Tag: State of Illinois

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

WGLT, Normal, and the State of Illinois

By: Diane Benjamin WGLT is not allowed to sell advertising. What did The Town of Normal pay WGLT to do? (2025 data isn’t available yet) https://www.openthebooks.com/search-results/details/?n=Wglt-Normal&e=73583&t=c&burl=%2Fsearch-results%2F%3Ft%3Dc%26F_Name_S%3DWGLT%26F_State%3DIllinois%26F_Year%3D0 . Has WGLT applied for State of Illinois money? If you don’t know about the plan Springfield passed to subsidize media, read up on it: https://dceo.illinois.gov/expandrelocate/incentives/taxassistance/new-journalism-tax-incentive-program.html Yes, non-profit media […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Illinois Stealing Money from You

By: Diane Benjamin Bloomington has alluded to State cuts before but they have never provided actual numbers (that I remember). Cities across Illinois used to receive 10% of the money the State collected in local income taxes. Lawmakers reduced that to 7% in 2012. This story allows people to see how much that has cost […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Illinois discriminates against White Males

By: Diane Benjamin Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion requires discrimination. CEI is an Illinois government Commission on Equity and Inclusion. This quote is from a document produced as a result of a survey on procurement in the private sector: By addressing these challenges head-on, CEI will help pave the way for a more inclusive, equitable, and […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Raped via Shell Bill

By: Diane Benjamin The State of Illinois stole the ability of downstate counties to deny green energy projects for any reason. If Chicago needs electricity, the state authorizes the raping of prime farmland downstate. The developer of the proposed eastside solar farm can not be stopped unless a lawsuit against the State of Illinois for […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Need another reason to leave Illinois?

By: Diane Benjamin This just might make everyone with common sense realize there is no hope for Illinois: https://www.newsbreak.com/mystateline-com-wtvo-wqrf-1589920/3854313830110-illinois-clarifies-no-local-laws-can-restrict-homeless-camping-in-public-areas According to the State of Illinois, local governments must allow “camping” on public property: . I wonder how Illinois lawmakers would feel if “camping” was all over the capitol building grounds? Do the Normal mayoral candidates […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

How much of your money did The Immigration Project get?

By: Diane Benjamin We know in 2021 The Immigration Project was 99.95% funded by tax dollars: https://blnnews.com/2024/02/12/the-immigration-project-you-dont-know/ Using the new Benjamin Chat Box on OpenTheBooks.com I searched under “Vendors” for payments made to them. Try it, incredibly easy to use! Results are emailed to you after it searches multiple databases. In 2022 ISU gave them […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Free electricity, but only for your EV

By: Diane Benjamin EV owners don’t pay motor fuel taxes, even though they drive on the same roads as those of you who do. Buy an EV (that most people can’t afford) and the taxpayers will subsidize it with a tax credit. In 10 years, that EV will likely be junk because replacing the batteries […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

It’s not a workers rights amendment

By Diane Benjamin Remember when we defeated the Progressive Income Tax amendment? Amendment 1 will be on the November ballot, it must be defeated too. This Amendment hands power to government unions that shouldn’t exist at all.  They shouldn’t exist because they elect people to negotiate their own contracts.  We just get the bills. Amendment […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

High gas prices: Government GOLD

By: Diane Benjamin Start with gas taxes: Federal Gas Tax: https://www.marca.com/en/lifestyle/us-news/2022/03/14/622f1813268e3e976c8b4593.html 18.3 cents per gallon 24.3 cents per gallon for diesel Illinois Gas Tax: https://www2.illinois.gov/rev/research/taxrates/Pages/motorfuel.aspx 38.2 cents per gallon 46.7 cents per gallon for diesel Both Bloomington and Normal add another 8 cents per gallon, diesel and gas are the same. Every time you fill […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

New Laws January 1st

https://www.capitolnewsillinois.com/NEWS/new-state-laws-taking-effect-jan-1 Over 300 new laws take effect on 1/1/2022. The article details just a few. Minimum wage goes up to $12 an hour, but buying a car from an individual will cost you more in sales taxes. A link inside the story has a list of all the bills, it was compiled by Illinois Senate […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Local media MIA, Chicago media helps AmVets

By: Diane Benjamin Local media refused to cover this story and Rep Dan Caulkins has not responded to numerous emails from AmVets. This story was covered by CHICAGO media – CBS 2. They rarely do stories outside of Chicago, but they came to Clinton to do this one. The Clinton AmVets were awarded $100,000 in […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Correction: “if you don’t file your paperwork properly to be on the ballot . . .”

Actually Straza signed as Treasurer. The CHAIR never signed. Evidently he isn’t required to, but the form still proves who is behind Responsible Cities. (Status Quo progressives) By: Diane Benjamin The title is is a quote from Normal Township Supervisor Sarah Grammer who challenged the petitions of two people running for the Township positions, she […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

State of Illinois is throwing your money away

By:  Diane Benjamin I reported in this story the McLean County Nursing Home was forced to repay $244,195 to the State of Illinois as a result of an audit. The Illinois Department of Public Health claimed the State overpaid them.  https://blnnews.com/2020/04/27/mclean-county-nursing-home-fact-left-out/ The County was upset and blamed the Administrator (who has since resigned) for failing […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Tired of dead people voting in Illinois?

These people are doing something about it!  There is nothing better than citizen Watchdogs with a lawyer.  Full disclosure – I know the people behind this: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 2, 2019 CONTACT: Babette Holder Director of Communications/Social Media E: babetteh@ilpac.org W: ILPAC.org IL State Board of Elections Violates Law Faces Citizen Legal Action Carol Stream, […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Update #2: UPDATE: Act now – witness slips needed

The democrats had threatened to cancel hearings on these two bills.  Evidently they didn’t.  The Witness Slips are overwhelmingly opposed.  Will the Democrats listen?     The rag has a story on these bills in the paper today.  The print edition article is titled:  Illinois Abortion Bill Likely To Pass.  The on-line story has a […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Democrats run wild

By:  Diane Benjamin Democrats have only been in complete control of the state for a short time.  Already they have passed a $15 minimum wage which make Illinois even less competitive with all of the surrounding states. Other things being seriously considered: Removing all regulations including parental notification on abortion Allowing abortion up to birth […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Good News!

By:  Diane Benjamin One of the worst roads in Bloomington is getting fixed!  Clinton – if you didn’t know it’s a State road.  I hear they are moving fast.  You might want to avoid using it until it’s done however. . . . . .

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Just something interesting – CIAM

By:  Diane Benjamin Every once in a while I have to clean up some files.  I found a FOIA request I received in December of 2015. It clearly shows that John Butler and CIAM pretended they had no responsibility to the City of Bloomington and the taxpayers forced to cover their losses.  I remember filing […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Update: Illinois HACKED!

I wonder how the Pantagraph found the story? 9:19 this morning By:  Diane Benjamin Government is looking out for you:   From: Thomas, Kyle <KThomas@elections.il.gov> Sent: Wednesday, July 20, 2016 4:06 PM To: Thomas, Kyle Cc: List – VRS Subject: Status of Statewide database (IVRS) Dear Election Authority, We will begin the process of bringing […]