Category: Illinois Politics

Will Illinois Lose the Invest In Kids Scholarship Tax Credit Program?

Written by Calvin Lindstrom

Illinois enacted the Invest In Kids Scholarship Tax Credit Program in 2017. This program offers a 75 percent income tax credit to individuals and businesses that contribute to qualified Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs). The SGOs then provide scholarships for students whose families meet the income requirements to attend qualified, non-public schools in Illinois.

It is a carefully regulated process, but it works.

The total amount of tax credit that could be granted per year was $75 million dollars.… Continue Reading

SPOTLIGHT: A Conversation with Larry Elder

In this special episode of Illinois Family Spotlight, Monte Larrick converses with 2024 Presidential Candidate Larry Elder at the 2023 Black Conservative Summit. Larry Elder is a commentator, film-maker, Epoch Times contributor, and is the executive producer of Uncle Tom and Uncle Tom: An American Odyssey.

Larry Elder, in this interview, capitalizes on the importance of black fathers being present in the home, as this is the greatest threat that is facing black America.… Continue Reading

ERIC – A Voter Roll Maintenance System or a Left-wing Voter Registration Drive?

Written by Nancy Hayes

Given the ongoing national conversation about voter fraud and election security, it would be encouraging to know states are looking for an effective, nonpartisan solution, wouldn’t it? A majority of states have joined something called ERIC (Electronic Registration Information Center), a nonprofit established in 2012 as a consortium of states to help maintain our voter registration rolls, but don’t get too excited.

Judicial Watch, a conservative, nonpartisan educational foundation that promotes transparency, accountability, and integrity in government recently published a document entitled, “ERIC white paper.”… Continue Reading

Ranked Choice Voting Will Exasperate Our “Crisis of Confidence”

Written by Carol Davis

Among many Americans, there is a “crisis of confidence” in our nation’s election processes and procedures. The myriad of problems that have been exposed in recent election cycles have only added to that crisis. How can we encourage Americans to continue to cast their ballots if they think their votes don’t count? As someone who has been both on the frontlines and behind the scenes in America’s elections for over a decade, I’m grateful to say I’m more encouraged now than ever.… Continue Reading

Illinois House Democrat Aides Illegally Vote on Legislation

Written by Gabriel Syme 

The Pulitzer Prize winning author, Studs Terkel once wrote, “Chicago is not the most corrupt American city…it is the most theatrically corrupt!” The same can unfortunately be said about the state of Illinois as a whole.

Earlier this month, Democrats in the Illinois House tried to take that corrupt Chicago Way to a new theatrical level while trying to pass legislation late at night. Because Democrat members, one by one, went home or slipped out of the chamber, they did not have the 60-vote majority they needed to pass legislation this late at night.… Continue Reading

Ranked-Choice Voting – Missing the Point on Needed Reform in Illinois

Written by Nancy Hayes

History tends to repeat itself. This is certainly true of “Ranked Choice Voting” in Illinois.

You may remember a junior state senator in Illinois by the name of Barack Obama. In 2001, then-Senator Obama introduced a bill that would have put on the ballot a Constitutional Amendment to elect the Illinois House of Representatives by “fair voting” in 3-seat districts elected by voters given cumulative voting rights.

Then, in 2002, Obama introduced a bill that would have required that partisan primaries for congressional office be conducted by “instant runoff voting” or IRV, also known as ranked-choice voting.… Continue Reading

SPOTLIGHT: A Conversation With Stephanie Trussell

Written by Alyssa Sonnenburg

Stephanie Trussell is a mother, grandmother, entrepreneur, board member for the Illinois Family Institute & Good Soil Good Seed Foundation, and former candidate for Illinois Lieutenant Governor. In this special episode of Spotlight, Monte, David and Stephanie revisit the 2022 campaign and the events that led up to it.

They discussed how Illinois Republican voter turnout can be improved. Startlingly, only 45 percent of Republicans turned out to vote. Stephanie implores that conservatives must unite, not tear each other up for small differences in beliefs, and overcome a defeatist attitude when it comes to Illinois elections.… Continue Reading

Still Fighting the Good Fight vs. Amendment 1

Written by Nancy Hayes

On November 8th of last year, Illinoisans went to the polls and voted on Amendment 1. This constitutional amendment passed on an official vote from Illinois citizens with a total of 2,212,999 yeses to 1,555,929 nos.

What is Amendment 1?

Amendment 1 is a proposed constitutional amendment that adds a new “constitutional right” for government workers to organize and collectively bargain. According to Wirepoints, Amendment 1 “cemented public sector union powers into the State Constitution.”… Continue Reading

SPOTLIGHT: 40 Days for Life

Written by Alyssa Sonnenburg

40 Days for Life is a essential and vital part of the pro-life movement. The constant intercession they make to God on behalf of those contemplating abortion has saved 22,855 lives since 2007, closed 136 abortion centers, and has caused 247 abortion workers to quit. Their silent witness to passersby and the love they show by their presence outside of an abortion clinic can literally be the difference between life and death.… Continue Reading

Deceased Voters Still Live on Illinois Voter Rolls

Written by Nancy Hayes

In 2020, the Public Interest Legal Foundation (PILF) wrote an article about voter rolls in America. On the heels of the Democrat’s push for vote by mail, their research revealed a large number of deceased registrants still on the voter rolls. It’s no wonder many Americans, let alone those in Illinois, don’t have much confidence in the system. After all, it would seem that if we could get rid of dead voters still on the rolls, eliminate duplicate registrants, or remove those who have moved, we would gain more confidence in the system.… Continue Reading