Rauner began his first budget negotiations with a call for deep spending cuts to Medicaid, pensions and other programs to fix the state’s budget mess without raising taxes. In a preview of what's likely to come, Democrats and Republicans sparred over many details and the need for tax hikes to fill the budget hole.

Illinois Public Radio Statehouse Bureau Chief Amanda Vinicky Details Budget Issues Governor Rauner May Face

A bill to fix the state’s massively underfunded pension system is headed to Gov. Pat Quinn’s desk. This hour on Focus, we’ll talk with Illinois Public Radio Statehouse Bureau Chief Amanda Vinicky and former state senator Rick Winkel about what’s in the bill and what happens now.

This hour on Focus, host Jim Meadows talks politics with Illinois Public Radio’s Amanda Vinicky and the News-Gazette’s Tom Kacich. Then, we’ll hear from Illinois’ new House Minority Leader, Representative Jim Durkin.

Are Illinois lawmakers making progress on pension reform? Why do all the lively races for statewide office next year only involve republicans?