July 3 Morning Edition

ABC7
— Tax increase approved by Illinois House heads to Senate; Gov. Rauner threatens to veto – Diane Pathieu
http://abc7chicago.com/politics/tax-increase-approved-by-illinois-house-heads-to-senate/2176823/

 

NBC5
— Rauner to Veto Illinois Income Tax Hike – Shelby Bremer
http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/rauner-veto-income-tax-hike-432177603.html

 

CBS2
— House Passes Budget, Income Tax Hike; Rauner Vows Veto
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2017/07/02/illinois-budget-vote-income-tax/

 

GOPUSA ILLINOIS
— I urge everyone to watch Wheaton’s fireworks Monday evening, July 3, and watch Wheaton’s Independence Day parade on July 4.  For event details,  visit
https://wheatonparkdistrict.com/events/july4/. Parade entries include Peter Roskam for U.S. Congress (#17); Jeanne Ives for Illinois House and Mike Connelly for Illinois Senate (#16); Peter Breen for Illinois House (#18); Bob Berlin for DuPage State’s Attorney (#19); Grant Eckhoff, Tim Elliott, Amy Grant, and Tim Whelan for DuPage District 4 (#21); James Mendrick for DuPage Sheriff (#23); Karen Wilson for DuPage Judge (#20); Milton Township Republican Central Committee (#22), and Bibbianno for DuPage Sheriff (#27) have entries. The parade lineup is at https://wheatonparkdistrict.com/wp-content/uploads/July_4_2017_Parade_Lineup.pdf. This year, for the 12th year in a row, “DuPage Republicans” will help sponsor the parade.  They will be one of the two $2,500 “Star” sponsors and again sponsor the Wheaton high school bands (#25) and the Tunes of Glory Pipes and Drums (#15) parade entries and again have a booth at the July 3 fireworks. Outstandingly, again this year Tim Whelan will coordinate Republican use of the booth at the fireworks. This year again, I have delivered flyers to the residences and businesses on the parade route. The flyers list the Republican entries in the parade and the Republicans who helped sponsor entries. Outstandingly, the flyers were printed courtesy of Alpha Graphics. This year, outstandingly, Roger Claar is a $500 contributor, Chris Nybo is a $250 contributor, Phil Suess is a $150 contributor, and Bob Berlin, Peter Breen, Mike Connelly, Grant Eckhoff, Tim Elliott, Amy Grant, Gwen Henry, Paul Hinds, Jeanne Ives, Marty Keller, Deanne Mazzochi, Paula McGowen, James Mendrick, Peter Roskam, Darlene Ruscitti, and Tim Whelan are $100 contributors. Please plan on watching the 22-minute fireworks Monday evening July 3 at Graf Park, and stopping by the DuPage Republicans booth.  Please plan on watching the parade on Tuesday morning July 4 or walking in the parade with one of the Republican entries. If you want to walk with one of the Republican entries, I suggest being at the staging area at Fifth Third Bank on north Main Street at 9:00 AM. This year is the 10th anniversary of an elephant walking behind Roskam in the parade.  I had the honor of raising $2,000 on short notice from DuPage Republicans to sponsor that elephant.  – Dave Diersen
https://gopillinois.com

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— ‘All kids in Illinois should be in the same boat’ – Dr. Brent Clark, Dr. Jennifer Garrison, Dr. Michael A. Jacoby, Ralph Martire, Ginger Ostro
Tony Sanders, CEO, School District U-46  (DIERSEN: Do the Democrats want to send more state tax dollars to your school district or less state tax dollars to your school district and why?)
http://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/all-kids-in-illinois-should-be-in-the-same-boat/
— Will Illinois fight Trump panel drive for personal voter data? – Lynn Sweet  (DIERSEN: How many who are registered to vote in Illinois are also registered to vote in other states?)
http://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/will-illinois-fight-trump-panel-drive-for-personal-voter-data/
— Why Rauner should veto a $15 minimum wage – Ed Rensi, former president and CEO of McDonald’s and a member of the Job Creators Network
http://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/why-rauner-should-veto-a-15-minimum-wage/

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Members of the following groups find less to celebrate on Independence Day: 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.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-bc-us–fourth-of-july-minorities-20170703-story.html
— Can we get a little respect from the candidates running for governor? – Dahleen Glanton
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/glanton/ct-governors-race-dahleen-glanton-met-20170702-column.html
— Planning for a new Chicagoland – Editorial  (DIERSEN: Where did you live when you were younger? How “well connected to opportunities provided by the region’s economy” was that area? I lived in Crete 1948-1972 and then in University Park 1972-1976. If I had lived in an area that was better “connected to opportunities provided by the region’s economy,” maybe I could have gotten better jobs.  I did yard work and delivered newspapers 1962-1964; washed dishes 1964-1966; cleaned golf shoes, chipped slag, and pumped gasoline in 1966; delivered mail 1966-1969; worked on an automobile assemble line and as a security guard in 1970; sold tires, automotive services, and major appliances 1970-1971; pumped gasoline 1971-1972; and collected delinquent taxes 1971-1980)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-cmap-region-planning-2050-edit-0703-md-20170630-story.html
(FROM THE EDITORIAL: Economic inequality: The Chicago area has yet to make much headway bridging the chasm between haves and have-nots. Disinvestment continues to ravage the city’s South and West sides and many south suburbs, perpetuating a cycle of violence and outmigration that destroys neighborhoods. In the meantime, downtown and the North Side flourish, recharged by a steady influx of millennials. It’s an imbalance that robs residents in struggling neighborhoods of access to parity in education, jobs, housing and transportation. “These residents are not well connected to opportunities provided by the region’s economy,” CMAP states in preview report to “On To 2050,” the regional comprehensive plan that the agency will release next year. “As a result, a substantial portion of the region’s human capital — embodied in the talents and skills of these residents — is being wasted.”)
— Boot the rascals out of Springfield and start over – Charles Selle
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/lake-county-news-sun/opinion/ct-lns-selle-boot-illinois-legislators-st-0704-20170703-story.html

 

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Is it curtains for Museum of Broadcast Communications? – Lisa Bertagnoli
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20170701/ISSUE01/170639979/is-it-curtains-for-museum-of-broadcast-communications-in-chicago

 

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— 15 Republicans (Andersson, Bryant, Cavaletto, Davidsmeyer, Fortner, Hammond, D. Harris, Hays, Jimenez, Meier, B. Mitchell, Phillips, Pritchard, Reis, Unes) defy Rauner, back tax increases – AP
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20170702/some-republicans-defy-rauner-back-tax-increases

 

CHAMPAIGN/URBANA NEWS GAZETTE
— Illinois House reaches $5 billion breakthrough on budget – Tom Kacich
http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2017-07-02/illinois-house-reaches-5-billion-breakthrough-budget.html

 

DEKALB DAILY CHRONICLE
— Illinois House approves tax hike; Gov. Rauner threatens veto – JOHN O’CONNOR
http://www.daily-chronicle.com/2017/07/02/illinois-house-approves-tax-hike-gov-rauner-threatens-veto/a6qrm82/

 

QUAD CITIES ONLINE
— Illinois House passes tax hike without Q-C area support; Rauner promises veto – JOHN O’CONNOR
http://www.qconline.com/news/illinois/illinois-house-passes-tax-hike-without-q-c-area-support/article_77f4c1dc-5f8e-11e7-b608-ab8d9e304ddb.html

 

FOX ILLINOIS
— Revenue, spending legislation passes the IL House – Rachel Droze
http://foxillinois.com/news/local/revenue-spending-legislation-passes-the-il-house-07-03-2017
— Lawmakers, state workers react to budget legislation passing the House – Rachel Droze
http://foxillinois.com/news/local/lawmakers-state-workers-react-to-budget-legislation-passing-the-house-07-03-2017

 

WAND TV
— Illinois House passes income tax increase, spending plan – Michon Lindstrom
http://www.wandtv.com/story/35799610/illinois-house-passes-income-tax-increase-spending-plan

 

WJBD RADIO
— Three Area Republican House Members Break With Governor Rauner and Approve Income Tax Increase  The Senate is expected back in special session on Monday to consider changes made in the House to the budget bills they passed earlier.
http://www.wjbdradio.com/local-news/2017/07/03/three-area-republican-house-members-break-with-governor-rauner-and-approve-income-tax-increase

 

WSIL TV
— Illinois House passes budget, income tax increase – Joe Ragusa
http://www.wsiltv.com/story/35799665/illinois-house-passes-budget-income-tax-increase

 

ILLINOIS NEWS NETWORK
— Gov Rauner vows to veto Speaker Madigan’s $5 billion tax increase, $36.5 billion spending plan – Greg Bishop and Dan McCaleb
https://www.ilnews.org/news/state_politics/house-passes-billion-tax-increase-billion-spending-plan-some-republicans/article_47d2ab70-5f7c-11e7-9d8b-5b5b82b5533e.html
— Illinois House approves $5 billion tax hike bill with some Republican support – Greg Bishop
https://www.ilnews.org/news/state_politics/illinois-house-approves-billion-tax-hike-bill-with-some-republican/article_f323fe36-5f52-11e7-87bf-97f3a51bc251.html

 

ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE
— ILLINOIS HOUSE PASSES PERMANENT INCOME TAX HIKE – Austin Berg
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/illinois-house-passes-permanent-income-tax-hike/

 

DUPAGE POLICY JOURNAL
— Ives on legislative committees: Nice work if you don’t have to do it – Michael McGrady
http://dupagepolicyjournal.com/stories/511133143-ives-on-legislative-committees-nice-work-if-you-don-t-have-to-do-it

 

WILL COUNTY GAZETTE
— Rauner hails Amazon as big economic boost for state – Russell Boniface
http://willcountygazette.com/stories/511126661-rauner-hails-amazon-as-big-economic-boost-for-state

 

CHICAGO CITY WIRE
— Rauner forced to build wall against decades of budgetary abuse, Tribune says – Brent Zell
http://chicagocitywire.com/stories/511133163-rauner-forced-to-build-wall-against-decades-of-budgetary-abuse-tribune-says

 

ILLINOIS FAMILY INSTITUTE
— Illinois House Approves Massive Income Tax Increase  Gov. Rauner vows to veto reckless spending plan – David E. Smith
https://illinoisfamily.org/marriage/illinois-house-approves-massive-income-tax-increase/

 

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— REP. FORTNER EXPLAINS HIS VOTE IN SUPPORT OF 32% TAX HIKE BUDGET AS “REASONABLE”
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2017/07/rep-fortner-explains-his-vote-in-support-of-32-tax-hike-budget-as-reasonable.html
— RAUNER PROMISES TO VETO MADIGAN’S LATEST BUDGET
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2017/07/rauner-promises-to-veto-madigans-latest-budget.html
— 15 IL GOP HOUSE MEMBERS SUPPORT DEMOCRAT 32% INCOME TAX HIKE
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2017/07/15-il-gop-house-members-support-democrat-32-income-tax-hike.html

 

CAPITOL FAX
— Rep. Ives on teachers’ unions
https://capitolfax.com/2017/07/03/todays-quotable-rep-ives-on-teachers-unions/
— Madigan praise “bipartisan” vote *** Rauner: “I will veto Mike Madigan’s permanent 32 percent tax hike”
https://capitolfax.com/2017/07/02/rauner-i-will-veto-mike-madigan%E2%80%99s-permanent-32-percent-tax-hike/
— The approp bill is booby trapped
https://capitolfax.com/2017/07/02/the-approp-bill-is-booby-trapped/

 

AMERICAN THINKER
— Illinois financial collapse not postponed as State House of Representatives passes first budget in 2 years – Thomas Lifson
http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2017/07/illinois_financial_collapse_not_postponed_as_state_house_of_representatives_passes_first_budget_in_2_years.html

 

GOPUSA
— What are states hiding behind refusal to turn over voter info? (DIERSEN: How many who are registered to vote in Illinois are also registered to vote in other states?)
http://www.gopusa.com/what-are-states-hiding-behind-refusal-to-turn-over-voter-info/
— CNN panel accuses Trump of inciting violence against them
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=26592

 

DAILY CALLER
— Hate Speech Is Free Speech – Scott Greer  (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, anti-Trumps hint/imply/argue/shout that everything that Trump supporters say is hate speech.  Ever-increasingly, anti-Trumps make clear that anti-Trumps are full of hatred.)
http://dailycaller.com/2017/07/02/hate-speech-is-free-speech/

 

NEWSMAX
— Twitter: Trump’s Tweets Don’t Violate Rules – Wanda Carruthers
http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/President-Donald-Trump-Twitter-media-attacks-CNN/2017/07/02/id/799434/
— Bannon Floats Tax Hike for Wealthy Idea – Wanda Carruthers  (DIERSEN: Who wants you to pay more taxes? Especially, ever since I became an IRS employee in 1971, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have hinted/implied/argued/shouted that I should pay more taxes.  They hint/imply/argue/shout that I avoided the draft, that the federal government grossly overpaid me, that my wife and I gave up trying to have children, that we did not adopt, and that we did not become foster parents, and that my federal retirement pension and benefits are too generous.)
http://www.newsmax.com/Politics/White-House-chief-strategist-Steve-Bannon-President-Donald-Trump-tax-reform-tax-cuts/2017/07/02/id/799428/

 

TOWNHALL
— The Left’s Factions Increasingly Turning Their Sights on Each Other – Rachel Alexander  (DIERSEN: If a male federal employee declares himself to be a woman, does he then get all the preferences accorded by Affirmative Action, Diversity, and Inclusion? If a White federal employee declares himself/herself to be a minority, does he/she then get all the preferences accorded by Affirmative Action, Diversity, and Inclusion?  If a non-veteran federal employee declares himself/herself to be a veteran, does he/she then get all the preferences accorded by the veterans preference?  If a rich federal employee declares himself/herself to be poor, does he/she then get all the preferences accorded to poor federal employees?  If a healthy federal employee declares himself/herself to be unhealthy, does he/she then get all the preferences accorded to unhealthy federal employees?  While I worked for the federal government for almost 30 years, many, if not most of my coworkers and subordinates painted themselves as having major financial problems and/or health problems.)
https://townhall.com/columnists/rachelalexander/2017/07/03/the-lefts-factions-increasingly-turning-their-sights-on-each-other-n2349774

 

THE HILL
— Media reaps dividends from Trump attacks – JONATHAN EASLEY  (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes know that the more viciously that they attack me, the more attention that they draw to my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails.)
http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/340318-media-reaps-dividends-from-trump-attacks

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH BIG COLOR PICTURE: DIERSEN HEADLINE: In a front page top of fold editorial with a big color picture unethically made to look like a news article, anti-Trumps treasonously a) encourage people to come to America illegally, b) encourage people to stay in America illegally, and c) encourage people to bring others to come to America illegally.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/03/world/americas/honduras-migration-border-wall.html
— In Chicago, the Trains Actually Run on Time – RAHM EMANUEL
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/03/opinion/rahm-emanuel-chicago-l-mass-transit.html
— Independent Press Is Under Siege as Freedom Rings – Jim Rutenberg  (DIERSEN: Trump is not against the “independent” press.  Trump is against the press that acts like it is an arm of the Democrat Party.  Individuals, organizations, companies, and governments that are against me and against my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails a) pander to the Democrat press, b) glorify and praise the Democrat press, and c) act as operatives or as dupes for the Democrat press.  Far too many activists, candidates, elected officials, party leaders, major donors, political consultants, etc. in Wheaton, in Glen Ellyn, in Milton Township, in DuPage County, and Illinois act like the Democrat press has threatened to destroy them if they do not help the Democrat press destroy me and destroy my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/02/business/media/independent-press-is-under-siege-as-freedom-rings.html
— Democracy Without Politics  What do we owe our neighbors? – KJ DELL’ANTONIA  (DIERSEN: What do you owe your neighbors? I should write a book about my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes who focus on turning my neighbors against me. To turn my neighbors against me, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes stress that I am a Republican Precinct Committeeman since 1999, the GOPUSA Illinois Editor since 2000, a Trump supporter, baptized, raised, and confirmed as a Missouri Synod Lutheran, conservative, Republican, American, White, male, old (68), rich, a gun owner, 100% German American, a draft avoider, my ancestors have been in America since 1844, a union member for almost 12 years, a federal employee for almost 30 years, a retired federal employee for almost 20 years, childless, pet-less, American nameplate car owner, and even worse things.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/02/opinion/democracy-without-politics.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: An anti-Trump says “The Hijacked American Presidency.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/03/opinion/trump-hijacked-american-presidency.html

 

NEW YORK POST
— Pension transparency: Uncle Sam needs to catch up with New York – Editorial  (DIERSEN: If I sought a government office or a political office, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes would hint/imply/argue/shout that my $50,856 federal pension is far too generous. In my defense, I worked for the federal government for almost 30 years and I earned a) a job-related bachelor’s degree when I was 21 and job-related master’s degrees when I was 27, 31, and 48, b) job-related professional certifications when I was 30, 32, 41, 45, 47, and 48, and c) a job-related professional license when I was 32.)
http://nypost.com/2017/07/02/pension-transparency-uncle-sam-needs-to-catch-up-with-new-york/

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Illinois Officials Edge Closer to Budget Deal  House lawmakers approve what could become the state’s first budget in two years – Quint Forgey
https://www.wsj.com/articles/illinois-officials-edge-closer-to-budget-deal-1499031899
— HARDCOPY ARTICLE TITLE: When Women Boost the workforce – Ben Leubsdorf  (DIERSEN: While I worked for the federal government for almost 30 years, my superiors were always under tremendous pressure from Democrat politicians to hire, retain, and promote women, and especially those who were Democrat, young, and/or minority and b) to make way for them by getting rid of their employees who were male, and especially those who were Republican, White, older, and/or non-veteran.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-can-the-u-s-get-more-women-into-the-workforce-ask-canada-1499000402
— HARDCOPY ARTICLE TITLE: More Older Workers Aren’t Shy About Not Retiring – Megumi Fujikawa  (DIERSEN: Non-veteran White males who are seeking a job with the federal government should be advised that with only rare exceptions, a) your career will be wasted and you will be gotten rid of if you do not make GS-13 ($94,610) by age 25, GS-14 ($111,801) by age 30, GS-15 ($131,508) by age 35, and Senior Executive Service ($161,900) by age 40, b) you will be expected to help your superiors and supervisors get rid of their employees who are Republican, White, male, older, and/or non-veteran, and c) virtually everyone despises if not hates federal employees, former federal employees, and federal retirees.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-wrinkle-in-japans-retire-at-60-rule-workers-who-dont-quit-1498993202
— What to Make of Softening Inflation – Lev Borodovsky  (DIERSEN: Inflation has always been grossly understated; inflation is being grossly understated; and inflation will forever be grossly understated.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/what-to-make-of-softening-inflation-1499003855

 

USA TODAY
— FRONT PAGE: Trump tweets about ‘fake news’ nearly 10 times more often than ‘build the wall’ – Paul Singer  (DIERSEN: According to my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes, all news is fake, except the news that they put out or approve of.)
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/07/02/trump-tweets-fake-news-far-more-often-than-build-wall/446746001/
— Why you might want to think twice before going to law school – Greg Toppo
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2017/06/28/law-schools-hunkering-down-enrollment-slips/430213001/

 

WXPI
— Trump signs new law to allow VA to more quickly fire workers for poor performance – Jamie Dupree  (DIERSEN: Measuring job performance is extremely subjective. My Democrat GAO superiors used that subjectivity to justify their forcing me to retire in 1997 when I was 49 years old, their always ranking me in the bottom half of my coworkers for pay-for-performance purposes, their not promoting me beyond GS-13, their keeping me off audits of IRS for all but 3 of the almost 18 years that I worked for GAO, and their forcing me to take an $18,847 pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO in 1980.  My Democrat IRS superiors used that subjectivity to justify their not promoting me beyond GS-12, their disallowing my education deductions in 1978, and their disallowing my partial day per diem claims in 1974.  My Democrat Post Office used that subjectivity to justify their forcing me resign in 1969 and their disallowing my sick leave requests in 1969 and 1968.  My federal superiors would not have done the aforesaid if I had been a Democrat, a minority, a females, or a veteran.)
http://www.wpxi.com/news/politics/trump-signs-new-law-to-allow-va-to-more-quickly-fire-workers-for-poor-performance/538815294

 

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS TIMES
— White House Gender Pay Gap: Women Make 20% Less Than Men, Study Suggests – AMRUTA AGNIHOTRI (DIERSEN: If I had not been denied my 7th Amendment rights in Diersen v. GAO, I would have presented a jury with many examples in which GAO paid its female employees who had a) less job-related work experience, b) less job-related education, and/or c) fewer job-related professional certifications and licenses more than GAO paid me.)
http://www.ibtimes.com/white-house-gender-pay-gap-women-make-20-less-men-study-suggests-2560605

 

INC.
— ARTICLE TITLE IN THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE: The 5 stages of work stress – Nicolas Cole  (DIERSEN: Non-veteran White males who are considering working for the federal government should be advised that they will under a tremendous amount of stress because their careers will be wasted and they will be gotten rid of if they do not make GS-13 ($94,610) by age 25, GS-14 ($111,801) by age 30, GS-15 ($131,508) by age 35, and Senior Executive Service ($161,900) by age 40.  It is called Affirmative Action, Diversity, and Inclusion.  Extremely few non-veteran White males make GS-13 ($94,610) by age 25, GS-14 ($111,801) by age 30, GS-15 ($131,508) by age 35, or Senior Executive Service ($161,900) by age 40.)
https://www.inc.com/nicolas-cole/the-5-stages-of-stress-its-important-to-know-which-one-youre-in.html

 

DAILY MAIL
— Lawmakers return to Capitol after voting to raise taxes – AP
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/ap/article-4660324/Lawmakers-return-Capitol-voting-raise-taxes.html

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.