The Three Trap Doors of Springfield
Springfield doesn’t just pass bad policy — it has developed trap doors to help politicians escape transparency and accountability. Last-minute amendments. Rushed…
By David Curtin
David Curtin
Writing for IFI since 2022 19 articles
About David Curtin
David Curtin is a veteran pro-life advocate, political consultant, and lobbyist for the Illinois Family Institute. A native of Stonington and a graduate of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, he lives and works in Springfield.
Articles by David Curtin
Session Ends, But the Cosmic Battle Continues
Praise God: the Illinois General Assembly has finally gone home! But not before advancing more big-government schemes, anti-family policies, and burdens on…
By David Curtin
Legislative Update for the Week of May 25, 2026
Springfield is in the final stretch of session, and major legislation is moving fast. From attacks on parental rights and the Second…
By David Curtin
Legislative Update for the Week of May 18, 2026
Tick. Tock. Springfield’s clock is running out, and lawmakers are pushing controversial bills in the final days of session. More bureaucracy. Less…
By David Curtin
Legislative Update & Witness Slips for the Week of May 11, 2026
The Illinois General Assembly is in the homestretch before its May 31 adjournment. Several bad bills are still moving through committees and…
By David Curtin
“Highest Property Taxes in the Country”: Illinois Lawmakers Push for Relief
Illinois families are drowning in rising costs—gasoline, food, insurance, utilities. And now Springfield risks driving property taxes even higher? Enough is enough.…
By David E. Smith and David Curtin
Legislative Alert for the Week of April 20, 2026
Springfield is moving fast—multiple bills advancing that will impact families, parental rights, and our communities. If we stay silent, we shouldn’t be…
By David Curtin
Witness Slips for the Week of April 6, 2026
The Illinois House is back in session this week. The Illinois Senate is not back until next week. Several House bills have…
By David Curtin
Springfield Update: Week of March 30, 2026
Two dozen bad bills pushed in Springfield last week. Thankfully, most were stopped—for now. But 7 are moving forward, including abortion expansion,…
By David Curtin
“The State Has No Authority To Come Into My Home”
House Bill 2827 is facing significant opposition from various groups, particularly homeschool advocates, parents, and organizations concerned with educational freedom and parental…
By David Curtin
State Lawmakers May Try to Legalize Physician-Assisted Suicide Next Week
It looks fairly certain that the Illinois General Assembly is going to try to pass a Physician-Assisted Suicide bill in Springfield during…
By David Curtin
Observations from Springfield
The Democrats will still have supermajorities in each chamber of the Illinois General Assembly in the 104th General Assembly (2025-2026). It seems…
By David Curtin