Tag: Illinois

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

COMMON CORE: A SIXTEEN BILLION DOLLAR SCAM

Indiana just rejected common Core along with other states.  2 moms started it themsleves!  Illinois won’t reject it when you are sitting down. Source:  http://advocatesforacademicfreedom.blogspot.in/2013/07/common-core-sixteen-billion-dollar-scam.html?m=1 Many legislators, parents, and taxpayers have been given the false impression that Common Core State Standards and the International Baccalaureate programs will reform and improve education. But these two newest […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Fly on the Wall: ObamaCare Update!

From and eyewitness who buzzed me: The vote was unanimous except for one person.  That person questioned spending the money.  He was then ridiculed by the others for not taking FREE MONEY. The clueless are ruling us! Thanks one person!  Sorry, didn’t get a name.  Here are the members of this committee: Benjamin Owens, District […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Why is MoveOn.org delighted Illinois has on-line voter registration?

So glad to have a strong Republican Party in Illinois to protect voter integrity.   Email sent today: Dear Illinois MoveOn member, Great news! Over the weekend, Governor Pat Quinn signed online voter registration into law in Illinois, making it more accessible for hundreds of thousands of Illinoisans to participate in upcoming elections. MoveOn members across […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

The #IL GOP usurped the Constitution: Edgar, Dillard

In 2008 Republicans joined Democrats to void the electoral college in Illinois.  Kirk Dillard was front and center in the destruction.  Jim Edgar thinks he knows what the Founding Fathers meant, so he supported re-writing the Constitution. Illinois electoral college votes will now go to whatever candidate wins the popular nationwide vote.  A Republican could […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Illinois: I’m entitled!

Retired doctor earns highest public pension in Illinois history CHICAGO (FOX 32 News) – As the pension crisis in Illinois moves even closer to the tipping point, a milestone of sorts has been crossed without notice — until now. A retired doctor with big-time credentials will get a public pension of more than a half million dollars […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Will they investigate?

This post is a part of the investigation BlnNews, Edgar County Watchdogs, For the Good of Illinois, and other citizens have been jointly investigating concerning Illinois corruption with processing of Medicaid claims. http://edgarcountywatchdogs.com/2013/07/they-have-been-notified/ They have been notified! For over 7 months we have been investigating issues related to Health and Family Services and its relationship […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

‘Marriage Equality’ Isn’t the Only Goal

Written By David E. Smith  Illinois Family Institute In their efforts to redefine marriage, most homosexual activists become apoplectic at the suggestion that there is more to their efforts than just their  purported goal of achieving “marriage equality.” They dismiss the comments of homosexuals like lesbian journalist Masha Gessen who states that the institution of marriage “should not exist,” and that […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Does expanding medicaid mean better health care?

View from Michigan – nothing different than Illinois: Medicaid Recipient: ‘When I ask where I’m supposed to go, I’m told the hospital’ By ANNE SCHIEBER Julie Henry has been on and off Michigan Medicaid for more than 20 years. She knows about the difficulty in finding a doctor who will accept Medicaid and why the system routinely forces her […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

OBAMA CO-SPONSORED LEGISLATION STRENGTHENING ILLINOIS’ “STAND YOUR GROUND” LAW

From Illinois Review:  http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2013/07/obama-strongly-supported-stand-your-ground-when-in-illinois-senate.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+typepad%2FbYHz+%28Illinois+Review%29&utm_content=Yahoo%21+Mail CHICAGO – This past week President Obama publicly urged the reexamination of state self-defense laws (see remarks below). However, nine years ago then-State Sen. Barack Obama actually co-sponsored a bill that strengthened Illinois’ 1961 “stand your ground” law. The Obama-sponsored bill (SB 2386) enlarged the state’s 1961 law by shielding the […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

More low information media: Pantagraph again

by Diane Benjamin Reporter Phyllis Coulter did a story about Geothermal energy systems paying off big for local schools.  Yes, it does pay off big.  But, then facts got in the way of her ideology – or maybe she just isn’t that smart. Quote:  “The systems don’t use fossil fuels” .  That appears to be […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Illinois unemployment above 10 percent in many metropolitan areas

7/18/2013 John Klingner Policy Research Assistant Illinois Policy Institute Illinois has the nation’s second-worst unemployment rate. At 9.1 percent, it’s 1.5 percentage points higher than the national average of 7.6 percent. The lack of jobs continues to be a major burden to the people of Illinois, at both the state and local level. A year-over-year comparison […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Mike Madigan finally caught?

Depends on who else will take money to look the other way! Clifford says he was pushed out for bucking patronage Ex-Metra CEO: I was fired for resisting Mike Madigan With two key Metra leaders “acting improperly” and gunning for his job because he resisted “political patronage politics” from the likes of Speaker Michael Madigan, […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Don’t Concealed Carry

In case you missed it, here is where you aren’t allowed to have a concealed carry gun: Prohibited carry places  Preschools, elementary and secondary schools; child care facilities; playgrounds; Public parks located within a municipality under the control of a municipality or park district; Cook County Forest Preserve; Bars (defined as having more than 50% of its […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

CRAIG: Common core’s abstraction distraction

When is Illinois going to wake up?  Many states trashing Common Core!  Parents must demand it. The latest educational fad won’t boost American competitiveness by:  David Craig Some would have us believe that without Common Core, the nation that sent men to the moon will watch its children float aimlessly along, failing to go to […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Video: This is what is taught in Chicago schools

Black students taught to hate whites at Chicago public schools http://topconservativenews.com/2012/04/chicago-public-schools-are-far-left-training-camps/ Students taught to hate white people in Chicago public schools. A black female tells the class that the NRA wants blacks to buy guns and kill each other. She claims that the NRA views black people as “porch monkeys.” Then a guest from something […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Bad Policy Causes Real Pain to Real People

 By Pat Hughes We have gotten used to a steady drumbeat of bad news about Illinois. It is not even news anymore when we find out that Illinois is last in the nation, or 47th, or somewhere near rock-bottom, in one economic ranking or another. We have known for a while now that Illinois is last in […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

More follow-up to Illinois corruption reporting

see 2 previous posts: http://blnnews.com/2013/06/27/its-your-money/ http://blnnews.com/2013/06/27/back-story-to-its-your-money/ “CNSI has not solicited Illinois…” Kathryn Harris Senior Vice President and Legal Counsel Client Network Services, Inc (CNSI) Comment Posted 6/30/13, Edgar County Watchdogs Website   Why did the General Counsel for an Obama Care contractor post blog comments on a Southern Illinois watchdog’s website?Follow the Obama Care money…    […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

The Illinois Lottery scam

by Diane Benjamin Weeks ago I heard from a source INSIDE the Illinois Lottery that Illinois has been skimming money to pay bills.  Yesterday Crain’s Business reported that an audit found $200 Million in reporting errors.  http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20130701/BLOGS02/130709979 Associated Press reported the same story.  Reporting errors?  $200,000,000?  Crain’s blames a  “transition to being an independent agency”.  Illinois […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Real pension reform needs YOU

Will Illinois Be Saved by a Committee? That Never Happens, Right? Everyone knows that Illinois has a big problem with its pension obligations. The simple version of what happened is this: The Illinois public sector employees unions and their allies in Springfield have granted themselves far more pension money than the state can possibly pay […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Back story to “It’s Your Money”

by:  Diane Benjamin See previous post:  http://blnnews.com/2013/06/27/its-your-money/ The entire story detailing the corruption in Illinois at the highest levels will appear in the Wall Street Journal very soon.    Illinois got involved with a company named CNSI through an intergovernmental agreement with Michigan, so not even the legislators knew what the Department of Health and […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

It pays to work for government

  Every once in a while you’ll hear some hokum about how poor and underpaid state workers are. I’m not buying it – and neither should you. In a recent study conducted by my colleagues at the Illinois Policy Institute, salaries for a variety of state jobs were compared with those in the private sector. […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

3 Counties now allow Conceal Carry-McLean?

From: Illinois Review:  http://tinyurl.com/jvz3crz TAZEWELL BECOMES THIRD ILLINOIS COUNTY TO PERMIT RIGHT-TO-CARRY PEORIA – If you’re in Tazewell County, State’s Attorney Stewart Umholtz announced Friday he’s allowing you the right-to-carry so long denied to Illinois citizens statewide. All you need is a Firearm Owners’ ID, required for any gun purchase in Illinois. “A citizen who wishes […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Tell Illinois Democrats THANKS!

Illinois` tipping point: Highest unemployment rate in Midwest CHICAGO (FOX 32 News) – It may be the most painful symptom of the economic illness that has put Chicago at a tipping point: our unemployment rate is the highest in the Midwest. It’s almost two percentage points higher than the national average. More than 600,000 are looking for […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Congratulations Slaves!

The government can do anything it wants to you and you sit back and say nothing!  That makes you the property of government, all you are to them is tax money. DePaul University is a private Catholic College. The only people wanting an airport in Peotone are the current land owners wanting to sell. The […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

$17 Million a day – UPDATE

Fitch Ratings, one of three major ratings agencies, today lowered Illinois’ credit rating after lawmakers failed to enact a solution to fix the state’s nearly $100 billion pension shortfall. The firm said it would drop the Illinois rating from “A” to “A-.” Illinois already has the lowest rating in the nation. Lower ratings mean paying higher […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Illinois Medicaid expansion? Not so fast!

Much more information to come! YOUR CALL TO ACTION Did the Quinn administration circumvent procurement law on $196 million of Medicaid contracting? Is the administration now engaged in a cover-up? For The Good of Illinois   Medicaid is a quarter of the state government operating budget- the largest program. It serves our most vulnerable citizens: the disadvantaged, […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

How to END America: Use Kids

by: Diane Benjamin The local school board members have lost their senses! I have talked to 2 supposed conservatives who don’t see a problem with the Federal takeover of education. Wasn’t it 6 months ago conservatives were calling for the elimination of the Department of Education? Now the left wing has bought their way into […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

MORRISON: WE MUST RETHINK OLD IDEAS ABOUT RETIREMENT

By Tom Morrison –  As a citizen of Illinois, I am tremendously grateful for the service provided by public sector employees. They have dedicated their careers to keeping us safe, educating our children and working to maintain the infrastructure we rely on as we go about our daily lives. Unfortunately, as House Speaker Michael Madigan […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Madigan’s pension plan would perpetuate Illinois crisis

by: Ted Dabrowski,  Illinois Policy Institute Illinois Speaker Michael Madigan’s pension proposal (House Amendment #1 to Senate Bill 1) perpetuates Illinois’ crisis. The plan locks in the unmanageable defined benefit plan, guarantees the crowd out of core government services and continues the irresponsible pension payment ramp. Madigan’s plan keeps politicians in control of state employee pensions. By […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Illinois is worth fighting for

Every once in awhile someone will ask, “Scott, why are you so critical of Illinois?” My response is simple: I love it here. This is the state where I was born and where I was raised. During my adult life, I’ve lived in five states and the Land of Lincoln is hands down the best. Mind you, a state […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Fly on the Wall – New York Democrats

Let me see if I have this straight.  New York State is cutting taxes, creating tax free zones, and doing everything possible to attract businesses. Of course they drove businesses away for years with high taxes. They are run by Democrats.  Normally Democrats like taxes, remember “tax the rich” is their mantra.  They are even so […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Isn’t government’s 1st job to protect us?

Il Supreme Court Chief Justice Says There Aren’t Enough Probation Officers (Peoria Public Radio, April 24, 2013) Illinois’ top judge says years of budget cuts mean there aren’t enough probation officers monitoring criminals. Thomas Kilbride is the chief justice of the Illinois Supreme Court. He says the murder of Chicago teen Hadiya Pendleton, who was […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

FOID Card

by:  Diane Benjamin My husband sent a renewal request for his FOID card 12/28/2012.   The check was cashed 1/24/2013. I emailed them 3/7/2013 asking for the status.   Received an email 3/19: “Your background is being reviewed. You should hear something soon.” The card was finally received April 19th! Since my husband doesn’t have a background to check, maybe the state […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Common Core: Social Studies

Is dividing children by ethnicity and social class what you want your children taught?  Too late! It gets better: A bill passed out of a Senate Committee today that will allow the State to remove your local school board. The bill that will allow the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) to remove school board […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Freedom in the 50 States

http://freedominthe50states.org/ Scroll WAY down for Illinois Freedom isn’t lost because of the elected on the state level – it starts with the local crowd.  Still going to sit out the April 9th election?  We deserve what we vote, or don’t vote for! Rankings – Overall 1.North Dakota+4 2.South Dakota-1 3.Tennessee= 4.New Hampshire-2 5.Oklahoma-1 6.Idaho+11 7.Missouri-1 8.Virginia+1 […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Illinois Infrastructure Report Card

2013 Report for Illinois Infrastructure by the American Society of Civil Engineers Any surprise Illinois scored a D+? Complete report:  http://www.infrastructurereportcard.org/a/#p/state-facts/illinois Notable: Driving on roads in need of repair costs Illinois motorists $2.4 billion a year in extra vehicle repairs and operating costs – $292 per motorist. 73% of Illinois’s roads are in poor or mediocre condition. Illinois has 201 high hazard dams […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

On Dan Brady and Bill Brady’s watch:

Illinois According to analysis by the Institute for Truth in Accounting, Illinois does not have enough assets available ($23.2 billion), to pay the state’s bills, ($182.3 billion). The difference, $159.2 billion, divided by the number of taxpayers in the state, is the per-taxpayer burden: $38,500 in 2011.  Only six states–Alaska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Nebraska, and […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Are You Taxed Enough Already?

Tax hike advocates often argue that Illinois is a low-tax state. Unfortunately for taxpayers, facts are not on their side. If you add up state and local taxes, Illinois residents have the 9th-highest overall tax burden per capita in the nation as of 2010. AND that’s even before factoring in the 67% income tax hike from 2011 (tax data for […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Pension Funding not entirely the State’s fault

Not a single one of the state’s five public pension systems earned more than 1% returns on their investments last year. In fact, two of the five funds actually lost money. Although pension trustees predicted Illinois’ five pension funds would earn more than $5.1 billion in fiscal year 2012, the funds actually earned less than […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Illinois defined

By:  Joe Walsh – Illinois is the most corrupt, most broke, worst job-creating state in the country. Taxpayers and companies are permanently fleeing from Illinois at a faster rate than out of any other State. Governor Pat Quinn is irrelevant. Michael Madigan runs this State and he and his Democrat followers are responsible for the […]