June 4 Evening Edition

ABC7
— Gov. Rauner signs Illinois budget – Craig Wall
http://abc7chicago.com/politics/gov-rauner-signs-illinois-budget/3559392/

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Rauner signs full state budget for the first time in his term – Kim Geiger
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-bruce-rauner-illinois-budget-20180604-story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Pot pushers use problems with opioids to push pot.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-medical-marijuana-opioids-illinois-lawmakers-20180604-story.html
— McDonald’s officially opens HQ in Chicago, leaving Oak Brook campus behind – Samantha Bomkamp
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-mcdonalds-headquarters-201800605-story.html
— Former state lawmaker Sandra Pihos pleads guilty to retail theft but claims charge was ‘misunderstanding’ – Matthew Walberg
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/ct-met-state-lawmaker-retail-theft-guilty-pihos-20180604-story.html
— AS THE DEMOCRAT PARTY’S STRANGLEHOLD ON CHICAGO TIGHTENS: Chicago has more underwater homes than any other U.S. metro area – Darcel Rockett
http://www.chicagotribune.com/classified/realestate/ct-re-chicago-underwater-mortgages-20180603-story.html
— The Supreme Court’s unexpected wedding cake verdict – Editorial
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-edit-wedding-cake-supreme-court-20180604-story.html
— Meet the Illinois budget party pooper – Kristen McQueary
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-perspec-mcqueary-pension-illinois-budget-rauner-0605-20180604-story.html

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Rauner signs first budget as governor, thanks Madigan for ‘great team effort’ – Tina Sfondeles
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/rauner-signs-first-balanced-budget-since-taking-office-thanks-madigan/
— Trump says US farmers will be treated fairly in trade talks – AP (DIERSEN: When GAO started its massive downsizing in 1981, it assured its employees who were a) minority, b) female, c) veteran, and d) those who had 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 that they would not be adversely impacted by the massive downsizing. Of course, that meant that only its employees who were White, male, and/or non-veteran who had not made the aforesaid promotions would be adversely impacted.)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/donald-trump-farmers-agriculture-trade-talks/
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Since the Civil War, Democrats have ever-increasingly shouted at Blacks that Republicans have caused, are causing, and will forever cause all the problems that Blacks have had, are having, and will have.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/voter-suppression-law-worse-than-russian-interference-in-our-elections/
— On the verge of big advances in political ethics in scandal-plagued Springfield – Madeleine Doubek
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/michael-madigan-illinois-ethics-in-politics/

 

DAILY HERALD
— Prominent conservatives fight Indiana GOP platform changes – AP
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20180604/news/306049872/
— Libertarian governor candidate found in contempt of court – Lee Filas
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20180604/libertarian-governor-candidate-found-in-contempt-of-court
— Political strategist Jeffrey N. Ward charged with domestic battery – Jake Griffin
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20180604/political-strategist-charged-with-domestic-battery
— Pihos banned from Von Maur after pleading guilty to retail theft – Justin Kmitch
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20180604/pihos-banned-from-von-maur-after-pleading-guilty-to-retail-theft

 

CRAIN’S CHICAGO
— Rauner finally learns to make a deal – GREG HINZ
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20180604/BLOGS02/180609961/rauner-finally-learns-to-make-a-deal
— Chicago’s Kemper doubling down on high-risk drivers – Steve Daniels (DIERSEN: Needless-to-say, drivers who drink booze or smoke pot are very high-risk and should pay much higher premiums.)
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20180601/ISSUE01/180539953/chicago-upstart-makes-a-big-play-for-the-drivers-allstate-and-state-farm-avoid

 

NORTHWEST HERALD
— Rep. Peter Roskam: Trump wrong on tariffs
http://www.nwherald.com/2018/06/04/rep-peter-roskam-trump-wrong-on-tariffs/a8o1j2n/

 

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Gov. Rauner signs ‘not perfect’ budget, lauds ‘team effort’ – Doug Finke
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20180604/gov-rauner-signs-not-perfect-budget-lauds-team-effort
— Durbin says he’d support move by Trump to commute Blagojevich’s sentence – John Wagner (DIERSEN: Would Durbin support Trump if Trump would commute my sentence? In 1997, when I was 49 years old, my Democrat GAO superiors forced to take their early retirement “offer.” Because of that, since 1997, in today’s dollars, my income has fallen $73,461/year or 59%. In today’s dollars, my GAO salary was $125,325/year, but my Civil Service Retirement System pension is only $51,864/year. So far, in today’s dollars, since 1997, my income has fallen $1,524,316.)
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20180604/durbin-says-hed-support-move-by-trump-to-commute-blagojevichs-sentence

 

NORTHERN PUBLIC RADIO
— Area Educators See Possibilities In Teacher Minimum-Wage Bill – CHASE CAVANAUGH (DIERSEN: Are/were you accused of being overpaid? My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have always accused me of being overpaid. In my defense, 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://northernpublicradio.org/post/area-educators-see-possibilities-teacher-minimum-wage-bill
(FROM THE ARTICLE: He says that, in some areas, a new teacher with a master’s degree might earn only $27,000 per year. “If you look in the private sector or the nonprofit sector, workers with master’s degrees in the state, the average for them is an earning of about $103,000,” Montgomery said. “So that’s a massive gap here.”)

 

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— Trump cancels Eagles visit due to anthem – JILL COLVIN
http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/sports/nfl/trump-cancels-eagles-visit-due-to-anthem/1218494961

 

NPR ILLINOIS
— Rauner Signs Budget, Keeps Criticizing Taxes – BRIAN MACKEY
http://nprillinois.org/post/rauner-signs-budget-keeps-criticizing-taxes#stream/0

 

CHICAGO NOW
— Will Rauner v. Pritzker election ask, “Do you want higher or lower taxes”? – Jeff Berkowitz
http://www.chicagonow.com/public-affairs-with-jeff-berkowitz/2018/06/is-rauner-v-pritzker-main-issue-higher-or-lower-taxes-berkowitz-wkolber-cable-web/

 

PRAIRIE STATE WIRE
— Population falling, but Illinois government leaders agree to spend, borrow more this year
https://prairiestatewire.com/stories/511445297-population-falling-but-illinois-government-leaders-agree-to-spend-borrow-more-this-year

 

ILLINOIS LEAKS
— Algonquin Township Board & Clerk – “Budget Busters” – KIRK ALLEN
http://edgarcountywatchdogs.com/2018/06/algonquin-township-board-clerk-budget-busters/

 

ILLINOIS NEWS NETWORK
— Rauner signs budget, critics raise concerns about accounting gimmicks – Cole Lauterbach
https://www.ilnews.org/news/state_politics/rauner-signs-budget-critics-raise-concerns-about-accounting-gimmicks/article_ae910620-681a-11e8-aa31-0f79ed78c5a3.html

 

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— PRITZKER REACTS TO SUPREME COURT RELIGIOUS FREEDOM RULING: “I WILL FIGHT DISCRIMINATION”
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2018/06/pritzker-reacts-to-supreme-court-religious-freedom-ruling-i-will-fight-discrimination-.html

 

CAPITOL FAX
— Rauner going up on TV tomorrow
https://capitolfax.com/2018/06/04/rauner-going-up-on-tv-tomorrow/
— Durkin overcame numerous obstacles and got things done
https://capitolfax.com/2018/06/04/durkin-overcame-numerous-obstacles-and-got-things-done/

 

NEWSMAX
— GOP’s John Cox Edges Closer to Ballot Spot in Calif. Governor Race – Jason Devaney
https://www.newsmax.com/politics/california-governors-race-john-cox-attracting/2018/06/04/id/864135/

 

FED SMITH
— Poll: Majority of Americans Think It’s Too Difficult to Fire Poor Performing Federal Employees – Ian Smith (DIERSEN: According to my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes, my Democrat superiors in the federal government took the following adverse actions against me because I was a “poor performing federal employee” and even worse things, and NOT because of political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, or age discrimination: My Democrat GAO superiors forced me to retire in 1997 when I was 49 years old, gave me unfair performance expectations and appraisals, always ranked me in the bottom half of my coworkers for pay-for-performance purposes, did not promote me beyond GS-13, got rid of my mentor in 1987, kept me off audits of IRS for all but 3 of the almost 18 years that I worked for GAO, and forced me to take an $19,203 pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO in 1980. My Democrat IRS superiors did not promote me beyond GS-12, disallowed my education deductions in 1978, got rid of my mentor in 1975, and disallowed my partial day per diem claims in 1974. My Democrat Post Office superiors forced me resign in 1969 and disallowed my sick leave requests in 1969 and 1968. Needless-to-say, I should sue my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes.)
https://www.fedsmith.com/2018/06/04/poll-majority-americans-think-difficult-fire-poor-performing-federal-employees/

 

FEDERAL NEWS RADIO
— Federal employee volunteer hours can now go toward Combined Federal Campaign – Eric White (DIERSEN: While I was a federal employee for almost 30 years, I spent many “volunteer hours” earning a) a job-related bachelor’s degree when I was 21 in 1970 and job-related master’s degrees when I was 27, 31, and 48 and b) job-related professional certifications when I was 30 and 32.)
https://federalnewsradio.com/federal-newscast/2018/06/federal-employee-volunteer-hours-can-now-go-toward-combined-federal-campaign/

(FROM THE ARTICLE: The Office of Personnel Management has offered new guidance to help employees convert their volunteer hours to credit for the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC). The CFC will monetize volunteer hours and count them toward campaign results. But it will report them separately from financial contributions. Federal employees should use the CFC online pledging system to track volunteer hours.)

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.