Protecting the Illinois River

From Peoria: Congressman Ray LaHood address a symposium on the need to improve the condition of the Illinois River to save it for recreational, commercial, and environmental uses.

For more information, click here.

Recorded March 7, 2008.  Aired the week of March 24, 2008.  15 minutes.

Congressman John Shimkus (R)

Illinois' 19th Congressional District

From Springfield: our one-on-one interview with Illinois Republican Congressman John Shimkus.  First elected in 1996, Congressman Shimkus, who is also a Lt. Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve, discusses his recent trip to Afghanistan and gives us his insights as to the force structure there.  Also a member of the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Congressman Shimkus discusses America's energy needs and the role Illinois coal may play.

Recorded January 9, 2008.  Aired the week of January 14, 2008.  25 minutes.

Senators Durbin & Obama Brief Illinoisans Visiting Washington, DC

From Capitol Hill in Washington, DC: Illinois Senators Dick Durbin and Barack Obama hold their weekly policy briefing for Illinois citizens visiting Washington, DC.  This briefing was held just before Congress left for its August recess.

Recorded August 2, 2007.  Aired the week of August 13, 2007.  40 minutes.

Retirement Announcement of Congressman Ray LaHood

From the State Capitol in Springfield: Congressman Ray LaHood announces his retirement from the U.S. House of Representatives at the end of his current term.  Congressman LaHood was first elected in the Republican sweep of 1994 which led to the Republicans taking control of the House for the first time in 40 years.

Recorded July 27, 2007.  Aired the week of August 6, 2007.  20 minutes.

Congressional Objections to BP Increasing Pollutants in Lake Michigan

From the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC: members of Illinois' Congressional Delegation object to increased pollution of Lake Michigan by a British Petroleum (BP) refinery in Indiana.  The increase of pollutants going into Lake Michigan was recently approved by the Federal EPA.  This press conference followed a meeting between Illinois Congressmen and the CEO of BP America.

Recorded July 24, 2007.  Aired the week of July 30, 2007.  15 minutes.

Annual Congressional Baseball Game

From Robert F. Kennedy Stadium in Washington, DC: a look at the 46th Annual Roll Call Congressional Baseball Game.  This competition between congressional Republicans and Democrats is a long-held tradition.  Appearing again as the pitcher for the Republican team is Illinois Congressman John Shimkus, co-MVP of the game.

Recorded June 25, 2007.  Aired the week of July 16, 2007.  10 minutes.

Congressman Phil Hare:

The Shame of Veterans' Medical Care

From Washington, DC: freshman Illinois Congressman Phil Hare discusses his assignment on the House Veterans Affairs Committee.  In our one-on-one interview, the Congressman tells us what efforts are being made to improve veterans healthcare in light of recent reports about shabby V.A. hospitals and inadequate treatment.

Recorded May 8, 2007.  Aired the week of May 21, 2007.  15 minutes.

Law School Loan Payments for Public Service

From the State Library in Springfield: Senator Dick Durbin explains his legislation that would pay the debt owed on law school loans for those attorneys who go to work in the criminal justice system.  We also hear Senator Durbin comment on Senator Obama's run for the White House and what he says to those who say Senator Obama does not have enough experience to be President.

Recorded February 3, 2007.  Aired the week of February 12, 2007.  25 minutes.

Regulating Dietary Supplements

From the State Capitol in Springfield: Senator Dick Durbin announces his four-year effort to increase oversight of dietary supplements resulted in a legislative breakthrough.  Senator Durbin is joined at this press conference by Kevin Riggins, whose 16-year-old son Sean died in 2002 after taking a supplement containing Ephedra.

Recorded December 12, 2006.  Aired the week of December 18, 2006.  25 minutes.

Foley Incident and Oversight of the Congressional Intern Program

From Capitol Hill in Washington, DC: House Speaker Dennis Hastert and Congressman John Shimkus discuss details concerning a scandal of an alleged sexual nature between a male Congressman and a male Congressional Intern.  Speaker Hastert and Congressman Shimkus, who has oversight of the Congressional Intern program, discuss details of these events, when they learned of them, and oversight of the program.

Recorded October 2, 2006.  Aired the week of October 9, 2006.  5 minutes.

Funding Status of State and Local Pensions

From Springfield: the U.S. House of Representatives holds a hearing at the Illinois State Capitol to discuss the financial status of publicly funded pensions.  Among those testifying are Economist J. Fred Giertz of the University of Illinois and Illinois State Budget Director John Filan.

Recorded August 30, 2006.  Aired the week of September 25, 2006.  1 hour & 15 minutes.

Energy Policy and the Congressional Agenda

From the City Club of Chicago: Senator Dick Durbin discusses U.S. energy policy & the Congressional agenda and answers questions from the audience on a variety of Federal policy issues.

Recorded August 31, 2006.  Aired the week of September 18, 2006.  50 minutes.

Senator Barack Obama on Fighting in the Middle East

From Chicago: Senator Barack Obama, a member of the U.S. Senate's Foreign Relations Committee, talks with Jeff Berkowitz about events in the Middle East and what actions America should consider in the wake of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah.

Recorded July 22, 2006.  Aired the week of August 7, 2006.  5 minutes.

FutureGen's Potential Impact on the State of Illinois

From Washington, DC: the Illinois Channel's overview of the FutureGen clean coal project.  We hear from U.S. Energy officials on FutureGen's promise to provide environmentally friendly coal use.  Our coverage then shifts to the announcement of the four finalists in the project's location, and lastly, we hear from Congressman Tim Johnson on the regional impact should Central Illinois ultimately be where FutureGen is constructed.

Recorded July 2006.  Aired the week of July 31, 2006.  20 minutes.

Senator Obama Tours New Orleans' Katrina Damage

From New Orleans, LA: as the first anniversary of Hurricane Katrina approaches, Senator Barack Obama tours the lasting destruction of the hurricane and meets with local New Orleans business owners.  This report comes to us courtesy of WGNO-TV.

Recorded July 2006.  Aired the week of July 31, 2006.  5 minutes.

U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D) & Barack Obama (D) Brief Illinois Citizens Visiting Capitol Hill

From Washington, DC: Illinois Senators Dick Durbin & Barack Obama hold their weekly meeting with Illinois citizens visiting Washington, DC.  The Senators discuss a variety of pending issues before Congress and take questions from the audience.  This briefing was recorded just before the U.S. Senate began its 4th of July Recess.

Recorded June 29, 2006.  Aired the week of July 10, 2006.  35 minutes.

Applying Alternative-Energy Tax Credits to Liquid Fuel Made from Coal

Click here to read a .pdf version of the bill's text.

Recorded May 23, 2006.  Aired the week of May 29, 2006.  25 minutes.

Sudanese Atrocities Against Muslims in Darfur

From the National Press Club in Washington, DC: Illinois Senator Barack Obama (D) and Actor George Clooney hold a press conference to push for an international effort to stop the killing of black Muslims in Sudan.  For years, the Arab Muslim leadership in Sudan has engaged in attacks against Black Muslims in the Western portion of Sudan called Darfur.

Recorded April 27, 2006.  Aired the week of May 8, 2006.  45 minutes.

U.S. Senators Weekly Constituents' Briefing

From Washington, DC: Senators Dick Durbin and Barack Obama hold their weekly constituents' breakfast in which they brief Illinois citizens on pending issues and answer questions.  Senators Durbin and Obama held this meeting just before the U.S. Senate left on its Easter Break.

Recorded April 6, 2006.  Aired the week of April 17, 2006.  45 minutes.

Congressman John Shimkus (R)

From Springfield: an interview with Congressman John Shimkus, who represents Illinois' 19th Congressional District.  Congressman Shimkus talks about the proposal to have a foreign firm control security in six American ports, Congressional ethics, and the implementation of the federal prescription drug benefit plan.

Recorded February 27, 2006.  Aired the week of March 13, 2006.  40 minutes.

Congressional Politics and Policies

From Chicago: a portion of an interview with Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky who talks about changes on Capitol Hill and how they may impact Republicans' hold on Congress and their ability to pass legislation.

Video Courtesy of Jeff Berkowitz

This is a portion of a 30 minute interview. To see a video-stream of the full interview, click here.

Recorded October 23, 2005.  Aired the week of November 27, 2005.  15 minutes.

Rep. John Shimkus on Television's Digital Transition & Federal Spending

From Washington, DC: Congressman John Shimkus, Republican member of the Energy & Commerce Committee, talks about the impact the transition to digital television will have on consumers and programmers.  Congressman Shimkus also shares his thoughts on the growth of Federal spending and whether that could bring a split between fiscal conservatives and House Republicans.

Recorded November 3, 2005.  Aired the week of November 13, 2005.  15 minutes.

Taxing "Excessive Profits"

From Springfield: Senator Dick Durbin announces his plan to introduce legislation that would  tax oil companies on what he calls "excessive profits."  According to this plan, those funds would then be rebated to consumers.  Senator Durbin also takes reporters' questions on other pending topics, including Harriet Miers' nomination to the Supreme Court.

Recorded October 11, 2005.  Aired the week of October 16, 2005.  30 minutes.

Federal Spending & Gulf Coast Recovery

From the Press Briefing Room at the State Capitol: Congressman Ray LaHood discusses pending issues before Congress, including the costs associated with rebuilding the Gulf Coast and whether other spending should be cut to help pay those costs.

Recorded October 11, 2005.  Aired the week of October 16, 2005.  30 minutes.

Illinois Senators Constituents Meeting

From Capitol Hill in Washington, DC: Senators Dick Durbin and Barack Obama hold their weekly constituent breakfast with Illinois citizens.  Every Thursday when the U.S. Senate is in session, the Senators brief Illinois citizens visiting the Washington area.  This is the first such meeting since President Bush nominated Harriet Miers to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court.

Recorded October 6, 2005.  Aired the week of October 9, 2005.  35 minutes.

Provisions of the U.S. Energy Bill

From Washington, DC: Congressman John Shimkus, point-man for the House Republicans on the Energy Bill, discusses what the Energy Bill will do for Illinois energy producers and consumers.  The bill includes a variety of incentives for nuclear power, ethanol production, and coal gasification.  The bill also changes when Daylight Saving Time takes effect.

Recorded July 26, 2005.  Aired the week of August 7, 2005.  20 minutes.

Supreme Court Vacancy

From Springfield: Senator Dick Durbin (D) meets with reporters to discuss the vacancy on the U.S. Supreme Court following the resignation of Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.

Recorded July 10, 2005.  Aired the week of July 17, 2005.  15 minutes.

Illinois Profile: Bob Michel

From Washington, DC:  we visit with Bob Michel, former Leader of the House Republicans and a U.S. Congressman representing the Peoria area from 1957 to 1995.  As a veteran of World War II and Capitol Hill, he reflects on his battles with the Germans, the Democrats, and, on occasion, Newt Gingrich.

Recorded July 12, 2005.  Aired the week of July 17, 2005.  50 minutes.

U.S. Senators Address Illinois Citizens Visiting Capitol Hill

From Washington, DC:  Senators Dick Durbin (D) and Barack Obama (D) hold a policy briefing for Illinois citizens visiting the nation's capitol.  This briefing was taped just prior to the Senate taking its annual Fourth of July holiday.

Recorded June 30, 2005.  Aired the week of July 10, 2005.  30 minutes.

Town Hall Meeting on Veterans' Benefits

From Chicago: a town hall meeting for Illinois military veterans.  This meeting features U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary James Nicholson and Illinois Senators Dick Durbin (D) and Barack Obama (D).  This meeting was organized to discuss the concerns of care provided by the VA.  It also addresses the issue of why Illinois veterans receive less in disability payments than veterans in other states who suffer the same disabilities.

Recorded May 20, 2005.  Aired the week of June 5, 2005.  1 hour.

U.S. Senators Address Illinois Citizens Visiting Capitol Hill

From Washington, DC: Illinois Senators Dick Durbin (D) and Barack Obama (D) meet with Illinois residents to brief them on a series of issues being debated within Congress.  Please note this meeting was recorded prior to the announced agreement concerning the use of the Senate Filibuster on judicial nominations.  Other topics include the question of United Airlines' pension being taken over by the federal government.

Recorded May 19, 2005. Aired the week of May 29, 2005.  36 minutes.

Senator Barack Obama (D) on Social Security Reform

From the National Press Club in Washington, DC: Senator Barack Obama talks about Social Security reform and then takes questions from members of the audience on a variety of pending policy issues.

Recorded April 26, 2005.  Aired the week of May 15, 2005.  40 minutes.

Lobbying for Rare Isotope Accelerator

From Washington, DC: a delegation from Illinois, including Senator Dick Durbin and Governor Rod Blagojevich, announce plans to seek a $1 billion project, the Rare Isotope Accelerator (RIA) from the U.S. Energy Department.  Governor James R. Thompson and JPMorgan Chase Chairman of the Midwest William M. Daley, also in attendance, have been appointed by Governor Blagojevich to co-chair a special task force charged with helping Illinois land RIA.

For more information, visit: www.riaforillinois.com.

Recorded April 27, 2005.  Aired the week of May 1, 2005.  20 minutes.

Preventing Bullying and Harassment in Schools

From the University of Illinois at Springfield: Congressman John Shimkus discusses his bill which would require school districts to prevent bullying and harassment through prevention programs and appropriate response.  The Congressman is joined by therapists and educators who discuss this growing problem and what might be done to protect students from being bullied.

Recorded April 25, 2005. Aired the week of May 1, 2005.  1 hour and 10 minutes.

Treating U.S. Soldiers' Combat Stress

From the State Capitol in Springfield: Senator Dick Durbin announces his intention to seek funding for veterans suffering Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder after serving in combat.  Senator Durbin also takes reporters questions on a series of pending issues and comments on the Oil for Food scandal at the United Nations.

Recorded April 4, 2005.  Aired the week of April 10, 2005.  35 minutes.

Democratic Reaction to Social Security Reform

From Washington, DC: Senator Dick Durbin and Senator Barack Obama participate in a panel discussion on Social Security Reform.  The panel talks about a report issued by the Senate Democratic Policy Committee, which alleges African-Americans would be hurt by privatization of Social Security.

Recorded March 10, 2005.  Aired the week of March 27, 2005.  50 minutes.

Dr. Malkin Goes to Washington

From Washington, DC: medical malpractice, access to healthcare, and medical reimbursement payments are among the top issues on the legislative agenda of the Chicago Medical Society's President-Elect, Dr. Steven Malkin.  He recently traveled to Capitol Hill to make his case with members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation.  We spoke with him about these issues and followed him as he walked the halls of Congress in an effort to talk with members about his concerns.

Recorded March 16, 2005.  Aired the week of March 20, 2005.  10 minutes.

Senator Durbin's Role as Democratic Whip

From Springfield: The new Congress which began in January brought Illinois more influence as Illinois Senator Dick Durbin rose to become the Senate Democratic Whip.  Senator Durbin talks to us about the role and responsibilities of the Whip position and what it means for Illinois.

Recorded January 10, 2005.  Aired the week of March 6, 2005.  10 minutes.

Illinois Congressional Profile: Representative Bobby Rush

From Washington, DC: our continuing coverage of members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation.  In this installment, our one-on-one conversation with Congressman Bobby Rush who represents Illinois' First Congressional District.  Representative Rush, who was once a member of the Black Panthers, discusses life before Congress, education policy, and his attempts to pursue justice in the murder of Emmett Till, a 14-year-old African American who was murdered in Mississippi in August 1955.

Recorded February 17, 2005.  Aired the week of February 27, 2005.  15 minutes.

Promoting Civility on Capitol Hill

From Washington, DC: Illinois Congressman Tim Johnson announces the formation of a "Civility Caucus" intended to reduce the level of animosity between Republicans and Democrats in Congress.  Representative Johnson (R) is joined by New York Congressman Steven Israel (D).  The two Congressmen are supported in their efforts by two former House Leaders; Former House Speaker Tom Foley (D) and Former House Republican Leader Bob Michel (R) who hails from Peoria and represented Illinois' 18th Congressional District.

Recorded February 15, 2005.  Aired the week of February 27, 2005.  25 minutes.

U.S. Senators Brief Illinois Citizens

From Washington, DC: Senators Dick Durbin and Barack Obama brief Illinois citizens and take their questions on policy issues.  These citizen briefings originated with Senator Paul Simon and are held weekly when the U.S. Senate is in session.

Recorded February 10, 2005.  Aired the week of February 13, 2005.  35 minutes.

Veterans Seek Obama's Help with Veterans Affairs Bureaucracy

From Springfield: U.S. Senator Barack Obama meets with Illinois veterans to learn of their experiences in dealings with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.  Senator Obama is a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee.

Recorded January 22, 2005.  Aired the week of January 30, 2005.  60 minutes.

Illinois Congressional Profile: Representative Melissa Bean

From Capitol Hill: our one-on-one conversation with Illinois Congresswoman Melissa Bean.  She talks about legislative priorities for her first term, and as a Democrat, her reaction to President Bush's legislative initiatives.

Recorded January 25, 2005.  Aired the week of January 30, 2005.  10 minutes.

Reflections from Senator Peter Fitzgerald

From the State Capitol in Springfield: Senator Peter Fitzgerald meets with members of the Illinois press corps to reflect on his six-year tenure in the U.S. Senate.

Recorded November 8, 2004.  Aired the week of November 21, 2004.  20 minutes.

Policy Positions of Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr.

From Capitol Hill: Our one-on-one conversation with Illinois Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr., in which he shares his policy priorities and how he became interested in the political process.

Recorded October 12, 2004.  Aired the week of October 24, 2004.  24 minutes.

Illinois Senators Brief Illinois Citizens in DC

From Washington, DC: Senators Durbin and Fitzgerald hold their last joint "Constituent Breakfast" meeting in which they brief Illinois citizens visiting Washington on pending legislation.  In the photo, Senator Fitzgerald, who is leaving the Senate in January at the end of his term, is presented with a cake in honor of his Senate service.

Recorded October 7, 2004.  Aired the week of October 10, 2004.  38 minutes.

Political Lessons Learned

From Washington, DC: U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R) discusses his new book, SPEAKER: Lessons from Forty Years of of Coaching and Politics.  Speaker Hastert spoke at the National Press Club of the experiences that brought him unexpectedly from the classroom to being one of the most influential men in the nation.

Recorded August 4, 2004.  Aired the week of August 15, 2004.  45 minutes.

A New Plan for Prescription Drugs

From Washington, DC: Illinois Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D) says the current Medicare pharmaceutical benefit passed by Congress is inadequate.  She is sponsoring a new bill to increase benefits, and is working to get the bill to the House floor, though it is opposed by the House leadership.

Recorded July 22, 2004.  Aired the week of August 8, 2004.  13 minutes.

Funding New Transportation Projects

From Washington, DC: Illinois Congressman Tim Johnson (R) discusses the transportation projects for Central Illinois that would be funded though federal appropriations.

Recorded July 21, 2004.  Aired the week of August 8, 2004.  7 minutes.

Gas Prices and Oil Firms' Profits

From Springfield: US Senator Dick Durbin questions the profits being made by oil companies as a result of the high gas prices.  Sen. Durbin says oil companies should be investigated to determine if their profits are what are behind the high gas prices.  Sen. Durbin also says we should not be adding to the nation's strategic oil reserve (designed to protect the military and our economy against another Middle-East oil embargo) at this time of high oil prices.

Recorded May 25, 2004.  Aired the week of June 13, 2004.  10 minutes.

U.S. Senators Brief Illinois Citizens

From Washington, DC: Senators Richard Durbin and Peter Fitzgerald discuss pending legislation in the U.S. Senate with Illinois citizens visiting the U.S. Capitol.

Recorded April 21, 2004.  Aired the week of April 25, 2004.  35 minutes.

A Health Care Plan for Small Business

From Springfield: US Senator Dick Durbin met with small businessmen and nonprofit groups to propose a health care plan that would offer coverage to small business owners and their employees.  Senator Durbin lays out his plan, which he says is modeled after the health care plan now available to members of Congress and other federal employees.

Recorded January 12. 2004.  Aired the week of January 25, 2004.  45 minutes.

Representative Lane Evans and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi

Recorded August, 2003.  Aired the week of August 31, 2003.  40 minutes.

Representative Ray LaHood on Pending Legislation in the Fall Congressional Agenda

Recorded August 26, 2003.  Aired the week of August 31, 2003.  40 minutes.

Senator Dick Durbin Press Briefing

Recorded August 18,  2003.  Aired the week of August 24, 2003.  30 minutes.

Senators Durbin and Fitzgerald's Constituents Breakfast Briefing

Recorded July 31, 2003.  Aired the week of August 3, 2003.  32 minutes.

Reflections of a Senator

Recorded July 29, 2003.  Aired the week of August 3, 2003.  32 minutes.

Congressman Rahm Emanuel on His New Congressional Career

From Washington, DC: Rahm Emanuel brings to Congress a background in investment banking and eight years as a domestic policy advisor in the Clinton White House. In this interview, the freshman Illinois Congressman talks about how his experiences interplay with his responsibilities as a Representative of the 5th Congressional District.

Recorded May 7, 2003.  Aired the week of June 15, 2003.  12 minutes.

Senators Durbin and Fitzgerald Hold Their Weekly Policy Briefing

From Washington, DC: Every Thursday when the Senate is in session, Senators Durbin and Fitzgerald hold a briefing for Illinois citizens visiting Washington.  This was Senator Fitzgerald's first briefing with citizens since announcing he would not seek another term in the Senate.

Recorded May 1, 2003.  Aired the week of May 4, 2003.  45 minutes.

Congressman John Shimkus on US Military Policy and the Role of the UN

Recorded March 20, 2003.  Aired the week of March 24, 2003.  15 minutes.

Recorded January 30, 2003.  35 minutes.

From Springfield: Senator Peter Fitzgerald discusses pending federal legislation, corporate accounting scandals, the issues involved in a new Chicago airport, and takes questions from some 200 constituents in this town hall meeting.

Recorded July 1, 2002.  1 hour and 20 minutes.

top