State Senator Kimberly Lightford (D-Chicago) has been diligently working to expand the state’s compulsory school attendance laws. In February 2019, she introduced a bill to lower the mandatory age for school attendance in Illinois from 6 to 5 years of age.  This proposal passed the Illinois Senate on April 11, 2019 by a vote of 39 to 16.

Despite the COVID-19 lockdown, Illinois House members are headed to Springfield for a Lame Duck session. State Senator Lightford’s bill, SB 2075, is scheduled to be heard in the Higher Education Committee in Springfield on Saturday, January 9th at 10:00 AM. Illinois House sponsors include State Representatives Kambium Buckner (D-Chicago), Curtis Tarver (D-Chicago) and La Shawn Ford (D-Chicago).

There is no reason for the government to usurp the God-given authority of parents to direct the upbringing of their children. Parents are best suited to decide when their children are socially, emotionally, and cognitively ready for formal education.

State lawmakers are not going to fix what’s wrong with education by forcing kids to start school a year earlier. In fact, there is evidence that education isn’t about more seat-time for kids.

Moreover, we all need to realize that there isn’t much education going on in many of our government schools.

The decision to begin formal education–which increasingly serves the political and moral ends of liberals and their allies in the Teacher’s Union–rests with parents, not State Senator Lightford or any other politician.

Take ACTION: Click HERE to send an email or a fax to your state representative to ask him/her to vote against SB 2075 and the expanding role of government in the lives of Illinois families. You can also call your state senator through the Springfield switchboard at (217) 782-2000.

MORE ACTION:  File a Witness Slip:  Click HERE

Register on the left column.

Once you have verified your registration, you can file a witness slip on any bill.

Return to the Higher Education Committee Hearing Details.

Scroll down to find SB 2075 and click on the paper and pencil icon at the far right to “Create Witness Slip.”

Make sure you click OPPONENT for this over-reaching bill.

You may type “None” for Firm/Business/Agency and Title and “Self” for Representation.

Under Testimony, click “Record of Appearance Only.”

If required, check the Terms of Agreement.

Click Create Slip.

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Gov. J.B. Pritzker has filed an emergency rule to punish businesses that open to customers in defiance of his illegal lock-down orders. Violators could be charged with a Class A misdemeanor, which is a fine between $75 and $2,500.

Additionally, this emergency rule extends the governor’s emergency authority from 30 days to 150 days.

According to this online report by Amanda Vinicky, because “it’s classified as ’emergency’ in nature, the rule change took effect as soon as it was filed Friday.” State lawmakers sitting on the JCAR Committee will have to vote to reject the governor’s unilateral power grab. Without a tsunami of calls and emails, this order will be rubber stamped, possibly as soon as this Wednesday.

Take ACTION: Click HERE to send an email to the 12 members of the JCAR Committee asking them to reject this confiscation of power.

More ACTION: Please also call the following committee members and leave a similar message:

Background

State Representative John M. Cabello (R-Machesney Park) issued a press release publicly objecting to this rule change:

We have a dictator Governor who is weaponizing our Department of Public Health to treat our citizens like criminals. The pure irony lies in the fact that the Governor is doing this at the same time that he is commuting sentences for murderers and rapists. The greatest danger today from the COVID-19 is the alternative universe that is being created here in Illinois.

People are resisting because they view the Governor’s Restore Illinois plan, and his general approach to the COVID-19 health crisis, as a hodgepodge of arbitrary rules and restrictions placed on citizens and businesses by a hypocritical leader. Recall the news stories about the Governor’s wife traveling to Florida while the rest of us are being told to lockdown. Now we are hearing that the Governor’s family has been up in Wisconsin too. In another case of irony those two states have been easing their restrictions.

I think our Governor needs to look in the mirror when he starts to criticize the people of Illinois for their lack of compliance and confidence in his approach to the COVID-19. Telling a family of four who just drove in the same car to the boat dock that only two of them at a time can be on a boat is not only stupid, it is just one example of things that undermine confidence in the way the entire issue is being handled. Perhaps the Governor should travel to Florida with his family next time and get some advice from their Governor.

It is imperative that Illinois citizens speak up loudly about this new rule that not only punishes working families but grants untenable powers to the governor.

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Once again, high potency marijuana is in the news. Governor J.B. Pritzker and several state lawmakers held a press conference this past Saturday to announce their bill (SB 7) to legalize marijuana for “recreational” use in Illinois. This legislation is sponsored by Illinois Senators Heather Steans (D-Chicago), Toi Hutchinson (D-Chicago Heights), Kimberly Lightford (D-Westchester) and Patricia Van Pelt (D-Chicago).

Illinois Family Institute continues to present overwhelming evidence of the high costs and consequences of this onerous public policy, and Illinois voters must speak out if we hope to turn the tide on their plans. Many of our friends and neighbors simply do not understand what this policy means for their families, communities, schools, workplace and roadways. If we hope to stop this legislation from becoming law, we must quickly educate and activate parents and grandparents.

It doesn’t take much to turn the tide!

As you are aware, the most extreme abortion legislation to date was introduced in Illinois this year. With a super majority of Leftists in both chambers of the Illinois General Assembly and an extremely anti-life governor, it appeared to be a slam dunk for abortion activists. But these bills are now stalled! You did that!

Pro-life advocates made calls, visited their lawmakers, wrote letters and sent emails, and urged others to do the same. God used your efforts to push these bills back!

Earlier this year, the push for marijuana legalization in New Jersey fell apart. According to an article in the New York Times:

“[the] effort to legalize marijuana in News Jersey collapsed… after Democrats were unable to muster enough support for the measure, derailing a central campaign pledge by Gov. Philip D. Murphy and leaving the future of the legalization movement in doubt.”

Our goal is to derail the push here in Illinois with strong evidence coupled with strong opposition from concerned citizens like you. We can stop this from becoming law in the Land of Lincoln!

The evidence of harm couldn’t be clearer. This crazy social experiment has been going on for years in Colorado, California and Washington, and the data is extremely alarming. Consider our top 10 reasons to oppose legal weed in Illinois. And please share the linked graphics on your social media pages.

10 Reasons to Oppose High Potency Marijuana Legalization:

1.) Increased THC Levels. It’s Not Your Daddy’s Weed!

The TCH (tetrahydrocannabinol) levels in today’s marijuana products are much higher than the marijuana of the 60’s and 70’s. This high-THC content has been linked to an increase in serious mental health issues and addiction. A recent Cambridge University study found that the use of today’s high-THC products was associated with a higher risk of addiction than lower potency forms of marijuana and that the association was found to be even higher in younger cannabis users.

This includes the alarmingly high THC Content in Concentrates (oil, wax, dab, shatter).

2.) Increased Risk of Psychosis, and even more alarming is Youth Suicide; more here.

Several studies have linked marijuana use to increased risk for psychiatric disorders, including psychosis (schizophrenia), depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders. A recent study published in the The Lancet Psychiatry shows that consuming pot on a daily basis and especially using high-potency cannabis increases the odds of having a psychotic episode later.

This is also closely related to the homelessness problem that is increasing in Colorado due to the weed. Please also watch and listen to PGM Pastor Phil Kwiatowski‘s concerns in this short video presentation.

3.) Increased Marijuana-Related Hospitalizations and Poison Control Center Calls. 

Dr. Karen Randall, an ER physician and a resident of Pueblo, Colorado, spoke at a recent town-hall meeting in Des Plaines. Her testimony about how legal weed has negatively affected her hospital and community is powerful. Watch and listen to what she has to say here.

Washington state also has a huge problem with calls to poison centers as well.

4.) Increased Marijuana-Related Exposures in Children 0-5 Years Old. 

“A study in the December 2018 Pediatrics found that nearly half of hospitalized children in Colorado whose parents enrolled in a smoking cessation program tested positive for marijuana exposure. Authors of the study, “Marijuana and Tobacco Co-Exposure in Hospitalized Children” (published online Nov. 19), said findings suggest prevalent co-use of tobacco and marijuana in the state that could expose children to harmful effects of both.” Read more here and here.

5.) Increased Violent Crime in Legalized States; more here.

Are you surprised to learn that research published in the journal Psychological Medicine concludes that continued use of cannabis causes violent behavior as a direct result of changes in brain function that are caused by smoking weed over many years? Read more here.

6.) Increased and Potential Serious Brain Alteration; more here.

Medical research has revealed altered brain activity in young adults with cannabis addiction. The findings suggest a mechanism that may explain why the risk of depression and other mental health issues is higher among those who use the drug. Read more here, from the journal Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging.

7.) Increased Heroin and Opioid Deaths in Illinois After “Medical” Marijuana is Legalized in 2013.

Would you be surprised to know that legal weed is also linked to increased alcohol consumption? More here, from Dr. Kenneth Finn.

8.) Premature Aging of the Brain.

“By studying a large number of imaging scans, researchers have identified conditions and behaviors that could make the brain age prematurely, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, alcohol use, and the use of cannabis.” (Medical News Today)

9.) Increased Marijuana-Related Traffic Fatalities; more here. 

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety issued a report in October 2018 claiming that “Colorado, Washington, and Oregon experienced a 5.2% higher police-reported crash rate overall than would have been expected had they not legalized recreational marijuana.”

10.) Increased Social and Economic Costs Outweigh Tax Revenue by $4.50 to every $1. more here and here.

Given the facts above, you can see how the social costs for the state’s first responders, welfare system, health care system, traffic fatalities, violent crime, increased use in all age categories, and addiction – are costs Illinois cannot afford.

Take ACTION: Please click HERE to send a message to your state senator and state representative to urge them to reject the push for legal marijuana.

Additionally, PLEASE CALL your lawmakers to make sure they know that many people oppose this disastrous policy. Click HERE for their names and phone numbers, which you will find at the end of the state list. Please make the calls!

Watch more:

Please visit IFI YouTube channel and this playlist of 16 videos (and growing) dedicated to the opposition of marijuana legalization.

Read more:

Thinking Biblically About Recreational Marijuana

Medical Doctor from Peoria Opposes Legal Pot

ER Doc Says “Recreational” Pot Has Ruined My Town

IFI Resource Page on Marijuana

Former State Rep. Jeanne Ives Address Marijuana & Illinois’ Economic Crisis (podcast)

More info:

NoWeedIllinois.com

A bold voice for pro-family values in Illinois!

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Back in 2012-2013, Illinois State Senator Kimberly Lightford (D-Chicago) introduced legislation to lower the mandatory age for school attendance in Illinois from 7 to 5 years-of-age.  Springfield lawmakers eventually compromised, passing a bill to make mandatory school age at age six.

This year, Illinois Senator Lightford is taking another shot at lowering the school age to five with SB 2075.  In other words, she believes the state knows best about how early our children should be subjected to formal education, or in many cases, the indoctrination process. There is absolutely no reason for the government to usurp our God-given authority as parents to direct the upbringing of our children by turning them over to the state at an even younger, more impressionable, age.

The last thing parents need in Illinois is more government control and influence in their lives and this is especially true for our young and impressionable children.  We all need to wake up and realize the level of indoctrination already occurring in our public schools, including the promotion of man-made global warming, Darwinism, LGBTQ+ affirmation and the elimination of genders, population control, feminism, reproductive ‘choice’ and other social and political issues.

Veteran and prize winning public school educator John Taylor Gatto asks, “Do we really need school?  I don’t mean education, just forced schooling:  six classes a day, five days a week, nine months a year, for twelve years.  Is this deadly routine necessary?”  Gatto goes on to list Americans who were spared the public school routine and nevertheless managed to achieve some modest success in life:  George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln.  He concludes they were, “Unschooled, perhaps, but not uneducated.”

The truth may be that public schools aren’t about education at all.

The decision of when to start children in public schools, which increasingly serves the political ends of liberals, rests with parents, not school administrators or lawmakers.

IFI is working with the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) and Illinois Christian Home Educators (ICHE) in defense of parental rights and in opposition to this proposal.

Take ACTION:  Click HERE to email or fax your state senator to ask him/her to vote against SB 2075 and the expanding role of government in the lives of Illinois families.  Click HERE for his/her contact information to make a call or, better yet, to visit him/her.

Read more: Invasive International Survey Targeting Pre-K Students Is Coming to U.S.

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If you appreciate the work and ministry of IFI, please consider a tax-deductible donation to sustain our endeavors.  It does make a difference.

In his famous letter from a Birmingham jail Martin Luther King Jr. observed, “Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.” Senator Kimberly Lightford (D-Westchester area) has introduced a very troubling anti-family, big government resolution.

Senator Lightford’s resolution calls for the support of a radical United Nations treaty that would usurp parental authority to oversee their own children. If this treaty is officially ratified by the United States Senate, it would become legally enforcible throughout our country. The Lightford resolution, if passed by the Illinois General Assembly, will put Illinois on record in support of the horrible United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).

The adoption of this evil globalist resolution will force the government into the sacred parent-child relationship. CRC supporters want the government to have a say in what church your children attend, how much time they spend on chores, what websites and books they read, whether they should be homeschooled, and who they choose for friends.

According to the Homeschool Legal Defense Association Senator Lightford’s legislation will “enable state agencies and judges to begin implementing aspects of the CRC in the state of Illinois, even if the U.S. Senate never ratifies it.”

To preserve freedom, families in Illinois must demand the rejection of the Lightford resolution, and instead ask their representative to endorse the important Parental Rights Amendment, which is being introduced in state legislatures all over America. (Watch for more information on this in the near future!)

Remember, Christian families must diligently and vigorously defend freedom. Dr. King’s observation above reminds us of the fact that our godless government is not just going to give it to us.

Take ACTION: Send an email or a fax to your representative. Urge them to reject the Lightford resolution — SR 92 –.

You can also call the Capitol switchboard at 217-782-2000.

It is vital that you voice your concerns to your your elected officials in Springfield regarding SR 92.