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I hope McKeon Gets a Cut of the Fundraising

LaBarbera attacks State Rep Larry McKeon’s bill to extend benefits to same sex partners in the Chicago Public School System

he assault an traditional American culture continues. Would you believe that the very day the ?gay rights? bill was passed in the General Assembly, State Representative Larry McKeon, who admits to being a homosexual, has again introduced pro-?gay? legislation – this time seeking health benefits for same-sex ?partners? of Chicago Public School Teachers.

Inch by inch, step by step – homosexual activists are pushing their agenda in an attempt to incrementally implement (in law) acceptance and government protection of dangerous, perverse but changeable behavior.

This legislation might as well be called the ?Homosexual Teacher Recruitment Bill?, as it most certainly will attract homosexuals activists to Chicago classrooms. Yes, there is a shortage of good teachers in Chicago, but we don? want gay or lesbian teachers spending 5-6 hours a day with your children anymore than the Boy Scouts wanted homosexual scout leaders escorting young men on camping trips. Make no mistake, this bill will be provide an incentive to draw homosexual activist teachers to come to Chicago schools. Not exactly something parents want their children exposed to.

Of course, many private companies already offer such benefits and while the cost issue is the big one currently, the extension of benefits isn’t that controversial. Even more bizarre is his suggestion at the bottom:

Governor Blagojevich?s signature of SB3186, guarantees that homosexual teachers the ?right? to talk about their homosexual partner in the same way that a normal married teacher can talk about their spouse. Imagine the day when Mr. Jones? partner drops off lunch, and before leaving exchange a quick kiss. Is this really something you want your children to think is acceptable or normal?

Of course, the CPS had a policy of non-discrimination based on sexual orientation before so the impact of SB 3186 on the CPS was, nothing.

What exactly does SB 3186 Do?

Peter LaBarbera is having coniption after coniption over the passing of SB 3186 which includes sexual orientation in the Illinois Human Rights Act

Rich Miller is doing admirable work dispelling Peter’s rantings, but I’d like to add a little bit. First, here is the simple legal analysis concerning the law.

I have to admit, as one Rich’s commenters does, I’m quite confused by the legal analysis because SB 3186 doesn’t seem to affect this portion of the Human Rights Act

(2) “Employer” does not include any religious
corporation, association, educational institution, society, or non‑profit nursing institution conducted by and for those who rely upon treatment by prayer through spiritual means in accordance with the tenets of a recognized church or religious denomination with respect to the employment of individuals of a particular religion to perform work connected with the carrying on by such corporation, association, educational institution, society or non‑profit nursing institution of its activities.

The lawyers out there can correct me, but my view on this is that the above paragraph would make any religious organization able to discriminate based on any characteristic relevant to the tenets of the recognized church or religious denomination. So the UCC couldn’t discriminate based on sexual orientation, but the Catholic Church could.

The alternative view, if I’m guessing correctly, is that if someone was Gay and Catholic, they couldn’t be discriminated against.

Where this is relevant to other characteristics is in race where Matt Hale’s church is free to not hire a black person because the World Church of Losers believes they are inferior. Any other organization couldn’t discriminate, but in such a case, becasue the tenets of the religion hold that being white is part of the religion, the corporate versions of the church are free to discriminate against any non-whites.

The parallel is exactly the same and while I don’t have it at my fingertips, the case law is pretty clear so I’m unclear on why there is even a big deal about clarifying the 1st Amendment Rights–it’s already been done with other classifications that have been granted protected status.

IOW, Peter LaBarbera is full of shit. Nothing new there though.

Incompetence? Avoiding Accountability? Who Cares–just fix it at the State Board of Elections.

IlliniPundit (who will soon be on the blogroll) and Rich Miller at the Capitol Fax point out the SBOE’s server is sending internal links outward. Either they are purposely sending external links outward or they have their system configured wrong–either way, the system should be open to linking so that the media and others can effectively point towards campaign finance documents.

Da Speaker is in Dean’s Corner

Via Alderman Joe Moore on the Illinois for Dean List

I’ve got good news.? I spoke with Speaker Madigan today and he? told me he will support Governor Dean.? He spoke with Governor Dean? this afternoon and personally offered his support.

Things are definitely looking up.

I’ll keep everyone posted.

Alderman Joe Moore
Chicago, Illinois
DNC Member

I’d say that’s about it for the race.

Da Speaker is in Dean’s Corner

Via Alderman Joe Moore on the Illinois for Dean List

I’ve got good news.? I spoke with Speaker Madigan today and he? told me he will support Governor Dean.? He spoke with Governor Dean? this afternoon and personally offered his support.

Things are definitely looking up.

I’ll keep everyone posted.

Alderman Joe Moore
Chicago, Illinois
DNC Member

I’d say that’s about it for the race.

NoLaHood

When Ray LaHood becomes too liberal to be a GOP candidate, I’d just like to thank the Illinois Republican Party for shutting out the lights at HQ since they have clearly packed up and gone home for the cycle.

Administrative Contact:
Leubscher, William ****************@aol.com
9559 S. Mozart Ave.
Evergreen Park, IL 60805
US

Pic is available here. Scroll to the bottom.

Via Bill at Peoria Pundit which was via the Capitol Fax

To add to Bill’s comments, Peter Fitzgerald had horrible poll numbers and he didn’t like being Senator. The reason he didn’t run again is Karl Rove laid out the problem to him and he saw the light. Being Senator is a grueling job and I don’t begrudge anyong giving up that job, but saying it is LaHood’s fault misses that Fitzgerald was a pain in the butt even if you agreed with him.

After looking at the site, I’d create a conspiracy theory behind the site with me behind it other than I’m not. Looking at the list of potential candidates ‘better’ than LaHood, four of the five are wet dreams of Democrats and Blagojevich. Only Rauschenberger would be a serious challenger and he still has to explain why he thought Alan Keyes was a good idea.

Birkett is one of the sourest and most unlikeable politicians in Illinois. Pat O’Malley is the right wing version of The Blagorgeous. Shimkus has what appeal above Springfield? And Jim Oberweis? Uh, no.

In case anyone forgot, John Kerry won the state by 10 points. Why does anyone think a right wing Republican can overcome a 10 point deficit to start.

None of this is to say LaHood is the answer, but the wisdom of the Median Voter Theorem is ignored at your own peril.

Even more interesting is that the site appears to be ready to become registered as it has a solicitation for funds. Most interesting is it’s parent site:

Photoairbrushing.com

And that the guy involved is from Evergreen Park which, of course, is no where near the 18th CD.

And he had a role in Spanky’s campaign

The Excitement Brigade

I can’t think of a more boring way to start off the announcements for the Republican nomination for Governor than Ray LaHood and Ron Gidwitz. While some in the Party are trying to be hip, it appears that a good percentage of the old guard are still wondering why Oldsmobile needed to try and relabel itself with”Not your Father’s Oldsmobile.”

They’re probably also grumbling about having to look at Buicks now that their car isn’t being made anymore.

Venture Capital Fund

Aaron Chambers has a good interview with Illinois Commerce Director Jack Lavin focusing on the administration’s effort to promote a venture capital fund. For those waiting on me to have a snarky take on this one–sorry, it’s actually one of many issues I think needs to be done in Missouri, but instead Missouri is having foundations push money directly into a single industry (biotech) without enough cash to make a difference and a Lege that might make therapeutic cloning illegal.

The administration’s plan in Illinois doesn’t direct it towards a specific industry and makes it clear that performance is a criteria. Those two issues along with a strong base of research universities make the effort a good bet.

Chambers asks about this in the story, the question is how to get it to pass the Lege. Members will want to reserve a certain portion outside of the Chicago area. While the impulse is understandable, the best bet is to do exactly as Lavin suggests:

The bill calls for geographic and sector diversification on the investments that those funds make. We have, obviously, an issue in Illinois if most of the venture capital is invested in the Chicagoland area and other parts of the state aren’t getting investment. So part of the Opportunity Fund is to geographically diversify where we’re investing.

Q: Is there agreement? Is there a bill ready to go?

A: There is a bill that is almost ready to go. Going into this next session, we’ll have a bill ready to go shortly.

Q: So you do anticipate something moving this session then, this spring?

A: We intend to have the bill move, or introduced again, yes.

Q: Would the measure specifically, statutorily, require that a certain percent of the dollars be invested in startups outside the Chicago region, downstate?

A: There is nothing that specifically defines what will be outside of the Chicago region, though part of the intent of the law is that there will be diversification. So as the board is set up that will be one of their goals, to geographically disperse and diversify where the investments go.

Via Capitol Fax that points out why we see more of these kinds of full text interviews.