Lance Trover, spokesman for the Republican Party, said the event was better attended than it has been the past few years. For being a non-presidential election year, the turnout was higher than expected, he said.

“I would expect with the debacle in Springfield, you’ll see a lot more Republicans out,” he said. “I think there’s just a breakdown in the system and voters are seeing that.”

Trover said voters and taxpayers will begin to see the costs they face with political leaders pushing personal agendas. He said Blagojevich is incapable of leading the state, House Speaker Mike Madigan is playing off Blagojevich’s inability to lead and Senate Speaker Emil Jones is too busy with nepotism to pay attention. Continue Reading

-The Southern

As the soap opera of Illinois Government continues with the Governor suing the Speaker of the House, the Illinois Republican Party today called on all Illinoisans to take note and remember that there is a credible, responsible alternative to running Illinois government. 

“This lawsuit is a public reminder of the constant in-fighting between the Democrats in Springfield. Unfortunately, it is taking a toll on Illinois taxpayers,” said ILGOP Spokesperson Lance Trover. Continue Reading

-Illinois Republican Party

While the state constitution gives the governor and legislative leaders the authority to call special sessions, it says nothing about allowing the governor to use the special session as a means for throwing a temper tantrum when he does not get his way.

Unfortunately, that pretty much describes how Blagojevich has used them. Since the state constitution was enacted in 1970, a total of 67 special sessions have been called. Continue Reading

-State Journal Register

For 11-year-old Nathan Dombrowski, the weed-eaten ballfield in his Morgan Park neighborhood was a second home.

So after the well-liked, speedy second baseman for the Merrionette Park Red Sox died in a freak accident last month, his parents accepted a state lawmaker’s offer to try to overhaul the field and name it in Nate’s honor.

Little Liam Bonner’s story is tragically similar. The 4-year-old from West Morgan Park loved to ride his training-wheel bike to a playground a block from his house.

So when Liam died from a form of brain cancer last month after a struggle that included surgery on his 3rd birthday, his parents sought to refurbish the Kennedy Park playground near 113th and Western and name it after him.

State Rep. Kevin Joyce (D-Chicago) spearheaded both endeavors, earmarking money for them in the state budget and setting up matching dollars from the Chicago Park District.

But the projects have been put on hold by Gov. Blagojevich — a casualty of the governor’s decision last week to veto hundreds of community initiatives from the budget, projects he characterized as non-essential “pork.” Continue Reading

-Chicago Sun-Times

 “I’m not satisfied with the state of education in the state of Illinois,” Governor Blagojevich said.  “The children deserve better. The parents deserve better.  The taxpayers deserve better.  If we are really serious about fixing our schools, then we have to be serious about change and reform.”

-Blagojevich Press Release

Yeah…The “Education Governor” in Action….

School officials complained Tuesday that Gov. Rod Blagojevich, a man known for finding ways to bend the rules, is doing nothing to cut red tape blocking money to repair crumbling old school buildings.

A new law entitles 24 districts - including three in the Metro-East - to share $150 million in construction funds. But Blagojevich says the law didn’t take effect until after a paperwork deadline, so he can’t deliver the money.

Continue Reading

And of course, the Illinois Democratic Blame Game continues….it’s always someone elses fault…

“Congratulations to Mitt Romney, whose strong showing today indicates he has begun to put together a strong statewide organization” said McKenna. “There’s no question that Illinois’ demographics closely match those of the United States and this could be an indication as to whom Illinois voters are leaning toward this coming February.”

1. Mitt Romney – 40.35%
2. Fred Thompson – 19.96%
3. Ron Paul – 18.87%
4. Rudy Giuliani – 11.61%
5. John McCain – 4.12%
6. Mike Huckabee – 3.04%
7. Sam Brownback – 1.08%
8. Duncan Hunter - .65%
9. Tom Tancrado - .33%

Continue Reading

The carnival rides at the Illinois State Fair won’t be the only things whirling tomorrow as Democrats gather for Governor’s Day in Springfield.

Many rank-and-file Democratic stomachs will be turning as Governor Rod Blagojevich and the rest of his alienated party battle over the longest and most-expensive overtime legislative session in Illinois history.

And heads will snap among even the most seasoned Springfield watchers, as they try to follow the volley of finger-pointing and back-stabbing among their elected leaders.

Tune in Wednesday to follow the latest twists and turns…

Continue reading

-ILGOP

Aside from his unhealthy Nixonian penchant for secrecy, political revenge and personal isolation, and all the corruption investigations targeting his administration, what really bothers me about Gov. Blagojevich is his failure to grow as a leader.

Blagojevich was a backbench state legislator and he was a backbench U.S. congressman. But he has been governor for almost five years and still has that same mentality.

Political reporters, particularly ones looking for an easy story, love backbench politicians. They usually hold news conferences on slow news days to announce grandiose ideas that have no chance of becoming law. But their announcements make for good copy, so they get coverage.  Continue Reading

-Rich Miller

This back and  forth between Hynes and Blago has gotten heated. Yesterday Hynes had this to say about the Governor:

“Keep in mind, he’s the one who admitted himself he got a C in constitutional law and brags about it,” Hynes told downstate WICS-TV. “So, I’m not sure his opinion is the one that’s going to rule the day.”

Thanks to you, in just 48 hours we have collected almost 3,000 signatures in our petition drive for NO NEW TAXES.  The overwhelming response from the people of Illinois is sending a message to Governor Blagojevich and his friends in the General Assembly that Illinois families will not stand for tax increases to solve the state’s problems.

Our deadline is Tuesday, August 7. The number we are trying to reach is significant because it is the first day candidates for office can collect signatures to get on the 2008 ballot and 5,000 is the minimum number of signatures required of a candidate running for statewide office.

Continue reading our email. If you have not signed our petition, please do so by clicking HERE.

I don’t know about you, but where we come from being ranked 40 out of 50 for something is generally not what one would consider a good thing.  Looks as if Illinois is one of the 10 worst states for business AGAIN.  And the Democrats want to INCREASE taxes?  If states like Virginia and Utah can get it right, why can’t we?  Please, someone, anyone give us a break!

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