Legislators gather in Springfield today to hash out plans for moving the state forward. Budget proposals, tax hike remedies and the ever-present pension reform issue hang in the balance as the Republican primary draws near. Is progress being made on these issues in the state capital? Do Illinois governor hopefuls have new ideas for state reform, and will we hear about them before the March 18 primary? We chat with Chicago Sun-Times Springfield Bureau Chief Dave McKinney, Chicago Tribune columnist Eric Zorn, and the Daily Herald’s opinion editor Jim Slusher about the Illinois governor race and state finances.

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