Let's Get Fiscal: One Party Rule Is 'Out Of Style'

Dan Proft's "Liberty Principles PAC" is running this ad - and this message about how 'one party rule' is dooming Illinois down in the 115th District on behalf of candidate Terri Bryant - who is running for State Representative to replace out-going Rep. Mike Bost.

The spot - that is draped in pink - urges voters to bring 'balance' back to state government by voting for Bryant.  It says we need bring this balanced government - where Bryant serves as the counterweight to a hilariously-posed Speaker Mike Madigan in jazzercise gear - 'back in vogue'.

The use of Speaker Madigan on the animated body of a jazzercise'r is pretty funny, but we have to wonder if normal voters recognize him?  I can imagine the giggles happening at the radio station when Proft and company reviewed the concept, so even if voters in the 115th don't pick up on the cues, at least there is some comedic value in the effort!

Now We Know How The Chicago Tribune Editorial Board Really Feels

All we have to do is look at the title of the page they've given their latest piece about Speaker Mike Madigan and his "Millionaire Tax".

Have a peek at what one of our readers saw in their browser this morning.  

They sent it over with the subject line:  "Subliminal messaging from the Ed Board?!?!"

For the record, if you move things around a bit (and not have as many tabs open as we normally do), you'll see it actually says:  "Kill Speaker Madigan's Millionaire Tax".  Not just "Kill Speaker Madigan".

Don't Be Distracted By The Flailing About of Illinois Democrats

Last week, we told voters to not get distracted from the issues by Governor Pat Quinn's "class warfare" and Speaker Mike Madigan's "Millionaire's tax" and the Chicago Tribune agreed with us. 

Now the Morris Daily Herald is reminding voters the same thing.  In a piece called:  "Don't Get Distracted" they lay out the case against Governor Pat Quinn, Speaker Mike Madigan and Democrat State Senator Mike Frerichs:

Illinois’ dire fiscal situation is well-documented.

It’s public pension systems are underfunded by more than $1 billion.

The state ended its last fiscal year with more than $7 billion in unpaid bills.

Illinois has the nation’s second-highest property taxes, the fourth-highest corporate tax rate in the industrialized world, and the fourth-highest workers’ compensation costs in the nation.

It has the second highest unemployment rate in the country, and the worst credit rating of all 50 states. 

These are the facts, and they aren’t pretty. 

These also are the issues that voters must focus on as the campaign for governor now turns to two people – Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn and Republican challenger Bruce Rauner. 

In the months leading up to the Nov. 4 general election, expect to hear tons of campaign rhetoric from both sides. A lot of it will be nothing but noise, meant to distract voters from the issues that matter. 

But don’t be distracted. Tune out the nonsense and focus on each candidate’s plans to return Illinois to a fiscally solvent state.

Take the advice, voters.

Sorry.  Just testing you...

Has Spelling Criticism Become The New "Attack Ad"

We've been known for throwing around a post or two about spelling and grammar errors, and it looks like that hasn't gone unnoticed.  Could we here at the Truth Team have started a trend?!?

Governor's candidate Bill Brady seems to be trying that line of attack against Speaker Madigan.

From Natasha Koreki of the Sun-Times:

RT @natashakorecki: @Bill_Brady "I said we need pension reform before Mike Madigan knew how to spell it." // Updates: http://t.co/EL4mmVyMfn
— Chicago Sun-Times (@Suntimes) February 4, 2014

Our tongue is firmly planted in our cheek.  But if people want to keep talking about politicans and spelling, we're game!

Governor Charlie Brown and Speaker Rat King via Scott Stantis

Scott Stantis gives both Governor Pat Quinn and Speaker Mike Madigan the business with the past two days worth of comics.  We particularly like how he seems to have nailed Governor Quinn's hairline.  Not to mention the grimace.  You can find Stantis' column on Illinois Review.

SunTimes: "Mike Madigan's January pension scenario could lead to big property tax hike"

Dave McKinney, reporting from the DNC in Charlotte, picks up on Illinois House and Senate GOP Leadership's thoughts on Chicago Speaker Mike Madigan's bad plan to jam a bad pension bill down  the throats of Illinois residents.

"We fear that Democrat leaders' recent comments about passing a pension reform bill in January with Democrat-only votes will lead to a massive property tax increase, just like they shoved through the largest income tax increase on Illinois residents two years ago," Cross and Radogno's joint statement said.

That's the Chicago way, isn't it?  Speaker Mike Madigan knows that when he can't get his way, he'll just take his ball and go home and do whatever he wants.  Regardless of what the people of Illinois want.

You can read the full Cross & Radogno statement here.