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	<title>Chris Balkema</title>
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	<title>Chris Balkema</title>
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		<title>More Government, More Taxes, Less Relief for Illinois Families</title>
		<link>https://illinoisfamilyaction.org/2026/06/more-government-more-taxes-less-relief-for-illinois-families/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[David E. Smith]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 02 Jun 2026 10:00:46 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Illinois Politics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Brad Halbrook]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Chapin Rose]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Chris Balkema]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Chris Miller]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Freedom Caucus]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[JB Pritzker]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[State Budget]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://illinoisfamilyaction.org/?p=32224</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p><em>Written by David E. Smith</em></p>
<p>Illinois families struggling with high property taxes, rising energy bills, and the increasing cost of living will receive little relief from Springfield’s newest spending plan.</p>
<p>In the early morning hours before adjournment — hours <em>after</em> the official end of regular session — Illinois Democrats passed <strong>Governor JB Pritzker’s</strong> largest budget yet: a massive $56 billion spending plan that continues the state’s trend of growing government while requiring taxpayers to pay even more.&#8230; <a href="https://illinoisfamilyaction.org/2026/06/more-government-more-taxes-less-relief-for-illinois-families/" class="read-more">Continue Reading </a></p>]]></description>
		
		
		
		<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">32224</post-id>	</item>
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		<title>The Fight For Your Kids’ Mind: HB 4966</title>
		<link>https://illinoisfamilyaction.org/2026/04/the-fight-for-your-kids-mind-hb-4966/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Alyssa Sonnenburg]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 16 Apr 2026 10:00:59 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Illinois Politics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Political]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Chris Balkema]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[David Curtin]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[David Smith]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[DCFS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[House Bill 4966]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Illinois Family Institute]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[politics]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://illinoisfamilyaction.org/?p=31854</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p><em>Written by Alyssa Sonnenburg</em></p>
<p>In this important episode, <strong>David Smith</strong> sits down with <strong>David Curtin</strong> to discuss <a href="https://www.ilga.gov/Legislation/BillStatus?DocNum=4966&#38;GAID=18&#38;DocTypeID=HB&#38;LegId=166330&#38;SessionID=114" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>House Bill 4966</strong></a>– legislation aimed to expand <strong>DCFS</strong> services and limit counseling options for gender confused youths.</p>
<p>David Curtin is a veteran pro-life advocate, political consultant, and a lobbyist for the <a href="https://illinoisfamily.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Illinois Family Institute</a> among other organizations.</p>
<p>In the second half of this episode, Illinois Senator <strong>Chris Balkema</strong> (R-Pontiac) discusses the behind the scenes realities of the political battles in Springfield from the effort to defund abortion to the fight against physician-assisted suicide.&#8230; <a href="https://illinoisfamilyaction.org/2026/04/the-fight-for-your-kids-mind-hb-4966/" class="read-more">Continue Reading </a></p>]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<item>
		<title>IFA&#8217;s 2024 Primary Election Endorsements</title>
		<link>https://illinoisfamilyaction.org/2024/03/ifas-2024-primary-election-endorsements/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[David E. Smith]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 16 Mar 2024 20:00:40 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Exclude From Homepage]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Illinois Politics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Adam Niemerg]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Angela Evans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Aris Garcia]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Blaine Wilhour]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Chris Balkema]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Darren Bailey]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[James Marter]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jerry Evans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Joe McGraw]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Li Arellano]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Marcus Lewis]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mike Kirkton]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Regan Deering]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Samantha Gasca]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Susan Hathaway-Altman]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Wesley Kash]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://illinoisfamilyaction.org/?p=25708</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p><em>Written by David E. Smith</em></p>
<p>We strongly encourage you to vote in the March 19th primary election. Prior to going to the polls, make sure that you know where your candidates stand on the sanctity of human life, transgender confusion, parental rights, and big government.</p>
<p>Illinois Family Action’s board members are pleased to endorse the following candidates for office in the 2024 primary election. Many of these endorsements reflect differences between candidates who hold pro-life and pro-family positions and those who do not.&#8230; <a href="https://illinoisfamilyaction.org/2024/03/ifas-2024-primary-election-endorsements/" class="read-more">Continue Reading </a></p>]]></description>
		
		
		
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