October 2, 2015: 12 Reasons Crisis Government is the Best We Get
1. Harry Reid. Reid: Let’s Get To Work on Budget Negotiations. October 1, 2015. http://www.reid.senate.gov/press_releases/2015-10-01-reid-lets-get-to-work-on-budget-negotiations, retrieved October 1, 2015.
2. Mitch McConnell. McConnell: Senate Democrats’ Opposition to Defunding Planned Parenthood Won’t End the Debate. September 24, 2015. http://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=2ca19b6c-f0d6-4eeb-9c33-3e80d6311c67&ContentType_id=c19bc7a5-2bb9-4a73-b2ab-3c1b5191a72b&Group_id=0fd6ddca-6a05-4b26-8710-a0b7b59a8f1f&MonthDisplay=9&YearDisplay=2015, retrieved October 1, 2015.
October 3, 2015: Mass Murder Makes Guns and Drugs Revenue Generators
1. “Fire officials: 74 drug overdoses reported in 72 hours.” Sun Times Wire. October 1, 2015. http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/7/71/1005688/fire-officials-18-heroin-overdoses-reported-west-side, retrieved October 3, 2015.
2. “Drug Control Funding Priorities in the FY 2016 President’s Budget.” p. 1. https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/ondcp/press-releases/ondcp_fy16_budget_fact_sheet.pdf, retrieved October 3, 2015.
3. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau. ANNUAL REPORT. Fiscal Year 2014. p. 27. http://www.ttb.gov/foia/ttbar2014.pdf, retrieved October 3, 2015.
4. Ibid.
5. Ibid.
6. “Firearm Tax.” Cook County Government. http://www.cookcountyil.gov/department-of-revenue/firearm-tax/, retrieved October 3, 2015.
7. Dick Durbin. “Durbin Supports Legislation To Crack Down On Flow Of Illegal Guns To Illinois.” July 16, 2015. http://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-supports-legislation-to-crack-down-on-flow-of-illegal-guns-to-illinois-, retrieved October 3, 2015.
October 4, 2015: President’s Favorite Four Words: Does Putin Know Them?
1. “Remarks by President Obama to the United Nations General Assembly.” The White House. September 28, 2015. https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/09/28/remarks-president-obama-united-nations-general-assembly, retrieved October 4, 2015.
2. “Press Conference by the President.” The White House. October 2, 2015. https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/10/02/press-conference-president, retrieved October 4, 2015.
3. “Statement by the President on Ukraine.” The White House. July 18, 2014. https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/07/18/statement-president-ukraine, retrieved October 4, 2015.
4. “Remarks by President Obama to the United Nations General Assembly.” The White House. September 28, 2015. https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/09/28/remarks-president-obama-united-nations-general-assembly, retrieved October 4, 2015.
5. “Remarks by President Obama at the Leaders’ Summit on Countering ISIL and Violent Extremism.” The White House. September 29, 2015. https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/09/29/remarks-president-obama-leaders-summit-countering-isil-and-violent, retrieved October 4, 2015.
October 9, 2015: Slave to Lincoln’s State? Three Outrageous Examples
1. “Join the Democratic Party of Illinois. Democratic Party of Illinois. http://ildems.com/, retrieved October 8, 2015.
2. Meisner, Jason, and Perez, Juan Jr. “Former Chicago Public Schools chief to plead guilty to bribery scheme.” Chicago Tribune. October 8, 2015. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-barbara-byrd-bennett-chicago-public-schools-charged-met-20151008-story.html, retrieved October 8, 2015.
3. United States Department of Labor. Unemployment Insurance (UI) Improper Payments by State. http://www.dol.gov/dol/maps/state/IL.htm, retrieved October 7, 2015.
October 10, 2015: Wasteful Spending: Four Alarming Facts About Your Money
1. “Cutting Waste.” The White House. https://www.whitehouse.gov/economy/reform/cutting-waste, retrieved October 10, 2015.
2. United States Government Accountability Office. FISCAL OUTLOOK. Addressing Improper Payments and the Tax Gap Would Improve the Government’s Fiscal Position. October 1, 2015. Highlights page: What GAO Found. http://gao.gov/products/GAO-16-92T, retrieved October 10, 2015.
3. Ibid.
4. Ibid.
5. Ibid.
October 11, 2015: How to Stop Corruption, Graft, and Payoffs Right Now
1. “Prison Inside Fort Pulaski.” National Park Service. http://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/photogallery/akr/park/fopu/80EAD122-1DD8-B71C-071EDB4A735D6E99/80EAD122-1DD8-B71C-071EDB4A735D6E99-large.JPG, retrieved October 11, 2015.
2. Fitzgerald, Patrick. “Public Corruption.” Offices of the United States Attorneys. July 8, 2015. http://www.justice.gov/usao/priority-areas/financial-fraud/public-corruption, retrieved October 11, 2015.
3. Taha, Amira and and Harris, John. “The Cost of Corruption.” USAID. March 25, 2014. https://blog.usaid.gov/2014/03/the-cost-of-corruption/, retrieved October 11, 2015.
“Prison Inside Fort Pulaski.” National Park Service. http://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/photogallery/akr/park/fopu/80EAD122-1DD8-B71C-071EDB4A735D6E99/80EAD122-1DD8-B71C-071EDB4A735D6E99-large.JPG, retrieved October 11, 2015.
October 16, 2015: Inclusion is a Dirty Word in New Health Exchange Bill
1. Mike Honda. Honda Leads Efforts to Include Immigrants in Health Reform. September 23, 2009. https://honda.house.gov/news/press-releases/honda-leads-efforts-to-include-immigrants-in-health-reform, retrieved October 15, 2015.
2. The White House. “Ohio Medicaid Expansion Will Provide Health Coverage for 270,000 Previously Uninsured Residents.” Whitehouse.gov. October 21, 2013. https://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2013/10/21/ohio-announces-medicaid-expansion-will-provide-health-coverage-270000-previously-uni, retrieved October 16, 2015.
3. “Democratic Presidential Debate.” CNN. October 13, 2015. http://cnnpressroom.blogs.cnn.com/2015/10/13/cnn-democratic-debate-full-transcript/, retrieved October 15, 2015.
4. “FACT SHEET: Fixing our Broken Immigration System so Everyone Plays by the Rules.” The White House. January 29, 2013. https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/01/29/fact-sheet-fixing-our-broken-immigration-system-so-everyone-plays-rules, retrieved October 15, 2015.
5. Luis V. Gutierrez. Rep. Gutierrez’ New Bill Expands Access to Obamacare to Undocumented Immigrants.” September30, 2015. http://gutierrez.house.gov/press-release/rep-guti%C3%A9rrez%E2%80%99-new-bill-expands-access-obamacare-undocumented-immigrants, retrieved October14, 2015.
6. Ibid.
7. Ibid.
October 17, 2015: Money is Everything, Especially When It’s Free
1. The United States Mint. “The United States Mint at San Francisco.” usmint.gov. http://www.usmint.gov/kids/coinNews/mintFacilities/sfo/, retrieved October 17, 2015.
2. The White House. “Jobs & The Economy: Putting America Back To Work.” Whitehouse.gov. https://www.whitehouse.gov/economy/middle-class/dodd-frank-wall-street-reform, retrieved October 17, 2015.
3. Ibid.
4. “Democratic Presidential Debate.” CNN. October 13, 2015. http://cnnpressroom.blogs.cnn.com/2015/10/13/cnn-democratic-debate-full-transcript/, retrieved October 17, 2015.
October 18, 2015: World Community Can’t Be Trusted to Stop Aggression
1. U.S. Air Force. “Unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile.” http://www.af.mil/News/Photos/tabid/129/igphoto/2000760888/mediaid/588679/Default.aspx, retrieved October 18, 2015.
2. Kerry, John. “Iran Nuclear Agreement Review.” U.S. Department of State. www.State.gov July 23, 2015. http://www.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2015/07/245221.htm, retrieved October 18, 2015.
3. “The Historic Deal that Will Prevent Iran from Acquiring a Nuclear Weapon.” The White House. https://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/foreign-policy/iran-deal, retrieved October 18, 2015.
4. “The Iran Nuclear Deal: What You Need to Know About the JCPOA.” The White House. www.whitehouse.gov http://go.wh.gov/JCPOA, retrieved October 18, 2015. p. 2.
5. Ibid., p. 11.
6. Ayotte, Kelly. “Ayotte, Rubio Lead Letter Urging Obama Administration to Address ICBM Threat From Iran.” July 15, 2014. http://www.ayotte.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=1510, retrieved October 18, 2015.
7. Ibid.
October 18, 2015: World Community Can’t Be Trusted to Stop Aggression
1. FoxNews. “North Korea reportedly willing to sign peace treaty with US to end conflict.” October 18, 2015. FoxNews.com http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/10/18/north-korea-reportedly-seeks-to-end-conflict-with-us-with-peace-treaty/, retrieved October 18, 2015.
2. U.S. Air Force. “Unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile.” http://www.af.mil/News/Photos/tabid/129/igphoto/2000760888/mediaid/588679/Default.aspx, retrieved October 18, 2015.
3. Kerry, John. “Iran Nuclear Agreement Review.” U.S. Department of State. www.State.gov July 23, 2015. http://www.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2015/07/245221.htm, retrieved October 18, 2015.
4. Ayotte, Kelly. “Ayotte, Rubio Lead Letter Urging Obama Administration to Address ICBM Threat From Iran.” July 15, 2014. http://www.ayotte.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=1510, retrieved October 18, 2015.
5. Ibid.
6. “The Historic Deal that Will Prevent Iran from Acquiring a Nuclear Weapon.” The White House. https://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/foreign-policy/iran-deal, retrieved October 18, 2015.
7. “The Iran Nuclear Deal: What You Need to Know About the JCPOA.” The White House. www.whitehouse.gov> http://go.wh.gov/JCPOA, retrieved October 18, 2015. p. 2.
8. Ibid., p. 11.
October 23, 2015: What You Believe Is Not Your Opinion, So Whose Is It?
1. U.S. Department of Justice. Office of Justice Programs. Bureau of Justice Statistics. Planty, Michael, Ph.D., Truman, Jennifer L. “Firearm Violence, 1993-2011.” May 2013. p. 1. http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/fv9311.pdf, retrieved October 22, 2015.
2. National Center for Education Statistics. “CCD Quick Facts.” https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/quickfacts.asp, retrieved October 22, 2015.
3. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Ward, Brian W., Ph.D., Dahlhamer, James M., Ph.D., Galinsky, Adena M., Ph.D., Joestl, Sarah S., Dr.P.H., Division of Health Interview Statistics. “Sexual Orientation and Health Among U.S. Adults: National Health Interview Survey, 2013.” National Health Statistics Reports. Number 77. July 15, 2014. p. 1.
4. The White House. Office of the Press Secretary. “FACT SHEET” Promoting and Protecting the Human Rights of LGBT Persons: A United States Government Priority.” May 16, 2015. https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/05/16/fact-sheet-promoting-and-protecting-human-rights-lgbt-persons-united-sta, retrieved October 22, 2015.
5. Committee on Standards of Official Conduct. 110th Congress, 2d Session. “House Ethics Manual.” 2008 Edition. p. 2. https://ethics.house.gov/sites/ethics.house.gov/files/documents/2008_House_Ethics_Manual.pdf, retrieved October 21, 2015.
6. U.S. Department of the Treasury. “Writing and Enacting Tax Legislation.” http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/faqs/Taxes/Pages/writing.aspx, retrieved October 22, 2015.
7. The White House. Pfeiffer, Dan. “The 10 Most Wanted Lobbyist Loopholes.” May 4, 2010. https://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/05/04/10-most-wanted-lobbyist-loopholes, retrieved October 22, 2015.
8. The White House. Office of the Press Secretary. “Presidential Memorandum—Lobbyists on Agency Boards and Commissions.” June 18, 2010. https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/presidential-memorandum-lobbyists-agency-boards-and-commissions, retrieved October 22, 2015.
9. U.S. Office of Special Counsel. “Political Activity and the Federal Employee.” Re. December 2005. p. 2. https://osc.gov/Resources/ha_fed.pdf, retrieved October 21, 2015.
October 24, 2015: Benghazi Prosecution: Everyone Wins but the Dead
1. The Select Committee on Benghazi. “Chairman Gowdy’s Opening Statement.” October 22, 2015. https://benghazi.house.gov/news/press-releases/chairman-gowdys-opening-statement, retrieved October 24, 2015.
2. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton delivers remarks at the dignified transfer ceremony for U.S. Ambassador to Libya J. Christopher Stevens, Foreign Service officer Sean Smith, and security officers Tyrone S. Woods and Glen A. Doherty at Joint Base Andrews, Md. Sept. 14, 2012. The four men were killed during a Sept. 11, 2012, attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Steele C.G. Britton retrieved from http://archive.defense.gov/DODCMSShare/NewsStoryPhoto/2012-09/hrs_664641.jpg on October 24, 2015.
Picture appeared in: U.S. Department of Defense. Pellerin, Cheryl. “Top U.S. Officials Honor Americans Who Died in Libya.” http://archive.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=117864, retrieved October 24, 2015.
3. The Select Committee on Benghazi. October 21, 2015. Uncredited blog post, attributed to 114th Congress. https://benghazi.house.gov/news/blog/committee-democrats-politicize-benghazi-terrorist-attack-investigation, retrieved October 24, 2015.
4. Wolking, Matt. “11 Facts You Need to Know Right Now About the Select Committee on Benghazi.” Speaker.gov. October 13, 2015. http://www.speaker.gov/general/11-facts-you-need-know-right-now-about-select-committee-benghazi, retrieved October 24, 2015.
5. “GOP on Clean-Up Duty for Leader McCarthy.” democraticleader.gov. October 1, 2015. http://www.democraticleader.gov/newsroom/gop-on-clean-up-duty-for-leader-mccarthy/, retrieved October 24, 2015.
October 25, 2015: Rauner is Right. Illinois Turnaround Starts Now.
1. Tribune wire reports. “Moody’s downgrades rating on $26.8 billion in Illinois bonds.” Chicago Tribune October 23, 2015. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-moodys-downgrades-illinois-bonds-20151022-story.html, retrieved October 25, 2015.
2. Schoenburg, Bernard. “Gov. Rauner: “I’m focused on the future, not criticism from Edgar, Thompson.” The State Journal-Register. October 22, 2015. http://www.sj-r.com/article/20151022/NEWS/151029848, retrieved October 25, 2015.
3. City of Chicago. Mayor’s Press Office. “Mayor Emanuel Announces New Buy-Back Program to Get Guns Off the Street.” October 19, 2015. http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/mayor/press_room/press_releases/2015/september/mayor-emanuel-announces-new-buy-back-program-to-get-guns-off-the.html, retrieved October 25, 2015.
4. Illinois Lottery. http://www.illinoislottery.com/HalloweenRaffle, retrieved October 25, 2015.
5. U.S. Geological Survey. Photographer: Clucas, R.J. “Redoubt Volcano.” http://gallery.usgs.gov/photos/03_29_2013_otk7Nay4LH_03_29_2013_5#.VizwvmsvZSN, retrieved October 25, 2015.
6. Jan Schakowsky. “Schakowsky Statement on Governor Rauner’s Budget.” February 19, 2015. http://schakowsky.house.gov/press-releases/schakowsky-statement-on-governor-rauners-budget/, retrieved October 25, 2015.
7. John Shimkus. “Tax Freedom Day April 11 in Illinois.” https://shimkus.house.gov/media-center/opeds/tax-freedom-day-april-11-in-illinois, retrieved October 25, 2015.
8. Tax Foundation. Pomerleau, Kyle. “Tax Freedom Day® 2015 is April 24th.” March 30, 2015. http://taxfoundation.org/article/tax-freedom-day-2015-april-24th, retrieved October 25, 2015.
9. Randy Hultgren. “Hultgren Statement On U.S. Debt, Illinois Downgrade.” January 10, 2012. https://hultgren.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/hultgren-statement-on-us-debt-illinois-downgrade, retrieved October 25, 2015.
10. Ibid.
October 30, 2015: Emotions That Win Votes by Tricking People
1. The White House. “Remarks by the President at the 122nd Annual IACP Conference.” www.whitehouse.gov October 27, 2015. https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/10/27/remarks-president-122nd-annual-iacp-conference, retrieved October 28 2015.
2. Photo courtesy of NSSL. Retrieved from http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/binger.jpg on October 30, 2015.
3. The White House. “WEEKLY ADDRESS: Working for Meaningful Criminal Justice Reform.” whitehouse.gov https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/10/17/weekly-address-working-meaningful-criminal-justice-reform, retrieved October 28, 2015.
4. Ted Cruz. “Sen. Cruz: The IRS’ Abuse of Power Is Profoundly Dangerous to Liberty.” July 29, 2015. http://www.cruz.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=2415, retrieved October 29, 2015.
5. The White House. “Statement by the President on the Shootings at Umpqua Community Collee, Roseburg, Oregon.” October 1, 2015. https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/10/01/statement-president-shootings-umpqua-community-college-roseburg-oregon, retrieved October 29, 2015.
6. Keith Ellison. “Rep. Ellison Testifies in Senate Hearing on Civil and Human Rights.” December 9, 2014. https://ellison.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-ellison-testifies-in-senate-hearing-on-civil-and-human-rights, retrieved October 29, 2015.
7. Bernie Sanders. “Sanders Statement on Budget Deal.” Sanders.senate.gov. October 28, 2015. http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-statement-on-budget-deal, retrieved October 29, 2015.
October 31, 2015: Republicans Should Stop Complaining and Start Debating
1. “Letter from RNC Chairman Reince Priebus to NBC News.” October 30, 2015. GOP.com https://gop.com/nbc-letter/?, retrieved October 31, 2015.
2. Ibid.