Tag: pension

POLITICO ILLINOIS
— HRO upheaval and a GOP feud – Shia Kapos (DIERSEN: Disgustingly, outrageously, tragically, and ever-increasingly, Illinois Republicans first learn from Democrat news sources like Capitol Fax and Politico Illinois what Illinois Republican Party (IRP) leaders are saying and doing. Far too often, it looks like IRP leaders are taking direction from Democrats and Democrat plants, Libertarians and Libertarian plants, Greens and Green plants, and RINOs who have lots of religious, government, political, and/or financial clout to keep Illinois Republicans including Dave Diersen and his GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails “out of the loop.”) 
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2019/04/22/hro-upheaval-and-a-gop-feud-newman-hits-a-roadblock-meister-wants-a-rematch-427112
(FROM THE ARTICLE: After losing six House seats in the 2018 general election, the House Republican Organization is reorganizing its leadership team and ramping up fundraising. Political Director Joe Woodward, a confidante and friend to House GOP Leader Jim Durkin, is out, according to a memo Durkin and new HRO Chair Tony McCombie sent Saturday to caucus members and obtained by POLITICO. Woodward is moving to the private sector, and HRO has hired Jayme Odom with the new title: executive director. “We’re bringing in additional fundraisers and plan to be more aggressive with members on their own fundraising with the organization,” Durkin told POLITICO. The changes come after re-evaluating the 2018 losses. “When you have a multi-billionaire writing checks, it’s difficult,” Durkin said, referring, of course, to Gov. J.B. Pritzker‘s backing of so many Dem candidates. “We have to be more self-sufficient.” GOP Rep. Mark Batinick (97th) says the GOP caucus has done “much introspection” on its campaign strategy leading up to 2020. “Only through a thorough self-examination can we fully improve. Not only is it OK to question everything, it’s what any organization should do from time to time,” he told POLITICO. Republican campaign coffers remain a fraction of their Democratic counterparts. The HRO, which has a fundraiser planned April 29, has $38,000 cash on hand, compared to the Democratic Majority’s $3.4 million. Durkin, meanwhile, has $900,000 on hand while House Speaker Mike Madigan sits on $7.4 million. Odom, HRO’s new executive director, meanwhile, is a familiar player in Illinois politics. She previously was chief of staff for the Illinois Lottery during Gov. Bruce Rauner’s administration. During that time, a state investigation found Odom failed to disclose her connection to lobbyists for a company vying for a lucrative lottery contract. Odom then left for Ohio, where she helped manage Jim Renacci’s unsuccessful U.S. Senate campaign last year. Odom also worked as executive director for the Illinois Republican Party from 2013-2015. GOP drama part 2: Some GOP lawmakers are criticizing that political operative David Walsh was paid for consulting for Citizens for Durkin and for Majority Strategies — a national firm that also does political mailings for the HRO. The payments to Walsh by Majority Strategies were not publicly disclosed, according to a WCIA report last week. Durkin says Walsh was paid out of his campaign fund — not by HRO — and that Walsh’s work with Majority Strategies “is independent” of any work with HRO. One downstate Republican, per an interview with POLITICO, is hoping for an investigation to clear up the murkiness. And state Rep. Dave McSweeney, also in an interview, accused Durkin of paying “his buddy” Walsh instead of putting money toward House races. He even called on Durkin to step down. GOP drama part 3: Yep, there’s a feud between McSweeney and Durkin that goes beyond campaign cash. Last week, the House GOP leader pulled McSweeney’s communications aide after McSweeney spoke out against Rep. Steve Reick for a racially tinged comment about a bill requiring company boards to diversify. Reick later apologized. McSweeney paid to promote a tweet condemning Reick’s comment. In a statement to POLITICO, Durkin said: “This is an internal caucus matter. I will continue working to move the Republican Party and House Republican caucus forward in Illinois but will not tolerate public attacks on fellow members.”)

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Buttigieg in Chicago for fundraisers; gains support from major Obama donors – Lynn Sweet
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/buttigieg-in-chicago-for-fundraisers-gains-support-from-major-obama-donors/

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Is $1 million enough for retirees? – Sandra Block (DIERSEN: According to one estimate, my $4,443/mo. Civil Service Retirement System pension is currently worth $743,270.)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/success/kiplinger/tca-is-1-million-enough-for-retirees-20190415-story.html
— A visit to the ‘icebox,’ where border detainees wait for a transfer to ICE – Dick Durbin
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-perspec-immigration-ice-detention-centers-border-patrol-durbin-20190418-story.html

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— What’s at stake in latest census numbers Our newly elected leaders have their work cut out for them in figuring out how to fill Illinois’ budget hole while also making Chicago and the state a place where people want to live and work for the long haul. – Editorial (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, the Democrats who run Illinois do everything that they can to drive individuals, organizations, and companies out of Illinois that are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, draft avoiders, German American, and those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/opinion/whats-stake-latest-census-numbers

HERALD & REVIEW
— Pritzker: No idea if fed tax cut helped me – DOUG FINKE (DIERSEN: Of course, Pritzker does not prepare his own tax returns. Do you prepare your our tax returns? I have prepared my own tax returns since 1964. Further, I worked for IRS 1971-1980. Further, I passed the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979. Further, I worked for GAO on audits of IRS 1986-1988.) 
https://herald-review.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/doug-finke-statehouse-insider-pritzker-no-idea-if-fed-tax/article_4b9cbac6-94dd-55e7-ac27-243c655e7f5c.html

ALTON DAILY NEWS
— Some Democrats unhappy with Pritzker’s pension holiday plans – Cole Lauterbach (DIERSEN: Federal employees like me who were under the Civil Service Retirement System always paid 7% of our salaries into the system. My wife and I could and did always contribute the maximum allowed into IRAs and our employers’ retirement plans.)
http://altondailynews.com/news/details.cfm?clientid=17&id=283024#.XL2Gz-hKiM8

SOUTHERN
— Pritzker’s priorities coming soon – Rich Miller
https://thesouthern.com/opinion/columnists/opinion-rich-miller-pritzker-s-priorities-coming-soon/article_62f8e18e-4e80-5d7c-a716-6dd0eb110112.html

FOX ILLINOIS
— Exodus from Illinois will ‘almost assuredly’ cost the state two seats in Congress – Rachel Droze (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, the Democrats who run Illinois do everything that they can to drive individuals, organizations, and companies out of Illinois that are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, draft avoiders, German American, and those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.

DEPAULIA
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: A Trump-hater says “Trump foreign aid cuts to Central America exacerbating cycle of despair.”
https://depauliaonline.com/40698/nation/trump-foreign-aid-cuts-to-central-america-exacerbating-cycle-of-despair/

WIREPOINTS
— Chicago’s pension funds looking more like a collapsing Ponzi scheme – Ted Dabrowski and John Klingner
https://wirepoints.org/chicagos-pension-funds-looking-more-like-a-collapsing-ponzi-scheme/

MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— Casinos Can Move Anywhere under Newly-Approved Senate Bill
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2019/04/22/casinos-can-move-anywhere-in-newly-approved-senate-bill/ 
— Wilcox Takes Poll on Pot
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2019/04/22/wilcox-takes-poll-on-pot/ 
— A Bernie Sanders’ Easter
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2019/04/21/a-bernie-sanders-easter/ 
— Power of Township Government Diminished
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2019/04/20/power-of-township-government-dimiished/

ILLINOIS NEWS NETWORK
— Department of Agriculture seeks $8 million to regulate recreational marijuana, if lawmakers approve it
https://www.ilnews.org/news/state_politics/department-of-agriculture-seeks-million-to-regulate-recreational-marijuana-if/article_1d43240a-62d3-11e9-9fa6-eb2df227c168.html

ILLINOIS FAMILY INSTITUTE
— When Worldviews Collide – Laurie Higgins 
https://illinoisfamily.org/marriage/when-worldviews-collide/

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— ILLINOIS SPENDS MORE PER STUDENT ON SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION THAN ANY OTHER STATE, REPORT FINDS
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2019/04/illinois-spends-more-per-student-on-school-administration-than-any-other-state-report-finds.html

GOPUSA
— Black students strike for free food, housing
http://www.gopusa.com/black-students-strike-for-free-food-housing/
— ACLU objects to armed civilians detaining illegal aliens at the border
http://www.gopusa.com/aclu-objects-to-armed-civilians-detaining-illegal-aliens-at-the-border/

WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Border Patrol expects to quadruple spending as more immigrant families arrive in Arizona – Anna Giaritelli
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/border-patrol-expects-to-quadruple-spending-as-more-immigrant-families-arrive-in-arizona

TOWNHALL
— Come On Democrats, Impeach Trump! – Kurt Schlichter
https://townhall.com/columnists/kurtschlichter/2019/04/22/come-on-democrats-impeach-trump-n2545109

CONSERVATIVE HQ
— Nauseated GOPers sickened by Mitt Romney’s bashing of Trump – Jeffrey A. Rendall 
http://www.conservativehq.com/article/30095-assault-america-day-110-nauseated-gopers-sickened-mitt-romney%E2%80%99s-bashing-trump
— Mitt Romney Is A Virtue Signaling Twit – George Rasley
http://www.conservativehq.com/article/30096-mitt-romney-virtue-signaling-twit

FEDERALIST
— Why Relocating Illegal Aliens To Sanctuary Cities Is A Brilliant, Win-Win Idea Trump’s law-and-order supporters seemed stunned. His critics suspected a vengeful trap. Few saw it as what could become the most magnanimous gesture of his presidency. – J. Michael Waller (DIERSEN: Should mayors of sanctuary cities force the Democrats in their cities to take illegals into their residences, to feed them, to cloth them, to give them medical care, to educate them, to give them jobs, etc.?)
https://thefederalist.com/2019/04/22/relocating-illegal-aliens-sanctuary-cities-brilliant-win-win-idea/

AMERICAN THINKER
— Pete Buttigieg Is Wrong about Homosexuality – Don Boys
https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2019/04/pete_buttigieg_is_wrong_about_homosexuality.html
— Dems’ Rejection of Mueller’s Exoneration of Trump Endangers our Republic – Karin McQuillan
https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2019/04/dems_rejection_of_muellers_exoneration_of_trump_endangers_our_republic.html

AMERICAN GREATNESS
— The Party of Bias and Bigotry – Rabbi Yaakov Menken
https://www.amgreatness.com/2019/04/21/the-party-of-bias-and-bigotry/

BREITBART
— ‘Bizarre’ to Care More About Notre-Dame Fire Than Migrant Deaths, French Pupils Told – Virginia Hale
https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2019/04/22/french-pupils-notre-dame-bizarre/

FRONTPAGE MAGAZINE
— MUELLER EVIDENCE FAILS TO PROVE OBSTRUCTION CHARGE AGAINST TRUMP   Trump haters continue deranged obsession — by other means. – Joseph Klein
https://www.frontpagemag.com/fpm/273543/mueller-evidence-fails-prove-obstruction-charge-joseph-klein

ONE NEWS NOW
— Prairie State following New York’s lead – Charlie Butts
https://onenewsnow.com/pro-life/2019/04/22/prairie-state-following-new-yorks-lead

ROLL CALL
— House gets its say as Supreme Court takes up census citizenship question Stakes are high as decision could affect how many House seats each state gets – Todd Ruger
http://www.rollcall.com/news/congress/house-supreme-court-census-citizenship-question-gerrymandering

REAL CLEAR POLITICS
— ‘Edelweiss’ and the Media – Steve Cortes
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2019/04/22/edelweiss_and_the_media.html

NEW YORK TIMES
— Why Having a Gun in New Jersey Could Soon Cost 20 Times as Much – Nick Corasaniti
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/22/nyregion/nj-gun-laws.html
— Do You Prefer Free Speech, or a Perfectly Clean Internet? – Jamie Condliffe (DIERSEN: Government is nasty. Politics is nasty. According to my critics/opponents, all news and commentary is fake except for the news and commentary that they put out or bless. My critics/opponents have me and many others on their blacklists. I should write a book about my critics/opponents. They vehemently demonize, denigrate and condemn a) what I have done as a Republican Precinct Committeeman since 1999 and as the GOPUSA Illinois Editor since 2000 and b) what I did as a TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois chairman 2005-2012, Wheaton Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee member 2003-2011, Milton Township Republican Central Committee webmaster 2008-2010, Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee member 2003-2007, American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter board member 2001-2004, GAO employee 1980-1997, IRS employee 1971-1980, etc.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/19/technology/youtube-paris-misinformation.html

WASHINGTON POST
— William Barr’s immigration order is the latest example of Trump’s punitive policy – Editorial (DIERSEN: Government is nasty. Politics is nasty. All my critics/opponents have punitive policies. I should write a book about my critics/opponents and their punitive policies. My critics/opponents have me and many others on their blacklists.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/william-barrs-immigration-order-is-the-latest-example-of-trumps-punitive-policy/2019/04/21/1e1d9dc8-6149-11e9-9412-daf3d2e67c6d_story.html

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— The Case Against Early Retirement Many people dream of leaving the office as soon as they can. But the evidence suggests a lot of downsides. It may be time to rethink those dreams. – Richard W. Johnson (DIERSEN: I should write a book about early retirement.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-case-against-early-retirement-11555899000
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Most people look forward to retirement, a reward for decades of hard work. But like many other pleasures, it may be bad for your health. It may even kill you. How can that be? How can working longer be good for your health? After all, many people dream of—and plan for—retiring early. Strenuous, stressful work can wear people down and damage their health. On the other hand, retirees can relax and reinvigorate themselves. They have time to follow their passions and pursue activities that enrich their lives. But in our rush to leave the office, we don’t realize that retirement also has a downside, especially over the long term. Many retirees indulge in unhealthy behaviors. They become sedentary and watch too much television. They eat too much. They drink too much. They smoke too much. Without the purpose of fulfilling work, retirees can feel adrift and become depressed. Without the camaraderie of their co-workers, retirees risk becoming socially isolated. Without the intellectual stimulation that work can provide, retirement can accelerate cognitive decline.)
— You’ve Decided to Retire. Whom Do You Tell and When? Preparation and timing can be key to making a graceful exit from the workplace – Matthew Kassel (DIERSEN: Federal employees who are Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran who did not get promoted into the Senior Executive Service (currently $166,500/year) are expected/forced to retire as soon as they become eligible.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/youve-decided-to-retire-who-do-you-tell-and-when-11555599575
— How Retirees Should Invest at a Time of Low Interest Rates The key is to create a portfolio that gives a dependable source of cash flow, whatever happens to the economy – Michael A. Pollock
https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-retirees-should-invest-at-a-time-of-low-interest-rates-11555898880
— FRONT PAGE: Small-Time Crimes a Dealbreaker for Banking Jobs Banks want changes to law preventing them from hiring employees with certain criminal records – Lalita Clozel (DIERSEN: Your past predicts your future.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/small-time-crimes-a-dealbreaker-for-banking-jobs-11555851720
— An Obituary Writer Writes One for Himself Summing up other people’s lives has given me a sense of what I want to say—and why it’s important to say it now – James R. Hagerty (DIERSEN: Are you trying to do and how is it working out? I am trying to get the leaders of the Illinois Republican Party (IRP), DuPage County Republican Central Committee, and Milton Township Republican Central Committee to defend and advance all the planks in the IRP and Republican Party platforms, including their tradition family, right to life, immigration, Second Amendment, illegal drugs, and equal opportunity (no race or gender based preference giving) planks. Obviously, it is not working out very well. Of course, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes blame that on me.) 
https://www.wsj.com/articles/an-obituary-writer-writes-one-for-himself-11555683563
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Instead, I will attempt to answer the three things I try to convey when writing someone else’s obituary: What was he trying to do? Why? And how did it work out?)
— How to Retool Your Social Media When You Retire The social networks you used when you were working may not be a good fit for your life in retirement – Alexandra Samuel
https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-to-retool-your-social-media-when-you-retire-11555599325
— States Tempt Recent College Graduates With Student-Loan Payoffs Debt-forgiveness legislation picks up speed as states get creative in filling workforce gaps – Michelle Hackman (DIERSEN: I achieved my goal of graduating from NIU debt-free in 1970. But that required me to work many hours for the Park Forest Post Office 1966-1969 and miss “dormitory life” by living with my parents in Crete during my first 2 years at UIC 1966-1968 and weekends during my first semester at NIU in 1969.) 
https://www.wsj.com/articles/states-tempt-recent-college-graduates-with-student-loan-payoffs-11555772400

REUTERS
— How college students can find jobs – without much work experience – Chris Taylor (DIERSEN: What work experience did you have when you earned your bachelor’s degree? I earned a bachelor’s degree in management from NIU in 1970. I had a) done yard work and delivered newspapers 1962-1964; b) washed dishes 1964-1966; c) cleaned golf shoes, chipped slag, and pumped gasoline in 1966; d) delivered mail 1966-1969; and e) worked on an automobile assembly line and as a security guard in 1970.)
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-world-work-firstjobs/how-college-students-can-find-jobs-without-much-work-experience-idUSKCN1RL15H

FORBES
— Increase The Odds That You Can Continue Working In Your Retirement Years – Steve Vernon (DIERSEN: My Democrat superiors in the federal government always hinted/implied/argued/shouted that getting a job in the private sector was the real reason why I earned a) a bachelor’s degree in management when I was 21 in 1970 and job-related master’s degrees in business, accounting, and finance when I was 27, 31, and 48, b) job-related professional certifications in public accounting, internal auditing, fraud examination, government financial management, financial services auditing, and forensic accounting when I was 30, 32, 41, 45, 47, and 48, and c) a job-related professional license in public accounting when I was 32.) 
https://www.forbes.com/sites/stevevernon/2019/04/20/increase-the-odds-that-you-can-continue-working-in-your-retirement-years/#12b46f0b2192

BLOOMBERG
— Trump’s Census Citizenship Question Faces Test in High Court Clash – Greg Stohr (DIERSEN: Democrats and RINOs use illegals to destroy Republicans.) 
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-04-22/trump-s-census-citizenship-query-faces-test-in-high-court-clash
— In a Hot Jobs Market, Bosses Have to Train Their Low-Paid Staff – Shelly Hagan and Carlyann Edwards (DIERSEN: Both IRS and GAO provided me with lots of on-the-job and classroom training. But my Democrat IRS and GAO superiors wasted what I learned from that training and what I learned earning a) a job-related bachelor’s degree when I was 21 in 1970, b) job-related master’s degrees when I was 27, 31, and 48, and c) job-related professional certifications when I was 30 and 32.)
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-04-18/in-a-hot-jobs-market-bosses-have-to-train-their-low-paid-staff

USA TODAY
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: A Trump-hater says “Mueller report: Donald Trump failed us as commander in chief.”
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2019/04/19/mueller-report-trump-commander-in-chief-russia-oath-column/3506216002/

LADDERS
— Employment gaps raise red flags, but they can be overcome – STEVEN STARKS (DIERSEN: Since 1997, operatives and dupes who work for my critics/opponents have stressed that I have had an employment gap since 1997. I should write a book about those operatives and dupes, many of whom are unemployed.) 
https://www.theladders.com/career-advice/employment-gaps-raise-red-flags-but-they-can-be-overcome

PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: A Trump-hater says “Saving journalism’s soul in the Age of Trump.” 
https://www.philly.com/opinion/saving-journalism-donald-trump-war-free-press-20190422.html

NEW YORK MAGAZINE
— If Democrats Don’t Impeach Trump, They Could Still Censure Him – Ed Kilgore
http://nymag.com/intelligencer/2019/04/barring-impeachment-democrats-could-still-censure-trump.html

DAILY BEAST
— Trump’s Gay Allies Join Fight Against ‘Opportunist’ Pete Buttigieg ‘It’s a little sad to me that somebody has to do that for a job,’ a current Log Cabin staffer told The Daily Beast. – Scott Bixby
https://www.thedailybeast.com/trumps-gay-allies-join-fight-against-opportunist-pete-buttigieg