How did they vote?

SB 1739 — a bill to expand gambling with five new casinos in Chicago, Rockford, Danville, Park City and a location in the south suburbs as well as video slot machines at racetracks and in Chicago airports — now moves to the Illinois House for consideration.

Late Wednesday afternoon, the Illinois Senate debated and passed SB 1739 by a vote of 32 to 20 (with one voting present).  SB 1739 is a proposal to vastly increase gambling in Illinois. This predatory gambling expansion bill was sponsored in the Illinois Senate by State Senators Terry Link (D-Lincolnshire), and Donne Trotter (D-Chicago).

Look at the official voting record of how your state senator voted: click HERE to download it.

We are grateful to State Senator Dale Righter (R-Mattoon), who was the only lawmaker to speak out against SB 1739 in defense of families and common sense. 

This bill was amended to remove Internet gambling, but the bill still includes 5 new casinos, and slot machines at 6 racetracks and Chicago’s two airports.   The city-owned casino for Chicago will have 4,000 gambling positions while the number of gambling positions at the other casinos will increase to 1,600.  With the ability to purchase additional positions for a maximum of 2,000, existing casinos would nearly double in size.

Take ACTION: Click HERE to email or fax your state representative about this anti-family legislation.  Ask him/her to vote NO to SB 1739.  You can also call the Capitol switchboard at (217) 782-2000.

We’re grateful that nine Democrat senators voted against more gambling in the Land of Lincoln, but it’s disturbing to note that six Republican senators voted in favor of this massive anti-family gambling bill despite the fact that the Illinois Republican Platform identifies gambling as being harmful:

We call on the Governor and the General Assembly to balance the state budget and provide for a responsible capital development program without resorting to the expansion of gambling, which harms Illinois’ families and our state’s business climate and presents costly challenges for both law enforcement and social service agencies.

Far too many “conservative” lawmakers exhibited concern about the gambling interests within their districts rather than serving the best interests of the families of Illinois. Republican State Senators who voted yes to SB 1739 are:  Jason Barickman (Bloomington), Kirk Dillard (Westmont), David Luechtefeld (Okawville), Matt Murphy (Palatine), Chapin Rose (Champaign) and David Syverson (Rockford).  

Read more:  Harms of Legalized Gambling

Contact your state representatives now!

Click HERE to make a donation to the Illinois Family Institute.

How did they vote?

The Illinois House of Representatives passed the disastrous “Comprehensive” Sex Education (HB 2675) this afternoon by a vote of 66–52.  This bill would mandate that public school that teach sex education teach “comprehensive” sex education in grades 6-12.  That may sound reasonable until you read what the national go-to organization for sex-ed curriculum, SEICUS, lists as “age-appropriate.”

Illinois law currently mandates that schools teach abstinence until marriage.  Teaching “comprehensive” sex education is currently optional as a local school decision.  This bill was sponsored by State Representative Camille Lilly (D-Chicago) and heavily promoted by Planned Parenthood and the ACLU of Illinois.

Click HERE to see how your state representative voted on this anti-family legislation.  It is important to note that State Representatives David Reis (R-Olney), Tom Morrison (R-Palatine), Pam Roth (R-Morris), and Dwight Kay (R-Edwardsville) raised strong objections to the bill during floor debate.

HB 2675 is completely unnecessary and an intrusion into local control. Public schools in Illinois already have the ability to teach “comprehensive” sex education if they wish. Local public school administrators do not need a mandate from Springfield telling them they must teach comprehensive sex education when the preponderance of evidence suggests, and the U.S. Congress agrees, that authentic abstinence education is successful.

The bill now moves to the Illinois Senate.

Take ACTION: Click HERE to send an email or a fax to your state senator today to ask him/her to vote NO to HB 2675.

We need a flood of calls, emails and faxes if we hope to stop this bill from passing in the Illinois Senate. Call the Capitol switchboard at (217) 782-2000 and ask to be transferred to your state senator to urge him/her to vote against HB 2675.

Please take a few minutes NOW to contact your state representative: Message: Oppose HB 2675 to ensure that students in our taxpayer funded schools are not needlessly subjected to “comprehensive” or “Abstinence Plus” sex education that emphasize and encourage contraception use, rather than abstinence.

Contraception-centered sex-education curricula encourage children and youth into early sexual experimentation. They mislead youth and create a false hope that condoms will provide sufficient protection from the physical, emotional and social consequences of early sexual activity. Authentic abstinence education programs provide youth with life and character skills, not condom skills. Sexual activity among youth is far too costly for adolescents, families, society and taxpayers.

Passing HB 2675 would mandate the teaching of curricula that most parents and taxpayers would find objectionable. Moreover, this proposal would require teachers to say that “contraception” prevents sexually transmitted disease (STDs).  Please take a moment to contact your state senator to urge him/her to stand in opposition to this bill.

Call your state senator now.

 Click HERE to make a donation to the Illinois Family Institute.

How did they vote?

Five pro-family lawmakers, Senators Tim Bivins (R-Dixon), Dan Duffy (R-Barrington), William Haine (D-Alton), Dale Righter (R-Mattoon), and Kyle McCarter (R-Vandalia), had the courage to challenge this anti-family legislation on the Senate floor during debate while seven Democratic lawmakers  made emotional manipulative appeals for the bill’s passage.  Surprisingly, Senator Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington) was the only Republican to speak in favor of this anti-family legislation.  He then was the only Republican in the Illinois Senate to vote in favor of Gay Marriage.

This bill now moves over to the Illinois House where it is short the votes necessary to pass.  

This is why our Defend Marriage Lobby Day on February 20th is so important!  If we hope to defeat this bill in the Illinois House and maintain a sufficient level of opposition to this proposal, we must have a strong showing next week.  Read more about this lobby day HERE.  We need you to show up and send a clear message to state lawmakers in the Illinois House that Illinoisans will NOT allow marriage to be destroyed!  We can stop this!

To see how your state senator voted, click HERE.

Take ACTION:  If you haven’t yet sent an email or a fax to your state lawmakers — it is time to speak up now!  Click HERE to let them know what you think.

How did they vote?

SB 744 — the bill to expand gambling with casinos in Chicago, Rockford, Danville, Park City and South Suburbs as well as video slot machines at racetracks and in Chicago Airports — now moves to the governor’s desk.

This afternoon, the Illinois Senate passed SB 744 by a vote of 30 to 27 (with two voting present) to pass SB 744. Look at the official voting record of how your state senator voted: click HERE to download it. (Click HERE to see how your state represenative voted on this pro-casino gambling bill.)

This predatory gambling expansion bill was sponsored in the Illinois Senate by State Senators Terry Link (D-Lincolnshire), Dave Syverson (R-Rockford) and Donne Trotter (D-Chicago).

State Senator Tim Bivins (R-Dixon) was the only lawmaker from either chamber to speak out against SB 744 in defense of families and common sense. Too many “conservative” lawmakers chose instead to be concerned about the gambling interests within their districts rather the serving the best interests of the families of Illinois.

It is disturbing to note that 6 Republican state senators and 21 Republican state representatives voted in favor of this massive anti-family gambling bill despite the fact that the Illinois Republican Platform identifies gambling as being harmful to “Illinois’ families and our state’s business climate.”

Take ACTION: Contact Governor Patrick Quinn today to ask them to VETO SB 744.

You can also call the Governor’s office toll free at (800) 642-3112.

How did they vote?

SB 744 — the massive gambling bill that adds 5 new casinos and creates 6 new racinos — now moves to the Illinois Senate. Please take a moment to tell your state senator to oppose this bill.

This afternoon, the Illinois House passed SB 744 by a vote of 65 to 50 (with two voting present) to pass SB 744. Look at the official voting record of how your state representative voted:  click HERE to download it.

This anti-family and predatory gambling expansion bill was sponsored in the Illinois House by State Representatives Lou Lang (D-Skokie), Roger L. Eddy (R-Hutsonville), Anthony DeLuca (D-Chicago Heights),Rita Mayfield (D-Waukegan), Jim Sacia (R-Freeport), Raymond Poe (R-Raymond Poe), Chad Hays (R-Danville) and Luis Arroyo (D-Chicago).

Not one Illinois state lawmaker spoke out to defend the interests of families in Illinois. This bill now moves to the Illinois Senate for consideration.

Take ACTION:  Contact your state senator and to Governor Patrick Quinn today to ask them to oppose the passage of SB 744.

We need a flood of calls, emails and faxes today and tomorrow if we hope to stop this bill from passing in the Illinois Senate. Call the Capitol switchboard at (217) 782-2000 and ask to be transferred to your state senator to urge him/her to vote against SB 744.

How did they vote?

HB 3027 — the “comprehensive” sex education bill now moves to the Illinois House. Please take a moment to tell your state representative to oppose this bill.
This afternoon, the Illinois Senate voted 30 to 28 (with one voting present) to pass HB 3027.  See the official voting record of how your state senator voted by  clicking HERE to download it.

HB 3027 is completely unnecessary and an intrusion into local control. Public schools in Illinois already have the ability to teach “comprehensive” sex education if they wish. Local public school administrators do not need a mandate from Springfield telling them they must teach comprehensive sex education when the preponderance of evidence suggests that authentic abstinence education is successful.

Take ACTION: Send an email or a fax to your state representative today to ask him/her to vote NO to HB 3027.

We need a flood of calls, emails and faxes today and tomorrow if we hope to stop this bill from passing in the Illinois House. Call the Capitol switchboard at (217) 782-2000 and ask to be transferred to your state representative to urge him/her to vote against HB 3027.

Please take a few minutes NOW to contact your state representative: Message: Oppose HB 3027 to ensure that students in our taxpayer funded schools are not needlessly subjected to “comprehensive” or “Abstinence Plus” sex education that emphasize and encourage contraception use, rather than abstinence.

Contraception-centered sex-education curricula encourage children and youth into early sexual experimentation. They mislead youth and create a false hope that condoms will provide sufficient protection from the physical, emotional and social consequences of early sexual activity. Authentic abstinence education programs provide youth with life and character skills, not condom skills. Sexual activity among youth is far too costly for adolescents, families, society and taxpayers.

Passing HB 3027 would mandate the teaching of curricula that most parents and taxpayers would find objectionable. Please take a moment to contact your state senator to urge him/her to stand in opposition to this bill.

How did they vote?

For the second time this year — and the first time during this new legislative session — the Illinois House of Representatives rejected a bill to legalize “medical” marijuana, this time by a vote of 53 YES and 61 NO with 4 voting “present.”

Representatives Patti Bellock (R-Westmont), Jim Sacia (R-Freeport) and Rich Morthland (R-Moline) did a fantastic job speaking out against this bill on the House floor during debate. Click HERE to watch Rep. Morthland’s floor comments against HB 30.

Representatives Lou Lang (D-Skokie), Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) and Minority Leader Tom Cross (R-Plainfield) spoke in favor of HB 30. This bill is also co-sponsored by Representatives Angelo Saviano (R-Elmwood Park), Ann Williams (D-Chicago), Robyn Gabel (D-Evanston), and Kenneth Dunkin (D-Chicago).

YOU did it! Thanks in part to your calls, emails and faxes, this bill has been defeated! It also must be noted that the Illinois law enforcement community strongly opposed HB 30. Former Chicago Police Superintendent Phil Cline, along with the president of the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police, the president of the Illinois Sheriffs’ Association and other key law enforcement officials pleaded with legislators to vote against this anti-family bill.

The sponsor of the bill, Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie) asked that HB 30 be put on “postponed consideration,” which means that he can attempt another vote on it in the next few days or weeks — so please stay tuned. More importantly, if you haven’t yet communicated with your state representative regarding this anti-family policy, please call them today in Springfield via the switchboard at (217) 782-2000.

Click HERE to look at the roll call of the unofficial record of how your state representative voted. Please consider calling the offices of the seven who voted “present” and those who voted “yea” to encourage them to oppose HB 30. They are listed below. Ask them to support the law enforcement community by opposing this legislation.

How did they vote?

As I reported in my email update yesterday, HB 3156, sponsored by State Representative Darlene Senger (R-Naperville) fell just 3 votes short of passage on Wednesday, but may get another vote today or Friday. The bill received 57 “yea” votes, 51 “nay” votes with 7 voting “present.”

This bill would amend the Ambulatory Surgical Treatment Center Act to require abortion clinics that perform more than 50 abortions a year to meet basic safety regulations similar to other outpatient treatment centers. (See the original IFI E-Alert HERE.)

Look at the picture below to see the unofficial record of how your state representative voted. Please consider calling the offices of the seven who voted “present” and those who voted “nay” to encourage them to support HB 3156. They are listed below. Ask them to ensure abortion clinics are held to the highest health standard. This is about safety protections for women.

Rep. Kelly Burke (D-Evergreen Park)
(217) 782-0515

Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia (D-Aurora)
(217) 558-1002

Rep. Rita Mayfield (D-Waukeegan)
(217) 558-1012

Rep. Michael J. Zalewsk (D-Summit)
(217) 782-5280

Rep. Derrick Smith (D-Chicago)
(217) 782-8077

Rep. Andre M. Thapedi (D-Chicago)
(217) 782-1702

Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago)
(217) 782-5350

Take ACTION: We need a flood of calls, emails and faxes today and tomorrow — especially in the districts identified above if we hope to secure the 60 votes needed to pass this bill onto the Illinois Senate. Call the Capitol switchboard at (217) 782-2000 and ask to be transferred to your state representative to urge him/her to vote in favor of HB 3156. Or you can click HERE to send an email or a fax to your state representative.

This bill would amend the Ambulatory Surgical Treatment Center Act to require abortion clinics that perform more than 50 abortions a year to meet basic safety regulations similar to other outpatient treatment centers.

Please take a few minutes NOW to contact your State Representative: Message: Support HB-3156 to ensure abortion clinics are held to the highest safety standards. Are women considered less worthy of safety protections?

You did it again! Another victory!

SR 92 sponsor, State Senator Kimberly Lightford (D-Chicago), has informed our lobbyists that she is withdrawing her resolution on the disastrous treaty known as the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).

THANK YOU. SR 92 is no longer a threat because of you.

Your phone calls, emails and letters sent an overwhelming message that was received loud and clear. Additionally, the position paper sent to Sen. Lightford by the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) was extremely compelling. We the people were able to kill this anti-family resolution before it was even heard in committee.

Congratulations on a job well done.

Our friends at the Illinois Christian Home Educators (ICHE) pointed out that the controversy sparked by SR 92 fulfilled a very important purpose by helping us educate a greater number of people on the harmful impact the CRC would have on our lives. ICHE also rightly points out that the UN’s CRC continues to be a threat at the federal level. (Watch for more information on this in the near future.)

This victory underscores the fact that you can make a difference with your grass-roots lobbying efforts. Let me encourage you to remain engaged in the process and our government of the people, by the people, for the people.

Thank you again!

God bless you and your family,

David E. Smith
Executive Director

How did they vote?

Yesterday, the Illinois Senate Public Health committee passed SB 1619 by a party line vote of 6 to 4. It now moves to the full senate. Look at the list below to see how the members of this committee voted.

Take ACTION: Click HERE to contact your state senator today and ask him or her to vote against SB 1619, the so-called “Personal Responsibility Education Program Act,” which more appropriately could be called the “Condom Training Sex Ed Bill.” SB 1619 is backed by Illinois Planned Parenthood Council, Illinois ACLU and a host of other liberal groups, which are engaged in a massive lobbying push for this bill.

You can also call the switchboard in Springfield at (217) 782-2000 and ask for your state senator. If you don’t know who your state senator is, click HERE to look up your elected officials. Or call the IFI office at (708) 781-9328 and we will help you get that information.

SB 1619 Senate Public Health Committee Vote
Yea — Senator William Delgado (D-Chicago)

Yea — Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago)

Yea — Senator Susan Garrett (D-Highwood)

Yea — Senator Michael Noland (D-Elgin)

Yea — Senator Dan Kotowski (D-Park Ridge) substituting for Sen. Schoenberg

Yea — Senator Heather A. Steans (D-Chicago)

No — Senator Dave Syverson (R-Rockford)

No — Senator. Shane Cultra (R-Onarga)

No — Senator Christine J. Johnson (R-Sycamore)

No — Senator Carole Pankau (R-Bloomingdale)

Background

Parents do not want their children being taught the “how to’s” of sexual activity, especially when that activity puts their children’s lives and health in jeopardy. Most parents are fully aware that Planned Parenthood and its liberal allies are actually encouraging sexual activity with SB 1619.

In 2005, the ACLU of Illinois mailed a letter to more than thirteen hundred school superintendents across Illinois complaining that some schools in Illinois are providing their students with “dangerous, inaccurate sex education information.”

What “inaccurate sex education information,” you may ask? Well, according to the ACLU of Illinois, schools that teach abstinence-only-until-marriage “deny students crucial information they need to prevent pregnancy and protect them from sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs).”

Yes, you read that right. The ACLU of Illinois holds the opinion that by promoting no sex until marriage, somehow schools increase student health risks. Of course this makes no sense. Abstinence, when adhered to, will never result in pregnancy and will never spread STDs.

Moreover, studies have shown that “A greater number of students in abstinence programs correctly identified STDs than did students in control groups,” and “a greater number of students in abstinence programs reported correctly that birth control pills do not prevent STDs than did students in control groups.” (For more information, please read Laurie Higgins’ article, Abstinence Education Works.)

The ACLU and Planned Parenthood, which also happens to be the nation’s biggest abortion provider, would rather use your tax dollars and public school resources to promote and encourage young people to experiment with all types of risky sexual behavior, including oral sex and homosexuality. (In 2010, Illinois received $2.23 million from the new federal Personal Responsibility Education Program for “comprehensive” sex education programs.)

According to organizations like Planned Parenthood, it’s necessary and appropriate to indoctrinate young impressionable students with ideas about dangerous behaviors, but abstention from discussing dangerous sexual behavior is misleading.

In contrast, just look at the recently released data by the Centers for Disease Control that strongly suggests that abstinence education works. According to the 2006-2008 survey results released earlier this month, the majority of teens have never had any kind of sexual relations with any partner.

The failures of “safe sex” are abundantly clear: unwanted pregnancies, abortion, disease, and devastating emotional ramifications. Abstinence until marriage is the only dependable safe-sex message Illinois policy-makers should be promoting in our public schools. There are no teenage pregnancy epidemics or STD outbreaks when abstinence is practiced. So, why not promote it?

How did they vote?

Illinois lawmakers approved a 66 percent increase in the state’s income tax in the final hours of a lame duck session.

Despite tens of thousands of calls, emails, faxes and letters in opposition to increased taxes, our state legislators decided to raise the state’s personal income tax from the current 3 percent flat rate, to 5 percent and the corporate income tax rate from 4.8 percent to 7 percent.

The bill number is SB 2505.

In the Illinois House, our state representatives voted 60-57 in favor of this measure late Tuesday night. (The House needed 60 votes to pass it.) The Illinois Senate voted 30-29 in favor of this tax hike in the wee hours of Wednesday morning. (The Senate needed 30 votes to pass it.)

These votes were ushered through by House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) and Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago) without a single Republican vote in favor. According to the Chicago Tribune, Governor Pat Quinn (D) is “happy” about the passage of these tax increases and is expected to sign the bill into law in the near future.

This lame duck session of the Illinois General Assembly ends today at noon.

We have one last chance to communicate to Governor Quinn about this anti-family proposal which will take much needed resources away from our family budgets to feed the ever increasing and insatiable demands of our growing state government.

Click HERE to urge Governor Quinn to VETO SB 2505. Tell him we do not have a tax problem — we have a spending problem!

Look at the chart below to see how your state representative voted, or you can download it by clicking HERE. To see how your state senator voted, click HERE.

**Please note: All state legislative seats will be up for election in 2012.

How did they vote?

Thirty-two state senators vote to pass same-sex “civil unions” legislation.

Homosexual activists mustered enough votes to legalize a new category of marriage — homosexual “marriage” — under the name “civil unions” early Wednesday afternoon. Illinois Governor Patrick Quinn has pledged to sign SB 1716 after the state Senate approved it by a vote of 32 to 24.

Seven pro-family state senators had the courage to challenge this anti-family legislation on the Senate floor during debate, including Chris Lauzen (R-Aurora), Dan Duffy (R-Barrington), Kyle McCarter (R-Decatur), John Jones (R-Mt. Vernon), Tim Bivins (R-Dixon), David Syverson (R-Rockford), and William Haine (D-Alton).

State Senators David Koehler (D-Pekin), Dan Rutherford (R-Chenoa), Jeff Schoenberg (D-Evanston), Toi Hutchinson (D-Chicago Heights), Heather Steans (D-Chicago), and Mike Noland (D-Elgin) spoke in favor of the bill’s passage.

This bill now goes to Governor Pat Quinn who made a campaign pledge to sign it into law.

See how your state senator voted by clicking HERE.

How did they vote?

Sixty-one state lawmakers in the Illinois House cave into pressure from Gov. Patrick Quinn and Speaker Michael Madigan.

Despite an outpouring of calls, emails and faxes against redefining marriage and family, legislators in the Illinois House passed SB 1716 on Tuesday evening by a vote of 61 to 52.

Only two pro-family lawmakers, Rep. Ron Stephens (R-Highland) and Rep. David Reis (R-Olney) — both from downstate — had the courage to challenge this anti-family legislation on the House floor during debate while nine pro-homosexual lawmakers (2 Republicans and 7 Democrats) made emotional manipulative appeals for the bill’s passage.

This bill now moves over to the Illinois Senate where it is expected to pass.

See how your state representative voted by clicking HERE.

Pro-Life and Pro-Family citizens must contact their State Representatives to oppose HB 6205.

Early Wednesday morning on March 10th, the Illinois House of Representatives’ Human Services Committee passed HB 6205 (Illinois FOCA) by a vote of 5-2. This was fully expected, as this committee is dominated by pro-abortion lawmakers. State Representatives Naomi Jakobsson (D-Champaign), Constance Howard (D-Chicago), Annazette Collins (D-Chicago), Mary Flowers (D-Chicago) and Elizabeth Coulson (R-Glenview) voted in favor of HB 6205. The only two NO votes came from State Representatives Patricia Bellock (R-Westmont) and Timothy Schmitz (R-Geneva).

Clarke Forsythe Senior Counsel for Americans United for Life (AUL) testified before the committee, pointing out that HB 6205 would elevate abortion to a “fundamental right,” and prohibit any “interference” with or “discrimination” against abortion and that it would unilaterally trump Illinois’ long-standing policy that “solemnly declare[s] and find[s] . . . that the unborn child is a human being from the time of conception and is, therefore, a legal person for purposes of the unborn child’s right to life and is entitled to the right to life from conception under the laws and Constitution of this State.

The bill now moves to the House floor for consideration by all State Representatives. It may be called as early as next week.

TAKE ACTION: Please CLICK HERE to contact your State Representative to ask him/her to vote AGAINST this pro-abortion bill.

You can also contact your State Representative by calling the Capitol switchboard at 217-782-2000.