Illinois Review

Rossi: Bad News Dems, Americans Don’t Like Reparations!

By Randy Rossi - 

In my life time, I have never seen anything more disgusting and insulting than to see most Democrat candidates for president embrace the horrific idea of reparations for slavery just to buy black votes. Al Sharpton asked many Democrat candidates on stage if they would support reparations if elected, and all present said yes obviously to get the black votes that Sharpton influences. The good news for America is that a new Rasmussen poll reports that 66% of Americans oppose the idea of reparations. That’s really bad news for Dems because apparently most Americans see reparations as the sham it is designed to buy black votes with our tax dollars and it will be fun to watch Trump eviscerate whoever wins the Democrat primary for endorsing reparations to buy votes.

But according to that same Rasmussen poll, 21% of Americans do support the idea of reparations and 13% are undecided. Did they flunk their high school history courses that taught them that 600,000 Americans died and 1.2 million were wounded in the Civil War over 154 years ago to free the slaves? That is enough reparations! Or don’t they know that all the Northern states had already made slavery illegal before the Civil War and only 2% of all Americans owned slaves when the Civil War started? I am sure that they don’t know that most if not all the black slaves in America originally came from Africa and were initially enslaved by fellow blacks in tribal wars and then sold for profit by their black brothers and then ended up as slaves in America. How about the uncomfortable truth that 13% of all American slaves were owned by free black men? Slavery has been practiced by virtually every country and every race in the world through history.

Democrat 'Infanticide guv' makes animal cruelty a felony

Virginia Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam famously has indicated he’s willing to allow a new-born child to die, but he’s concerned about cruelty to animals.

Northam has signed legislation making animal cruelty a Class 6 felony, punishable by a fine of up to $2,500 and a prison sentence of up to five years.

In November, however, he supported a bill that would have allowed abortion through all nine months of pregnancy and even permitted allowing newborns who survived an abortion to die.

More HERE

All the Progressive Plotters

Is it now permissible in 2020 for Trump’s FBI director to insert an informant into the campaign of the Democratic presidential nominee? If Joe Biden is the 2020 nominee, will the Trump Justice Department seek FISA warrants to monitor the communications of Biden’s campaign team—in worries that Biden son’s business practices in the Ukraine had earlier compromised Biden who had intervened on his behalf by threatening to cut off aid to Ukraine? Will they investigate Biden’s propensity to hug and kiss under-aged girls? Will Trump’s CIA director contact foreign nationals to aid in spying on Biden’s aides? Will National Security Advisor John Bolton request that the names of surveilled Biden campaign officials become unmasked as a way of having them leaked to the media? Will Trump hire a British ex-spy to gather together rumors and gossip about Biden’s previous overseas trips and foreign contacts.

More HERE

Love Your Enemies: How Decent People Can Save America from the Culture of Contempt

Divisive politicians. Screaming heads on television. Angry campus activists. Twitter trolls. Today in America there is an “outrage industrial complex” that prospers by setting American against American, creating a “culture of contempt” — the habit of seeing those who disagree with you as not merely incorrect but also worthless as people.

Vaping Restrictions Hike Youth Smoking

Similar to how government regulations of opioid medications helped to fuel the recent heroin and fentanyl scourges, it seems government restrictions on e-cigarettes to combat the “vaping epidemic” has inadvertently increased combustible tobacco cigarette use among youth. Such is the law of unintended consequences.

Across the nation, lawmakers seem stuck in a tragic game of whack-a-mole. The more they try to reduce youth vaping, the more they increase youth combustible cigarette smoking. For example, Lancaster County, Nebraska reported a reduction in sales of vaping products to minors “from 21.2 percent in 2017 to 5.3 percent in 2018.” During the same period, non-vaping tobacco product sales to minors increased, from 5.9 to 8.7 percent.

Moreover, a 2015 Yale study found state bans on the sale of e-cigarettes to minors created “a statistically significant 1.0 percentage point increase in recent cigarette smoking rates among 12 to 17 year olds.”

More HERE

GOP senator, Chicago mayor agree on Rockford and Chicago casinos

ROCKFORD - Over the weekend, longtime state Senator Dave Syverson (R-Rockford) posted a photo of himself with the incoming new Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, and declared that he agreed with her on one thing - well really two things - a casino in Rockford and a casino in Chicago. 

"Had a chance to meet with new Chicago Mayor. One thing we certainly agree on is Casino’s in Chicago and Rockford," the senator wrote.

A constituent defied the senator's eagerness for more casinos in Illinois, saying, "Gambling revenue comes from the same pot of revenue as before gambling arrives. Therefore, more money spent on gambling means less money spent on the stuff before gambling."

The writer wrote consumers always lose at the table as the odds are set by the state, and went on to write, "Lastly, gambling operators are bottom feeders and the wrong people to mix with!" 

Senator Syverson stood his ground, however, answering publicly that getting a casino in Rockford and Chicago is "good economics." 

Did you get a tax cut?

DC - Depends on who's speaking about taxes today on April 15th, 2019 as to whether the Trump Administration's Tax Cut was good or totally irrelevant.While some are complaining their tax refunds are less than last year, many of those complainers are not realizing less was taken out of their checks every pay period throughout the year - allowing them to deposit more into their bank accounts all year long, while keeping their refunds low. 

The point is - Uncle Sam got less from each American worker all in all. 

Here's what the Republicans are saying today:

Prolifers conclude 40 Days prayer emphasis outside Illinois abortion clinics

Local residents pray for end to abortion at Flossmoor Planned Parenthood

FLOSSMOOR - At the site of Illinois' newest Planned Parenthood Clinic in south suburban Flossmoor Illinois, prolifers gathered Saturday evening for a candlelight vigil concluding the movement's annual 40 Days for Life prayer emphasis.

From March 6th to April 14th, prolifers took turns praying outside five Illinois abortion clinics - in Champaign, Downers Grove, Flossmoor, Skokie, and Springfield.

Effingham County Board considers voiding FOID card; offering Chicago Separation referendum

BREAKING: Monday afternoon, Effingham County Board passed both resolutions discussed below: the FOID Card Repeal resolution 8 to 1; the Chicago Separation ballot referendum 7 to 2. More to come ahead ... Wording to Separation referendum question below.

EFFINGHAM COUNTY - Monday afternoon, the Effingham County Board will be voting on two resolutions that are bringing to the state's surface an undercurrent of downstaters rejecting Leftist policies stemming from Chicago politicians. 

One resolution condemns Illinois' Firearm Owners Identification Card, authored by Effingham County board member Dave Campbell. Campbell has already successfully passed legislation deeming Effingham County a "sanctuary county" - rejecting what county law enforcers deem as "unconstitutional removal of gun rights." 

The second resolution before the Board Monday will be placing a question about whether the rest of Illinois outside of Cook County should separate and form a new state. Board member Heather Mumma will present the Separation resolution.  

This weekend, the growing Chicago Separation movement Dave Campbell (photo right) is leading in Effingham County and State Rep. Brad Halbrook (R-Shelbyville) is advocating statewide was featured in the Chicago Tribune and on national news.

Thorner: Chicago's 100% renewables is pipe dream and disaster in the making

 
By Nancy Thorner - 

Legislation unanimously passed on April 10, 2019 by the Chicago City Council has just made Chicago the largest city in the United States to commit to100 percent clean energy. By so doing, Chicago, a metropolis of 2.7 million, has planned to enabe the metropolis to power its buildings on clean and renewable energy by 2035.  Even the Chicago Transit Authority, the country’s second-largest public transportation system, will completely electrify its fleet of over 1,850 buses by 2040.

Chicago is now officially a part of the Ready for 100 club, having joined 118 other cities across the country that have committed to generating 100 percent energy from clean, renewable sources. These six have reached their goals: Aspen, Burlington, Georgetown, Greensburg, Rock Port, and Kodiak Island.

Can this really be?  A city which can’t run a bus company or school system without tax money from downstate residents is going to eliminate fossil fuels?

Republicans Drive Erosion of Media Credibility

The share of U.S. adults who said nine leading media outlets were credible has dropped an average of 5 percentage points over the past three years. The small decline was largely driven by Republicans, who became on average 12 points less likely to say those organizations were credible.

Confidence in media institutions overall was also down in 2018, according to three Morning Consult tracking polls.

More HERE

Why Has the West Been So Successful?

The Western world has produced some of the most prosperous and most free civilizations on earth. What makes the West exceptional? Ben Shapiro, editor-in-chief of the Daily Wire and author of “The Right Side of History,” explains that the twin pillars of revelation and reason — emanating from ancient Jerusalem and Athens — form the bedrock for Western civilization's unprecedented success.

Angry White Male Studies course illustrates left-wing craziness on campus

The University of Kansas, a bastion of taxpayer-funded liberalism in an otherwise predominantly Republican and conservative state, will offer its students an oh-so progressive course titled "Angry White Male Studies" in the upcoming fall semester.

Really.

The course will be taught by a white male – Christopher Forth, a professor of humanities and history. No word on how angry he is – or if he will begin the course by apologizing for his gender and race, and all the evil deeds perpetrated by white men going back to prehistoric times.

Perhaps Forth can assign students to evaluate his anger level and write term papers on that important topic. If they deem him too angry, maybe some tranquilizers and anger therapy could be used to modify his behavior.

More HERE

Preferred Pronouns or Prison

“He.” “She.” “They.” Have you ever given a moment’s thought to your everyday use of these pronouns? It has probably never occurred to you that those words could be misused. Or that doing so could cost you your business or your job – or even your freedom. Journalist Abigail Shrier explains how this happened and why it's become a major free speech issue.

Maddow Exposed

Ryan Mauro, Clarion’s national security analyst, has a lot to say about the hypocrisy within the media. He points out that by directing the discussion, Rachel Maddow is skewing the conversation to fuel her own political agenda.

Sanctuary state status could bring upon Illinois what they asked for

Chicago Tribune photo

CHICAGO - Remember when "moderate" Republican Governor Bruce Rauner signed into law protections for immigrants living in Illinois that had chosen to evade the federal immigration system? The law made Illinois a "sanctuary state" where law enforcement officials would be no longer required to advise immigration officials of a person's immigration status that had entered their system. 

Friday, President Trump revealed the possibility that so-called "sanctuary cities" (and or states we presume) would be where the border patrol would send the thousands of immigrants claiming asylum in the U.S. that are over-burdening border towns in Texas and California. 

"Due to the fact that Democrats are unwilling to change our very dangerous immigration laws, we are indeed as reported, giving strong considerations to placing illegal immigrants in Sanctuary cities only ..." Trump wrote.

Could Trump be banned from Illinois' 2020 ballot?

CHICAGO - Could President Trump be banned from being included on Illinois' 2020 primary or general election ballot?  It's possible, if the Democrat majority in the Illinois General Assembly has their way. 

This week, the Illinois Senate passed along party lines a bill that would require presidential and vice-presidential candidates to release their tax returns in order to be on the Illinois ballot. The requirement does not include other federal or state candidates.

Beckman: Will Joe Biden's creepiness turn off voters in 2020?

By Hank Beckman - 

It’s been a tough couple weeks for Joe Biden.

He’s spent virtually his entire working life in the U.S. Senate, chaired both the Senate Judiciary and Foreign Relations committees, run for president twice, become vice president and a permanent fixture on the national scene. Along the way, he’s become the rarest of creatures in the modern political era—someone liked (if not quite respected) by people from both sides of the partisan divide.

Thorner: Freedom Caucus' Jim Jordan: Freedom under attack

By Nancy Thorner - 

Ohio Congressman Jim Jordan told a private group at Chicago's Trump Tower this week that the current Democrat Party is the craziest he has ever experienced. Listing the Democrats' efforts to reject the Electoral College and allow 16-year-olds to vote, Jordan said, "It all boils down to freedom that is under attack." 

During short introductory comments, Rep. Jordan encouraged willingness to accept risk as necessary in today's political climate.  Quoting columnist Cal Thomas, Jordan said, "I get up every morning and read my Bible and the NYT to see what each side is up to." 

The First Amendment is something to be cherished for it affords the ability to promote Republican ideals and policies, Jordan said.  Then citing Dick Armey, who served as House Majority Leader from 1995 to 2003, had to say about Republicans: "When we act like us, we win.  When we act like them, we lose.”

Opposition responds to Pritzker's graduated tax plan

Springfield, Ill. – Tuesday, Governor JB Pritzker and Democrat leaders of the General Assembly announced a major step forward towards a graduated state income tax. The lawmakers introduced the language to which they would like to see the Illinois Constitution changed. Soon after, opponents responded.

Governor Pritzker says his proposed fair income tax would address the state’s multi-billion-dollar budget deficit by raising taxes only on those making more than $250,000, who represent only 3% of taxpayers.

“Working with the General Assembly, my administration is taking an important next step to change our tax system to be more fair to the middle class,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “The action we’re taking today means we are one step closer to giving voters a choice about whether the wealthy will pay more and 97% of families will pay the same or less. I’ve said from the beginning that it doesn’t make sense that I pay the same rate as a teacher or first responder, and today brings us closer making Illinois’ tax system fair.”

Is IL 14th's Underwood one of AOC's "mean girls"?

Lauren Underwood (far left) with AOC (center) and IL 9ths Jan Schakowsky (right)

AURORA - Illinois' 14th CD - represented last session by conservative GOP US Congressman Randy Hultgren - was a part of Illinois' powerful 2018 "Blue Tsunami" that led to Democrats regaining the majority and making Nancy Pelosi the US House Speaker. Along with Pelosi becoming House Speaker, a group of radical Leftist Democrat freshmen were sworn into office, grabbing the DC media spotlight and stunning Democrats and Republicans alike. 

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-New York) is leading the new group of outspoken, controversial federal lawmakers. They include On March 30, 2019, AOC publicly endorsed 14th CD new Congress member Lauren Underwood as 'one of the "straightest shooters" in the freshman class. AOC encouraged like-minded folks to donate to Underwood's re-election campaign:

Downstate rep hopes to block Pritzker plan to fund gender reassignment surgery

EFFINGHAM - State Rep. Darren Bailey (R-Effingham) disagrees with Governor Pritzker's plan to tap Illinois' taxpayer-funded Medicaid program for gender reassignment surgery, he said Monday. The freshman legislator says he will be introducing legislation to stop the mandate from proceeding.

“This is yet another example of why people in our part of the state want to separate from Chicago,” Effingham Radio.com reports Bailey said earlier this week. “The Governor says that supporting the LGBTQ community by this publicly-funded kind of operation is the right thing to do. Well, I disagree!”

Governor Pritzker launched the policy change with an announcement last Friday. Under the governor's proposed coverage rules, Medicaid members age 21 and older diagnosed with gender dysphoria will be eligible for genital and breast-related surgeries.

Di Leo: Crime & Punishment: Lasting Effects of the Russian Collusion Hoax

By John F. Di Leo - 

It seems like a lifetime ago, but it was only a couple years ago that we learned that the U.S. Department of Justice had opened up an investigation to determine whether or not Donald Trump was actually a Russian agent... an investigation that has dominated our news cycle 24/7 ever since.

It was so ludicrous, it was difficult for some of us to take it seriously, but it was a real investigation, so it had to have some foundation. It just HAD to.

Two years later, the Mueller Commission presented its report to the Attorney General, acknowledging that there was nothing there. Not just that there wasn’t sufficient evidence to bring a case against the President, but more importantly, Americans have connected the dots and understood that it was a hoax all along, that it was never justified in the least, that the charges were based on a fabricated dossier created by crooked foreign players for a Democratic Party political campaign, that it represented a gross abuse of the Patriot Act's FISA court structure and a warping of the very mission of the DoJ.

Rossi: Time to get angry with the Illegal Immigration Con Game

By Randy Rossi -

It is time for every legal immigrant and my fellow children of legal immigrants to get really upset with this illegal immigration con game. Those of you who followed the rule of law and legally immigrated here or are the children of a parent or parents that legally immigrated to America should be outraged at those illegal aliens who broke the law and jumped ahead of people that obey the law. And they should be furious with those Democrats and the “fake news” media that constantly tell us there is no illegal immigration crisis and we are racists and xenophobes if we want to protect our borders and the rule of law.

After all, the rule of law is the difference between America and those chaotic counties that so many people are fleeing. If we don’t protect the rule of law and our sovereignty, we will become no different than those chaotic countries millions of people are fleeing.

Beardstown IL school causes controversy by removing bathroom stall doors

BEARDSTOWN - Privacy is something that Beardstown High Schoolers are no longer allowed to have when they go to the bathroom. When students came to school one day last week, they found bathroom stall doors removed, and along with them, their privacy. 

The reason? It's the fault of the students and what's going on in the stalls, the superintendent said. 

“You have to understand when kids have a place to spend time, whether it’s a minute or five minutes sometimes things happen whether it’s good, bad or otherwise," Superintendent Ron Gilbert told ABC 20. Removing bathroom stall doors has helped limit some of the things that were taking place in them, he said. 

Girls aren't standing for it, one student said.

Illinois taxpayers to fund Medicaid gender-reassignment surgeries

Gov and Mrs. Pritzker featured at Equality IL Gala

CHICAGO - Illinois taxpayers will not only fund through Medicaid women's abortions, they will now pay for sex reassignment surgeries. It's a public policy Governor JB Pritzker signed into place last Friday.  What many have for decades considered cosmetic, elective surgery, Governor Pritzker has now obligated taxpayers to pay for such surgeries because, he says, the procedures are cost-saving, life-saving and "just the right thing to do." 

Coverage for these procedures serve to prevent negative health impacts – such as depression and suicide, a statement from Prtizker's office said. Seventeen states and the District of Columbia offer these services and have not reported significant cost increases despite the new mandate. About 1,400 of Illinois’ 3.1 million Medicaid members are diagnosed with gender dysphoria, IL News reports. Last year, about 2,500 prescriptions for hormone therapy were covered.

“Expanding Medicaid to cover gender affirming surgeries is cost effective, helps avoid long term health consequences, and most importantly is the right thing to do," Pritzker said in a statement issued Friday. "With continued attacks coming from Washington, this administration will always stand with our transgender community and their right to lead safe and healthy lives.”

Pritzker pledges protecting Illinois' abused children while pushing more abortion rights

JB Pritzker campaign photo

DECATUR — At an event to recognize Child Abuse Prevention Month, last Friday, Gov. JB Pritzker emphasized his focus on improving the Department of Children and Family Services - a state agency whose purpose is to protect children suspected of being abused.

The agency has been soundly criticized over the past few years as reports of children dying under DCFS' supervision - as did a two year old in February in Decatur, where Pritzker's event was held. 
 
"I am here today because keeping our most vulnerable children safe is a huge priority for me personally and for the state of Illinois," Pritzker said.

Thorner: Illinois’ misguided path toward legalizing marijuana

By Nancy Thorner - 

The effort to legalize the use of marijuana for medical purposed in Illinois had its beginning back in 2010 through Senate Bill 1381. Its main sponsor was Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie). The bill would have allowed Illinois residents to possess marijuana to treat the symptoms of AIDS, cancer, glaucoma and other illnesses, if the patient gets a note from their doctor stating they need to use marijuana. 

Following an impassioned debate of Senate Bill 1381 on the House floor, Lang pulled the proposal off the floor at the last minute when a vote came up just shy of the 60 votes needed for passage.  As State Rep. Ron Stephens (R-Greenville) and licensed pharmacist said at the time: “In states that have legalized medical marijuana, evidence has shown us clearly that it is not about treating ailments and disorders, it is about making marijuana available. This should be called the marijuana possession bill.”

RIP: Donald Totten February 19, 1933 — April 2, 2019

Donald Totten - one-time state senator, Cook County GOP chairman, and Illinois/Midwest Chairman of 1980, 84 Reagan Campaigns - passed away at age 86 

By Joseph Morris -

With sorrow I advise of the death Tuesday of Donald Totten, 86.  He was with his children in North Carolina at the time.

Don Totten was a rarity:  A highly principled political thinker who was also a highly practical political leader.

He was a major figure in conservative and Republican politics in Illinois, the Midwest, and the nation.

Thorner: Second Amendment's future rests with control of Supreme Court

David Keene (photo by Nancy Thorner) 

By Nancy Thorner - 

On Tuesday March 26, 2019, the Heartland Institute featured David Keene, Editor at Large of The Washington Times. Mr. Keene also served from 2011 to 2013 as president of the National Rifle Association, the nation's largest Second Amendment membership organization. There he worked tirelessly to keep the U.S. from adopting further gun control legislation. Keene's topic for the evening?  "Ceasefire in the War on Guns is Over." 

Mr. Keene didn't disappoint in explaining to a full house in Heartland's state-of-the-art Andrew Breitbart Freedom Center  what gun owners can expect from Washington, D.C., the states and the courts as progressive Democrats and their funders launch the biggest, most coordinated and well financed attack on the Second Amendment ever. 

Sen. Jason Plummer: Don’t be fooled, history is repeating itself

Why lawmakers are calling Illinois’ fiscal mess a “deficit” problem rather than by its true name

By Senator Jason Plummer (R-Edwardsville) -

As legislators are being asked to consider an entirely new income tax structure with graduated rates projected to bring in billions in new state revenue to fill what is being called a “deficit,”—we need to be asking ourselves a more fundamental question—does Illinois have a “deficit” problem or a “spending” problem?

If the state’s financial problems are due to a “deficit,” well then, that is news to me. The broken record of increasing our taxes has been played out enough. Raise taxes, spend the funds irresponsibly, realize the true problem has not been addressed, orchestrate a plan to bamboozle the taxpayers—then tax some more!

Rep. Deanne Mazzochi: Sunlight is best disinfectant for prescription drug prices

By State Rep. Deanne Mazzochi (R-Elmhurst) - 

My committee hearing comments on House Bill 3493 recently went viral (see below). The bill’s “Prescription Drug Affordability Act” title sounds nice in theory, but in practice proposed taxing pharmaceutical manufacturers (based on their total revenues as a percentage of the state market) to fund a new state bureaucracy, appointed by political insiders, who would divine a “fair” price for thousands of medications.

How Sweden condemns Christians to their death

For many years, Swedish authorities have been deporting Christians to countries where Christians are persecuted and killed. Countries like Afghanistan, which Open Doors describes as the second most dangerous country for Christians in the world, second only to North Korea. This is an ongoing crisis: several Christians were deported from Sweden to Afghanistan just a few weeks ago, and more deportations are planned to take place soon.

Swedish authorities motivate these human rights abuses by claiming that the asylum seekers aren’t "real" Christians. I have previously written about the absurd questions they use in order to "discern" this, questions like "What does Matthew 10:34 say?" and "Can you describe the sacraments?"

I made a test that included these questions and let tens of thousands of Swedish Christians try it out. Only 300 people managed to get more than 60% correct answers.

More HERE

Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative Has Reached a New Milestone

The Pentagon commemorated the 36th anniversary of President Ronald Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative in dramatic fashion last week by reaching a new technological milestone.

The military conducted a successful test of the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense system against the most complex simulated threat to date.

More HERE 

Where in The U.S. Are You Most Likely to Be Audited by the IRS?

Humphreys County, Mississippi, seems like an odd place for the IRS to go hunting for tax cheats. It’s a rural county in the Mississippi Delta known for its catfish farms, and more than a third of its mostly African American residents are below the poverty line. But according to a new study, it is the most heavily audited county in America.

In a baffling twist of logic, the intense IRS focus on Humphreys County is actually because so many of its taxpayers are poor. More than half of the county’s taxpayers claim the earned income tax credit, a program designed to help boost low-income workers out of poverty.

More HERE

Tucker Carlson and the Battle for Freedom

After years of attacks on Fox News, Rush Limbaugh, Lou Dobbs, Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity and recently Laura Ingraham, the targeting of Tucker Carlson has become the tipping point for push back. The push back comes in the form of an organization calling itself “Stand With Tucker,”, and it can be found here.

The group was started by Larry Ward, who has been in the political advertising business for twenty years, with a focus on digital and social media. Ward has already been long involved in fighting the left-wing tech giants of Silicon Valley, notably with Facebook.

The site posted by Ward and his conservative coalition says among other things, this:

Enough!We have had enough of the hateful, well-funded and orchestrated smear campaigns designed to silence conservative voices. Tucker Carlson is the latest target of Media Matters and the Soros left. We must fight back. Sign this petition urging Fox News and Tucker Carlson Tonight advertisers including Lexus, Jaguar, Pacific Life, Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Sheex who have pulled ads according to the LA Times, to stand for free speech.

More HERE

Casten works to remove predecessor Henry Hyde's prolife funding protection

DC - Seven of Illinois' Democrat members of the U.S. House signed on last month to a measure that would destroy the prolife legacy of the late Congressman Henry Hyde (IL). In addition, Illinois' junior U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth helped introduce the EACH Woman Act that would force taxpayer funding of abortions on low income women with Medicaid health coverage. 

Pro-abortion Democrat Sean Casten now represents Illinois 6th Congressional District that Hyde represented from 1975 to his retirement in 2007, the same year he passed away. Casten's stinging rebuke of Hyde in his press release boasting the intention of the EACH Woman Act said, "The Hyde Amendment – named after anti-choice ideologue Henry Hyde who formerly represented the 6th District – has, since 1976, blocked the use of federal funding for abortion services."

Family group lobbyists resign as pressure builds over hate speech resolution

SPRINGFIELD - Illinois Family Institute continues to appeal to state lawmakers this week on issues of importance to their group, despite growing obstacles.

Last week, a group of Democrat Jewish House members introduced a resolution condemning the prolife, traditional values organization as a "hate group," and called for the State Police to investigate them. The resolution also called for the group's lobbyists to be banned from the Capitol until the State Police investigation was completed. 

During one of the most intense pro-abortion, anti-traditional values legislative sessions in years, Illinois Family Institute's registered lobbyists Ralph Rivera and Molly Malone resigned March 25th, the Secretary of State's records say. The two remain on record as lobbyists for the Illinois Right to Life and the Illinois Coalition of Non-Public Schools. 

For the rest of the session, Illinois Family Institute volunteers will be speaking with state lawmakers on the group's behalf, executive director David E. Smith told Illinois Review Wednesday.

As more "red flag" states emerge, so do more "sanctuary" counties

EFFINGHAM - So-called "red flag" gun laws are passing state legislatures throughout the nation, and county sheriffs are not raising a white surrender flag in response. Indeed, in Illinois 62 of 102 counties have passed county ordinances declaring their jurisdictions as "sanctuary counties," exempting themselves from enforcing what they consider unconstitutional state laws.

As more states pass "red flag" laws, more counties are attempting to defy the policy.

Oberweis: I support Trump's policies, not his style

From Sen. Jim Oberweis Facebook page 

AURORA - State Senator Jim Oberweis (R-North Aurora), who is running to be the 2020 GOP candidate in the 14th CD, wants it made clear: he likes the policies Donald Trump is putting into place, while he doesn't like Trump's style.

The controversy arose on a Facebook discussion in which the question was asked whether Oberweis supported Trump. "I've asked several times, but he has never answered," said political activist Joe Ptak in the discussion. 

Oberweis saw the discussion online and called Illinois Review to straighten any misperceptions about his support for Trump.

Chicago picks Lightfoot over Preckwinkle for "change"

Lori Lightfoot (right) with wife Amy Eshleman (left) and daughter Vivian

CHICAGO - Tuesday night, Chicagoans overwhelmingly expressed their demand for change by electing as their mayor Lori Lightfoot. Lightfoot is an attorney that expressed strong progressive political views during the many debates she had with her opponent Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. Both are Democrats.

Preckwinkle's perceived connections with the corrupt Chicago Machine and indicted longtime Chicago alderman Ed Burke was rejected soundly. Lightfoot won all 50 Chicago wards, including Preckwinkle's own, in a devastating 73 to 26 point decision.

Where’s Weyermuller? At the “Kim Foxx Must Go” Protest

By Mark Weyermuller -

Monday, several hundred people stood outside of 69 West Washington Street in downtown Chicago  to protest Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx. She is county official that dropped 16 felony counts, including providing false information to the police, a grand jury agreed Empire actor Jussie Smollett should face in court.

Over 300 people protested Foxx outside her Chicago office. The Chicago Fraternal of Police organized a protest, which included many active and retired members of law enforcement.  They blame Foxx and the Cook County Court system for much of the violence, murders, and unrest in the city specifically for their lack of prosecuting many crimes as their protest signs showed.

Number of religious marriage ceremonies falls to an all time low

Weddings are becoming increasingly secular as new figures from the Office for National Statistics reveal that the percentage of religious ceremonies in the UK has fallen to a record low.

According to the figures out Thursday, the number of couples tying the knot in a religious ceremony fell to its lowest ever in 2016 (24 per cent).

Religious marriage ceremonies fell by 4.1% on the previous year and by nearly half (48%) the percentage of couples who opted for a religious ceremony two decades ago.

"This is partly due to the long-term decline in the overall number of all marriages but also the rise in popularity of civil marriage ceremonies," the report said.

More HERE

Rossi: History Lesson for Eric Holder

By Randy Rossi - 

Former Obama AG Eric Holder just showed his incredible ignorance when he insulted every American, our ancestors, and our Founding Fathers. When discussing Trump’s MAGA theme Holder said, “I hear these things about “Let’s make America great again” and I think to myself, exactly when did you think America was great”.

Clearly Mr. Holder flunked his high school history courses! First America became great when our Founding Fathers defeated the strongest military in the world to win our freedom and then they created our magnificent Constitution and Bill of Rights which the whole world has admired since then.

Dobson: Dems' 'equality' bill targets Christians

James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family and the James Dobson Family Institute, the author of dozens of books on family and adviser to presidents, warns the Democrats’ proposed Equality Act is a really, really bad deal for the nation.

When Justice Is Corrupted at the Top, a Society Becomes Corrupted Downstream

First a meme — from our pledge of allegiance: With liberty and justice for all.

Now a second meme — from the 1950s “Superman” TV show: Truth, Justice, and the American Way.

Now the Bible: Tzedek Tzedek Tirdof — Righteousness Righteousness [alt. version: Justice Justice] [Shalt] Thou Pursue. Deut. 16:20.

And now a few solo words: Hillary. Yoga. Bleach. Comey. Lynch. Matter. Strzok. Page. Andy. Insurance. McCabe. Ohr. Steele. Fusion. Dossier. Yates. FISA. Flynn. Stone. Tarmac. Smollett. Kimfoxx. College. Admissions. Coxswain. CNN. MSNBC. Maddow. Behar. Lemon. Clapper. Brennan.

When a society’s justice system breaks down, the society collapses. When justice is corrupted, the society devolves into chaos. Justice is the foundation of the earth, and a nation’s population needs to know that, at some bottom-line fundamental level, the rules by which all are supposed to play are applied and enforced evenly, fairly. The image of the masked lady of justice holding the scales is evocative: justice must be blind. It may not favor the rich over the poor, the strong over the weak, the favored over the unfavored. When people truly believe that they cannot get justice within the law, chaos inevitably ensues as law-breaking becomes commonplace — because there is no justice. Even an American free-market system needs to revolve around not only just economic principles but also other fair principles that include but are not limited to freedom to communicate thoughts and ideas without fear of repercussions, freedom to worship, freedom to engage in the social enterprise under the rules of fair play, and equal justice under the law. When principles like those are perverted, the social construct breaks down.

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The Chicago Fire: America at Its Best

The most famous fire in American history happened in Chicago on October 8, 1871. But it’s not the fire that was so remarkable; it’s what happened afterwards. Lee Habeeb, host of the nationally syndicated radio show “Our American Stories,” explains.

Illinois lawmakers consider resolution banning certain free speech

SPRINGFIELD - Before ten Illinois lawmakers left the Capitol last Friday afternoon, they filed a resolution that would ban citizens with deeply held religious beliefs from freely expressing those views and conveying those views to their elected officials at the State Capitol. 

Members of the Illinois Legislature's Jewish caucus released a press statement condemning Illinois Family Institute and its sister organization Illinois Family Action - calling for the State Police to investigate the group's "pattern of hate speech and imagery" as posted on their website and social media pages.

Thorner: VP Pence encourages Chicago area conservatives Friday night

Turning Point USA Charlie Kirk with Vice President Mike Pence

By Nancy Thorner - 

Vice President Mike Pence bolstered a frustrated crowd of Chicago area conservatives - both young and not-so-young - last Friday night by encouraging them to be bold and be persistent.

Activist groups push for stringent workweek scheduling in Illinois

SPRINGFIELD - Activist groups focused on changing Illinois policies affecting the workforce are plowing their way through the Illinois General Assembly. Already, the #Fightfor15 movement has forced a statewide minimum wage requirement of $15 per hour over the next few years. Employers are required to participate in a retirement plan of some sort for each of their fulltime employees. Now the #FairWorkweek movement demand predictable and stable work hours and a voice in deciding when and how much they will work. 

Days of working overtime unexpectedly would be gone if the group's efforts become state law.