By: Diane Benjamin White Oak Township met to raise taxes last night. They voted by referendum because the Township needs more money. The Agenda lists the increase “not to exceed” .167%: The reason given for the tax increase is: Wind farm revenue is decreasing! The State is also late paying Motor Fuel Tax. Not surprising, […]
From Outrage to Action:
July 27, 2017 by Leave a Comment
If you have had it with Illinois, if you are thinking of running for office, if you are ready to do something: IllinoisConservativesUnited.ORG (Obviously Republicans aren’t going to save the State!) . . .
The School Funding Showdown
July 25, 2017 by 1 Comment
By: Diane Benjamin The Democrats needed the help of Republicans to increase taxes. Two from this area complied: Bill Mitchell and Mike Unes The GOP had the winning hand until 10 people pretending to be Republicans voted with the Democrats. As a result NO reforms were passed and the path to destruction Illinois was on […]
Year end Connect Transit $$$
July 24, 2017 by 10 Comments
By: Diane Benjamin Connect Transit ended their Fiscal Year 6/30/2017 with ridership below last year and well short of their goal: Connect Transit competes with Uber and taxi service. Your government is assaulting the private sector by redistributing your money to their preferred transportation provider. I wonder who Connect Transit employees voted for? See page […]
Bill Mitchell’s Funding
July 13, 2017 by 1 Comment
By: Diane Benjamin Mitchell is my representative and one of the guys who defected from the Republican Party to raise your taxes. I wonder if he knew that bill also raises gas taxes .05 a gallon? I doubt it since nobody had time to read the bill. More surprises may surface. Today I got a […]
WJBC: Scott wrong again!
July 10, 2017 by 14 Comments
By: Diane Benjamin Scott Laughlin clarified this morning on WJBC why the local media is useless. The host hates people who think government should do nothing. Scottie doesn’t realize “those” people don’t want government doing nothing, they want them doing only the things the population can’t do themselves. Like fix the roads! How are the Bloomington […]
Update: Illegals welcome, police questionable
July 7, 2017 by 10 Comments
Ask Tari to explain the contribution illegals make verses the cost: https://www.nationaleconomicseditorial.com/2017/07/04/illegal-immigration-cost-illinois/ _______________________________________________________________ By: Diane Benjamin Mayor Tari Renner wanted to lump 3 controversial items together at Monday night’s Council, but one got derailed. The Council will consider: Bike Lanes on E. Washington to create congestion Welcoming ordinance for illegals The Citizens Advisory Board to […]
Kick the can GOP
July 6, 2017 by 3 Comments
By: Diane Benjamin Today, if the House has a quorum, Madigan is calling a vote to override Gov. Rauner’s veto of the income tax hike. 15 Republicans voted for it the first time even though no concessions were made by the Democrats and nothing gets solved. The GOP holds all the cards because the Democrats […]
Evacuate!
July 5, 2017 by 1 Comment
By: Diane Benjamin The Illinois Senate needed one Republican to vote with the Democrats to override Gov Rauner’s veto of the income tax hike. They got one: Dale Righter. Madigan got MORE Republicans than he needed to pass the tax hike in the House – 15 of them. (Including Bill Mitchell and Mike Unes from […]
Declare your Independence!
July 3, 2017 by 9 Comments
By: Diane Benjamin The 4th of July commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Independence from Great Britain. It includes a long list of “repeated injuries and usurpations” of the Americans’ rights and liberties. FIFTEEN members of the Republican party voted yesterday in the House of Representatives to increase our income taxes 32%: Republicans voting yes […]
Stories you probably missed
June 29, 2017 by 1 Comment
Just a few stories most media ignores: History of Illinois Fiscal Crisis (Hint: both parties are at fault) https://www.illinoispolicy.org/reports/the-history-of-illinois-fiscal-crisis/ Austin’s Complete Streets Nightmare (Austin went with buses, since few ride buses here – local government is forcing bike lanes) http://www.texasturf.org/2012-06-01-03-09-30/latest-news/2113-austin-s-complete-streets-policy-a-complete-nightmare?mc_cid=1b7d77465e&mc_eid=26ab1cd66c Renner didn’t sign on – Koos did Update: Renner did sign – he […]
Erickson has killed the local GOP
June 19, 2017 by 28 Comments
By: Diane Benjamin Chuck Erickson was elected GOP chair in 2014 and re-elected in 2016. 75-100 people used to attend the monthly breakfast meetings BC (before Chuck). Today the breakfast had less than 30, according to an attendee, and most of them were elected members of the County Board. Sue Feldkamp, who ran for the […]
Connect Transit: Great News
May 30, 2017 by 1 Comment
By: Diane Benjamin Source: http://www.connect-transit.com/documents/05-30-2017%20Regular%20Board%20Meeting%20Binder1.pdf Tonight Connect Transit’s Board will discuss ending some unprofitable routes. Sorry, they don’t mean all of them since NONE of the them are profitable. They just want to get rid of the worst ones. One would think Connect is trying to reduce the massive operating losses, sorry again – that […]
Connect the Dots
May 25, 2017 by 13 Comments
By: Diane Benjamin You already know R.C McBride is the General Manager of WGLT radio and he is a Trustee on the Normal Town Council: http://wglt.org/people/category/6 http://www.normal.org/1135/Meet-the-Council , , , , , . If that isn’t enough to question the integrity of WGLT reporting, here’s more: http://www.mcleancountydemocrats.org/?zone=/unionactive/view_page.cfm&page=Other20counties McBride is also a precinct committeeman for the […]
Convention of States
May 22, 2017 by 6 Comments
By: Diane Benjamin Twelve States have now passed a Convention of States Resolution. 34 states must pass it to make the Convention happen. Contrary to what naysayers claim, this is not a Constitutional Convention. The resolution says nothing about re-writing the Constitution. Abolishing the Constitution won’t be discussed, the Convention of States is merely a […]
Lawyer Comedy!
May 9, 2017 by 4 Comments
By: Diane Benjamin Jeff Jurgens needs to take his show on the road. The City of Bloomington has BOUGHT the Springfield law firm now, so any opinions he offers are obviously going to be the answer the City wants to hear. Keep in mind the City sends Sorling Northup Hanna around $60,000 every month. A […]
Send a local message to Springfield:
March 13, 2017 by Leave a Comment
By: Diane Benjamin Normal spent $100,000,000+ on Uptown and they aren’t done spending money. See this story: http://www.onlyinyourstate.com/illinois/small-town-downtowns-il/ 9 Small Towns In Illinois Where Downtown Is The Place To Be Normal isn’t on the list and it isn’t a downtown destination, unless you like the taxpayer-funded free events. These 9 cities used existing buildings. Quaint […]
Rivian-What they got from Illinois
March 9, 2017 by 4 Comments
By: Diane Benjamin I sent a FOIA request to the State of Illinois on February 6th for information on the Rivian incentives. I finally received it today. Rivian received NO money up front, the story is not going to be repeated in Illinois that happened in other states. The entire deal is based on the […]
Bloomington: $20 Million in cuts?
February 8, 2017 by 3 Comments
By: Diane Benjamin Can $20 million be cut from Bloomington’s budget? David Hales thinks disaster would strike Bloomington if the tax increases were rolled back. (The media happily reports it!) Here’s a better question: The 2012 TOTAL budget was $165.3 million (Pre Tari) The 2013 TOTAL budget was $167 million (Pre Tari) That 2017 TOTAL […]
Bloomington is in recession
January 20, 2017 by 16 Comments
By: Diane Benjamin It’s not me saying Bloomington is in a recession, it’s: . The report doesn’t go into details about Bloomington – just this statement on page 4: . See the entire report HERE Next month’s primary election just got serious. Liberal progressives think they need to keep spending money in a recession, conservatives […]
ISU is embarrassing . . NIOT?
January 18, 2017 by 15 Comments
By: Diane Benjamin Martin Luther King Day was last Monday, but ISU won’t be holding their annual dinner until Friday. Maybe even ISU knows this event should not be held on MLK Day since King would never approve of the speakers they bring in. King was a minister. King was a Republican. King knew the […]
More on ISU and RC McBride
January 13, 2017 by 10 Comments
By: Diane Benjamin Update to this story: https://blnnews.com/2017/01/11/next-lawsuit-isu/ I received the email below concerning the ISU denial of the required waiver to hire RC McBride as the General Manager of WGLT: Attached to this email was: The previous story spelled out that waivers can only be issued in extraordinary circumstances – note ISU redacted those […]
Next Lawsuit: ISU
January 11, 2017 by 10 Comments
See update here: https://blnnews.com/2017/01/13/more-on-isu-and-rc-mcbride/ By: Diane Benjamin I filed the following Freedom of Information request with ISU – their answer is included. They included the obligatory you have to right to contact the Attorney General . . .: . Since we all know asking Lisa Madigan to do her job is a complete waste of […]
Here: Call Police, elsewhere . . .
December 28, 2016 by 1 Comment
By: Diane Benjamin When the Edgar County Watchdogs told the Bloomington Election Commission their meeting was illegal BEFORE the meeting started, they started the meeting anyway. Then, when Kirk Allen, John Kraft, and I interrupted the meeting because it was illegal – they called the police! Relive great moments in Bloomington history by watching the […]
Dick Durbin: King of FAKE NEWS
December 21, 2016 by 9 Comments
By: Diane Benjamin Sen Dickie Durbin sent me an email today claiming the Electoral College isn’t what the Founders intended. Yes, FAKE NEWS does exist! Durbin not only spreads his lies to his email list, he is allowed to spout on any media source that refuses to challenged him. The media enables his FAKE NEWS, […]
Matejka: Purveyor of FAKE NEWS
December 12, 2016 by 12 Comments
By: Diane Benjamin WJBC allows a few people to spout anything they want on their “Forums”. Yes, “Fake News” does exist – Mike Matejka used his forum platform back on December 1st to proliferate it. See his comments here: HERE Matejka is upset that Clinton won the popular vote, but lost the electoral college. His […]
WJBC, Dick Durbin – fake news
December 5, 2016 by 7 Comments
By: Diane Benjamin Our Democratic US Senator Dick Durbin is a frequent guest on the WJBC morning show. Unfortunately he is allowed to s-t-r-e-t-c-h the truth unchallenged. Yes, fake news does exist! Add this story to the long list of ones I never got around to writing last week. The interview was on 11/29. Listen […]
Dan Brady: Your GOP leadership
December 1, 2016 by 4 Comments
By: Diane Benjamin Rep Dan Brady has a huge office in Springfield because he is part of the House GOP leadership team. The email below was sent to Dan Brady. Democrats in Illinois think if they can close every gun store in the state no guns will exist. They are pushing a bill to make […]
BGA on Madigan’s Public Access
November 20, 2016 by 2 Comments
I was interviewed for this story WEEKS ago, glad to see this is STATE problem. The story is published on the Better Government Association website: http://www.bettergov.org/news/illinois-foia-appeals-linger-with-no-end-in-sight Illinois FOIA Appeals Linger With No End In Sight Lengthy appeals process, non-binding decisions hamper ability to obtain records through Illinois Freedom of Information Act. After Edgar County corrections […]
Stand up to Lisa Madigan
November 20, 2016 by 2 Comments
By: Diane Benjamin Bloomington resident April Huber isn’t sitting by and letting Illinois Attorney General get by with not doing her job. She asked me to post this information. I would not have been forced to file a lawsuit against the City of Bloomington concerning the Coliseum if Lisa Madigan’s office had done their job. […]
Turbines: County went for money
November 17, 2016 by 10 Comments
By: Diane Benjamin Yesterday the McLean County Board passed a new Wind Farm ordinance that benefits developers over people. Livingston County had a referendum on their last ballot asking whether a 1600 feet setback was enough, the voters there said NO. McLean’s ordinance is a measly 1500 feet from any occupied home – not the […]
Democrats in Illinois want you to pay for abortions!
November 16, 2016 by 15 Comments
By: Diane Benjamin I am 1000% against killing babies! I will make no apology to ANYBODY for wanting to protect unborn life. It’s not tissue – it’s a beating heart of a person who has no choice in the decisions a mother makes. I have to stand up for the over 50,000,000 million people who […]
Electoral College for those who forgot
November 8, 2016 by 17 Comments
By: Diane Benjamin I’ve heard WAY too many people talk about abolishing the Electoral College lately. Here’s a crash course in why it is in the Constitution! We are not a democracy! We are a Representative Republic. Populism never has been part of our government, and never should be. The Constitution protects the rights of […]
Election Day
November 7, 2016 by 4 Comments
By: Diane Benjamin Tomorrow will be a disastrous day for our country. Close to 50% of the population will despise whoever is elected. The results are immaterial. We are powerless to do anything about it. Quit stressing about things you have no control over! The D.C. and Springfield clowns all came from local government. You […]
UNION BOSSES TRYING TO BUY THE 110th ?
November 3, 2016 by Leave a Comment
By: Diane Benjamin Nearly 96% of all donations to Dennis Malak for his bid on the 110th Illinois State Representative seat come from outside of the District and from Unions, some from Indiana and Maryland. Is this what the voters of the 110th need in Springfield? More union representation, which would mean more taxes, and […]
If you haven’t seen “Madigan: Power, privilege, politics”
October 26, 2016 by 8 Comments
Democrats running for election should have to state why they aren’t a Madigan puppet! Watch for more info. . Northwest Herald, Joliet Herald-News and DeKalb Daily Chronicle to host online screening of “Madigan: Power, privilege, politics” Full-length documentary will be available to watch online at newspapers’ websites starting at 7 p.m. tonight through 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 26 . […]
Is Connect Transit hiding info?
October 26, 2016 by 15 Comments
By: Diane Benjamin This month’s Connect Transit Board meeting was moved from October 25th to October 17th. NO financial information is available in the Board Packet. Normally the packet shows income and expenses for the previous month. Keep in mind, Connect Transit is claiming they will shut down on January 1st because the State hasn’t […]
ISU: You taught this?
Note: A reader commented on the ISU student – Wes Ward (not Wood) By: Diane Benjamin I tried to watch the video of Monday’s Normal Town Council, but never made it past Public Comment. Marc Tiritilli is still the voice of reason and fiscal responsibility. I dare you to watch his comments without standing and […]