Friday, September 7, 2012
The First Lady's speech highlights how, in a 50-50 nation, the narrative that wins this fight may win the White House. Female politicians from Illinois gave their reaction to news from the convention.
CHARLOTTE, NC — President Obama "believes that women are more than capable of making our own choices about our bodies and our health care,” First Lady Michelle Obama said during her Tuesday speech to the Democratic National Convention. "That's what my husband stands for." It was a continuation of a consistent message from women at all levels the Democratic party: This election is about the government’s right to control your body. Earlier that day, just a few blocks away from where Mrs. Obama spoke, Gov. Nikki Haley made the Republican pitch. “Let me tell you about women. Women are extremely smart,” the first female governor of South Carolina said. “They care about a lot more than contraception.” Those two arguments — that the 2012 …
Thursday, August 9, 2012
The newly-formed Will County Republican Women's Club is hosting a fundraiser Aug. 14 in Bolingbrook.
Having participated in local Republican organizations over the years, including at the township level, New Lenox resident Patty Deiters came to the conclusion that a separate organization for women and in support of female candidates would be an asset. In April, she began researching organizations and their bylaws and discovered that the Will County Republican Women's Club would be effective particularly if it aligned itself as a chapter of the Illinois Federation of Republican Women . Consequently, she said, the Will County group is also affiliated with the National Federation of Republican Women. The women-specific group has the opportunity to focus on women in government. However, that doesn't mean that men in the party are not welcome …
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Illinois has been one of only three states in the country to offer free health care to some retirees. This legislation affects retired state employees but does not include retired teachers.
Editor's note: The following was submitted by Renee Kosel as a letter to the editor Assistant Republican Leader/Illinois State Rep. Renėe Kosel (R-New Lenox) made a tough vote in favor of Senate Bill 1313, which will change the costs for retiree health care benefits. Illinois has been one of only three states in the country to offer free health care to some retirees. This legislation affects retired state employees but does not include retired teachers. It does not take benefits away from retirees but puts a mechanism in place that allows the Director of Central Management Services to determine the State’s premium payments on behalf of retired employees of the various State systems, including members of the State Employee Retirement …
Monday, March 19, 2012
Political operatives are advocating the virtues of "bullet voting," the practice of voting for only one candidate when you are asked to select two.
In recent days I have heard a political operative advocate the virtues of bullet voting, the practice of throwing away one of your votes by only voting for one person when you have the right to vote for two people. Make sure someone from our town wins! Someone from our church wins! Someone from our team win!—all reasons given to bullet vote. I wonder what the Americans who have lost their lives to preserve our right to vote would think of the practice? Is it any different to throwing a vote away or not voting at all? Do you want someone to win so badly that you do not care who the other candidate is or what they stand for? Is this the way we want our political system to work or is this just more of the same old school politics that …
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
The Illinois House is considering legislation that would add a 2 percent tax to ammunition sales. The money would go to trauma care centers in high crime areas, including Chicago.
Illinois gun owners could face a 2 percent tax on ammunition if proposed legislation makes its way through the General Assembly. House Bill 5167 is expected to yield up to $1.2 million a year, according to Illinois Statehouse News. The Illinois Department of Public Health would give the revenue to trauma care centers in high crime areas, including Chicago. A co-sponsor of the bill said it's part of the "fight against gun crime," but National Rifle Association lobbyist Todd Vandermyde argued it's an “unconstitutional poll tax." "The law-abiding citizens are essentially paying for the criminals' actions," said Robert Wise, co-owner of Downrange Sports gun shop in New Lenox. That's an argument state legislators have echoed, because they …
Monday, February 20, 2012
Rep. Renee Kosel (R-New Lenox) issued a nine-question survey in January that covered a wide range of issues, including job creation, income taxes, schools and more. Kosel said she'll use the feedback to "represent the district effectively."
Many Lincoln-Way area residents want more gun control, a repeal of last year's income tax hike and marijuana to remain illegal, at least according to a survey administered by Rep. Renee Kosel (R-New Lenox). Kosel issued a nine-question survey in January that covered a wide range of issues, including job creation, income taxes, schools and more. Kosel said she'll use the feedback to "represent the district effectively." “Hearing directly from my constituents on the issues that matter most to them and their family is an invaluable resource for me,” Kosel said in a news release. Kosel said hundreds of constituents responded to the survey, and she noted that the tallies were not done scientifically and only reflect the opinions of those who …
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Gov. Pat Quinn's proposal to merge state's 868 districts failed to consider financial incentives promised under the law, according to a recent study.
Consolidating the state's 800-plus school districts into a more manageable number could cost nearly $4 billion, according to a recent report. The Classroom First Commission, a panel formed last year to study ways Illinois could increase schools' efficiency and cut costs, found little support for "sweeping consolidation of school districts," the Associated Press reports. In February 2011, Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn told the General Assembly that merging the state's 868 school districts into just 300 would save about $100 million, primarily through the reduction of the number of administrators. According to the panel's study, however, Quinn's plan failed to consider the financial incentives that Illinois law promises to merging districts, …
Monday, January 9, 2012
Renee Kosel (R-New Lenox) said she'll use the feedback to "represent the district effectively" when the General Assembly returns for its spring session Jan. 31.
Weeks before the state General Assembly goes back to work, Rep. Renee Kosel (R-New Lenox) is asking contituents about some of Illinois' pressing issues. The nine-question survey covers a wide range of issues, including job creation, income taxes, schools and more. Kosel said she'll use the feedback to "represent the district effectively" when the General Assembly returns for its spring session Jan. 31. “Hearing directly from my constituents on the issues that matter most to them and their family is an invaluable resource for me,” Kosel said in a news release. Take Kosel's constituent survey here. One of the focuses of the survey is the economy, asking for ways to stimulate job growth in Illinois and whether the government should repeal …
Friday, January 6, 2012
The candidates have filed for the state and U.S. Congressional races. Find out who's running, who's dropped out and how redistricting has reshaped Frankfort.
In the final days of 2011, the next stage of the 2012 elections came into focus, with candidates filing for State Senate and House races. The March 20 primaries are a little more than two months away, and with all the changes heading into election season, now seemed like an ideal time to lay out where things stand in the different races. READ: Heavy GOP Primaries Set for Will County Board Races Over the summer, Illinois political boundaries received a radical facelift as county, state and Congressional districts were redrawn. Here's what it meant for Frankfort: The county redistricting also came with a reconfiguring of voting precincts by the Will County Board. For Frankfort, that's translated into a reduction of 13 polling places. New …
41.497528
-87.860531
Village of Frankfort Administration Building
432 W Nebraska St, Frankfort, IL
/articles/state-election-stage-set-who-s-who-in-march-s-primary
324351
/locations/6140183
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Democratic leadership wants to review the state's business tax hike, which has led some firms to explore leaving Illinois.
After passing a large tax increase on businesses earlier this year, Democratic leadership in the state wants to review that tax structure to keep businesses from leaving Illinois for cheaper options. Local representatives say the best way to find solutions is to have an open dialogue with the businesses and chambers of commerce in the state. Both Sen. Christine Radogno (R-Lemont) and Rep. Renee Kosel (R-New Lenox) said they've heard from businesses in their districts that have explored leaving the state. Locally, though, New Lenox Chamber of Commerce CEO Deb Hypke said she hasn't heard many complaints from business owners about the tax rate, which increased to 7 percent, or about leaving the state. "We were very disappointed by the tax …
41.513603
-87.97944
New Lenox Chamber of Commerce
1 Veterans Pkwy, New Lenox, IL
/articles/local-reps-want-business-input-on-state-tax-review
1709863
/locations/4738718
vicky
1:44 pm on Friday, September 28, 2012
Love when they sent Michelle Obama out to Iowa to campaign with her husband. They had her in a red gingham dress with her hair as plain as can be. She looked like she should have been on an episode of Hee-Haw. Give me a break, don't insult us. more ›