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More Taxpayer Money Lost

 

PhillyDeals: Taxpayer-backed Traffic.com to close Malvern offices

October 05, 2011|By Joseph N. DiStefano, Inquirer Staff Writer

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The closing of Traffic.com's Malvern offices, announced last week by owner Nokia's Navteq division, will idle 300 data professionals. That's bad enough.

It is also a blow to people who think the federal government should select which private companies get taxpayer support.

Starting in 2000, Traffic.com consumed $50 million in no-bid U.S. Department of Transportation grants to develop online highway-traffic data, with backing from former Sen. Arlen Specter and former Rep. Bud Shuster (R., Pa.).

The money helped Traffic.com win contracts with Microsoft, Comcast, the Weather Channel, and others. At its peak, it hired more than 600 workers.

But critics in industry and in Congress, some from districts with rival traffic start-ups, complained that the government's favoritism to Traffic.com unfairly pushed competitors out of the market.

 

 

What does this mean?

Rasmussen Reports latest national telephone survey finds that 39% consider it a positive when a political candidate is described as being “pro-gun.”  Only 27% see this as a negative description, while another 30% say it lies somewhere in between.

 

Disappointment with US President Barack Obama’s handling of US-Israel relations has caused a drop in Jewish support for the administration, an annual survey conducted by AJC, a Jewish advocacy organization, revealed.  Disapproval among Jewish voters exceeded approval of Obama's presidency for the first time during the current administration. Jewish approval of Obama’s performance as president declined to 45%, with another 48% disapproving and 7% undecided. 

A Gallup Poll taken this week shows for President Obama an approval rating of 42% and a 49% disapproval rating. 

What does all this mean?  Could it mean that the nation is taking a serious look at the President and his policies and are not happy with that Hope & Change thing he offered before his election?

Some words from Joe

No matter which map prevails, I've decided to run for re-election from the district in which I live and where I represent most of my current constituents. If the Democrat map stands, I will be running in what is the new 14th district which entails a good portion of Lake County, almost all of McHenry County, Kane County, Kendall County, and some of Will and DeKalb Counties. I live in McHenry and my current District office is in Northern Lake County. This area is home.

I understand that there is another Republican Congressman drawn into this new district, Randy Hultgren and it would be unfortunate if we had to run against each other. But the new 14th District, if it stands, doesn't belong to any Incumbent or any politician. The district belongs to the people of this district and they will have to decide who their next representative is. And if they have to decide between two Republican Incumbents, so be it - in many ways Randy and I are both good conservatives who share many of the same values but there are also healthy differences between the two of us, we've both had a very different initial tenure in Washington, and the voters in the new district will decide which one of us will best be their voice in DC.


I went to Washington because I believe America is going through a revolution over her very soul and I wanted to do my part to help win this fight. It's why I've been so vocal this first year, it's why I've been a leader in the fight for the balanced budget amendment, it's why I was one of 22 Republicans who voted against my own Speaker's final debt ceiling compromise, it's why I sleep in my office, why I've limited myself to no more than six years in Congress, it's why I turned down my Congressional health and retirement benefits, and it's why I did not attend President Obama's joint session speech the other week and instead came home and listened to 100 small business owners, the real job creators in this country. We are at a crucial point in our country's history and our side -- the side that believes in freedom and limited government -- has to win.


We took a good first step in getting it right this past year. Let's make sure we Republicans continue to do what's right. Go to www.walshforcongress.com and join us in this fight.


Thank you,
Congressman Joe Walsh

Well Armed Citizens

Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote!

Illinois is the only state that does not allow honest citizens to carry firearms.  Even after raising taxes on the people, State Government is still broke.  The last two governors of Illinois are convicted felons.  State government spending still keeps out pacing State income.

I think the lambs in this state need to get armed before it's too late. 

Our Country needs US

With all the challenges and problems our country faces today, we sometimes forget that past generations have also faced great threats to our homeland.  Benjamin Franklin while working as member of the Continental Congress noticed a symbol on the back of the Presidents chair that looked like a rising or setting sun.  He wondered for many days if that sun was rising or setting and at the same time was this country they were attempting to create doomed to failure or would it rise to become an equal among the nations of the world.  Finally as events unfolded he decided it was a rising sun and this country on the strength of its people would rise to become a free nation of this world.  I still believe has he did, that it was a rising sun and this country on the strength of it's people will continue to rise up as a free nation and a symbol of hope for all people of the earth.  Only we the people can make the future bright.

Joe Walsh statement

WASHINGTON –It is not lost on me that a court case filed almost 8 months ago regarding a marriage that ended more than 8 years ago would be brought up today. We are 72 hours away from one of the biggest decisions our country has to make about its financial future. I understand why this is a story and why the media has to ask me about it. I understood as a candidate, and I understand as a sitting member of Congress that the scrutiny of my personal life will be intense. This is a tough business. It’s also not lost on me that not everyone agrees with me politically, I am the tip of the spear in this current debate, and I will be attacked.

Let me say this. I love all the members of my family past and present. I’ve always given everything I have to meet my financial obligations to my children and I will fight until my last breath against anyone who says otherwise. My children are truly the treasure of my life, which is why I’ve been trying to resolve this issue since January in a court of law, rather than drag my children into it. That is the appropriate venue and I will not discuss this private family issue in public.

The people of Illinois’ eighth congressional district voted for me not because I’m wealthy but because they wanted a fighter in Washington. They did not vote for me because I was a career politician, but because they wanted one of them as their Representative in DC. They wanted someone to stand up to Washington and tell them the spending has to stop. This morning that is exactly what I am going to continue to do.

I have tried to be the most accessible Congressman on the planet and I will continue to do so moving forward. These latest attacks against me are false and I will fight them in the appropriate venue. And as your Congressman I promise you that I am going to put my head down, get back to work and continue to fight for our freedoms and our children’s future. I’m not going to let some hit piece in the media deter me from that.

Same old story

With all the back and forth finger pointing going on in Washington D.C. our elected representatives sometimes forget what they were sent there to do. The Republicans have come up with a plan for real spending reductions, a ceiling on future spending, and an amendment that the States can only pass, that would force any future Congress to have balanced budgets.

Our President and Democratic leaders in Congress think such a plan is madness and will hurt the nation.

The attached link shows this Democratic view is nothing new.

http://youtu.be/RWpU8sX10_4

Pay Increases for State Staffers

While Governor Quinn talks about needing additional funds for the recently passed state budget, he fails to mention the salary increases he has given his staff.

Gov. Pat Quinn's budget office spokeswoman will be making nearly 50 percent more money after receiving an additional job title this spring.

Kelly Ann Krapf, a former broadcast reporter, received a salary boost from about $71,000 to more than $105,000.

Krapf, 38, joined the budget office in 2009. Quinn spokeswoman Annie Thompson said Krapf now holds a dual position of communications director and assistant director of the office.

"In her new role, Kelly formally combines the communications role with the fiscal one to create a seamless position that helps to ensure that the complex issues surrounding the budget are articulated effectively to decision makers and Illinois residents alike," Thompson wrote in an email to the Bloomington Pantagraph.

Last year, an Associated Press analysis revealed that Quinn had given 43 salary increases averaging 11.4 percent to 35 staffers over the previous 15 months. The raises were handed out at the same time Quinn was proclaiming a message of "shared sacrifice" and calling for deep spending cuts because of the state's financial crisis.

The Pantagraph reported that Krapf's new salary is similar to what Quinn was paying former associate budget director Malcolm Weems, who recently left to oversee the Illinois Department of Central Management Services.

Obama vs the Truth

Congressman Joe Walsh shows the President is not telling the whole truth about the economy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyyil8xZBIs&feature=youtu.be

State Rep. Mark Beaubien

State Rep. Mark Beaubien, Jr., who represented the Barrington area in the state legislature for nearly 15 years, died Sunday after suffering an apparent heart attack at a GOP event in Arlington Heights. He was 68.

Beaubien, of Barrington Hills, suddenly collapsed while attending a House Republican fundraiser at Arlington Park racetrack with his wife and several other suburban political leaders. Paramedics’ efforts to revive him were unsuccessful and he was pronounced dead at 5:10 p.m. at the scene, Arlington Heights police said.

Read more: http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20110605/news/706059830/#ixzz1OSYcnCfy

Business as Usual

Just before the ending days of the State Legislature budget session speaker of the House, Michael J. Madigan held his annual Island Bay Yacht Club fundraiser in Springfield.

There were many people in attendance, all wanting to support the Speaker and get his attention for their own cause. The Laborers' International Union, tobacco company R.J. Reynolds, electrical utility Ameren, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, The Chicago Federation of Labor, Operating Engineers Local 150, and many more. All this made for a very merry night and brought in $109,000 for the Speaker.

The Speaker is a very powerful person in Illinois government and has been for decades. Mike Madigan and his friend Sen. Terry Link have power over how the State spends its money. They also bear much responsibility for the massive debt the State has. The State cannot pay its bills, but as far as the Cook County Democratic Party is concerned, it is business as usual.

We will continue to have business as usual, as long as we have only one party in control of our State Government.

Cut Federal Spending

The Treasurer Secretary announced on Monday May 16^th the debt ceiling had been reached. U.S. Senator Dick Durbin stated that the debt ceiling must be raised so that the full faith and credit of the United States would not be endangered.

I met Congressman Joe Walsh Monday night and he announced the sky had not fallen and the Earth did not come to an end because of the debt ceiling limit being reached. Joe Walsh said if a vote were to be taken today in Congress to raised the debt ceiling it would fail. According to Joe, we need to make deep spending cuts before the ceiling is raised again.

My question is how does the White House and the leaders in the Senate tie raising the debt limit with the ability of our Country to pay its bills. When someone has maxed out their credit card do they go to the bank to get another loan? The United States is still collecting taxes and taking in Federal fees on a daily basis. The revenue that the Federal Government takes in daily should go towards paying any debt, after which it should then spend the remainder on essential services. As Congressman Walsh said, the Federal Government needs to cut spending. Our Government cannot take care of the needs of everyone on the Planet Earth.

If our current Government cannot decide what goods and services are essential to keep this country running and safe, not only will it be in violation of the United States Constitution but it will fail in its desire to take care of the needs of all people everywhere. Raise the debt ceiling but do not condemn our children and grandchildren to a debt that can never be paid off.

Senate Votes

From the floor of the State Senate we have Senator Dan Duffy giving us a front seat view of how the Cook County Dems run Springfield. How long will the citizens stand for the way the Cook County Machine runs Springfield?

"Sitting on senate floor. We are being asked to vote on state budget bills worth billions. The catch is - the majority has not let the Republicans even see or read ANY of the bills. They even rammed the bills through and skipped the committee process...so no discussion on them either. Unbelievable.

We'll see if the papers even mention that we were not even given time to read or see any of these bills...they will probably just report we voted "no". The full story NEVER comes out.

Actually these are a series of budget bills...it is not just one big budget bill. We are still voting on them and have been voting for the past 1.5 hours so far on them. They just keep bringing them up, one at a time, describe what the bill is about, and ask us to vote. We have no access to the bills and have no idea what they are really about or what is in them. We have to just take their word for it. They are in the majority and can do whatever they want, whenever they want to. They have both houses and the governors office. They don't need one Republican vote and don't really care what we think...this whole process and todays display just proves that fact."

Tax Questions?

The new Tax bills are being mailed in Lake County. Doubtless you have questions. Come ask Township Assessors Rebecca Tonigan and John Barrington anything about assessments, appraisals, trends, exemptions and more. Bring your neighbors and bring your questions.

Tuesday May 17th 7:00pm - 8:30pm, Ela Township 1155 East Route 22 Lake Zurich, Illinois

Sponsored by Americans for Prosperity

Stop the Spending!

The State of Illinois is unable to pay current bills and has borrowed to pay past bills. The debt just keeps getting larger and larger, but instead of working to reduce the debt, the Cook County Democratic controlled state government only wants to spend more. The Democratic leaders only see needs that should be attended, they fail to see the lack of funding that causes harm to the very people they want to help. They continue to dig a deeper hole of debt for our state.

The answer should be spend only what the state needs to function and to pay off past loans. Once Illinois government is solvent again, other needs can be looked at and if there is money in the budget they can be helped.

The link below is by State Senator Matt Murphy, which gives his view of what is not being done in Springfield to decrease the growing debt.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xtLz88QUTE&feature=related

We are on the Wrong Track

A CBS News/New York Times poll shows 63 % of Americans oppose raising the debt limit.

Also unpopular with the American people according to the same poll is Congress. Only 16% approve of the job Congress is doing. Of those polled 75% disapprove of the job Congress is dong.

The President did not fair too well either when it comes to the issues, Mr. Obama has a 39% approval rating on his handling of foreign policy, a 38% percent approval on handling the economy and a 33% percent approval rating on handling the budget deficit.

The poll showed 75% of Americans say the country is on the wrong track.

Despite all this the Democratic Party, which seems to be under the influence of socialists and Chicago politics, seems to think they know better than the majority of Americans when it comes to how this Country should be governed.

The American People are calling for limited government and fiscal responsibility from our Federal Government. Several members of Congress, both Republican and Democrat have said that Washington cannot continue to spend at the levels it is currently doing. To continue on this path that the President and members of his party have put us on will bankrupt the nation.

The same can be said of our state government. The same Chicago/Cook County politics that have driven our nation to the edge of bankruptcy is alive and well in Illinois. We need to contact all our representatives in government, at all levels and remind them that they represent the people and not big government or big corporations. Enough of the bailouts and handouts, we should all be equal to either fail or succeed in life.

Tell Them We Care!

In the latest election less than 20% of voters in Lake County bothered to cast their votes. This was an election that elected people to local library, park, and school boards which in turn sets the local property tax rates. People complain about taxes but fail to show up to vote their concerns about taxes. Complacency like that is part of how we got into this mess of government over spending and over taxing.

Congressman Paul Ryan of Wisconsin and our Congressman Joe Walsh this Sunday on different national television networks expressed the concerns of the Conservative Republican movement when it comes to our National Debt. The Country is going broke on the current path of tax & spend big government. If nothing is done to Social Security and Medicare both systems will be broke and unable to help our senior citizens. Congressman Ryan has a plan that will not change anything for those 55 and older. His plan will make changes for those younger, which will ensure that there will be Social Security & Medicare in the near future and for many years to come. He wants to get rid of the tax loop holes that some big corporations currently use to not pay any taxes at all. Even if we could tax the top 2% of the tax bracket to 100%, that would not be enough money to pay for all the programs our President wants to keep funded.

The Country is going broke, our national credit card is almost maxed out. Other countries have gone broke but have been bailed out by us and their neighboring countries. No one will come to our rescue and bail out the United States when we cannot pay the bills when they come due. We need to keep the pressure up on all our elected officials that they cannot continue to spend our money and plunge our Country and children into debt. We must not let our members in Congress think that we do not care about our financial future.

Wisconsin or Illinois?

School District 46 in Grayslake has had a stunning couple of months.

Most recently, the last 2 weeks have proven to be Wisconsin-type politics
brought to Grayslake.

Michael Carbone, school board member, was targeted and censured based
upon allegations only. He was not allowed any due process prior to the censure.

On the other hand, the school board president, Mary Garcia, and Sue Facklam,
the vice-president and secretary, have had charges filed with the state's
attorney's office. There is an investigation pending.

You have to ask...why was the school board so quick to censure Michael Carbone, and
investigating allegations into Mary Garcia and Sue Facklam?

The answer is simple and obvious: Michael Carbone has exposed the corruption and
cronyism that exists on the school board and within the district.

Michael has brought to light, through his efforts at making the district more
transparent, some of the old politics and favors that have permeated that school
district as well as others throughout this state and this country.

You have to ask yourself: what do they have to hide? Why fight the transparency?
What are they doing that they don't want to be found out?

Time for Mary and Sue to be held accountable.

Have a Cup of Joe with Joe Walsh at Angelo's in Woodstock

• Where: Angelo's Restauarant, 117 E. Van Buren St. in Woodstock
• When: 10:00 - 11-30 AM
• Details: Please join Congressman Walsh to discuss what's going on in Washington and Illinois' 8th District over a cup of coffee at this week's "Have A Cup of Joe with Joe."

  Angelo's 117 E Van Buren St. Woodstock, IL 60098

  Please bring your friends, neighbors and coworkers out with you. Joe looks forward to seeing you there!