January 28 Morning Edition

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— New Naperville Park District budget includes property tax, fee increases – Gary Gibula
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/naperville-sun/ct-nvs-naperville-park-district-budget-st-0128-20180126-story.html
— Socially responsible investing gets a Trump bump – AP (DIERSEN: Of course, anti-Trumps invest in companies that 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, anti-draft avoiders (except Bill Clinton), and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-socially-responsible-investing-20180125-story.html
— Bye, bye, boomers — banks are looking toward millennials – Terry Savage
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/sns-201801232133–tms–savagectnts-a20180123-20180123-column.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: An anti-Trump says “The Trump economy is no great success.” How does the Trump economy help retired people? Interest rates continue to be far below inflation. Retirement savings in fixed income accounts continue to lose purchasing power.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chapman/ct-perspec-chapman-trump-economy-growth-jobs-128-20180126-story.html
— HARDCOPY ARTICLE TITLE: Vallas mayoral bid would shine light on his record. Potential challenger to Emanuel has liabilities as well as experience. — Bill Ruthhart, John Byrne and Patrick M. O’Connell (DIERSEN: If you sought a government office or a political office, what would your critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes stress? My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes would stress that even though I have been an elected Republican Precinct Committeeman since 2000, those who continue to dominate the Milton Township Republican Central Committee (MTRCC) have never asked me to be an MTRCC committee chairman let alone a MTRCC officer. They would stress that they rudely dumped me as MTRCC webmaster in 2004 and 2010. They would stress that I got only 13 votes when I ran for MTRCC Treasurer in 2004. They would stress their success a) in closing a nearby polling place that served my precinct and b) in gerrymandering my precinct. They would stress that I am no longer a TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois chairman, Wheaton Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee member, Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee member, American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter board member, GAO employee, etc. They would stress the activists, candidates, elected officials, party leaders, major donors, political consultants, etc. who could/should have come to my defense, but failed/refused to do so. They would stress that they blame me for all the problems that MTRCC has had, is having, and will have. They would stress that they blame me for all the problems that they have, that you have, that I have, and that everyone has. They reject most, if not virtually all of the planks in the Republican Party platform and in the Illinois Republican Party platform. They reject the MTRCC resolution against video gambling.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-paul-vallas-rahm-emanuel-mayor-challenge-20180126-story.html
— Military service isn’t required for public office – Paul Bloustein, Cincinnati, Ohio (DIERSEN: What does Duckworth think of you and what does she think of those who share your demographics? From what I see, she wants to get rid of me and she wants to get rid of those who share my demographics.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/letters/ct-duckworth-trump-draft-military-20180126-story.html
(FROM THE LETTER: U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois recent labeled President Donald Trump a draft dodger and implied that not serving in the military renders one incapable of insight on budgetary matters related to the Defense Department. Yes, Trump was deferred from military service when we had a draft, as were erstwhile President Bill Clinton and Vice President Dick Cheney. Our immediate past president, also from the Land of Lincoln, chose not to serve. Does Duckworth believe then that we should amend the Constitution so that only presidents who have worn the uniform can bear the commander-in-chief title? Animus directed at the orange-maned man in the Oval Office has reached manic proportions when senators can make ad hominem statements in lieu of addressing the issue of the moment. Duckworth may curry favor with other sufferers of Trump Distemper with her intemperate and illogical insults, but she leaves this disabled military veteran who did not vote for Trump displeased.)
— ‘Saturday Night Live’: Will Ferrell reprises George W. Bush to skewer Trump – Debra Birnbaum
http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/tv/ct-snl-will-ferrell-20180128-story.html

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Amid turmoil, Trump seeking a reset with State of the Union – AP (DIERSEN: How disrespectful do you anticipate that the anti-Trumps will be during the State of the Union?)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/amid-turmoil-trump-seeking-a-reset-with-state-of-the-union/
— To get at reasons for street crime, we need to look at black youth unemployment – Mary Mitchell (DIERSEN: Did you get jobs and promotions that young Blacks should have gotten? Do you agree with my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes who hint/imply/argue/shout that a) that instead of me, the Post Office should have hired a young Black in 1966, b) that the Post Office should gotten rid of me much sooner than it did so that a young Black could have my job, c) that instead of me, IRS should have hired a young Black in 1971, d) that instead of me, IRS should have promoted young Blacks in 1972, 1973, and 1974, e) that instead of me, GAO should have hired a young Black in 1980, f) that instead of me, GAO should have promoted a young Black in 1986, and g) that GAO should have gotten rid of me much sooner than it did so that a young Black could have my job and my preferred corner office?)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/to-get-at-reasons-for-street-crime-we-need-to-look-at-black-youth-unemployment/

 

DAILY HERALD
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH COLOR PICTURE: Opioid antidote saves lives, but overdose survivors still need help. Dr. Dipul Patadia says naloxone might save overdose patients from dying, but it doesn’t cure their addiction. – Marie Wilson
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20180127/opioid-antidote-saves-lives-but-overdose-survivors-still-need-help
— Kochs to spend $20 million to promote tax overhaul – AP (DIERSEN: What do the Kochs say to those undeservedly filthy rich retired people who pay more than $10,000 a year in real estate taxes and state income tax?)
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20180127/business/301279858/
— Blue states’ tax workarounds could mean $154B lost to Treasury – Bloomberg (DIERSEN: How soon, if not already, will those who promote the Republican tax bill demonize, denigrate, and condemn those who pay more than $10,000 a year in real estate and state income tax as being undeservedly filthy rich people who should pay more federal income tax?)
http://www.dailyherald.com/business/20180128/blue-states-tax-workarounds-could-mean-154b-lost-to-treasury

 

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Catholic bishops side with AFSCME in Supreme Court case – JACK JENKINS
http://www.sj-r.com/entertainmentlife/20180127/catholic-bishops-side-with-afscme-in-supreme-court-case
— Most governor candidates favor new tax system – AP (DIERSEN: “New tax system” is code for making everyone pay more taxes and especially those who have more income.)
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20180127/most-governor-candidates-favor-new-tax-system
— Here’s hoping for a sense of decorum at this week’s speeches – Editorial
http://www.sj-r.com/opinion/20180127/our-view-heres-hoping-for-sense-of-decorum-at-this-weeks-speeches
— Renewed focus on bipartisanship from both sides necessary for country to move forward – Rodney Davis (DIERSEN: Bipartisanship always harms Republicans because Republican elected officials fail/refuse to defend/advance the Republican Party platform. That is why Trump got elected.)
http://www.sj-r.com/opinion/20180127/rep-rodney-davis-renewed-focus-on-bipartisanship-from-both-sides-necessary-for-country-to-move-forward
— Daiber suggests taxing retirement income to help pay for pensions – Brenden Moore (DIERSEN: Since 1997, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have been beyond furious that my Civil Service Retirement System pension, currently $51,864/year, is not subject to state income tax. Since 2010, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have been beyond furious that my Social Security, currently $2,064/year, is not subject to state income tax.)
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20180126/daiber-suggests-taxing-retirement-income-to-help-pay-for-pensions

 

QUAD CITIES ONLINE
— Illinois among states on road to ruin – Editorial
http://qconline.com/opinion/columnists/illinois-among-states-on-road-to-ruin/article_73183291-e175-586f-a93b-ffba63786a39.html

 

BLOOMINGTON PANTAGRAPH
— Rauner faces hard year – Editorial
http://www.pantagraph.com/opinion/editorial/editorial-rauner-faces-hard-year/article_ba792fda-acec-5f34-90f6-5c88c9553d60.html
— State of the State 2018: Governor or candidate? – Derek Beigh
http://www.pantagraph.com/news/state-and-regional/illinois/government-and-politics/state-of-the-state-governor-or-candidate/article_b531cd7b-068d-5d6d-837c-280d721f9c5b.html

 

CHAMPAIGN/URBANA NEWS GAZETTE
— Mismanaged managed care – Editorial
http://www.news-gazette.com/opinion/editorials/2018-01-28/mismanaged-managed-care.html

 

MORTON TIMES NEWS
— Time for another State of the State. Try to remain calm – Doug Finke
http://www.mortontimesnews.com/news/20180127/statehouse-insider-time-for-another-state-of-state-try-to-remain-calm

 

NPR ILLINOIS
— Women’s Heavy Disapproval Of Trump May Not Cut So Deep Against GOP In 2018 Midterms – DANIELLE KURTZLEBEN (DIERSEN: Ever increasingly, anti-Trumps shout at women and at everyone else that Republicans are White supremacists, Nazis, KKK members, haters, racists, sexists, bigots, and even worse things.)
http://nprillinois.org/post/womens-heavy-disapproval-trump-may-not-cut-so-deep-against-gop-2018-midterms#stream/0
— State Of The Federal Workforce: Low – BRIAN NAYLOR (DIERSEN: While I worked for GAO 1980-1997, morale was always low, especially for its employees who were Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran who had not made 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.)
http://nprillinois.org/post/state-federal-workforce-low#stream/0
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The past year has been a tough one for the federal workforce. There was a hiring freeze at many agencies. For three days earlier this month, there was a government shutdown, leaving many workers to wonder when their next paycheck would arrive. Now, as President Trump prepares his first State of the Union address, one issue he is expected to take up, if not there then in his soon-to-follow proposed budget for fiscal year 2019, is reorganizing the federal bureaucracy. It’s a prospect that many in the federal workforce are dreading. Already, the state of the federal workforce is described as low. Morale “is the lowest that I have ever seen it in my just shy of 40 years” being a federal employee and working with federal employees, said J.David Cox Sr., president of the American Federation of Government Employees, which represents some 700,000 federal workers. Agencies, he says, are already short-staffed, with vacancies unfilled, and Cox worries pay will be frozen. “We are concerned,” Cox says, “because reorganization means let’s figure out a way to cut or do more with less and do away with services that the American people want.”)

 

AMERICANS FOR TRUTH ABOUT HOMOSEXUALITY
— LaBarbera, Mefferd Assail Millennial Conservative Guy Benson’s ‘Prager U’ Video Claim to Be ‘Gay Christian’
https://americansfortruth.com/2018/01/26/radio-labarbera-mefferd-assail-millennial-conservative-guy-bensons-prager-u-video-claim-to-be-gay-christian/

 

ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE
— Why Illinois Needs a Spending Cap Spending has consistently outpaced state tax revenues in Illinois for more than a decade. To avoid future tax hikes, Illinois must impose real fiscal discipline on state lawmakers. – Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill, Joe Tabor
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/why-illinois-needs-a-spending-cap/

 

BREITBART
— Ronald Reagan’s Biggest Regret Was Granting Amnesty and Trusting Congress on Border Security – ROBERT KRAYCHIK
http://www.breitbart.com/radio/2018/01/27/kelli-ward-ronald-reagans-biggest-regret-was-granting-amnesty-and-trusting-congress-on-border-security/

 

BLAZE
— Pelosi again says Republican tax cuts offer ‘crumbs’ for middle class workers – Teri Webster (DIERSEN: Are/were you a worker? I was a worker 1964-1997. One could argue that I did not become a middle class worker until 1986 when I got promoted to GS-13, currently $96,403/year.)
https://www.theblaze.com/news/2018/01/27/pelosi-again-says-republican-tax-cuts-offer-crumbs-for-middle-class-workers

 

DAILY CALLER
— D.C. Protesters Shut Down Streets — Have No Clue What They’re Protesting – Julia Nista
http://dailycaller.com/2018/01/27/d-c-protesters-shut-down-streets-have-no-clue-what-theyre-protesting/

 

HOT AIR
— How DREAMers Came To Dominate U.S. Politics (DIERSEN: Democrats count on Dreamers to get rid of Republicans once and for all.)
https://hotair.com/headlines/archives/2018/01/dreamers-came-dominate-u-s-politics/

 

WASHINGTON FREE BEACON
— Pelosi Tries to Extend $137,000 Tax Break for Two of Her Multi-Million-Dollar Homes Congress’s wealthiest woman plays the tax game too: Pelosi rushed to pre-pay property taxes after decrying GOP tax overhaul as middle-class tax hike and corporate giveaway – Susan Crabtree (DIERSEN: How soon, if not already, will the definition of being undeservedly filthy rich will paying more than $10,000 a year in combined real estate taxes and state income taxes?)
http://freebeacon.com/politics/pelosi-tries-extend-tax-break-two-multi-million-dollar-homes/
— CNN’s Jim Acosta Frustrated He Wasn’t Called on During White House Press Briefing – Haris Alic (DIERSEN: I should write a book about those a) who do not want me to know about their press conferences, b) who do not want me to attend their press conferences, c) who do not want me to ask questions at their press conferences, and d) who do not want me to report on their press conferences. They blame me for their problems, for your problems, for my problems, and for everyone’s problems. They are scapegoaters to be polite.)
http://freebeacon.com/politics/cnns-jim-acosta-frustrated-wasnt-called-press-briefing/
— Wasserman Schultz Slams $1,000 Bonuses Due to Tax Reform, Says They Won’t Go ‘Very Far’ – Cameron Cawthorne (DIERSEN: $1,000 would not go very far at all to cover my out-of-pocket expenses (nine home delivery and internet access newspaper subscriptions, Constant Contact, ISP expenses, etc.) to put together send out GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails every morning and every evening.)
http://freebeacon.com/issues/wasserman-schultz-slams-1000-bonuses-tax-reform-says-wont-go-far/

 

AMERICAN THINKER
— Male journalists love gender-based pay cut – Ed Straker
http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2018/01/male_journalists_love_genderbased_pay_cut.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: What is it that makes liberal journalists happy? Sexually harassing their coworkers? Creating fake news stories about Donald Trump? Pushing the liberal agenda day after day? Well, it turns out that what makes male journalists the happiest is a pay cut, at least at the BBC. The BBC said on Friday that it was reducing the salaries of several of its most prominent male journalists following Carrie Gracie’s decision this month to leave her position as the British broadcaster’s China editor to protest unequal pay between men and women at the organization. Among those receiving pay cuts are the presenters Jeremy Vine, Huw Edwards and John Humphrys. Mr. Vine described his decision to take a wage cut as a “no-brainer.”)

 

CBN NEWS
— How Much Do You Need To Retire? Learn how to Calculate your Retirement Income Needs (DIERSEN: My $51,864/year Civil Service Retirement System pension is only 41% of ending salary of $125,325 in today’s dollars.)
https://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/finance/2018/january/how-much-do-you-need-to-retire-learn-how-to-calculate-your-retirement-income-needs
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The next step is to determine what net annual income will be necessary upon retirement. The easiest method I have seen is simply to review a current pay stub and use the “net income” on the pay stub as a good starting point to know how much money is needed in retirement to maintain your lifestyle. I recommend this because some expenses may go up in retirement and some may go down. Many clients might not want to change their lifestyle in retirement, i.e., they want to live off the same income pre- and post-retirement. It’s all part of the discovery process, but I err on the side of overestimating these needs initially.)

 

THE HILL
— Republicans hope for calm amid storm at State of the Union – NIALL STANAGE (DIERSEN: How disrespectful do you anticipate that the anti-Trumps will be during the State of the Union?)
http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/371000-the-memo-republicans-hope-for-calm-amid-storm-at-state-of-the-union

 

NBC NEWS
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Democrats want criminals to vote.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/felony-disenfranchisement-bars-millions-voting-might-be-about-change-n841566

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— Why Is Hollywood So Liberal? – Neil Gross
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/27/opinion/sunday/hollywood-liberal.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: An anti-Trump demonizes, denigrates, and condemns Trump.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/26/opinion/sunday/trump-davos-speech.html
— Are Corporate Tax Cuts Raising Pay? Yes, for Bosses – Editorial
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/27/opinion/corporate-tax-cuts-salaries.html

 

WASHINGTON POST
— Fox News host’s hyperbolic take on the ‘war’ between Trump and the press – Margaret Sullivan (DIERSEN: QUESTION: Who has been at war against GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails since 2000? ANSWER: Those who a) reject planks in the Republican Party platform and/or the Illinois Republican Party platform and work against those like me who support those planks, b) reject the Milton Township Republican Central Committee resolution against video gambling and work against those like me who support that resolution, c) focus on destroying those like me who they cannot manipulate/dominate, d) were defendants in lawsuits that I have filed, and/or e) are operatives or dupes for the aforesaid and those who 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, anti-draft avoiders, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/fox-news-hosts-hyperbolic-take-on-the-war-between-trump-and-the-press/2018/01/25/264f8eba-0156-11e8-bb03-722769454f82_story.html
— CHICAGO TRIBUNE ARTICLE TITLE: Advocates petitioning to allow use of food stamps to feed pets – Caitlin Dewey
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2018/01/23/the-surprising-argument-for-extending-food-stamps-to-pets/?utm_term=.8d47c5a5c3be

 

USA TODAY
— Too much in retirement savings? Not possible – Peter Dunn
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/columnist/2018/01/27/pete-planner-too-much-retirement-savings-not-possible/1035009001/

 

NEWS & OBSERVER
— Is Trump in ‘love’ with Dreamers again? – Editorial
http://www.newsobserver.com/opinion/editorials/article196876709.html

 

CPA JOURNAL
— FROM THE ARTICLE: The Conference Committee adopted the seven-bracket approach of the Senate bill and adopted rates ranging from 10% on taxable income not over $9,525 for individuals ($19,050 for married couples filing jointly (MFJ) to a maximum of 37% for taxable income over $500,000 for individuals ($600,000 for MFJ). The Conference Committee bill therefore imposes a marriage penalty on married couples filing jointly. (DIERSEN: My wife and I have been paying the marriage penalty big time since we got married in 1978.)
https://www.cpajournal.com/2018/01/22/tax-act-first-look-complex-new-world-qualified-business-deduction-rule/

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.