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STOP STEALING THE MONEY!

By George Kocan, TAPROOT, Communications Director

A long time opponent of wasteful taxes and government spending stressed the urgency of preparing for the Republican Party convention being held June 6-7, in Decatur, Illinois.

Sen. Chris Lauzen (25th Dist.) said that the convention presents a good opportunity for rank-and-file Republicans to change party rules so that they allow the direct election of state central committeemen.

He made his remarks at TAPROOT's monthly breakfast meeting, May 17. Conservative Republicans gather from all around the Chicago metropolitan area to hear informed opinion on the vital issues of the day, at the Old Country Buffet in Lombard.

Lauzen decried the terrible situation in Springfield. The Democrats enjoy a veto-proof majority. Only 102 persons have the power to make voters pay for their projects for the next 20 years. They should not be allowed to put our children and grandchildren into debt, he said.

He recounted better days when the "Fab Five" served. They were solid conservative Republicans who truly represented taxpayers. They came to the Illinois Senate out of experience as small businessmen, who understood how to make thing better for the economy and produce high paying jobs.

Peter Fitzgerald was one of these men. Eventually, he became a U.S. Senator. On their first meeting, Fitzgerald bought everyone drinks. He earned a reputation as an independent thinker, doing his own research. He led the Senate in favor of the Defense of Marriage Amendment (DOMA).

Pat O'Malley, another long-time friend of TAPROOT, challenged the insider Jim Ryan for the Republican nomination for governor of Illinois. He impressed Lauzen as the most eloquent speaker of the Five.

When Steve Rauschenberger was in the Senate, that was the last time that the Illinois budget came in on time, Lauzen recalled. Rauschenberger succeeded in bringing Republicans and Democrats together to make real cuts--$500 million--in the budget.

Lauzen went on to encourage the delegates at the Republican convention to vote for Rauschenberger, since he is a candidate for the Republican National Committeeman slot.

The funniest guy was Senator Dave Syverson, Lauzen said. He made the team work by reducing tensions with his comic impressions. (The fifth person of the Fab Five was, of course, Chris Lauzen.)

Then Lauzen set forth three "kitchen table issues" for the convention delegates to address.

1. The direct election of state central committeemen will, in effect, allow the shareholders to vote on their board members.
2. Republicans need access to a list of all the delegates. Such a list has not been forthcoming from the state leadership. It will allow conservatives to find each other and organize for common goals.
3. No Big Endorsements--a prohibition on endorsements from big shots in primary elections will protect the right of the people to decide their representatives.

In general politics, a big issue which should work well for Republicans is, as Lauzen put it, "Stop stealing the money!" The maintenance of roads and bridges always looms large in politics. The reason why they fall into disrepair is because Democrats diverted $650 million from the gas tax to the general tax. Almost no one knows about this because the mainstream news media fails to report it.

Contact: Chris Lauzen, PO Box 7036, Aurora, IL 60507; 630-264-2419; Fax:630-264-1566; e-mail: campaign@lauzen.com.

Phone or email TAPROOT Chairman Dave Diersen at 630-653-0462 or diersen@aol.com  with your questions and/or RSVP.) George Kocan, Communications Director

 ‘TAPROOT’ stands for Traditions And Principles Republicans Often Overlook Today. Bring a friend.

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