Tag: pension

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— ALL OF THE FRIONT PAGE: DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly glorify and praise their illegals and fight their deportation.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/2026/02/03/marimar-martinez-shot-border-patrol-chicago-speaks-out-after-good-pretti-deaths-i-am-their-voice

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— FRONT PAGE WITH PICTURE: DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly glorify and praise their illegals and fight their deportation.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/02/ecuatoriano-detenido-en-redada-en-minneapolis-niega-haber-abandonado-a-su-hijo-de-5-aos/
— Illinois joins World Health Organization network, after Trump administration withdraws from group.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/03/illinois-world-health-organization-trump/

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Ken Griffin bankrolls $10M push to lure CEOs to Florida.
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/finance-banking/ken-griffin-backs-10m-push-lure-ceos-florida

DAILY HERALD
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH BIG PICTURE: DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly glorify and praise their illegals and fight their deportation.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260202/news/west-chicago-teens-on-ice-watch-in-minneapolis-this-is-nothing-like-chicago-this-is-so-much-worse-2/
—  Dabrowski focused on property taxes
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260203/letters-to-the-editor/governor-candidate-focused-on-property-taxes/
— Watch for candidate forums. The General Election season is in full swing and the League of Women Voters of Central Kane County is in the process of scheduling forums for area candidates in contested races for Kane County, the Illinois General Assembly and U.S. Congress. DD: If I was still the TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois chairman and an Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee member, those organizations would still be hosting candidate forums. FEBRUARY 16, 2012 FLASHBACK: 42nd House candidates (Dave Carlin, Chris Hage, Jeanne Ives and Laura Pollastrini) argue about who’s ‘in’ and who’s ‘out.’ SEE:
https://www.dailyherald.com/article/20120216/news/702169966/  MARCH 15, 2012 FLASHBACK: 42nd House candidates (Dave Carlin, Chris Hage, Jeanne Ives and Laura Pollastrini) trade jabs on ‘experience.’ SEE: https://www.dailyherald.com/article/20120315/news/703159698/ At a Wheaton League of Women Voters (WLWV) candidate forum for that race, I unsuccessfully came to Hage’s defense when the WLWV stopped Hage from participating saying that he not responded to WLWV’s invitation, something that Hage denied. I approached the dais twice. The first time asking the forum leader to let Hage participate because he was there, and then a second time after she said no because it would be unfair to Carlin, Ives, and Pollastrini. I asked her to let him participate if Carlin, Ives, and Pollastrini agreed to let him participate, but the forum leader said no. At the time, Hage lived in a home in front of the polling place for my precinct and Ives lived a home behind it.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260202/letters-to-the-editor/keep-watch-for-candidate-forums/

FOX32
— Dabrowski calls for Indiana-style property tax cap in Illinois. DD: How much real estate tax do you pay? My critics/opponents are furious that my wife and I pay only $12.493.96/year for our Wheaton home and only $8,592.96/year for our Naperville car condo. According to them, my wife and I can and should pay much more a) because we never had dependents, b) because we have no debts, c) because we have substantial retirement savings, d) because we inherited some money, e) because they believe that the federal government grossly overpaid me, f) because they believe that my $68,640/year Civil Service Retirement System pension is much too generous, g) because they believe that my $18,711.60/year Social Security is much too generous, h) because the federal government pays $21,000/year (72%) of our $30,000/year healthcare insurance premiums because I am a federal retiree, and i) because I avoided the Vietnam War draft. According to my critics/opponents, those who share our demographics and can pay more taxes should pay more taxes. According to them, we have what we have because we benefitted tremendously from discrimination against those who do not share our demographics. Comments?
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/dabrowski-calls-indiana-style-property-tax-cap-illinois
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_I3cGP3q4ak

MILWAUKEE MAGAZINE
— Milwaukee Cyclists Ride Out for Alex Pretti, VA Nurse Killed in Minneapolis. DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly turn Good and Pretti into George Floyd.
https://www.milwaukeemag.com/milwaukee-cyclists-ride-out-for-alex-pretti-va-nurse-killed-in-minneapolis/

DETROIT NEWS
— Just as it ruled in the death of Renee Good last month, the Hennepin County medical examiner’s office said Monday that Alex Pretti was a homicide victim when he was shot on Jan. 24 during an encounter with federal agents. DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly turn Good and Pretti into George Floyd.
https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/nation/2026/02/02/after-9-days-medical-examiner-classifies-alex-prettis-death-as-homicide/88481860007/

FOX ILLINOIS
— Trump’s $45 billion expansion of immigrant detention sites faces pushback from communities. State and local officials are pushing back against federal plans to expand immigrant detention facilities.
https://www.foxillinois.com/news/nation-world/trumps-45-billion-expansion-of-immigrant-detention-sites-faces-pushback-from-communities/article_a2b8e9e9-2b9a-50f2-b639-49670e3145d5.html

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— Trump plans to lower tariffs on Indian goods to 18% after India agreed to stop buying Russian oil.
https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/national/ap-trump-says-he-plans-to-lower-tariffs-on-india-to-18-after-india-agreed-to-stop-buying-russian-oil/

WCIA
— Urbana High School students walk out of class in anti-ICE protest. DD: How successful have Democrat leaders been getting students to walk out in your county, township, municipality, and school district? Student walkouts prove Democrat dominate of education. What policy does your school district have on student walkouts?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATwBbFQd0zM

CAPITOL CITY NOW
— Thousands travel to Illinois for abortion care, advocates say access still limited. The American Civil Liberties Union found that 1 in 4 people nationwide traveled to Illinois for abortion care.
https://capitolcitynow.com/news/248842-thousands-travel-to-illinois-for-abortion-care-advocates-say-access-still-limited/

SMILE POLITELY
— OCTOBER 9, 2018 FLASHBACK: Trumpaganda, a new Journalism course at U of I, being offered this fall. DD: The mainstream news media exists to destroy Trump.
https://www.smilepolitely.com/splog/trumpaganda_a_new_journalism_course_at_u_of_i_being_offered_this_fall/

BLOCK CLUB CHICAGO
— Hundreds Of CPS Students Protest Federal Immigration Crackdown During School Walk-Out. At least 400 Chicago Public School students from across the North Side organized an afternoon school walk-out over the targeting of families in immigration raids. “We are fed up,” one student said. DD: What policy does your school district have on student walkouts?
https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/02/02/hundreds-of-students-protest-federal-immigration-crackdown-with-a-school-walk-out-we-are-fed-up/

WHEATON RECORD
— What Happens in a Town Hall Meeting When It’s Not In Movie
https://thewheatonrecord.com/2026/02/02/what-happens-in-a-town-hall-meeting-when-its-not-in-a-movie/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Attending a City Council Town Hall meeting is not quite the hullabaloo one would expect from depictions in films like Field of Dreams or shows like Gilmore Girls. There are the fancy podiums and agendas, but the Wheaton Town Hall on Jan. 21 was over and done within 17 minutes. And in that time, the council approved more than $2 million in spending.)

POLITICO ILLINOIS
— Illinois joins WHO network
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2026/02/03/illinois-joins-world-health-org-00761603
(FROM THE NEWSLETTER: Miller, Bost, LaHood request answers from Illinois Elections Board on voter roll integrity: The three Congress members are questioning Illinois’ compliance with federal election laws ahead of early voting,” via RiverBender. Their letter is here. Meanwhile … The Illinois Republican Party is urging its voters to take advantage of early voting this spring, even as President Donald Trump has long discredited the process. In a message sent Monday, Illinois GOP Chair Kathy Salvi said, “Early voting gives you flexibility, convenience and certainty that your voice will be heard in this critical election.” She added that early voting aligns with the party’s “family values,” which is “at the heart of everything we do.”)

CAPITOL FAX
— Morning briefing
https://capitolfax.com/

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

DAILY SIGNAL
— Minneapolis ICE Haters Are Not So Into Peace, Love, and Understanding
https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/02/02/minneapolis-ice-haters-are-not-so-into-peace-love-and-understanding/

FOX BUSINESS
— Democrats would rather let ‘criminal illegal aliens’ run rampant than secure the nation
https://www.foxbusiness.com/video/6388690981112

FOX NEWS
— Bad Bunny’s religion is ‘liberal wokeism’
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6388701490112
— Casey Anthony claims US is racist and sexist, says White men have ‘never been marginalized.’ DD: Democrats and RINOs use Affirmative Action and DEI to get rid of Republicans, and especially Republicans who are White and/or male.
https://www.aol.com/articles/casey-anthony-claims-us-racist-162438408.html

JONATHAN TURLEY
— The Remaking of Alex Pretti: Imperfect Times Demand the Perfect Hero
https://jonathanturley.org/2026/02/02/the-remaking-of-alex-pretti-imperfect-times-demand-the-perfect-hero/comment-page-3/

NATIONAL REVIEW
— DOJ Challenges Minnesota’s Affirmative Action Hiring Program. DD: Democrats and RINOs use Affirmative Action and DEI to get rid of Republicans.
https://natlawreview.com/article/doj-challenges-minnesotas-affirmative-action-hiring-program?amp

NEWSMAX
— NYC Dem Pushing Newsmax Ban Has Radical Left Record. DD: I should write about my critics/opponents who have worked the hardest since 2000 to stop me from sending out my GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters and to stop everyone from reading my newsletters. I would focus on past and present a) leaders of the Illinois Republican Party, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, and Milton Township Republican Organization, b) Republican elected officials in Illinois, DuPage County, Milton Township, and Wheaton, c) Republican candidates on ballots in my precinct, d) major Republican donors, e) radio personalities, f) political consultants, fundraisers, and pollsters, g) conservative leaders, and h) religious leaders. I would focus on the aforesaid who reject the most planks in the Republican Party platform. I would focus on those who have had their operatives and their dupes take the most/biggest adverse actions against me.
https://www.newsmax.com/newsmax-tv/newsmax-tv-new-york-city-democrats/2026/02/02/id/1244552/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal, the New York City leftist Democrat pushing to ban Newsmax from taxicab screens, has spent years embracing some of the most aggressive positions on the political left. From likening President Donald Trump’s supporters to Nazis to backing socialist candidates, defying federal immigration enforcement, and demanding sweeping gun, law enforcement, and climate restrictions, Hoylman-Sigal has a record that offers a clear window into the ideology behind his latest censorship push. Hoylman-Sigal, 60, on Jan. 21 sent a letter to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Taxi and Limousine Commissioner Midori Valdivia demanding that cabs should not carry Newsmax because of its “politically charged content.” New York City’s taxicabs are privately owned. The city issues licenses — called medallions — to cab owners. Last year, Newsmax signed with Curb a deal to provide a one-minute news update hosted by one of the network’s anchors to over 15,000 taxis across the country.)

REAL CLEAR HEALTH
— Health Care Costs Are Cannibalizing the Economy. DD: Because I am a retired federal employee, the federal government pays 72% of my and my wife’s healthcare insurance premiums. The 28% that we pay just increased from $600/month to $700/month.
https://www.realclearhealth.com/2026/02/02/health_care_costs_are_cannibalizing_the_economy_1162367.html

TOWNHALL
— New Poll Shows Democrats Are in for a Rude Awakening on Immigration
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/josephchalfant/2026/02/02/new-poll-shows-democrats-are-in-for-a-rude-awakening-on-immigration-n2670537

TURNING POINT USA
— All American Halftime Show’ Set to Air Sunday, February 8: Lineup and Streaming Details Announced. DD: Who heads Turning Point USA in Illinois, in your county, in your township, in your municipality, and in your School District?
https://tpusa.com/live/tpusa-s-all-american-halftime-show-set-to-air-sunday-february-8-lineup-and-streaming-details-announced/
(FROM THE ANNOUNCEMENT: Turning Point USA recently announced more details for its “All American Halftime Show,” which will be airing Sunday, February 8, around 8 p.m. Eastern time. The All American Halftime Show will be a unique, patriotic event proudly celebrating American culture, freedom, and faith. The show will feature musical performances from Kid Rock, Brantley Gilbert, Lee Brice, and Gabby Barrett. This exclusive halftime performance can be streamed on Turning Point USA social media channels, including YouTube, X, and Rumble. In addition to social media, the program will air on partner platforms, including Daily Wire+, Real America’s Voice, TBN, CHARGE!, The National News Desk, NTD.com, and OAN News.  “The All-American Halftime Show is an opportunity for all Americans to enjoy a halftime show with no agenda other than to celebrate faith, family, and freedom,” Turning Point USA spokesman Andrew Kolvet said of the halftime show. “We set out to provide an entertainment option that will be fun, excellent, and exciting for the entire family while millions are gathered together for the big game. These performers will deliver exactly that, and we can’t wait to watch the incredible show they’re about to put on. We know millions around the country will be watching too.”)

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

NEW YORK TIMES
— DD: Democrats ever-increasingly use Affirmative Action and DEI to get rid of Trump and those who share his demographics.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/03/opinion/trump-backlash-politics-civil-war.html

LOS ANGELES DAILY NEWS
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly use Good and Pretti to destroy America once and for all.
https://www.dailynews.com/2026/02/02/american-exceptionalism-is-now-at-a-crossroads/

USA TODAY
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH BIG PICTURE: DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly glorify and praise their illegals and fight their deportation.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2026/01/29/immigrant-families-conditions-detention-sick-kids/88405597007/
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2026/01/28/ice-agents-immigration-protesters-legal-questions/88366872007/
— Women are leaving the workforce because of caregiving responsibilities. DD: Back in the good old days, my father earned enough money that my mother could stay home and raise me and my brother. He never earned more than $50,000/year in today’s dollars. He almost always worked second jobs to pay the family’s bills. He died suddenly when he was 47 and I was 21. His earning potential was limited because he had brittle type 1 diabetes and did not have a college degree. My mother’s earning potential was limited because she never attended high school.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2026/01/29/women-leaving-workforce-caregiving-responsibilities/88370584007/
— Frugal budgets. DD: My wife has always had good jobs. When we got married in 1978, tried to live on just one of our salaries in anticipation of child raising expenses, but we gave up trying to have children, we did not adopt, and we did not become foster parents. Then, we tried to live on just one of our salaries to save for our retirement. Then, my Democrat GAO superiors forced me retire when I was 49 years old in 1997. In today’s dollars, my income dropped $86,042/year (56%), from a salary of $154,682/year to a pension of $68,640/year.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2026/01/30/cut-starbucks-doordash-save-money/88107052007/

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— A U.S. Life Expectancy Milestone. It hit 79 years in 2024, which is a record and regains pandemic losses. DD: How old are you? I am 77. What is your life expectancy? According to Social Security, mine is 10.5 years.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/u-s-life-expectancy-2024-record-cdc-health-mortality-cancer-covid-60a171ee

FLORIDA TODAY
— Brevard Public Schools warns of discipline if students protest ICE. DD: What policy does your school district have on student walkouts?
https://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/education/2026/02/02/school-board-superintendent-warn-brevard-students-not-to-protest-ice/88480606007/

ATLANTA CIVIC CIRCLE
— Thousands of Atlanta students walked out to protest ICE, undeterred by disciplinary threats. Cobb County and other school districts threatened disciplinary action. DD: What policy does your school district have on student walkouts?
https://atlantaciviccircle.org/2026/02/02/thousands-atlanta-students-walk-out-protest-ice/

WTHR
— Hundreds of Indianapolis students walk out of school in protest of ICE. Around 400 high schoolers walked out of North Central High School Monday afternoon in protest of ICE policy and presence across the country. DD: What policy does your school district have on student walkouts?
https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/hundreds-north-central-high-school-indianapolis-students-walk-out-of-school-in-protest-of-ice-immigration/531-257834a6-c091-4b41-927b-5e3d953a193c

CBS AUSTIN
— Central Texas students continue walking out of class to protest ICE operations. DD: What policy does your school district have on student walkouts?
https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/central-texas-students-continue-walking-out-of-class-to-protest-ice-operations

FOX AUSTIN
— Hundreds of Hays CISD students leave campus to protest. DD: What policy does your school district have on student walkouts?
https://www.fox7austin.com/news/hays-cisd-student-protests

KXAN
— Texas attorney general investigating Austin school district policies after anti-ICE student walkouts. DD: What policy does your school district have on student walkouts?
https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/texas-attorney-general-demands-policies-from-aisd-for-allowing-student-led-walkout-against-ice/

SUN COMMERCIAL
— Trump posts more endorsements of GOP challengers to Indiana redistricting foes. DD: Which candidates on March 17, 2026 Republican primary ballot in your precinct are seeking or have gotten Trump’s endorsement? Which ones are constructively running as anti-Trumps?
https://www.suncommercial.com/gcdailyworld/article_664e11c7-d765-5a4c-9d29-f47a151b05cd.html

PRESS HERALD
— Midcoast students walk out to protest ICE. DD: What policy does your school district have on student walkouts?
https://www.pressherald.com/2026/02/02/were-fed-up-midcoast-students-walk-out-to-protest-ice/

COLLEGE RECRUITER
— The U.S. federal government hiring freeze is ending. DD: While I worked for the Democrats who ran GAO 1980-1997, the agency was almost always under hiring and/or promotion freezes because of Gingrich budget cuts.
https://www.collegerecruiter.com/blog/2026/02/02/the-u-s-federal-government-hiring-freeze-is-ending

GOVERNMENT EXECUTIVE
— DD: Democrats run the federal government. For Democrats, the federal government exists to hire, retain, and promote Democrats. While I worked for the Democrats who ran the federal government for almost 30 years, virtually all of my superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates were Democrats. They wanted their superiors to get rid of their Republican employees, and especially their Republican employees who were conservative, White, male, older, non-veteran, Protestant, German American, and/or had ancestors who had been in America for a long time. When I was 31 in 1980, I was one of the last Republicans GAO hired. The Democrats who ran GAO wasted my career and forced me to retire when I was 49 in 1997.
https://www.govexec.com/management/2026/02/opms-challenge-creating-high-performance-culture/411101/?oref=ge-featured-river-top

HARVARD BUSINESS REVIEW
— Training Employees Pays Off. DD: All of the first 6 months that I worked for IRS in 1971 was training. Both IRS and GAO gave me lots of training. I have always been very grateful of that. But my Democrat IRS and GAO wasted what I learned, wasted my career, and forced me to retire when I was 49 years old in 1997.
https://hbr.org/2026/01/why-training-employees-pays-off-twihttps://hbr.org/2026/01/when-theres-nowhere-to-promote-a-star-employee
— DD: While I worked for the Democrats who ran GAO 1980-1997, the agency was almost always under promotion freezes because of Gingrich budget cuts.
https://hbr.org/2026/01/when-theres-nowhere-to-promote-a-star-employee

AFL-CIO
— We Proudly Celebrate Black History Month. DD: My Black Democrat GAO subordinate who my Democrat GAO superiors replaced me with led the office’s Black History Month events.
https://aflcio.org/2026/2/2/we-proudly-celebrate-black-history-month

FROM FOREIGN SOURCES

INDEPENDENT
— The impossible choices facing millions of Americans as healthcare costs soar. DD: Because I am a retired federal employee, the federal government pays 72% of my and my wife’s healthcare insurance premiums. The 28% that we pay just increased from $600/month to $700/month.
https://www.independent.co.uk/us/money/obamacare-expired-subsidies-middle-class-b2912529.html

GLOBE
— Alex Pretti’s Cause of Death Officially Ruled a Homicide After ICE Agents Shot Him ‘Multiple’ Times.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/alex-pretti-cause-death-officially-214959276.html

BUSINESS STANDARD
— 2 senior officials sent on forced retirement. DD: What did you do to keep your job? My Democrat GAO superiors forced me to retire when I was 49 years old in 1997. If I had not done the following, they would have succeeded in getting rid of me sooner than they did. I earned a master’s degree in finance in 1997. I earned professional certifications in forensic accounting in 1997, financial services auditing in 1996, government financial management in 1994, fraud examination in 1990, internal auditing in 1981, and accounting in 1979. I became a licensed CPA in 1981. I earned a master’s degree in accounting in 1980. I earned an MBA in 1976.
https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/corruption/2-senior-nbr-officials-sent-forced-retirement-over-graft-allegations-1118236