Written by John Biver
In this age of fake news it is problematic to cite big media reports as source material. Nevertheless, when State Representative Dave McSweeney says that Governor Bruce Rauner supported a tax increase if it was part of a “grand bargain,” then there is a good chance many of the links below are more factual than not.
Rep. McSweeney has been the most outspoken critic of Rauner of anyone in the General Assembly, and he didn’t wait for others to go public with their criticism — he led the way.… Continue Reading
Written by John Biver
Here is one definition of the expression “any given Sunday”:
It comes from American professional football, which is played (mainly) on Sunday. The full adage goes “on any given Sunday, any team can beat any other team,” meaning that a weaker team still has a chance against a stronger opponent. A related sports phrase is “you have to play the games (to determine the outcome).”
The IFI series on Identity Politics and Paraphilias continues to highlight one of the many the opportunities that the American political left has given the American political right.… Continue Reading
Written by David E. Smith
The Springfield Nativity Scene Committee* (SNSC) recently held its annual opening day ceremony for their privately sponsored and funded display depicting the birth of Jesus Christ. This display marks the 10th straight year that this display has had a place in the center of the State Capitol Rotunda. This is possible, thanks in large part to the help of the Thomas More Society, including our guest Tom Brejcha. … Continue Reading
Tags: Bruce Rauner, HB 40, Jack Phillips, Masterpiece Cakeshop, Monte Larrick, Peter Breen, SCOTUS, Springfield Nativity Scene Committee, Thomas More Society, Tom Brejcha
Religious Liberty | David E. Smith | 
December 19, 2017 10:00 AM | 
Comments Off on SPOTLIGHT: A Creche on Display in the Illinois Rotunda
Here is the WBEZ headline and lede for an article about one of the big news stories this week in Illinois:
Surviving War, But Not The Veterans’ Home
Since July 2015, 13 residents of a veterans’ home in west central Illinois have died
from Legionnaires’ disease. Eleven families are suing the state for negligence.
Typically this kind of governmental failure cannot be blamed on a guy who just took office less than three years ago. However, among the most publicized accomplishments of the Bruce Rauner administration is that fact that state-funded social services got short shrift during the two-year state budget impasse.… Continue Reading
Written by John Biver
Illinoisans have a lot to be proud of — we live in a beautiful state in the heart of America. Our people are hardworking, our soil is among the most productive in the world, our transportation systems are first rate, we have a world-class city and hundreds of great small towns. The list could go on and on.
But to our shame is our state government. Illinois is at or near the top on a lot of bad lists: corruption, tax burden, unfunded liabilities, and debt.… Continue Reading
Written by John Biver
When Jeanne Ives announced her primary campaign challenge to Governor Bruce Rauner this week, one of the most common questions was — can she overcome Rauner’s incredible war chest which contains tens of millions of dollars of his own money?
The question that came to my mind was — do Illinois conservatives who support Ives realize that they have a role to play in her campaign? Never before have the grassroots taken on a such an enormous responsibility than what they have between now and the March primary election.… Continue Reading
Written by John Biver
Because the Illinois Republican Party nominated a radical left-winger in 2014 who has demonstrated an inability to lead, three years into his term Illinois finds itself worse off than when Governor Bruce Rauner took office.
What happens when that aforementioned Republican governor is willing to spend millions of dollars of his own money to purchase support? We’re witnessing the answer as candidate Bruce Rauner meets with county party chairmen and offers them assistance — in the form of money, candidate training, website support, etc.… Continue Reading
In this week’s Spotlight podcast, Dave Smith sits down to talk to Rev. Ceasar LeFlore, the Founder and Executive Director of the Beloved Community Development Coalition and the Midwest Regional Director of the Life Education and Resource Network (LEARN). Pastor LeFlore is working towards a national pro-life prayer network, he is seeking to unite a million prayer intercessors to daily pray for the end of abortion.
Prayer, Pastor LeFlore said, “is required because an awakening is necessary for the darkness to be overcome.… Continue Reading
Joining Monte Larrick is Pat McManus, the Pastor of the Kingom Impact Center in Aurora. He is the main proponent of a movement to unite churches from several denominations in prayer for the state of Illinois.
They discuss how to awaken churches in Illinois, activate young people, and how to pray for leaders such as Governor Bruce Rauner and House Speaker Mike Madigan.
Monte pointed out the reality of the many roadblocks that currently exist in Illinois, and Pat stressed that true change requires unity among Christians regarding prayer and participation in the political process.… Continue Reading
Written by John Biver
Politics has changed within the past two years and that is a very good thing. If you’re a conservative and don’t think much of President Donald Trump, you cannot deny he’s someone who wishes to get things done. Not a common trait among conservative politicians, at least not since Ronald Reagan and Newt Gingrich left the field.
Here in Illinois, Governor Bruce Rauner has behaved in such a way that conservatives are finally waking up, speaking up, and stepping up.… Continue Reading
