"Is America ready for Nancy Pelosi's Contract With San Francisco?"

So this guy wants to represent us in DC, huh? He seems to think that his philosophy is a closer match with the common man than those of Speaker Dennis Hastert.

Amazingly, his first vote as a Congressman would be to elect Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the House. So does that mean that the views of Kane County match the Liberal counter culture views of San Francisco?

I think not.

Senate Passes Immigration Bill

WASHINGTON (UPI) -- The U.S. Senate voted Thursday to approve a compromise immigration reform bill that has few similarities to a House bill passed in December.

By a 62-36 vote, the upper chamber set the stage for a possible showdown with the House when the competing measures are sent to a conference committee for reconciliation, The Washington Post said.

The Senate bill is similar to the House bill in that it increases border patrols, and provides for construction of a 370-mile border fence and the use of National Guard troops. However, the House bill deals only with border and workplace enforcement matters and makes no provisions -- as the Senate bill does -- for a guest-worker program and a three-tiered system for dealing with the estimated 11 million to 12 million illegal immigrants in the country.

"This is not the final scene of this blockbuster that we have on the Senate floor," said Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. "There is another act to go."

If House and Senate members can't agree on a compromise, the political "consequences ... should properly be very high," said Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., who voted for the bill.

Some House members say compromise with the Senate is possible, the Post reported, if only because it would not be feasible to prosecute and deport millions of illegal immigrants.

The newspaper earlier reported that White House political adviser Karl Rove met with House Republicans to urge them to move closer to the Senate position, which President George W. Bush endorses.

Hastert May Sue ABC...

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - House Speaker Dennis Hastert might sue ABC News for libel and defamation for a news report that said he was "in the mix" in a corruption investigation, according to a letter sent by Hastert's lawyer on Thursday.

The letter from Hastert counsel J. Randolph Evans said statements in ABC's report constitute libel and defamation, and asked who could "accept service of process to remedy this intentional falsehood."

Citing anonymous law enforcement sources, ABC News reported on Wednesday that Hastert was under scrutiny in an FBI corruption investigation centered around former lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

ABC updated its story later to say Hastert was not a formal "target" or "subject" of the investigation, but was "in the mix."

Hastert's spokesman called the story "absolutely untrue" and demanded a retraction, and the Justice Department said the story was wrong.

At the Capitol, Hastert told Reuters: "They made an accusation. The Justice Department denied it."

Rep. Chapa LaVia hugs teachers, while picking their pockets!

I know the end of the school year is here, and that means busy schedules for teachers. I wanted to make sure you were all made aware of the successful sweeping of your valuable retirement funds by our Democratic state representative, Linda Chapa LaVia. While Chicago teachers have their pensions funded fully, you and your peers (both active and retired) have had your pockets picked.

To add insult to injury (and as an obvious move to mitigate any fallout from her vote), Linda Chapa LaVia is honoring educators at a Teachers Town Hall meeting from 5 to 7 p.m. tonight (Tuesday, May 9) at North Island Center in Aurora.

I owe so much of my personal success to the wonderful teachers I had growing up, and I know the pay didn’t (and still doesn’t) adequately compensate you for all you do. That’s why I was so angered by Linda Chapa LaVia’s vote to take away your pension funding. A poorly funded pension not only does a disservice to you and your peers, it also discourages other teachers from bringing their talents to our state. Why choose to teach in a state that fails to recognize your importance to society upon retirement?

Our other state legislators respected the sanctity of the teachers’ retirement fund and would never vote for a budget that relied upon such a tactic. Please remember this as you talk to your family, friends and associates who have a say in the November elections. Linda Chapa LaVia should be voted out of office this November.

Penny Falcon
Republican Precinct Committeeman, Aurora

A moving tribute to our Armed Forces

To every family who has a son or daughter fighting over seas, our hearts, thoughts and prayers are with you.

We found this moving tribute on the web. Very well done.

Take a look, while thinking of all those who are risking their lives for their country.

Nottolini could be next ethics advisor...

Retired Judge Gene Nottolini joined 5 others in interviewing for Kane County's new Ethics Officer position. Nottolini, who retired in November and will be replaced by Judge Thomas Mueller, has spent 21 years on the bench. He is a former Chief Justice.

The other contenders are attorneys Robert Greenwalt of Sandwich and Travis Ketterman of Geneva, marketing consultant Michael Monteleone of St. Charles, retired professor Charles Ellenbaum of Geneva, and Aurora University human resource director Therese Hoehne of Batavia.

Here's the Budget, take a quick look because you'll have to vote on it tomorrow...

It is widely rumored that the Governor, Speaker and Senate President will be unveiling their budget today. Remember, these three Chicago officials are the only one's who have seen it so far. The Republicans will have less than a day to look it over before the expected vote tomorrow.

We'll post some updates as we hear what the budget entails, and how it will affect Kane County.

UPDATED: So far details are scarce, but it looks like Kane County received only a small portion of the funds. Here is a brief over-view of some of the projects coming to Kane County...

• A project that will test emissions from diesel powered vehicles for Kane, Cook, McHenry and several other counties
• Rebuilding the Batavia Dam
• Indian Creek flood control project
• Elgin Armory's interior will be re-furbished

FURTHER UPDATED: Here is a link to the Senate Bill that has become the new state budget.

EVEN FURTHER UPDATED: Republican Judy Baar Topinka called on legislators to pas a constitutional amendment that would make it mandatory for the Budget to be on public display for at least one week prior to any vote being taken. Blago called it a "gimmick." We call it Democracy. What do you think?

Gay marriage Question could appear on November Ballot...

Is marriage a sacred institution between a man and woman, or is the government's interpretation open to criticism? Members of "Protect marriage Illinois want the voters to have their say. In a move similar to efforts in the 2004 and 2005 elections across America, Illinois may very well include a statewide referendum question regarding the institution of marriage.

Protect Marriage Illinois predicted Monday that they will have enough signatures (thousands more than the 283,111 needed) to get a referendum on the November ballot.

It would ask voters whether they think the Illinois Constitution should define marriage between a man and a woman as the only valid legal union in Illinois. The results wonÂ’t change the constitution but could influence whether lawmakers ever take that step.

What are your thoughts? Shouldmarriagee be between a man and a woman? How will this affect voter turnout throughout Illinois? Will it help or hurt our candidates in Kane County?

Open Thread...

Madonna: What a ClassLESS Act!

In a concert last week in California, singer Madonna changed the words of her song to say," Just go to Texas and suck George Bush's d**k."

All four people in attendance cheered.

Sounds like another has been trying to spark a little life back into her career by becoming political. Funny how she would think that anyone cared about her political views, when no one has really cared about her singing for years. Way to show your in depth knowledge of complex political issues there Madonna. Why don't you leave politics to the grown-ups for now.

I think that the material girl needs to get some new material, and quit ripping off the Ditsy Chicks.