Under the Dome

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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." 

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.   

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.