Programming 2012

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Illinois' Pension Crisis

Senator Bill Brady (R) and Representative Elaine Nekritz (D) Address the Size of the Problem and Possible Solutions

From Springfield: we talk with two leaders of the legislative effort to fix the state’s broken pension system on what reforms are being considered. We hear from Republican Senator Bill Brady and from the Chairman of the House Personnel and Pension Committee, Democrat Elaine Nekritz. 

Recorded May 10, 2012. Aired the week of May 14, 2012. 35 minutes.

Illinois' Pension Crisis

Illinois Policy Institute Analyst Colin Hitt on the Problems Plaguing Illinois' Pension Systems

From Chicago: our contributing correspondent, Jeff Berkowitz, goes one-on-one with Colin Hitt, a policy analyst with the Illinois Policy Institute. Why are the pension systems so underfunded, what is at stake for the state, and what reforms should be considered?

Recorded May 8, 2012. Aired the week of May 14, 2012. 30 minutes.

Illinois' Pension Crisis

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel's Proposals to Address Chicago's Unfunded Pension Obligations

From the State Capitol in Springfield: members of the House Personnel and Pension Committee hear testimony from Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel on the economic threat posed by the city’s growing pension debt. Mayor Emanuel, testifying with two of his chief financial officers, tells lawmakers that without reforms he would have to raise property taxes by 150 percent to continue to meet pension obligations.

Recorded May 8, 2012. Aired the week of May 14, 2012. 1 hour.

Governor Pat Quinn on Illinois' Business Climate

From Springfield: Governor Quinn gives the keynote address to the annual gathering of the Illinois Manufacturers' and Retail Merchants' Associations. The governor lays out what has been achieved in creating a better business climate in Illinois and of the efforts to fix the state's pension and Medicaid programs.

Recorded May 2, 2012. Aired the week of May 7, 2012. 30 minutes.

David Vite, CEO of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association

From Springfield: we talk with David Vite, CEO of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association. He tells us what the current economy means for retailers and talks about the effort of some lawmakers to raise Illinois' minimum wage. 

Recorded May 2, 2012. Aired the week of May 7, 2012. 6 minutes.

Increasing Illinois' Minimum Wage

From the State Capitol in Springfield: we speak with Meegan Bassett of the group Women Employed. We hear why they argue Illinois' minimum wage can be increased without damaging the state's economy. 

Recorded May 2, 2012. Aired the week of May 7, 2012. 7 minutes.

House Committee on Pensions

From the State Capitol in Springfield: we go to the House Pensions Committee as they hear testimony from Representative Daniel Biss, who holds a Ph.D. in mathematics, on his legislation that would create a new funding formula for maintaining fiscal integrity in the state's pension systems.

Recorded May 2, 2012. Aired the week of May 7, 2012. 30 minutes.

Senate Executive Committee

From the State Capitol in Springfield: we hear testimony on legislation offered by Senate President John Cullerton that would eliminate the century-old legislative scholarship program. This program allows each lawmaker to hand out free college scholarships to a few constituents.

Recorded May 2, 2012. Aired the week of May 7, 2012. 20 minutes.

State Senator Larry Bomke (R)

From the State Capitol in Springfield: we go one-on-one with Republican State Senator Larry Bomke, who is leaving the legislature at the end of the year. We get his take on how Governor Blagojevich operated, pension funding, and how legislative votes are tied more to regional interests than partisan politics.

Recorded May 2, 2012. Aired the week of May 7, 2012. 25 minutes.

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April

Senator Christine Radogno (R) on the Rising Cost of Medicaid and Pensions

From the City Club of Chicago: Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno talks about the rising cost of pensions and Medicaid and what Republicans think is the proper way to address those rising costs.

Recorded April 23, 2012. Aired the week of April 30, 2012. 30 minutes.

Maryjane Wurth, President of the Illinois Hospital Association

From the State Capitol in Springfield: we speak with Maryjane Wurth, President of the Illinois Hospital Association, about Governor Quinn's proposal to cut $2.7 billion from Medicaid - largely by lowering the reimbursement rates for healthcare providers and hospitals. 

Recorded April 25, 2012. Aired the week of April 30, 2012. 8 minutes.

Rex Budde, CEO of Southern Illinois Healthcare

From the State Capitol in Springfield: we speak with Rex Budde, CEO of Southern Illinois Healthcare, as he talks about the effect Medicaid cuts would have on healthcare services in Southern Illinois. 

Recorded April 25, 2012. Aired the week of April 30, 2012. 7 minutes.

Protecting the Rights of Crime Victims

From the Senate Chamber at the State Capitol: we hear debate on a Constitutional Amendment that would provide a series of protections for those who are victims of crimes or family members of victims.

Recorded April 25, 2012. Aired the week of April 30, 2012. 25 minutes.

Increasing Family Contact Among Foster Children

From the State Capitol in Springfield: we go to a Senate committee that hears testimony from foster children who describe how they were separated for years from their brothers and sisters or had their contact with family members severely limited. The committee is considering legislation that would try to increase family contact without limiting adoptions.

Recorded April 2012. Aired the week of April 30, 2012. 20 minutes.

2012 Annual House vs. Senate Softball Game

From Lincoln Park in Springfield: we see the lighter side of legislative life as we attend the annual legislative softball competition between members of the Illinois House and Senate. Our contributing correspondent for this year's competition is former State Senator Dave Sullivan.

Recorded April 25, 2012. Aired the week of April 30, 2012. 20 minutes.

Governor Quinn's Proposal to Reform Medicaid

From the Governor’s Office at the State Capitol: Governor Pat Quinn briefs reporters on his plan to address the severe deficit in Illinois’ Medicaid program – a program that funds medical care and nursing home care for about 2.7 million people in the state.

Recorded April 19, 2012. Aired the week of April 23, 2012. 40 minutes.

Republican Response to Governor Quinn's Medicaid Proposal

From the State Capitol in Springfield: Republican Senator Dale Righter and Representative Patti Bellock respond to Governor Quinn’s ideas on how to fix the growing deficit in the state’s Medicaid program. 

Recorded April 19, 2012. Aired the week of April 23, 2012. 19 minutes.

COGFA Financial Check Up:

Illinois' Current Revenues, Spending and the Challenge of Paying Future Pensions, Healthcare, and Borrowing Costs

From the State Capitol in Springfield: we go one-on-one with Dan Long, Executive Director of the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability. This legislative agency prepares economic forecasts. We hear how the state’s revenues are doing one year after the increase in the state income tax and whether these funds are enough to cover rising pension and healthcare spending. 

Recorded April 18, 2012. Aired the week of April 23, 2012. 30 minutes.

GOP Legislative Leaders Brief Business Owners on Efforts to Reform Pensions, Medicaid, and Illinois' Business Climate

From Springfield: Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno and House Republican Leader Tom Cross discuss the legislative agenda before members of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce and the National Federation of Independent Business.

Recorded April 17, 2012. Aired the week of April 23, 2012. 30 minutes.

Senator Bill Brady and TRS Executive Director Dick Ingram on Proposals to Change Teachers' Pension Benefits

From Springfield: Senator Bill Brady, a member of the Governor’s pension reform commission, and Dick Ingram, Executive Director of the Teachers’ Retirement System, discuss some of the changes being considered to current pension benefits as Illinois struggles to lower its pension costs.

Recorded April 17, 2012. Aired the week of April 23, 2012. 30 minutes.

John Tillman, CEO of the Illinois Policy Institute

From Chicago: our contributing correspondent, Jeff Berkowitz, goes one-on-one with John Tillman, CEO of the Illinois Policy Institute. The Institute is a think-tank applying market solutions to public policy problems. Mr. Tillman talks about whether market forces can control energy prices and if competition is the answer to improving public schools.

Recorded March 17, 2012. Aired the week of April 16, 2012. 30 minutes.

The Illinois Innocence Project's Annual Awards Ceremony

From Springfield: the Illinois Innocence Project gives their annual award to author Scott Turow. We hear his comments, as well as those of Senator DIck Durbin, on Illinois' abolishment of the Death Penalty. We also hear why the Innocence Project believes there are still many innocent individuals serving time in Illinois prisons.

Recorded April 9, 2012. Aired the week of April 16, 2012. 40 minutes.

Historian and Author Richard Norton Smith

From the Illinois Channel Archives: we offer an encore presentation of our 2004 interview with historian and author Richard Norton Smith. We discuss his biography of Robert McCormick, "The Colonel." At the time of this 2004 interview, Mr. Smith was the Executive Director of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.

Recorded 2004. Aired the week of April 16, 2012. 50 minutes.

Governor Pat Quinn on Creating Illinois Jobs by Expanding Illinois Exports

From Chicago: Governor Pat Quinn talks to the press after the first meeting of the Export Advisory Council. The Council combines business and state officials in a joint effort to double Illinois exports over the next four years.

Recorded April 3, 2012. Aired the week of April 9, 2012. 10 minutes.

Bob Flider, Director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture

From Springfield: we go one-on-one with Bob Flider, a former state representative who is now the newly appointed director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture. He talks about the effect of the state's financial crisis on the department's manpower and how the Quinn administration plans to work with agricultural producers to help double the state's exports.  

Recorded April 4, 2012. Aired the week of April 9, 2012. 35 minutes.

Senator Matt Murphy (R) on Reforming the State's Pensions

From Chicago: our contributing correspondent, Jeff Berkowitz, goes one-on-one with State Senator Matt Murphy. Senator Murphy talks about the growing need to address the state's unfunded liabilities in the pension system and what changes may be made to secure the future of pension benefits.

Recorded April 2012. Aired the week of April 9, 2012. 25 minutes.

Illinois Channel Archives:

Behind the Scenes at Chicago's Field Museum

From Chicago: we offer an encore presentation of our Behind the Scenes tour of Chicago's Field Museum. This program, which was originally recorded in 2004, takes us to the upper floors of the Field Museum to see what the public never gets to see -- research being conducted that benefits scientists around the world.

Recorded September 2004. Re-aired the week of April 9, 2012. 45 minutes.

Governor Pat Quinn Addresses the Illinois Association of Realtors

From Springfield: Governor Pat Quinn delivers an address to the Illinois Association of Realtors. We hear his comments on what he says is the growing strength of the Illinois economy.

Recorded March 2012. Aired the week of April 2, 2012. 10 minutes.

Special House Committee Investigating Bribery Charges

From the State Capitol in Springfield: we attend the first hearing of a special House committee formed to investigate allegations of bribery leveled against State Representative Derrick Smith.

Recorded March 2012. Aired the week of April 2, 2012. 15 minutes.

Cracking Down on the Sale of Synthetic Drugs

From Springfield: Attorney General Lisa Madigan holds a press conference with a coalition of law enforcement officials as they announce their combined efforts to crack down on the sale of synthetic drugs.

Recorded March 2012. Aired the week of April 2, 2012. 25 minutes.

Establishing Higher Education Standards

From the State Capitol in Springfield: Lieutenant Governor Sheila Simon testifies before a Senate committee on the need to establish higher standards in high school education.

Recorded March 2012. Aired the week of April 2, 2012. 10 minutes.

Issues Plaguing Illinois' Emergency Medical Services

From the State Capitol in Springfield: we speak with State Representatives Lisa Dugan and Don Moffitt. We hear about their recent investigation into problems plaguing emergency medical services in Illinois.

Recorded March 2012. Aired the week of April 2, 2012. 15 minutes.

Promoting Locally Grown Produce

From the State Capitol in Springfield: we speak with two representatives of a coalition promoting locally grown produce. We hear why they say the trend in farmers markets and food co-ops is healthy for both consumers and the Illinois economy.

Recorded March 2012. Aired the week of April 2, 2012. 10 minutes.

Tour of Abraham Lincoln's Tomb

From Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield: as the anniversary of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln approaches, we take another look at Lincoln's tomb in Springfield and hear again why it is one of the most visited tourist sites in the nation.

Recorded 2005. Aired the week of April 2, 2012. 25 minutes.

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March

Senate President Cullerton (D) on Pension Reforms

From the City Club of Chicago: Illinois Senate President John Cullerton talks about the pension crisis facing Illinois. We hear why this issue confronts the legislature’s ability to fund other programs at past levels, what changes are being considered to the pension system, and whether such changes violate the Illinois Constitution.

Recorded March 19, 2012. Aired the week of March 26, 2012. 35 minutes.

Senator Ron Sandack (R) Discusses Pensions and Medicaid

From the State Capitol in Springfield: Senator Ron Sandack talks with us about pensions and Medicaid reform, two of the major issues facing the state this spring. Senator Sandack also tells us why he is running for the Illinois House this year.

Recorded March 21, 2012. Aired the week of March 26, 2012. 10 minutes.

Diesel Prices and Illinois' Business Climate for Trucking

From the State Capitol in Springfield: we talk with Don Schaefer, Executive Vice President of the Mid-West Truckers Association. He tells us about the effect high fuel prices are having on truckers, what truckers want done about distracted drivers, and how Illinois compares to its neighboring states in terms of creating a favorable business climate.

Recorded March 2012. Aired the week of March 26, 2012. 10 minutes.

Addressing Illinois' Culture of Corruption

From the Union League Club of Chicago: a panel discusses Illinois’ culture of corruption in its government and public affairs, and what changes might bring a culture of good government to the state. This is one of three such panels organized by the Institute for Government and Public Affairs at the University of Illinois.

Recorded March 2012. Aired the week of March 26, 2012. 1 hour.

Fiscal Year 2013 Budget Request from Southern Illinois University

From the State Capitol in Springfield: Southern Illinois University President Glenn Poshard testifies before the Senate Appropriations Committee on the university's funding request for Fiscal Year 2013. We also hear why President Poshard says SIU faces challenges that are unique to many other universities around the state.

Recorded March 5, 2012. Aired the week of March 12, 2012. 25 minutes.

CAMPAIGN 2012: Hon. Aurelia Pucinski (D)

Candidate for Illinois Supreme Court

From Chicago: our contributing correspondent, Jeff Berkowitz, talks with Appellate Judge Aurelia Pucinski as she seeks the March 20 Democratic nomination for the Illinois Supreme Court.

Recorded February 19, 2012. Aired the week of March 12, 2012. 30 minutes.

CAMPAIGN 2012: Hon. Joy Cunningham (D)

Candidate for Illinois Supreme Court

From Chicago: our contributing correspondent, Jeff Berkowitz, talks with Appellate Judge Joy Cunningham as she seeks the March 20 Democratic nomination for the Illinois Supreme Court.

Recorded March 4, 2012. Aired the week of March 12, 2012. 30 minutes.

Changing Illinois' Culture of Corruption

From the Union League Club of Chicago: former Illinois Governor Jim Edgar hosts a panel that discusses how to end the culture of corruption in Illinois politics. This panel is part of the Illinois Integrity Initiative organized by the University of Illinois.

Recorded March 2, 2012. Aired the week of March 12, 2012. 1 hour & 10 minutes.

Former Illinois Attorney General Ty Fahner on Pension Reform & GOP Politics

From Chicago: our contributing correspondent, Jeff Berkowitz, talks with former Illinois Attorney General Ty Fahner, who now heads the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago. We hear why Mr. Fahner says it's vital the state reduce its pension costs and when he thinks that may happen.

Recorded February 26, 2012. Aired the week of March 5, 2012. 30 minutes.

The Case for a Graduated State Income Tax

From the State Capitol in Springfield: Ralph Martire of the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability announces his study that says Illinois should move toward a graduated income tax to replace the current flat tax. We also hear from several lawmakers who support the idea.

Recorded February 28, 2012. Aired the week of March 5, 2012. 25 minutes.

Modernizing and Extending Enterprise Zones in Illinois

From the State Capitol in Springfield: the Illinois Manufacturers' Association and a bipartisan group of lawmakers call for an extension of the law allowing for Enterprise Zones. These zones are located in troubled regions across the state and offer financial incentives for businesses operating there.

Recorded February 27, 2012. Aired the week of March 5, 2012. 15 minutes.

Increasing Revenue to Illinois Government

From the City Club of Chicago: three leaders of diverse nonprofit organizations give their perspective of the impact of the state's financial crisis on the state's safety net and civic culture. We hear from Laurence Msall of the Civic Federation, Kathy Ryg of Voices for Illinois Children, and Robin Steans of the education group Advance Illinois.

Recorded February 28, 2012. Aired the week of March 5, 2012. 45 minutes.

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February

Fiscal Year 2013 Budget Address

From the House Chamber at the State Capitol: Governor Pat Quinn delivers his Fiscal Year 2013 Budget Address. The Governor notes the state's current fiscal crisis and why he says it's critical the legislature reform the state's pension systems and close state prisons and other offices. He also proposes to cut Medicaid spending by $2.7 billion.

Recorded February 22, 2012. Aired the week of February 27, 2012. 35 minutes.

Republican Reaction to the Fiscal Year 2013 Budget Address

From the State Capitol in Springfield: Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno and House Republican Leader Tom Cross give their reaction to the Governor's budget address and take reporters' questions.

Recorded February 22, 2012. Aired the week of February 27, 2012. 20 minutes.

CAMPAIGN 2012: Senator Ron Sandack (R)

Candidate for Illinois' 81st House District

From Chicago: our contributing correspondent, Jeff Berkowitz, talks with freshman State Senator Ron Sandack about why he is running for the Illinois House and his impressions of working in the legislature with the Quinn administration.

Recorded February 2012. Aired the week of February 27, 2012. 30 minutes.

Abraham Lincoln Association's Annual Lincoln Day Dinner

From Springfield: Senator Dick Durbin delivers the keynote address at the Abraham Lincoln Association's Annual Lincoln Day Dinner. He shares how Lincoln is memorialized in the nation's capitol and why Lincoln's crisis leadership still inspires those in government. Senator Durbin is introduced by former Illinois State Historian Tom Schwartz.

Recorded February 12, 2012. Aired the week of February 27, 2012. 40 minutes.

Lt. Governor Sheila Simon (D):

Benefits of Illinois' Community Colleges

From the City Club of Chicago: Lieutenant Governor Sheila Simon talks about the growing role of community colleges in educating Illinois' workforce in an era of rapidly changing technologies and workforce skills.

Recorded January 19, 2012. Aired the week of February 20, 2012. 25 minutes.

Tom Bevan, Co-Founder of Real Clear Politics

From Chicago: our contributing correspondent, Jeff Berkowitz, talks with Tom Bevan, co-founder of Real Clear Politics. We hear Mr. Bevan's analysis of the Republican Presidential race and why he thinks there may be a brokered convention which selects a nominee who did not run in the primaries.

Recorded February 12, 2012. Aired the week of February 20, 2012. 25 minutes.

CAMPAIGN 2012: Republican Candidate Debate

Illinois' 24th Senate District

From Elmhurst College in Elmhurst: a State Senate Debate between incumbent Kirk Dillard and his opponent, Representative Chris Nybo. The two Republicans are seeking election to Illinois' 24th Senate District.

Video Courtesy of Addison Community Television and the City of Elmhurst

Recorded February 2012. Aired the week of February 20, 2012. 35 minutes.

Raising Ethical Standards in Illinois Government

From Springfield: we talk with Jim Nowlan of the University of Illinois. Mr. Nowlan spent over 40 years in and around the highest levels of Illinois government and is now leading an effort to raise ethical standards and the level of integrity of those who serve in government.

Recorded February 16, 2012. Aired the week of February 20, 2012. 25 minutes.

Governor Quinn on Illinois' Economic Situation

From Chicago: Governor Pat Quinn delivers an address to the City Club of Chicago and defends his programs to spur the Illinois economy. Governor Quinn also talks about the upcoming legislative session and what he hopes may be accomplished.

Recorded February 2012. Aired the week of February 13, 2012. 40 minutes.

The Presidential Nomination Process

From Southern Illinois University Carbondale: we talk one-on-one with Professor John Jackson of Southern Illinois University. Professor Jackson, who has written several books on the presidential nomination process, gives us his thoughts on the race for the Republican presidential nomination.

Recorded February 7, 2012. Aired the week of February 13, 2012. 20 minutes.

CAMPAIGN 2012: John Tree (D)

Candidate for Illinois' 10th Congressional District

From Chicago: our contributing correspondent, Jeff Berkowitz, interviews John Tree, Democratic candidate for Illinois' 10th Congressional District. We hear why this career military man says he is the best candidate to run against Republican incumbent Bob Dold.

Recorded January 8, 2012. Aired the week of February 13, 2012. 25 minutes.

Reforming the Social Security System

From Washington, DC: with a growing awareness of the need to reform the Social Security system, we open the Illinois Channel archives to hear what reforms then Senator Barack Obama proposed when he addressed the National Press Club in April 2005.

Recorded April 26, 2005. Re-aired the week of February 13, 2012. 25 minutes.

Illinois' 2012 State of the State Address

From the House Chamber at the State Capitol: Governor Pat Quinn delivers the 2012 State of the State Address, in which he reviews the accomplishments and challenges facing the state.

Recorded February 1, 2012. Aired the week of February 6, 2012. 40 minutes.

Republican Reaction to the 2012 State of the State Address

From the State Capitol in Springfield: we get the Republican reaction to Governor Quinn's 2012 State of the State Address. We hear from Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno and House Republican Leader Tom Cross.

Recorded February 1, 2012. Aired the week of February 6, 2012. 20 minutes.

Criticism Over Expanding Medicaid in Cook County

From the Stratton Office Building in Springfield: Representative Patti Bellock and Senator Dale Righter talk about Governor Quinn's plans to add 100,000 recipients to Illinois' Medicaid rolls in Cook County. We hear what they say about the costs associated with such growth and why they feel it is the wrong policy.

Recorded February 2, 2012. Aired the week of February 6, 2012. 20 minutes.

CAMPAIGN 2012: Anne Keeley (D)

Candidate for Circuit Judge in Illinois' 20th Judicial Circuit

From Springfield: we talk with Anne Keeley, Democratic candidate for Circuit Judge in Illinois' 20th Judicial Circuit in the Metro-East area. We hear about her experience and judicial philosophy as it relates to criminal law.

Recorded February 2012. Aired the week of February 6, 2012. 15 minutes.

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Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan (D)

From Elmhurst College in Elmhurst: Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan delivers an address in which he reviews the state's current financial problems and how we got to this point. Speaker Madigan also reviews what policies the legislature recently reformed and what may come up in the Spring legislative session.

Video Courtesy of Addison Community Television

Recorded January 24, 2012. Aired the week of January 30, 2012. 1 hour & 10 minutes.

CAMPAIGN 2012: Cliff Surges (R)

Candidate for Illinois' 33rd Senate District

From Chicago: our contributing correspondent, Jeff Berkowitz, goes one-on-one with Cliff Surges, Republican candidate for Northern Illinois' 33rd Senate District.

Recorded January 2012. Aired the week of January 30, 2012. 25 minutes.

Reforming Pensions for Current State Workers

From the Union League Club of Chicago: we offer an encore presentation of a debate over the legality of reducing pension benefits for current state workers. We hear from Ty Fahner, who leads the Civic Committee at the Commercial Club of Chicago, and Henry Bayer of AFSCME Council 31.

Recorded October 4, 2011. Aired the week of January 30, 2012. 25 minutes.

Illinois Budget Director David Vaught

From Springfield: we offer an encore presentation of our interview with Illinois Budget Director David Vaught. As Governor Quinn prepares his FY 2013 budget, we hear how the state's $33 billion budget is put together.

Recorded August 30, 2011. Re-aired the week of January 23, 2012. 1 hour & 10 minutes.

Issues for the Spring Legislative Session

From Springfield: we talk with Colin Hitt of the Illinois Policy Institute and hear what issues the conservative think tank is focusing on as the Illinois legislature prepares to return for its Spring session.

Recorded January 12, 2012. Aired the week of January 23, 2012. 10 minutes.

Illinois Congressman Joe Walsh

From Chicago: our contributing correspondent, Jeff Berkowitz, talks with Congressman Joe Walsh as the freshman Representative prepares to seek re-election to Congress.

Recorded January 3, 2012. Aired the week of January 23, 2012. 20 minutes.

Increasing Economic Growth and Creating Jobs

From Chicago: our contributing correspondent, Jeff Berkowitz, talks with finance professor John Cochrane of the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business. We hear his views on what economic policies are the best way to spur our economic growth and create jobs.

Recorded December 19, 2011. Aired the week of January 16, 2012. 25 minutes.

Illinois Supreme Court:

Legal Rights of Former Guardian of Minors

From the Illinois Supreme Court in Springfield: we hear oral arguments in a case concerning the care of a minor and whether it is in the best interest of the child to be removed from the care of family members.

Recorded September 15, 2011. Aired the week of January 16, 2012. 35 minutes.

Steven Nemerovski, Author of E Party

From the House Chamber at the State Capitol: an encore presentation of our one-on-one interview with Steven Nemerovski, author of E Party. The book is a fictional work about how a third political party is established in Illinois to change the political culture and reestablish good government reforms.

Recorded September 22, 2010. Aired the week of January 16, 2012. 35 minutes.

Illinois' Business Relations with Cuba

From Springfield: we talk with Charles Serrano about the flights out of Chicago to Cuba and hear how travel to that once forbidden island nation may lead to more trade and jobs for Illinois.

Recorded November 9, 2011. Aired the week of January 16, 2012. 20 minutes.

Illinois State Treasurer Dan Rutherford on Mitt Romney's 2012 Presidential Campaign

From Springfield: we go one-on-one with Illinois State Treasurer Dan Rutherford, the Director of the Mitt Romney campaign in Illinois. As one who knows both Mitt Romney and Barack Obama on a personal level, we hear how he contrasts the two men and why he is supporting Mitt Romney for the Republican Presidential nomination.

Recorded January 2012. Aired the week of January 9, 2012. 20 minutes.

CAMPAIGN 2012: Judy Cates (D)

Candidate for Illinois' Fifth District Appellate Court

From Springfield: we go one-on-one with Judy Cates, Democratic candidate for Illinois' Fifth District Appellate Court. We hear her thoughts on civil and criminal law and how her background has helped form her judicial philosophy.

Recorded January 2012. Aired the week of January 9, 2012. 20 minutes.

Chicago Sun-Times' Tom McNamee on Editorial Positions & School Choice in Chicago

From Chicago: Contributing Correspondent Jeff Berkowitz interviews Tom McNamee, Editorial Page Editor of the Chicago Sun-Times. We hear them spar over the need for competition in education and learn what other issues are the focus of the Sun-Times' editorial board.

Recorded December 19, 2011. Aired the week of January 9, 2012. 30 minutes.

Securing Federal Funding for Transportation in Illinois

From Springfield: Doug Whitley, head of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, is joined by union leaders to urge Congress to quickly pass a multi-year funding bill for transportation projects. They tell us what reports say about the condition of Illinois roads and bridges and the cost of congestion in our urban areas.

Recorded January 2012. Aired the week of January 9, 2012. 50 minutes.

Obstacles and Opportunities for Women in the Law

From Chicago: a panel of women who have served on the Illinois Supreme Court discuss their careers and the changing opportunities for women in the law. But first, we see a portrayal of Myra Bradwell, the first woman to apply for an Illinois law license, and learn how the legal profession was once off-limits to women. This program was held during the mid-year meeting of the Illinois State Bar Association.

Recorded December 9, 2011. Aired the week of January 2, 2012. 1 hour & 15 minutes.

Impact of Justices' Rulings on Judicial Independence

From Chicago: Michael Streit, a former Justice on the Iowa Supreme Court, gives an address to the Illinois State Bar Association. Mr. Streit talks about the need for an independent judiciary and what happened to the Iowa Supreme Court when its members ruled a popular law unconstitutional.

Recorded December 9, 2011. Aired the week of January 2, 2012. 40 minutes.

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