

Capitol Cast: Illinois
Capitol News Illinois
Your trusted source for news and analysis of Illinois state government
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 13, 2019 • 15min
Kids in Medicaid - Former lawmakers sue - Raoul fights opioids & tech
State officials plan to shift 74,000 of the state's most vulnerable children into a managed care Medicaid plan; two former lawmakers are suing the state hoping to collect back pay they claim to be owed; and Attorney General Kwame Raoul goes up against opioid manufacturers and tech giant Google.

Sep 6, 2019 • 14min
Final Flurry of Bill Signings and Look-Ahead to Veto Session
Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed 591 bills into law during his first year as governor, including a flurry of bills leading up to the deadline. Now attention turns to the upcoming veto session, which begins in late October, and some of the new issues that are likely to come up then.

Aug 23, 2019 • 17min
Madigan Report, Bill Signings and a Rare Veto
Roundtable discussion of the culture of bullying and harassment in House Speaker Michael Madigan's office, Gov. J.B. Pritzker's signing of protections for immigrant tenants and a new minimum teacher salary, and Pritzker's veto of a bill dealing with weapon-like items in public schools. Peter Hancock, Rebecca Anzel and Jerry Nowicki.

Aug 16, 2019 • 15min
Democrats, Republicans and the Illinois State Fair
After one of the most significant legislative sessions in recent memory, Illinois Democrats and Republicans gathered in Springfield this week to begin shaping their messages about what happened, and how they plan to carry that message into the 2020 election cycle.

Aug 9, 2019 • 18min
State Government and the Economy
Todd Maisch, president and CEO of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, talks about the state of the economy, whether state government is helping or hurting, and what the business community still hopes to accomplish in the Statehouse.

Aug 2, 2019 • 9min
State Fair Preview
The Illinois State Fair opens Aug. 8. It's been a cultural institution in Illinois since 1853. John Sullivan, Director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture, joins other officials in talking about what's new and improved this year, what the fair means to many people, and some new developments in the agriculture industry today.

Jul 26, 2019 • 15min
Title X, Immigrant Children and Sterigenics
Round table discussion: Gov. J.B. Pritzker challenges the Trump administration on two fronts: Title X funding and legislation protecting immigrant children. Meanwhile a political battle brews over whether Sterigenics can reopen its facility in Willowbrook. Peter Hancock, Rebecca Anzel and Jerry Nowicki discuss.

Jul 19, 2019 • 7min
The Corwin Amendment
In 1862, Illinois lawmakers ratified the so-called "Corwin Amendment," a proposed amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would have preserved slavery in the Southern states. Now, Republican state Sen. Jason Plummer is pushing a resolution to rescind the state's ratification.

Jun 28, 2019 • 11min
Pritzker signs marijuana and capital bills
Governor J.B. Pritzker signed two landmark pieces of legislation, a bill legalizing recreational marijuana; and a $45 billion capital improvements program. Sound from both bill-signing ceremonies and a discussion with Capitol News Illinois reporters Peter Hancock and Jerry Nowicki.

Jun 21, 2019 • 13min
A Very Wet Spring
Interview with John Sullivan, Director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture, talking about the historically wet spring planting season and its potential impact statewide. Round table discussion with Peter Hancock and Jerry Nowicki discussing the week's political news.