January 7 Evening Edition

ABC7
— Government Shutdown 2019: Tax refunds ‘will go out,’ White House says – CNN
https://abc7chicago.com/politics/white-house-says-tax-refunds-will-go-out/5028973/

 

NBC5
— Lang Resigns From Illinois House, Days Before Start of 17th Term The former deputy majority leader stepped down to take a position as a partner at a lobbying firm, he said in a statement – Shelby Bremer
https://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/lou-lang-resigns-illinois-house-504004861.html
— New Calif. Governor Rebukes White House in Inaugural Address ‘The country is watching us, the world is watching us,’ Newsom said. ‘The future depends on us, and we will seize this moment.’ – Kathleen Ronayne
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/politics/Gavin-Newsom-California-Governor-Inauguration-503998361.html

 

FOX NEWS CHICAGO
— Gov.-elect Pritzker seeks higher salaries to attract top cabinet talent – AP
http://www.fox32chicago.com/news/gov-elect-pritzker-seeks-higher-salaries-to-attract-top-cabinet-talent

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Trump to head to border as shutdown continues – AP
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/trump-border-visit-shutdown-continues/
— Where 14 candidates for mayor stand on ‘sanctuary cities’ — their full responses
https://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/where-14-candidates-for-mayor-stand-on-sanctuary-cities-their-full-responses/
— Ruth Bader Ginsburg missing Supreme Court arguments for 1st time – AP
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/ruth-bader-ginsburg-missing-supreme-court-arguments-first-time/

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Trump plans border visit as shutdown lurches into 3rd week – AP
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-trump-government-shutdown-20190107-story.html
— Former Illinois U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez to CNN – Lisa Donovan
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-preckwinkle-zigzag-lou-lang-pritzker-20190107-story.html
— ‘Dreamer’ has been selling tamales in Little Village since she was 9 — and is now able to pay for college because of it – Laura Rodriguez (DIERSEN: Where did the money come from to pay for your college expenses? For me, the money to pay for a) my UIC expenses 1966-1968, my NIU expenses 1969-1970, a 1958 Chevy that I bought in 1964, a new 1966 Pontiac Tempest Sprint that I bought in 1966, a new 1968 Oldsmobile 442 that I bought in 1967, and a new 1969 Dodge Charger SE that I bought in 1968 came from what I earned I doing yard work and delivering newspapers 1962-1964; washing dishes 1964-1966; cleaning golf shoes, chipping slag, and pumping gasoline in 1966; delivering mail 1966-1969; and working on an automobile assembly line and as a security guard in 1970.)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-daca-student-tamales-tuition-20190104-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: A day after 9-year-old Elizeth Argüelles arrived in Chicago from her native Veracruz, Mexico, she learned how to make tamales. Thanks to those tamales, Argüelles, now 23, is able to pay for college tuition.)

 

DAILY HERALD
— Pritzker plans to bring in new leadership at Illinois Tollway – Marni Pyke
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20190107/pritzker-plans-to-bring-in-new-leadership-at-illinois-tollway

 

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Mendoza floats ‘lakefront tax’ on higher-priced homes The mayoral hopeful says the city needs to move from a flat-rate property tax to a graduated levy that hits higher-priced homes with a higher tax rate. – GREG HINZ
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/greg-hinz-politics/mendoza-floats-lakefront-tax-higher-priced-homes

 

CHAMPAIGN/URBANA NEWS GAZETTE
— State’s improving economy – Editorial
http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2019-01-07/editorial-states-improving-economy.html

 

SOUTHERN
— IRS worker reacts to Trump’s shutdown comments
https://thesouthern.com/news/national/govt-and-politics/irs-worker-reacts-to-trump-s-shutdown-comments/video_2b5d91eb-c8d2-5335-a80e-c319a3c7835b.html

 

LASALLE NEWS TRIBUNE
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: DISGUSTING< TRAGIC: Pot pushers push pot.
http://www.newstrib.com/news/cannabis-can-it-be/article_d415e4b4-128e-11e9-baab-ab726f59eabc.html

 

DEKALB DAILY CHRONICLE
— U.S. Rep. Underwood works to protect congressional staffers from abuse Congresswoman aims to protect congressional staffers from abuse – Daniel Gaitan
https://www.daily-chronicle.com/2019/01/04/u-s-rep-underwood-works-to-protect-congressional-staffers-from-abuse/asf0cx2/

 

NORTHWEST INDIANA TIMES
— How to solve America’s classroom civics crisis – Doug Ross (DIERSEN: What about Democrat teachers a) who teach their students to hate individuals, hate organizations, hate companies, hate governments, and hate countries that are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German American, draft avoiders, and those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time and b) who teach their students how to use government to get rid of the aforesaid once and for all?)
https://www.nwitimes.com/opinion/columnists/guest-commentary/guest-commentary-how-to-solve-america-s-classroom-civics-crisis/article_718f5e77-0c41-5fb4-ae60-c4e5eb8a7c0f.html

 

WGLT
— McLean County State’s Attorney Concerned About Legal Pot Risks – ERIC STOCK
http://www.wglt.org/post/mclean-county-state-s-attorney-concerned-about-legal-pot-risks#stream/0

 

FOX ILLINOIS
— Former Republican Rep. Mia Love joining CNN as commentator – AP
https://foxillinois.com/news/entertainment/former-republican-rep-mia-love-joining-cnn-as-commentator
— Trump to address nation about ‘crisis’ at wall
https://foxillinois.com/news/nation-world/trump-to-address-nation-about-crisis-at-wall

 

WREX
— GOP lawmaker Allen Skillicorn urges against Emanuel’s push for gas tax hike
https://wrex.com/category/2019/01/07/gop-lawmaker-urges-against-emanuels-push-for-gas-tax-hike/

 

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— How the federal government shutdown impacts central Illinois – Cody Schiever
https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/local-news/how-the-federal-government-shutdown-impacts-central-illinois/1690717506

 

CHICAGO MAGAZINE
— How Downstate Lost Its Political Power When the new General Assembly takes office on Tuesday; Illinois will be bluer than ever. That has a lot to do with the changing GOP — and the suburban voters it has lost along the way. – EDWARD MCCLELLAND
http://www.chicagomag.com/city-life/January-2019/How-Downstate-Illinois-Lost-Its-Political-Power/

 

MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— Township Abolition by Referendum, Gun Store Licensing and Gas Tax Hike Bills Could Provide Constitutional Test
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2019/01/07/township-abolition-by-referendum-gun-store-licensing-and-gas-tax-hike-bills-could-provide-constitutional-test/
— PACE Finally on Verge of Figuring Out Private Enterprise Has a Better Idea
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2019/01/07/pace-finally-on-verge-of-figuring-out-private-enterprise-has-a-better-idea/

 

DUPAGE POLICY JOURNAL
— Foster’s election opponent Nick Stella calls him out on Pelosi vote – Karen Kidd
https://dupagepolicyjournal.com/stories/511716434-foster-s-election-opponent-calls-him-out-on-pelosi-vote

 

ILLINOIS LEAKS
— Northwest Herald – Facts elude them once again. – KIRK ALLEN
https://edgarcountywatchdogs.com/2019/01/northwest-herald-facts-elude-them-once-again/

 

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— ANNUAL MARCH FOR LIFE CHICAGO SCHEDULED FOR SUNDAY, JANUARY 13TH
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2019/01/pro-life-is-pro-science-proclaims-march-for-life-chicago-2019.html

 

CAPITOL FAX
— Skillicorn again rails against gas tax hike
https://capitolfax.com/2019/01/07/skillicorn-again-rails-against-gas-tax-hike/
— Durkin announces support *** Legislation surfaces to get rid of Tollway board members, clean up ethics and raise caps on state agency director salaries
https://capitolfax.com/2019/01/07/legislation-surfaces-to-get-rid-of-tollway-board-clean-up-ethics-and-raise-caps-on-state-agency-director-salaries/
— Madigan gets sassy with reporters, but also calls for unity
https://capitolfax.com/2019/01/07/madigan-gets-sassy-with-reporters-but-also-calls-for-unity/

 

GOPUSA
— Ginsburg unable to hear oral arguments at opening of Supreme Court
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=62024
— Numbers are in: U.S. doing great
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=62028

 

DAILY SIGNAL
— What Steve Scalise Says About Threats by Supporters of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez – Rachel del Guidice
https://www.dailysignal.com/2019/01/07/what-steve-scalise-says-about-threats-by-supporters-of-alexandria-ocasio-cortez/

 

DAILY CALLER
— HERE’S WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF TRUMP DECLARED A NATIONAL EMERGENCY TO BUILD THE WALL – Amber Athey
https://dailycaller.com/2019/01/07/donald-trump-national-emergency-build-border-wall-department-defense/

 

FOX NEWS
— Hannity: Every Republican Should Be Willing to ‘Go to the Mat’ in Border Security Fight (DIERSEN: What have the Republican elected officials and party leaders who represent you done to defend and to advance the immigration plank, traditional family plank, right to life plank, Second Amendment plank, illegal drugs plank, equal opportunity (no race or gender based preference giving) plank, and the rest of the planks in the Illinois Republican Party and in the Republican Party platform?)
https://insider.foxnews.com/2019/01/05/sean-hannity-every-republican-should-be-willing-go-mat-border-security-fight
— ‘You Shouldn’t Threaten People’: Scalise Calls on Ocasio-Cortez to ‘Stand Up’ to Radical Supporters AOC backers bring up 2017 shooting on Twitter
https://insider.foxnews.com/2019/01/07/steve-scalise-ends-twitter-debate-alexandria-ocasio-cortez-followers-make-virginia

 

THE HILL
— Trump Wants to Deliver Prime Time Address on Government Shutdown and Will Visit the Border – Maggie Haberman and Eileen Sullivan
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/07/us/politics/trump-address-border-visit.html

 

ROLL CALL
— Former Reps. Mia Love, Luis Gutiérrez join CNN as commentators – Griffin Connolly
https://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/former-reps-mia-love-luis-gutierrez-join-cnn-commentators

 

WASHINGTON POST
— Trump’s shutdown threatens Friday payday as services suffer The rejection by Republicans of a Democratic proposal deepens partial closure – Joe Davidson
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/01/07/trumps-shutdown-threatens-paychecks-friday-services-fall/
— White House rules IRS can issue tax refunds during shutdown, aims to bring back agency employees – Damian Paletta and Philip Rucker
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/white-house-rules-it-can-issue-tax-refunds-during-shutdown-plans-to-bring-back-some-irs-employees/2019/01/07/c1dfafc8-12c0-11e9-b6ad-9cfd62dbb0a8_story.html

 

BOSTON GLOBE
— Short term loans. Layoffs. Trimming food budget. Across US, federal workers share their shutdown stories – Travis Andersen
https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2019/01/07/short-term-loans-layoffs-trimming-food-budget-across-fed-workers-share-shutdownstories/VUP1LolNs9x1vk8unX5XtN/story.html
— To avoid government shutdowns, fix the budget process – LINDA J. BILMES (DIERSEN: During the 1980s and 1990s, Democrats went along with Republicans cutting GAO’s budget because they could and did use those cuts to get rid of GAO’s 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.)
https://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/2019/01/07/avoid-government-shutdowns-fix-budget-process/jFkhPFfyzXmuZVhvon2BVL/story.html

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Tax Refunds Will Be Paid During Shutdown, White House Says New policy meant to ‘mitigate the impact’ of shutdown, Vice President Mike Pence says – Richard Rubin and Peter Nicholas
https://www.wsj.com/articles/tax-refunds-will-be-paid-during-shutdown-white-house-says-11546892553

 

FORBES
— White House, Congress Transform Security Clearance System As Massive Backlog Begins To Shrink – Loren Thompson
https://www.forbes.com/sites/lorenthompson/2019/01/07/trump-adm-transforms-security-clearance-system-as-massive-backlog-begins-to-shrink/
— Financial Liquid Courage – And Why You Need It! – John Blanchard (DIERSEN: My tax-deferred accounts are significantly smaller because of my Democrat superiors’ success in a) wasting my federal career and b) forcing me to take their early retirement “offer” in 1997 when I was 49 year old.)
https://www.forbes.com/sites/impactpartners/2019/01/07/financial-liquid-courageand-why-you-need-it/#4342529c9072
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Building a tax-efficient retirement strategy takes preparation, and keeping your tax-deferred accounts under a certain dollar amount is key to this preparation. Just when Uncle Sam forces a required minimum distribution (RMD) from that 401(k) or IRA at age 70 ½ and beyond, with the right plan, you can enjoy maximum tax-free benefits. In addition, maximizing the balance of your Roth accounts from annual contributions and Roth conversions may also give you a jump in these benefits. Consider scheduling an appointment with a CPA or licensed financial professional. Have them calculate your current gross income that you expect to receive from pensions, retirement plan withdrawals, income from taxable plans, the taxable portion of your Social Security, and any other deductions you are eligible for. You’ve worked hard for your money, so make your money work hard AND smarter for you! Make sure your retirement years are golden years, not yearning years, with some good ol’ “financial liquid courage.”)

 

FEDERAL NEWS NETWORK
— Senate bills would secure back pay for low-wage federal contractors – Eric White
https://federalnewsnetwork.com/federal-newscast/2019/01/senate-bills-would-secure-back-pay-for-low-wage-federal-contractors/

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.