© 2024 WSIU Public Broadcasting
WSIU Public Broadcasting
Member-Supported Public Media from Southern Illinois University
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Illinois Lawmakers Series Returns to WSIU-TV on Friday, May 6

Todd Pilon, WTVP Peoria

For Immediate Release 

Thursday, April 28, 2016

Contact: Jak Tichenor, Illinois Lawmakers Series Host, Retired Senior Producer, WSIU Public Television, (618) 453-6187, jak.tichenor@wsiu.org

Illinois Lawmakers TV Series Returns for Spring Session as Lawmakers Search for Budget Solution, Series To Air Fridays at 7:30pm on WSIU-TV in May

Carbondale, Ill. -- WSIU Public Television, a public media arm of Southern Illinois University, will broadcast coverage of the Spring 2016 Session of the Illinois General Assembly as part of the statewide public television series Illinois Lawmakers on Fridays at 7:30pm on WSIU-TV 8/WUSI-TV 16 beginning May 6 and continuing through June 3. 

“Illinois’ human services safety net is hanging in shreds,” says series host Jak Tichenor, "as Republican Governor Bruce Rauner and the Democratic majorities in the General Assembly continue to butt heads over closing a budget gap that numbers in the billions and grows daily without an agreement.” 

“Ninety percent of the state’s budget is being spent on autopilot because of court orders and administrative sleight of hand,” Tichenor continues, “but the fact remains that Illinois is spending at the rate of $38-billion despite revenues of only $32-billion after the state’s temporary income tax increase expired at the end of 2014.”

Governor Rauner insists the General Assembly pass his business-friendly “Turnaround Agenda” to improve the state’s economy before raising taxes, but Democrats say middle class families will suffer because of his policies. Rauner recently signed a $600-million stopgap bill for Illinois colleges and universities passed by the state legislature. The SIU system will receive nearly $58 million for operational costs.

Founded in 1986, Illinois Lawmakers is television’s longest running continuing coverage of the Illinois General Assembly and is a joint production of WSIU-TV Carbondale, WTVP-TV Peoria, and Illinois Public Media (WILL) Urbana-Champaign. Capitolfax.com publisher, Rich Miller, and Illinois Public Radio Statehouse Bureau Chief, Amanda Vinicky, are regular contributors to the series, as are legislative leaders, lawmakers, and policy analysts. Learn more online at illinoislawmakers.org.

About WSIU Public Broadcasting

WSIU Public Broadcasting is licensed to the Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University and is an integral part of the College of Mass Communication & Media Arts on the Carbondale campus. The WSIU stations reach more than three million people across five states and beyond through three digital public television channels, three public radio stations, a radio information service, a website, and an education and community outreach department.

WSIU's mission is to improve the quality of life of the people they serve. The WSIU stations partner with other community organizations to promote positive change and to support the academic and public service missions of Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Learn more and get the latest station news online at wsiu.org and on WSIU's Facebook and Twitter pages.

WSIU's programs and services are partially funded by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

#  #  #

As a WSIU donor, you don’t simply watch or listen to public media programs, you are a partner. By making a gift, you help WSIU produce, purchase, and broadcast programs you care about and enjoy – every day of the year.