February 7 Evening Edition

ABC7
— Illinois Senate OKs $15 minimum wage, moves to House – AP
https://abc7chicago.com/finance/illinois-senate-oks-$15-minimum-wage-moves-to-house/5125926/

 

NBC5
— Illinois Senate Approves $15 Minimum Wage, Moves to House  The proposal would increase Illinois’ $8.25-an-hour minimum wage by $1.75 next year and $1 more on each Jan. 1 until 2025.
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/illinois-senate-approves-15-minimum-wage-505519761.html

 

CBS2
— Illinois Senate Approves $15 Minimum Wage Legislation
https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2019/02/07/illinois-minimum-wage-senate-vote-15-dollars-jb-pritzker/
— New Gun Bill Would Require Buyers To Reveal Social Media History – Derrick Blakley
https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2019/02/06/gun-law-bill-social-media-illinois-background-foid/

 

FOX NEWS CHICAGO
— Trump suggested painting border wall black ‘so it’s hotter in the sun’ – Paul Steinhauser
http://www.fox32chicago.com/news/national/trump-suggested-painting-border-wall-black-so-its-hotter-in-the-sun-
— President Trump says he wants to boost US legal immigration because unemployment is so low (DIERSEN: More legal immigration promotes more illegal immigration.)
http://www.fox32chicago.com/news/president-trump-says-he-wants-to-boost-us-legal-immigration-because-unemployment-is-so-low

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— State rep Anne Stava-Murray says she regrets word choice in comment about ‘white supremacist policies’ in Naperville – Erin Hegarty
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/naperville-sun/news/ct-nvs-stave-murray-white-supremacy-resign-response-st-0208-story.html
— No new HIV cases by 2030? Advocates in Chicago applaud Trump goal but question how it will be carried out. – Kate Thayer
https://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/ct-life-hiv-transmission-chicago-20190206-story.html
— South suburban residents strongly support raising the minimum wage – Ted Slowik (DIERSEN: I worked for the minimum wage 1964-1966 in Chicago Heights.)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/daily-southtown/news/ct-sta-slowik-minimum-wage-debate-st-0208-story.html
— Trump stresses anti-abortion focus in appeal to evangelicals – AP
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-bc-us–trump-prayer-breakfast-20190207-story.html
— John Kass: Politicians in blackface? For Democrats, it beats defending late-term abortion
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/sns-201902071040–tms–amvoicesctnav-a20190207-20190207-column.html
— Trump lays out his demands for border deal to top Republican as shutdown deadline nears – Damian Paletta and Erica Werner
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-trump-border-wall-taxpayer-money-20190207-story.html

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— ‘I will never let you down,’ Trump tells prayer breakfast – AP
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/trump-tells-prayer-breakfast-i-will-never-let-you-down/
— When you’re too old to be president – Gene Lyons (DIERSEN: All my critics/opponents, all their operatives, and all their dupes promote age discrimination a) to get rid of those who are older than they are and/or b) to curry favor with those who promote age discrimination. If you are a federal employee who is Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran, you are “too old” if you do not make 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.)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/presidential-politics-age-joe-biden-bernie-sanders-2020-election/

 

DAILY HERALD
— Pritzker hails Senate’s OK of minimum-wage hike to $15/hour in 6 years – AP
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20190207/pritzker-hails-senates-ok-of-minimum-wage-hike-to-15hour-in-6-years

 

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Trump says he’s ‘open’ to changing SALT deduction cap in tax law The GOP tax law limited federal deductions for state and local taxes, a hot topic in high-tax blue states like Illinois. – Bloomberg (DIERSEN: Trump should increase the $10,000 SALT cap to $20,000 for married filing jointly.)
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/government/trump-says-hes-open-changing-salt-deduction-cap-tax-law
— Ford is investing $1 billion in Chicago plants making its high-profit SUV The automaker is hiring 500 workers to expand its ability to crank out vehicles including its new Explorer, an investment announced at the Chicago Auto Show today. – Bloomberg
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/manufacturing/ford-investing-1-billion-chicago-plants-making-its-high-profit-suv
— $15 minimum wage passes Illinois Senate The vote was 39-18 for the measure, which now goes to the state House. – BRIANNA KELLY
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/government/15-minimum-wage-passes-illinois-senate
— Household income above $100K? You’ll want to read this. A CTU-backed group wants people with annual household income above $100,000 to pay 3.5 percent a year to City Hall—plus a “LaSalle Street tax” and more. But CTA rides and community college would be free. – GREG HINZ
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/greg-hinz-politics/household-income-above-100k-youll-want-read
— Elite business group’s tax plan unfairly hits average Illinoisans We agree tough choices must be made in order to build a long-term blueprint for Illinois’ financial stability. But legislators must find a comprehensive plan that is equitable. – BOB GALLO
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/opinion/elite-business-groups-tax-plan-unfairly-hits-average-illinoisans
— Not many of us have a big chunk of home equity About 16 percent of Chicago-area homeowners with mortgages are “equity-rich,” meaning they own at least half their home’s value, according to a report. That’s the lowest among the nation’s 20 biggest cities. – DENNIS RODKIN
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-real-estate/not-many-us-have-big-chunk-home-equity
— FDA calls Walgreens biggest pharmacy violator in tobacco sales to minors U.S. health officials plan to ask for a meeting with top management. The drugstore chain says it takes the matter “very seriously” and has enacted a number of steps. – Bloomberg
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/health-care/fda-calls-walgreens-biggest-pharmacy-violator-tobacco-sales-minors

 

WTTW
— Chicago’s Big-Time Business Club Calls for State Tax Increase – Amanda Vinicky and Nicole Cardos
https://news.wttw.com/2019/02/07/chicago-s-big-time-business-club-calls-state-tax-increase

 

MILBANK MONITOR
— Pritzker Signs Gun Dealer Licensing Bill
https://milbankmonitor.com/pritzker-signs-gun-dealer-licensing-bill/07/02/2019/

 

SOUTHERN
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Gamblers promote gambling.
https://thesouthern.com/news/local/state-and-regional/illinois-could-gain-million-in-revenue-with-legalized-sports-gambling/article_c9653cec-4281-5b49-8206-a52b304aa8eb.html

 

BETTER GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION
— Cook Judge Bars Publication of Documents About Student Drowning, Raising Free Press Concerns After CPS lawyer provides BGA with internal records about drowning death of teen with autism, a Cook County judge issues order temporarily prohibiting publication. School district lawyers say they released the documents by mistake. – David Kidwell and Lauren FitzPatrick
https://www.bettergov.org/news/cook-judge-bars-publication-of-documents-about-student-drowning-raising-free-press-concerns

 

ILLINOIS REPUBLICAN PARTY
— Illinois Republican Party Opposes Pritzker’s Reckless Minimum Wage Plan, Citing Huge Cost To Taxpayers, Small Business Taxpayers will pay at least an additional $1 billion a year in increased spending by the time the plan is fully implemented, and that’s a low estimate
https://illinois.gop/category/news/

 

ILLINOIS FAMILY INSTITUTE
— Trump Walks a Tightrope – Timothy J. Dailey
https://illinoisfamily.org/life/trump-walks-a-tightrope-between-women-and-his-base-in-his-sotu-address/

 

WASHINGTON TIMES
— House Democrats push bill to force release of Trump’s tax returns Rep. Bill Pascrell: ‘Law is on our side’ – Tom Howell Jr. (DIERSEN: In 1978, when I was an IRS employee, to sell more magazines, Money Magazine teamed up with my Democrat IRS superiors and disallowed my education deductions.)
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/feb/7/dems-start-build-case-requesting-trump-tax-returns/

 

JUDICIAL WATCH
— Securing the Border is a Moral Duty – Tom Fitton
https://www.judicialwatch.org/press-room/in-the-news/tom-fitton-securing-the-border-is-a-moral-duty/
— Trump is ‘First President in a Generation’ Talking Honestly about Border Crisis – Tom Fitton
https://www.judicialwatch.org/video-update/tom-fitton-trump-is-first-president-in-a-generation-talking-honestly-about-border-crisis/

 

GOPUSA
— Illegal aliens incarcerated at rate 4 times that of US citizens
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=64661
— Half of U.S. voters now say a third political party is needed, 35% would vote independent (DIERSEN: Who wants you to leave the Republican Party? I should write a book about past and present “Republican” activists, candidates, elected officials, major donors, political consultants, and members, employees, and leaders of the Milton Township Republican Central Committee, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, Illinois Republican Party, TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois, Wheaton Chamber of Commerce, Illinois Center Right Coalition, American Association of Political Consultants, GAO, IRS, Post Office, etc. who have worked the hardest to get me and those who share my demographics to leave the Republican Party.)
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=64742

 

DAILY CALLER
— YESTERDAY’S JEALOUS MILLENNIALS BECOME TODAY’S BITTER PROGRESSIVES – Lew Olowski
https://dailycaller.com/2019/02/07/olowski-millennials-progressive/
— VETERANS AFFAIRS WHISTLEBLOWERS ACROSS THE U.S. RESPOND TO TRUMP’S ACCOUNTABILITY ACT – Michael Volpe (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes shout a) that the federal government gets rid of ONLY the worst of the worst of its employees and b) that because the federal government got rid of me, I was one of the worst of the worst federal employees. They completely reject my argument that the federal government got rid of me a) because I complained about political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, and retaliation and b) because in 1988, when I was 40 years old, I became an active member in a class action lawsuit that charged my superiors with reverse discrimination, age discrimination, and retaliation.)
https://dailycaller.com/2019/02/07/va-whistleblowers-accountability-act/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: “We passed V.A. accountability so that we can finally terminate those who mistreat our wonderful veterans,” Trump announced. “He is absolutely right,” said Curt Cashour, press secretary for the VA. Cashour also provided numbers to support that assertion: In calendar year 2016, VA fired 2,001 people. In calendar year 2017, VA fired 2,537 people. From Jan. 2018 through Nov. 2018, VA fired 2,889 people.)

 

MEDIA RESEARCH CENTER
— VA Dem Debacle Could Lead to ‘Conservative Republican’ Governor – Scott Whitlock
https://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/nb/scott-whitlock/2019/02/07/media-meltdown-va-dem-debacle-could-lead-conservative-republican

 

ROLL CALL
— Republicans name 55 House Democrats as 2020 targets A majority of the targets represent districts that backed Trump (DIERSEN: Illinois targets are Sean Casten, Lauren Underwood, and Cheri Bustos.)
https://www.rollcall.com/news/campaigns/nrcc-to-target-55-house-democrats-in-2020

 

THE HILL
— Federal worker compensation needs drastic overhaul instead of pay raise – RACHEL GRESZLER (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 the aforesaid.)
https://thehill.com/opinion/finance/429014-federal-worker-compensation-needs-drastic-overhaul-instead-of-pay-raise

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— How Facebook’s Tiny China Sales Floor Helps Generate Big Ad Money – Paul Mozur and Lin Qiqing
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/07/technology/facebook-china-internet.html

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos Accuses Tabloid of Attempted Blackmail Alleges National Enquirer parent, American Media, threatened to publish damaging photos of him – Lukas I. Alpert
https://www.wsj.com/articles/amazon-ceo-jeff-bezos-accuses-tabloid-of-attempted-blackmail-11549584408

 

FORTUNE
— Trump Says He’s `Open’ to Changing SALT Cap in Tax Law – Bloomberg (DIERSEN: Trump should increase the $10,000 SALT cap to $20,000 for married filing jointly.)
http://fortune.com/2019/02/07/trump-says-hes-open-to-changing-salt-cap-in-tax-law/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: In three of the states most affected — California, New Jersey, and New York — Republicans lost 14 U.S. House seats in the 2018 midterms, accounting for about a third of the party’s overall losses. Additionally, two key lawmakers in crafting the Republican tax overhaul — former Representatives Erik Paulsen of Minnesota and Peter Roskam of Illinois — lost their seats where the unpopularity of the new law was a major issue in their campaigns.)

 

HARVARD BUSINESS REVIEW
— Survey: What Diversity and Inclusion Policies Do Employees Actually Want? – Matt Krentz (DIERSEN: My Democrat superiors in the federal government hinted/implied that their employees who were Democrat, minority, female, younger, and/or veteran wanted the federal government to not hire and to get rid of federal employees who were Republican, White, male, older, and/or non-veteran.)
https://hbr.org/2019/02/survey-what-diversity-and-inclusion-policies-do-employees-actually-want

 

HR DRIVE
— 83% of employers struggled to recruit suitable candidates in past year – Valerie Bolden-Barrett (DIERSEN: 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.)
https://www.hrdive.com/news/shrm-83-of-employers-struggled-to-recruit-suitable-candidates-in-past-yea/547778/

 

NEW REPUBLIC
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Trump-haters want Trump to promote socialism.
https://newrepublic.com/article/153087/trumps-attack-socialism-colossal-blunder

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.