August 2 Morning Edition

NBC5
— Trump Joining With GOP Senators to Push Immigration Changes  Trump has made cracking down on illegal immigration a hallmark of his administration and has tried to slash federal grants for cities that refuse to comply with federal efforts to detain and deport those living in the country illegally – Ken Thomas and Jill Colvin
http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/national-international/Trump-GOP-Senators-Immigration-Changes–438107103.html

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Insurers want to hike Obamacare rates in Illinois up to 43 percent – Mitchell Armentrout
http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/insurers-want-to-hike-obamacare-rates-in-illinois-up-to-43-percent/
— Too many crimes on the CTA going unsolved – Editorial
http://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/editorial-too-many-crimes-on-the-cta-going-unsolved/

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Pritzker details health care plan, rivals say it’s not enough – Rick Pearson
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-jb-pritzker-healthcare-20170802-story.html
— Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake takes GOP to task over Trump – AP  (DIERSEN: The more that you blast Trump, the more that anti-Trumps promote you.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-arizona-senator-trump-20170801-story.html
— The Republican Party was born of moral outrage — and is dying for lack of it – Ron Grossman  (DIERSEN: Republicans should be more outraged by efforts by anti-Trumps to get rid of individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries that are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German American, draft avoiders (except Bill Clinton), and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-health-care-gop-expired-grossman-20170801-story.html
— Trump signs bill imposing sanctions on Russia – AP  (DIERSEN: What sanctions have the federal government imposed on you?  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, 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.  My Democrat IRS superiors did not promote me beyond GS-12, disallowed my education deductions in 1978, and disallowed my partial day per diem claims in 1974.  My Democrat Post Office superiors forced me resign in 1969 and disallowed my sick leave requests in 1969 and 1968.  They would not have imposed the aforesaid sanctions if I had been a Democrat, a minority, a female, or a veteran.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-trump-russia-sanctions-20170802-story.html

 

DAILY HERALD
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: DIERSEN HEADLINE: In a front page top of fold editorial with a color photo of Jake Griffin unethically made to look like a news article, the Daily Herald calls for the State of Illinois to tax retirement income. What about those like me who were forced to retire early?  Illinois’ not taxing retirement income was one factor that helped my Democrat GAO superiors succeed in forcing me to take their early retirement “offer” in 1997 when I was 49 years old. What about COLAs? COLAs are always far less than inflation.  What about health care costs? The older that you are, the higher that your health care costs are.  Health care costs have always gone up far more than inflation.)
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20170802/how-not-taxing-retirees-income-costs-illinois
— How retirement income became exempt from state tax – Jake Griffin
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20170802/how-retirement-income-became-exempt-from-state-tax
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: An anti-Trump says “Buyer remorse sets in for flyover country Trump voters.”
http://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20170802/buyer-remorse-sets-in-for-flyover-country-trump-voters
— To many, Illinois tax hike is inhumane – Dan McCaleb  (DIERSEN: If you do not pay state income tax, a state income tax hike does not affect you.)
http://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20170801/mccaleb-to-many-illinois-tax-hike-is-inhumane
— 2 Venezuelan opposition leaders jailed as crisis escalates – AP  (DIERSEN: Because I support the Republican Party platform, the Illinois Republican Party (IRP) platform, and the Milton Township Republican Central Committee (MTRCC) resolution against video gambling, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes paint me as being someone who is trying to be an “opposition leader” because certain past and present leaders of Republican organizations in Milton Township, in DuPage County, and in Illinois reject many planks in the Republican Party platform, in the IRP platform, and the MTRCC resolution against video gambling. Most commonly, they reject the traditional family, right to life, immigration, illegal drugs, equal opportunity (no race or gender based preference giving), First Amendment, and Second Amendment planks.  Most commonly, they promote vices including booze, gambling, and pot.)
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20170801/news/308019961/
— Retired judge: Barrington students in photo weren’t acting racist – Bob Susnjara
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20170801/retired-judge-barrington-students-in-photo-werent-acting-racist

 

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Chicago Sun-Times investors lost $80 million – LYNNE MAREK (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, newspapers act like they exist to promote the Democrat Party platform, the Libertarian Party platform, and the Green Party platform rather than to make a profit.)
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20170802/NEWS06/170809973
— How Exelon will keep getting bailout money in Illinois—whether it needs it or not – STEVE DANIELS
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20170802/NEWS11/170809972/how-exelon-will-keep-getting-bailout-money-in-illinois-x2014-whether

 

FOX NEWS CHICAGO
— Trump reportedly described White House as a ‘real dump’ – AP
http://www.fox32chicago.com/news/271479819-story

 

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— School funding reform cannot wait – Editorial
http://www.sj-r.com/opinion/20170801/our-view-school-funding-reform-cannot-wait

 

CHAMPAIGN/URBANA NEWS GAZETTE
— Adam Andrzejewski follows money, irritates powerful – Jim Dey  (DIERSEN: Who is irritated at you and at what you do? Individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries that are anti-Trump, anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, anti-German Americans, anti-draft avoiders (except Bill Clinton), and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors a) are irritated at me and at what I do as your GOPUSA Illinois Editor and as a Republican Precinct Committeeman and b) were irritated at what I did as a TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois chairman, Wheaton Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee member, Milton Township Republican Central Committee webmaster, Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee member, American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter board member, GAO employee, IRS employee, etc.)
http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2017-08-01/jim-dey-watchdog-follows-money-irritates-powerful.html

 

NPR ILLINOIS
— The Recreational Marijuana Legalization Debate In Illinois – RACHEL OTWELL (DIERSEN: If you promote pot, you promote destruction.)
http://nprillinois.org/post/recreational-marijuana-legalization-debate-illinois#stream/0

 

FOX ILLINOIS
— Website draws attention to lack of female presence in Illinois governor race – Jaclyn Driscoll
http://foxillinois.com/news/local/website-draws-attention-to-lack-of-female-presence-in-illinois-governor-race

 

XRADIO
— Local Legislators Backing Governor’s Amendatory Veto of Ed Funding Bill – Greg Sapp
http://www.thexradio.com/news/78-local-news/29195-local-legislators-backing-governor-s-amendatory-veto-of-ed-funding-bill

 

CHICAGO NOW
— Gain insights into Gov. Rauner’s new regime’s approach: Watch Berkowitz w/Rauner insider Dan Proft
http://www.chicagonow.com/public-affairs-with-jeff-berkowitz/2017/08/gain-insights-into-gov-rauners-new-regimes-approach-watch-berkowitz-wrauner-insider-dan-proft-cableweb/

 

MCHENRY TIMES
— Skillicorn laments lack of reforms in school funding bill – Caitlin Nordahl
http://mchenrytimes.com/stories/511167822-skillicorn-laments-lack-of-reforms-in-school-funding-bill

 

DUPAGE POLICY JOURNAL
— Ives targets multiple aspects of school funding measure – Caitlin Nordahl
http://dupagepolicyjournal.com/stories/511168880-ives-targets-multiple-aspects-of-school-funding-measure
— Ives disagrees with evidence-based school funding – Caitlin Nordahl
http://dupagepolicyjournal.com/stories/511167864-ives-disagrees-with-evidence-based-school-funding

 

SAGAMON SUN
— Illinois state politics fueled by the privately-educated  (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have always demonized, denigrated, and condemned my parents for sending me to Trinity Lutheran Grade School in Crete 1953-1961 and then to Hope Lutheran Grade School in Park Forest 1961-1962 to stay with the Missouri synod.)
http://sangamonsun.com/stories/511168040-illinois-state-politics-fueled-by-the-privately-educated
(FROM THE ARTICLE: If one aspires to become a politician in Illinois, there’s one tried and tested route. Attend private elementary and high schools. Local Government Information Services (LGIS), which publishes the Sangamon Sun, researched the K-12 school choices of Illinois’ top elected officials– present and past– and found a clear, unmistakable trend. They may politically support Illinois’ public schools, but an increasing number of elected officials are opting out of using them personally.)

 

ILLINOIS FAMILY INSTITUTE
— Christians Must Exit Government Schools – Laurie Higgins
https://illinoisfamily.org/education/christian-parents-must-exit-government-schools/

 

ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE
— CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO PAY $850 MILLION IN INTEREST ON $500 MILLION LOAN – Robert Brutvan
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/chicago-public-schools-to-pay-850-million-in-interest-on-500-million-loan/

 

ILLINOIS NEWS NETWORK
— Illinois GOP blasts Democratic leaders for not hosting annual rally at state fair – Greg Bishop  (DIERSEN: When you attend GOP rallies and other events, how welcome do you feel?  How do activists, candidates, elected officials, party leaders, major donors, political consultants, etc. treat you at those rallies and other events?)
https://www.ilnews.org/news/state_politics/illinois-gop-blasts-democratic-leaders-for-not-hosting-annual-rally/article_b9a67afe-76cb-11e7-b3bc-4f1249e7bb75.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Illinois Republican Party Executive Director Nick Klitzing isn’t surprised by the move. “It says something about their lack of a commitment to agriculture,” Klitzing said. “It says something about their lack of commitment of having regular people who aren’t party bigwigs, who don’t give tons of money.” Klitzing said it’s another example of things being run with an iron fist by Madigan, the longtime party leader. “The same way that he rules as the speaker of the House of the state legislature is exactly the same way he rules the Democratic Party of Illinois,” Klitzing said. Republicans still plan a rally during Governor’s Day Wednesday, Aug. 16. Democrats also didn’t host a statewide convention in 2016. These gatherings feature speeches from various party leaders. Klitzing said these types of events are important for the party faithful. “Those opportunities at a convention and meetings, it gives people, regular people, an opportunity to meet their legislators,” Klitzing said, “to meet their elected officials, to interact with them and voice their opinions.”)
— Adios Illinois; more consider fleeing tax unfriendly Illinois – Dan McCaleb
https://www.ilnews.org/opinion/mccaleb-adios-illinois-more-consider-fleeing-tax-unfriendly-illinois/article_0f46358a-76b3-11e7-acca-436a6a2a1a5c.html

 

POLITICO ILLINOIS
— FROM THE ARTICLE: Lieutenant Gov. Evelyn Sanguinetti applauded her boss, saying that, as someone who once knew poverty, “all children deserve access to a world class education.” She struck a hopeful note, saying she was “confident” both legislative houses “will support a clean school funding bill that puts more money in the classroom for our students.”  (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes demonize me, denigrate me, and condemn me as being someone who has never known poverty.)
http://www.politico.com/tipsheets/illinois-playbook/2017/08/02/rauner-vetoes-state-education-bill-rahm-accuses-governor-of-fuzzy-math-chicago-homicides-cross-400-mark-johnson-says-overall-shootings-are-trending-down-221652

 

CAPITOL FAX
— Cutting classroom money while protecting pension money
https://capitolfax.com/2017/08/02/cutting-classroom-money-while-protecting-pension-money/
— Question: Should legislators be barred from serving as state party chairs?  (DIERSEN: One could also ask should elected/appointed officials be barred from serving as a) members of their State Central Committee (SCC) and b) as officers of their state, county, township, and ward party organizations. In Illinois, Republicans are barred from directly electing members of the Illinois Republican Party SCC.)
https://capitolfax.com/2017/08/01/question-of-the-day-2522/

 

GOPUSA
— Procter & Gamble’s Identity-Politics Pandering  (DIERSEN: How soon will P&G officially dump those who are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German American, draft avoiders (except Bill Clinton), and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time?)
http://www.gopusa.com/procter-gambles-identity-politics-pandering/

 

NEWS ONE
— DOJ Targets Affirmative Action  The Trump administration wants to pressure universities to end admission policies that “discriminate against Whites.” – Nigel Roberts
https://newsone.com/3729986/doj-affirmative-action-college-admissions/

 

DAILY CALLER
— DOJ Source Shuts Down NYT Affirmative Action Story – Alex Pfeiffer
http://dailycaller.com/2017/08/02/doj-source-shuts-down-nyt-affirmative-action-story/
— Trump DOJ Suing Over Affirmative Action In Universities – Kevin Daley  (DIERSEN: To give preference to one group is to discriminate against another group. I became a federal employee in 1971 because Oldsmobile withdrew a job offer that I had accepted saying that it had just agreed to stop hiring Whites to settle an EEOC complaint.  All during the almost 30 years that I worked for the federal government 1966-1969 and 1971-1997, my Democrat superiors were under tremendous pressure from Democrat politicians to hire, to retain, and to promote Democrats, and especially Democrats who were minority, female, and/or younger.)
http://dailycaller.com/2017/08/01/trump-justice-department-will-sue-to-curtail-affirmative-action/
— Panicked NYT Warns Reporters Not To Talk To ‘College Students’ – Nick Givas  (DIERSEN: Government is nasty.  Politics is nasty. I should write a book about activists, candidates, elected officials, party leaders, major donors, political consultants, etc. who act they have been warned by my critics/opponents to not talk to me.  My critics/opponents have made it very clear that they will have their operatives and their dupes viciously destroy anyone who talks to me.)
http://dailycaller.com/2017/08/01/panicked-nyt-warns-reporters-not-to-talk-to-college-students/

 

NEWSMAX
— Tom Brokaw: Trump Holding His ‘Hard Core’ Base of Supporters – Cathy Burke  (DIERSEN: Are you demonized, denigrated, and condemned as being “hard core.”  I am demonized, denigrated, and condemned as being “hard core” by individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries that are anti-Trump, anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, anti-German Americans, anti-draft avoiders (except Bill Clinton), and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors and/or that 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://www.newsmax.com/Politics/tom-brokaw-trump-supporters-base/2017/08/01/id/805147/

 

WASHINGTON FREE BEACON
— Health Care Costs for Prison Inmates Up 37% Since 2009  Drug abuse treatment increased by 44 percent in the same time frame – Ali Meyer
http://freebeacon.com/issues/health-care-costs-prison-inmates-37-since-2009/

 

THE HILL
— Trump approval in GOP-leaning poll drops below Obama’s lowest – MALLORY SHELBOURNE
http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/344920-trump-approval-in-gop-leaning-poll-drops-below-obamas-lowest

 

WASHINGTON POST
— Trump isn’t changing the Republican Party. The Republican Party is changing Trump. – Matt Grossmann and David A. Hopkins  (DIERSEN: When you get elected or appointed to a government office or to a political office as a Republican, you obligate yourself to defend and advance the Republican Party platform.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2017/08/02/trump-isnt-changing-the-republican-party-the-republican-party-is-changing-trump/

 

BOSTON GLOBE
— The solar eclipse path will overwhelmingly pass over Trump Country – Matt Rocheleau  (DIERSEN: Do you live in Trump Country?  I do not. The majority of those who voted in my precinct, in Wheaton, in Milton Township, in DuPage County, and in Illinois voted for Clinton.  Those who voted for Clinton want to get rid of individuals like me, organizations, companies, governments, and countries that are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German American, draft avoiders (except Bill Clinton), and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2017/08/01/the-solar-eclipse-coming-trump-country/Ldd7MhDroW1cdYCwCBoxbO/story.html

 

USA TODAY
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: An anti-Trump says “Trump embodies every one of the Seven Deadly Sins.”
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2017/07/31/how-trump-embodies-seven-deadly-sins-brian-klaas-column/523664001/
— Pass GOP tax cuts by Thanksgiving or get ready for Speaker Pelosi – Newt Gingrich and Brad Anderson
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2017/08/02/pass-gop-tax-cuts-thanksgiving-get-ready-speaker-nancy-pelosi/529438001/
— Just 21 years old, Nihar Suthar has already saved over $100,000 – Tanisha A. Sykes  (DIERSEN: How do you compare to Suthar?  Suthar puts me to shame.  According to the February 1978 issue of Money Magazine, a) for 1977, when I was 29 years old, my income was $26,563, my expenses were $22,041, and I saved $4,522 and b) as of December 31, 1977, my assets were $113,487, my debts were $59,537, and my net worth was $53,950.  My income included $22,449 IRS salary and $2,675 rental income. My expenses included $9,479 mortgage payments, $4,900 income taxes, $2,198 food and entertainment, $1,568 pension contributions, and $823 tuition and books.  My assets included a $60,000 Outer Drive East (ODE) condo, a $26,000 University Park town home, $7,393 in retirement contributions, $6,333 in savings, and a $6,000 1972 Corvette. My debts included a $38,795 ODE condo mortgage and a $19,380 University Park town home mortgage.)
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2017/08/02/21-year-old-saves-over-100-000/475019001/
— Sleep study finds that the fewer hours you snooze the heavier you are likely to be – Matthew Diebel
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2017/08/01/sleep-study-fewer-hours-you-snooze-heavier-you-likely/528475001/
— HARDCOPY ARTICLE TITLE: Even Kelly can’t stop Trump’s tweeting  Only way to get to ‘get the truth out,’ the president says – David Jackson  (DIERSEN: How often do the following communicate with the Republican voters in your precinct: your Republican Precinct Committeeman, the officers of your Republican township/ward party organization, the officers of your Republican county party organization, your representative on the Illinois Republican Party (IRP) State Central Committee, the IRP officers, the IRP National Committeeman and Committeewoman, and the Republican elected/appointed officials who represent all or part of your precinct? I communicate with the aforesaid twice each and every day with GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails.)
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2017/08/01/after-hiring-new-chief-staff-trump-pledges-keep-tweeting/528553001/

 

TIME
— BEYOND OUTRAGEOUS: 3 Trump Appointees Owe Thousands of Dollars in Back Taxes – Dave Levinthal, Center for Public Integrity  (DIERSEN: I worked for IRS for almost 9 years and I worked for GAO on audits of IRS for 3 years.)
http://time.com/4883523/donald-trump-taxes-appointees/

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— ObamaCare for Congress  Trump can change a rule that exempts Members from the law’s pain. – Editorial (DIERSEN: What did you and your spouse do to qualify for your health insurance? Because I worked for the federal government for almost 30 years, my wife and I a) qualify as members of the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (
https://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/healthcare/) for life and b) get a 75% (currently $17,288/year) federal health, dental, and vision insurance subsidy for life.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/obamacare-for-congress-1501629597
— HARDCOPY ARTICLE TITLE: Insecure Workers Face Risk Of Illness – Laurn Weber  (DIERSEN: While I worked for the federal government for almost 30 years, my Democrat superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates did everything that they could to make feel insecure. My Democrat Post Office superiors forced me resign in 1969 and disallowed my sick leave requests in 1969 and 1968.  My Democrat IRS superiors did not promote me beyond GS-12, disallowed my education deductions in 1978, and disallowed my partial day per diem claims in 1974. 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, 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. Because I have always been a Republican, were it not for federal civil service protections, a) the Post Office would NOT have hired me in 1966 or let me work there for almost 3 years, b) IRS would NOT have hired me in 1971 or let me work there for almost 9 years, c) IRS would NOT have promoted me in 1972, 1973, or 1974, d) GAO would NOT have hired me in 1980 or let me work there for almost 18 years, and e) GAO would NOT have promoted me in 1986.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/worried-sick-about-losing-a-job-1501588800

 

BARRON’S
— Why State Budgets Shouldn’t Bet On Casino Gaming  Analysts at S&P Global warn that New England states hoping that commercial casino revenues will help fill their coffers may face long-term credit risk. – Johanna Bennett
http://www.barrons.com/articles/why-state-budgets-shouldnt-bet-on-casino-gaming-1501520010

 

RASMUSSEN REPORTS
— Most Voters Say Trump Is His Own Worst Enemy
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/trump_administration/july_2017/most_voters_say_trump_is_his_own_worst_enemy

Author: David Diersen

The opinions that I express in GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails are based on experience that I have gained doing many things since 1948. I base my opinions on what I learned a) working for the federal government for almost 30 years -- Post Office 1966-1969, IRS 1971-1980, and GAO 1980-1997, serving on the Executive Committee of the Association of Government Accountants Chicago Chapter 1983-1996, and being a union member while I worked for the Post Office and IRS; b) earning an MBA from Loyola in 1976, a masters degree in accounting from DePaul in 1980, and a masters degree in financial markets and trading from IIT in 1997; c) passing the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979 and passing the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt in 1981; c) serving as a Republican Precinct Committeeman since 1999, the GOPUSA Illinois Editor since 2000, the TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois Chairman 2005-2012, a member of the 2008 Illinois Republican Party (IRP) Platform and Resolutions Committee, a Wheaton Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee member 2003-2011, the Milton Township Republican Central Committee webmaster 2008-2010 and 2000-2004, an Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee member 2003-2007, and an American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter board member 2001-2004; d) attending the 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016 IRP State Conventions as a delegate; e) being the subject of a nasty 4-page article in the February 1978 issue of Money Magazine; f) pursing litigation including Diersen v. GAO and Diersen v. Chicago Car Exchange; g) being married since 1978; h) living in Crete 1948-1972, in University Park 1972-1976, in Chicago 1976-1978, and in DuPage County, Milton Township, and Wheaton since 1978; and i) being baptized, raised, and confirmed as a Missouri Synod Lutheran.