Written by David E. Smith
Rigging the Map
On Monday, April 20, Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch filed House Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 28 (HJRCA 28), a proposal to amend the state constitution and redefine how legislative and congressional districts are drawn.
After suspending the rules to fast-track this legislation, House Democrats moved the measure out of committee on a partisan vote. It was quickly moved to the House floor where the Democrats voted 74 to 38 to pass it.… Continue Reading
Written by David E. Smith
Former Illinois Governor Pat Quinn recently held a press conference at the State Capitol to push for property tax relief. And he’s right about one thing: Illinois property taxes are crushing families. According to the Illinois Policy Institute, our state has the second highest property tax in the nation. And yes, we agree that relief is needed.
But instead of addressing the root problem—out-of-control government spending—Democrats are proposing yet another tax.… Continue Reading
Tags: Chris Welch, Common School Fund, Diane Blair-Sherlock, Illinois Lottery, Illinois Policy Institute, Kam Buckner, La Shawn Ford, Millionaire Amendment, Natalie Manley, Pat Quinn, property tax relief
Illinois Politics | David E. Smith | 
April 21, 2026 9:00 AM | 
Comments Off on Millionaire Tax Framed as “Relief” for High Property Tax Burden
Written by Alyssa Sonnenburg
In this important episode, David Smith sits down with David Curtin to discuss House Bill 4966– legislation aimed to expand DCFS services and limit counseling options for gender confused youths.
David Curtin is a veteran pro-life advocate, political consultant, and a lobbyist for the Illinois Family Institute among other organizations.
In the second half of this episode, Illinois Senator Chris Balkema (R-Pontiac) discusses the behind the scenes realities of the political battles in Springfield from the effort to defund abortion to the fight against physician-assisted suicide.… Continue Reading
Tags: Chris Balkema, David Curtin, David Smith, DCFS, House Bill 4966, Illinois Family Institute, legislation, politics, Springfield
Illinois Politics, Political | Alyssa Sonnenburg | April 16, 2026 5:00 AM | Comments Off on The Fight For Your Kids’ Mind: HB 4966
Written by David E. Smith
Illinois families are constantly being squeezed by state lawmakers, and this is especially true at the gas pump.
State Representatives Regan Deering (R-Decatur), C.D. Davidsmeyer (R-Jacksonville), and Ryan Spain (R-Peoria) are calling for immediate relief through House Bill 5738, which would suspend the state’s sales tax on gasoline for six months. At current prices, that would mean roughly 20 cents per gallon back in the pockets of Illinois families.
As gasoline prices climb above $4.00 per gallon in many parts of the state, Illinois drivers are paying not only for global energy pressures, but for one of the highest gas tax burdens in the nation.… Continue Reading
Tags: Amy Elik, Bradley Fritts, Brandun Schweizer, C.D. Davidsmeyer, Charles Meier, Christopher "C.D." Davidsmeyer, Dan Ugaste, Dave Severin, House Bill 5738, Jackie Haas, Jason R. Bunting, JB Pritzker, Joe C. Sosnowski, Kyle Moore, Norine K. Hammond, Patrick Windhorst, Regan Deering, Ryan Spain, Tom Weber, Tony M. McCombie
Illinois Politics | David E. Smith | April 13, 2026 6:00 AM | Comments Off on Tell Your Lawmakers We Need Gas Tax Relief
Written by Thomas Hampson
We live in a divided nation. The unity we built 250 years ago is now fractured, and our disagreements have become so intense and sometimes so violent that they threaten the very fabric of our civil society.
One of the most volatile flashpoints today is the disagreement over how we enforce our national immigration laws.
Today, across the nation, hundreds of local “sanctuary” jurisdictions openly defy federal authority. We have seen this before.… Continue Reading
Tags: Abraham Lincoln, FAIR, Federation for American Immigration Reform, Governor J.B. Pritzker, ICE, Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, Illinois Policy Institute, Jason Plummer, John Cabello, Kristi Noem, Mayor Brandon Johnson, Pew Research Center, Sheridan Gorman, Terry Bryant, TRUST Act, Way Forward Act
Illinois Politics, Political | Alyssa Sonnenburg | March 28, 2026 6:00 AM | Comments Off on A Nation Divided
Written by Alyssa Sonnenburg
On March 19, 2026, Loyola University Chicago freshman, Sheridan Gorman, was fatally shot by gunman, Jose Medina.
While walking with her friends near Tobey Prinz Beach in Chicago, all hoping to see the Northern Lights, a masked gunman, dressed in all black, started opening fire in a seemingly random attack, according to police.
What the media doesn’t want you to know is that this horrific crime was completely preventable.
Jose Medina, a Venezuelan national, was in the United States illegally.… Continue Reading
Written by Rev. Ceasar LeFlore
Recently in a
CNN interview with journalist
Audie Cornish,
Jonathan Jackson, son of recently deceased civil rights icon Reverend
Jesse L. Jackson and current candidate seeking re-election to congress representing Illinois 1st Congressional District boldly, and with no hesitation said,
“Republican blacks are like out of their minds, they’re insane on so many levels, and I would say that absolutely.”
Really??? Really, Jonathan???
Well, if I could respond directly to Congressman Jackson, I would say to him,
“It is interesting to me that the overwhelming majority of black people have been voting Democratic for over 60 years now and if challenged to honestly declare what this unfounded loyalty to Democrats has done for us, that answer would be a big, fat NOTHING!”
…
Continue Reading
Tags: Audie Cornish, Carter G. Woodson, Civil Rights Act of 1964, CNN, Daniel Patrick Moynihan, Jesse L. Jackson, Jimmy Carter, Jonathan Jackson, Lyndon B. Johnson, Planned Parenthood, Star Parker, Teachers Unions, The Moynihan Report
Illinois Politics | David E. Smith | March 20, 2026 12:00 PM | Comments Off on Why Are Black Americans Still Trusting Democrats?
Written by David E. Smith
We strongly encourage you to vote in the March 17th primary election. Before heading to the polls, take time to learn where candidates stand on the sanctity of human life, transgender ideology, parental rights, and the expansion of big government. Click HERE for the IFI Voter Guide. Early began on February 5th.
The board of Illinois Family Action is pleased to endorse the following candidates in the 2026 primary election.… Continue Reading
Written by Alyssa Sonnenburg
In this special episode of Illinois Family Spotlight, IFI’s Jenna Smith and Alyssa Sonnenburg sit down with special guest, Dr. Greg Gifford.
Dr. Gifford is a biblical counselor, Chair of Biblical Studies at the Master’s University, Fellow of Fortis Institute, and host of Transformed, a podcast where everyday issues meet the truth of the Bible.
Recently, Senate Bill 4832 was introduced in the Illinois General Assembly, a bill which would define “transgenderism” as a mental illness under the Illinois Health Code.… Continue Reading
Written by Alyssa Sonnenburg
In this episode of Illinois Family Spotlight, IFI’s David Smith sits down with two Illinois General Assembly members on new pieces of legislation they have introduced to protect children from the destructive nature of transgender ideology.
State Representative Bill Hauter, M.D., the only medical doctor serving in the Illinois General Assembly — has introduced HB 4482 to prohibit gender-transition medical procedures on children. Read more here.
SB 3842, introduced by State Senator Andrew Chesney, would expand the definition of “mental illness” to include transgenderism, giving Illinois residents who struggle with gender dysmorphia the mental help and assistance many need.… Continue Reading
