March 31 Morning Edition

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Illinois governor candidates scramble to raise money before today’s deadline – Rick Pearson
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-illinois-governor-candidates-fundraising-deadline-story.html
— North Chicago mayor’s luxury car raises questions about wasteful spending – Luke Hammill
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/lake-county-news-sun/news/ct-lns-north-chicago-mayors-car-st-0329-20170329-story.html
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: Trump amps up conflicts in GOP  Tweets threaten House Freedom Caucus in 2018 – Michael A. Memoli and Lisa Mascaro
https://www.pressreader.com/usa/chicago-tribune/20170331/281509341027196

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— HARDCOPY SUBTITLE: We have become a nation that is increasingly dependent on government assistance, and it is having a profound effect on our lives and our politics. – Linda Chavez
http://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/my-familys-history-tells-the-story-of-the-great-american-divide/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Some 15 million people in the U.S. receive disability payments. In some of the 136 counties with the highest rates of disability use across the country, almost all of them rural with a white majority, more than 1 in 6 working-age adults receive federal disability payments. Once on disability, as the Washington Post points out, recipients rarely get off the program. By and large, these are not individuals who fell off a roof and broke their back or lost limbs in an industrial accident. They suffer from back pain or diabetes or emphysema or liver cirrhosis or some other lifestyle-induced ailment. But, perhaps more importantly, they live in communities where job opportunities are few, especially for those who don’t have a college education. But disability programs are just a fraction of the government’s assistance programs. A 2015 study by the U.S. Census Bureau showed that 52.2 million people, or roughly 1 in 5 Americans, received help in 2012 from one of six means-tested programs. And, of course, this doesn’t count Social Security or Medicare, which pays out to individuals on average far more over their lifetimes than they contributed in taxes.)

 

DAILY HERALD
— 3 things you need to know if your basement is flooded  (DIERSEN: What factors increase the likelihood of your basement flooding? Factors for 915 Cove Court in Wheaton include the subdivision being built in a watershed area and a former septic field, the tremendous amount of surface and subsurface storm water that flows onto the lot during and after heavy rains, the inadequate number of storm sewer inlets in the subdivision, the disruption, obstruction, and improper connection of 6″ and 4″ subterranean drainage lines when the home was built, the pouring the foundation walls on cracked footings, the improper installation and intentional blockage of exterior foundation footing tiles, the installation of only one sump pump when there should have been two or even three or even four, the many long and wide cracks in the basement floor, and the fact that all the storm water that gets into the storm sewer system on the lot is limited to the capacity of one 4″ pipe.  What factors decrease the likelihood of your basement flooding?  For 915 Cove Court, they include the installation of steel reinforcement rods in foundation walls, the installation of interior footing tiles, my paying $900 when the home was built in 1984 to have all nine of the home’s downspouts directly connected to Wheaton’s storm sewer system, my installing a backup sump pump, my unobstructed and properly connecting the aforesaid subterranean drainage lines to Wheaton’s storm sewer system, my paying for unobstruction (the removal of stones) from some of the exterior footing tiles, my adding hundreds of feet of French drains and many storm sewer inlets on the lot and connecting them directly to Wheaton’s storm sewer system, my properly sealing the many long and wide cracks in the basement floor, my paying for conversion to an overhead sewer system before the basement was finished in 2005, and my paying for a 20-W whole house natural gas backup electric generator for the home.  Since 1984, because of Wheaton’s failure/refusal to assure that building codes were enforced when the subdivision was constructed and 915 Cove Court was built, I have been forced to spend many thousands of dollars and many hundreds of hours of my labor to stop basement flooding.)
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20170330/entlife/170339871/

 

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Is job-hopping the only way to get ahead in Chicago? New survey says so. – CASSIE WALKER BURKE  (DIERSEN: Are/were you a job hopper?  (DIERSEN: In 1971, when I was 22 years old, IRS hired at the GS-7 level, currently $44,853.  In 1972, IRS promoted me to GS-9, currently $54,864.  In 1973, IRS promoted me to GS-11, currently $66,379.  In 1974, IRS promoted me to GS-12, currently $79,563.)
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20170331/ISSUE01/170339988

 

WTTW
— Moody’s Predicts Doom If Illinois Doesn’t Pass Budget by Spring – Amanda Vinicky
http://chicagotonight.wttw.com/2017/03/30/moody-s-predicts-doom-if-illinois-doesn-t-pass-budget-spring

 

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— BEYOND DISGUSTING: A scholarship to play video games? It starts this fall at Illinois College – John Reynolds
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20170330/scholarship-to-play-video-games-it-starts-this-fall-at-illinois-college
— Medicaid expansion is crucial, just ask Illinoisans – Nadeen Israel  (DIERSEN: Do you have financial and/or health problems?  To turn those against me who have financial and/or health problems, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes stress that my wife and I have subsidized Federal Employees Health Benefits insurance for life. For $23,051/year worth of health, dental, and vision insurance, my wife and I pay only $5,763/year.  In my defense, I have that benefit because I am a retired federal employee.  I worked for the federal government for almost 30 years – almost 18 years for GAO, almost 9 years for IRS, and almost 3 years for the Post Office.)
http://www.sj-r.com/opinion/20170330/guest-column-medicaid-expansion-is-crucial-just-ask-illinoisans

 

PEORIA JOURNAL STAR
— Illinois students will learn how to report hate speech on social media – Brian Robbins (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, anti-Trumps shout at everyone including Illinois students that Trump supporters are extremists, haters, racists, sexists, bigots, and even worse things.)
http://www.pjstar.com/news/20170331/illinois-students-will-learn-how-to-report-hate-speech-on-social-media

 

WILL
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, anti-Trumps shout at everyone including Illinois students that Trump supporters are extremists, haters, racists, sexists, bigots, and even worse things.
http://will.illinois.edu/news/story/illinois-lawmakers-debate-proposals-aimed-at-young-voters

 

WISCONSIN WATCHDOG
— Social Security whistleblower calls out agency, media in receiving award from journalists – M.D. Kittle
http://watchdog.org/292319/social-security-media-whistleblower/

 

CHICAGO READER
— TREASONOUS: Little Village and other neighborhoods are setting up ‘defense networks’ for undocumented immigrants – Alex V. Hernandez
http://www.chicagoreader.com/Bleader/archives/2017/03/30/little-village-and-other-neighborhoods-are-setting-up-defense-networks-for-undocumented-immigrants

 

UNINCORPORATED DUPAGE COUNTY BUSINESSES SEEKING FAIR & EQUAL GAMING LAWS
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Those who are anti-religious, anti-conservative, and/or anti-Republican promote video gambling in unincorporated DuPage County. Contact your representatives on the DuPage County Board and urge them to oppose this. The Milton Township Republican Central Committee (MTRCC) resolution against video gambling was unanimously adopted in 2009. Other than publicly slandering me during a MTRCC meeting, no effort has been made to repeal the resolution.)
https://www.facebook.com/Dupagecountybusinesses1/
(FROM THE WEBSITE: So we have got the ball rolling… On March 15 2017 Dupage County has had their Annual Liquor Commission Meeting for Unincorporated Liq. License Holders. At this meeting it was discussed by those in attendance the need for Video Gaming to stay competitive with other Businesses. Dan Cronin the Liquor Commissioner explained that we “Collectively” as a group need to contact our District Board Members and express to them how the current ordinance is effecting our ability to stay competitive. After the meeting a group of us stayed to have our own meeting an come up with a game plan. March 28, 2017 the same group attended the Dupage County Board Meeting and a few of us spoke during the Public Comments portion of the Meeting to express our desire to be competitive to other businesses that allow Video Gaming. Well, we have been heard a few Board Members have reached out to Jeremy (Jt’s Porch) and myself and are interested in having a conversation about Video Gaming. Plus at the end of the Board Meeting where the Board Members have open discussion, Video Gaming was discussed between Mr. Zay (Dist. 6), Mr. Puchalski (Dist. 1), Mr. Krajewski (Dist. 3), Mrs. Khouri (Dist. 5), and Mr. Cronin (Chairman). Please take a minute to send off a Email to your District Board Member to let them know you support your local Bars/Restaurants desire to remain competitive. If you need any help contacting your District Board Member I have all Email addresses. If you are a Bar/Restaurant that would like to stay in the loop of upcoming meetings and discussions please send me a message so we can talk. Thanks for Everyone’s Support  Matt)

 

DUPAGE POLICY JOURNAL
— Randy Ramey blasts incumbent Wayne Township highway commissioner – Ruth de Jauregui
http://dupagepolicyjournal.com/stories/511095289-randy-ramey-blasts-incumbent-wayne-township-highway-commissioner

 

CAPITOL FAX
— RGA spending at least a million dollars on Rauner TV ads
https://capitolfax.com/2017/03/30/rga-spending-at-least-a-million-dollars-on-rauner-tv-ads/

 

IMMIGRATION REFORM
— ARE IMMIGRANTS TRULY ‘WORKING JOBS AMERICANS DON’T WANT?’ – Spencer Raley  (DIERSE:
http://immigrationreform.com/2017/03/24/are-immigrants-truly-working-jobs-americans-dont-want/

 

THE BLAZE
— Freedom Caucus strikes back at Trump after he threatens to ‘fight them’ in 2018 – Brandon Morse
http://www.theblaze.com/news/2017/03/30/freedom-caucus-strikes-back-at-trump-after-he-threatens-to-fight-them-in-2018/

 

DAILY CALLER
— Conservatives Demand IRS Commissioner’s Head In White House Meeting – Peter Hasson
http://dailycaller.com/2017/03/30/conservatives-demand-irs-commissioners-head-in-white-house-meeting/

 

POLITICO
–Trump threatens to ‘fight’ Freedom Caucus members in 2018  (DIERSEN: My past, present, and future “Republican” critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes in the Milton Township Republican Central Committee, the DuPage County Republican Central Committee, the Illinois Republican Party, TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois, Wheaton Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee, Illinois Center Right Coalition, American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter, etc. HAVE WORKED, ARE WORKING, AND WILL CONTINUE TO WORK HARDER AGAINST ME THAN AGAINST ANY DEMOCRAT. They are Democrat plants, Libertarian plants, Green plants, or RINOs.)
http://www.politico.com/story/2017/03/donald-trump-freedom-caucus-2018-fight-236687

 

HUFFINGTON POST
— Should Trump Campaign Against Freedom Caucus Members, he might want to look to History – John Rubino (DIERSEN: My past, present, and future “Republican” critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes in the Milton Township Republican Central Committee, the DuPage County Republican Central Committee, the Illinois Republican Party, TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois, Wheaton Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee, Illinois Center Right Coalition, American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter, etc. HAVE WORKED, ARE WORKING, AND WILL CONTINUE TO WORK HARDER AGAINST ME THAN AGAINST ANY DEMOCRAT. They are Democrat plants, Libertarian plants, Green plants, or RINOs.)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/should-trump-campaign-against-freedom-caucus-members_us_58ddcf71e4b0fa4c095987de

 

CNN
— Trump’s love of getting even comes to Washington – Dan Merica  (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents have always hinted/implied/argued/shouted that I screwed them. They blame me and my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails for all their problems, for all of your problems, for all of my problems, and for all of everyone’s problems.)
http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/31/politics/donald-trump-getting-even-washington/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Long before Donald Trump ever became a credible presidential candidate, let alone the commander in chief, the former reality TV star was guided by one animating principle: “If they screw you, screw them back 10 times as hard.” Trump’s desire for revenge played out in public on Thursday when, in an effort to spook conservative members of his own party, the President lumped the Freedom Caucus — a collection of conservative Republican lawmakers — with Democrats and pledged to “fight them” in 2018. Trump and his White House feel betrayed by the conservative Republicans. Many backed Trump early in the 2016 campaign and stood by him during some of the toughest trials of the campaign. But when it came to passing his first conservator legislative goal — health care reform — the conservatives revolted en masse and killed the bill.)
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps say “Trump’s outlook going from bad to worse.”  Anti-Trumps want Trump to pander to individuals, to organizations, to companies, to governments, and to countries that 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 Americans, anti-draft avoiders (except Bill Clinton), and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors.
http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/30/politics/trump-outlook/

 

CNBC
— Some big American companies dare to push back on Trump – Jacob Pramuk  (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, “big American companies” paint themselves as being 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 (except Bill Clinton), and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
http://www.cnbc.com/2017/03/30/trump-news-american-companies-are-pushing-back.html

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— How the Freedom Caucus Is Undermining the G.O.P. – ADAM KINZINGER  (DIERSEN: How soon, if not already, will anti-Trumps hint/imply/argue/shout that I am a member of the Freedom Caucus?)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/31/opinion/how-the-freedom-caucus-is-undermining-the-gop.html?ref=opinion
— The Strange Persistence of Guilt – David Brooks  (DIERSEN: What do your critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes hint/imply/argue/shout that you are guilty of?  My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes blame me and my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails for all of their problems, for all of your problems, for all of my problems, and for all of everyone’s problems.  Previously, they blamed what I did as the TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois chairman, a Wheaton Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee member, the Milton Township Republican Central Committee webmaster, an Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee member, an American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter board member, a GAO employee, etc.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/31/opinion/the-strange-persistence-of-guilt.html
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: ‘We Must Fight Them’: Trump Goes After Conservatives of Freedom Caucus – GLENN THRUSH and JONATHAN MARTIN  (DIERSEN: My past, present, and future “Republican” critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes in the Milton Township Republican Central Committee, the DuPage County Republican Central Committee, the Illinois Republican Party, TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois, Wheaton Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee, Illinois Center Right Coalition, American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter, etc. HAVE WORKED, ARE WORKING, AND WILL CONTINUE TO WORK HARDER AGAINST ME THAN AGAINST ANY DEMOCRAT. They are Democrat plants, Libertarian plants, Green plants, or RINOs.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/30/us/politics/freedom-caucus-donald-trump.html
— How Gymnastics Culture Breeds Sexual Abuse – JENNIFER SEY
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/30/opinion/sunday/how-gymnastics-culture-breeds-sexual-abuse.html
— Ivanka Trump Is a Bad Ambassador for Working Women – BRYCE COVERT (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 woman in 1966, b) that the Post Office should gotten rid of me much sooner than it did so that a woman could have my job, c) that instead of me, IRS should have hired a woman in 1971, d) that instead of me, IRS should have promoted women in 1972, 1973, and 1974, e) that instead of me, GAO should have hired a woman in 1980, f) that instead of me, GAO should have promoted a woman in 1986, and g) that GAO should gotten rid of me much sooner than it did so that a woman could have my job and my preferred corner office.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/30/opinion/ivanka-trump-is-a-bad-ambassador-for-working-women.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.