We have watched the horizon for this over two years now.  HERE and HERE –  The best view is through the comparative prism between Illinois and neighboring Wisconsin and Indiana (more following article).   In July of 2011 Illinois Governor Quinn signed the largest tax increase in history, raising state income taxes by 60%.   Now the state bond rating is the worst in the nation….

ILLINOIS – Illinois’ credit rating has taken another hit.   Standard & Poor’s Ratings Service downgraded the state from an “A” rating to “A-minus”, making it the worst in the country.

The New York ratings firm’s ranking means taxpayers may have to pay tens of millions of dollars more in interest when the state borrows money for roads and other projects.

The downgrade is the latest fallout over the $96.8 billion debt to five state pension systems.   The downgrade now ties Illinois with California, but California has a positive outlook.

Illinois’ fragile overall financial status netted it a negative outlook, putting it behind California overall.   The ratings came out now because Illinois plans to issue $500 million in bonds within days.   (article link)

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The only good thing from these debates is the doubling down by the insufferable water-carrier Moron on the issue which further slides him toward the land of perpetual irrelevance.

The ridiculous points again are evidenced: “the first step“, which we all know is EXACTLY their point. This is only the first step, at least he admits it. Secondly, this entire Pierced Moron mantra of “I don’t want to stop the second amendment” is insufferably moot. Pierce is a TV personality, the real people who do matter on this issue do indeed proport to remove all guns: Mayor Bloomberg, Senator Feinstein, Mayor Corey Booker, Governor Cuomo, Senators Schumer and Blumenthal et al, along with Attorney General Eric Holder have all advocated for the forced removal of “ALL” guns from law abiding citizens.

There is no more dangerous time in the professional life of a politician as that time between when he/she announces they will not seek re-election, and the time they actually leave.    They have nothing to lose by compromising the principle requests of the constituency.

WASHINGTON DC – Iowa Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin announced on Saturday that he will not seek a sixth term in the chamber. The news was first reported by the Associated Press.

“After 40 years, I just feel it’s somebody else’s turn,” Harkin said in a lengthy statement. “I don’t by any means plan to retire completely from public life at the end of this Congress. But I am going to make way for someone new in this Senate seat. I think that is right not just for me, but for Iowa, as well.” (more…)

It is well noted the industrial legacy media is not covering this story.  Imagine if one of George Bush’s Cabinet Members had created fictitious e-mail accounts to skirt transparency laws and hide their communication.    EPA Head Lisa Jackson, aka Richard Windsor, ain’t just quitting because she wants to pursue another career choice;  She’s quitting because her secret communication was found out and may indeed damage the Obama administration……   

WASHINGTON DC – Republican lawmakers on the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee warned the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Thursday they may take “formal action” to pry information from the department regarding outgoing EPA administrator Lisa Jackson’s use of secret email addresses.

Committee Republicans in a letter said the agency failed to properly respond to requests for records about the use of non-public email accounts by EPA officials, including Jackson.

The GOP-led committee implied a subpoena could be issued if the EPA does not meet its requests, warning “failure to respond may result in formal action requiring EPA’s compliance.” (more…)

For almost a year, and through four refused FOIA requests, we tried to get the 911 call tapes from the Virginia Pilot Beatings. Fox News Bill O’Reilly was able to twist enough arms and aired the call tapes (Thur) on his show.

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WASHINGTON DC – Thousands of young adults thronged the National Mall on Friday to protest abortion and cheer speakers who called for overturning the 40-year-old landmark Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision.

Protesters — drawn by social media and church youth groups — flocked to the annual March for Life despite subfreezing temperatures and snow in the forecast.

“We are winning with young people. I see it right in front of me today,” said organizer Jeanne Monahan, president of the March for Life Education & Defense Fund.

As one abortion opponent after another addressed the crowd, Congressman Chris Smith of New Jersey drew the loudest applause with an attack on the court ruling: “Forty years ago this past Tuesday marks the Supreme Court’s infamous, reckless and inhumane abandonment of women and babies to the abortionists.” (more…)

Women in combat – To the extent that ALL Standards and Expectations for qualifying remain intact, it should make no difference; and, as a consequence, all women should now be required to register for Selective Service.  However, the key is retaining the physical, mental and cognitive standards and expectations.   This admission by General Dempsey is alarming.

(CNSNews.com) – Gen. Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Thursday that with women now eligible to fill combat roles in the military, commanders must justify why any woman might be excluded – and, if women can’t meet any unit’s standard, the Pentagon will ask: “Does it really have to be that high?”

Dempsey’s comments came at a Pentagon news conference with Defense Sec. Leon Panetta Thursday, announcing the shift in Defense Department policy opening up all combat positions to women. (more…)

It’s Hillary’s Turn to Cry (By Jack Cashill) “For me, this is not just a matter of policy. It’s personal,” said a verklempt Hillary Clinton choking back the tears at Wednesday’s Benghazi hearing. “I stood next to President Obama as the Marines carried those flag-draped caskets off the plane at Andrews. I put my arms around the mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, sons and daughters, and the wives left alone to raise their children.”

Hillary may well have been sincere, but with the Clintons you never know. A classic maudlin moment during Bill Clinton’s presidency occurred immediately after a 1996 memorial service for Commerce Secretary Ron Brown. Brown, a sworn enemy of the Clintons in his final days, died in what the U.S. Air Force called an “inexplicable” plane crash in Croatia.

As Clinton and the Reverend Tony Campolo were walking back to the White House from the service, they were discussing, as Campolo later told me, the typically joyous black funerals they had attended in the past, and the conversation turned mirthful. (read more)

Many people have been searching for details on the Feinstein Bill.   Here are some of the links that will answer many of the questions.   We’ll be highlighting some discussion topics about it tomorrow:

Dianne Feinstein’s Official Press Release –  CLICK HERE

Dianne Feinstein’s Senate Site Notification Outline of Bill Content – CLICK HERE

Dianne Feinstein’s Senate Site Assault Weapons Ban Summary – CLICK HERE

WASHINGTON DC – Congressional Democrats introduced a new and broader assault-weapons ban  Thursday, in a vivid press conference that included a display of various weapons  they want to outlaw.

It was a measure that was quickly condemned by the National Rifle Association  as an assault on the Constitution, “instead of prosecuting criminals or fixing  our broken mental health system.”

“The American people know gun bans do not work and we are confident Congress  will reject Senator Feinstein’s wrong-headed approach,” spokeswoman Andrew  Arulanandam said.

The measure was written by Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who was behind  the original 1994 assault-weapons ban which expired in 2004. It marks the first  major legislative step since President Obama, in the wake of the Newtown school  shooting, called for new gun control measures including a new and stronger  assault-weapons ban. (more…)