Illinois Supreme Court Strikes Down Remap Referendum

Chicago in 1932 and Milwaukee Today

Written by Micah Clark

There is a perception that Chicago was a war zone during the time of Al Capone and alcohol prohibition.  Not long ago, I watched a Jimmy Stewart movie based upon a true story of a person falsely convicted of killing a police officer in 1932.  The 1948 movie began with an attempt to shock the audience by reminding them of that “most violent year in Chicago history” in which one person died from a gunshot each day of the year.… Continue Reading

Independent Maps Files Final Brief to the Illinois Supreme Court

In a final brief presented to the Illinois Supreme Court, attorneys for Independent Maps argued a lower court’s ruling against the constitutionality of the redistricting reform amendment is contrary to both the intent of the drafters of the 1970 Illinois Constitution and the plain language of the constitution’s provision allowing voters to propose amendments.

If the Cook County Circuit Court ruling is not reversed, it “would eviscerate the constitutional right conferred on the people of Illinois by the 1970 Constitution to bypass self-interested legislators and directly propose needed reforms,” according to the brief filed Tuesday.… Continue Reading

Term Limits: While Not A Panacea, Quinn & Rauner Advance Worthy Proposals (Part 2)

Written by John Biver

Former Governor Pat Quinn, a fixture on the Illinois political scene for decades, has been on the statewide ballot many times, and also served as State Treasurer and Lt. Governor. Earlier this month, Reboot Illinois’ Matt Dietrich wrote this:

Before serving as governor from 2009 to 2015, Pat Quinn was known as a rabble-rousing reformer who, most famously, led a 1980 citizen initiative that cut the membership of the Illinois House by one-third.

Term Limits: While Not A Panacea, Quinn & Rauner Advance Worthy Proposals (Part 1)

Written by John Biver

Former governor Pat Quinn agrees with Bruce Rauner, the guy who made him a former governor, when it comes to term limits. While Rauner continues to press for term limits for state legislative and statewide offices, Quinn has launched an effort aimed at the City of Chicago’s mayor. More on those proposals later. First, a few comments on the issue itself.

Limiting the years a person can serve in important political offices isn’t new.… Continue Reading

Red States More Fiscally Responsible Than Blue

Written by Michael F. Haverluck

The latest research conducted by George Mason University’s Mercatus Center reveals that predominantly Republican states are by far the most fiscally sound, while the most heavily weighted Democratic states demonstrate the least fiscal responsibility.

The Mercatus Center study divulged that the 10 states managing their budgets best are virtually all solidly Republican, with researchers saying that “Red is the new black.” A state’s “solid” Republican or Democratic status is determined by voters’ selection in the last four presidential elections — with a state being solid if its party won all four contests from 2000 to 2012.… Continue Reading

2016 Illinois GOP Platform Report

Written by David E. Smith 

The 2016 Illinois Republican Convention was held in Peoria this past weekend on Friday and Saturday. We are thrilled to report that leftists within the party failed to advance their agenda in the newly adopted 2016 Illinois GOP Platform.

If fact, Illinois Republicans strengthened the Right to Life plank in the platform and rejected an attempt to water down and distort the Marriage and Family plank!

THANK YOU to all of you who took time last week to contact the members of the platform committee and helped to spread the word of the attempt to subvert the Marriage and Family plank. … Continue Reading

Will Illinois GOP Platform Committee Members Embarrass Themselves?

Written by John Biver

Remember those infamous Jay Leno Show man on the street interviews? It’s always painful to watch people reveal their ignorance.

There are reports that there is a majority on the Illinois Republican Party Platform Committee who aren’t exactly well-read. Get ready to cringe.

The word on the street is that there are geniuses who think endorsing the radical left-wing (cultural Marxist) LGBT agenda is a good fit for the GOP. … Continue Reading

Illinois GOP to Remove “Marriage” Plank in Platform

Written by David E. Smith

Some Illinois Republicans want to stay away from “controversial” issues. They think that removing the traditional marriage plank will somehow help liberal Republicans who are “hurt” by the platform in their swing districts.  First, if they think that they are going to avoid controversy by removing this important plank, they are woefully wrong.  Secondly, the Illinois GOP has its fair share of RINOs elected to office, who are the source of the problem at hand; but clearly demonstrating that liberal Republicans can win with the current state platform.… Continue Reading

Can You Help Us?

Dear IFA Friends,

I am reluctantly coming to you to ask you for your financial help, but I need to ask you: Will you consider an online donation of $15 or more to support the work of Illinois Family Action (IFA)?

Five members of the Illinois Family organization are going to the Illinois Republican Party convention this weekend, not only to promote our pro-life, pro-family, pro-marriage message, but to defend the current Platform from liberal attempts to weaken the life and marriage planks. … Continue Reading