Eye On The Statehouse Podcast

On this week’s episode of Under the Dome the State Journal-Register’s Doug Finke and Bernard Schoenburg discuss Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s plan to consolidate around 650 local pension funds for suburban and downstate police and firefighters, the poll by NPR Illinois and the University of Illinois Springfield showing that 67 percent of registered voters in the state favor moving to a graduated state income tax and Republican U.S. Rep. John Shimkus of Illinois denouncing President Donald Trump’s decision to remove U.S. troops in Syria. 

On this week’s episode of Under the Dome the State Journal-Register’s Doug Finke and Bernard Schoenburg discuss Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker demanding Illinois State Sen. Martin Sandoval step down as chairman of the Transportation Committee while he is under federal investigation for possible bribery and fraud involving state construction work, Legislative Inspector General releases reports on Kevin Quinn and Tim Mapes, Illinois releases social equity map to identify areas harmed by the war on drugs, will college athletes get endorsement deals in Illinois and the Illinois GOP members of the U.S. House and the impeachment of President Trump. 

On this week’s episode of Under the Dome the State Journal-Register’s Doug Finke and Bernard Schoenburg discuss why FBI agents raided the offices of Illinois State Sen. Martin Sandoval, D-Chicago, Alan Lowe fired as director of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum and the move towards banning flavored e-cigarettes in Illinois.

On this week’s episode of Under the Dome the State Journal-Register’s Doug Finke and Bernard Schoenburg discuss the Illinois State Fair breaking its all-time record for revenue raised in this year and what that means for the success of the fair, the Illinois Department of Revenue tax amnesty program that begins Oct. 1st, Sen. Andy Manar, D-Bunker Hill, sponsoring a bill to cap the out of pocket expenses for insulin to $100 a month and the details of the state’s Office of Executive Inspector General report dealing Springfield lawyer Don Tracy and the Illinois Gaming Board.

On this week’s episode of Under the Dome the State Journal-Register’s Doug Finke returns to the podcast with Bernard Schoenburg to discuss Gov. J.B. Pritzker joining a dozen Democratic governors signing a letter urging President Donald Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to embrace “sensible” gun control legislation, Justice Anne Burke named the Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court and why that’s an issue in Illinois, former Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan joins the private sector and why Illinois was voted the "sexiest state." 

Dispatch public affairs editor Darrel Rowland speaks with reporter Rick Rouan on the latest episode of the Buckeye Forum Politics podcast. During this we discuss Ohio’s voter purge process, talk about where things currently stand with this, and what happens to people when they get placed on the purge list. Next we talk about how this list is complicated, the current problems associated with it, and how some voters were incorrectly placed on this list. Finally, we explain what happens when you move within the same county, and discuss what provisional ballots are.

His name is now locked into appearing on the preliminary ballot as a mayoral candidate, but after that, what will New Bedford City Councilor at-large Brian Gomes' next move be?

On this week’s episode of Under the Dome the State Journal-Register’s Bernard Schoenburg is joined by Brenden Moore as he fills in for Doug Finke this week to talk about the details of legalized use of marijuana in they city of Springfield, the state of gambling in city, DNR set to make new hires and how the graduated income tax may play in the upcoming election. 

On this week’s episode of Under the Dome the State Journal-Register’s Doug Finke and Bernard Schoenburg break down Gov. Pritzker’s broken leg and the scope of what has happened this year with nearly 600 bills signed including recent bills dealing with small pharmacy protections and outlawing smoking in cars with children. They also dive into the state’s Department of Central Management Services announcement that they will issue a request for proposals seeking “an array of technical and project management expertise” to sell the state’s Helmut Jahn-designed James R. Thompson Center. 

On this week’s episode of Under the Dome, The State Journal-Register’s Doug Finke and Bernard Schoenburg break down the Madigan report about sexual harassment complaints connected to the speaker; the controversy around photos from a fundraising event for Illinois State Sen. Martin Sandoval; Vistra Energy closing coal burning power plants in Canton, Havana, Hennepin and Coffeen; and Gov. Pritzker signs legislation raising the minimum salary for teachers in Illinois to $40,000.

On this week's episode of Under The Dome the State Journal-Register's Doug Finke and Bernard Schoenburg breakdown a visit by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Minority Whip Steve Scalise as the Democrats and Republicans host their political days at the Illinois State Fair.     

On this week's episode the State Journal-Register's Doug Finke and Bernard Schoenburg discuss back pay for Illinois state employees, the possibility that President Trump would commute disgraced former Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s 14-year prison sentence, the investigation of Illinois State Sen. Tom Cullerton and the upcoming political days at the Illinois State Fair.   

Vice President Mike Pence called out two Magna workers during a groundbreaking ceremony for the company's new manufacturing facility in Lancaster, Ohio. He also spoke of Lancaster native Sgt. Joseph Collette, who died on March 22 during a combat mission in Afghanistan’s Kunduz province from injuries resulting from enemy fire. The Lancaster native joined the Army in November 2010 and was assigned to the 242nd Ordnance Battalion, 71st Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group, based at Fort Carson, Colorado.

On this week's episode of Under the Dome, Bernie and Doug cover former meteorologist Joe Crain's new job at the state, both political parties getting in trouble over insensitive/racist Facebook posts, dirty tricks by Rodney Davis' side in the 13th Congressional District race, and more questions about allies of House Speaker Michael Madigan.

Before a few days ago, there's a good chance you've never heard about the band Confederate Railroad. That all changed when the Pritzker administration canceled the band's show at the Du Quoin State Fair because the group has the word "Confederate" in its name. We talk about that on this week's episode of Under the Dome. 

Dispatch public affairs staff Darrel Rowland, Randy Ludlow, Cathy Candisky, and Marty Schladen reflect on reporter Jim Siegel’s life. July 12th, 2019 is exactly one month to the day since Dispatch legislative reporter Jim Siegel passed away. During this podcast we share memories about our time working with Jim, talk about the love and devotion that Jim had for his wife and family, and recognize the talented journalist he was.

On this week's episode of the Under the Dome Podcast, the SJ-R's Bernard Schoenburg and Doug Finke talk about the new laws being signed this week, including the legalization of marijuana, sports gambling and Tobacco 21.

The Illinois legislature has gone home for the summer, but the state government news continues in Springfield. Today, the SJ-R's Doug Finke and Bernard Schoenburg talk about Gov. J.B. Pritzker signing the Reproductive Health Act, details of the state's proposed contract deal with state workers represented by AFSCME and more. 

The spring 2019 session of the Illinois General Assembly is in the books, and some people are calling it "historic." Lawmakers accomplished a great deal, and The State Journal-Register's Bernard Schoenburg and Doug Finke review it all on this week's special post-session wrap-up episode of Under the Dome.

Dispatch public affairs editor Darrel Rowland speaks with reporters Jim Siegel and Ben Deeter regarding the topic of abortion. During this we discuss the current laws that Ohio has in place regarding abortion, what the so called “heartbeat bill” entails, and look at what other states are doing nationally on the topic. Finally, we explain how the Ohio Right to Life group is involved in this, discuss what the “Abortion Pill Reversal Information Act” consists of, and speculate if the Supreme Court’s decision of Roe v. Wade could be overturned.