14th Congressional District Endorsement: James Marter

Written by David E. Smith

There are seven candidates running for the Republican nomination in Illinois’ 14th Congressional District during this month’s Primary Election. The winner of this contest will face off against freshman Congresswoman Lauren Underwood in the General Election on November 2nd. This district has been historically red and supported Donald J. Trump in 2016 by a wide margin. Many pundits believe that Underwood’s election in 2018 was made possible by the Trump backlash.… Continue Reading

Ranked-Choice Voting: Is It a Good Choice for Illinois?

Written by Jane Ryan Carrell

A September 2019 article in The Atlantic describing a new way of voting for candidates bears the headings “A step toward blowing up the presidential-voting system” and “Maine’s adoption of ranked-choice voting could upend a close race for the White House.”

What is Ranked-Choice Voting, who is adopting it, and should Illinois adopt it? What are the positives and negatives, and how might it affect the 2020 presidential race?

Under Ranked-Choice Voting, sometimes abbreviated here as RCV, the voter lists candidates in order of preference.… Continue Reading

105th District Endorsement: David Paul Blumenshine

Written by Diane Benjamin

It doesn’t make sense to send the same representatives to Springfield over and over and over when Illinois is in a death spiral of debt. Pensions need reformed, we don’t need a “progressive” tax that will chase high income job creators out of the state.

We need fighters in Springfield, we don’t need representatives merely collecting a paycheck and compromising our values with liberal Democrats.

David Paul Blumenshine is the pro-life/pro-family conservative choice for the 105th State Representative District.… Continue Reading

Mary Miller’s Open Letter to Pastors & Church Leaders

Dear Pastor and Church Leaders,

My name is Mary Miller; I am running for Congress in your district, IL-15.

I would love to share with your congregation who I am, why I am running, and how I would represent this district in Congress.

I have always thought it was important for people of faith to be involved in the political process. For most of my life I never really had political aspirations, but I have always asked God to show me opportunities to “overcome evil with good”. … Continue Reading

Skip Election Day Hassles: Vote Early or By Mail

Written by John Biver

President Ronald Reagan called voting a “the most sacred right of free men and women.” Sacred or not, less-than-sacred stuff often happens on Election Day, preventing even those with the best of intentions to leave their ballot uncast. Work or family matters get in the way, the long lines at the polling place common in a presidential election year serve as a big deterrent, and yes — sometimes people just plain forget to vote.… Continue Reading

SPOTLIGHT: Lobby Your Lawmakers

Written by David E. Smith

If you’ve ever wondered how best to effectively communicate with your state representatives and senators, this edition of Spotlight will be of special interest to you!

In a presentation at the 2019 SpeakOut Illinois conference, former state representative Peter Breen gives us an insider’s view of the life of a legislator and offers valuable tips for interacting with those individuals who are hard against an issue, hard in favor of an issue, or “neutral.”… Continue Reading

Old Fashioned and Modern Day Election Fraud

Written by Jane Ryan Carrell

Let’s look at some of the early forms of election fraud.  A historian might tell us of elections two centuries ago, but we won’t go back that far. Instead, let’s consider forms of fraud practiced in Chicago in the Richard J. Daley era: the fifties, sixties and early seventies. Daley died of a heart attack Dec. 20, 1976 at the age of 74, after being elected in 1975 for his sixth 4-year term, holding office until his death.… Continue Reading

Draining the Swamp Begins Here at Home

Written by James Blair

The 1912 Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois Volume 2 describes Sangamon County, home of Springfield as the “…low swamp lands in Sangamon County, and the green coated stagnant ponds that stood from year to year, filling the atmosphere with so much malaria that almost every man, woman, and child in the county were more or less afflicted with chills and fever…”  Here in 2020 the physical swamp is gone, but a bureaucratic swamp remains stifling the growth of Illinois.… Continue Reading

SPOTLIGHT: 2019 Year in Review

Written by David E. Smith

As we prepare to greet a new year – and a new decade – it is fitting that we also take a look back at the issues and events that were at the heart of IFI’s work this year. Kathy Valente, IFI Director of Operations and Mary Nieves, IFI Development Officer, join the energetic Spotlight duo of David Smith and Monte Larrick for a recap of 2019. They discuss new, regressive legislation (specifically the legalization of recreational marijuana and extreme pro-abortion legislation), increased taxation, corruption, and ethics reform, as well as the success of the spring pro-life rally in Springfield and our very informative Worldview Conference on “Trans” Ideology.… Continue Reading

Will County GOP Board Member Running for Congress

Written by Steve Balich

Will County board member Mike Fricilone, a 65-year-old Homer Glen resident who works as a sales manager for a furniture retailer, recently filed his petitions with the Illinois State Board of Elections as a candidate for the 3rd Congressional District. He will face two other Republicans in the March 17th primary election.

The district is located on the south and southwest side of Chicago and it’s suburbs, including Oak Lawn, Burbank, Summit, Hickory Hills, Palos Hills, Homer Glen, Orland Hills, Lockport and Lemont.… Continue Reading