

NEW YORKER
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: An anti-Trump says “Donald Trump Compounds His “Shithole Countries” Bigotry with Lies.”
https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/donald-trump-compounds-his-shithole-countries-bigotry-with-lies

January 11 Evening Edition

ABC7
— Trump: Why allow immigrants from ‘s***hole countries’? – AP
http://abc7chicago.com/politics/trump-why-allow-immigrants-from-s***hole-countries/2930875/
— Rauner and Pritzker spar in political attack ads before primary – Craig Wall
http://abc7chicago.com/politics/rauner-and-pritzker-spar-in-political-attack-ads-before-primary/2930463

 

CBS2
— Gov. Rauner, J.B. Pritzker Run Attack Ads Against Each Other – Craig Dellimore
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2018/01/11/governor-rauner-jb-pritzker-attack-ads/

 

FOX NEWS CHICAGO
— Trump: Why allow immigrants from ‘s***hole countries?’ – AP
http://www.fox32chicago.com/news/national/lawmakers-reach-immigration-compromise

 

WGN TV
— Trump criticized protections for immigrants from ‘shithole’ countries, Washington Post reports
http://wgntv.com/2018/01/11/trump-criticized-protection-for-immigrations-from-shithole-countries-washington-post-reports/

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Illinois Democrats assail Trump immigration comments as ‘vile,’ ‘racist’ – Katherine Skiba
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-donald-trump-illinois-lawmakers-20180111-story.html
— Rauner campaign stops airing TV ad that featured Missouri governor who admitted affair – Rick Pearson
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-bruce-rauner-eric-greitens-20180111-story.html
— Group of senators reach bipartisan deal on ‘Dreamers,’ but White House says no deal yet – AP
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/immigration/ct-daca-dreamer-immigration-compromise-20180111-story.html

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Sources: Trump asked why U.S. should allow immigrants from ‘shithole countries’ – AP
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/report-trump-calls-haiti-el-salvador-african-nations-shithole-countries/
— Rauner campaign pulls ad featuring embattled Missouri governor – Tina Sfondeles
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/rauner-campaign-pulls-ad-featuring-embattled-missouri-governor/
— Prevailing wage is price city must pay for other reforms, mayoral aides say – Fran Spielman (DIERSEN: What should the prevailing wage be for someone who a) worked for GAO for almost 18 years, the last 11 years of which at the GS-13 Step 1-10 levels, currently $96,403-$125,325, b) worked for IRS for almost 9 years, the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step 1-5 levels, currently $81,071-$91,880, c) passed the CPA and Certified Internal Auditor examinations on his first attempt, d) became a licensed CPA, Certified Fraud Examiner, Certified Government Financial Manager, Certified Financial Services Auditor, and Forensic Accountant, and e) earned a master’s degree in financial markets and trading from IIT, a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul, an MBA from Loyola, and a bachelor’s degree in management from NIU?)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-politics/prevailing-wage-is-price-city-must-pay-for-other-reforms-mayoral-aides-say/
— Missouri governor admits affair, denies taking nude photo for blackmail threat – AP
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/missouri-gov-greitens-acknowledges-affair-denies-blackmail/
— Democrats’ shallow plan to signal #MeToo virtue – S. E. Cupp
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/cupp-democrats-shallow-plan-to-signal-metoo-virtue/

 

DAILY HERALD
— Kennedy criticizes Pritzker tax breaks, says Rauner sabotaged state government – Marni Pyke
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20180111/kennedy-criticizes-pritzker-tax-breaks-says-rauner-sabotaged-state-government
— College of DuPage’s legal bill to fight Breuder lawsuit: $527,600 and climbing – Robert Sanchez
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20180111/college-of-dupages-legal-bill-to-fight-breuder-lawsuit-527600-and-climbing

 

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Emanuel’s not a racist, but his policies are: Chris Kennedy – GREG HINZ
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20180111/BLOGS02/180119964/emanuels-not-a-racist-but-his-policies-are-chris-kennedy

 

WTTW
— School Funding Formula in Limbo After Rauner Veto – Nick Blumberg
http://chicagotonight.wttw.com/2018/01/11/school-funding-formula-limbo-after-rauner-veto

 

NORTHWEST HERALD
— Algonquin Township officials in conflict over hire of 23-year-old deputy highway commissioner – ED KOMENDA (DIERSEN: IRS hired me when I was 22 years old as a GS-7 (currently $45,703/year) Revenue Officer. I had earned a bachelor’s degree in management from NIU the year before,  I had worked for Firestone Stores as a Retail Sales Manager for 7 months, I had passed the Federal Service Entrance Examination, and I had worked part-time for the Post Office for almost 3 years.  My first 6 months with IRS was classroom and on-the-job training.)
http://www.nwherald.com/2018/01/09/algonquin-township-officials-in-conflict-over-hire-of-23-year-old-deputy-highway-commissioner/a4av45g/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The political insider has agreements in place to earn $63,000 a year working full time as the chief of staff at Township Supervisor Charles Lutzow’s office, making $32 an hour – and another deal working part time as deputy highway commissioner at the Algonquin Township Highway Department, where he makes $33 an hour. That’s about $4 more an hour than the road district’s highest paid employee, Randy Voss, who has worked for the highway department for 44 years and makes $29.14 an hour. Provenzano’s roles in two offices have raised questions among township officials and road district employees who contend that his hiring was the product of patronage and cronyism. “I don’t feel somebody who is 22 or 23 years old should be getting all of this control,” Trustee Melissa Victor said. “I feel he was a patronage hire.” Provenzano is the son of former McHenry County Board member Nick Provenzano, who now works for U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren, and the nephew of former Maine Township Highway Commissioner Robert Provenzano. The fresh-faced Republican insider helped city of McHenry Mayor Wayne Jett win election as his campaign manager, and he even worked as a field director for Gov. Bruce Rauner’s campaign operations in McHenry County. Ryan Provenzano and his father helped Lutzow run his campaign for township supervisor. Lutzow denied that Ryan Provenzano was hired as a political favor.)

 

TIMES
— Illinois Capitol had its share of sexual misconduct missteps – AP
http://www.mywebtimes.com/news/local/illinois-capitol-had-its-share-of-sexual-misconduct-missteps/article_3531cd19-55c8-5019-8604-22da069a26ac.html

 

PEORIA PUBLIC RADIO
— New Sexual Misconduct Guidelines Still Leave Unanswered Questions – AP
http://peoriapublicradio.org/post/new-sexual-misconduct-guidelines-still-leave-unanswered-quaestions#stream/0

 

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— US diplomat visits Trump’s ancestral home in Germany
http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/politics/us-diplomat-visits-trumps-ancestral-home-in-germany/910484685
— US gives $2B to help homeless amid plans to cut housing aid – AP
http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/national/us-gives-2b-to-help-homeless-amid-plans-to-cut-housing-aid/910793931

 

REAL GOP ILLINOIS
— Darn, those glass houses: Illinois GOP knew about Rauner’s ties to Blagojevich
https://realgopillinois.com/2018/01/11/darn-glass-houses-illinois-gop-knew-rauners-ties-blagojevich/

 

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— CHICAGO REPUBLICANS REJECT GOP GOVERNOR FOR RE-ELECTION; PICK CHALLENGER IVES
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2018/01/chicago-republicans-rejects-endorsing-gop-governor-for-re-election-picks-challenger-ives.html
— THORNER/INGOLD: WILL MONEY-HUNGRY ILLINOIS LEGISLATORS IGNORE THE IMPACT OF LEGALIZING POT?
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2018/01/thorneringold-will-money-hungry-illinois-legislators-ignore-the-impact-of-legalizing-pot.html
— NEW RAUNER AD FEATURES BLAGO AND PRITZKER ON FBI WIRETAP
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2018/01/rauner-ad-features-blago-and-pritzker-on-fbi-wiretap.html
— WEYERMULLER: IVES’ FUNDRAISER FEATURES CONSERVATIVE TALK SHOW HOST MIKE GALLAGHER
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2018/01/weyermuller-attending-jeannie-ives-for-governor-event-with-mike-gallagher.html

 

CAPITOL FAX
— Chicago GOP follows its leader and endorses Ives
https://capitolfax.com/2018/01/11/chicago-gop-follows-its-leader-and-endorses-ives/
— “Rauner was treated like a conquering hero”
https://capitolfax.com/2018/01/11/rauner-was-treated-like-a-conquering-hero/
— Rauner overcorrects on Rivian
https://capitolfax.com/2018/01/11/rauner-overcorrects-on-rivian/
— Dems pounce on Greitens development
https://capitolfax.com/2018/01/11/dems-pounce-on-greitens-development/

 

GOPUSA
— America becoming country where white men won’t dominate
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=36802

 

DAILY SIGNAL
— House Republicans Roll Out Immigration Bill Packed With Border Security and Immigration Reforms – Will Racke
http://dailysignal.com/2018/01/11/house-republicans-roll-out-daca-bill-packed-with-border-security-and-immigration-reforms/

 

TOWNHALL
— Pelosi: These Tax Reform Bonuses Are ‘Insignificant’ – Cortney O’Brien
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/cortneyobrien/2018/01/11/pelosi-these-tax-reform-bonuses-are-insignificant-n2433236

 

BREITBART
— Leaked Memo: DACA Amnesty Is ‘Critical Component of Democratic Party’s Future Electoral Success’ – JOHN BINDER
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/01/11/leaked-memo-daca-amnesty-is-critical-component-of-democratic-partys-future-electoral-success/
— Democrats Expand ‘Dreamer’ Amnesty Plan to Include Millions of Parents – NEIL MUNRO
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/01/11/democrats-extend-dreamer-amnesty-plan-include-millions-parents/

 

BLAZE
— Democrats are planning to protest during Trump’s State of the Union address. Here’s why. – Teri Webster
http://www.theblaze.com/news/2018/01/11/democrats-are-planning-to-protest-during-trumps-state-of-the-union-address-heres-why
— By 2040, Muslims are expected to become second-largest religious group in U.S.
http://www.theblaze.com/news/2018/01/11/by-2040-muslims-are-expected-to-become-second-largest-religious-group-in-u-s

 

POLITICO
— Missouri sex scandal burns Illinois governor – NATASHA KORECKI
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/01/11/eric-greitens-bruce-rauner-tv-ad-337027

 

CNN
— Trump decries immigrants from ‘shithole countries’ coming to US – Eli Watkins and Abby Phillip
http://www.cnn.com/2018/01/11/politics/immigrants-shithole-countries-trump/index.html

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— Trump Alarms Lawmakers With Disparaging Words for Haiti and Africa – Julie Hirschfeld Davis and Sheryl Gay Stolberg
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/11/us/politics/trump-shithole-countries.html

 

WASHINGTON POST
— NAACP, ACLU protest Trump remark about Africa – AP
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/congress/the-latest-naacp-aclu-protest-trump-remark-about-africa/2018/01/11/2d5d7d8e-f73d-11e7-9af7-a50bc3300042_story.html
— Trump attacks protections for immigrants from ‘shithole’ countries – Josh Dawsey
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-attacks-protections-for-immigrants-from-shithole-countries-in-oval-office-meeting/2018/01/11/bfc0725c-f711-11e7-91af-31ac729add94_story.html
— VERY SAD: Former RNC chief Michael Steele to Oprah: ‘Call me!’ – Emily Heil
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/reliable-source/wp/2018/01/11/former-rnc-chief-michael-steele-to-oprah-call-me/

 

LOS ANGELES TIMES
— Trump complains about allowing immigrants from ‘shithole’ countries – Lisa Mascaro
http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-trump-congress-dreamers-20180111-story.html

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Immigration Talks Muddled Amid Trump’s Vulgar Comments Trump uses term ‘shithole’ to describe countries of some would-be immigrants, according to two people briefed on meeting – Laura Meckler and Siobhan Hughes
https://www.wsj.com/articles/lawmakers-look-to-sell-immigration-deal-to-a-skeptical-white-house-1515700909

 

NEWSWEEK
— TRUMP RANTS ABOUT IMMIGRANTS FROM ‘SHITHOLE’ AFRICAN COUNTRIES, WANTS MORE PEOPLE FROM ‘COUNTRIES LIKE NORWAY’: REPORT – CARLOS BALLESTEROS
http://www.newsweek.com/trump-immigrants-shithole-countries-daca-778928

 

WINDY CITY TIMES
— HUD awards $109 million to Illinois homeless programs
http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/HUD-awards-109-million-to-Illinois-homeless-programs/61586.html

 

ZILLOW
— FOR SALE: 630 Frazier Court, Wheaton – $719,000
https://www.zillow.com/wheaton-il/1_fs/X1-SS1apc9gppw622z_3o1g1_sse/4447889_zpid/

January 9 Morning Edition

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

 

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

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Rauner vows fairness in school funding veto, but lawmaker sees ‘absolute chaos’ – Tina Sfondeles
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/rauner-vows-fairness-in-school-funding-veto-but-lawmaker-sees-absolute-chaos/
— Aldermen, do your job and ask the hard questions – Madeleine Doubek (DIERSEN: Members of the following groups do not want me to ask any questions: anti-Trump, anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-patriotic, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, anti-German Americans, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors.)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/doubek-alderman-do-your-job-and-ask-the-hard-questions/
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, anti-Trumps put citizens of foreign countries ahead of citizens of America.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-politics/brown-then-trump-came-for-the-salvadorans/

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

USA TODAY
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries that are members of the following groups do not want the census to ask about citizenship: anti-Trump, anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-patriotic, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, anti-German Americans, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2018/01/08/census-2020-no-citizenship-question-editorials-debates/1007921001/

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

January 7 Evening Edition

ABC7
— Illinois suspends tax break deal with Chicago tech company – AP
http://abc7chicago.com/technology/illinois-suspends-tax-break-deal-with-chicago-tech-company/2877197/

 

FOX NEWS CHICAGO
— Bannon tries to make amends as aides defend Trump’s fitness
http://www.fox32chicago.com/news/national/bannon-tries-to-make-amends-as-aides-defend-trumps-fitness

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Trump may be ‘pathological liar,’ Sen. Bernie Sanders says – AP
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/bernie-sanders-donald-trump-pathological-liar/
— Trump aide, CIA head defend president’s fitness for office – AP
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/trump-book-fire-fury-mental-fitness-aides-defend/
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Pot pushers say “Let state ‘laboratories’ work out the rules for recreational pot.”
https://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/legalized-recreational-marijuana-jeff-sessions-crackdown/
— Steve Bannon trying to make amends – AP
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/steve-bannon-donald-trump-fire-fury-book/

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Illinois suspends second Outcome Health tax break deal – Ally Marotti
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-outcome-health-edge-tax-credit-20180105-story.html
— Bannon tries to make amends, praises Trump Jr. as ‘both a patriot and a good man’ – AP
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-stephen-miller-jake-tapper-interview-20180107-story.html
— Metra tests high-tech backup braking system, wants full installation by 2019 – Mary Wisniewski
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/wisniewski/ct-met-metra-positive-train-control-getting-around-20180107-story.html
— Mixed signals on infrastructure plan emerge from Trump retreat – Josh Dawsey
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-trump-infrastructure-plan-20180107-story.html

 

WSIL
— POLITICO: Illinois governor most-likely to lose re-election
http://www.wsiltv.com/story/37209886/politico-illinois-governor-most-likely-to-lose-re-election

 

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— Recovering Sen. Paul says political violence rising concern
http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/national/recovering-sen-paul-says-political-violence-rising-concern/905265776

 

NAPERVILLE PATCH
— DuPage County Public Affairs Program Launched DuPage Mayors and Managers Conference made the announcement Friday. – Caitlin Ketel
https://patch.com/illinois/naperville/dupage-county-public-affairs-program-launched

 

BREITBART
— Steve King Warns Trump: DACA Illegal Aliens Cannot Be Legalized ‘Without Sacrificing the Rule of Law’ – JOHN BINDER
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/01/07/steve-king-warns-trump-daca-illegal-aliens-cannot-legalized-without-sacrificing-law/

 

DAILY CALLER
— Trump Goes After ‘CNN Flunky’ Jake Tapper After Stephen Miller Interview – Chuck Ross
http://dailycaller.com/2018/01/07/trump-goes-after-cnn-flunky-jake-tapper-after-stephen-miller-interview/

 

THE HILL
— DOJ’s pot memo creates big decision for U.S. attorneys – LYDIA WHEELER (DIERSEN: What do the U.S. attorneys in Illinois have to say about this?)
http://thehill.com/regulation/administration/367695-dojs-pot-memo-creates-big-decision-for-us-attorneys

 

WASHINGTON POST
— In next round of budget talks, ‘dreamers’ are set to dominate – Ed O’Keefe, Mike DeBonis and Erica Werner
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/in-next-round-of-budget-talks-dreamers-are-set-to-dominate/2018/01/07/1ccb2900-f25e-11e7-b3bf-ab90a706e175_story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: An anti-Trump says “The ‘stable genius’ isn’t even functioning as president.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/right-turn/wp/2018/01/06/the-stable-genius-isnt-even-functioning-as-president/

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Bannon Apologizes for Role in Book Critical of White House Former strategist says his support for Trump and his agenda is ‘unwavering’ – Harriet Torry and Rebecca Ballhaus
https://www.wsj.com/articles/bannon-apologizes-for-role-in-book-critical-of-white-house-1515349254

 

CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS
— Winding career paths can call for tough moves – Elizabeth McIntyre (DIERSEN: What tough career moves have you made? In 1997, when I was 49 years old, I succumbed to my Democrat GAO superiors’ extreme pressure/threats and took their early retirement “offer.” In 1988, I became an active member in a class action lawsuit that charged GAO with reverse discrimination, age discrimination, and retaliation. In 1980, I agreed to take a $19,203 (26%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO. In 1971, I accepted IRS’s job offer. In 1971, I accepted Oldsmobile’s job offer. In 1970, I accepted Firestone Store’s job offer. In 1966, I accepted the Post Office’s job offer.)
http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20180107/blogs17/147556/winding-career-paths-can-call-tough-moves

January 4 Evening Edition

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

January 4 Morning Edition

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Rauner calls Republican federal tax overhaul ‘punishing’ to Illinois – Rick Pearson (DIERSEN: Did Rauner prepay his real estate taxes? One could argue that those who are being punished by the federal tax overhaul are homeowners, and especially homeowners who pay more than $10,000 a year in real estate tax and state income tax. One could argue that homeowners who are being punished the most are homeowners who took the trouble to prepay their real estate taxes.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-bruce-rauner-congress-taxes-20180104-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Late last month, Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner gave his take on the Republican D.C. tax overhaul, saying he wished it “did more for the middle class” but praising its corporate tax cuts as “more supportive of businesses.” On Wednesday, though, Rauner called the new federal tax law “punishing,” criticizing a $10,000 cap on deducting state and local taxes. “That’s going to hurt a lot of middle-class families and higher income families and it’s going to push more employers out of the state. That’s going to hurt job creation and that’s going to increase the cost of living for the people of Illinois,” Rauner said in an interview with WJOL 1340-AM in Joliet. The governor also repeated his belief that the state and local tax deduction limit could give a boost to his call for freezing property taxes and rolling back a state income tax hike. “It’s punishing in that regard,” Rauner said of the tax limitation. “That’s why it’s so critical that we get the reforms done that I’ve been advocating.” Rauner said in the interview that he was in Joliet on Wednesday, but the governor’s office listed no events on his public schedule. He has not been out in public since the week before Christmas.)
— Slow growth, low patient count, political uncertainty: The state of medical pot in Illinois – Ally Marotti (DIERSEN: If you promote pot, you promote destruction.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-medical-cannabis-new-year-20180107-story.html
— Job market delivered for Trump in 2017, but 2018 may be tougher
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-trump-us-job-market-20180104-story.html
— Why we can’t stop checking Facebook – Vivek Wadhwa
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-perspec-facebook-technology-personal-relationships-mental-health-0104-20180103-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Facebook’s recent acknowledgment that social media may be making its users feel bad in some cases is a significant milestone. So far, the technology industry hardly has talked about the downsides of their products. Now a realization seems to be setting in that perhaps something has gone wrong along the way. Academic research that Facebook cited in a corporate blog post in December documented that when people spend a lot of time passively consuming information they feel worse. For example, reading Facebook posts for even 10 minutes can put people in a bad mood, and clicking or liking too many links and posts can have a negative effect on mental health. Some researchers also believe that reading rosy stories about others leads to negative comparisons about one’s life and that being online too much reduces in-person socializing. Social media may well be making many of us unhappy, jealous and anti-social.)

 

DAILY HERALD
— Elgin mayor blasts councilman for spending $6,000 to attend Harvard program – Elena Ferrarin (DIERSEN: I spent lots of my personal time and my personal money taking job-related courses while I worked for the federal government 1966-1969 and 1971-1997. However, my Democrat superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates always hinted/implied/argued/shouted that the 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.)
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20180103/elgin-mayor-blasts-councilman-for-spending-6000-to-attend-harvard-program
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The mayor of Elgin blasted a councilman’s decision to attend a program offered by Harvard University that cost the city $6,015. Councilman Rich Dunne took part in June in the program on senior executives in state and local government by the John F. Kennedy School of Government, which cost $5,700 — plus $315 for airfare — according to information obtained by the Daily Herald. Dunne said he took vacation from his job. “Being a former training manager, I believe in it. I believe in career development and executive development,” he said. Mayor David Kaptain said the city should pay for only employees to attend such programs, not council members. Dunne received approval from City Manager Rick Kozal.” I was pretty upset with Rick and the whole thing at the time, but the horse had already left the barn, so to speak,” Kaptain said. Police Chief Jeff Swoboda participated in the program in 2016, and former City Manager Sean Stegall attended when he was assistant city manager in 2008. “It’s a long-term investment (to pay for employees),” Kaptain said. “It’s not to help somebody’s political career.” Dunne’s tuition came at a 55 percent discount because he’d been placed on a waiting list and was offered a spot three days before the start of the program. The city paid $12,400 tuition for Swoboda, who also was paid his regular city salary. Dunne put Kozal “in a bad spot,” Kaptain said, by making a last-minute request and saying Stegall had promised him he could go in 2017. Kozal didn’t respond to a request for comment. Dunne said the mayor never told him he had any objections.)
— Trump’s cease-and-desist letter to Bannon sounds tough. Is it? – Samantha Schmidt (DIERSEN: Since 2000, my critics/opponents have wanted me to cease-and-desist from sending out GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails, and failing that, they have wanted me to cease-and-desist a) from including links in the emails to articles that they do not like and b) from including my comments in the emails that they do not like. They blame me for all of their problems, for all of your problems, for all of my problems, and for all of everyone’s problems. They blame me for all defeats that Republicans have suffered in Illinois since 2000.)
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20180104/trumps-cease-and-desist-letter-to-bannon-sounds-tough-is-it

 

CHAMPAIGN/URBANA NEWS GAZETTE
— Davis says Trump, Republicans still big in 13th District – Tom Kacich (DIERSEN: How big are Trump and the Republicans in your precinct, in your municipality, in your township/ward, in your county, in your county board district, in your state house district, in your state senate district, in your congressional district, and in Illinois?)
http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2018-01-04/davis-says-trump-republicans-still-big-13th-district.html

 

BELLEVILLE NEWS DEMOCRAT
— 2 men suspected of breaking into video gaming terminals – AP
http://www.bnd.com/news/state/illinois/article192889444.html

 

SAUK VALLEY
— Seniors should have health care options available at home Guest workers, senior citizens would benefit from proposal – Brian Bartoz Morrison (DIERSEN: My 87-year-old aunt is paying $239 a day to live in an assisted living facility. That is $1,673 a week, $7,403 a month, $87,235 a year, and $872,350 a decade.)
http://www.saukvalley.com/2017/12/18/seniors-should-have-health-care-options-available-at-home/aht1l26/

 

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— The Latest: Trump blasts states resisting vote fraud probe – AP
http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/politics/the-latest-trump-blasts-states-resisting-vote-fraud-probe/901809035
— Divided Democrats face liberal backlash on immigration – AP
http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/divided-democrats-face-liberal-backlash-on-immigration/901691118

 

NPR ILLINOIS
— As U.S. Retreats From World Stage, China Moves To Fill The Void
http://nprillinois.org/post/journalist-us-retreats-world-stage-china-moves-fill-void#stream/0

 

WBIR
— Trump’s tax cut won’t deliver promised growth. Republicans put politics over permanence. Trump’s ‘get even’ tax cut will fail – Melvyn Krauss
http://www.wbir.com/article/news/nation-now/trumps-tax-cut-wont-deliver-promised-growth-republicans-put-politics-over-permanence/465-b3189891-505b-48f4-99fa-f878af5fe700

 

DUPAGE POLICY JOURNAL
— Khouri says despite exodus, it’s not to late to save the state – Angela Underwood
https://dupagepolicyjournal.com/stories/511306112-khouri-says-despite-exodus-it-s-not-to-late-to-save-the-state

 

WEST COOK NEWS
— Faced with exodus, it’s time to oust the charlatans, Leef says – Glenn Minnis
https://westcooknews.com/stories/511303225-faced-with-exodus-it-s-time-to-oust-the-charlatans-leef-says

 

WEST CENTRAL REPORTER
— Despite exodus from state, Jonas not giving up hope – Glenn Minnis
https://westcentralreporter.com/stories/511304242-despite-exodus-from-state-jonas-not-giving-up-hope

 

METRO EAST SUN
— Jameson fears flight from Illinois could get worse without major policy changes – Glenn Minnis
https://metroeastsun.com/stories/511300716-jameson-fears-flight-from-illinois-could-get-worse-without-major-policy-changes

 

ILLINOIS LEAKS
— Coles County contracting assessment work violates settled law. – KIRK ALLEN
http://edgarcountywatchdogs.com/2018/01/coles-county-contracting-assessment-work-violates-settled-law/


ILLINOIS NEWS NETWORK
— Mattoon Township businesses see over 100 percent property tax hike in one year – Cole Lauterbach
https://www.ilnews.org/news/statewide/mattoon-township-businesses-see-over-percent-property-tax-hike-in/article_9f6ae1ea-f0bd-11e7-8452-679a5eaeb92f.html
— Repeal of fine for not having health insurance set for 2019 – Greg Bishop
https://www.ilnews.org/news/health/repeal-of-fine-for-not-having-health-insurance-set-for/article_70dc98fc-efe9-11e7-9291-23ed57b46f75.html

 

ILLINOIS FAMILY INSTITUTE
— Anger and the Church – Laurie Higgins (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, “religious leaders” act as operatives or as dupes from the Democrat Party.)
https://illinoisfamily.org/faith/anger-and-the-church-2/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: There are some battles in which all Christians and all who are committed to truth are called to engage: all Christians should have opposed slavery; all Christians should have fought for the civil rights of blacks; all Christians are called to oppose abortion; and we are all called to oppose the rancorous, pernicious demands to affirm the pro-homosexuality/pro-“trans” ideologies. In his book Kingdoms in Conflict, Chuck Colson writes about the failure of the church to oppose the extermination of Jews and the government usurpation of control of the church in Nazi Germany. Immediately following the naming of Hitler as Chancellor of Germany, the persecution of the church began in earnest. In response, a resistance movement sprang up headed by Martin Niemoller and Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Initially, they had the support of the dominant Protestant group, the German Evangelical Church, but as the persecution increased, so did the cowardice and concomitant rationalization of cowardice on the parts of most church leaders. In Germany only a remnant, who came to call themselves the Confessing Church, remained standing courageously in the gap for truth.)

 

CAPITOL FAX
— Rauner says he’s focused on one… wait… two statewide campaigns
https://capitolfax.com/2018/01/04/rauner-says-hes-focused-on-one-wait-two-statewide-campaigns/

 

BREITBART
— Kris Kobach: ‘Amnesties Are Always Bad Policy’; ‘Knife in the Back of Trump’s Base’ – ROBERT KRAYCHIK
http://www.breitbart.com/immigration/2018/01/03/kris-kobach-amnesty-always-bad-policy/
— Kris Kobach: DACA Amnesty Will ‘Cause Surge in Illegal Immigration,’ Trump Must ‘Demand E-Verify’ – JOHN BINDER
http://www.breitbart.com/video/2018/01/03/kris-kobach-daca-amnesty-will-cause-surge-illegal-immigration-trump-must-demand-e-verify/
— Nine Reasons Why Democrats’ DACA Amnesty ‘Deadline’ Does Not Exist – NEIL MUNRO
http://www.breitbart.com/immigration/2018/01/03/nine-reasons-why-democrats-daca-deadline-does-not-exist/

 

WEEKLY STANDARD
— What Should Trump Read? – ADAM RUBENSTEIN (DIERSEN: To keep up to date with government and political news and commentary in Illinois, I suggest that Trump read GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails.)
http://www.weeklystandard.com/christina-hoff-sommers-what-should-trump-read/article/2011006

 

THE HILL
— The Memo: Bannon firestorm consumes Washington – NIALL STANAGE
http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/367335-the-memo-bannon-firestorm-consumes-washington

 

POLITICO
— ‘It’s a giant present to the tax lobbying community’ K Street lobbyists are banking on years of paydays from the tax overhaul. – THEODORIC MEYER
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/01/02/tax-overhaul-paydays-for-k-street-261668

 

CNN
— OUTSTANDING: Sessions to rescind Obama-era rules on non-interference with states where pot is legal – Laura Jarrett
http://www.cnn.com/2018/01/04/politics/jeff-sessions-cole-memo/index.html
— Trump’s many staff breakups (and some reconciliations), ranked – Greg Krieg (DIERSEN: In 1971, when I was 22 years old, when I gave him my 2-week notice, my Firestone Stores boss rudely fired me. But then Oldsmobile withdrew it job offer that I had accepted saying that it had just agreed to stop hiring Whites to settle an EEOC complaint. That directly resulted in my accepting a job offer from IRS. Then, my Firestone Stores boss offered me a part-time job which I accepted and held until the end of 1972.)
http://www.cnn.com/2018/01/04/politics/donald-trump-steve-bannon-break-ups/index.html

 

ABC NEWS
— Trump attorney sends Bannon cease and desist letter over ‘disparaging’ comments – JOHN SANTUCCI (DIERSEN: Since 2000, my critics/opponents have wanted me to cease-and-desist from sending out GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails, and failing that, they have wanted me to cease-and-desist a) from including links in the emails to articles that they do not like and b) from including my comments in the emails that they do not like. They blame me for all of their problems, for all of your problems, for all of my problems, and for all of everyone’s problems. They blame me for all defeats that Republicans have suffered in Illinois since 2000.)
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-attorney-sends-bannon-cease-desist-letter-disparaging/story

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— OUTSTANDING: Trump Administration to Move to Weaken Marijuana Legalization Movement – Charlie Savage and Jack Healy
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/04/us/politics/marijuana-legalization-justice-department-prosecutions.html
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: HARDCOPY ARTICLE TITLE: Challenges in Federal Tax Bill Color Cuomo’s Agenda for 2018 – Jesse McKinley and Vivian Wang
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/03/nyregion/albany-cuomo-state-of-the-state.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: In his 90-minute State of the State speech, Mr. Cuomo said the state would challenge the new Republican-led federal tax plan in court — earning a standing ovation from the crowd — and asked the Legislature to restructure the state’s tax code by adding a statewide payroll tax and to counter the effects of the so-called carried interest loophole. The governor’s office suggested that it was reviewing eliminating the state income tax, whose deductibility was capped by the new federal tax bill, likely in favor of a payroll tax, which is deductible, an idea also being floated in other states. Precise details on the plan were scant, and such a plan would face an uphill battle, with Republicans generally opposing new taxes and some conservative economists already voicing concerns on Wednesday.)

 

WASHINGTON POST
— Trump lawyer seeks to block insider book on White House Trump says Bannon ‘not only lost his job, he lost his mind’ as president’s lawyers send cease-and-desist letter – Josh Dawsey and Ashley Parker (DIERSEN: Since 2000, my critics/opponents have wanted me to cease-and-desist from sending out GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails, and failing that, they have wanted me to cease-and-desist a) from including links in the emails to articles that they do not like and b) from including my comments in the emails that they do not like. They blame me for all of their problems, for all of your problems, for all of my problems, and for all of everyone’s problems. They blame me for all defeats that Republicans have suffered in Illinois since 2000.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-slams-bannon-when-he-was-fired-he-not-only-lost-his-job-he-lost-his-mind/2018/01/03/21fb158a-f0aa-11e7-b3bf-ab90a706e175_story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Late Wednesday, lawyers for Trump sent a cease-and-desist letter to Bannon, arguing he violated the employment agreement he signed with the Trump Organization in numerous ways and also likely defamed the president. They ordered that he stop communicating either confidential and or disparaging information, and preserve all records in preparation for “imminent” legal action.)

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Hey, Bargain-Hunters: An M.B.A. Is Cheaper Than You Think Top business schools are setting aside millions in scholarships and financial aid to lure young professionals – Kelsey Gee (DIERSEN: When I started working for IRS in 1971 as a GS-7 (currently $45,703/year) Revenue Officer, IRS encouraged its Revenue Officers to take graduate business, accounting, and law courses. In 1972, I started taking graduate business courses at Loyola and I earned an MBA from Loyola in 1976. However, my Democrat IRS superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates hinted/implied/argued/shouted that the courses 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. In 1978, they and Money Magazine disallowed all the tuition and books that I had paid and deducted for those graduate business courses. However, I took IRS to the Tax Court, and the Tax Court ruled in my favor.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/hey-bargain-hunters-an-m-b-a-is-cheaper-than-you-think-1514988000

 

USA TODAY
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: Refugee admissions to U.S. plummet in 2017 – Alan Gomez (DIERSEN: Anti-Trumps shout at refugees that Republicans are White supremacists, Nazis, KKK members, haters, racists, sexists, bigots, and even worse things.)
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2018/01/03/refugee-admissions-u-s-plummet-2017/999903001/
— Warren Buffett in ‘Time’: U.S. kids will live better than parents, he writes in Gates edited issue – Paul Davidson
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2018/01/04/buffett-time-u-s-kids-live-better-than-parents-he-writes-gates-edited-issue/1001218001/
— World War II vet, 93, sworn in as New Jersey mayor – Katie Park (DIERSEN: How old are you? My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have always promoted age discrimination. They stress that the federal government gets rid of its non-veteran White male employees who do not make GS-13 (currently $96,403) by age 25, GS-14 (currently $113,920) by age 30, GS-15 (currently $134,000) by age 35, and Senior Executive Service (currently $164,200) by age 40. They stress that I did not make GS-13 until I was 38 and that I never made GS-14, GS-15, or SES. They stress a) that my Democrat GAO superiors 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, got rid of my mentor in 1987, 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; b) that my Democrat IRS superiors did not promote me beyond GS-12, disallowed my education deductions in 1978, got rid of my mentor in 1975, and disallowed my partial day per diem claims in 1974; and c) that my Democrat Post Office superiors forced me resign in 1969 and disallowed my sick leave requests in 1969 and 1968.)
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2018/01/03/world-war-ii-vet-93-nj-mayor/999781001/

 

NEWSWEEK
— TRUMP’S THREAT OF LAWSUIT AGAINST BANNON IS ‘STUPID’ AND COULD HURT THE PRESIDENT, SAYS LAWYER – GRAHAM LANKTREE (DIERSEN: Since 2000, my critics/opponents have wanted me to cease-and-desist from sending out GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails, and failing that, they have wanted me to cease-and-desist a) from including links in the emails to articles that they do not like and b) from including my comments in the emails that they do not like. They blame me for all of their problems, for all of your problems, for all of my problems, and for all of everyone’s problems. They blame me for all defeats that Republicans have suffered in Illinois since 2000.)
http://www.newsweek.com/trumps-threat-lawsuit-against-bannon-stupid-and-could-hurt-president-says-770251

 

FEDERAL NEWS RADIO
— Recent court decision reminds agencies they can put indicted employees on indefinite suspension – Nicole Ogrysko (DIERSEN: Constructively, even though they never indicted me for anything, my Democrat GAO superiors have had me on “indefinite suspension” since 1997.)
https://federalnewsradio.com/workforce-rightsgovernance/2018/01/recent-court-decision-reminds-agencies-they-can-put-indicted-employees-on-indefinite-suspension/

January 3 Evening Edition

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

January 2 Morning Edition

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: California rolls its own recreational pot sales out for 2018 – AP
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/sns-bc-us–california-marijuana-open-for-business-20180102-story.html
— Stories to watch in Chicago and Illinois politics in 2018
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-illinois-chicago-politics-look-ahead-2018-20171221-story.html
— Paying for pricey continuing care – Patricia Mertz Esswein and Eileen Ambrose (DIERSEN: My 87-year-old aunt is paying $239 a day to live in an assisted living facility. That is $1,673 a week, $7,403 a month, $87,235 a year, and $872,350 a decade.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/success/kiplinger/tca-paying-for-pricey-continuing-care-20171227-story.html

 

DAILY HERALD
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: California rolls its own recreational pot sales out for 2018 – AP
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20180102/news/301029979/
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: DIERSEN HEADLINE: Democrats promote Democrats.
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20180102/democrats-vying-to-oppose-roskam-give-views-on-health-care

 

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— The next step in tax reform is tax repair – NOAH SMITH (DIERSEN: Hopefully, the Republicans will remove the $10,000 limit on real estate and state income tax deductions.)
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20171229/OPINION/171229916
— Downtown growth leads Chicago to highest job peak in decades – GREG HINZ (DIERSEN: I worked in downtown Chicago in 1971 and then 1973-1997. I lived in downtown Chicago weekdays 1974-1976 and then full-time 1976-1978. I took courses in downtown Chicago 1966-1968, 1971-1983, and 1992-1997.)
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20180102/BLOGS02/180109998

 

WBEZ
— Illinois Tax Credits For Private Schools Expected To Be Claimed In Days – Linda Lutton (DIERSEN: My outstanding parents saved Crete-Monee School District 201-U (http://www.cm201u.org/) lots of money during the 1950s and 1960s by sending my brother and me to Trinity Lutheran Grade School in Crete and then to Hope Lutheran Grade School in Park Forest to stay with the Missouri Synod.)
https://www.wbez.org/shows/wbez-news/illinois-tax-credits-for-private-schools-expected-to-be-claimed-in-days/b329d4c6-0fc0-4e37-8d2d-099f8467553a

 

ALTON DAILY NEWS
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Democrats want more money to register Democrats to vote.
http://altondailynews.com/news/details.cfm?clientid=17&id=257784

 

PEORIA JOURNAL STAR
— Illinois taxpayers expected to snap up credits for scholarships – Pam Adams (DIERSEN: My outstanding parents saved Crete-Monee School District 201-U (http://www.cm201u.org/) lots of money during the 1950s and 1960s by sending my brother and me to Trinity Lutheran Grade School in Crete and then to Hope Lutheran Grade School in Park Forest to stay with the Missouri Synod.)
http://www.pjstar.com/news/20171231/illinois-taxpayers-expected-to-snap-up-credits-for-scholarships

 

WAND
— Medicaid overhaul adds clients, bumps up cost
http://www.wandtv.com/story/37171533/medicaid-overhaul-adds-clients-bumps-up-cost

 

POLITICO ILLINOIS
— RAUNER TO SPEAK — The Lincoln Forum, which launched late last year as something of a foil to the City Club of Chicago, has booked Gov. Bruce Rauner as its first speaker of 2018. The event is at 5:30 p.m. January 22 in the Chicago Athletic Association’s historic Madison Ballroom, 12 S. Michigan Ave. Unless we’re mistaken, Rauner hasn’t spoken at the City Club, though Illinois First Lady Diana Rauner has. The Lincoln Forum was started in part by longtime Rauner ally Pat Brady. More details here: www.LincolnForum.org (DIERSEN: Of course, Pat Brady and all my other critics/opponents are overjoyed that TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois is dead.)
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2018/01/02/sizing-up-governor-candidates-fundraising-234247
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Natasha Korecki says “Happy New Year, Illinois! Great to be back after completely unplugging for two weeks.” Your GOPUSA Illinois Editor has never been completely unplugged, does not want to be completely unplugged, and will never be completely unplugging. GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails go out each and every morning and each and every evening.
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2018/01/02/sizing-up-governor-candidates-fundraising-234247

 

DAILY CALLER
— Never Trumpers Check Their White Privilege – Scott Greer (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, the more of the following that you are, the more that you are viciously demonized, viciously denigrated, and viciously condemned: Trump supporter, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owner, German American, and/or if your ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
http://dailycaller.com/2018/01/01/never-trumpers-check-their-white-privilege/

 

FREE BEACON
— Trump Admin Throws Weight Behind Union Challenge Brief argues that government unions are inherently political – Bill McMorris (DIERSEN: GAO did not unionize until 2007. If GAO had been unionized in 1997, I might still be a GAO employee.)
http://freebeacon.com/issues/trump-admin-throws-weight-behind-union-challenge/

 

PUBLIUS FORUM
— Donald Trump Has Trimmed Thousands of Government Workers, But So Far it is Tens of Thousands Too Few – Warner Todd Huston (DIERSEN: Do you want all federal employees to be Democrats, minorities, females, and/or veterans? Jobs should not be trimmed at all agencies, for example, jobs should not be trimmed at GAO. Democrats run the federal government. When they trim jobs, they get rid of employees who are Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran who did not make GS-13 (currently $96,403) by age 25, GS-14 (currently $113,920) by age 30, GS-15 (currently $134,000) by age 35, and Senior Executive Service (currently $164,200) by age 40. Soon, all federal employees will be Democrats, minorities, females, and/or veterans.)
http://www.publiusforum.com/2018/01/01/donald-trump-trimmed-thousands-government-workers-far-tens-thousands/

 

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

 

CBN NEWS
— 5 Tips For Making Financial Resolutions For The New Year
https://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/finance/2018/january/5-tips-for-making-financial-resolutions-for-the-new-year

 

THE HILL
— Financial New Year’s resolutions that will pay off – JOHN PELLETIER
http://thehill.com/opinion/finance/366820-financial-new-years-resolutions-that-will-pay-off

 

CBS NEWS
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Recreational marijuana sales begin in California
https://www.cbsnews.com/videos/recreational-marijuana-sales-begin-in-california/

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Recreational Pot Is Officially Legal in California – Thomas Fuller
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/01/us/legal-pot-california.html
— The Retreat to Tribalism – David Brooks (DIERSEN: Democrats used to promote integration, but now they promote segregation.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/01/opinion/the-retreat-to-tribalism.html

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— FRONT PAGE WITH COLOR GRAPHIC: Caterpillar Clashes With IRS – Andrew Tangel and Michael Rapoport
http://www.foxbusiness.com/features/2018/01/02/caterpillar-clashes-with-irs-wsj-2.html

 

USA TODAY
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Pot sales now legal in California – Colin Atagi
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/nation-now/2018/01/01/legal-california-pot/994263001/

 

FEDERAL NEWS RADIO
— Paying yourself first pays off – Mike Causey
https://federalnewsradio.com/mike-causey-federal-report/2018/01/paying-yourself-first-pays-off/

 

FINANCIAL EXPRESS
— Top 10 New Year resolutions for 2018 that will put your financial house in order – Sanjeev Sinha
http://www.financialexpress.com/money/top-10-new-year-resolutions-for-2018-that-will-put-your-financial-house-in-order/997103/

 

REALTOR
— What Is ‘House Poor’? What It Means, and Whether You’re at Risk – Daniel Bortz
https://www.realtor.com/advice/finance/what-is-house-poor/

 

MILLENNIUM POST
— INDIA: Driving out underemployment – Nantoo Banerjee (DIERSEN: Are/were you underemployed? While I worked for the federal government 1966-1969 and 1971-1997, I became increasingly underemployed. 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. If I had been a Democrat, minority, or female, the federal government would not have underemployed me.)
http://www.millenniumpost.in/opinion/driving-out-underemployment-277638

January 1 Evening Edition

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

December 31 Evening Edition

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Massive, maligned Medicaid managed care expansion to start – AP
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/medicaid-illinois-managed-care-expansion/
— Without an independent judiciary, we are all at risk – Robert P. Cummins, former chairman, Illinois Judicial Inquiry Board (DIERSEN: While I worked for GAO 1980-1997, it acted like it was run by Democrats. If GAO had been “independent,” it would not have a) forced me to retire in 1997 when I was 49 years old, b) always ranked me in the bottom half of my coworkers for pay-for-performance purposes, c) not promote me beyond GS-13, d) gotten rid of my mentor in 1987, e) kept me off audits of IRS for all but 3 of the almost 18 years that I worked for GAO, and e) forced me to take an $18,847 pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO in 1980.)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/letters-without-an-independent-judiciary-we-are-all-at-risk/

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: An anti-Trump says “As 2017 ends, Republicans struggle to counter a Democratic wave.”
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-republicans-democratic-wave-20171231-story.html
— 2 protesters in Iran killed as social media apps blocked – AP (DIERSEN: Since 2000, my critics/opponents have wanted to block my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails. They blame me and my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails for their problems, for your problems, for my problems, and for everyone’s problems. They blame me and my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails for all defeats that Republicans have suffered in Illinois since 2000.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-iran-protests-deaths-20171230-story.html
— Supreme Court to take up Ohio’s purges of inactive voters – AP (DIERSEN: How much deadwood is there on the voter rolls in your precinct, in your municipality, in your township/ward, in your county, in Illinois, and in America?)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-ohio-inactive-voters-supreme-court-20171231-story.html
— New year means fare hikes, new and ongoing roadwork – Mary Wisniewski
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/wisniewski/ct-met-new-year-transportation-getting-around-20171231-story.html

 

DAILY HERALD
— Supreme Court to take up Ohio’s purges of inactive voters – AP (DIERSEN: How much deadwood is there on the voter rolls in your precinct, in your municipality, in your township/ward, in your county, in Illinois, and in America?)
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20171231/news/312319962/

 

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Make a resolution to be an engaged citizen in 2018 – Editorial (DIERSEN: Those who want to become a more engaged citizen should read GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails.)
http://www.sj-r.com/opinion/20171230/our-view-make-resolution-to-be-engaged-citizen-in-2018
— Tools to becoming a more engaged citizen (DIERSEN: Those who want to become a more engaged citizen should read GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails.)
http://www.sj-r.com/opinion/20171230/tools-to-becoming-more-engaged-citizen

 

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
–DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Anticipation high as California rolls out retail pot sales – AP
http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/anticipation-high-as-california-rolls-out-retail-pot-sales/893318829
— Iran restricts social media and issues stern warning to protesters Protests continue as gas and food prices rise – MARILIA BROCCHETTO AND DAKIN ANDONE (DIERSEN: Who wants to restrict you and what you do? I should write a book about those who want to restrict me and my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails.)
http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/world-news/report-two-killed-during-protests-in-iran/893131609

 

CHRISTIAN POST
— Powerful: Race and Gender Analysis of the 100 Largest Churches in America Insights about America’s megachurches. – Jonathan Merritt
https://www.christianpost.com/voice/powerful-race-and-gender-analysis-of-the-100-largest-churches-in-america.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: None of America’s 100 largest churches are LGBTQ-affirming. . . 93 percent of America’s 100 largest churches are led by a white pastor. . .Only 1 of America’s 100 largest churches has a female pastor)

 

DAILY CALLER
— Trump: Dem Elections In 2018 Would ‘Totally Kill’ Wealth Created In 2017 – Saagar Enjeti
http://dailycaller.com/2017/12/31/trump-dem-elections-in-2018-would-totally-kill-wealth-created-in-2017/
— California Prosecutes Man For Posting Anti-Muslim Messages On Facebook – Anders Hagstrom
http://dailycaller.com/2017/12/30/california-prosecutes-man-for-posting-anti-muslim-messages-on-facebook/
— People Freak Out After Oregon Strikes Law Banning Self-Service Gas Stations – Chris White (DIERSEN: I pumped gasoline in 1966 and 1970-1972.)
http://dailycaller.com/2017/12/31/people-freak-out-after-oregon-strikes-law-banning-self-service-gas-stations/

 

NEWSMAX
— Trump: Voting Dem in ’18 ‘Will Totally Kill the Great Wealth Created’
https://www.newsmax.com/politics/donald-trump-tweets-electing-dems/2017/12/31/id/834451/

 

WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: QUESTION: If the federal government is the “most generous employers ever,” why do so few apply to be federal employees? ANSWER: 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.)
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/report-federal-worker-minimum-wage-is-100000-85-weeks-off/article/2644553

 

THE HILL
— Tax bill is the rising tide that will lift all Americans’ boats – JAMES P. PINKERTON
http://thehill.com/opinion/finance/366880-tax-bill-is-the-rising-tide-that-will-lift-all-americans-boats
— Election integrity commission has been ‘bogged down in litigation’ – BRETT SAMUELS (DIERSEN: How much deadwood is there on the voter rolls in your precinct, in your municipality, in your township/ward, in your county, in Illinois, and in America?)
http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/366934-kobach-election-integrity-commission-has-been-bogged-down-in-litigation

 

WASHINGTON POST
— The Dow nears 25,000, the ‘death tax’ lives and other 2017 surprises – Allan Sloan
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/the-dow-nears-25000-the-death-tax-still-lives-and-other-2017-surprises/2017/12/31/1caa2766-ea69-11e7-b698-91d4e35920a3_story.html
— Working out the new tax law’s implications could be painful – Robert Engelman, Takoma Park
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/working-out-the-new-tax-laws-implications-could-be-painful/2017/12/31/d864746a-ecb3-11e7-956e-baea358f9725_story.html

 

FORBES
— TRAGIC: Half Of U.S. Kids 3 And Under Await Congress On Children’s Health Funding 49% or 7.7 million children ages 3 and younger relied on CHIP or Medicaid insurance for poor Americans in 2015 – Bruce Japsen
https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucejapsen/2017/12/31/half-of-u-s-kids-3-and-under-await-congress-on-childrens-health-funding/#2ea2e75274b0