Ralph Rivera

Illinois General Assembly Session Recap (Illinois Family Spotlight #098)

Benjamin D. Smith — Tue, 12 Jun 2018 07:00:13 +0000

Monte Larrick sat down with Illinois Family Institute’s lobbyist Ralph Rivera, and IFI’s contract lobbyist Mark Johnson following the adjournment of the most recent Illinois General Assembly session.

They discuss the new Illinois budget, a potential Illinois fair tax, SB 1564 and a pro-life version, financing taxpayer funded abortion, Illinois ratifying of the Equal Rights Amendment, when Illinois will attempt to legalize recreational marijuana, what the next attack on life might target, what Illinois might do with the US Supreme Court’s ruling about sports betting, and the vital importance of turning out to vote in the down ballot races.… Continue Reading

Pro-Life Groups Withdraw Support from Republican Senators that Supported the ERA

David E. Smith — Sat, 14 Apr 2018 10:00:31 +0000

Written by John Biver

The leaders of six pro-life organizations issued a public statement on Friday criticizing the 8 Republican state senators who joined the Democrats this past week to pass the “Equal Rights” Amendment (ERA).

In the letter, the pro-life leaders mention that left-wing U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has admitted that the “intended scope of the ERA is to greatly increase the scrutiny of pro-life legislation.”

A vote for the ERA is a vote for overturning abortion restrictions and enshrining abortion rights in the U.S.… Continue Reading

“We Need Some Changes in Springfield” (Illinois Family Spotlight #079)

Benjamin D. Smith — Tue, 30 Jan 2018 10:00:55 +0000

There is a big election on the horizon. What occurs in the 2018 primary could have huge implications on the future of Illinois. Ralph Rivera is back with Monte and Dave to discuss the March primary, and the legalization of recreational marijuana in Illinois.

Ralph is a lobbyist in Springfield with Illinois Right to Life Action and Illinois Family Institute.

The importance of the March primary is summed up during the discussion by two facts.… Continue Reading

Will State Lawmakers Be Working in Springfield Before the Primary?

David E. Smith — Thu, 11 Jan 2018 10:00:53 +0000

Written by John Biver

Monte and Dave are back with Ralph Rivera, a lobbyist for Illinois Right to Life Action and Illinois Family Institute.

This week’s edition of Spotlight features a discussion about the March 20th primary, the lawsuit surrounding HB 40, a bill enacting taxpayer funding of abortion, SB 1564 a bill that forces medical personnel to refer women to abortion clinics, the sanctuary state legislation signed by Governor Rauner, the Equal Rights Amendment, and new legislation concerns, including physician assisted suicide, and recreational marijuana.… Continue Reading

“Illinois Lawmakers Will be Working Before the Primary, Right?”(Illinois Family Spotlight #076)

Benjamin D. Smith — Tue, 09 Jan 2018 08:00:29 +0000

Monte and Dave are back with Ralph Rivera, a lobbyist for Illinois Right to Life Action and Illinois Family Institute.

This week’s Spotlight features a discussion about the March 20th primary, the lawsuit surrounding HB 40, a bill enacting taxpayer funding of abortion, SB 1564 a bill that forces medical personnel to refer women to abortion clinics, the sanctuary state legislation signed by Governor Rauner, the Equal Rights Amendment, and new legislation concerns, including physician assisted suicide, and recreational marijuana.… Continue Reading

SPOTLIGHT: Springfield 2017 Legislative Recap

David E. Smith — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 10:57:04 +0000

Written by Benjamin Smith

In this 50th edition of the Illinois Family Spotlight podcast, IFI’s and Illinois Right to Life Action’s lobbyist Ralph Rivera gives us a recap of the spring legislative session in Springfield. Well over 6,000 bills were introduced between January 11, 2017 and May 31, 2017. Dozens of these bills were on our radar screen. For a quick reference guide to these bills of concern, please click HERE.

In this podcast, Monte, Dave, and Ralph focus their discussions on HB 40, a bill which removes the ban on taxpayer funded abortions.… Continue Reading

SPOTLIGHT: They’re as Good at Math as They are at Biology

David E. Smith — Tue, 18 Jul 2017 11:33:08 +0000

Written by Benjamin Smith

In this week’s Spotlight podcast, Monte and Dave talk with IFI lobbyist Ralph Rivera and Special Project Coordinator John Biver about a bill to advance and enable gender confusion in the state of Illinois. Sponsored by State Representative Greg Harris (D-Chicago), HB 1785 would allow gender-dysphoric persons to falsify their birth certificates, which are both legal and historical documents.

This will have consequences with regard to the relentless cultural assault on physical privacy through the sexual integration of previously sex-segregated spaces.… Continue Reading

“They’re as Good at Math as They are at Biology” (Spotlight #049)

Benjamin D. Smith — Tue, 18 Jul 2017 05:00:41 +0000

Monte and Dave talk with Ralph Rivera and John Biver about HB 1785, which is a gender birth certificate bill which allows a person to legally change the gender on their birth certificate.

Ralph and John make a persuasive case that this bill will have tremendous implications on religious liberty in the state of Illinois

Ralph Rivera is a lobbyist for the Illinois Family Institute, and John Biver is Special Projects Coordinator for IFI.

Please call the governors office at (217) 782-0244 and ask him to veto HB 1785.… Continue Reading

SPOTLIGHT: Springfield Pro-Family Update

David E. Smith — Tue, 25 Apr 2017 16:00:38 +0000

Written by Benjamin Smith

Illinois lawmakers are back in Springfield after a two-week break, and only have six weeks before they are scheduled to adjourn for the summer. Monte and Dave discuss pending legislation with IFI lobbyist, Ralph Rivera, the only full-time pro-family lobbyist in Springfield.

Take ACTION! Please call your state rep and ask them to vote NO to each of these bills.

HB 40 — reinstates taxpayer-funded abortions for Medicaid recipients and adds abortion coverage in state employees’ insurance plans. … Continue Reading

Life & Family Groups Declare Support for State Senator Sam McCann

David E. Smith — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 19:00:20 +0000

Three of the major Pro-life and Pro-Family political action committees in the State have come together in strong support of the candidacy of State Senator William “Sam” McCann for the 50th Senate District in the March 15, 2016 Republican Primary.

“Senator McCann has been a strong voice for the pro-life cause, recently voting against a bill that would have forced crisis pregnancy centers, that devote their efforts to helping women choose Life for their unborn babies, to participate in abortion” said Ralph Rivera, Chairman of Illinois Citizens for Life PAC and state lobbyist for Illinois Citizens for Life at the State Capitol.… Continue Reading