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Bost: “minimum wage will actually hurt the middle class”

Wednesday, Jul 23, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller

* State Rep. Mike Bost was asked during a tele-townhall meeting: “What do you intend to do for the middle class to get this weight off of us?” The GOP congressional candidate’s response…

I know that this might not be a popular statement, but this is the way I feel. You cannot lift up the middle class by continuing to have over-burdensome regulations on the job creators.

As they’ve tried to push forward with a minimum wage, that minimum wage will actually hurt the middle class. We need to make sure that a sensible, we need to make sure that the middle class’ buying power remains at the best possible level and then give them the opportunity to move up from the middle class to whatever class, whatever level that they want to work.

But that can only be done when we start removing government regulations that destroy job growth in this state or in this nation and stop people from being the entrepreneurs that they are naturally and seeking the American dream, whether they want to start their own business or expand their business to provide more jobs for people…

Overburdensomed government has kept us pinned down and it is hurting the middle class.

Full audio is here.

* The Southern Illinoisan followed up after a handful of people protested…

[Bost] said minimum wage was created to be a supplemental income for people working toward better jobs through job training and other programs.

Bost said Illinois suffers with its higher minimum wage of $8.25 per hour compared to the federal level of $7.25 per hour. Jobs around the Illinois borders with neighboring states are lost because of the state’s higher minimum wage level, he said.

He said when the minimum wage level is raised, it hurts middle-class wage earners because the cost of living goes up.

“The problem is the middle income wage earners are punished terribly when minimum wage is raised. Your buying power is reduced,” Bost said.

Discuss.

79 Comments

Teh crazy

Wednesday, Jul 23, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller

* From Facebook…

The accompanying video is here.

* Phil Kadner…

“The immigrants are coming! They’re bringing children from Central America here!”

That was the cry that arose from some panicked Southland residents this week after more than 100 military vehicles suddenly appeared on the campus of Cook County’s Oak Forest Health Center, 159th Street and Cicero Avenue.

“I’m almost 100 percent positive they will be shipping all the illegals from Mexico by the hundreds of thousands there …” one man emailed, sending a photo of the vehicles to illustrate his point.

Others called the SouthtownStar convinced that teenage immigrants from Central America soon would be camped out on the grounds of what used to be Oak Forest Hospital.

* Illinois Review…

Earlier this week, Illinois Review received several queries about military vehicles suddenly showing up at the now-closed Oak Forest Hospital at 159th and Cicero Avenue. Speculations were running wild, as some thought the National Guard was preparing for a citizen uprising, while others suggested that the federal government was transferring unaccompanied minors from the southern border to house in Oak Forest.

The hospital, deemed as an emergency shelter by Homeland Security, was used to house homeless victims after the Katrina hurricane.

Actually, those Katrina refugees were housed in Tinley Park.

* As it turns out, the vehicles were moved to make way for parking lot improvements. From the Illinois National Guard…

Parking Lot Improvements Underway at Crestwood Armory

Vehicles temporarily parked at nearby health center

Crestwood, Ill. – Construction is scheduled to begin this week at the Illinois Army National Guard’s Crestwood armory parking lot, 13838 S. Springfield Ave in Robbins, Ill.

The $1.5 million project will upgrade and rehabilitate the current parking lot. Construction includes drainage improvements, on-site storm-water management and improvements to the current loading ramp. It will also include new lighting, paved concrete areas and an additional gravel lot for parking.

The project will last four to six months. Throughout the project, military vehicles will park at the Oak Forrest Health Center in parking spots leased by Cook County.

Additional construction at the Crestwood armory includes improvements to the Field Maintenance Shop’s driveway approaches. A future construction project will include interior improvements to the armory.

The Crestwood armory is home to multiple Illinois Army National Guard units including Company B, 405th Brigade Support Battalion; Battery B, 2nd Battalion, 122nd Field Artillery Regiment; Company G, 634th Brigade Support Battalion; Company F, Recruit Sustainment Program; 1744th Transportation Company; 108th Signal Company and Joint Force Headquarters Medical Detachment.

* Back to Kadner…

As for the sight of military vehicles scaring people, imagine what life would be like in a country where those vehicles are manned by hostile government forces intent on doing harm to anyone considered a threat to those in power. There are a lot of nations like that in the world right now.

We’re lucky. And sharing some of that good fortune, or at least showing people a little kindness, might not be the worst thing that ever happened to this country.

Why there’s so much fear among so many in a nation that has so much (even in the aftermath of the Great Recession) is both baffling and troubling.

76 Comments

Quinn opens new front in campaign: Assault weapons

Wednesday, Jul 23, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller

* From Gov. Pat Quinn’s campaign…

As gun violence continues to plague many communities, Bruce Rauner’s continued support for the proliferation of semi-automatic, military-style assault weapons was highlighted in a new Web video from the Quinn for Illinois campaign.

The hard-hitting new video shows Rauner’s response at a Republican gubernatorial debate earlier this year, where Rauner voiced strong support for assault weapon ownership, and merely shrugged when an incredulous host asked, “When it would make sense to use an assault weapon?”

* Rate the YouTube video…

This is mostly about the all-important suburban female vote. It worked well against Bill Brady in 2010. We’ll see how it does this time.

68 Comments

*** UPDATED x1 *** Rate Rauner’s new TV ad

Wednesday, Jul 23, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller

* From a press release…

Bruce Rauner’s campaign for governor launched a new television advertisement this week outlining the bad news that has marked Pat Quinn’s time as governor.

The ad, titled “Headlines,” underscores Quinn’s record of job losses, tax hikes and education cuts and also highlights the federal, criminal investigation into Quinn’s anti-violence program as well as questions about pay-to-play issues in Quinn’s administration.

“From a 67% tax hike and $500 million in cuts to education to becoming the latest governor to find himself in the middle of a federal criminal investigation, Pat Quinn’s meant nothing but bad news for Illinois,” Rauner spokesman Mike Schrimpf said. “It’s time for a fresh start in Springfield. Bruce Rauner is the change agent needed to bring back Illinois.”

* Rate it…

*** UPDATE *** From the Quinn campaign….

Paid for by vast riches he built using elite methods to dodge taxes, another Bruce Rauner bit of propaganda hit the airwaves today.

Marked by more dishonesty and distortion, the ad is remarkable for totally ignoring the $8 billion hole that the reckless Rauner Tax Plan blows in the budget, as well as the deadly negligence and abuse at long-term care facilities he owned and from which he profited that were supposed to care for people with disabilities and the most vulnerable.

Rauner makes more false claims about jobs, education and anti-violence programs.

Here are some simple facts about the records of Governor Pat Quinn and billionaire Bruce Rauner:

Jobs.

Unemployment is at its lowest point since October 2008 and more people are working today in Illinois than when Governor Quinn took office.

Meanwhile, Rauner built his riches by acquiring companies, stripping their value, massive layoffs, outsourcing and shipping jobs overseas.

Education

The Governor has increased funding for education, including making teacher pension payments and has proposed the largest investment in the classroom in Illinois history. He also has increased funding for job-creating vocational and technical programs.

Rauner, meanwhile, has introduced a Tax Plan that would blow an eight billion dollar hole in the budget and require massive cuts to schools.

Anti-violence program

As Mr. Rauner surely knows, there is no investigation of the Governor and to deceptively suggest otherwise is nothing but a political smear tactic by Rauner and the Republicans. While the Governor took action to fix problems with this now-defunct program and signed a new law to increase oversight of state grants, Mr. Rauner is hoping voters won’t notice all of his companies that were under investigation under his watch for everything from Medicaid fraud to criminal negligence to accounting fraud. Rauner has declined to take any responsibility for these disturbing revelations, but he has taken the money.

In addition, the Governor continues to fight against violence and is pushing to ban military-style assault weapons. Rauner supports military-style assault weapons and said he believes people should be able to use them “as they see fit.”

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