Last Thursday, the Illinois Senate passed a bill that would offer tuition
vouchers to 22,000 elementary school children enrolled at the worst
performing schools in Chicago’s public system. The bill (SB 2494), drafted
by Democrat State Senator James Meeks (D-Chicago), enables families to use
these vouchers at any parochial or private school that admits their child.
At its core, this bill is about giving parents in neighborhoods with
perpetually failing elementary schools a choice in how their children are
educated. The result: parents get choices, kids get a better education, and
CPS is held accountable for their inability to deliver a quality product.
To call this bill a landmark would be an understatement. For years, Chicago
Public Schools have failed the communities in which these “bottom 10%”
schools operate. Should the bill pass the Illinois House, these 22,000
Chicago children – mostly from poor families – will have access to a better
education and the brighter economic future that improved schooling can
bring. Notably, these goals will be accomplished without spending one dollar
more in tax revenue than was already allocated by the General Assembly.
Said Meeks of the bill, "It was for the bottom 10 percent of failing
schools. Who could begrudge students in a failing school a chance to get out
if they want to get out?"
Who would deny 22,000 children and their parents the right to a quality
education?
Incumbent State Senator Heather Steans, that’s who.
Despite overwhelming and bipartisan support for SB 2494, Steans voted
against it, casting a vote for maintaining the status quo and for keeping
kids in failing schools.
With her “no” vote on SB 2494, incumbent State Senator Heather Steans has
turned her back on the 22,000 kids in these failing schools, and has instead
opted to side with the teachers unions in an attempt to preserve their
support. Steans has said that she voted against the bill because she claimed
it underfunded Special Education programs, but pardon us if we don’t believe
a word of it, Senator.
Why the skepticism over her reason for voting “no”? Could it be the $5,500
in campaign cash she received from the Illinois Education Association’s
political action committee? Or maybe the $3,500 in cash she pocketed from
the Illinois Federation of Teachers? Perhaps it was the $1,750 in
contributions given to her by her friends at the AFL-CIO? Or maybe it was
the $6,000 in contributions received from AFSCME?
Steans raked in $16,750 from teachers unions since 2008, giving her 16,750
reasons to vote against the 22,000 kids who are stuck in Chicago’s worst
elementary schools. That’s 16,750 reasons to tell parents, “tough luck,
folks,” while preserving the sources of all that campaign cash.
When he faced the ire of these same teachers unions after introducing this
bill, what did State Senator James Meeks do?He
mailed them their money back. All of it.That’s
called principled leadership.
What did State Senator Heather Steans do? She chose the unions over the
kids, and voted against school choice.That’s
called selling out.
If you believe, like I do, that parents - not a massive state bureaucracy –
are best able to choose the education that meets their child’s needs, then
join me and my fight for positive change and common ground reforms that
empower and improve our communities! Just head to www.ElectAdamRobinson.com
to get involved and show your support today. I can’t do this without you!
Onward,
Adam
Adam Robinson
Candidate for Illinois State Senate, 7th District
www.ElectAdamRobinson.com
Posted by Adam Robinson in Uncategorized
on 3/30/2010
Keats on Public Affairs
New Page 1
Roger Keats sits down with Jeff Berkowitz for a taping of "Public Affairs"
WASHINGTON -- When
historians recount the momentous events of recent weeks, they will note a
curious coincidence. On March 15, Moody's Investors Service -- the bond
rating agency -- published a paper warning that the exploding U.S.
government debt could cause a downgrade of Treasury bonds. Just six days
later, the House of Representatives passed President Obama's health care
legislation costing $900 billion or so over a decade and worsening an
already-bleak budget outlook.
Should theUnited
Statessomeday suffer a budget
crisis, it will be hard not to conclude that Obama and his allies sowed the
seeds, because they ignored conspicuous warnings. A further irony will not
escape historians. For two years, Obama and members of Congress have angrily
blamed the shortsightedness and selfishness of bankers and rating agencies
for causing the recent financial crisis. The president and his supporters,
the historians will note, were equally shortsighted and self-centered --
though their quest was for political glory, not financial gain.
Let's be clear. A "budget
crisis" is not some minor accounting exercise. It's a wrenching political,
social and economic upheaval. Large deficits and rising debt -- the
accumulation of past deficits -- spook investors, leading to higher interest
rates on government loans. The higher rates expand the budget deficit and
further unnerve investors. To reverse this calamitous cycle, the government
has to cut spending deeply or raise taxes sharply. Lower spending and higher
taxes in turn depress the economy and lead to higher unemployment. Not
pretty.
Greeceis
now experiencing such a crisis. Until recently, conventional wisdom held
that only developing countries -- managed ineptly -- were candidates for
true budget crises. No more. Most wealthy societies with aging populations,
including the United States, face big gaps between their spending promises
and their tax bases. No one in Congress could be unaware of this.
Two weeks before the
House vote, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released its estimate of
Obama's budget, including its health care program. From 2011 to 2020, the
cumulative deficit is almost $10 trillion. Adding 2009 and 2010, the total
rises to $12.7 trillion. In 2020, the projected annual deficit is $1.25
trillion, equal to 5.6 percent of the economy (gross domestic product). That
assumes economic recovery, with unemployment at 5 percent. Spending is
almost 30 percent higher than taxes. Total debt held by the public rises
from 40 percent of GDP in 2008 to 90 percent in 2020, close to its
post-World War II peak.
To criticisms, Obama
supporters make two arguments. First, the CBO says the plan reduces the
deficit by $138 billion over a decade. Second, the legislation contains
measures (an expert panel to curb Medicare spending, emphasis on
"comparative effectiveness research") to control health spending. These
rejoinders are self-serving and unconvincing.
Suppose the CBO estimate
is correct. So? The $138 billion saving is about 1 percent of the projected
$12.7 trillion deficit from 2009 to 2020. If the administration has $1
trillion or so of spending cuts and tax increases over a decade, all these
monies should first cover existing deficits -- not finance new spending.
Obama's behavior resembles a highly indebted family's taking an expensive
round-the-world trip because it claims to have found ways to pay for it.
It's self-indulgent and reckless.
But the CBO estimate is
misleading, because it must embody the law's many unrealistic assumptions
and gimmicks. Benefits are phased in "so that the first 10 years of (higher)
revenue would be used to pay for only six years of spending (increases),"
ex-CBO director Douglas Holtz-Eakin wrote in The New York Times. Holtz-Eakin
also noted the $70 billion of premiums for a new program of long-term care
that reduce present deficits but will be paid out in benefits later. Then
there's the "doc fix" -- higher Medicare reimbursements under separate
legislation that would cost about $200 billion over a decade.
Proposals to control
health spending face restrictions that virtually ensure failure. Consider
the "Independent Payment Advisory Board" aimed at Medicare. "The Board is
prohibited from submitting proposals that would ration care, increase
revenues or change benefits, eligibility or Medicare beneficiary cost
sharing," says a summary by the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. What's
left? Similarly, findings from "comparative effectiveness research" --
intended to identify ineffective care -- "may not be construed as mandates,
guidelines or recommendations for payment, coverage or treatment." What's
the point then?
So Obama is flirting with
a future budget crisis. Moody's emphasizes two warning signs: rising debt
and loss of confidence that government will deal with it. Obama fulfills
both. The parallels with the recent financial crisis are striking. Bankers
and rating agencies engaged in wishful thinking to rationalize
self-interest. Obama does the same. No one can tell when or whether a crisis
will come. There is no magic tipping point. But Obama is raising the
chances.
Posted by Robert Samuelson in Uncategorized
on 3/29/2010
Reckless Decisions, Questionable Relationships
Giannoulias Features Radical Left-Wing Activist at Campaign Press Conference,
Defends Him When Questioned
Key Questions for Alexi Giannoulias:
1. Did you know that David Borris was a radical left-wing activist who
opposed the Afghan war, Iran sanctions and Israel’s right to self-defense before
you invited him to be your campaign surrogate?
2. If you did not know, is it because you applied the same kind of vetting
procedures you employed while Chief Loan Officer at Broadway Bank?
3. Do you agree with Mr. Borris that all members of Illinois National Guard
should be withdrawn from Afghanistan?
4. Do you agree with Mr. Borris that Iran is only interested in peaceful
nuclear energy and that the United States should not pursue economic sanctions
against the regime?
5. Do you agree with Mr. Borris that Israel was wrong to declare Gaza a
“hostile entity” after months of continuous Hamas rocket attacks?
Background:
Yesterday, just five days after announcing his support for a state income tax
increase, Alexi Giannoulias held a press conference to highlight his support for
12 new federal taxes contained in the newly enacted trillion-dollar health care
bill.
Since non-partisan small business owners (and the National Federation of
Independent Business) know that the health care bill will raise costs, slow
growth and kill jobs, Alexi Giannoulias needed to find partisan surrogates to
advance his high-tax agenda.
Alexi Giannoulias turned to Hel’s Kitchen owner David Borris – a radical
left-wing activist who disagrees with President Obama when it comes to the
Afghan surge, Iran sanctions and Israel’s right to self-defense.
Last year, Borris signed a petition to withdraw all Illinois National Guard
from Afghanistan and Iraq.
In 2007, Borris signed a petition condemning Israel for actions taken to protect
its citizens from Hamas terrorist Qassam rocket attacks.
In 2006, Borris signed a petition opposing sanctions against Iran and stating
his belief that Iran was not developing nuclear weapons.
Posted by WTTW Chicago in Uncategorized
on 3/16/2010
Giannoulias family bank linked to fraud suspects
Posted by ABC 7 Chicago in Uncategorized
on 3/14/2010
Oak Park Republican Committeeman Vacancy
The Cook County Republican Party is currently seeking to fill the recent vacancy for Republican Committeeman in Oak Park Township. The Committeeman is appointed by Cook County Republican Chairman Lee Roupas, and will run until the next Township Committeeman Elections in the Primary Election of 2014.
If you live in Oak Park and are interested in learning more about, or applying for this important grassroots leadership role, please contact Jonathan Blessing at jon@cookrepublicanparty.com.
Deadline for resume submissions is Friday, March 19.
Illinois Republicans finally have a gubernatorial candidate, and for now at least he holds a 10-point lead over incumbent Democratic Governor Pat Quinn.
A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of likely voters in the state finds State Senator Bill Brady leading Quinn 47% to 37%. Six percent (6%) prefer some other candidate, and nine percent (9%) are undecided.
The survey follows last week's announcement by the state elections board that Brady was the winner of the February 2 Republican Primary. He won by just 193 votes out of 750,000 that were cast.
Quinn, who is running for his first full-term after assuming office following Rod Blagojevich’s impeachment, also ran a very close primary race with state Comptroller Dan Hynes for the Democratic nomination. Just before the primary vote, a poll found Quinn trailing Hynes 43% to 37%.
Brady's numbers likely reflect at least a modest bounce from the news of his victory. Given Illinois' strong Democratic leanings, the race is sure to tighten in the days ahead.
The new survey finds Brady leading by 17 points among women but just three points among men. Voters not affiliated with either party favor Brady 59% to 18%.
Brady is viewed very favorably by 17% of Illinois voters, while only 11% view the Republican very unfavorably. Nineteen percent (19%) have no opinion of him.
Just 12% in Illinois view their governor very favorably, while 24% view Quinn very unfavorably. Only five percent (5%) have no opinion of Quinn.
At this point in a campaign, Rasmussen Reports considers the number of people with strong opinions more significant than the total favorable/unfavorable numbers.
Forty-three percent (43%) of Illinois voters approve of the job Quinn is doing as governor, while 56% disapprove.
Rasmussen Reports will release new numbers from Illinois' U.S. Senate race tomorrow.
Rasmussen Reports also has released recent polls on the 2010 governor's races in Texas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Wisconsin.
March 8, 2010
(CHICAGO) (WLS) --Now
that he's the official Republican nominee for
governor, Bloomington State Senator Bill Brady
hits the campaign trail.
Brady begins an eight-city tour across the state to thank his
supporters and launch his general election campaign. Last week, the
state election board certified the results of the primary race, giving
him a narrow victory over DuPage County State Senator Kirk Dillard.
"The late decision won't hurt me," Brady said. "One of the nice
things our polling data shows is, if I wasn't people's first choice I
was generally their second. So I think I've got a great ability to
bring, not just Republicans, but independents and Democrats together.
Our state's struggling. Families and businesses are worried about what's
going to happen tomorrow. They know we need to have a clean break from
the politics of the past and a plan for the future."
Brady will face Governor Pat Quinn in the November general election.
A month after the primary, the final tally for the GOP was announced.
Out of more than 750,000 votes, Brady and Dillard were separated by just
193 votes. Dillard conceded the race Friday. That's a winning margin of
two-thousandths of one percent.
Dillard said he would not challenge the results for financial and
political reasons. Political experts say unless Dillard had evidence of
specific miscounting or fraud, it's not worth asking for a recount. And
it's certainly better for party unity.
On his first official day on the general election campaign trail,
Brady greeted voters as they headed to their trains at Ogilvie Station.
"Bill Brady. I'm running for Governor."
His Democratic opponent Quinn has a 31-day headstart on the campaign
because it took that long for the state election board to certify
Brady's razor-thin margin of victory over Dillard. But Brady was already
taking shots at Quinn.
"We're moving forward. The governor has a lot of issues to address.
He's had a record $2.5 billion deficit in his first 12 months. He's
without a lieutenant governor," said Brady.
For his part, Governor Quinn said he's ready for the campaign to
begin, and the lines are already drawn. Quinn supports an income tax
increase to help dig the state out of a huge financial hole. Brady is
against that idea.
"He has in the past, his voting record has shown, that's he very
extreme when it comes to taking on issues protecting everyday people,"
said Gov. Quinn.
His former opponent says he is throwing his full support behind Brady
even though Dillard likely would have won if he hadn't had to split
Chicago-area support with three other DuPage County Republicans.
"I have to trust in the machinery that is out there. Could I overturn
it? Perhaps. But, in the end, is it worth it?" said Dillard, (R)
Hinsdale.
Brady is a conservative Republican who says the campaign will be
about jobs and reform and little else. His state party chairman said he
agrees.
"Everybody is focused on fiscal and economically responsible issues.
Those are the issues that people care about, jobs and fiscal issues, so
there is no real right or left in those, just right or wrong," said Pat
Brady, Illinois Republican chairman.
Political scientist Dick Simpson predicts a tight race in November.
"It's a situation where any single mistake could cost the election,"
said Simpson, UIC political science professor.
Governor Quinn is scheduled to present his state budget next week,
and experts say the focus on the state's fiscal crisis could work to
Brady's benefit in the campaign. But those political experts also point
out Brady is not very well known in northern Illinois.. And right now
that works to Governor Quinn's benefit.
Breakdown of votes
Of the four DuPage County candidates on the Republican ballot, one of
them, county board chairman Bob Schillerstrom, got over 7,000 votes.
Schillerstrom withdrew from the race before Election Day.
The election board video conference was held Friday morning with four
members meeting in Chicago and four members meeting in Springfield. Each
of the members signed the notice proclaiming the results, which also
indicate Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn won over his opponent, Ill.
Comptroller Dan Hynes, by 8,000 votes.
Brady received 155,527 votes. Dillard got 155,334. Among the other
Republican challengers:
Andy McKenna had 148,054
votes
Jim Ryan had 130,785
votes
Adam Andrzejewski had 111,030 votes
Dan Proft received
59,335 votes
and Bob Schillerstrom, who dropped out of the race, had 7,420 votes.
On the Democratic side, Quinn received 462,049 votes while Hynes, who
conceded the race, got 453,677 votes.
Posted by ABC 7 Chicago in Uncategorized
on 3/8/2010
Cook County Board Votes Against Repealing Sales Tax Hike
By David Schwartz, FOX Chicago News
Chicago - Fifteen minutes of drama at a Cook County Board
meeting erupted Tuesday afternoon when the sales tax debate was
reignited. It got white hot.
Commissioner Tony Peraica demanded an immediate vote on his plan
to repeal what's left of that infamous 1 percent hike.
"This is a tax that the taxpayers of Cook County are crying for
us to repeal,” Peraica said. “We can do the right thing here and
set ourselves on right path by allowing them to keep some money
in these extremely, extremely difficult times."
He got a vote taken. He also got an earful. Some other
commissioners do not like his style.
The repeal plan failed. Several commissioners said a lot more
budget planning needs to be done first. The vote was 11 to six.
One more note from the board meeting: Commissioners approved a
$108 million plan to renovate the building that used to be Cook
County Hospital. The plan is to turn the old building into
offices for the public hospital system.
Posted by By David Schwartz, FOX Chicago News in Uncategorized
on 3/3/2010
