New Jeanne Ives for Governor Ad Highlights Leftist Personal PAC’s Support of Rauner

Written by John Biver

A new ad for the Jeanne Ives for Governor campaign titled “Rauner’s Friends” brings attention to the support Bruce Rauner is receiving from radical left-wing organizations like Personal PAC.

The ad points out that Personal PAC has spent four million dollars “helping Mike Madigan defeat conservatives.” Why would a pro-Madigan political action committee that opposes conservatives support a Republican governor for re-election?

The ad explains: “Personal PAC is a pro-abortion group with the history of also funding Planned Parenthood.”… Continue Reading

SPOTLIGHT: “A Man who Shot Both His Feet Off”

Written by John Biver

The Chicago Tribune’s John Kass recently interviewed conservative Republican candidate for Illinois governor Jeanne Ives. Their conversation helps listeners get to know the West Point graduate Ives as well as where she stands on the issues that face Illinois taxpayers.

Bruce Rauner is a failed governor that needs to be defeated, Jeanne Ives told John Kass. They discussed the press conference Ives did with Brian McCann, the brother of Dennis McCann who was killed by a drunk driver who also happened to be an illegal alien (John Kass wrote about the incident here).… Continue Reading

Republican Vince Romano Challenges State Rep. Lou Lang in the 16th District

Written by John Biver

Vince Romano is once again challenging state Rep. Lou Lang in district 16, which includes parts of Chicago, Lincolnwood, Morton Grove, and Skokie. Rep. Lang has held his Illinois House seat for 30 years, and is Speaker Madigan’s Deputy Majority Leader.

Romano, a former financial advisor for Morgan Stanley, senses a growing discontent with Rep. Lang around the district, even among Democrats. Lang has a growing reputation of not being a man of his word, Romano said, “he makes a lot of promises and doesn’t have to bother fulfilling them because he sees his reelection as guaranteed — he’s a part of the Madigan machine.”… Continue Reading

“A Great Awakening in Illinois” (Spotlight #067)

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

Mickey Straub to Mount a Primary Challenge Failure-Ridden GOP Leader Jim Durkin

Written by John Biver

Usually when a legislator holds the top leadership post in their General Assembly caucus, reelection in their district is all but guaranteed. These are not usual times. The mood of the nation and the mood of Republican and independent voters in Illinois has changed.

State House Minority Leader Jim Durkin (R-Burr Ridge) will be facing a probably-well-funded challenger in next March’s primary.

IFI and IFA readers have seen his name previously on these pages.… Continue Reading

Illinois Democrats Line Up to Run for Governor

Written by John Biver

Twenty months is a long time in politics. Like it or not, here in Illinois, that is how long the campaign for governor will be. In November 2018, Illinoisans will once again be going to the polls to elect or re-elect someone to run the executive branch — and that race is already underway. There are five Democrats who have announced their candidacy, and several more are rumored to be considering a run.… Continue Reading

State Lawmakers Accused of Pay Raise by Committee

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.

Rich Miller Ignores Supermajority Reality to Demand Rauner Capitulate

Written by Eric Kohn

Rich Miller wants Bruce Rauner to surrender.

This has been a theme of Miller’s since shortly after Rauner was inaugurated.  [Recently] in a guest column at Reboot Illinois, he used the loss of two high profile Rauner-backed primary candidates to renew his call.  Miller begins with this sentence:

It’s almost impossible to make a deal with somebody who won’t accept reality.

Let’s talk about reality.

Miller is correct that Rauner lost two races where he had made a significant investment.  … Continue Reading

LaQuan Backlash Will Devour Alvarez in 2016

Written by Russ Stewart

The “Laquan McDonald Monster” has surfaced, and unlike the Loch Ness Monster, it is tangible, palpable and deadly. Those 16 bullets will be remembered by black voters in 2016, and a torrent of rage — and votes — will be directed in the March 15, 2016, Democratic primary against both Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez and any non-black candidates closely associated with Mayor Rahm Emanuel and police superintendent Garry McCarthy.

Over the past 50 years, there have been periodic “galvanizing” moments among local black voters, precipitating an electoral eruption and the defeat of candidates deemed hostile.… Continue Reading