[caption id="attachment_9542" align="alignright" width="183"] Steve Brown[/caption]

Steve Brown, spokesman for the Speaker of the Illinois House, Michael Madigan, joins The Morning Newswatch to discuss current state politics, including the senate's school funding bill.

State Rep. John Bradley joins us to talk about the recent downgrade in Illinois' finances from Standard and Poor's and the lack of progress on fracking.

U.S. Representative Mike Bost (R-Murphysboro) joins The Morning Newswatch.