Capitol Connection

Illinois approves ethics reform. Speaker Chris Welch recaps his first session at the helm of the Illinois House. Governor J.B. Pritzker defends signing the new statehouse redistricting maps. 

Capitol Connection host Mark Maxwell interviews newsmakers about current events in Illinois politics.

State Senator John Curran (R-Downers Grove) discusses the push for ethics reform in Illinois.

State Representative Marcus Evans (D-Chicago) explains the ballot question you will see in 2022 and what it means for the future of union rights.

Capitol Connection host Mark Maxwell interviews newsmakers about current events in Illinois politics.

State Senator Elgie Sims (D-Chicago) discusses the redistricting efforts, the budget negotiations, and the recent police reform measure.

State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) and Representative Tom Bennett (R-Gibson City) discuss how they mix politics and family in a time of political polarization. 

Capitol Connection host Mark Maxwell interviews newsmakers about current events in Illinois politics.

Fallout from former President Trump's flagrant lies about the 2020 election exposed a rift among Illinois' five Republican members of Congress. 

State Senator Sue Rezin (R-Morris) hammers the Pritzker administration for a lack of transparency in the fatal Coronavirus outbreak at the state-run LaSalle Veterans Home.

State Senator Michael Hastings (D-Tinley Park) campaigns in the Democratic primary contest to replace retiring Secretary of State Jesse White. 

WGN's Ben Bradley investigates a pension perk that allows some elected officials to collect more in retirement than they made on the job.

Capitol Connection host Mark Maxwell interviews newsmakers about current events in Illinois politics.

Representative Ryan Spain (R-Peoria) reacts to the images of House Democrats emerging from a secret map room where they got a sneak peek of the proposed upcoming state legislative districts. 

Representative Jay Hoffman (D-Swansea), the Assistant Majority Leader, floats an idea to create a digital Firearm Owners Identification Card that could show up on a smartphone. 

Representative Margaret Croke (D-Chicago) launched a new 'Mamas Caucus' of elected officials to help young mothers come up with new proposals to make Illinois a more "mama-friendly" state. 

Capitol Connection host Mark Maxwell interviews newsmakers about current events in Illinois politics.

Deputy Governor Christian Mitchell says the Pritzker administration is proposing $70M in annual taxpayer support for ComEd and Exelon after the state reviewed an independent audit of the utility company's books.

State Senator Don DeWitte (R-St Charles) warns Governor J.B. Pritzker could cost the state jobs if he reneges on his 2019 plan to provide tax breaks to companies that complete construction projects in low-income areas.

Rep. Camille Lilly (D-Chicago) explains how the Black Caucus' new health care reform bill seeks to tackle systemic racism

Capitol Connection host Mark Maxwell interviews newsmakers about current events in Illinois politics.

Representative Curtis Tarver (D-Chicago) renews calls to end qualified immunity for police officers.

Representative Patrick Windhorst (R-Metropolis) explains how the federal judicial doctrine of qualified immunity works and what it could mean if it were to end. 

Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) highlights a new task force to revitalize local news .

Representative Lisa Hernandez (D-Cicero) describes how a new media literacy curriculum could help high school students detect false news. 

Capitol Connection host Mark Maxwell interviews newsmakers about current events in Illinois politics.

Illinois Republicans continue to call for a fair legislative map. Representatives Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield) and Delia Ramirez (D-Chicago) discuss the redistricting effort and other top news from the statehouse. 

Capitol Connection host Mark Maxwell interviews newsmakers about current events in Illinois politics.

Illinois opens up vaccine eligibility to everyone 16 and over in the state. Governor Pritzker highlights government programs intended to aid the economic and educational recovery from the losses suffered during the pandemic. Representative Margaret Croke (D-Chicago) fights to expand the legal definition of infertility care to ensure access to treatment for LGBTQ+ and women over 35 years of age. 

Capitol Connection host Mark Maxwell interviews newsmakers about current events in Illinois politics.

While state lawmakers are on a two-week spring break, they passed a staggering number of bills out of committee during the first few weeks of session this year. State representative Will Guzzardi (D-Chicago) explains why the House is clearing so many ideas for debate on the House floor, and promotes his push for rent control in Chicago. Plus, state senator Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington) calls for an independent commission to draw the political maps in the redistricting process. 

Capitol Connection host Mark Maxwell interviews newsmakers about current events in Illinois politics.

Governor Pritzker calls for new gun control legislation in the wake of mass shootings in Colorado and Georgia. Senator Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago) proposes expanded background checks and fingerprint requirements for FOID card holders. Senator Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) opposes the fingerprint requirement and questions if the Pritzker administration is purposefully dragging its feet on processing FOID renewals.

Capitol Connection host Mark Maxwell interviews newsmakers about current events in Illinois politics.

Governor J.B. Pritzker sits down one-on-one to reflect on a year in a pandemic. Representative Will Davis (D-Hazel Crest) weighs in on the push for education funding now that Illinois gets a $7.5 billion lifeline from the 'American Rescue Plan.' Representative Tim Butler (R-Springfield) discusses the push for Fair Maps now that the once-in-a-decade redistricting process is underway. 

Capitol Connection host Mark Maxwell interviews newsmakers about current events in Illinois politics.

How will President Joe Biden's 'American Rescue Plan' impact Illinois' state budget? The Senate returns for session in-person in Springfield. State Senator Sally Turner (R-Springfield) discusses election security. Representative Carol Ammons (D-Urbana) explains how the Legislative Black Caucus education reform measure aims to root out systemic racism in the classroom.

Capitol Connection host Mark Maxwell interviews newsmakers about current events in Illinois politics.

Congresswoman Robin Kelly (D-IL 2nd District) takes over the reins of the Illinois Democratic Party. Former Chairman Michael Madigan exits after 23 years in the post. Congressman Rodney Davis (R-IL 13th District) discusses the new legislation in Congress that would reform elections and campaign finances. 

Capitol Connection host Mark Maxwell interviews newsmakers about current events in Illinois politics.

Illinois becomes the first state in the nation to end cash bail; Republican state senator Darren Bailey jumps into the primary race for governor; former House Speaker Michael Madigan pressures his successor to resign after two days on the job; State senator John Curran calls cash bail inequitable, but points out areas where he'd like to strengthen the courts role in determining pre-trial detention; Representative Marcus Evans suggests banning violent video games could help reduce carjackings.

Capitol Connection host Mark Maxwell interviews newsmakers about current events in Illinois politics.

Illinois could become the first state in the nation to end the practice of cash bail. Republicans push back, urging Governor Pritzker to veto the 764-page bill the House and Senate passed to his desk during the 'Lame Duck' session. Former state's attorney and Rep. Patrick Windhorst (R-Harrisburg) analyzes how the proposal would impact prosecutors and police, and Rep. Justin Slaughter (D-Chicago) explains why the Black Caucus proposed these changes to the laws that govern law enforcement and impact the criminal justice system. 

Capitol Connection host Mark Maxwell interviews newsmakers about current events in Illinois politics.

Illinois' rocky rollout of the Coronavirus vaccine prioritized state lawmakers ahead of patients with underlying conditions; Republican Congressman Rodney Davis (IL-13th District) responds to the internal fights in the GOP after President Trump's 2020 election loss; Illinois State Board of Education's Superintendent Dr. Carmen Ayala defends the Culturally Responsive Teaching Methods after conservatives criticize the new teacher training standards as "political indoctrination."

Capitol Connection host Mark Maxwell interviews newsmakers about current events in Illinois politics.

Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch (D-Hillside) adopts new rules to govern the chamber and sets term limits on the House Speaker and Minority Leader; Rep. Ann Williams (D-Chicago) makes her case for the Clean Energy Jobs Act; Rep. Michael Marron (R-Fithian) reacts to the new House rules and explains what the election of new chairman of the Illinois Republican Party Don Tracy means for the direction of the party. 

Capitol Connection host Mark Maxwell interviews newsmakers about current events in Illinois politics.

Former House Speaker Michael Madigan retires from the Illinois General Assembly; former state Senator Paul Schimpf runs for Governor in the Republican primary; state Senator Michael Hastings eyes the Secretary of State job; and new state Senator Doris Turner takes her seat in the state legislature. Capitol Connection host Mark Maxwell interviews newsmakers about current events in Illinois politics.