Eye On The Statehouse Podcast

On this week’s episode of the Under the Dome podcast the State Journal-Register’s Bernard Schoenburg and Doug Finke discuss what to expect from Gov. JB Pritzker's upcoming budget address, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot is scheduled to meet with Illinois House Republicans in regards to the tax structure for a Chicago casino, Illinois lawmakers push for a "Fair Maps" redistricting amendment, how the field for the primary election for the democratic presidential nominee is shaping up in Illinois and Illinois Supreme Court Justice and former Chicago Bears kicker Robert R. Thomas announces his retirement.

On this week’s episode of the Under the Dome podcast the State Journal-Register’s Bernard Schoenburg is solo as Doug Finke has the day off, so he breaks down the week that was in Illinois politics starting with Gov. JB Pritzker making the case that Illinois should take the spot as the nation's first primary election in the wake of vote-counting debacle around the Iowa caucuses. He also dives into the current legislative session with hearings being held on the problems with the automatic voter registration system and the announcement that the state logged $39.2 million of adult-use recreational marijuana sales in January.

Ohio purged more than 460,000 voter registrations in 2019. Reporters from The Columbus Dispatch and USA TODAY Network dug into those registrations that were wrongly targeted for cancellation.

On this week’s episode of the Under the Dome podcast the State Journal-Register’s Doug Finke and Bernard Schoenburg discuss the programming error the occurred in the Secretary of State’s office that inadvertently led to more than 500 possible non-U.S. citizens being registered to vote, Senator Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, was elected as the 39th president of the Illinois Senate on Sunday after hours of behind-the-scenes negotiations, Gov. JB Pritzker to sign bill capping insulin costs and his upcoming State of the State address. 

On this week’s episode of the Under the Dome podcast the State Journal-Register’s Doug Finke and Bernard Schoenburg discuss the resignation of Illinois Director of Agriculture John Sullivan after it was revealed he had received the controversial 2012 email from former top lobbyist Mike McClain, who are the front runners going into Sunday's election for a new Illinois Senate President and why former U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, and former Republican member of Congress, says he will "absolutely not" vote for President Donald Trump in 2020.

Columbus Dispatch public affairs editor Darrel Rowland speaks with politics reporters Rick Rouan and Anna Staver to recap Lara Trump’s recent visit to Columbus, discusses Donald Trump’s first 2020 campaign visit to Toledo, Ohio last night, and talks about what Ohio’s suburbs might look like for this upcoming presidential election. Read more: Killing of Iranian terrorist leader touted by Donald Trump in Ohio rally, first of 2020 Lara Trump stumps for father-in-law in Columbus Fact-checking Trump’s claims about tanks, cars and Ohio’s ‘best’ economic year

On this week’s episode of Under the Dome the State Journal-Register’s Doug Finke and Bernard Schoenburg discuss lawmakers from both parties calling for an investigation of a 2012 email exchange between a government insider and then-Gov. Pat Quinn’s staff regarding a possible cover-up of rape and other criminal activity, the draft report prepared by the property tax relief task force formed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker, how the rollout for the sale of legal marijuana went in Illinois and where the current race for Senate President stands going into a vote on January 19th.

Columbus Dispatch public affairs editor Darrel Rowland and politics reporter Cathy Candisky explain the latest findings in the ongoing Side Effects series. During this episode we talk about why you are paying so much for your prescription drugs, explain what “AWP” means, and talk what are three things currently wrong with the average wholesale pricing model.

On the final episode of Under the Dome for 2019 the State Journal-Register’s Doug Finke and Bernard Schoenburg discus Gov. J.B. Pritzker signing the bill consolidating downstate police and fire pensions, the new laws, taxes and fees that are coming on to the books in 2020, the Food-A-Rama at the Illinois State Fairgrounds is getting a facelift and a new name thanks to a big donation and the results from the initial report on the structural integrity of the Capitol's dome are in. 

Dispatch public affairs editor Darrel Rowland speaks with politics reporter Anna Staver on the latest edition of the Buckeye Forum podcast. During this episode we discuss Ohio’s school voucher system, explain how school are able to obtain a voucher, and talk about what could potentially be changed with these rules. Finally, we discuss how these new voucher rules could impact Ohio’s schools in the future.

On this week’s episode of Under the Dome the State Journal-Register’s Doug Finke and Bernard Schoenburg discuss ethics at the Statehouse as House Republicans called on Gov. J.B. Pritzker to call a special session to address the issue, State Sen. Jason Plummer, R-Edwardsville, and Senate GOP Leader Bill Brady of Bloomington clash over ethics appointment, details on the new Illinois parking excise tax set to start Jan. 1st and how it involves parking around the Illinois State Fair and the display from The Satanic Temple returns to Capitol rotunda.

On this week’s episode of Under the Dome the State Journal-Register’s Doug Finke and Bernard Schoenburg discuss Illinois Senate President John Cullerton’s announcement that he plans to retire in January after almost four decades in the General Assembly and who is in the running to be the next Senate President, a ComEd lobbyist lined up contracts for disgraced ex-aide to Madigan and why authorities are interested, Gov. Pritzker and the Illinois State Board of Education react quickly to take emergency action to end the the use of “isolated timeout” rooms in schools.

On this week’s episode of Under the Dome the State Journal-Register’s Doug Finke and Bernard Schoenburg discuss the veto session ending with bills passing involving the consolidation of downstate police and fire pension funds, capping of out-of-pocket expenses for insulin and ethics reform in lobbying issues. 

Dispatch public affairs editor Darrel Rowland speaks with politics reporters Randy Ludlow and Anna Staver on the latest episode of the Buckeye Forum podcast. During this episode we discuss what Governor Mike DeWine has been up to since he took office, talk about how sports betting in Ohio might be legal soon, and mention whether to put the Ohio Casino Commission or the Ohio Lottery Commission in charge of sports betting. Finally, we talk about DeWine’s gun control plan and what this could mean for the state of Ohio.

On this week’s episode of Under the Dome the State Journal-Register’s Doug Finke and Bernard Schoenburg discuss the appeals court decision that says former state worker Mark Janus is not entitled to a refund of fair share fees he paid to the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, next phase of road improvements have begun on the Illinois State Fairgrounds, Illinois Sate Sen. Andy Manar, D-Bunker Hill, to introduce a bill to make Daylight Saving Time permanent, Illinois Supreme Court Justice Lloyd Karmeier announces he will retire next year and what’s coming up in the next round of the veto session. 

Columbus Dispatch public affairs editor Darrel Rowland speaks with politics reporter Rick Rouan on the latest episode of the Buckeye Forum podcast. During this episode we talk about what defines a suburb, what has been going on in these Ohio suburbs politically speaking, and look ahead to how these suburbs might be impacted for the upcoming 2020 general election.

On this week’s episode of Under the Dome the State Journal-Register’s Doug Finke and Bernard Schoenburg discuss the fallout from Illinois State Rep. Luis Arroyo, D-Chicago, being arrested on a federal public corruption charge that he sought to bribe another state lawmaker, legislation introduced for Gov. Pritzker’s plan to pool police and fire pensions, status of the bill to ban flavored vaping products during the veto session and the Illinois House passes a bill that would allow college athletes to be compensated for their names and likenesses.

On this week’s episode of Under the Dome the State Journal-Register’s Doug Finke and Bernard Schoenburg discuss Gov. J.B. Pritzker and state road officials unveiling the details of a $23.5 billion road plan that is being fueled with higher gasoline taxes and various vehicle fees approved by lawmakers last spring, the state’s bill backlog will soar to $19 billion in five years if additional tax revenue isn’t found according to an annual report from the governor’s office and what could be coming in the upcoming veto session. 

On this week’s episode of Under the Dome the State Journal-Register’s Doug Finke and Bernard Schoenburg discuss the continuing fallout from the federal investigation of Illinois State Sen. Martin Sandoval for possible bribery and fraud involving state construction, UIS Poll says 92% approval for mental health background checks for gun sales, report says funding revamp has helped Illinois’ poor school districts and Gov. Pritzker releases his tax returns. 

Dispatch public affairs editor Darrel Rowland speaks with politics reporter Rick Rouan on the latest episode of the Buckeye Forum Politics podcast. During this episode we preview the Democratic debate in Westerville, Ohio and tell you what to look out for. Finally, we address topics such as gun control, health care, and how Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders recently had a heart attack.