I am not saying that bringing people together isn't important. I am saying that nothing the GOP can do will ever quite the critics who brought this issue forward. It was a week after Thurmond's birthday party that this was brought up, by Jesse Jackson then Al Sharpton jumped in. Tom Daschel at first brushed off the comments saying that he and Lott are always in front of a microphone and sometimes talk without thinking. He then did an about-face after being taken to the woodshed by Maxeen Waters, when she reminded him who really was in charge of the Democrat party. Talk about racial reconciliation, Jackson, Sharpton, and Waters have done more to separate people because of race than any segregationist could ever hope to do.

President Bush has gone out of his way to reach out to the black community in the past few years. During the elections of 2000 he announced that Colin Powell and Condi Rice would be his foreign policy team, making them the highest ranking African Americans in any administration, ever. Did that stop the NAACP from connecting him to the dragging murder of an African American? No. Will getting rid of Lott stop future lies and charges of racism coming from the Democrat party? No. Will it stop them from claiming that the GOP is going to starve old people and children? No. Or poison people for money from big corporations? No. It is time to stop this!

Has anyone thought that the Republican Senators who have come together to say they supported Lott, have done so because they know him and know he is not a racist? If Lott is tossed aside because of something he did not say, but is implied he meant, who's next? After all he did not say the word segregation, he did not say the word race, he didn't even say Democrat (which Thurmond was). Now they can put words into someone's mouth and then call for their heads? Talk about scary. And Republicans think it will end with Lott?

I have heard some conservatives say that Lott has not been a good leader, he has compromised too many times on the conservative agenda (the National Review has used this as an excuse to call for his head). If the GOP forces Lott's resignation we will pay the price. We will have empowered Jackson, Sharpton and Waters to continue separating people. If Lott should be replaced it should be in two years, and not for being a racist, but because he has lost the confidence of GOP Senators. Some conservatives want Lott to pay for not being tuff enough on the impeachment of Clinton. How will caving now make up for his caving then?

It is time the GOP stood up to the Al Sharpton's, Jesse Jackson's, and Maxeen Waters of the world. The Republicans could use this mistake to really improve race relations but it will take some backbone. I for one hope the GOP finds it. Then the country can actually move forward on this issue. Some day we have to say enough is enough, now is as good a time as any. If we don't, we will be stuck in the same rut and play the same game, without any hope of change. Do I think it will happen? Sorry to say, no. Lott will go. Another opportunity lost.

For the first time since Roe vs. Wade (1973) but for a brief period in 2001, we now have a pro-life president and pro-life leadership in both houses of Congress. That's really amazing when you consider the media's frequent misassessment that the issue is a losing one for the GOP.

All but one, possibly two, incoming 33 Republican House members are pro-life. Florida's Katherine Harris, who braved the recount tirade by Democrats, replaces a liberal Republican pro-choicer, Rep. Marge Roukema.

Add to this the fact that three of the scarce new Democrats are pro-life and the tally looks very encouraging. The Republican National Coalition for Life hails 16 wins among 20 endorsed congressional candidates, 10 of them new members.

You've heard of Emily's List, which pushes women pro-choice candidates for Congress? It usually trumpets its victories. Not this time. Emily lost 17 of 22 races. The National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League backed 19 favorites, losing 18. Its rival, the Susan B. Anthony List, which backs pro-lifers, won 22 of its 30 contests. The pro-life team walloped 'em and results should take place in the new session.

First on the agenda is passage of the Partial Birth Abortion Ban to prohibit the killing of a partially born child. The legislation actually was passed twice before, only to be vetoed by President Clinton.

This time, incoming Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott has announced, ''I will call it up, we will pass it and the president will sign it. You can write that down.''

I just did.

Other legislation may well include the Abortion Non-Discrimination Act, to protect the conscience rights of health care workers in institutions that participate in abortion, and the Child Custody Protection Act, making it a crime for a non-parent adult to take a child across state lines for an abortion.

In contrast to the national scene, the situation in Illinois is grim. Not only do we have a pro-abortion rights Democratic slate plus a single pro-abortion rights Republican, Judy Baar Topinka, believe it or not, some Republican leaders are openly gunning for Sen. Peter Fitzgerald, a courageous pro-life senator. They include--stunningly--House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert and Rep. Ray LaHood, who are seeking a primary opponent for Fitzgerald. Hastert and LaHood are pro-life, but are unconcerned with the consequences. The reason is Fitzgerald displeased elements of the business community and organized labor for his stand against O'Hare expansion.

While Fitzgerald will probably win over any primary challenger, the LaHood-Hastert effort would undoubtedly weaken him so that he could be carved up by either former Sen. Carol Moseley-Braun, former Chicago School Board President Gery Chico, state Comptroller Dan Hynes or Blair Hull, a mega-millionaire. All are fervent abortion-rights supporters.

Possibly the real reason for his fellow GOPers' ire is that Fitzgerald has nominated federal prosecutors who are not susceptible to political persuasion. All of us remember the dust-up that followed from Hastert's office when the senator spoke out eloquently against using the Springfield Lincoln Museum as a patronage dump, and when the senator insisted on his right to send to the White House the names of U.S. attorneys who are not involved in Illinois' peculiar brand of Republi-crat dickering.

The first test of reputedly pragmatic Topinka as state Republican chairman should be to call off the dogs that are baying for Fitzgerald's defeat.

Celebrating Great Leadership" - A Salute to President George W. Bush
Thursday, December 19, 2002
5:30 - 8:30 PM
Allegro Hotel
Walnut Room (Grand Ballroom)
171 W. Randolph Street, Chicago (next door to Cadillac Theatre at LaSalle & Randolph)
$65.00* (includes beer, wine, soda & hors d' oeuvres)
*20% of all ticket sales will be donated to THE SALVATION ARMY's FAMILY GATHERING HOME in Oak Park.

For tickets, call (312) 648-0061 or e-mail us at ryp-il@prodigy.net. Tickets can also be purchased online through our secure payment service. Simply go to www.ilryp.org and click on "Events". The link to purchase tickets is located at the bottom of the online invitation.

Tickets can also be purchased at the door - just please let us know if you plan to attend so that we can get a general idea as to how many to expect.

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Fitzgerald announces anti-terrorism grant for Illinois
State to receive more than $5 million for emergency response efforts

WASHINGTON, DC...The federal government will grant Illinois more than $5 million to help emergency management and state and local responders effectively respond to acts of terrorism and other emergencies, U.S. Senator Peter G. Fitzgerald (R-IL) announced today.

"This funding will play a vital role in strengthening the ability of communities across Illinois to effectively respond to emergencies, especially potential acts of terrorism," said Fitzgerald. "It will also equip our first responders in emergencies with the resources they need to protect our communities."

According to Fitzgerald, nearly $4.5 million will be used to update state and local plans and procedures for responding to all hazards, with particular focus on emergencies involving weapons of mass destruction. The majority of remaining funds will be used to train individuals in emergency response skills.

Administered by FEMA’s Office of National Preparedness, at least 75 percent of the grant amount is required to go to local governments. The funds will help local governments develop comprehensive plans, linked through mutual aid agreements, outlining the specific roles for all first responders — fire service, law enforcement, emergency medical service, and public works — in responding to terrorist incidents and other disasters.

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Fitzgerald is lead Republican sponsor of successful legislation to extend unemployment benefits
Bill will also extend existing TANF program benefits

WASHINGTON, DC ...Senator Peter G. Fitzgerald (R-Illinois) is the lead Republican sponsor of legislation to extend unemployment benefits until April 1, 2003, legislation which passed the U.S. Senate late last night. The bill will also extend the existing TANF program (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) program through March 31, 2003.

"This extension of unemployment benefits will help to ease the burden on Illinois families who might otherwise be running out of funds over the holiday season," Fitzgerald said at a press conference hosted by Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Washington) today. "It will help them feed their families and pay their bills while the continue to look or new jobs."

The legislation, co-authored by Senators Cantwell, Hillary Clinton (D-New York), and Arlen Specter (R-Pennsylvania), extends unemployment benefits set to expire on December 28, 2002 for an additional three months. Under the Senate bill, even people who enroll just prior to the expiration of the unemployment insurance benefits will be eligible for the full 13 weeks of unemployment benefits. The bill is expected to directly benefit 93,800 Illinois workers.

From December 28 through the end of March, 2003 it is anticipated that more than 52,000 Illinois workers have exhausted their 26 weeks of regular state unemployment benefits. After using up their state benefits, these workers then became eligible for federally funded benefits, called Temporary Emergency Unemployment Compensation (TEUC), which last for up to 13 additional weeks. Almost 42,000 Illinois workers will have used up their TEUC by the end of December. The number of Illinoisans who have used up their benefits has more than doubled over the past two years.

The legislation also extends TANF funding, set to expire this year, through the end of March. In September, Fitzgerald wrote a letter to Senate Majority Leader Thomas Daschle (D-South Dakota) encouraging him to bring welfare reauthorization to the floor before the 107th Congress adjourns, because the original TANF authorization was due to expire on September 30, 2002 (the TANF program has since been funded through the continuing resolution). Fitzgerald said the inclusion of the TANF extension will impact many communities across the state of Illinois and help families most in need of assistance.

Last night, the U.S. House also passed an unemployment extension bill. The House version would extend benefits to workers for only an additional five weeks. At today’s press conference, Senator Fitzgerald said he will call House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Illinois) to urge him to pass the Senate bill before the chamber adjourns.

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Do you think Gore saw these numbers?
Number of U.S. presidents since 1860 whose party controlled both houses of Congress by the third year of their first term: 12

Number whose bid for re-election failed: one
—Harper's Index, January 2003
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==>– Margaret Thatcher