Connected to Chicago with Bill Cameron

Roberta Lynch, Executive Director of AFSCME, the public services employees union representing many state of Illinois employees. Governor Bruce Rauner has effectively stopped negotiating with the union over state employee contracts. Can the impasse ever be resolved or will it take new leadership to re-open talks? The union might opt for a strike that could devastate the service organizations who serve the citizens of Illinois.

Bill Cameron along with Greg Hinz of Crain's, Lynn Sweet of The Sun-Times, Ray Long of The Chicago Tribune, and Natasha Korecki of Politico discuss the week in state and national politics. Picking up on first segment, will the state legislature come together for a balanced budget? Lynn updates the debate on the U.S. Senate floor is the replacement legislature for "Obamacare". Will problems in the Trump administration trickle down to the mid-term elections in Illinois in 2018? Will there be a Democrat sweep from the Governor's office down to members of Congress?

John Dempsey covers the opening ceremonies for "Riverpoint Tower" which is one of several new office towers opening in the heart of the city. Comments from Alderman, Brendan Reilly and Mayor, Rahm Emanuel illustrate how important this development will be for the city.

Michael Quigley, U.S. Representative for Illinois's 5th congressional district joins Bill Cameron

Newsmaker Interview: Golf season is soon approaching and it’s something many of Chicago’s underprivileged youth do not get a chance to experience. The Chicago Park District and the newly formed Chicago Parks Golf Alliance have one solution that might be able to make 18 holes of lush fairways available to Chicago youth.

John Dempsey talks to Mark Rolfing (NBC & Golf Channel Analyst and Founder of the Chicago Parks Golf Alliance) about the proposal to combine the 9-hole South Shore Golf Course with the adjacent Jackson Park Golf Course creating a professional quality course that would offer discounted rates to city residents in addition to a caddy program that would offer jobs for Chicago youth.

John Dempsey sits in for this weeks gathering around the roundtable joined by Lynn Sweet of the Chicago Sun-Times, Ray Long of the Chicago Tribune, and Greg Hinz of Crain's.

This week with Trump: Sean Spicer and the Trump era White House briefing has been repeatedly mocked by Saturday Night Live, but are they really that disorganized and convoluted? Lynn gives us the inside story. Several recent Republican town hall meetings have been disrupted by audience members with anti-trump comments and protests. What is next for the GOP and changes to "Obamacare"? There is a lot of money riding on healthcare nationally, but it could effect locally for those who provide services within the state.

Jennifer Keiper has an update from the 2017 Chicago Auto Show. A new program called, 'The EVOLVE Initiative' (EVOLVE stands for Electric Vehicle Opportunites: Learning, Events, Experience.) is an effort to get more electric vehicles on the roads in order to reduce air pollution and the illnesses related to vehicle emissions. This program involves 7 states and 8 coalitions, including Chicago. Some 200 events will be held over the next 3 years and will target the public, the fleets, workplace and dealership training.

Jennifer Keiper has an update from the 2017 Chicago Auto Show. A new program called, 'The EVOLVE Initiative' (EVOLVE stands for Electric Vehicle Opportunites: Learning, Events, Experience.) is an effort to get more electric vehicles on the roads in order to reduce air pollution and the illnesses related to vehicle emissions. This program involves 7 states and 8 coalitions, including Chicago. Some 200 events will be held over the next 3 years and will target the public, the fleets, workplace and dealership training.

John Dempsey filling in for Bill Cameron speaks with Josh Hoyt of the National Partnership for New Americans. They discuss the changes in immigration laws under President Donald Trump.

Roundtable Panel: John Dempsey along with Greg Hinz of Crain's, Lynn Sweet of The Sun-Times, and Ray Long of The Chicago Tribune discuss President Trump’s “last minute” press conference. Was this really an update to the nation or more of a “song and dance” event designed to distract attention from problems happening in the White House? Can the Trump agenda be successful with the GOP voters in the off year elections in Congress? Might Trump failures trickle down to Republicans like Peter Roskam, who could be ousted in the 2018 election. Is there a viable Democratic candidate to take on Roskam? Governor, Bruce Rauner has budget issues to deal with and also had a few technology problems to get through in his 2017 budget address. Can the “Grand Deal” be agreed on by both parties and their leadership? Chicago Mayor, Rahm Emanule met with several Trump cabinet officials in Washington D.C. - Did he gain any insight into how the Trump administration might be able to help reduce crime in the city.

Humberto Ortiz, Chevy Design Director talks about his the Redline special edition package that has been featured at this year's Chicago Auto Show. He talks about what inspires a designer, how to attract younger buyers, and offers advice to students looking to get into automobile design.

Superintendent Eddie Johnson gives us a health update. He talks about finding ways to vet new hires and clean out the 'bad apples' from the department. It is just one of the projects going on in the CPD. Several 'police involved shootings' are still being reviewed by the 'Inspector General' and body cameras are playing an important role in documenting police interactions. One video just released by the CPD involves Congressman, Bobby Rush. The officers stopped him based on a 'rash' of crimes in the neighborhood, but the Congressman claims it was another case of 'Racial Profiling' by CPD officers.

In the roundtable they discuss President Trump claiming that our national security is at risk and that is the basis for his executive action to 'ban' travel by individuals from ​seven Muslim countries. The ban was blocked by a federal appeals court on Thursday. President Trump declared that he intends to go to the U.S. Supreme court for a 'final answer'.

Chicago's City Council is asking President Trump for assistance to help battle the 'crime problem' in the city which has been the recent target of the President. Can the White House actually do anything to fight gang crimes, increase gun controls, and provide summer jobs for the city's youth?

Republicans cried foul over Senator, Elizabeth Warren claiming that she violated rules against impugning another senator. A vote following party lines intended to silence her comments, actually put a spotlight on her message.

Chris Kennedy tosses his hat into the run for Governor of Illinois as a democrat. His announcement earlier in the week confirmed rumors that the Chicago businessman and son of former U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy.

Then Nick Gale talks about a bill being introduced in Springfield to further Illinois' position as a safe haven for immigrants.

The "Immigration Safe Zone Act" provides that schools, medical treatment and health care facilities, and places of worship may not grant access to State and local law enforcement agencies that have entered into an agreement with United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The bill requires the Illinois Department of Human Services to provide training or make training available to teachers, administrators, and other staff of elementary and secondary schools, as well as to medical treatment and health care facilities, on how to deal with immigration issues and how to notify families of those issues in multiple languages.

The bill also provides for the removal of certain file information by State agencies, public schools, and public institutions of higher education.

State Rep. Chris Welch is sponsoring the bill along with State Rep. Elizabeth Hernandez and Freshman State Rep. Theresa Mah.

Jim Durkin - Republican Leader of the Illinois House of Representatives, representing the 82nd District. There is actually some good news coming out from Springfield recently, but why are Speaker Mike Madigan and Governor Bruce Rauner having so much difficulty actually running the state? Another Madigan, Attorney General, Lisa Madigan has threatened to stop paychecks for state employees until the a balanced budget can be put in place. Is it a wise decision to punish state workers? Are there any possible Trump policy problems that will make it difficult for the state to provide for it’s residents? Medicaid could be severely impacted from the proposed changes coming from the Trump White House.

Bill Cameron along with Greg Hinz of Crain's, Lynn Sweet of The Sun-Times, and Ray Long of The Chicago Tribune discuss Can President Trump's Supreme Court Nominee, 49-year-old Denver federal appeals court judge Neil Gorsuch be fair when it comes to the possibility of revisiting the 1973 Row V. Wade decision.

Jennifer Keiper speaks with Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs who has spearheaded a new 14-state program that encourages disabled people to invest money without jeopardizing federal disability benefits. We hear about program details from Frerichs and those who plan to take part explain why they're going to do it. In the second segment, Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber explains why his organization chose Chicago for the 2017 MLS ""ALL-STAR"" game, which will be played at Soldier Field on August 2nd. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel explains what getting this game means for the city.

Earlier this week Trump made a statement about Chicago's crime problems and his threats to pull funding from Sanctuary cities including Chicago. Many political leaders have started to ignore President Trump and his staffers rather than accepting him. Is that the right move? Will those choosing to do so regret their decision later in the term?

A meeting between Trump and the President of Mexico was cancelled, however they did speak to each other by telephone on Friday. Trump has maintained his position to build a wall on the border and make Mexico pay for it. President Donald Trump also signed an executive order withdrawing the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement.

With the inauguration of President Donald Trump, ​Tom Tresser joins Bill Cameron to predict how a Rahm Chicago will operate under a Trump America. Tresser has been doing civic engagement and grassroots democracy efforts for over 40 years and has recently published a new book, "Chicago Is Not Broke.

Funding the City We Deserve" in which he outlines the ways the city of Chicago can actually work in a fair, just, and progressive way.

Bill Cameron along with Greg Hinz of Crain's, Lynn Sweet of The Sun-Times, and Ray Long of The Chicago Tribune discuss issues making news this week. Most notably, the inaugural of President, Donald Trump. The Illinois Senate is tired of the budget stalemate and has apparently taken steps to draft a budget plan of their own. Can it be done with the approval of Speaker Mike Madigan?

Then, Mayor Rahm Emanule's senior legal advisor, Stephen R. Patton who was appointed the City of Chicago’s Corporation Counsel in 2011, tells Bill Cameron what he thinks the mayor should have done differently in the past 5 and a half years. Patton is leaving the position and will be replaced by Edward N. Siskel in February.

Nick Gale talks with Steve Bernas, President of the Better Business Bureau of Chicago, serving Northern Illinois. He says the "IRS Scam" remains at the top of their list of consumer complains and scams. He also points out specific scenarios and warns listeners to never accept a call from the IRS, because the IRS will never call. He talks about what to listen for to see if a call is a scam or not.

Take on the ​U.S. Attorney General, Loretta Lynch press conference and the investigation about the City of Chicago's Police Department and their handling of arrests, which Lynch described as have involved excessive force. Will citizens ever be able to trust the CPD? Is this problem solvable? Two other press conferences this week happened with the outgoing and the incoming Presidents. Obama's reflection on accomplishments were wiped out by Trump's statements the next morning.

Congress may run the government if Candidate Trump can't transform himself into President Trump.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel is being called 'heartless' by some city of Chicago employees after private e-mails were released including exchanges about a three-year phase-out of the city’s retiree health care program.

The city seems to be over run by crime, shootings, police brutality -- can Rahm win back the trust of his constituents before the next election? Will we see an Obama pardon of former Governor, Rod Blagojevich?