December 25 Evening Edition

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— With opioid suit, Lake County State’s Attorney Mike Nerheim takes jab at Abbott Labs – Charles Selle
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/lake-county-news-sun/opinion/ct-lns-selle-opioid-lawsuit-st-1226-20171225-story.html

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Rahm’s 2017: Embarrassments, accomplishments — and a few lucky breaks – Fran Spielman
https://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-politics/rahms-2017-embarrassments-accomplishments-and-a-few-lucky-breaks/

 

DAILY HERALD
— Nonprofits worry tax changes will curb donations in 2018 – Elena Ferrarin
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20171225/nonprofits-worry-tax-changes-will-curb-donations-in-2018

 

ALTON TELEGRAPH
— Rays of hope are emerging: Small gains made locally in war on heroin Small gains made in war on heroin – Steve Horrell
http://www.thetelegraph.com/news/114878/rays-of-hope-are-emerging-small-gains-made-locally-in-war-on-heroin

 

ILLINOIS NEWS NETWORK
— Corrections watchdog: More needs to be done for criminal justice reform – Greg Bishop
https://www.ilnews.org/news/justice/corrections-watchdog-more-needs-to-be-done-for-criminal-justice/article_071f11dc-e694-11e7-8d19-cff75c4244f0.html

 

ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE
— CHRISTMAS WISH LIST: 12 GIFTS FOR ILLINOIS TAXPAYERS IN 2018 – Vincent Caruso
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/christmas-wish-list-12-gifts-for-illinois-taxpayers-in-2018/

 

WASHINGTON TIMES
— Not-so-beautiful Dreamers: The reality behind the media airbrushing – Hans A. von Spakovsky
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/dec/25/daca-demographics-show-less-ideal-dreamers-media-i/

 

WORLD NET DAILY
— KARL ROVE AND THE DESPICABLE GOP ELITE Mychal Massie rips RNC for using the people’s money to undermine Trump
http://www.wnd.com/2017/12/karl-rove-and-the-despicable-gop-elite/

 

GOPUSA
— Jeff Flake: Some GOP rallies look like ‘spasms of a dying party’
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=35913

 

FOX BUSINESS
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Big labor sees growth potential in California pot workers – SCOTT SMITH
http://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/2017/12/25/big-labor-sees-growth-potential-in-california-pot-workers.html

 

NEWSMAX
— Trump: People ‘Proud’ to Say ‘Merry Christmas Again’ – Sandy Fitzgerald
https://www.newsmax.com/politics/trump-merry-christmas-tweet/2017/12/25/id/833606/

 

POLITICO
— The top 10 House races to watch in 2018 Key districts around the country that will define next year’s battle for control of the House. – ELENA SCHNEIDER (DIERSEN: Social progressives want Roskam to pander to them. What do you say to those who advise Roskam to pander to social progressives? To be “socially progressive” is to promote dependency on government, dependency on charity, LGBTQ activity, abortion, mass/illegal immigration, booze, pot, gambling, and other vices, patronage, political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, abolition of the First and Second Amendments, and even worse things.)
https://www.politico.com/story/2017/12/25/house-races-2018-midterms-republicans-democrats-316207
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Illinois’ 6th District: Revenge of the suburbs GOP Rep. Peter Roskam won reelection handily in 2016, but his Chicagoland district saw a big shift, with President Donald Trump losing it by 7 points after Mitt Romney carried the seat by 8 points in 2012. And since Trump took office, elections in Virginia, New Jersey and a handful of congressional special elections around the country have seen local candidates fall to or even below Trump’s levels in the suburbs. That’s a big warning sign for Roskam and other Republicans in suburbs of New York, Los Angeles, Detroit, Kansas City and more heading into 2018. Democrats have to wade through a crowded primary before they face Roskam. Kelly Mazeski, who picked up an EMILY’s List endorsement and raised the most money last quarter, is leading the pack, though anything can happen in a field of seven candidates. But even a bruised Democratic opponent may not stem the tide against Roskam and other suburban congressmen. “Increasingly socially progressive, suburban voters have been drifting away from the GOP for years,” said Ian Russell, former Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee deputy executive director. “Trump dramatically accelerated this movement, and the tax bill will only further alienate them.”)

 

NEWSWEEK
— WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION THINKS VIDEO GAMES ARE CAUSING A MENTAL HEALTH DISORDER – MELISSA MATTHEWS
http://www.newsweek.com/world-health-organization-thinks-video-games-are-causing-mental-health-758555

 

MOTLEY FOOL
— You’ll Lose Some of Your Retirement Income to the IRS — Here’s How Much When you draw up your retirement budget, don’t forget about tax expenses — or you could end up with far less income than you expect. – Wendy Connick
https://www.fool.com/retirement/2017/12/25/youll-lose-some-of-your-retirement-income-to-the-i.aspx

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.