SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— In response to possible AFSCME strike, Rauner launches jobs website at https://statejobs.illinois.gov
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20170228/in-response-to-possible-afscme-strike-rauner-launches-jobs-website
CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— Rauner Administration Prepares for Strike Launches job portal for temporary workers at https://statejobs.illinois.gov – Megan Briesath
http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/local-news/rauner-administration-prepares-for-strike/663979241
FOX ILLINOIS
— New State of Illinois Jobs Portal Launched at https://statejobs.illinois.gov
http://foxillinois.com/news/local/new-state-of-illinois-jobs-portal-launched
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Legislature looking out for you — or somebody else? – Editorial
http://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/editorial-legislature-looking-out-for-you-or-somebody-else/
— Johnson defends changes to merit promotion process – Fran Spielman (DIERSEN: What promotions have you had and what happened to those who promoted you? My Democrat IRS superiors got rid of the IRS manager who promoted me in 1972, 1973, and 1974. My Democrat GAO superiors got rid of the GAO manager who hired me in 1980, who got me assigned to audits of IRS in 1986, and who promoted me in 1986. Since 1972, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have hinted/implied/argued/shouted that the promotions that I got should have been given to Democrats, to minorities, to females, to younger people, and to veterans. My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes promote Affirmative Action, Diversity, Inclusion, and Veterans Preference.)
http://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/johnson-defends-changes-to-merit-promotion-process/
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: An anti-Trump says “Only a war can boost President Trump’s low approval ratings.”
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/glanton/ct-trump-war-glanton-20170227-story.html
— FRONT PAGE WITH COLOR PICTURE: Jesse Jackson Jr. says he feels ‘attacked from all angles’ – Kim Janssen
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-jackson-divorce-case-status-0228-20170227-story.html
— PROOF that liberal protesters are paid – Rex W. Huppke
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/huppke/ct-paid-protesters-huppke-20170227-story.html
DAILY HERALD
— Former McHenry County politician Albert Jourdan Jr. remembered as Republican powerhouse – Lauren Rohr
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20170227/news/170229025/
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Elgin police side with illegals, except those illegals who are “known gang members, sex offenders and felons.” What if Elgin police sided with other groups, except those who are “known gang members, sex offenders and felons?” For example, what if Elgin police sided with those who 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, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors, except those who are “known gang members, sex offenders and felons?”)
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20170227/news/170229030/
— Four candidates to back in District 200 – Daniel Wagner, Wheaton
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20170228/discuss/170228987/
CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Will CPS really close early for the year? – GREG HINZ
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20170228/BLOGS02/170229890/will-cps-really-close-early-for-the-year
— Donald Trump, Alexander Hamilton and the case for a new federalism – MARILYN KATZ
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20170228/OPINION/170229886/donald-trump-alexander-hamilton-and-a-new-federalism-marilyn-katz
— Wheaton residents balk over Pulte’s plan to demolish historic mansion – DENNIS RODKIN (DIERSEN: Several “historical Chicago Golf houses” are in my Milton Township Precinct 9.)
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/realestate/20170228/CRED0701/170229891
(FROM THE ARTICLE: ON ENDANGERED BUILDINGS WATCHLIST Constructed in 1897, the red brick mansion on the site is now attached to a chapel and the dormitory, both of which were built by the nuns’ order after they took ownership of the property in 1946. The mansion was one of 12 built by original members of Chicago Golf, the Wheaton club that in 1894 built what is now the oldest 18-hole golf course in North America. Illinois Steel president Jay C. Morse built the house for his daughter, Carolyn Morse Ely, and her husband, Arthur Ely, at about the time their marriage was breaking up. It was one of several mansions architect Jarvis Hunt designed for Chicago Golf members. Hunt also designed the course’s clubhouse, which faces the old Ely house across about a half-mile of lawn. Jarvis Hunt’s other buildings included one at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Jackson Park, and railroad stations in several cities. For Kansas City, Hunt designed the 900-room Union Station. Wheaton has no landmarks ordinances that prevent demolition of the convent’s building, said Michael Dzugan, the city manager. “The developer at this point is not interested in restoring the historic structure,” Dzugan said, “so that’s where we’re at with it.” A few weeks ago, Pulte announced it would give the building to anyone wiling to move it, “but nobody has spoken up, as far as I know,” Dzugan said. Wheaton resident Jean Follett said the lack of ordinances protecting the house is “an excuse. People in Wheaton have known the building was threatened since 2009, and have been saying they want it preserved” she said. In 2009, Landmarks Illinois, the historic-buildings advocacy group, included the historical Chicago Golf houses, including the convent, on its Watch List of endangered buildings. “The city could have done something about it any time since 2009,” said Follett, a former Landmarks Illinois board member. Landmarks has sent two letters in recent months to Wheaton officials, urging the city to require Pulte to reuse the mansion. It could house several condos, a park district recreation center, or both, both Follett and the Casas said.)
NORTHWEST HERALD
— Longtime McHenry County GOP kingmaker Albert M. “Al” Jourdan dies – JORDYN REILAND
http://www.nwherald.com/2017/02/27/longtime-mchenry-county-gop-kingmaker-albert-m-al-jourdan-dies/amx9fy3/
QUAD CITY TIMES
— Rauner can’t dodge Trump forever – Jon Alexander
http://qctimes.com/news/opinion/editorial/columnists/jon-alexander/alexander-rauner-can-t-dodge-trump-forever/article_79eed7be-b858-57aa-ae2c-b12e7d6a30cb.html
ALTON DAILY NEWS
— Rauner Wants More Technical Education – Benjamin Yount (DIERSEN: When you were in grade school and in high school, who believed that you were “college material?” I should write a book about my critics/opponents back then who hinted/implied/argued/shouted that I was NOT college material. They stressed that neither of my parents had attended college, that my father was the first of his ancestors to earn a high school diploma, that my mother had never attended high school, and that I was a part-time dishwasher. My critics/opponents were disappointed that I made it into the upper 20% of my high school class, that I scored 24 on the ACT test, and that I got accepted by UIC.)
http://altondailynews.com/news/details.cfm?clientid=17&id=237882#.WLV7GxHxZZI
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Not every high school graduate will go to a four-year university, many won’t go to community college. Governor Bruce Rauner told the State Board of Education last week that Illinois’ schools need to do more to get those students ready to work. “Technical classes and apprenticeships should be a core part of what we do in our school system,” Rauner said. The governor added those classes should be taught in high school, if not earlier.)
GALESBURG REGISTER MAIL
— Lt. gov. highlights efficiencies in Warren, Mercer counties – Gary Tomlin
http://www.galesburg.com/news/20170227/lt-gov-highlights-efficiencies-in-warren-mercer-counties
DEKALB DAILY CHRONICLE
— New Trier High School seminar sparks civil rights, race debate – AP
http://www.daily-chronicle.com/2017/02/27/school-seminar-near-chicago-sparks-civil-rights-race-debate/a8r108r/
CHICAGO NOW
— Berkowitz w/IL Chamber of Commerce’s Todd Maisch on State budget impasse and IL business litigation climate
http://www.chicagonow.com/public-affairs-with-jeff-berkowitz/2017/02/watch-berkowitz-wil-chamber-of-commerces-todd-maisch-on-state-budget-impasse-and-il-business-litigation-climate-cableweb/
JOLIET PATCH
— ‘Inebriated’ 9-Months-Pregnant Mom Left 2-Year-Old Home Alone: Cops The inebriated, pregnant mom was hospitalized, and the 2-year-old was turned over to her brother-in-law, police said. – Joseph Hosey
http://patch.com/illinois/joliet/inebriated-9-months-pregnant-mom-left-2-year-old-home-alone-cops
MCHENRY TIMES
— State rep unfazed by highway boss’ nepotism – Glenn Minnis
http://mchenrytimes.com/stories/511084149-state-rep-unfazed-by-highway-boss-s-nepotism
ILLINOIS NEWS NETWORK
— Former U.S. Comptroller General David Walker: Higher taxes won’t solve Illinois’ problems (DIERSEN: I worked for GAO 1980-1997.)
https://ilnews.org/12317/former-us-comptroller-general-higher-taxes-wont-solve-illinois-problems/
ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE
— FLOW OF ILLINOISANS INTO INDIANA IS BECOMING A FLOOD Nearly 20,000 Illinoisans on net moved to the Hoosier State in 2015. – Madelyn Harwood
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/flow-of-illinoisans-into-indiana-is-becoming-a-flood/
— ILLINOIS SPENDS THE MOST PER STUDENT OF ANY STATE IN THE MIDWEST On average, Illinois schools spend $13,077 per student. – Ted Dabrowski
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/illinois-spends-the-most-per-student-of-any-state-in-the-midwest/
ILLINOIS REVIEW
— FOUR ILLINOIS CONGRESS MEMBERS (Hultgren, Bost, LaHood, and Roskam) WIN FAMILY RESEARCH COUNCIL’S “TRUE BLUE” AWARD
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2017/02/four-illinois-congress-members-win-family-research-councils-true-blue-award.html
CAPITOL FAX
— AFSCME responds *** Rauner admin has new website for potential strike breakers
https://capitolfax.com/2017/02/28/rauner-admin-has-new-website-for-potential-strike-breakers/
— Is Rauner betting on “Little Trump”?
https://capitolfax.com/2017/02/28/is-rauner-betting-on-little-trump/
GOPUSA
— VERY SAD: After 8 years of silence for Obama, George Bush is talking to the media
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=21232
— What ‘rollback’ on rights? Trump did no such thing (DIERSEN: Democrats want those who 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, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors to have SPECIAL RIGHTS OVER THOSE WHO ARE Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German American, draft avoiders, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors.)
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=21242
WASHINGTON TIMES
— Deportation agency ignored 1.6 million visa overstays under Obama – Stephen Dinan
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/feb/27/deportation-agency-ignored-16-million-visa-oversta/
DAILY CALLER
— Trump Pushes For Massive Budget, Staff Cuts At EPA – MICHAEL BASTASCH (DIERSEN: I worked for GAO 1980-1997. During that time, and especially after 1988, Republican politicians pushed for and got massive budget and staff cuts at GAO. Because I was virtually the only non-veteran White male Republican in GAO’s Chicago office, my Democrat superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates in GAO’s Chicago office took their anger against Republican politicians like Newt Gingrich out on me. Prior to 1988, they forced me to take an $18,847 pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO in 1980, they kept me off audits of IRS 1980-1985, and they did not promote me beyond GS-13. After 1988, they kept me off audits of IRS, they did not promote be beyond GS-13, they always ranked me in the bottom half of my coworkers for pay-for-performance purposes, and they forced me to retire in 1997 when I was 49 years old.)
http://dailycaller.com/2017/02/27/trump-pushes-for-massive-budget-staff-cuts-at-epa/
NEWSMAX
— Trump to Breitbart: New York Times Has ‘Evil’ Intent, ‘They Write Lies’ – Greg Richter (DIERSEN: Government is nasty. Politics is nasty. My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have always hinted/implied/argued/shouted that I have evil intent and that all my motives are evil. My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes a) are moral relativists who believe that their end justifies their means, b) are disciples of Saul Alinsky, c) are filled with envy and hatred, and d) 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, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors. If my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes cannot manipulate/dominate you, they destroy you.)
http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/donald-trump-interview-breitbart-new-york-times/2017/02/27/id/775892/
— Trump: Obama Behind Protests, Leaks – Greg Richter
http://www.newsmax.com/Politics/leaks-Democrats-resist-White-House/2017/02/27/id/775918/
PUBLIUS FORUM
— A Liberal Professor Says He is DONE With ‘Obscene, Abusive, Fanatical, Intolerant’ People on the Left – Warner Todd Huston
http://www.publiusforum.com/2017/02/27/liberal-professor-says-done-obscene-abusive-fanatical-intolerant-people-left/
FEDERALIST
— Sanctuary Cities Use Legal Tactics From The Civil War South The current sanctuary movement is more akin to the ‘nullification’ movement in South Carolina before the Civil War than to the biblical sanctuary cities. – Thomas Ascik
http://thefederalist.com/2017/02/27/leaders-sanctuary-cities-using-tactics-civil-war-south/
COLLEGE FIX
— Parents revolt after New Trier Township High School forces students to attend all-day social justice seminar – JORIN BURKHART
http://www.thecollegefix.com/post/31411/
CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN NEWS
— ROGUE ADMINISTRATIVE STATE NEEDS TO GO ONCE AND FOR ALL – Kent Kellar (DIERSEN: What about stopping patronage, political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, and retaliation for complaining about the aforesaid? GAO hired me in 1980 because it could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, younger person, or veteran who would take the job. IRS hired me in 1971 because it could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, or veteran who would take the job. The Post Office hired me in 1966 because it could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, or veteran who would take the job.)
http://conservativerepublicannews.com/2017/02/27/rogue-administrative-state-needs-to-go-once-and-for-all/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Part of the problem is former President Barack Obama changed civil service rules to make it easier to hire federal employees. Trump has solved that by initiating his hiring freeze. But federal rules also make it extremely difficult to fire civil servants. It is a process that can take up to two years, even when there is cause. That said, problem employees who, say, don’t show up for work should be dealt with through this process immediately. But to do more requires Congress to step in, which can assist this process three-fold: 1) By incentivizing early retirement via the appropriations process with limited-time-only buy-outs; 2) cutting the personnel budgets of non-defense civilian departments and agencies, reducing the enacted full-time equivalent number for each department, agency and office by 10 to 20 percent in the workforce on a last-one-in, first-one-out basis; and 3) defunding existing preferences under federal rules being given to those laid off being later rehired on a first-in-line basis. That would eliminate politicized Obama administration holdovers, and prevent them from being rehired should it become necessary to fill in some gaps. Other ideas include eliminating automatic dues deduction for federal employees unions and getting rid of any full-time official time union personnel.)
POLITICO
— OUTSTANDING: Sessions pushes tougher line on marijuana – JOSH GERSTEIN
http://www.politico.com/blogs/under-the-radar/2017/02/jeff-sessions-marijuana-235461
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: One could argue that Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s main reason for living is to stop Trump from naming her replacement on the U.S. Supreme Court. What is your main reason for living? My reasons include using GOPUSA LLINOIS emails to promote the Republican Party platform, the Illinois Republican Party platform, and the Milton Township Republican Central Committee resolution against video gambling to stop Wheaton, Milton Township, DuPage County, and Illinois from moving further to the left.
http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/02/rbg-ruth-bader-ginsburg-workout-personal-trainer-elena-kagan-stephen-breyer-214821
CBS NEWS
— Trouble brewing for Deputy Commerce Secretary nominee Todd Ricketts – Major Garrett
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/trouble-brewing-for-deputy-commerce-secretary-nominee-todd-ricketts/
NEW YORK TIMES
— Trump Fans Rally Across the Nation to Support the President – JACK HEALY
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/27/us/trump-rallies.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps ask “Who Belongs in Trump’s America?” Ever-increasingly, anti-Trumps make it clear that they want only those who 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. and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors TO BE IN AMERICA.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/27/opinion/who-belongs-in-trumps-america.html
— Trump and Paul Ryan Head for a Clash Over the Budget, and Ideology – JENNIFER STEINHAUER (DIERSEN: Have you signed up for Social Security? I did when I was 62 in 2010. Have you signed up for Medicare? I did when I was 65 in 2013. Of course, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes are furious about that. They know that because I am a federal retiree, I get a Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) pension, currently $50,856, and a federal health, dental, and vision insurance subsidy, currently $17,288. In my defense, my Social Security is dramatically reduced, currently, it is only $2,028, because I get a CSRS pension.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/27/us/politics/trump-budget-proposal-republican-ideology.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: President Trump’s proposal to slash domestic spending in order to preserve the two biggest drains on the federal government — Social Security and Medicare — has set up a battle to determine who now controls the Republican Party’s ideology.)
WASHINGTON POST
— Chance the Rapper is meeting with Illinois’ governor about education funding. Really. – Valerie Strauss (DIERSEN: What have you done lately a) that Rauner might congratulate you for and b) that Rauner might meet with you about?)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2017/02/28/chance-the-rapper-is-meeting-with-illinois-governor-about-education-funding-really/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: If it seems likes nothing more than a publicity stunt to you that Rauner would welcome talks with a rapper about funding (but not educators or city officials), this may make it even starker: Chance the Rapper’s father is Ken Williams-Bennett, deputy chief of staff to Emanuel. Williams-Bennett once worked for Barack Obama when he was a U.S. senator from Illinois. Chance’s birth name is Chancellor Johnathan Bennett. . .The rapper-governor meeting evolved from Rauner’s tweet on Feb. 13 congratulating Chance on winning three Grammy Awards.)
SACRAMENTO BEE
— Community colleges fear deportation concerns are driving away undocumented students – LORETTA KALB
http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/education/article135341519.html
FEDERAL TIMES
— Former Border Patrol heads question rush to accelerate hiring – Tony Ware (DIERSEN: Many millions have not and will not seek a job with the federal government a) because the pay and benefits are terrible, b) because the advancement opportunities are terrible, c) because they lack required education, work experience, professional certifications, and/or professional licenses, d) because they cannot pass an employment examination, e) because they cannot pass a background investigation, f) because they cannot pass a physical examination, g) because they cannot take the demonization, denigration, and condemnation that comes with being a federal employee or federal retiree, and/or h) because they are Republican, White, male, older, and/or non-veteran and they know that the federal government discriminates against its employees who are Republican, White, male, older, and/or non-veteran.)
http://www.federaltimes.com/articles/former-border-patrol-heads-question-rush-to-accelerate-hiring
(FROM THE ARTICLE: A shared concern among those interviewed was that a rapid hiring initiative could pose logistical issues and result in a compromised vetting stage. “When you speed up the process and don’t take the requisite time, you pay a price later in things like corruption,” said Gil Kerlikowske, CBP head for three years under President Barack Obama. During the post-9/11 manpower push, which doubled CBP border patrol agents from 10,000 to 20,000 by 2008, internal corruption cases increased to the point the Anti-Border Corruption Act of 2010 was passed, making polygraph testing mandatory for all border patrol agents. In addition, current applicants undergo a cognitive exam, fingerprinting, financial disclosure, fitness tests, medical examinations and background checks.)
AUTOWEEK
— Turns out millennials sure are buying a lot of cars THE FASTEST-GROWING SEGMENT OF VEHICLE BUYERS HAPPENS TO BE THE ONE THAT SUPPOSEDLY DOESN’T CARE ABOUT CARS (DIERSEN: What cars did you buy when you were young? I bought a 1958 Chevy BelAir in 1964 when I was 16, a new 1966 Pontiac Tempest Sprint in 1966, a new 1968 Oldsmobile 442 in 1967, a new 1969 Dodge Charger SE in 1968, a new 1972 Corvette in 1971, a 1962 Chevy BelAir in 1971, a new 1974 Dodge Dart in 1973, a new 1978 Chevy Chevette in 1978, and a new 1978 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royale in 1978.)
http://autoweek.com/article/car-news/bucking-trends-millenials-fastest-growing-segment-vehicle-buyers
RASMUSSEN REPORTS
— Most Say Democrats Hurt Themselves With Anti-Trump Strategy
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/general_politics/february_2017/most_say_democrats_hurt_themselves_with_anti_trump_strategy
