Lahood & Durbin requests earmarks for Normal

By: Diane Benjamin Earmarks were abolished for awhile by Republicans because they explode the budget. Evidently both parties no longer care about the debt your grandchildren and beyond will be paying off. From Adam Andrzejewski of Open the Books: “Earmarks are member pet projects doled out to legally bribe congressmen for their votes on large […]

Free is mostly worthless

By: Diane Benjamin Think of anything you have ever received free. Advertising magnets? Pencils? Ink pens? How much value did they have? Probably not much. JB wants to give away college education Who is going to pay these salaries? That would be every taxpayer in Illinois who already paid for their college education or never […]

The lies abound

By: Diane Benjamin If you didn’t know, Dick Durbin is considered the biggest liar in the Senate. As proof, he posted this to Twitter today: Dickie left out a few facts. DEMOCRATS filibustered this Act for 74 days. When it was finally voted on in the Senate 46 Democrats voted for it, 21 voted against […]

What happened to Koos on the Amtrak Board?

By: Diane Benjamin h/t a reader Remember this: https://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/normal-mayor-chis-koos-nominated-to-serve-on-the-amtrak-board-of-directors/article_e6cd0399-5940-595f-83ce-dc657a026246.html Chris Koos isn’t on the Amtrak Board because he was never confirmed by the Senate: https://www.congress.gov/nomination/116th-congress/1915 Koos will never be on the Amtrak Board unless he is re-nominated. See the explanation for Senate Rule XXXI listed above: Excerpt: The Koos nomination ended in September 2020. Did […]

Jenn can’t handle the truth

By:  Diane Benjamin It appears Jenn Carrillo has blocked me on Twitter. This morning I retweeted one of Dickie Durbin’s stupid comments about needing more money for Chicago to end poverty and violence.  Of course I added a comment: Jenn responded to me with this, when I tried to reply it appears I’m blocked. Keep […]

Again, not everything is government’s job

By:  Diane Benjamin The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, ‘I’m from the government and I’m here to help.’ Ronald Reagan Dick Durbin thinks everything is government’s job.  He also thinks the cost is immaterial.  Churches and families used to take care of each other.  That was before  government saw they can […]

Congrats Scott Laughlin

By:  Diane Benjamin Earlier this week Scott had Dick Durbin on his morning show (WJBC).  Since the Farm Bill just passed, it was a hot topic.  The Farm bill is around 80% Food Stamps (SNAP) and nothing to do with farms.  The 20% left enables corporate farms, not the little guys – but that’s a […]

Congrats Chief Heffner, but . . .

By:  Diane Benjamin It is a huge deal for Chief Heffner to be confirmed by the Senate as the next US Marshal for the Central District of Illinois.  Bloomington is losing an exceptional leader.  He was also the main force blocking the “Welcoming Ordinance”.   When he stated it would tie the hands of the local […]

Durbin risks eternity for DNC

By:  Diane Benjamin I’ve been waiting for the press to notice, evidently they don’t care. Senator Dick Durbin is a member of a Catholic church in Springfield.  He has been banned by the Diocese of Springfield from taking communion for his failure to protect unborn life. Evidently church teachings do matter! A vote was taken […]

Pantagraph: Too late

By:  Diane Benjamin Did the Pantagraph chastise Tari Renner when he attacked Judy Stearns with a WRITTEN prepared statement in 2014?  I sure don’t remember it. This video is up to 11,150 views: If the Pantagraph has cared in 2014 maybe this clown wouldn’t be mayor now. The Editorial staff must finally be at least […]

Sister Cities non-budget

By:  Diane Benjamin I did finally receive my FOIA for the General Ledger entries to the Sister Cities accounts.  Travel expenses is sometimes in “Travel” and sometimes in “Community Relations”.  The accounts are full of transfers and memo entries that make it difficult to determine what is happening. The Sister Cities program is supported by […]

Normal: Buy Chicago

By:  Diane Benjamin The Normal Town Council had a long meeting last night by their standards.  They discussed employee health benefits and wellness programs at length.  I didn’t write about it before the meeting because I was waiting to see their comments. Normal has worked with Advocate for over a decade developing a wellness program […]

TWO Americas

By:  Diane Benjamin On this Memorial Day weekend, we remember those who have fought and died for us.  America began with a war for freedom and many wars have been fought since to protect it.  We would not enjoy this legacy today without the sacrifices of those willing to lose their life in our defense. […]

UPDATE: NIOT: fake event advertising

I had to add this tweet – this person lives in Bloomington!  NIOT! By:  Diane Benjamin These pics are from the NIOT Bloomington-Normal Facebook page.  Obviously not all the attendees agreed with what was being said, both pics show numerous people sitting and not clapping while other are standing and cheering. Note the sign in […]

Dick Durbin: King of FAKE NEWS

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, […]

WJBC, Dick Durbin – fake news

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 […]

Congratulate Walgreens for kneeling before government

by:  Diane Benjamin Walgreens was threatening to relocate their corporate offices to Switzerland because of the high tax rates in Illinois and the country.  They had every right to relocate to place that wants them, not one that punishes success by confiscating profits. Dick Durbin threatening them with this: Walgreens made the right decision for […]

#DumpDurbin – more reasons

by:  Diane Benjamin If you firmly believe government has to run every part of your life – vote Durbin!  The rest of us see Durbin’s empire crumbling around him – the peons just won’t comply! His latest target is Walgreens.  He has declared Walgreens unpatriotic for considering leaving America for Switzerland.  You can see his […]

Term Limit Dickie

by:  Diane Benjamin Senator Dick Durbin has been in office in Washington DC since 1982 – 32 years.  If you believe in term limits, that’s reason enough for him to go.  If you need more, there’s plenty. Dickie thinks government is the answer to every problem. (see his latest email below)  I think government makes […]

Dick Durbin: Head Liar

Maybe he’s still behind the other DC liar from Illinois, but not by much. WH: Durbin story ‘did not happen’ By Justin Sink White House press secretary Jay Carney on Wednesday flatly denied that a House Republican told President Obama “I cannot even stand to look at you” during negotiations over the government shutdown. “It […]

Dick Durbin sits on the DNC Platform Committee

Do we really wonder who took “God” and “Jerusalem” out of the Platform?     Jamal Said is to Durbin’s left, an unindicted conspirator in the Holy Land Foundation terror funding case that led to criminal conviction. To Durbin’s right is Kifah Mustapha, another unindicted terror trial co conspirator. This “unindicted co-conspirator” also serves as […]