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Chicago Tribune
5 days ago
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Beckwith supports redistricting, immigration crackdown at Merrillville Q&A
Indiana Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith repeatedly addressed redistricting, immigration and education funding during a packed town hall session Tuesday night at the Marine Corps League. President Donald Trump is urging Republican states to redistrict again to make it easier for Republicans keep their majorities in the U.S. House and Senate during the midterm elections next year, which led Texas Democrats to flee the state to Illinois on Aug. 3. They've mulled returning after the first special session ends, but Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said he will keep calling special sessions until the redistricting is passed. Vice President JD Vance met with Indiana Gov. Mike Braun and Republican state legislative leaders last week to urge them to call a special session to redraw the maps, which already favor Republicans 7-2. Beckwith said drawing districts to favor one party over the other began in Democratic-leaning states. 'I'm telling you right now they started it, and we're punching back,' he said. 'It's competition on a national level. 'We've got to compete with California' and other Democratic states, Beckwith said. One of the participants pointed out that 40% of Hoosier voters favored Democrats in the last general election, so 40% of Indiana's congressional delegation would be Democrats if districts were drawn fairly. '22% is a materially different from 40%,' a participant noted. In Lake County, 56% of voters voted Democratic. How does redistricting help local voters, the participant asked. If you don't like it, tell the Indiana legislators who will make those decisions, Beckwith said. 'My position is that Republican principles are better for everybody,' he said. When a participant suggested fair rules for redistricting nationally, Beckwith responded, 'I'm all ears.' 'I'm encouraging a commission on fair redistricting nationally,' he said. Until then, however, 'we need to do it because the other states are doing it,' he said. 'Let's make sure we're not counting people unless they're here as citizens,' he added. The U.S. Census Bureau counts the entire U.S. population every ten years, according to which is based on Article I, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution and the 14th Amendment that mandates 'counting the whole number of persons in each State.' Beckwith was peppered with questions about immigration. 'We need to stop illegal crossings,' he said, thanking Trump for his immigration crackdown. Coming to the United States illegally is cutting in front of the line, he said, assured that everyone in the room would agree with him. 'Now we have people dragged out of their homes, schools, hospitals,' a participant noted. 'They're people in asylum from violence, poverty.' 'Everybody deserves due process because we believe in natural laws as well as constitutional laws,' Beckwith said. The Declaration of Independence refers to the God-given rights to 'life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,' he noted. Beckwith's answer bore a marked contrast with comments he made earlier this month at a town hall meeting in Terre Haute, where he said ICE detainees don't have the right to see a judge and compared the situation to the United States' response after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in World War II, when U.S. citizens and residents of Japanese descent were forcibly placed in internment camps. Several immigration attorneys criticized his comments as false and inflammatory in multiple media outlets. Then Beckwith said, 'We have been invaded over the last 4.5 years' under the Biden administration. 'We do not have the resources to have people wait in courts.' If people picked up by ICE can't produce an ID, they have to go back to their home country, Beckwith said. Multiple news reports have said the Trump administration is deporting people to countries they didn't come from, sometimes on a different continent, where the deported immigrants might not even know the language. 'I don't want to be a nation of lawlessness,' he said. Turning to state issues, one of the participants Tuesday said, 'I feel as though the supermajority (in Indiana government) is basically a communist approach.' 'I've never been called a communist. That's a new one,' Beckwith said. 'I'm not a huge fan of the supermajority in Indiana,' he said. 'We have gotten weak on Republican principles.' He said he favors more competition, he said, but took a shot at Democrats. 'You've got to bring better ideas to the ballot box,' he said. Pursuing social issues like LGBTQ+ rights is hurting Democrats, he said. 'Stop doubling down on stupid social progressive ideals.' 'This is why you're losing, Democrats, because you don't even know the basics of biology.' Beckwith has a history of attacking the LGBTQ+ community. In June, he made a Facebook post attacking Pride Month, titled 'The Rainbow Beast Is Coming For Your Kids!,' in which he called libraries 'drag indoctrination centers.' In August, he shared a post from an Indianapolis church where a speaker called for the execution of gay people, but said it was shared by his communications team and took it down amid an uproar. Earlier in the town hall meeting, Beckwith said, 'I think the Democrats do a much better job than the Republicans do' at communicating ideas. Multiple questions dealt with education funding. 'We have just gutted the public school system' with property tax refunds and vouchers for private schools, a participant said. Out of Indiana's $45 billion budget, $22 billion, or 47%, goes to education, Beckwith said. Even if a voucher is used to transfer a family's children from public schools, the school district still gets 20% of the state funding, Beckwith said. 'Inner cities benefit and use the vouchers more than any other demographic,' he said. 'We're spending a lot of money but in the wrong places,' he said. 'I see natatoriums being built.' 'That nice, shiny object' doesn't affect concerns like teacher pay, he said. 'I do feel we adequately fund them. It just doesn't go to the right places,' Beckwith said. Another participant noted that the Indiana University Board of Trustees no longer is elected. In June, Braun removed the three trustees voted on by IU alumni following last-minute language slipped into the state budget bill by legislators giving the governor full control of the board's makeup. 'IU has been a woke indoctrination center,' Beckwith said. IU chose to 'indoctrinate, not educate,' he said. Beckwith was a guest lecturer on political science at IU, he said. 'They were far below where they should have been.' Other questions dealt with a legal challenge to gay marriage and the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade. 'I support a civil union,' he said. 'We did not create marriage. We have no business redefining it. God created marriage,' Beckwith said. On abortion issues, Beckwith said he would support saving the mother's life. 'That's not abortion. It's triage,' he said. 'Sometimes the world throws really crappy situations at us, and we have to respond appropriately,' Beckwith said. With rape, 'I want there to be justice,' he said. 'I will carve out one exception to my principles for that.' A rapist should be tried for first degree murder if an abortion occurs following a rape, Beckwith said. 'I want justice for people who do wicked things.' On rising utility costs, Beckwith reiterated his support for electing members of the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission and said he supports getting rid of the sales tax on utility bills. 'I will take arrows from the Republican Party all day long on this issue,' he said. 'They just keep raising taxes,' he said of fellow Republicans. 'I believe we dropped the ball there as Republicans.' Beckwith praised Lake County Councilman Randy Niemeyer. 'He is working hard to bring government efficiency back into local government' in Lake County. Beckwith's proposal was voted down Tuesday by the County Council. Since being elected lieutenant governor, Beckwith has visited Lake County more than others, he said. 'I think you have the potential to be one of the most awesome places in Indiana,'' he said. He singled out Gary's potential, including its airport. 'You've got good people up here. You have good work ethics,' Beckwith said.
Chicago Tribune
03-07-2025
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Column: Fox Valley Marines growing a proud legacy
When the Fox Valley Marines walk by you and your family and friends at Friday's Fourth of July parade in downtown Aurora, make sure to give them a special shout-out. The U.S. Marine Corps is celebrating its 250th birthday this year – reason enough to show your appreciation. However, this local Detachment 1233 of the Marine Corps League, which covers Kane and Kendall counties but extends outreach beyond those borders, deserves a special round of home-grown applause. That's especially true because about a decade ago, the detachment had lost so many members – through death or relocation – it nearly shut down. In fact, Ted Clinnin, who was senior vice commandant of the group at the time, notified Marine Corps League headquarters in Washington, D.C., about the dilemma. But when he learned all remaining funds of a shuttered detachment must go to the national organization rather than stay local, those surviving members became determined to not only stay afloat but find ways to grow. Chalk it up to a Marine's 'gung-ho attitude,' noted Clinnin, proudly noting the Fox Valley roster has gone from seven to nearly 60 since 2015, with about half those members showing up regularly at each monthly meeting at the Oswego American Legion Post. And yes, its reach is also growing. For example, the group is one of a handful of the Illinois region's 40 detachments that have formed a partnership with Scouting. According to Clinnin, in one year alone, members have presented 44 Eagle Scouts – from Hampshire to St. Charles to Aurora to Naperville to Sandwich – with its Good Citizenship Award, along with the coveted Marine's Ka-Bar combat knife that stands on a wooden eagle, hand-carved by one of its members as a way of dealing with PTSD. 'The kids love seeing us there and we have a good time,' said past Commandant Tom Bulin, who told me he's done about 215 of these presentations over the years. The local Fox Valley Marines also team up with Scouts to do service projects for veterans. Most recently, Montgomery Troop 12 put in a full day doing yard work Saturday at the Batavia home of Marine veteran Kyle Moser, who lost both his legs above the knee in 2011 during a combat mission in Afghanistan. You may remember from a previous column that Moser was having issues after a property reassessment upped the tax bill on his specially-adapted home – a gift from Jared Allen's Homes for Wounded Warriors – that disqualified him from a state tax exemption for disabled veterans. Multiple veterans groups rallied behind Moser's situation, including the Fox Valley Marines and member state Rep. Stephanie Kifowit, D-Oswego, who convinced the Batavia Township Assessor's Office to take another look at the numbers. And earlier this week a 'certificate of error' was issued, which means Moser will receive a 100% refund on the $7,000 he paid in property taxes this year, and that going forward the value of his home will not exceed the exemption cap. Helping veterans is a huge part of what this local detachment does. Members offer educational scholarships for Marine families, provide honor guards as well as 'casket watches' at funerals, and help support the Fox Valley Young Marines of Elgin, as well as the award-winning Marine Corps JROTC program at Romeoville High School. In addition, members contribute to local food pantries in Aurora, Naperville and Sugar Grove, and for a number of years the group has held its own drive-through food distribution at Phillips Park in Aurora. A huge chunk of funding comes through its Fox Valley Marine Corps League Golf Classic, an annual event that on Aug. 13 will bring 144 golfers together at Bliss Creek in Sugar Grove. 'They are amazing. It is the best outing you can go to,' insisted Shari Frieders, executive director of Between Friends Food Pantry in Sugar Grove. 'We show up with a tent, have a great time. And they make a generous donation at the end.' 'Our goal is to help,' said Clinnin, who was a college student in 1967 when he decided that rather than be drafted, he was better off enlisting in the Marines where 'they would teach me the best way to survive' and return home. 'We have a great group,' he added, pointing out that the men and women who are members of the Fox Valley Marines range in age from the mid-20s into the 80s, and includes professors, police officers, business executives, truck drivers and other professionals who can offer a wide variety of ideas and opinions. And fortunately, new blood is replacing those who die or move out of the area. Troop 12 Assistant Scout leader and Senior Vice Commandant Andrew Kajtsa, who joined the Fox Valley Marines last year 'after a pamphlet was left on my car,' told me the group is committed to getting more exposure and stepping up recruitment, particularly for the younger generation of veterans who will carry this proud legacy forward. 'Supporting local veterans means standing with those who stood with us,' noted Nelson Santos, founder and CEO of Scientel Solutions LLC, which contributes a significant dollar amount to these veterans from its own annual golf fundraiser. 'Organizations like the Fox Valley Marines exemplify this commitment, making a real, lasting impact in the lives of veterans right here in our community,' he continued. 'Their dedication reminds us that honoring service begins at home.' It all comes down to helping veterans and the community, insist longtime Fox Valley Marines members Clinnin and Bulin, who look forward to seeing you at the Independence Day Parade in Aurora on Friday morning. Show them (and all veterans, for that matter) your appreciation, not just for what they've done but for what they continue to do.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Memorial Day Commemoration at Veterans Memorial Park canceled
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – The Memorial Day Commemoration at Wichita's Veterans Memorial Park has been canceled due to weather. The event was scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. and was set to include a presentation of Colors by the McConnell AFB Honor Guard, a guest speaker, a three-volley rifle salute rendered by the Marine Corps League, and Taps. What's open for Memorial Day 2025? The service will begin at 11 a.m. at 11800 W. U.S. Highway 54. Featured speakers include Wichita Mayor Lily Wu and Colonel Cory M. Damon, Commander of the 22nd Air Refueling Wing at McConnell Air Force Base. The event will also feature a flyover by the Jayhawk Wing of the Commemorative Air Force. also begins at 11 a.m. and runs until 3 p.m. at 701 Amidon St. The event includes special activities to celebrate Botanica's 38th birthday, a complimentary slice of birthday cake served at noon, moments of reflection in honor of Memorial Day, live music from Air Traffic Jazz on the Terrace Patio, and a showcase of its latest installation, Glass in Flight. For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news by downloading our mobile app and signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track 3 Weather app by clicking here. To watch our shows live on our website, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
May 26: Lowville Memorial Day parade and military honors
Lowville American Legion's Memorial Day parade and military honors on Monday, May 26, at 11 a.m. Wrath-laying ceremony to follow the parade with military honors. Refreshments served at the Lowville American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Marine Corps League. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Yahoo
Former Marine Daniel Penny honored for actions on New York subway: 'Service and sacrifice'
Daniel Penny, the subject of a high profile manslaughter trial, was presented on Wednesday with the Semper Fidelis achievement award by the Marine Corps League at an Iwo Jima Day event in Boston, Massachusetts. Penny was acquitted last year in the 2023 killing of Jordan Neely on a New York City subway. Prosecutors asked the court to dismiss the main manslaughter charge to avoid a hung jury, and they ultimately found Penny not guilty of the lesser charge, Fox News Digital previously reported. Daniel Penny Found Not Guilty In Subway Chokehold Trial Penny's defense attorneys, Thomas Kenniff and Steve Raiser, traveled with him to the award ceremony and were also presented with appreciation plaques, according to a statement provided to Fox News Digital by Raiser, first reported by the New York Post. The league honored Penny for "representing the Esprit De Corps of the Marines, defined by selfless service and sacrifice, when he risked his life by defending the people on that NYC train," Raiser wrote in the statement. Read On The Fox News App His lawyers, in turn, "defended Danny from a prosecution that never should have been sought," according to the statement. Jordan Neely's Dad Files Lawsuit Against Daniel Penny Outside of the State House, Brig. General Enoch "Woody" Woodhouse, one of the legendary Tuskegee Airmen, took Penny's hand, looked him in the eye and said, "I'm proud of you, son," according to Kenniff. "That is a moment I don't think any of us will forget," Kenniff said. The Marine Corps League's John M. MacGillivray said the award goes to "worthy and inspirational recipients." "We believe that Daniel Penny and attorneys Raiser and Kenniff deserve such recognition and hope that they will consent to accept these awards," according to MacGillivray. "We were honored and humbled to be in the same room being honored alongside many veterans of prior wars, including an Iwo Jima veteran and a retired general who served as one of the Tuskegee Airmen," Raiser wrote. The three accepted the awards, and were photographed together following the Massachusetts State House ceremony. Organizers said this year's event, which recently commemorated the 80th anniversary of the 1945 Battle of Iwo Jima, may be the last due to the dwindling number of Marine survivors still living. The battle of Iwo Jima was one of the bloodiest in American history, claiming 7,000 lives and leaving 20,000 Marines wounded. Daniel Penny Returns To Court For Closing Arguments In Subway Chokehold Trial More Medals of Honor were awarded for heroism in Iwo Jima, at a total of 27, than in any other battle, according to MacGillivray. The win pushed the Allies ahead in their mission to end World War II. "This may well be the last time that we conduct this ceremony," he wrote. "Therefore, we believe that the participation of Daniel Penny and lawyers Raiser and Kenniff will help to make this ceremony a success." Fox News Digital's Michael Ruiz contributed to this article source: Former Marine Daniel Penny honored for actions on New York subway: 'Service and sacrifice'
