February 15 Evening Edition

CBS2
— Window Closing For Trump Infrastructure Plan, RTA Boss Dillard Warns – Bob Roberts
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2018/02/15/window-closing-for-trump-infrastructure-plan-rta-boss-warns/

 

ABC7
— Cartoon of J.B. Pritzker stirs controversy – Craig Wall
http://abc7chicago.com/politics/cartoon-of-jb-pritzker-stirs-controversy/3090621/

 

FOX NEWS CHICAGO
— President Trump making plans to visit Florida following deadly school shooting – AP
http://www.fox32chicago.com/news/president-trump-addresses-nation-following-florida-school-shooting

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Slow-walked investigation is the excuse Madigan needs to step down – Eric Zorn
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/zorn/ct-perspec-zorn-madigan-hampton-quinn-delay-0216-20180215-story.html
— Berrios property tax assessments for Cook County homeowners are flawed and unfair, study confirms – Jason Grotto, Hal Dardick
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/watchdog/ct-met-cook-property-tax-study-berrios-20180215-story.html
— Berrios primary challenger for Cook County assessor removed from ballot, vows court fight – Hal Dardick and John Byrne
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-assessor-joe-berrios-raila-kaegi-20180215-story.html
— Who’s up to the job of digging Illinois out of the pension hole it’s in? – Randy Blaser
http://www.chicagotribune.com/ct-ppn-column-blaser-tl-0222-20180214-story.html
— Your paycheck will probably get bigger this month because of the new tax law – Samantha Bomkamp
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-tax-reform-bigger-paycheck-20180216-story.html
— ‘Dreamers’ left in limbo as Senate rejects bipartisan immigration bills – AP
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-trump-immigration-plan-20180215-story.html

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Lipinski seeks IRS probe of think tank leaders after Sun-Times-ProPublica report – Tina Sfondeles and Mick Dumke
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/lipinski-seeks-irs-probe-of-think-tank-leaders-after-sun-times-propublica-report/
— The craziness inside a campaign bubble – Lance Trover
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/inside-campaign-bubble-lance-trover-illinois-mark-kirk-bruce-rauner/
— Berrios challenger loses another round in ballot battle – Alexandra Arriaga
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/berrios-challenger-loses-another-round-in-ballot-battle/
— Black Caucus chairman bemoans Shakman decree that killed patronage system – Fran Spielman (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have always promoted patronage. 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. My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have always hinted/implied/argued/shouted a) that instead of me, the Post Office should have hired a Black in 1966, b) that the Post Office should gotten rid of me much sooner than it did so that a Black could have my job, c) that instead of me, IRS should have hired a Black in 1971, d) that instead of me, IRS should have promoted Blacks in 1972, 1973, and 1974, e) that instead of me, GAO should have hired a Black in 1980, f) that instead of me, GAO should have promoted a Black in 1986, and g) that GAO should have gotten rid of me much sooner than it did so that a Black could have my job and my preferred corner office.)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-politics/black-caucus-chairman-bemoans-shakman-decree-that-killed-patronage-system/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Chicago’s once-vaunted patronage system “helped build many middle-class black communities” and the Shakman decree that banned political hiring and firing “destroyed those same communities,” an influential alderman said Thursday. Ald. Roderick Sawyer (6th), chairman of the City Council’s Black Caucus, used a luncheon address to the City Club of Chicago to harken back to the good old’ days that reined under his father, former alderman and Acting Mayor Eugene Sawyer.)
— Emanuel likens gun violence in America to Vietnam War – Fran Spielman
https://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-politics/emanuel-likens-gun-violence-in-america-to-vietnam-war/
— Cook County assessments ‘more variable, more regressive,’ review concludes – Rachel Hinton
https://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-politics/cook-county-assessments-more-variable-more-regressive-review-concludes/
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, Democrats say that you are complicit in murder if you support the Second Amendment.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/editorial-we-are-complicit-in-murder-when-we-let-the-nra-call-the-shots/

 

DAILY HERALD
— Speaker defends expanding concealed gun permits – AP
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20180215/news/302159914/

 

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Blockbuster report: How Cook County tax system shafts the little guy – GREG HINZ
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20180215/BLOGS02/180219919/blockbuster-report-how-cook-county-tax-system-shafts-the-little-guy

 

BLOOMINGTON PANTAGRAPH
— Independent investigation needed in harassment case – Editorial
http://www.pantagraph.com/opinion/editorial/editorial-independent-investigation-needed-in-harassment-case/article_0219a7f4-ea37-597b-8052-cbd01b5c1bf4.html

 

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— Budget undercuts Trump focus on mental health, school safety – AP
http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/budget-undercuts-trump-focus-on-mental-health-school-safety/975913320

 

IVES FOR GOVERNOR
— Morrison: The Last Three-Years Demonstrate Who Rauner Is. That’s Why I’m Supporting Ives.
https://mailchi.mp/c3410454ac20/morrison-the-last-three-years-demonstrate-who-rauner-is-thats-why-im-supporting-ives?e=985ad8c00b
— First He Betrayed Social Conservatives. Then He Betrayed Fiscal Conservatives. And the Betrayals Continue…
https://mailchi.mp/408923f92821/first-he-betrayed-social-conservatives-then-he-betrayed-fiscal-conservatives-and-the-betrayals-continue

 

PRAIRIE STATE WIRE
— Ives and Skillicorn find fault with Rauner’s budget address – Angela Underwood (DIERSEN: Who finds fault with what you do? Of course, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have found fault with everything that I have ever done. They are especially critical of my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails and they were especially critical of 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, etc.)
https://prairiestatewire.com/stories/511344637-ives-and-skillicorn-find-fault-with-rauner-s-budget-address

 

KANE COUNTY REPORTER
— Republicans in the 49th District question Zito’s Democratic ties – W.J. Kennedy
https://kanecountyreporter.com/stories/511345563-republicans-in-the-49th-district-question-zito-s-democratic-ties
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The 28-year-old Nic Zito has more Democratic connections than just his father, Greg Zito, a former Democratic senator with whom he still lives, to explain to Republican voters in the 49th District. Nic Zito voted in the Democratic primary in 2008. And in October he received a donation from old-time Chicago machine Democrat Alderman Ed Burke through a campaign fund, the Burnham Committee. Other Burnham Committee beneficiaries this political cycle include Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (D-Matteson), Michael Cabonargi, Democratic Cook County Board of Review member; Ed Moody, Democratic Cook County commissioner and top aide to Madigan (D-Chicago); and Toni Preckwinkle, Cook County Board president.)

 

CAPITOL FAX
— Sawyer on Reader cover: “The equivalent of putting gasoline on a fire”
https://capitolfax.com/2018/02/15/sawyer-on-reader-cover-the-equivalent-of-putting-gasoline-on-a-fire/
— “I have never experienced sexism or racism as explicitly as I did on the campaign trail”
https://capitolfax.com/2018/02/15/i-have-never-experienced-sexism-or-racism-as-explicitly-as-i-did-on-the-campaign-trail/

 

FEDERALIST
— New York Times Struggles Over Whether Any Conservatives Are Fit To Print This week, two New York Times writers drew outrage from progressives. Will the paper succumb to criticism, or continue its new commitment to conservative voices? – David Marcus (DIERSEN: What do you say to “conservative” and “Republican” leaders in Illinois, in DuPage County, in Milton Township, in Glen Ellyn, and in Wheaton who deem me to be not fit to print? At best, they paint me as being too conservative, that is, I support too many planks in the Republican Party platform and Illinois Republican Party platform.)
http://thefederalist.com/2018/02/15/new-york-times-struggles-whether-conservatives-fit-print/

 

GOPUSA
— Liberal groups urge Democrats to reject DACA bills with ‘nativist’ demands (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries that promote immigrants a) viciously demonize you, viciously denigrate you, and viciously condemn you if you do not promote immigrants and b) make it clear that they want to get rid of citizens of America and replace them with citizens of foreign countries.)
http://www.gopusa.com/liberal-groups-urge-democrats-to-reject-daca-bills-with-nativist-demands/

 

BARBWIRE
— CPAC 2018: ‘COWARDLY’ POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE REJECTS MASSRESISTANCE – Arthur Schaper
https://barbwire.com/2018/02/15/cpac-2018-cowardly-political-action-committee-rejects-massresistance/

 

LIFESITE NEWS
— CPAC bans pro-family group, approves pro-LGBT – Doug Mainwaring
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/top-u.s.-conservative-conference-bans-pro-family-group-approves-pro-lgbt

 

ABC NEWS
— Immigration bills fail in the Senate, fate of Dreamers murkier than ever – MARIAM KHAN
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/immigration-bills-fail-senate-fate-dreamers-murkier/story

 

REUTERS
— Senate rejects immigration bills, leaves Dreamers in limbo – Richard Cowan, Susan Cornwell
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-immigration/senate-rejects-immigration-bills-leaves-dreamers-in-limbo-idUSKCN1FZ1XF

 

BLOOMBERG
— BEYOND UNACCEPTABLE: White House Pulling Back on E-Verify to Get Democratic Votes
https://www.bna.com/white-house-pulling-n57982088776/

 

GAO
— GAO Unable to Render an Opinion on the U.S. Government’s Annual Financial Statements
https://www.gao.gov/press/opinion_2018_financial_statement.htm
(FROM THE ANNOUNCEMENT: GAO cited shortcomings that have plagued the financial statements in past years, including persistent problems with the Department of Defense’s (DOD) financial management and auditability, the federal government’s inability to account for and reconcile certain transactions, and an ineffective process for preparing the consolidated financial statements. Such deficiencies undermine the federal government’s ability to accurately report much of its financial information. “It’s essential that the federal government be able to adequately track all revenues and expenses, along with its assets and liabilities. It is critical to improving the accountability, effectiveness and efficiency of government operations,” said Gene L. Dodaro, Comptroller General of the United States and head of the GAO. “GAO’s audit report makes clear the continuing challenges to providing policymakers with the accurate and complete financial information needed for ensuring accountability and making difficult policy decisions.” For 2017, with few exceptions, all of the 24 Chief Financial Officers Act agencies received unmodified or “clean” opinions on their respective individual entities’ fiscal year 2017 financial statements. However, about 38 percent of the federal government’s reported total assets as of September 30, 2017, and approximately 20 percent of the federal government’s reported net cost for FY 2017, involved federal entities that were unable to issue audited financial statements, unable to receive audit opinions on the complete set of financial statements, or unable to receive an opinion on their FY 2017 financial statements. Notably, DOD, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Department of Agriculture have continuing impediments to receiving a clean opinion on their financial statements.)

 

LGBTQ  NATION
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: A Trump hater says “Trump will address hate group leaders & far right activists for second time.”
https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2018/02/trump-will-address-hate-group-leaders-far-right-activists-second-time/

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.