Front Page of www.wegoweb.net

According to the narrative in the IG report, a previous JFIC deputy director of intelligence said that the JFIC commander, identified elsewhere in the report as Capt. Janice Dundas, US Navy, "directed him to stop tracking Usama Bin Ladin. The Commanding Officer stated that the tracking of Usama Bin Ladin did not fall within JFIC's mission." At the same time, JFIC analysis of purported Afghanistan "terrorist training camps" was also curtailed, with an explanation that such activities were outside the agency's Area of Operations and "that the issues where [sic] not in JFIC's swim lane."

Illinois Redistricting
"We have developed this site in order to provide to the public basic information about the redistricting process. Here you will find information on public hearings, the redistricting timeline, links to relevant material, and much more. "

Senate Democrats Push Through Budget
Legislation Advanced by Senate Committees

"We're talking about workers who are denied their most fundamental rights, denied the freedom to join and form unions and the right to bargain collectively for better wages and health care - even told that it's unreasonable to want a better way of life for their families," said Trumka.

AFL-CIO Turns Corner, Embraces Immigrant Workers

Source	Click on the title to read the article at its original source.
30 May Monday	Memorial Day
	Memorial Day Ceremony - FB, Mike Kwasman "Another Memorial Day speech today, its such an honor to do this today. Thank you West Chicago and the heros of our community."
	Foster eyes new district for Aurora "Former Congressman Bill Foster is expected to announce Tuesday that he is running for the U.S. House of Representatives in the 11th District, the open district that would cover Aurora, Naperville and Joliet. There is no incumbent currently living in that district... Current U.S. Reps. Judy Biggert, a Hinsdale Republican, and Hultgren were both drawn into the edge of other districts, where they will have to face incumbents if they seek re-election. Both could run in the 11th District, where they would enjoy strong name recognition."
	DuPage forest district joins fight against invasive species "The district’s board of commissioners recently formalized its participation in the Northeastern Illinois Invasive Plant Partnership (NIIPP). It joins with the other participants — including forest preserve districts in Kane and Cook counties — to support the partnership’s goal of minimizing the adverse impacts of invasive plants on open lands and waters, especially on native habitats and their plants and wildlife."
	DuPage Housing Authority gave ex-board member two preferential deals "When DuPage County officials wanted to build 91 new units of affordable housing eight years ago, they didn’t bother to follow federal rules that required them to request proposals from developers. They didn’t bother to even look outside their own boardroom."
	Senate Republicans block $6B in Illinois borrowing "Using one of the few opportunities to make their votes relevant, Senate Republicans tonight led the rejection of a plan to borrow more than $6 billion to try to pay off the state’s mountainous backlog of overdue bills."
	House fails to pass workers' comp changes "“Illinois employers will not get an opportunity to realize $700 million in savings. No bill is perfect in Springfield, but this one was certainly better than the system we live under today.” Baise said “everybody who feeds off this system won today. The only people who lost is who pays for it.” The changes are aimed at saving Illinois employers $500 million to $700 million a year and stopping abuses uncovered at a downstate prison."
	New congressional map plan sent to full Ill. House "The map stretches Chicago Democratic districts out from the city into the traditionally GOP suburbs, while crowding new Republicans into matchups with their GOP colleagues or into battles with Democratic incumbents. It also creates three open-seat suburban districts for Democrats to try to win."
	House committee OKs congressional map "“There have been a number of individuals who have expressed concern about the lack of public input into this, which may cause forth litigation,” Durkin said. “I see some lawyers here (in committee) who are actually smiling. Has there been any money set aside by the state to defend the map?” “I don’t know of any,” Currie responded. “I do know that each caucus was allocated a certain amount of money for purposes of redistricting expenses, and my understanding is that you (Republicans) didn’t spend any of yours yet because you plan to spend it all on lawyers.”"
	Act Now: Tell Congress to Stand Up for Consumers, Not Wall Street Bankers - AFL-CIO "Unable to kill the law, the financial industry special interests are spending millions to stop the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), which the reform law created, from having any real power. They are trying to take away its funding and delay its start. Most of all they want to prevent Obama from appointing a strong director like Elizabeth Warren."
	Abortion saved my life - Salon "My two kids at home almost lost their mother because someone decided that my life was worth less than that of a fetus that was going to die anyway. My husband had told them exactly what my regular doctor said, and the ER doctor had already warned us what would have to happen. Yet none of this mattered when confronted by the idea that no one needs an abortion."
	Mysterious fund allows Congress to spend freely, despite earmark ban - CNN "And the $19 million for "Navy ship preliminary design and feasibility studies"? Rep. Steve Palazzo, R-Mississippi, asked for that. His district's largest employer is Ingalls Shipbuilding -- a major producer of surface combat ships for the Navy... "These amendments may very likely duck the House's specific definition of what constitutes an earmark, but that doesn't mean they aren't pork," says Leslie Paige of Citizens Against Government Waste..."
	GOP Tax Lies about Maryland and Oregon "Measure 66 would yield an estimated $300 million, rather than the projected $472 million. Those seeking evidence of tax flight, however, faced a problem: Measure 66 was retroactive to 2009, and much of the shortfall was based on revenues from that year. To leave the state and avoid higher tax rates, a high-income taxpayer would have had to see Measure 66 coming more than a year ahead of time."
28&29 May WeekEnd
	This Week in West Chicgao 30 10am» West Chicago Community Memorial Day ceremony 02 7pm» City Infrastructure Com 7pm» District 33 School Board 7pm» Knit Night 03 5pm» Whatever Strikes My Mood - Opening Reception 04 9am» West Chicago's "Touch a Truck"
	5 things to know: Civil unions in Illinois "Getting a civil union license is a lot like the process for a marriage license. The couple must fill out an application — show they are at least 18 and not blood-related — and appear together at the county clerk’s office to get the license and certificate. That gives the couple 60 days to have a civil union ceremony, in which the officiator will complete the license and return it."
	Who will speak for Naperville? "U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren’s house in Winfield Township is on the edge of the newly shaped 14th District, which would pit him against fellow freshman Republican Joe Walsh. Hultgren and Walsh’s office declined to comment on the new maps Friday." [This map is like the one that landed Tom Delay convicted... and for the same reason. How sad. - Bob]
	Workers' compensation overhaul set for vote "The compromise legislation calls for dumping most of the arbitrators who hear cases for the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission and sets new standards of conduct for the hearing officers. They will be required to be licensed attorneys and undergo ongoing training on fraud, ethics and medical best practices."
	Congressional lines drawn to edge out GOP "Up north, McHenry County voters represented by either longtime Republican Rep. Don Manzullo or freshman GOP Rep. Joe Walsh would find themselves in a single district that stretches south into DuPage County and is home to another freshman, Republican Rep. Randy Hultgren of Winfield."
	Quinn opposes slots at fairgrounds "“Gambling sounds good if you say it fast,” Quinn said Friday. “This proposal to have slot machines at the state fair, I’m not at all excited about that.” Quinn said he wants the Illinois State Fair to remain a family-oriented event and he thinks more gambling would undermine that. People already can place bets on harness races during the fair."
	Civil unions law draws protests downtown - Chicago Breaking News "“There’s a battle between gay rights and religious freedom,” said Peter LaBarbera, president of the group Americans for Truth, as he coached people on how to correctly complete the signature sheets on which opponents hope to collect the required 300,000 signatures. “We want to give Illinois votes the same opportunity other states have had.”"
27 May Friday	Why are local media outlets not mentioning that Senator Kirk has now joined Representatives Rockam and Hultgren in voting to "end Social Security as we know it." - Bob
	Read Under the Trees...e Trees... "Read Under the Trees...this summer with staff from District 33 schools, West Chicago Public Library and community Members; then, go home with a brand new book!"
	West Chicago's "Touch a Truck" "Youngsters and curious adults will have an opportunity to look at, sit in or climb on unusual trucks and equipment from the City of West Chicago’s Public Works and Police Departments, as well as the West Chicago Fire Protection District. Free ice cream and other promotional items will be available at the event."
	Whatever Strikes My Mood - Opening Reception "Multi-talented, Gallery 200 artist Joanne Kalchbrenner admits that when it comes to her art, she pursues whatever strikes her mood."
	Counties could get more financial oversight "The Illinois Senate Friday approved a plan to allow county boards to get virtually any financial information they want from the agencies they appoint. The measure was at least partly in response to misspending at the DuPage Water Commission and DuPage Housing Authority."
	DuPage website set to go live "A set of menu tabs will stretch across the top of the page, enabling visitors to reach the data they need more quickly and easily than they can now. Modesitt said an “I want to” pull-down will ease navigation, and those who know what they’re after will find it without having to look far."
	Fees OK'd for civil unions in DuPage "Paul Hinds, chief deputy county clerk, said the existing code had no provisions for the newly sanctioned domestic arrangements for heterosexual and same-sex couples. The fees are consistent with requirements recently implemented at the state level, Hinds said. The $30 license fee will take effect when the unions become legal statewide on June 1. Couples also will pay a $5 surcharge that is passed along to the Illinois attorney general for domestic violence prevention efforts."
	Local business park gets a new name "In addition, DuPage Business Center features an unprecedented level of abundant and redundant electrical power and data communications infrastructure. The park was built to accommodate technology enterprises and this thoughtful planning will benefit every business that will utilize next-generation power and fiber infrastructure."
	Pool drain recall: faulty pool drains need replacement "In announcing the recall of 1 million pool and spa drain covers, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission declared that public pools with the faulty equipment should remain shut until the problem is fixed. The federal agency said it was deploying recall inspectors who have the authority to shut down pools."
	Major public pension changes moving in Springfield "Over strong union protests, the Illinois House’s top two party leaders won preliminary approval today of far-reaching pension changes that would reduce the benefits for many public workers throughout the state, including Cook County and Chicago. Government workers would get to choose from three different options: Keep the same level of benefits and pay more, pay nothing more and get less benefits, or enroll in a 401k-styled retirement plan."
	Congressional map would hurt suburban GOP ""While Roskam would see his current district move north and west, sources said Republican U.S. Rep. Judy Biggert, a 12-year veteran of the southwest suburban 13th District would find herself merged with freshman Republican Rep. Randy Hultgren into the far west suburban 14th District."
	House panel OKs nursing home changes "An Illinois House committee today approved legislation that would toughen rules for facilities that care for the mentally ill and developmentally disabled. The idea is to set up new regulations for those facilities instead of lumping them under the same guidelines that apply to nursing homes."
	Legislature turns down ban on trans fats "The Illinois Senate voted 40-13 against a bill that would have banned the artery-clogging food additives from many food products sold in the state. The bill had been changed to exempt businesses with fewer than 50 employees and with less than $4 million in sales from the ban. But it wasn't enough for lawmakers who thought the state was treading where it shouldn't be."
	TRS blasts House plan to raise employee pension contributions "While the House projects the initial contribution rates for teachers and university employees will double and those of state employees will go up by 50 percent, the new rates will not be permanent because the state will adjust them every three years. “The numbers can only go up. They can’t go down,” said Dick Ingram, executive director of the Teachers’ Retirement System. “How far and how fast will be determined by how many people elect to leave” the first tier of benefits and go to a second, lesser tier or a defined contribution plan similar to a 401(k)."
	50 percent of Americans would be in financial trouble if $2,000 of expenses came up in 30 days. - M Budget 360 "Now part of this inequality is merely the widespread pillaging of Wall Street on the American public. The banking bailouts that occurred to an industry that turned housing, the largest net worth item for average Americans, into a commodity to be traded and exploited. Most Americans derive their net worth from home values, not stock market gains. So the 100 percent run-up of the stock market has done very little for the majority in the country (this can be seen by the Gallup 19 percent underemployment figure). Do we think that those that are $2,000 away from financial ruin are loading up on stocks in their retirement accounts? They are simply getting by."
	Catholic Charities of Rockford ends foster care, adoption services - Chicago Tribune "The decision is the first of what could become a domino effect of Catholic Charities leaving the foster care and adoption business to avoid liability if state law requires them to place children with parents in civil unions — either gay or straight. In Rockford, the decision could displace about 350 foster children served by Catholic Charities and put 58 employees out of work."
	In Which I Swallow Hard and Defend Mitt Romney - Mother Jones "Still, his op-ed really isn't all that far off from what eventually happened. As for the two gotcha quotes currently being distributed around the intertubes, "Let Detroit Go Bankrupt" was the headline the Times put on Romney's op-ed, not something he wrote himself. His piece makes it clear that he favors a managed bankruptcy, which is what eventually happened."
	High court backs Arizona immigration law that punishes businesses - CNN ""Arizona has taken the route least likely to cause tension with federal law," wrote Chief Justice John Roberts. "It relies solely on the federal government's own determination of who is an unauthorized alien, and it requires Arizona employers to use the federal government's own system for checking employee status.""