ABC7
— Madigan’s importance to Democratic Party likened to wartime general – Craig Wall
http://abc7chicago.com/politics/madigans-importance-to-democratic-party-likened-to-wartime-general/3130797/
— Threats to Chicago area schools cancel classes, fuel anxiety – Leah Hope
http://abc7chicago.com/threats-to-chicago-area-schools-cancel-classes-fuel-anxiety/3129932/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Friday morning Crete-Monee School District 201-U had extra security after a social media threat.)
NBC5
— Illinois Lawmakers Revisit Gun Legislation
https://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/illinois-lawmakers-gun-legislation-474944033.html
— Social Media Roasts Rauner’s Chocolate Milk Stunt (DIERSEN: I should write a book and title it “Who should pay the price of Affirmative Action, Diversity, and Inclusion?”)
https://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/rauner-chocolate-milk-diversity-474965713.html
— Could Hastert Case be Heard in Secret? The case in question involves a lawsuit from the accuser of disgraced former House Speaker Dennis Hastert to recover the balance of over $1 million in hush money he says Hastert promised to pay to conceal decades-old incidents of sexual abuse. – Phil Rogers
https://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/could-hastert-case-be-heard-in-secret-474973403.html
CBS2
— Carvlin, an elementary school teacher and mother of two, is taking on one of Madigan’s strongest allies, state Rep. Bob Rita, alleging that Madigan’s support for Rita shows he’s no friend of women. – Derrick Blakley,
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2018/02/22/opponent-revives-domestic-abuse-allegations-against-lawmaker/
FOX NEWS CHICAGO
— Autopsy confirms woman, 22, mauled to death by her own dogs
http://www.fox32chicago.com/news/dont-miss/autopsy-confirms-woman-22-mauled-to-death-by-her-own-dogs
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Madigan schedules votes on gun control proposals as Republicans question his motives – Monique Garcia
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-illinois-legislature-gun-day-20180223-story.html
— Elgin Mayor questions need for state license for gun shops – Mike Danahey
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/elgin-courier-news/news/ct-ecn-elgin-mayor-guns-st-0225-20180223-story.html
— Our Republican choice for attorney general: Erika Harold
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-edit-harold-erika-republican-attorney-general-illinois-20180216-story.html
— DuPage Board District 1 candidates agree O’Hare western access is needed – Chuck Fieldman
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/elmhurst/news/ct-elh-dupage-board-district-1-tl-0301-20180223-story.html
— Shameful decision by a Downstate TV station allows Pritzker to cancel a debate – Eric Zorn
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/zorn/ct-perspec-zorn-pritzker-debate-rauner-cancel-0225-20180222-story.html
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Is Mike like Ike? Dem says ousting Madigan now like sacking Eisenhower on D-Day – Fran Spielman
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/put-off-talk-of-removing-madigan-until-after-primary-rahms-floor-leader-says/
— Trump says he goes to great lengths to hide his bald spot – AP
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/trump-tries-to-hide-bald-spot/
— How Michael Madigan could be ‘taxed’ out of existence – Rich Miller
https://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/how-michael-madigan-could-be-taxed-out-of-existence/
DAILY HERALD
— Statement from Burt Minor on accusations of racist, sexist comments
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20180223/statement-from-burt-minor-on-accusations-of-racist-sexist-comments
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Those who promote Islam demonize, denigrate, and condemn those who do promote Islam.
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20180223/batavia-natives-debut-novel-addresses-hate-islamophobia
— Billy Graham’s rare honor at U.S. Capitol – AP
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20180223/billy-grahams-rare-honor-at-us-capitol
— Threat not credible, but Lake Park cancels classes – Marie Wilson
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20180223/threat-not-credible-but-lake-park-cancels-classes
— AP-NORC Poll: Most have grim outlook on America’s direction – AP (DIERSEN: The future looks especially grim for those in Illinois who support the traditional family, right to life, immigration, and other planks in the Illinois Republican Party (IRP) platform because those who dominate the Illinois Democrat Party and those who dominate the IRP increasingly make it clear that they want to get rid of those in Illinois who support the traditional family, right to life, immigration, and other planks in the IRP platform.)
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20180223/news/302239921/
— Kane County clerk will open Aurora satellite office if election commission voted down – Susan Sarkauskas
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20180223/kane-county-clerk-will-open-aurora-satellite-office-if-election-commission-voted-down
— GOP candidates in 10th House race support varying degrees of gun control – Russell Lissau
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20180223/gop-candidates-in-10th-house-race-support-varying-degrees-of-gun-control
CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Gun-control forces prepare for key Springfield vote – GREG HINZ
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20180223/BLOGS02/180229934/gun-control-forces-prepare-for-key-springfield-vote
SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Madigan: Illinois House to vote on gun bills next week – Brenden Moore
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20180223/madigan-illinois-house-to-vote-on-gun-bills-next-week
BLOOMINGTON PANTAGRAPH
— ENDORSEMENT: A reluctant nod for Rauner
http://www.pantagraph.com/opinion/editorial/pantagraph-endorsement-a-reluctant-nod-for-rauner/article_08043821-fdb8-579c-b124-7187ce176a7c.html
NORTHERN PUBLIC RADIO
— Democrats Turn Out For Chance To Flip GOP Districts – VICTOR YEHLING (DIERSEN: Of course, since 2000, and especially since 2006, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have hinted/implied/argued/shouted a) that I have caused all of Roskam’s problems, all of your problems, all of my problems, and all of everyone’s problems, b) that my knowledge of IRS and of GAO that I gained from working for IRS for almost 9 years, from working for GAO for almost 18 years, and from working for GAO on audits of IRS for 3 years is worthless, and c) that Roskam should not seek or accept my input on anything.)
http://northernpublicradio.org/post/democrats-turn-out-chance-flip-gop-districts
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Schraufnagel suggests that Roskam’s stance on a major issue may have had an effect on attracting so many Democrats. “Roskam is one of the architects of the tax-reform legislation that recently passed, and that particular legislation hasn’t been considered very popular,” Schraufnagel said. As far as which way the district leans, he pointed to the Partisan Voting Index, which takes the average vote for president in the previous two election cycles. The 6th District comes out as R+2, meaning it’s a Republican district — but only by two percentage points. “So that’s why I think the Democrats are crowding this field,” Schraufnagel said. “They see this as a real chance to pick up a seat. Indeed, the Cook Political Report and some others rate this as a toss-up and a very potential Republican loss.”)
BGA
— THREE STEPS TO FIX ILLINOIS’ BROKEN BUDGET PROCESS – Andy Shaw
https://www.bettergov.org/news/shaw-three-steps-to-fix-illinois-broken-budget-process
DUPAGE COUNTY ELECTION COMMISSION
— DuPage Election Commission Introduces New Election Results Reporting System
http://www.dupageco.org/Election/Election_Commission_News/2018/56961/
WIREPOINTS
— Why Rauner’s failures justify a reform agenda in Illinois – Ted Dabrowski and John Klingner
http://www.wirepoints.com/rauners-failed-record-the-best-case-for-a-reform-agenda-in-illinois-wirepoints-report/
DUPAGE POLICY JOURNAL
— Jeanne Ives talks with Dan & Amy about the Quincy VA & the race against Rauner
https://dupagepolicyjournal.com/stories/511350434-cma-jeanne-ives-talks-with-dan-amy-about-the-quincy-va-the-race-against-rauner
ILLINOIS CHRONICLE
— GOP lawmakers to Rauner: stop your “shameful distortions and fabrications”
https://theillinoischronicle.com/chronicle-gop-lawmakers-to-rauner-stop-your-shameful-distortions-and-fabrications/
— McSweeney files bill to block Rauner budget proposal
https://theillinoischronicle.com/chronicle-republican-lawmaker-files-bill-to-block-rauner-budget-proposal/
AMERICANS FOR TRUTH ABOUT HOMOSEXUALITY
— Is CPAC Conservative When It Bans Anti-Gay-Agenda Exhibitors While Welcoming LGBTQ Activists? – Peter LaBarbera
https://americansfortruth.com/2018/02/23/aftah-is-cpac-conservative-when-it-bans-anti-gay-agenda-exhibitors-while-welcoming-lgbtq-activists/
— Log Cabin Republicans’ Float in ‘Gay Pride’ Parade Mocked Military with Crude Gay Sexual Humor – As Children Watched
https://americansfortruth.com/2018/02/18/log-cabin-republicans-float-in-gay-pride-parade-mocked-military-with-crude-gay-sexual-humor/
CAPITOL FAX
— Crain’s not-so-wholeheartedly endorses Rauner, Pritzker
https://capitolfax.com/2018/02/23/crains-not-so-wholeheartedly-endorses-rauner-pritzker/
— Democrats use Greitens to attack Rauner
https://capitolfax.com/2018/02/23/dems-use-greitens-to-attack-rauner/
— Hinz: “The governor is in full Pinocchio mode”
https://capitolfax.com/2018/02/23/hinz-the-governor-is-in-full-pinocchio-mode/
— Kennedy responds *** Pritzker hit again on the lack of women in his companies (DIERSEN: In 1971, Oldsmobile withdrew a job offer that I had accepted saying that it had just agreed to stop hiring Whites to settle an EEOC complaint. Financial industry employers have always been under tremendous pressure to hire, to retain, and to promote young minorities and young females. Since 1997, that, and my bad demographics (born in 1948, White, male, etc.), have frustrated my efforts to get a job in the financial industry appropriate for someone with my salary history, work experience, professional certifications, professional license, and education. I worked for GAO on audits of financial industry regulators 1990-1997 at the GS-13 Step 3-10 levels, currently $106,044-$125,325. I became a Forensic Accountant in 1997, Certified Financial Services Auditor in 1996, Certified Government Financial Manager in 1994, Certified Fraud Examiner in 1990, Licensed CPA in 1981, Certified Internal Auditor in 1981, and CPA in 1979. I earned a master’s degree in financial markets and trading from IIT in 1997, a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul in 1980, and an MBA from Loyola in 1976. Further, not only financial industry employers, but all employers view federal employees and federal retirees as being overpaid, lazy, stupid, and even worse things. Further, my former GAO superiors and their supporters continue to do everything that they can to frustrate my job search.)
https://capitolfax.com/2018/02/23/pritzker-hit-again-on-the-lack-of-women-in-his-companies/
CBN
— Wheaton College Thanks God for Victory in 5-Year Religious Rights Battle
http://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2018/february/christian-college-thanks-god-for-victory-in-5-year-religious-rights-battle
CONSERVATIVE HQ
— Florida School Shooting Reveals Epic Government Failures – George Rasley
http://www.conservativehq.com/article/27460-florida-school-shooting-reveals-epic-government-failures
GOPUSA
— Fresh blood means ratings for media sharks
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=40062
— Transgender movement rejected by growing body of research
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=40065
— Marine Corps again lowers requirements for Infantry Officer Course
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=40067
— Major bank halts NRA credit card, car rental firm ends discount
http://www.gopusa.com/major-bank-halts-nra-credit-card-car-rental-firm-ends-discount/
— CPAC: Trump points to McCain for health care failure
http://www.gopusa.com/cpac-trump-points-to-mccain-for-health-care-failure/
HOT AIR
— Analogy Alert: Illinois’ Gov Integrates A Glass Of Milk – ANDREW MALCOLM (DIERSEN: I should write a book and title it “Who should pay the price of Affirmative Action, Diversity, and Inclusion?”)
https://hotair.com/archives/2018/02/23/analogy-alert-illinois-gov-integrates-glass-milk/
— Catholic Bishop Denies Senator Durbin Communion Until He Repents – KAREN TOWNSEND
https://hotair.com/archives/2018/02/23/catholic-bishop-denies-senator-durbin-communion-repents/
DAILY SIGNAL
— Campus Activists Take on a Generational Battle for Free Speech – Chrissy Clark
http://dailysignal.com/2018/02/23/campus-activists-take-on-a-generational-battle-for-free-speech/
DAILY CALLER
— The Second Amendment Is Plainly About War, Not Hunting – Alan Keyes
http://dailycaller.com/2018/02/23/the-second-amendment-is-plainly-about-war-not-hunting/
FREE BEACON
— CNN Worries Trump Calling Parkland Shooter ‘Sicko’ May Be ‘Harmful’ – Alex Griswold
http://freebeacon.com/issues/cnn-worries-trump-calling-parkland-shooter-sicko-harmful/
BREITBART
— Four of Sheriff Scott Israel’s Deputies Waited Outside Douglas High During School Shooting – AWR Hawkins
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/02/23/report-four-sheriff-scott-israels-deputies-waited-outside-douglas-high-school-shooting/
BLAZE
— Following Florida shooting, President Trump warns that violent video games are shaping kids’ thoughts – Sarah Taylor
https://www.theblaze.com/news/2018/02/23/following-florida-shooing-president-trump-warns-that-violent-video-games-are-shaping-kids-thoughts/
THE HILL
— Trump: Armed teacher would have ‘shot the hell’ out of gunman – JONATHAN EASLEY
http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/375278-trump-armed-teacher-would-have-shot-the-hell-out-of-gunman
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, Democrats use anti-Republicans to demonize, denigrate, and condemn Republicans.
http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/375292-ex-rnc-chairman-trump-suggestion-to-arm-teachers-is-delusional
POLITICO
— Tax law ignites White House power struggle At stake is who has ultimate authority to shape the nuances of the tax cuts and other rules as part of the $1.5 trillion Republican tax overhaul. – NANCY COOK and AARON LORENZO (DIERSEN: So far, those who want tax law to discourage marriage and to discourage homeownership are winning.)
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/02/23/tax-law-white-house-power-struggle-364885
NEW YORK TIMES
— Washington’s Fight Over Taxes Is Only Beginning Never mind that “once in a generation” tax bill that passed last year. Congress is headed for years more of battles over taxes, particularly those for individuals. – Jim Tankersley
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/23/business/washingtons-fight-over-taxes-is-only-beginning.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Even if the law survives those challenges, trouble lurks in the years to come. Nearly all of the law’s tax changes for individuals — including a nearly doubled standard deduction and the $10,000 cap on state and local tax deductions that has outraged blue-state legislators — are set to expire at the end of 2025, and so are some major provisions for businesses. Others won’t adjust for inflation, resulting in growing tax pain for some families in the years ahead. . .For individuals, a repeal push could add confusion to an already murky transition to the new law. The Trump tax overhaul eliminated personal exemptions that taxpayers may claim for themselves and their dependents, but it added a larger standard deduction and an expanded child tax credit. It reduced the cap on the mortgage interest deduction for newly purchased homes, and it limited state and local tax deductions to $10,000 a year — a number that will not rise with inflation. As the law is written, those changes are set to vanish at the end of 2025 — reviving the old system and tax rates for individuals — unless Congress extends them.)
U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT
— Chicago Fires Back at Feds’ Request in Sanctuary City Fight – AP
https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/illinois/articles/2018-02-23/chicago-fires-back-at-feds-request-in-sanctuary-city-fight
MONEY MAGAZINE
— All the Companies Cutting Ties With the NRA After Deadly Florida School Shooting – BRAD TUTTLE
http://time.com/money/5172471/nra-enterprise-first-national-bank-of-omaha-boycott-protests/
GOVERNMENT EXECUTIVE
— Senators Try Yet Again to Crack Down on VA’s Senior Executives – Eric Katz (DIERSEN: Because Republican Senators and Republican Representatives cracked down on GAO during the 1980s and the 1990s, the Democrat Senior Executives who ran GAO back then got rid of their employees like me who were Republican, and especially their Republican employees like me who were White, male, non-veteran, and who had not made 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://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2018/02/senators-try-yet-again-crack-down-vas-senior-executives/146210/
DAILY BEAST
— Wanna Be a Player At CPAC? Write a Check First. How a six-figure payment from one interest group scored it a panel and promotion from the yearly conservative confab. – LACHLAN MARKAY (DIERSEN: Of course, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes stress that I give little or no money a) to the Republican Party, b) to the Illinois Republican Party, c) to the DuPage County Republican Central Committee, d) to the Milton Township Republican Central Committee, and e) to my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes.)
https://www.thedailybeast.com/wanna-be-a-player-at-cpac-write-a-check-first
