Category: Illinois Politics

Absence of Leadership Stuns Republican Conservative Base

By Illinois Conservative Union

A week has passed since an ABC-7 interview revealed that, during the campaign, Governor Bruce Rauner actively sought someone to run in his stead. While Rauner’s lack of enthusiasm for re-election was not a surprise for grassroots Illinois Conservatives, what is shocking is the lack of any strategic action and transparency on the part of IL GOP Leadership.

While facing one of the most critical election contests in recent Illinois history, in which the financial well-being of millions of Illinois citizens hung in the balance, the entire leadership was absent and silent.… Continue Reading

Illinois Conservatives Send Santa An Open Letter

Dear Santa,

We know you’re very busy this time of year, but we hope you’ll take a moment to consider our Christmas wish list.

As you know, we’ve been very good for goodness sake. You see us when we’re sleeping and you know when we’re awake, so you know many of us got very little sleep the past several election cycles. We were very busy contacting voters, raising funds, knocking on doors, attending fundraisers and supporting good candidates.… Continue Reading

SPOTLIGHT: What’s the Dress Code?

Written by Benjamin Smith

This special edition of Spotlight features highlights from a post-Thanksgiving dialogue between David Smith, IFI’s Executive Director, and Stephanie Trussell on the Stephanie Trussell Show (WLS 890 AM).

Their initial topic of conversation addresses a local pastor who confronted a male church member who repeatedly attended worship dressed as a woman, the resulting social media reaction and backlash against the pastor, and the need to support pastors and church leaders who take a hard stance for adherence to Scripture and biblical principles.… Continue Reading

Illinois Conservative Union Calls for New GOP Chairman

Almost one month has passed since the November 6th midterm elections. Many have analyzed the losses suffered by the Republican Party in Illinois. To the base of the Party – Conservatives who stand firmly on the adopted Republican Party platform – the causes are abundantly clear. Party leadership made no attempt to unify the Party, failed to support good candidates and failed to effectively communicate to voters the principles of the Republican Party. Due to this failure of leadership and lack of accepting any responsibility for the losses, Illinois Conservative Union (ICU) calls for Tim Schneider to step down from his position as Chairman.… Continue Reading

SPOTLIGHT: Jeanne Ives’ State of the State

Written by David E. Smith

This week’s Spotlight features a presentation by one of Illinois’ finest, Jeanne Ives, who recently spoke in Rockford at a forum organized by Concerned Christian Americans, a chapter of Illinois Family Institute. Representative Ives recapped and analyzed the results for Illinois in the midterm election, keying in on specific races/areas where traditionally Republican strongholds switched from red to blue.

Representative Ives also discussed the need for cohesion within the Republican Party and highlighted what conservatives ought to do in order to take back seats in the next election cycle.… Continue Reading

SPOTLIGHT: Post-Election Mortem (Part 1)

Written by Benjamin Smith

In the wake of the recent election in Illinois, it is easy to feel frustrated and discouraged. While the blue wave that was predicted to sweep Democrats into office on the federal level wasn’t as large and impressive as many were predicting, here in Illinois, we were soaked by a blue tsunami. Illinois Democrats will now have complete control of state government. To be more precise, not only does one party control the offices of Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Comptroller and Treasurer, but a single party will also have veto-proof super-majorities in both the Illinois Senate and the Illinois House of Representatives in the next session (2019-2020).… Continue Reading

2018 General Election Picks from IFA-pac

Written by David E. Smith

The November 6th election is just around the corner! Prior to going to the polls, make sure that you know where your candidates stand on the issues: taxpayer funding of abortion, transgender birth certificates, marijuana legalization, religious freedom and much more! For more information, please review the Illinois Family Institute’s Voter Guide before casting your ballot.

We don’t have to remind our readers how critically important it is to exercise your civic duty to vote and be good stewards of God’s amazing gift of self-government. … Continue Reading

The Illinois Gubernatorial Dilemma

Written by David E. Smith

A good number of folks–especially on social media–are asking why I continue to refuse to vote for the incumbent Republican governor even in the wake of the Sam McCann betrayal. It’s pretty straight forward. I believe that Bruce Rauner is more dangerous to the conservative cause than J.B. Pritzker could ever be.

Bruce Rauner, the leader of the Illinois Republican Party, has severely damaged the conservative cause and has battered the GOP brand in inconceivable ways over the past four years.… Continue Reading

SPOTLIGHT: If You’re Wrong on Life, You’re Just Wrong

Written by Benjamin Smith

The mid-term election is less than two weeks away and early voting is in full swing! With that in mind, Dave Smith and Monte Larrick welcome Richard Hartian, Chairman of the IFA Board of Directors, to Illinois Family Spotlight. Chairman Hartian stresses that Christians cannot abdicate their God-given right to vote and he offers sound, biblical reasons why we should vote in alignment with biblical principles that promote, protect, and preserve life, marriage, and family.… Continue Reading

More Rauner Hypocrisy Revealed

Written by David E. Smith

This past weekend, incumbent Governor Bruce Rauner appeared on the Flannery Fired Up political program on Chicago’s local Fox32 station (WFLD). During this thirty-minute weekly program, political reporter Mike Flannery went one-on-one with Rauner, covering a number of state issues.

What caught my attention and got me fired up was their discussion about the structural imbalance of the Illinois state budget. In their exchange, Rauner had the audacity to complain that healthcare costs for state employees are “out of control,” rightly saying that it healthcare is “broken.”… Continue Reading