Illinois Rising

Mark Mix, president of the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, talks about the lawsuit his organization and the Liberty Justice Center filed on behalf of six Illinois home-care and day care providers seeking to remove SEIU as their official representation. Kyle Pomerleau, director of federal projects for the Tax Foundation, breaks down each of the GOP presidential candidates’ tax plans with Dan Proft and Ted Dabrowski. The Chicago Tribune’s Richard Wronski explains why Metra fares are always increasing. Hosts: Dan Proft & Ted Dabrowski Guests: Mark Mix, Kyle Pomerleau, Richard Wronski

Fitch and Moody’s downgraded Illinois’ credit rating to Baa1 from A3, which is the state’s 13th downgrade since 2009. Scott Martin, president & CEO of Accent Asset Management and Fox News Contributor, explains what that exactly means. Gov. Rauner has been pushing for a property tax freeze, but legislative Democrats are reluctant. Washington state, though, passed its own property tax freeze more than a decade ago with Democrat support, and it’s working well for the state. Paul Guppy, vice president of research for the Washington Policy Center, explains what makes the policy work. Hosts: Dan Proft & Pat Hughes Guests: Scott Martin, Paul Guppy

In advance of Chicago City Council passing the largest recorded property tax increase in the city’s history, Dan Proft, John Tillman, and Jeff Carter, angel investor and independent trader who runs PointsAndFigures.com, break down the numbers and the potential effects. Scott Reeder, executive editor of the Illinois News Network, gives his take on former Republican governors Jim Edgar and Jim Thompson criticizing Gov. Rauner in the budget impasse. Chicago Tribune education reporter Diane Rado rejoins the show to discuss her investigation on pension spiking. Hosts: Dan Proft & John Tillman Guests: Jeff Carter, Scott Reeder

Rep. Peter Breen talks to Pat Hughes and Diana Rickert about the left politicizing the Catholic Church’s teachings. ABC-7 political reporter Charles Thomas joins to talk about Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle expanding the county’s amusement tax. The budget impasse continues, forcing the state to make tough decisions, like delay pension payments. Hosts: Pat Hughes & Diana Rickert Guests: Peter Breen, Charles Thomas, Nick Novak

Chicago taxi drivers staged a one-day strike to show their displeasure with ride-sharing services being able to pick up at airports. Reason.com associate editor Scott Shackford talks about the pushback ride-sharing services continue to face. A home daycare worker in downstate Illinois shares her story fighting against forced unionization. McHenry High School District teachers are out on strike, but it turns out their salaries and benefits are nothing to complain about. Hosts: Dan Proft & Jacob Huebert Guests: Scott Shackford, Laura Baston, Andrew Gasser

ConAgra Foods announced its leaving its headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska and is relocating to Chicago. Adam Weinberg, communications and outreach director at the Platte Institute for Economic Research, explains why. McHenry School Board Vice President Gary Kinshofer gives his reaction to teachers in his district going on strike. State Rep. Jeanne Ives speaks up about taxpayer funding for Planned Parenthood in the ongoing debate. Hosts: Dan Proft & Diana Rickert Guests: Adam Weinberg, Gary Kinshofer, Jeanne Ives

Rahm Emanuel’s property tax hike isn’t only the highest in Chicago’s history, it goes against his own rhetoric from 2011 when he said he did not want to burden “Chicago families with more taxes they can not afford.” Connor Wolf from The Daily Caller talks about his reporting on SEIU and AFL-CIO’s constant citing on Pope Francis. Chicago Alderman Roberto Maldonado talks to Dan Proft & John Tillman about his bill that legalized food carts in the city. Hosts: Dan Proft & John Tillman Guests: Connor Wolf, Roberto Maldonado

Chicago Alderman Joe Moreno introduced a citywide tax on electronic cigarettes, but Scott Drenkard, director of state projects at the Tax Foundation, explains why that’s not a good idea. Prospect Heights Board of Education President Mari-Lynn Peters makes her side’s case in the Prospect Heights teachers’ strike. Missouri legislators failed to overturn a veto from Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon on a right-to-work bill, but Watchdog.com reporter Eric Boehm explains why it might end up being good politics for Republicans. Hosts: Dan Proft & Pat Hughes Guests: Scott Drenkard, Mari-Lynn Peters, Eric Boehm

Comptroller Leslie Munger said she expects Illinois’ unpaid bills to hit $8.5 billion by December, and Mish Shedlock, who runs the blog Mish’s Global Economic Tend Analysis, joins the show to explain why that number got so high. A Daily Herald analysis of 45 townships found administrative costs outpacing actual assistance funding. What does this tell us about the numerous local governments in the state? Chicago passed a 9-percent tax on Internet-streaming services such as Netflix, Spotify and Xbox Live, but is it even legal? Hosts: Dan Proft & Ted Dabrowski Guests: Mish Shedlock, Jami Lund, Jeff Schwab

Chicago Tribune’s Kristen McQueary guest cohosts. House Democrats failed to override Gov. Rauner’s veto on a bill that would have stripped him of his ability to negotiate with AFSCME. John Tillman, Kristen and State Rep. Ron Sandack discuss the governor’s big victory. Mark Glennon of Wirepoints.com joins the show to discuss how destructive Rahm’s property tax increases will be for the city. Ed Yohnka from the ACLU discusses a freedom of speech case in Peoria. Hosts: John Tillman & Kristen McQueary Guests: Ron Sandack, Mark Glennon, Ed Yohnka

Dixon Mayor Liandro Arellano discusses the pension crisis hurting his town. Bob Bowdon, executive director of ChoiceMedia.TV, talks about CPS’ unbalanced budget. Mike Madigan spokesman Steve Brown might be in some trouble for conflicts of interest. A reporter at The Southern Illinoisan tells Dan Proft and John Tillman how public housing in Cairo, Illinois is struggling. Hosts: Dan Proft & John Tillman Guests: Liandro Arellano, Bob Bowden, Scott Reeder, Molly Parker

The senate overrides Gov. Rauer on SB 1229, moving it to the house. State Sen. Matt Murphy explains the fight ahead. Illinois News Network reporter and WMAY talk show host Greg Bishop recaps the state fair. Brian Jordan from Illinois Food Retailers Association slams Chicago Alderman George Cardenas for proposing a soft drink tax. Hosts: Dan Proft & Ted Dabrowski Guests: Matt Murphy, Greg Bishop, Brian Jordan

Daily Herald Assistant Managing Editor Jake Griffin talks about his investigation on suburban red-light cameras, and State Rep. David McSweeney discusses his legislation to end them all together. Ted Dabrowski offers a deeper look on the terrible financial condition of CPS. Victor Joecks, executive vice president at the National Policy Research Institute, previews “National Employee Freedom Week.” Hosts: Dan Proft & Pat Hughes Guests: Jake Griffin, David McSweeney, Victor Joecks

Bryant Jackson-Green, criminal justice policy analyst at the Illinois Policy Institute, and Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran discuss potential criminal justice reforms with Dan Proft and John Tillman. Dan and John discuss a bill that would remove the taxpayers’ voice from union negotiations, and the state’s effort to expand gambling to cover up financial woes. Michael Lucci, vice president of policy for the Illinois Policy Institute, talks about the state’s out-migration crisis. Hosts: Dan Proft & John Tillman

The controversial John Doe Investigation ends in Wisconsin, and Eric O’Keefe of the Wisconsin Club for Growth shares the story of how he was targeted for his political views. An Elk Grove bakery owner discusses how state government has made it harder for him to do business. Chicago enacts a tax on Internet streaming services, and the city’s progressive caucus is proposing several more taxes. Hosts: Dan Proft & Jacob Huebert Guests: Ken Jarosch, Eric O’Keefe