January 16 Morning Edition

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— How to control the overwhelming fire hose of news – Clarence Page (DIERSEN: According to my critics/opponents, all government and political news and commentary is fake except for the government and political news and commentary that they put out or bless. Since 2000, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have focused on a) stopping me from putting GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails together and sending them out and b) stopping everyone from reading those emails.)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/page/ct-perspec-page-donald-trump-news-anxiety-vladimir-putin-shutdown-0116-20190115-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: What can we do about “news anxiety,” which many in the psychiatric community say is a real malady, particularly in recent years? If you feel afflicted by it, mental health professionals advise limiting news or social media exposure, especially of the more sensational anxiety-inducing sort. Psychologist Deborah Serani of Adelphi University, writing in Psychology Today, advised steering yourself away from sensational headlines and cable TV news and toward stories that offer depth, explanations and possible solutions to problems at hand. That’s healthy advice. After reporting the latest scandal or atrocity, it is reassuring to know that there is a rational path out of the problem at hand, if only we can persuade our political leaders to follow it.)
— Chirico adds $27K to campaign fund; challenger Caylor nets $7K, state filings show – Erin Hegarty
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/naperville-sun/news/ct-nvs-mayor-chirico-rocky-campaign-funds-st-0116-story.html

 

DAILY HERALD
— The Burke case and the need for property tax reform in Illinois – Tim Schneider
https://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20190114/the-burke-case-and-the-need-for-property-tax-reform-in-illinois
— Pritzker’s plan to match top staffers’ salary is problematic – Editorial (DIERSEN: He who pays the piper calls the tunes.)
https://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20190116/editorial-pritzkers-plan-to-match-top-staffers-salary-is-problematic

 

WTTW
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Pot pushers push pot.
https://news.wttw.com/2019/01/15/what-legalized-marijuana-could-mean-illinois

 

NORTHWEST HERALD
— Rep. McSweeney refiles township consolidation bill Proposed legislation almost identical to vetoed version – ED KOMENDA
https://www.nwherald.com/2019/01/15/rep-mcsweeney-refiles-township-consolidation-bill/afiv56r/

 

CHAMPAIGN/URBANA NEWS GAZETTE
— HB 4637 and consolidation: Rauner’s parting acts contradict his words – Jim Dey
http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2019-01-15/jim-dey-rauners-parting-acts-contradict-his-words.html

 

HERALD & REVIEW
— Congressman Rodney Davis meets with Trump, says Democrats are thwarting shutdown talks – AP
https://herald-review.com/news/state-and-regional/congressman-rodney-davis-meets-with-trump-says-democrats-are-thwarting/article_59efbe03-00e0-519b-8340-23cacbcb8269.html

 

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Leadership necessary to turn Illinois around – Sen. Jason Barickman
https://www.sj-r.com/opinion/20190115/sen-barickman-leadership-necessary-to-turn-illinois-around

 

TIMES
— Kinzinger is right to call out shutdown stupidity – Editorial
https://www.mywebtimes.com/2019/01/15/our-view-kinzinger-is-right-to-call-out-shutdown-stupidity/anhqfla/

 

NOW DECATUR
— Pritzker Restores Wage Increases Frozen by Rauner – Joe Deacon
http://www.nowdecatur.com/2019/01/15/pritzker-restores-wage-increases-frozen-by-rauner/

 

CHICAGO READER
— Governor Pritzker, the MLA, and the wealth gap Very different solutions to the same problem all come down to the size of the pockets involved. – Deanna Isaacs
https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/governor-pritzker-the-mla-and-the-wealth-gap/Content

 

PROPUBLICA
— How Illinois Bet on Video Gambling and Lost Legalizing video poker and slots was supposed to generate billions of dollars for the state. A decade later, that hasn’t happened. Now, legislators want to double down on gambling. – Jason Grotto, Sandhya Kambhampati, and Dan Mihalopoulos
https://features.propublica.org/the-bad-bet/how-illinois-bet-on-video-gambling-and-lost/

 

WIREPOINTS
— Pritzker’s First Day Giveaway On Step Pay Will Cost $200 Million Per Year – Mark Glennon
https://www.wirepoints.com/pritzkers-first-day-giveaway-on-step-pay-will-cost-200-million-per-year/

 

PRAIRIE STATE WIRE
— Why is our state saddled with such State House mediocrities? – Jeffrey Leef
https://prairiestatewire.com/stories/511720976-opinion-why-is-our-state-saddled-with-such-state-house-mediocrities

 

ILLINOIS NEWS NETWORK
— Illinois to issue February food stamp benefits this week – Benjamin Yount
https://www.ilnews.org/news/state_politics/illinois-to-issue-february-food-stamp-benefits-this-week/article_14f953d2-18c3-11e9-8789-5fb9988aae9e.html
— Political investing decisions hurt public finances, lead to tax hikes – Cole Lauterbach
https://www.ilnews.org/news/state_politics/report-political-investing-decisions-hurt-public-finances-lead-to-tax/article_b8043dca-1842-11e9-9704-c7617d695b17.html

 

GOPUSA
— NeverTrumper John Kasich hires talent agent, joins CNN
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=63467
— When socialism is romanticized
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=63451
— Competing women’s marches undercut by infighting, anti-Semitism scandal
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=63293

 

FREEDOM’S JOURNAL
— POLITICS OF IMMIGRATION – Walter E. Williams
https://freedomsjournalinstitute.org/latest-news/opinion/politics-of-immigration/

 

NEWSMAX
— Charlie Daniels: Dems Oppose Wall So Illegals Can Vote For Them – Brian Freeman
https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/charlie-daniels-wall-democrats/2019/01/15/id/898296/
— Coast Guard Snares Five Times as Many Illegals Off West Coast Compared to 2017 – Jason Devaney
https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/coast-guard-illegals-migrants-california/2019/01/15/id/898369/

 

BREITBART
— Victims of Illegal Immigration Storm Nancy Pelosi’s Office – Michelle Moons
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/01/15/victims-of-illegal-immigration-storm-nancy-pelosis-office/
— Rasmussen Poll: Nearly 6-in-10 Swing Voters Say Border Wall Not ‘Immoral’ – John Binder
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/01/15/rasmussen-6-10-swing-voters-border-wall-not-immoral/
— Mo Brooks: ‘Democrat Strategy’ of Importing Foreign Voters will Turn America into California – John Binder
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/01/15/exclusive-mo-brooks-democrat-strategy-of-importing-foreign-voters-will-turn-america-into-california/

 

TOWNHALL
— The ‘Not Racist’ Drama of Congressman Steve King – Arthur Schaper
https://townhall.com/columnists/arthurschaper/2019/01/16/the-not-racist-drama-of-congressman-steve-king-n2539059

 

DAILY CALLER
— FACEBOOK’S NEW RULES BAN EMPLOYEES FROM CHANGING COLLEAGUES’ MINDS – Chris White (DIERSEN: While I worked for the federal government for almost 30 years, my Democrat superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates did not try turn me into a Democrat. If I had become a Democrat, I would have been just one more Democrat employee who the Democrats who ran the federal government had to give preference to. My being a Republican enabled/emboldened them to hint/imply/argue/shout that I was lazy, stupid, overpaid, a White supremacist, Nazi, KKK member, hater, racist, sexist, bigot, and even worse things. My being a Republican enabled/emboldened them to blame me for everything that went wrong in the office.)
https://dailycaller.com/2019/01/15/facebook-censorship-internal-memo/

 

DAILY WIRE
— Victims Of Illegal Immigration Storm Pelosi’s Office, Chant ‘Build The Wall’ – RYAN SAAVEDRA
https://www.dailywire.com/news/42253/watch-victims-illegal-immigration-storm-pelosis-ryan-saavedra

 

AMERICAN GREATNESS
— Progressives and Their Surrogate Children – Steven W. Mosher
https://www.amgreatness.com/2019/01/15/progressives-and-their-surrogate-children/

 

NEW AMERICAN
— Chicago Woman With Concealed-carry Permit Shoots, Kills Armed Robber – Michael Tennant
https://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/crime/item/31189-chicago-woman-with-concealed-carry-permit-shoots-kills-armed-robber

 

IMMIGRATION REFORM
— Is President Trump Weakening On His Pledge To Protect American Workers? – JENNIFER G. HICKEY (DIERSEN: Are/were you an “America worker?” I was an American worker 1964-1997. From what I see, all the employers that I worked for would rather have hired a citizen of a foreign country than me. Employers can exploit citizens of foreign countries much easier than they can exploit citizens of America.)
https://immigrationreform.com/2019/01/15/is-president-trump-weakening-on-pledge-to-protect-american-workers-immigrationreform-com/

 

FOX NEWS
— New migrant caravan swells to thousands amid shutdown; Democrats’ 2020 caravan grows
https://www.foxnews.com/us/fox-news-first-new-migrant-caravan-swells-to-thousands-amid-shutdown-democrats-2020-caravan-grows
— Yes, the border crisis is real and it’s black Americans who bear the brunt of it – Diamond and Silk
https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/diamond-and-silk-yes-the-border-crisis-is-real-and-its-black-americans-who-bear-the-brunt-of-it

 

EPOCH TIMES
— The Real Reason Democrats Won’t Budge on Border Security – Brian Cates
https://www.theepochtimes.com/__trashed-438_2767150.html

 

WASHINGTON TIMES
— Drugs and illegal immigration – Tom Rice
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/jan/15/calculating-the-disastrous-consequences-of-america/
— Trump dispels wall fight as being about keeping a campaign promise: ‘We need this for our country’ – Dave Boyer and Stephen Dinan (DIERSEN: What campaign promises motivate you to help elect candidates? For me, it is their promising to defend and advance all the planks in the Republican Party platform and in Illinois Republican Party platforms including their traditional family, right to life, immigration, Second Amendment, illegal drugs, and equal opportunity (no race or gender based preference giving) planks. For me, it is their promising to oppose anything that promotes welfare, dependency on government, dependency on charity, LGBTQ activity, abortion, mass/illegal immigration, weakening of First or Second Amendment rights, booze, gambling, pot, or other vices, patronage, political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, and/or age discrimination.)
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/jan/15/trump-reaffirms-border-wall-need-call-supporters-w/


— BEYOND DISGUSTING, BEYOND OUTRAGEOUS: E-Verify absent from immigration policy talks – S.A. Miller (DIERSEN: To oppose E-Verify is to oppose enforcement of America’s immigration laws. To oppose E-Verify is to shout a) that you are a Democrat or a Democrat plant, a Libertarian or a Libertarian plant, a Green or a Green plant, or a RINO and b) that you are anti-Trump, anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-patriotic, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, anti-German Americans, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://m.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/jan/15/e-verify-absent-from-immigration-policy-talks/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: E-Verify has existed since 1996 and is mandatory in eight states. A 2016 study published in the IAZ Journal of Development and Migration found reduced numbers of immigrants living in the U.S. illegally in states with mandatory E-Verify. “E-Verify is a much more efficient way to achieve the goals that are claimed for the border wall,” said Edwin Rubenstein, chief researcher for the nonpartisan Negative Population Growth. An estimated 11.3 million immigrants live in the U.S. illegally with about 8 million working, accounting for about 5 percent of the workforce, according to a 2016 analysis by the Pew Research Center. Compared to their share of the workforce, immigrants living in the U.S. illegally were overrepresented in the agriculture (17 percent) and construction (13 percent) sectors, and in the leisure and hospitality industry (9 percent), the center found. The Chamber of Commerce dropped its opposition to E-Verify in 2013 but only with the stipulation that current employees be exempt. The agriculture industry’s reliance on labor from immigrants living in the U.S. illegally has long kept farm state Republicans from backing mandatory E-Verify without a major expansion of guest worker programs. The farm lobby was divided last year when mandatory E-Verify was included in a House GOP package of immigration reforms, the Securing America’s Future Act. The bill was defeated 192-231, with 41 Republicans joining every Democrat in voting no. While making his border security pitch Monday to the American Farm Bureau Foundation’s annual convention in New Orleans, Mr. Trump stressed that a border wall wouldn’t keep out seasonal workers. “I’m going to make that easier for them to come in and to work the farms,” he said. “But we’re keeping the wrong ones out, OK?” But he’s not talking about E-Verify the way he did on the 2016 campaign trail, when he pledged to “strengthen and expand” the program. With Mr. Trump in the White House, the system has gotten short shrift. It was left out of Mr. Trump’s “four pillars” plan to combat illegal immigration. Only a handful of the 565 companies in the Trump Organization, the president’s business empire, have signed up to use E-Verify, according to a Washington Times analysis. At times, Democrats touted E-Verify as a solution. Mr. Schumer last week listed E-Verify among the top measures for border security that he said were “ironically” suspended during the partial government shutdown. “Border patrol agents are going without pay, E-Verify is off-line, immigration cases are on hold, new immigration judges are not being hired,” he said. In 2009, Mr. Schumer said a “biometric-based employer verification system with tough enforcement and auditing is necessary to significantly diminish the job magnet that attracts illegal aliens to the United States.”)

 

ACCURACY IN ACADEMIA
— Ohio State University Professor Allegedly Told Student Not to Use the Phrase ‘Illegal Immigrant’
https://www.academia.org/ohio-state-university-professor-allegedly-told-student-not-to-use-the-phrase-illegal-immigrant/

 

COMMUNITY DIGITAL NEWS
— New Honduras caravan makes the wall fight President Trump’s finest hour – Randy Lancaster-Short
https://www.commdiginews.com/politics-2/new-honduras-caravan-makes-the-wall-fight-president-trumps-finest-hour-111788/

 

THE HILL
— Trump snubs highlight Pelosi’s grip on Dems – MIKE LILLIS (DIERSEN: He who pay the piper calls the tunes. In Illinois, Pritzker has the power to destroy any individual, any organization, any company, and any government that he might want to.)
https://thehill.com/homenews/house/425536-trump-snubs-highlight-pelosis-grip-on-dems
— King rips GOP leadership after criticism over ‘white supremacist’ remarks – TAL AXELROD
https://thehill.com/homenews/house/425545-king-rips-gop-leadership-after-criticism-over-white-supremacism-remarks

 

HUFFINGTON POST
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: A Republican-hater says “NBC Isn’t The Only Network Sugarcoating Steve King’s Racism While some have outright called the Iowa representative’s white supremacy remarks racist, others hesitated.”
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/steve-king-network-coverage-racist_us_5c3e2832e4b0e0baf541b878

 

POLITICO
— Pelosi asks Trump to reschedule State of the Union address – HEATHER CAYGLE
https://www.politico.com/story/2019/01/16/pelosi-asks-trump-to-reschedule-state-of-the-union-address-1103047
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Gillibrand promotes hatred against men.
https://www.politico.com/story/2019/01/15/kirsten-gillibrand-2020-women-voters-1102697

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: DIERSEN HEADLINE: A Republican-hater asks “Republicans Rebuke Steve King but Face Vexing Question: Why Not Sooner?”
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/15/us/politics/steve-king-white-supremacy.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: A Trump-hater asks “As Republicans Rush to Condemn Steve King, Some Ask: Why Not Trump?”
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/16/us/politics/trump-steve-king-republicans.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: A Republican-hater asks “Republicans, Racism and Steve King So now the party abhors bigotry? How convenient.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/15/opinion/republicans-racism-steve-king.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ms. Blair duQuesnay promotes sexism.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/14/opinion/business-economics/new-year-resolution-investor-gende-gap.html
— El Chapo Trial: Former Mexican President Peña Nieto Took $100 Million Bribe, Witness Says – Alan Feuer
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/15/nyregion/el-chapo-trial.html

 

NEW YORK POST
— Only Republicans show for working lunch with Trump during shutdown – Nikki Schwab Janua
https://nypost.com/2019/01/15/only-republicans-show-for-working-lunch-with-trump-during-shutdown/

 

USA TODAY
— Democrats refuse to compromise on border wall funding to end the shutdown – Mike Pence
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2019/01/16/mike-pence-democrats-border-wall-humanitarian-border-crisis-compromise-column/2565284002/

— Government shutdown: Food banks worry about having enough supplies if stalemate drags on – Dalvin Brown (DIERSEN: What about those who would never take a job working for the federal government because the pay is too low, but nevertheless viciously demonize, viciously denigrate, and viciously condemn federal employees as being grossly overpaid?)
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2019/01/12/government-shutdown-food-banks-worry-running-out-food/2547271002/
— Half the 600,000 residents aided by NYC Care are undocumented immigrants – John Bacon
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/01/09/new-york-city-care-comprehensive-health-care-plan-concerns/2522924002/

 

UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURG
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Trump-haters say “GOP hard on King, soft on Trump.”
https://pittnews.com/article/139358/opinions/editorial-gop-hard-on-king-soft-on-trump/

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: An anti-Trump says “Trump’s Pinned to a Wall Few Americans Want. A grand immigration deal may be his only way to end the crisis and deliver to his base.”
https://www.wsj.com/articles/trumps-pinned-to-a-wall-few-americans-want-11547596437
— White House Looks to Chip Away at Democrats’ Resolve as Shutdown Rolls On So far, it isn’t working; Democrats don’t show for luncheon for House members at White House hosted by Trump – Peter Nicholas and Kristina Peterson
https://www.wsj.com/articles/white-house-looks-to-chip-away-at-democrats-resolve-as-record-shutdown-rolls-on-11547548204
— Think College Is Expensive? Wait Until It’s Free Higher-education costs have risen every time student aid has been made more generous – Jason L. Riley
https://www.wsj.com/articles/think-college-is-expensive-wait-until-its-free-11547596302
— Visions of a 70% Tax Rate The new socialists need a refresher course in government math. – Editorial
https://www.wsj.com/articles/visions-of-a-70-tax-rate-11547596675
— ‘El Chapo’ Bribed Former Mexican President, Former Drug Trafficker Tells Court Testimony from cooperating witness implicates Enrique Peña Nieto in alleged bribe paid by drug lord in 2012 – Zolan Kanno-Youngs
https://www.wsj.com/articles/el-chapo-bribed-former-mexican-president-former-drug-trafficker-tells-court-11547595893

 

FORBES
— America’s Best Employers For Diversity 2019 – Vicky Valet (DIERSEN: To promote diversity is to get rid of those who are White, male, and/or older.)
https://www.forbes.com/sites/vickyvalet/2019/01/15/americas-best-employers-for-diversity-2019/#6cacde402bda
— Assessing Trump’s First 2 Years For Older Americans – Chris Farrell
https://www.forbes.com/sites/nextavenue/2019/01/15/assessing-trumps-first-2-years-for-older-americans/#571177c3583f

 

PRESTON BUSINESS REVIEW
— Pelosi calls cops to remove illegals from her home – Caroline Biscotti
https://prestonbusinessreview.com/pelosi-calls-cops-to-remove-illegals-from-her-home/56010/

 

NEW YORK MAGAZINE
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: A Republican-hater says “Steve King’s Road Map for Racist Republicans.”
http://nymag.com/intelligencer/2019/01/steve-king-roadmap.html

 

NEW YORKER
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: A Trump-hater asks “How Can the G.O.P. Condemn Congressman Steve King but Not Donald Trump?”
https://www.newyorker.com/news/our-columnists/how-can-the-gop-condemn-congressman-steve-king-but-not-donald-trump

 

ATLANTIC
— The Racial Wealth Gap Could Become a 2020 Litmus Test With black votes in the balance in the Democratic primary, would-be candidates are already developing aggressive policies to target inequality. – VANN R. NEWKIRK II (DIERSEN: 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://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2019/01/new-litmus-test-2020-racial-wealth-gap/579823/

 

DAILY MAIL
— ‘Letting criminals across the border is good for her base!’ Donald Trump Jr posts video showing mothers of Americans killed by illegal immigrants storming Nancy Pelosi’s office – ARIEL ZILBER
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6597179/Donald-Trump-Jr-blasts-Pelosi-refusing-meet-mothers-Americans-killed-illegal-immigrants.html

 

GOPUSA ILLINOIS
— What are political consultants advising candidates to do? – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com


(THE ARTICLE: In Illinois, “Republican” political consultants who are really Democrats, Libertarians, Greens, or RINOs want Republicans to lose. What are they advising Republican candidates to do? From what I hear/see, they are advising Republican candidates to:

 

— Demonize, denigrate, and condemn Trump, but if not that, distance yourself from Trump,

— Distance yourself from Trump supporters, the Republican Party, the Illinois Republican Party (IRP), your Republican county party organization, your Republican township/ward party organization, your Republican Precinct Committeeman/Captain, and Dave Diersen and his GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails,

— Do not promise to defend or advance the traditional family plank in the IRP platform,

— Do not promise to defend or advance the right to life plank in the IRP platform,

— Do not promise to defend or advance the immigration plank in the IRP platform

— Do not promise to defend or advance the Second Amendment plank in the IRP platform,

— Do not promise to defend or advance the illegal drugs plank in the Republican Party platform,

— Do not promise to defend or advance the equal opportunity (no race or gender based preference giving) plank in the Republican Party platform,

— Do not promise to oppose the promotion of LGBTQ activity,

— Do not promise to oppose the promotion of abortion,

— Do not promise to oppose the promotion of mass/illegal immigration,

— Do not promise to oppose the promotion of the abolition or the First and Second Amendments,

— Do not promise to oppose the promotion of booze, gambling, pot, and other vices, and

— Do not promise to oppose the promotion of patronage, political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, or age discrimination.)

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.