Tax Day Tea Party April 15, 2009 Join the Chicago Young Republicans on April 15th as we re-enact our very own tea party aboard Chicago's Tall Ship Windy, the largest sailing ship in the county! Big John and Cisco Cotto of WIND560-AM host along with special guests (to be announced) our tax day tea party. Come out and let your voices be heard! A Tax Day Tea Party Shore Event will also be held at the Billy Goat Tavern on Navy Pier next to Tall Ship Windy's dock. This event will go from 4:30-9:00pm and is free with a cash bar. Click here for more details. Lincoln Day Luncheon Thank you to those of you that attended and contributed to our Lincoln Day Luncheon on Sunday, March 29. The event was a success and would not have been without your generous contributions. If you would like to see photos from the event, click here. Combine gave Vallas, us, the shaft Chicago Tribune - 4/3/09 The man who should have been finishing his second term as governor of Illinois was on the phone, and he wasn't holding anything back. No, it wasn't Rod Blagojevich. Thursday's massive 75-page federal indictment of former Gov. Dead Meat and his crew exposed once and for all that there is no true two-party system in Illinois, but rather a bipartisan Combine of insiders who gorge on public dollars and public trust.....read more... New hope for real two-party system in Cook County Southtown Star - 4/1/2009 Still contemplating whether he will run for Cook County Board president in 2010, former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas told Cook County Republicans last week that working to fix problematic government budgets was a key reason he recently switched political parties. ...read more... Blagojevich Indicted Chicago Tribune - 4/3/09 Federal prosecutors expanded their case against former Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Thursday in an indictment that drew more of his closest aides into the scandal and adds new schemes to the list of charges against him: Pocketing money funneled through his wife through a phony real estate job. Shaking down a powerful congressman. Running the state as a racket...read more... Facts to keep in mind on Blagojevich indictment FriendsofBlago.com - 4/2/09 As reports of the pending Blagojevich indictment have come to light, it is likely that statements from Democratic officeholders condemning former Governor Rod Blagojevich will soon be released. It is imperative to remember that not so long ago these same Democrats strongly supported our disgraced former Governor...read more... Rove: Chicago politics has moved to the White House Wall Street Journal -4/1//09 "Don't think we're not keeping score, brother." That's what President Barack Obama said to Rep. Peter DeFazio in a closed-door meeting of the House Democratic Caucus last week, according to the Associated Press. A few weeks ago, Mr. DeFazio voted against the administration's stimulus bill. The comment from Mr. Obama was a presidential rebuke and part of a new, hard-nosed push by the White House to pressure Congress to adopt the president's budget. He has mobilized outside groups and enlisted forces still in place from the Obama campaig....read more... Stroger: 'Borrow More' Chicago Tribune - 4/1/09 Wednesday dawns with a serious threat facing every Cook County taxpayer: The government now gouging you for a $400 million-a-year windfall from its unneeded sales tax hike also wants to increase your debt by more than a quarter-billion dollars. Some portion of that new borrowing can be justified—but not until the 17 County Board members start at zero and approve a much less costly set of capital projects....read more...