July 7 Morning Edition

ABC7
— Illinois has 1st budget in 2 years, includes 32 percent income tax increase – AP
http://abc7chicago.com/politics/illinois-has-1st-budget-in-2-years-includes-32-percent-income-tax-increase/2191919/
— Rev. Jesse Jackson speaks on Illinois budget, Rainbow Push convention
http://abc7chicago.com/politics/rev-jesse-jackson-speaks-on-ill-budget-rainbow-push/2192075/

 

NBC5
— What Illinois’ New Budget Means for Residents – Shelby Bremer
http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/illinois-new-budget-what-it-means-for-residents-432983263.html

 

CBS2
— Cook County Sheriff Braces For Layoffs – Bob Roberts
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2017/07/06/cook-county-sheriff-braces-for-layoffs/

 

FOX NEWS CHICAGO
— Health care protesters at Flake’s Arizona offices arrested – AP
http://www.fox32chicago.com/news/266205319-story

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Will Republicans who bucked Rauner face primary challenges?  (DIERSEN: Who have you bucked? I have bucked 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.  I have bucked those who are 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 American, anti-draft avoiders, and anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-illinois-republicans-budget-20170707-story.html
— Boss Madigan’s Republican enablers give his minions cover – John Kass
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/kass/ct-illinois-budget-tax-hike-kass-met-0707-20170706-column.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Those 15 Republicans who voted for the tax hike gave Madigan enough votes to pass the tax and to give ample political cover to eight House Democrats, some in suburban districts, to vote against it. In effect, the 15 Republicans protected the Madigan Democrats, so Madigan didn’t have to expose his pet minions. And now they can send out direct mail advertising — approved by Boss Madigan — to tell voters in their districts that they’re Democrats independent of Madigan, that they care for middle-class suburban taxpayers, that they haven’t lost touch. Of course that’s nonsense. If Boss Madigan told them to lick the white powder off the Capitol Building floor, they’d do it. There were 10 Democrats who voted against the tax increase: Mike Halpin; Marty Moylan; Michelle Mussman; Jerry Costello II; Natalie Manley; Sue Scherer; Katie Stuart; Sam Yingling; John Connor; Rita Mayfield. Eight of these, all but Connor and Mayfield, were expected to have been targeted by Republicans.)
— FRONT PAGE WITH COLOR PICTURE: In Chicago, many still struggle to find work despite healthy employment figures. Here’s why. – Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz  (DIERSEN: From what I see, in Chicago, the more of the following that you are, the more difficult it is for you to find work: Trump supporter, Protestant, conservative, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owner, German American, draft avoider (except Bill Clinton), and/or if your ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-long-term-unemployed-illinois-0707-biz-20170706-story.html
— Chicago police express frustration after more than 100 shot in violent Fourth of July weekend – Peter Nickeas, Elvia Malagon, Elyssa Cherney and Jeremy Gorner
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-chicago-july-4-weekend-shootings-violence-20170705-story.html
— Your Illinois income tax hike? Right now. Reforms? Maybe later — maybe. – Editorial
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-illinois-budget-tax-veto-edit-0707-jm-20170706-story.html
— Voter information must be kept safe – Michael Chertoff
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-trump-voter-information-security-20170706-story.html
— Americans like to think we’re ‘nice’ — are we really? – Carrie Tirado Bramen
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-americans-nice-20170706-story.html
— Those obsessing over Trump’s tweets merely are bitter that he’s succeeding – Mark Davis
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-trump-tweets-cnn-reddit-20170706-story.html
— Justice Dept. questions cities’ immigration info sharing – AP
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-bc-us–attorney-general-sanctuary-cities-20170706-story.html

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Justice Department, Chicago, Cook County tangle on sanctuary status – Lynn Sweet
http://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/justice-department-chicago-cook-county-tangle-on-sanctuary-status/
— GOP budget defectors may find it best to ‘shelter in place’ – Mark Brown
http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/gop-budget-defectors-may-find-it-best-to-shelter-in-place/
— Gov. Rauner, show us you know how to win – Editorial
http://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/gov-rauner-show-us-you-know-how-to-win/
— County Board president lists 925 for layoffs if no soda tax – Michael Sneed  (DIERSEN: Democrats run the federal government.  While I worked for the Democrats who ran the federal government 1966-1969 and 1971-1997, I was always on their “get rid of” lists a) because I refused to become a Democrat, b) because I complained about political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, and retaliation, c) because I refused to help my superiors and supervisors get rid of their employees because they were Republican White, male, older, and/or non-veteran, d) because in 1988 when I was 40 years old I became an active member in a class action lawsuit that charged the federal government with reverse discrimination, age discrimination, and retaliation, and e) because I am not a minority, a female, or a veteran.)
http://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/exclusive-county-board-president-lists-925-for-layoffs-if-no-soda-tax/
— Rahm Emanuel, the New York Daily News, and the rise of ‘outrage porn’ – Neil Steinberg
http://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/rahm-emanuel-the-new-york-daily-news-and-the-rise-of-outrage-porn/
— Man who sold gun used to shoot 2 cops released on $4,500 bond – Sam Charles
http://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/man-who-sold-gun-used-to-shoot-2-cops-released-on-4500-bail-sources/

 

DAILY HERALD
— Illinois spending bill still higher than average – Jake Griffin
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20170706/illinois-spending-bill-still-higher-than-average
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps oppose efforts to stop voter fraud.
http://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20170706/editorial-officials-right-to-resist-election-panels-demands

 

BELLEVILLE NEWS DEMOCRAT
— VERY SAD: Powerball and Mega Millions resume in Illinois – KARA BERG
http://www.bnd.com/news/local/article160036484.html

 

CHAMPAIGN/URBANA NEWS GAZETTE
— U.S. Attorneys: Who needs an insider? – Editorial
http://www.news-gazette.com/opinion/editorials/2017-07-07/who-needs-insider.html

 

SAUK VALLEY
— Illinois has a budget, and residents have a tax increase  House overrides Rauner veto, ending historic stalemate – AP
http://www.saukvalley.com/2017/07/06/illinois-has-a-budget-and-residents-have-a-tax-increase/as9p22/

 

MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— Two Income Tax Hike “No” Voters React to Veto Override
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2017/07/06/two-income-tax-no-voters-react-to-veto-override/
— Family PAC Calls for Republican Floor Leader Steve Andersson’s Resignation from Illinois House
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2017/07/06/family-pac-calls-for-republican-floor-leader-steve-anderssons-resignation-from-illinois-house/
— All Legislative Democrats Can’t Be This Dumb
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2017/07/05/all-legislative-democrats-cant-be-this-dumb/

 

DUPAGE POLICY JOURNAL
— Fortner among GOP legislators to override SB 9 veto
http://dupagepolicyjournal.com/stories/511144800-fortner-among-gop-legislators-to-override-sb-9-veto
— Ives: Decision to override SB 9 will only keep feeding big government
http://dupagepolicyjournal.com/stories/511144749-ives-decision-to-overide-sb-9-will-only-keep-feeding-big-government

 

ILLINOIS NEWS NETWORK
— Illinois has a budget, but workers’ paychecks to shrink after House overrides Gov. Rauner vetoes – Greg Bishop and Dan McCaleb
https://www.ilnews.org/news/state_politics/illinois-workers-paychecks-to-shrink-after-house-overrides-gov-rauner/article_7869beb8-6297-11e7-9f6e-97e7e61b3f3a.html

 

BREITBART
— Bankrupt Illinois Slams Citizens with 32% Income Tax Hike, More to Come – WARNER TODD HUSTON
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/07/06/bankrupt-illinois-slams-citizens-32-income-tax-hike-come/
— Illinois Still Insolvent as Democrats Over-ride Veto to Raise Taxes – CHRISS W. STREET
http://www.breitbart.com/california/2017/07/06/illinois-still-insolvent-as-democrats-raise-taxes-over-ride-republican-veto/

 

WASHINGTON TIMES
— It’s not just New Jersey and Illinois — many states are facing budget trouble – Emma Brown and Sandhya Somashekhar
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/its-not-just-new-jersey-and-illinois–many-states-are-facing-budget-trouble/2017/07/07/220061dc-6196-11e7-a4f7-af34fc1d9d39_story.html
— Feds pay Social Security judge $500,000 to sit at home on leave – Stephen Dinan  (DIERSEN: Constructively, since 1997, the Democrats who run GAO have had the Civil Service Retirement System pay me $1,008,644 in today’s dollars ($4,238 X 236 months) to “sit at home.” According to my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes, the Democrats who run GAO are doing that because I am a “bad employee.”)
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/jul/6/social-security-finds-difficulty-firing-bad-employ/
(FROM THE ARTICE: A Social Security judge has collected somewhere in the neighborhood of half a million dollars over the past three years while sitting at home on administrative leave, according to a report that details just how much trouble the agency faces in trying to fire bad employees. Neither Social Security nor the agency’s inspector general named the administrative law judge, known in governmentspeak as an ALJ, but the ordeal described by investigators and officials could be costing the government — or deserving disabled Americans — tens of millions of dollars in claims.)

 

DAILY CALLER
— CNN Host Who Wants All ‘Racists’ Outed Has His Own Past To Worry About – Justin Caruso  (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, you are called a racist if you do anything other than a) glorify and praise minorities and b) demonize, denigrate, and condemn Whites.)
http://dailycaller.com/2017/07/06/cnn-host-who-wants-all-racists-outed-has-his-own-past-to-worry-about/

 

THE HILL
— Illinois lawmakers override governor to enact first spending plan in two years – JOHN BOWDEN
http://thehill.com/homenews/news/340915-illinois-lawmakers-override-governors-veto-to-enact-first-spending-plan-in-two

 

POLITICO
— Illinois Republicans help override Rauner’s veto, sealing budget deal – NATASHA KORECKI
http://www.politico.com/story/2017/07/06/republicans-override-illinois-governor-240276

 

REUTERS
— Contentious end to Illinois budget impasse turns threatening – Dave McKinney
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-illinois-budget-threats-idUSKBN19S0AC
— Cities dubbed immigrant ‘sanctuaries’ hit back on Trump funding threat –  Mica Rosenberg and Jonathan Allen  (DIERSEN: Sanctuary cities side with foreign countries and with their citizens against America and against its citizens.)
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-immigration-sanctuarycities-idUSKBN19R3A6

 

WASHINGTON POST
— A look at Illinois’ historic budget impasse, deal to end it – AP
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/a-look-at-illinois-historic-budget-impasse-deal-to-end-it/2017/07/06/00f80804-62a5-11e7-80a2-8c226031ac3f_story.html
— Federal employee civil service protections outdated? The experts speak. – Joe Davidson  (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have always promoted patronage. Because I have always been a Republican, were it not for federal civil service protections, a) the Post Office would NOT have hired me in 1966 or let me work there for almost 3 years, b) IRS would NOT have hired me in 1971 or let me work there for almost 9 years, c) IRS would NOT have promoted me in 1972, 1973, or 1974, d) GAO would NOT have hired me in 1980 or let me work there for almost 18 years, and e) GAO would NOT have promoted me in 1986.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2017/07/07/federal-employee-civil-service-protections-outdated-the-experts-speak/

 

BLOOMBERG
— A “Safe Harbor” Plan For Hiring Older Workers – Samuel Estreicher  (DIERSEN: Virtually all my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes promote age discrimination.)
https://www.bloombergquint.com/view/2017/07/07/a-safe-harbor-plan-for-hiring-older-workers
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Nearly every day, hundreds of Americans over the age of 50 lose their jobs due to corporate downsizing. These workers remain unemployed for longer periods than do younger workers and are more likely to leave the workforce entirely. The rise of long-term joblessness among middle-aged Americans is straining public resources, contributing to drug use and harming economic growth. What can be done? Paradoxically, federal laws against age discrimination also discourage companies from taking a chance on older job applicants. That’s why the key to helping older workers find jobs is to reduce the costs of letting them go. The United States has been a global leader in protecting workers from employment discrimination on the basis of age. The federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) and similar state laws bar employers from treating older workers differently than their younger counterparts with respect to wages, benefits, and other working conditions. These laws have had a largely beneficial effect for older people who already have jobs. But they make it harder for the unemployed to find work. Companies tend to assume that older job applicants will be problematic employees. Older workers often must adjust to lower salaries than they’re accustomed to and may bristle at working for younger supervisors. Because older workers belong to a protected class under age-bias laws, employers face potential legal action if they attempt to fire disgruntled or unproductive employees. The easier route is to avoid the problem altogether — and not consider job applicants over the age of 50. There are essentially two ways to deal with this problem: sticks and carrots. The most readily available sticks are lawsuits filed by job applicants who believe they’ve been victimized by age bias. But such an approach can only go so far. The law gives employers considerable latitude when it comes to hiring decisions, and effective challenges to hiring bias are extremely rare. Job seekers are not told why their applications are unsuccessful; even when employers adopt across-the-board rules against hiring older workers, such discriminatory policies are rarely written down and thus difficult to prove. Carrots are more effective. Specifically, the government should allow for wider use of “safe harbors” – essentially administrative rules that give employers a risk-free opportunity to hire older workers and then evaluate whether the perceived drawbacks actually materialize. The agency responsible for enforcing the federal statute barring age discrimination is the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The EEOC has the authority to grant exemptions, also termed safe harbors, from the ADEA. Early on in the agency’s history, the EEOC promulgated safe-harbor-type guidelines to encourage affirmative action programs and careful use of aptitude tests. The U.S. Supreme Court itself announced a kind of safe harbor in its 1998 rulings telling companies when they will be held liable for sexual harassment committed by supervisors (and when they likely will not). The safe-harbor approach could be used to experiment with ways to overcome hiring barriers confronting older workers. For example, the EEOC could declare that job applicants may be hired for a two-year probationary period. Workers employed under the safe-harbor authority would be protected by all other laws, including laws against harassment and unequal benefits. But if an employer chose to terminate them during the probationary period, the employees would not be permitted to challenge the decision in court. If this safe-harbor approach proved effective in helping older workers find jobs, the EEOC could consider extending it to other groups who face obstacles in the hiring process. These might include people with certain physical disabilities, such as blindness, that are costly to accommodate, or workers with criminal or credit records. Use of the safe-harbor provision provides a way to promote anti-discrimination objectives without any serious downside. It would give older Americans left out of the labor market a chance to persuade employers they can be productive contributors to the new workplace.)

 

GOVERNING
— Illinois Still Battling and Risky Pension Investments – LIZ FARMER
http://www.governing.com/week-in-finance/gov-finance-roundup-last-minute-state-budgets-pension-Investments.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.