Use the following link to purchase your ticket to join this important roundtable discussion with Congressman LaHood and Georgia Senator Kelly Loeffler.  CLICK HERE  Once you have registered you will be sent dial-in-instructions for the event.   Senator Loeffler was born right here in Bloomington and graduated from Olympia High School and then U of I.  Show your support by donating to help her win the vital run off election in January. 

 9. Michael Jordon and Scottie Pippen   21" X 12"  Starting Bid $130.00 

7.  Trump Loyalty Quote 17" X 24"  Starting Bid $150.00

8. Wrigley Field 1906  Vintage 21" X 21"  Starting bid is $150

5.  Ronald Reagan At the Berlin Wall 15" X 18.5"  Starting bid-$130.00

4.  St. Louis Blues 2019 Stanley Cup Collection 15" X 24"  Starting Bid  $150

3. 1959  Wild and Wooly Hare print from Looney Toones- Lobby Card Gilcee Certified limited edition 24" X 18" .  Starting bid $150

Framed photo print of Abraham Lincoln at the Battle of Antietam, Maryland.  18" X 14"  Starting bid of $130

Maga Ride with Trump and Melania

20" X 24"

Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig  historic picture in lovely wood frame 23" X 13"  Starting bid of $130

Thank you for your bid.  When the auction ends you will be notified if you are the higest bidder.  At that time we will make arrangements for payment and pick up of your item. 

Thank you for supporting the McLean County Republicans.

Connie Beard, Chairman of McLean County Republicans, announced that John Schoening, who was nominated by Western Ave. Community Center, 600 N. Western Ave. in Bloomington, has been chosen as the 2020 McLean County Everyday Hero Award winner.

 In addition to giving Schoening public recognition, he will receive a specially commissioned award.  The award was designed and created by a local company, August Fire Designs.  As part of the award program, the McLean County Republican Central Committee has sent a check for $500 to the Western Ave. Community Center. Nominations came in from around the county for the award.  The submission of nominations began in February and culminated in 8 organizations completing the process to honor their volunteers.

 “Although our planned award ceremony has been postponed”, Beard stated, “we did not want to postpone what we believe are welcome funds to assist in the important work of Western Ave. Community Center.” The award presentation was to be part of the April 7 Lincoln Reagan Dinner.  “Those plans will be rescheduled, and Mr. Schoening will be our honored dinner guest at that event.  At that time, we will also honor all the nominees and their respective organizations.  The entire program is to focus on the contribution that our individuals and local organizations make to the welfare of our county”, said Beard.

The criteria for the award included that the nominee had volunteered a minimum of 5 years for the organization and exceeded expectations in servant leadership in the community while demonstrating genuine passion for the needs and goals of the organization.  Each nomination had to be accompanied by two letters of recommendation.

John Schoening has volunteered for 26 years serving in various ways at Western Ave. Community Center.  The mission of the center is to meet needs of at-risk kids, families and seniors with programming and support in various forms.  Schoening worked in the Hispanic Outreach Program, the After-School Program, the basketball and mentoring program, the Outreach to Seniors as well as serving on the board of directors.  Mike Jones, president of the board of WACC submitted the nomination packet which stated that John has been a vital component of helping Western Avenue continue to serve as it has for nearly 100 years.  “In accordance with the criteria of the program, he has truly met the ideals of a hero in the community”, stated Beard.

Nominations were received from the Community Health Care Clinic, Children’s Home and Aid, McLean County Museum of History, David Davis Mansion, Prairie Aviation Museum, Center for Hope Outreach Program, and the McLean County Nursing Home. All those nominated are recognized for their contribution to the quality of life in the county.

John Beckert has volunteered for 5 years, 3 days a week, at the McLean County Nursing Home, 901 N. Main St., Normal and, despite his own physical challenges, has brought joy and comfort to the residents of the nursing home. He walks 8 miles each day he serves the nursing home.

Jackie Curtis has volunteered for 11 years at the Center for Hope Outreach Program, 1308 E. Empire St., Bloomington giving vital help in the food pantry twice a week.  She has served over 3,168 hours giving service to the clients of the program.

Pete Troesch has served the last 16 years as a volunteer at the Prairie Aviation Museum,2209 E. Empire St., Bloomington.  He works to preserve and restore aircraft while fostering history appreciation. He also serves on the museum board. 

Paul and Bev Essington were nominated for their 21+ years of service to the David Davis Mansion.  They were both cited for their help with presentations, preservation and fund raising for the historical mansion. 

Diane Hawk has volunteered 23 years at the McLean County Museum of History. She has served as receptionist, general interpreter of the museum history and mentor to other volunteers.  She has played a large role in the Evergreen Cemetery Walk, a key program for the Museum.  For 15 years she has trained tour guides for the walk and helped in preparing for the major event.

Mary Ann Fulton has served over 6 years as part of the team serving in the Crisis Nursery of the Children’s Home and Aid, 403 S State St., Bloomington.  The Children’s Home and Aid partners with children, youth and families who are at risk to provide needed help.   Fulton continues to serve the Crisis Nursery through making sure supplies and food are always ready when needed.

Dr. Rachel Dalton was nominated by the Community Health Care Clinic, 900 Franklin Ave, Bloomington for her continued service to patients at the clinic.  Over the last 5 years she has volunteered her time as a gynecologist providing needed care at the clinic and has been instrumental in recruiting additional doctors to meet the needs of women’s health services.

“These fine people all deserve recognition for their service to our community”, stated Beard.

To our Valued Businesses of McLean County:

We are excited to present our Lincoln Reagan Dinner once again on Tuesday, April 7, 6pm, at the DoubleTree Hotel.  As part of the event we will honor a special volunteer chosen from those nominated by county organizations and charities.  That special volunteer will receive the McLean County Everyday Hero award and a $500 check to the charity of their choice.  We will also feature our two area U.S. Congressmen, Darin LaHood and Rodney Davis as they present the award and sit down for a conversation with the audience.

We are asking area businesses to show their support by donating an item or gift certificate for our silent auction table.  You can also become a sponsor of the dinner.  Information on sponsorships are at www.McLeanCountyRepublicans.org

Your donation helps us accomplish the following:

• Recognize those who have volunteered to make our community a better place through their work with charitable service organizations
• Build an effective outreach to college students so they learn about good sound principals that create successful growing communities.
• Find and support candidates who recognize the value of controlling spending, creating a growing economy, providing for the safety of our communities and have a desire to serve our whole community not special interests.
• Educate and inform voters about issues that directly impact our community through public meetings, community events and media.
• Help keep McLean County fiscally sound and business friendly

Your donation can be processed through the bearer of this letter or through me.

 “Lincoln Reagan Day Dinner” tickets are available online at www.McLeanCountyRepublicans.org.

Thank you for helping to keep McLean County strong.

Sincerely,

Connie Beard, Chairman

McLean County Republicans

Chairman@McLeanCountyRepublicans.org

309-824-9394

To download a full copy of this letter please use this link: 

Request Letter for Silent Auction

One Hundred And Twenty One Accomplishments By President Trump And His Cabinet.

Here you go. Easy to Google and double check. Checking for yourself is always best. This list is not all inclusive.  There are more to add to this list every week.

1. Trump recently signed 3 bills to benefit Native people. One gives compensation to the Spokane tribe for loss of their lands in the mid-1900s, one funds Native language programs, and the third gives federal recognition to the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians in Montana.
2. Trump finalized the creation of Space Force as our 6th Military branch.
3. Trump signed a law to make cruelty to animals a federal felony so that animal abusers face tougher consequences.
4. Prior to the recent violent Antifa protests, violent crime has fallen every year he’s been in office after rising during the 2 years before he was elected.
5. Trump signed a bill making CBD and Hemp legal.
6. Trump’s EPA gave $100 million to fix the water infrastructure problem in Flint, Michigan.
7. Under Trump’s leadership, in 2018 the U.S. surpassed Russia and Saudi Arabia to become the world’s largest producer of crude oil.
8. Trump signed a law ending the gag orders on Pharmacists that prevented them from sharing money-saving information.
9. Trump signed the “Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act” (FOSTA), which includes the “Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act” (SESTA) which both give law enforcement and victims new tools to fight sex trafficking.
10. Trump signed a bill to require airports to provide spaces for breastfeeding Moms.
11. The 25% lowest-paid Americans enjoyed a 4.5% income boost in November 2019, which outpaces a 2.9% gain in earnings for the country's highest-paid workers.
12. Low-wage workers are benefiting from higher minimum wages and from corporations that are increasing entry-level pay.
13. Trump signed the biggest wilderness protection & conservation bill in a decade and designated 375,000 acres as protected land.
14. Trump signed the Save our Seas Act which funds $10 million per year to clean tons of plastic & garbage from the ocean.
15. He signed a bill this year allowing some drug imports from Canada so that prescription prices would go down.
16. Trump signed an executive order this year that forces all healthcare providers to disclose the cost of their services so that Americans can comparison shop and know how much less providers charge insurance companies. When signing that bill, he said no American should be blindsided by bills for medical services they never agreed to in advance.
17. Hospitals will now be required to post their standard charges for services, which include the discounted price a hospital is willing to accept.
18. In the eight years prior to President Trump’s inauguration, prescription drug prices increased by an average of 3.6% per year. Under Trump, drug prices have seen year-over-year declines in nine of the last ten months, with a 1.1% drop as of the most recent month.
19. He created a White House VA Hotline to help veterans and principally staffed it with veterans and direct family members of veterans. VA employees are being held accountable for poor performance, with more than 4,000 VA employees removed, demoted, and suspended so far.
20. Issued an executive order requiring the Secretaries of Defense, Homeland Security, and Veterans Affairs to submit a joint plan to provide veterans access to access to mental health treatment as they transition to civilian life.
21. Because of a bill signed and championed by Trump, In 2020, most federal employees will see their pay increase by an average of 3.1% — the largest raise in more than 10 years.
22. Trump signed into a law up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave for millions of federal workers.
23. Trump administration will provide HIV prevention drugs for free to 200,000 uninsured patients per year for 11 years.
24. All-time record sales during the 2019 holidays.
25. Trump signed an order allowing small businesses to group together when buying insurance to get a better price.
26. President Trump signed the Preventing Maternal Deaths Act that provides funding for states to develop maternal mortality reviews to better understand maternal complications and identify solutions & largely focuses on reducing the higher mortality rates for Black Americans.
27. In 2018, President Trump signed the groundbreaking First Step Act, a criminal justice bill which enacted reforms that make our justice system fairer and help former inmates successfully return to society.
28. The First Step Act’s reforms addressed inequities in sentencing laws that disproportionately harmed Black Americans and reformed mandatory minimums that created unfair outcomes.
29. The First Step Act expanded judicial discretion in sentencing of non-violent crimes.
30. Over 90% of those benefitting from the retroactive sentencing reductions in the First Step Act are Black Americans.
31. The First Step Act provides rehabilitative programs to inmates, helping them successfully rejoin society and not return to crime.
32. Trump increased funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) by more than 14%.
33. Trump signed legislation forgiving Hurricane Katrina debt that threatened HBCUs.
34. New single-family home sales are up 31.6% in October 2019 compared to just one year ago.
35. Made HBCUs a priority by creating the position of executive director of the White House Initiative on HBCUs.
36. Trump received the Bipartisan Justice Award at a historically black college for his criminal justice reform accomplishments.
37. The poverty rate fell to a 17-year low of 11.8% under the Trump administration as a result of a jobs-rich environment.
38. Poverty rates for African Americans and Hispanic-Americans have reached their lowest levels since the U.S. began collecting such data.
39. President Trump signed a bill that creates five national monuments, expands several national parks, adds 1.3 million acres of wilderness, and permanently reauthorizes the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
40. Trump’s USDA committed $124 Million to rebuild rural water infrastructure.
41. Consumer confidence & small business confidence is at an all-time high.
42. Prior to the COVID shut down more than 7 million jobs created since election.
43. More Americans are now employed than ever recorded before in our history.
44. More than 400,000 manufacturing jobs created since his election.
45. Trump appointed 5 openly gay ambassadors.
46. Trump ordered Ric Grenell, his openly gay ambassador to Germany, to lead a global initiative to decriminalize homosexuality across the globe.
47. Through Trump’s Anti-Trafficking Coordination Team (ACTeam) initiative, Federal law enforcement more than doubled convictions of human traffickers and increased the number of defendants charged by 75% in ACTeam districts.
48. In 2018, the Department of Justice (DOJ) dismantled an organization that was the internet’s leading source of prostitution-related advertisements resulting in sex trafficking.
49. Trump’s OMB published new anti-trafficking guidance for government procurement officials to combat human trafficking more effectively.
50. Trump’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations arrested 1,588 criminals associated with Human Trafficking.
51. Trump’s Department of Health and Human Services provided funding to support the National Human Trafficking Hotline to identify perpetrators and give victims the help they need.
52. The hotline identified 16,862 potential human trafficking cases.
53. Trump’s DOJ provided grants to organizations that support human trafficking victims – serving nearly 9,000 cases from July 1, 2017, to June 30, 2018.
54. The Department of Homeland Security has hired more victim assistance specialists, helping victims get resources and support.
55. President Trump has called on Congress to pass school choice legislation so that no child is trapped in a failing school because of his or her zip code.
56. The President signed funding legislation in September 2018 that increased funding for school choice by $42 million.
57. The tax cuts signed into law by President Trump promote school choice by allowing families to use 529 college savings plans for elementary and secondary education.
58. Under his leadership ISIS has lost most of their territory and been largely dismantled.
59. ISIS leader Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi was killed.
60. Signed the first Perkins CTE reauthorization since 2006, authorizing more than $1 billion for states each year to fund vocational and career education programs.
61. Executive order expanding apprenticeship opportunities for students and workers.
62. Trump issued an Executive Order prohibiting the U.S. government from discriminating against Christians or punishing expressions of faith.
63. Signed an executive order that allows the government to withhold money from college campuses deemed to be anti-Semitic and who fail to combat anti-Semitism.
64. President Trump ordered a halt to U.S. tax money going to international organizations that fund or perform abortions.
65. Trump imposed sanctions on the socialists in Venezuela who have killed their citizens.
66. Finalized new trade agreement with South Korea.
67. Made a deal with the European Union to increase U.S. energy exports to Europe.
68. Withdrew the U.S. from the job killing TPP deal.
69. Secured $250 billion in new trade and investment deals in China and $12 billion in Vietnam.
70. Approved up to $12 billion in aid for farmers affected by unfair trade retaliation.
71. Has had over a dozen US hostages freed, including those Obama could not get freed.
72. Trump signed the Music Modernization Act, the biggest change to copyright law in decades.
73. Trump secured Billions that will fund the building of a wall at our southern border.
74. The Trump Administration is promoting second chance hiring to give former inmates the opportunity to live crime-free lives and find meaningful employment.
75. Trump’s DOJ and the Board Of Prisons launched a new “Ready to Work Initiative” to help connect employers directly with former prisoners.
76. President Trump’s historic tax cut legislation included new Opportunity Zone Incentives to promote investment in low-income communities across the country.
77. 8,764 communities across the country have been designated as Opportunity Zones.
78. Opportunity Zones are expected to spur $100 billion in long-term private capital investment in economically distressed communities across the country.
79. Trump directed the Education Secretary to end Common Core.
80. Trump signed the 9/11 Victims Compensation Fund into law.
81. Trump signed measure funding prevention programs for Veteran suicide.
82. Companies have brought back over a TRILLION dollars from overseas because of the TCJA bill that Trump signed.
83. Manufacturing jobs are growing at the fastest rate in more than 30 years.
84. Stock Market has reached record highs.
85. Median household income has hit highest level ever recorded.
86. African American unemployment is at an all-time low.
87. Hispanic-American unemployment is at an all-time low.
88. Asian-American unemployment is at an all-time low.
89. Women’s unemployment rate is at a 65-year low.
90. Youth unemployment is at a 50-year low.
91. Prior to the COVID shutdown we have the lowest unemployment rate ever recorded.
92. The Pledge to America’s Workers has resulted in employers committing to train more than 4 million Americans.
93. 95 percent of U.S. manufacturers are optimistic about the future— the highest ever.
94. As a result of the Republican tax bill, small businesses will have the lowest top marginal tax rate in more than 80 years.
95. Record number of regulations eliminated that hurt small businesses.
96. Signed welfare reform requiring able-bodied adults who don’t have children to work or look for work if they’re on welfare.
97. Under Trump, the FDA approved more affordable generic drugs than ever before in history.
98. Reformed Medicare program to stop hospitals from overcharging low-income seniors on their drugs—saving seniors 100’s of millions of $$$ this year alone.
99. Signed Right-To-Try legislation allowing terminally ill patients to try experimental treatment that wasn’t allowed before.
100. Secured $6 billion in new funding to fight the opioid epidemic.
101. Signed VA Choice Act and VA Accountability Act, expanded VA telehealth services, walk-in-clinics, and same-day urgent primary and mental health care.
102. S. oil production recently reached all-time high so we are less dependent on oil from the Middle East.
103. The U.S. is a net natural gas exporter for the first time since 1957.
104. NATO allies increased their defense spending because of his pressure campaign.
105. Withdrew the United States from the job-killing Paris Climate Accord in 2017 and that same year the U.S. still led the world by having the largest reduction in Carbon emissions.
106. Has his circuit court judge nominees being confirmed faster than any other new administration.
107. Had his Supreme Court Justice’s Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh confirmed.
108. Moved U.S. Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.
109. Agreed to a new trade deal with Mexico & Canada that will increase jobs here and $$$ coming in.
110. Reached a breakthrough agreement with the E.U. to increase U.S. exports.
111. Imposed tariffs on China in response to China’s forced technology transfer, intellectual property theft, and their chronically abusive trade practices, has agreed to a Part One trade deal with China.
112. Signed legislation to improve the National Suicide Hotline.
113. Signed the most comprehensive childhood cancer legislation ever into law, which will advance childhood cancer research and improve treatments.
114. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act signed into law by Trump doubled the maximum amount of the child tax credit available to parents and lifted the income limits so more people could claim it.
115. It also created a new tax credit for other dependents.
116. In 2018, President Trump signed into law a $2.4 billion funding increase for the Child Care and Development Fund, providing a total of $8.1 billion to States to fund childcare for low-income families.
117. The Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit (CDCTC) signed into law by Trump provides a tax credit equal to 20-35% of child care expenses, $3,000 per child & $6,000 per family + Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) allow you to set aside up to $5,000 in pre-tax $ to use for child care.
118. In 2019 President Donald Trump signed the Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education and Support Act (CARES) into law which allocates $1.8 billion in funding over the next five years to help people with autism spectrum disorder and to help their families.
119. In 2019 President Trump signed into law two funding packages providing nearly $19 million in new funding for Lupus specific research and education programs, as well an additional $41.7 billion in funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the most Lupus funding EVER.
120. Another upcoming accomplishment to add: Trump signed the first major anti-robocall law in decades called the TRACED Act (Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence.) TRACED Act will extend the period of time the FCC has to catch & punish those who intentionally break telemarketing restrictions. The bill also requires voice service providers to develop a framework to verify calls are legitimate before they reach your phone.
121. US stock market continually hits record highs.

*Trump did all of this while fighting flagrant abuse and impeachment charges and a 97% negativity reporting by major media.

Get involved, change the world. Are you concerned about good government in McLean County?  Sign up to help elect good people to local offices.  Even putting up a yard sign for a favorite candidate can make a difference.  Knocking on doors, posting on social media, making phone call, or walking precincts delivering campaign literature.  It all adds up to a dynamic grass roots campaign.