CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Chicago trolls Trump Tower with ‘Real Fake’ sculpture – Kim Janssen
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chicagoinc/ct-real-fake-trump-tower-0628-chicago-inc-20170627-story.html
— Democrats ramping up pressure on Rauner over Trumpcare – Rick Pearson
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-bruce-rauner-health-care-20170628-story.html
— Unafraid of Trump, GOP senators feel free to ‘go their own way’ – Philip Rucker, Robert Costa and Ashley Parker
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-trump-gop-senators-20170627-story.html
— Everybody panic (again) about looming (or not) IDOT construction shutdown – Dan Moran
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/lake-county-news-sun/opinion/ct-lns-moran-county-road-projects-stopping-st-0628-20170627-story.html
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Emanuel flexes home-rule muscle on pensions – Fran Spielman
http://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/emanuel-flexes-home-rule-muscle-on-pensions/
— Without state budget, Powerball, Mega Millions drawings end this week – Tina Sfondeles
http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/without-state-budget-powerball-mega-millions-drawings-end-this-week/
DAILY HERALD
— Madigan to bring 4-year property tax freeze to vote Wednesday –
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20170627/madigan-to-bring-4-year-property-tax-freeze-to-vote-wednesday
— Officials: DuPage County bracing for worst-case state budget scenario – Robert Sanchez
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20170628/officials-dupage-county-bracing-for-worst-case-state-budget-scenario
— Will Cook County soda tax make you pay for the ice in your drink? – Jake Griffin
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20170628/will-cook-county-soda-tax-make-you-pay-for-the-ice-in-your-drink
— Why an Elgin man says he painted rainbow on Victorian home – Elena Ferrarin
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20170628/why-an-elgin-man-says-he-painted-rainbow-on-victorian-home
WTTW
— Illinois House Democrats Propose Own Budget Plan – Amanda Vinicky
http://chicagotonight.wttw.com/2017/06/27/illinois-house-democrats-propose-own-budget-plan
SPRINGFIELD STATE JOIRNAL REGISTER
— OUTRAGEOUS, TRAGIC: Sliders asking park board for video (GAMBLING) terminals – John Reynolds
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20170627/sliders-asking-park-board-for-video-gaming-terminals
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The Springfield Park Board on Wednesday will consider a proposal from the Springfield Sliders baseball team to have video gaming machines at Robin Roberts Stadium. Todd Miller, owner and general manager of the summertime team comprised of college players, said he’s been approached by fans who requested the machines. “I’ve been asked by many people… They were wondering why we didn’t have slot machines,” Miller said Tuesday. “We’re trying to accommodate the fans.”)
— House Democrats outline budget, will vote Wednesday on pension reform – Doug Finke
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20170627/house-democrats-outline-budget-will-vote-wednesday-on-pension-reform
— Rally planned at Capitol to defend religious freedom – Mary Hansen
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20170626/rally-planned-at-capitol-to-defend-religious-freedom
CHAMPAIGB/URBANA NEWS GAZETTE
— Far different from a ‘stunt’ – Editorial
http://www.news-gazette.com/opinion/editorials/2017-06-28/far-different-stunt.html
PEORIA PUBLIC RADIO
— Illinois Democrats Introduce Budget Plan; Republicans Bristle At Cell Phone Fee Demand – BRIAN MACKEY
http://peoriapublicradio.org/post/illinois-democrats-introduce-budget-plan-republicans-bristle-cell-phone-fee-demand#stream/0
JOURNAL COURIER
— $15 minimum wage bill arrives at governor’s desk – Cole Lauterbach (DIERSEN: If jobs that do not require any education, any job skills, or any work experience should pay at least $15/hour, a) jobs that require a high school diploma should pay at least $25/hour, b) jobs that require a bachelor’s degree should pay at least $35/hour, c) jobs that require a master’s degree should pay at least $45/hour, d) jobs that require a professional certification should pay at least $55/hour, and e) jobs that require a professional license should pay at least $65/hour.)
http://www.myjournalcourier.com/news/111096/15-minimum-wage-bill-arrives-at-governors-desk
JOURNAL STANDARD
— Lieutenant governor visits Lawfer dairy farm in Kent – Emily Massingill
http://www.journalstandard.com/news/20170627/lieutenant-governor-visits-lawfer-dairy-farm-in-kent
WSIL TV
— Sarah Palin sues New York Times Politician says newspaper made mistake on purpose (DIERSEN: The New York Times is a moral relativist that believes that its end justifies its means. It is a disciple of Saul Alinsky.)
http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/politics/sarah-palin-sues-new-york-times/752405625
— Former Trump campaign chairman registers as foreign agent – AP (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, Democrats talk and act like they are agents for foreign countries, mainly Mexico.)
http://www.wsiltv.com/story/35766103/former-trump-campaign-chairman-registers-as-foreign-agent
FOX ILLINOIS
— Republicans unsatisfied with House Democrats proposed budget – Rachel Droze
http://foxillinois.com/news/local/republicans-unsatisfied-with-house-democrats-proposed-budget-06-28-2017
KANE COUNTY CONNECTS
— KANE COUNTY MIGHT PUT MORATORIUM ON HIRING (DIERSEN: While I worked for GAO 1980-1997, the agency was almost always under hiring freezes and/or promotion freezes.)
http://kanecountyconnects.com/2017/06/kane-county-might-put-moratorium-on-hiring/
DUPAGE COUNTY
— DuPage County Wins Distinguished Budget Award
http://www.dupageco.org/Content.aspx?id=55280
UPSTREAM IDEAS
— Bruce Rauner’s Capitulation
http://upstream-ideas.com/upstream-ideas/ideas/bruce-rauners-capitulation
ILLINOIS NEWS NETWORK
— Illinois cities, towns, villages trapped paying ‘Illinois Penalty’ because of state’s poor credit rating – Greg Bishop
https://www.ilnews.org/news/statewide/illinois-cities-towns-villages-trapped-paying-illinois-penalty-because-of/article_17a2a02e-5c0f-11e7-ba46-7fe97f2ed5db.html
— GOP leaders’ property tax freeze plan criticized by rank-and-file for having too many loopholes – Greg Bishop
https://www.ilnews.org/news/state_politics/gop-leaders-property-tax-freeze-plan-criticized-by-rank-and/article_59cfb4be-5b42-11e7-a483-ffbbc8ad976e.html
ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE
— RAUNER’S REFORM DEMANDS: FROM 44 TO 0 Gov. Bruce Rauner has compromised over and over to strike a deal, to the point of abandoning every reform he once demanded. But no matter how much Rauner gave, House Speaker Mike Madigan never budged. – Ted Dabrowski and John Klingner
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/rauners-reform-demands-from-44-to-0/
— $70,000 A DAY IN INTEREST — THE COST FOR CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO BORROW $387M In two separate deals with JPMorgan, CPS borrowed $387M to make a teacher pension payment at end of June and as a result of the deal, will accumulate at least $7M in interest. – Marianna Schmiesing
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/cps-borrows-387m-with-70000-in-interest-daily/
ILLINOIS FAMILY INSTITUTE
— The Failure of Leftist Restraint – Jonathon Clay de Hale
https://illinoisfamily.org/federal/failure-leftist-restraint/
ILLINOIS FAMILY ACTION
— Exposé of Fake News Machine CNN – Laurie Higgins
https://illinoisfamilyaction.org/2017/06/expose-of-fake-news-machine-cnn/
ILLINOIS REVIEW
— ILLINOIS TEEN WITH RARE CONDITION MEETS WITH VICE PRESIDENT PENCE OVER HEALTH CARE DILEMMA
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2017/06/illinois-teen-with-rare-condition-meets-with-vice-president-pence-over-health-care-dilemma.html
GOPUSA
— 63% of Hispanic U.S. immigrants not literate in English (DIERSEN: If you live in America, and you fail/refuse to learn English, that indicates many negative things.)
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=26258
FREEDOM’S JOURNAL
— THE COST OF MEDICAID – Star Parker (DIERSEN: According to Democrats, if you are not on Medicaid, you are rich.)
https://freedomsjournalinstitute.org/latest-news/opinion/the-cost-of-medicaid/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The number of Americans enrolled in Medicaid has increased from 29 million in 1990 to 73 million today — an increase of 252 percent over a period when the nation’s population increased 30 percent. Total spending on Medicaid today is $574 billion, 275 percent above the $209 billion of 2000. Medicaid amounts to about 40 percent of the total spending on the 10 largest means-tested federal government programs targeted at low-income Americans. According to the Congressional Budget Office, spending on these programs has tripled as a percentage of our GDP over the last 40 years. Does all this mean we are becoming a more fair and compassionate nation? That might have been the intention. But if we honestly look at what is happening, we will see things have gone badly astray.)
DAILY CALLER
— Sen. Durbin’s Office Won’t Release Emails With GOP Baseball Shooter – Justin Caruso
http://dailycaller.com/2017/06/27/exclusive-sen-durbins-office-wont-release-hodgkinson-emails/
CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN NEWS
— MORE DISHONEST “POVERTY” RESEARCH THAT DOESN’T MEASURE POVERTY – Kent Kellar (DIERSEN: The majority, if not the overwhelming majority, of poor people are Democrats. Democrats always a) blame poverty on Republicans and b) hint/imply/argue/shout that government should take more money away from Republicans and give that money to Democrats.)
http://conservativerepublicannews.com/2017/06/27/more-dishonest-poverty-research-that-doesnt-measure-poverty/
FOX BUSINESS
— Americans Slept Less, Worked More in 2016 – By Sarah Chaney
http://www.foxbusiness.com/features/2017/06/27/americans-slept-less-worked-more-in-2016.html
CNBC
— Condoleezza Rice: Trump stands for American values and seeks to act in the best interests of the US – Matthew J. Belvedere
http://www.cnbc.com/2017/06/28/condoleezza-rice-president-donald-trump-stands-for-american-values.html
NEW YORK TIMES
— Democrats’ Best Chance to Retake the House? 8 Types of G.O.P. Districts to Watch – Nate Cohn
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/26/upshot/best-chance-to-retake-the-house-8-types-of-gop-districts-to-watch.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Suburban Survivors: Mike Coffman, Colo. 6; Erik Paulsen, Minn. 3; Ryan Costello, Pa. 6; Peter Roskam, Ill. 6; Pat Meehan, Pa. 7; Rodney Frelinghuysen, N.J. 11; Dave Reichert, Wash. 8; John Katko, N.Y. 24; Frank LoBiondo, N.J. 2 Democrats often look at the seats where Mrs. Clinton won and assume those are the easiest seats to win in 2018. But any Democrat familiar with the names in this section knows it’s not so easy. These battle-tested incumbents generally represent classic battleground districts, like the suburbs around Denver or Philadelphia. Yet they have consistently run far ahead of the national party’s performance in presidential elections. These seats would instantly be among the top Democratic targets in the country — if the Republican incumbents retired. As it is, none of these incumbents will be easy for Democrats to defeat. A few, like Frank LoBiondo of New Jersey, might escape without a competitive race at all. But most of these representatives will probably find themselves in highly competitive races. In a tough year for Republicans, several would probably lose. But many would probably survive, despite their district’s Democratic lean in presidential elections. Many of these representatives even survived the big Democratic waves in 2006 and 2008. If Washington’s Dave Reichert wins re-election, he will be the only Republican to have won in 2006 and 2008 in a district carried by Al Gore and John Kerry, and to win re-election in 2018 in a district carried by Mr. Obama and Mrs. Clinton. Most have survived in part by amassing a moderate voting record to please their moderate constituents. True to form, six of them voted “no” on the Republican health care bill, including Mr. Reichert. The three who voted for the bill — Peter Roskam, Erik Paulsen and Rodney Frelinghuysen — might now find it harder to pitch themselves as moderate voices in Washington.)
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: What do you say to those who encourage poor people to use illegal drugs?
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/28/opinion/drug-test-poor-medicaid-walker-trump.html
WASHINGTON POST
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps ask “Who’s afraid of Trump?” and say “Not enough Republicans — at least for now.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/whos-afraid-of-trump-not-enough-republicans–at-least-for-now/2017/06/27/cee56720-5b57-11e7-9b7d-14576dc0f39d_story.html
NATIONAL JOURNAL
— New Anti-Rauner Group Forms, Runs Ad Pritzker is running robocalls that blame Rauner for the budget impasse. – Zach C. Cohen
https://www.nationaljournal.com/s/654655/pritzker-robocalls-blame-rauner-budget-impasse
WALL STREET JOURNAL
— ObamaCare’s Victims Need Relief Now More than 1,000 counties have only a single insurer. Doug Lake lives in one—and rates are going up 43%. – Thomas E. Price
https://www.wsj.com/articles/obamacares-victims-need-relief-now-1498605262
— North Korea Compares Donald Trump to Adolf Hitler Language reflects Pyongyang’s hardening line on U.S. president – Jonathan Cheng
https://www.wsj.com/articles/north-korea-compares-trump-to-hitler-1498541392
— Maine Lawmakers Debate Whether to Keep Voter-Backed Tax on High-Income Earners The state risks shutting down if lawmakers can’t hash out a deal before the fiscal year ends Friday night – Jon Kamp
https://www.wsj.com/articles/maine-lawmakers-debate-whether-to-keep-voter-backed-tax-on-wealthy-1498585761
MONEY MAGAZINE
— This Is Why the Number of Ultra-Rich Americans Is Surging – Rob Wile (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, Democrats demonize, denigrate, and condemn Republicans as being rich. According to Democrats, you are rich if you are not on welfare. How many of the 73,110 ultra-high-net-worth individuals in America are Republican and how many are Democrat?)
http://time.com/money/4833875/ultra-wealthy-americans-millionaire-billionaire/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: There were 73,110 ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) individuals in America in 2016, an increase of 6.7% from the year before, according to new data from the wealth information firm Wealth-X. The total is roughly the equivalent to the seating capacity of New Orleans’ Superdome. Another way to look at it is that one in every 4,500 Americans now has an ultra-high net worth, defined as $30 million or more. The surge was driven large by a strengthening U.S. dollar, which in turn drove equities, Wealth-X says.)
GAMBLING COMPLIANCE
— Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren Wants U.S. Military To Screen For Gambling Addiction – CHRIS SIEROTY (DIERSEN: How many have gambling and other addictions in Illinois, in your county, in your township/ward, in your municipality, and in your precinct? Government should not promote addictions.)
https://gamblingcompliance.com/premium-content/insights_analysis/massachusetts-senator-wants-us-military-screen-gambling-addiction
FEDERAL NEWS RADIO
— Price hike for your retirement package? – Mike Causey (DIERSEN: One reason why my Democrat GAO superiors succeeded in forcing me to take their early retirement “offer” in 1997 was that I would get COLAs. However, those COLAs have always been far less than inflation.)
https://federalnewsradio.com/mike-causey-federal-report/2017/06/price-hike-for-your-retirement-package/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Reduce future COLAs ( (cost-of-living adjustments) for current and future CSRS (Civil Service Retirement System) retirees by 0.5 percent below the actual rate of inflation, as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.)
FED SMITH
— Labor Department Begins Monitoring Federal Employees’ Opioid Use – Ian Smith
https://www.fedsmith.com/2017/06/27/labor-department-begins-monitoring-federal-employees-opioid-use/
FED WEEK
— Senate Could Address Base Closings, Veterans Preference (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 veteran in 1966, b) that the Post Office should gotten rid of me much sooner than it did so that a veteran could have my job, c) that instead of me, IRS should have hired a veteran in 1971, d) that instead of me, IRS should have promoted veterans in 1972, 1973, and 1974, e) that instead of me, GAO should have hired a veteran in 1980, f) that instead of me, GAO should have promoted a veteran in 1986, and g) that GAO should have gotten rid of me much sooner than it did so that a veteran could have my job and my preferred corner office.)
http://www.fedweek.com/fedweek/senate-address-base-closings-veterans-preference/
VAULT
— Best Places to Work for LGBT Equality – Kristina Rudic (DIERSEN: Obviously, if you do not promote LGBTQ activity, do not waste your time seeking a job at these places.)
http://www.vault.com/blog/workplace-issues/best-places-to-work-for-lgbt-equality
