In this episode of the Prairie State Wire Podcast, Senior Fellow at the Illinois Policy Institute Paul Vallas joins the show for an in-depth conversation about three major challenges facing Chicago and Illinois.

Vallas breaks down what he sees as Mayor Brandon Johnson’s political pandering to the black community — and how it’s diverting attention from the real issues harming residents. He also discusses the lasting damage caused by COVID-era school closures, including setbacks in academic achievement, student mental health, and public safety, which he attributes to teachers union lobbying.

Finally, Vallas sheds light on Illinois’ deepening pension crisis, warning that a recent move by State Senator Bob Martwick has added another $11 billion in taxpayer liabilities.

Andrew Chesney joined the podcast to discuss:

The rise and repeal of Illinois’ Invest in Kids tax-credit scholarships and their impact on low-income families

How teachers unions drive Democratic opposition to school choice in Chicago and statewide

A new universal school choice tax credit opportunity and how citizens can mobilize to make it real

Andrew Chesney is an Illinois State Senator and former Freeport City Council member who also serves as the Stevenson County Republican Chairman. He has built his public-service reputation on cutting red tape, protecting taxpayers, and advancing parental rights in education. Chesney is a leading advocate for school choice and has been a vocal critic of union-driven policies he says trap children in failing schools and erode accountability.

The author of "Something Big: The True Story of the Brown's Chicken Massacre" attorney Patrick Wohl joins us on the Prairie State Wire podcast.

Learn more about Patrick at: www.patrickwohl.com

Ed Bachrach and Ted Dabrowski joined the podcast to discuss:

• How Illinois’ pension debt has spiraled into one of the worst in the nation

• The dangers of Governor Pritzker’s proposed “pension sweetener” bill

• The long-term risks for taxpayers and future generations

Ed Bachrach is a retired businessman who returned to graduate school to earn a degree in public policy after his retirement. He co-authored The New Chicago Way: Lessons from Other Big Cities, a detailed analysis of Chicago’s government structure and fiscal challenges.

Ted Dabrowski is the president of Wirepoints, a policy organization focused on exposing Illinois’ financial and governance crises. He is a long-time policy activist who advocates for reforms to restore affordability, accountability, and opportunity in Illinois.

Sheila A. Weinberg joined the podcast to discuss:

• Why audited financials—not campaign talking points—must drive state budgets.
  
  

• Illinois’ transparency failures, delayed reports, and pension shell games.
  
  

• How citizens can force accountability, including SEC complaints over misleading claims.
  
  

Sheila A. Weinberg is a Certified Public Accountant and the founder/CEO of Truth in Accounting, a nonprofit that grades state and city finances and publishes the Financial State of the States, Financial State of the Union, and Financial State of the Cities. She launched TIA after discovering Washington’s “surplus” era still racked up debt and that Social Security, if booked like a corporate pension, was running massive deficits. Under her leadership, TIA developed a transparency score and the Data-Z platform, arming taxpayers and media with plain-English debt metrics like “Taxpayer Burden.” Weinberg is a leading voice for honest, audited numbers so voters can make informed, fiscally conservative choices.

Pastor Calvin Lindstrom joined the podcast to discuss:

• Why faith, culture, and law are inseparable—and how Illinois is drifting from its Christian roots.
  
  

• A homeschool-policy victory that shows prayerful, organized citizens can still move lawmakers.
  
  

• Practical ways believers can influence local offices where turnout is low and stakes are high.
  
  

Pastor Calvin Lindstrom is a pastor, teacher, and school administrator serving in the Northwest suburbs of Chicago. He writes for Illinois Family Institute and Illinois Family Action, working with Executive Director David Smith to inform voters and evaluate candidates from a Christian perspective. Lindstrom has helped mobilize parents and churches against heavy-handed education bills—most recently contributing to the grassroots coalition that stopped proposed restrictions on homeschooling. He and his church operate Christian Liberty’s school and publishing ministries in Arlington Heights.

Shannon McClurg joined the podcast to discuss:

• Stopping $57 million in school bonds that would have hiked local property taxes.

• Mobilizing a grassroots petition in 30 days to force voter say on “backdoor referendum” bonds.

• How neighbors can organize—fast—using simple tools and clear, voter-first messaging.

Shannon McClurg is a lifelong Illinoisan, local small-business employee, and grassroots precinct committeeperson who now serves as secretary for Effingham County. After learning her school district planned to issue $38 million and $19 million in bonds without a public vote, she helped form a six-person core team, recruited 100+ volunteers, and gathered more than 2,800 signatures on each petition in 25 days—leading the board to rescind the bonds. McClurg champions fiscal responsibility, transparent government, and restoring citizens’ right to vote on major local spending.

Bryce Hill joined the podcast to discuss:

• Why Illinois citizens must stay informed about state and local budget and tax decisions

• The roots and scale of Illinois’ public pension crisis

• Solutions for protecting taxpayers and securing retirement promises through reform

Bryce Hill is the Director of Fiscal and Economic Analysis at the Illinois Policy Institute, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to protecting taxpayers. He leads research and policy analysis on state and local finances, taxation, and economic reform. Hill is a recognized voice in Illinois on fiscal accountability, exposing the dangers of unchecked pension growth, and advocating for reforms that safeguard both taxpayers and public servants.