Heartland Politics with Robin Johnson

Despite Bears Overture to Indiana, "It's Not Over"

By Robin Johnson

Published August 14, 2026 at 11:00 PM CDT

Ways To Subscribe

State Rep. Kam Buckner (D-16) talks about his role as lead negotiator for the state in keeping the Bears in Illinois, the latest on the talks, his diverse background and how it shapes his approach to key issues, the partisan divide in the nation and ideological divide in the Democratic party, actions taken by the legislature to address cost of living concerns, data centers and much more. Buckner, first elected in 2018, is a former aide to Sen, Dick Durbin and New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landreiu, was governmental affairs advisor to the Chicago Cubs and is the lead budget negotiator in the Illinois House.

Heartland Politics with Robin Johnson

Robin Johnson

Robin A. Johnson is a governmental relations, public policy and political consultant. He is an expert on government reform issues and has consulted with numerous local governments on consolidation/merger, public-private partnerships and full-cost accounting of public services. Robin has also helped candidates win elections for the U.S. Senate, U.S. Congress, state legislature, judiciary and local government. Robin served as a consultant to the Office of Statewide Performance Review in the Illinois Governor’s Office and is former director of the Illinois Center for Competitive Government, a partnership between the Illinois Comptroller’s Office and the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs at Western Illinois University. Prior to that, he was Director of the Local Government Affairs Division of the Illinois Comptroller’s Office. Robin served on the Board of Directors of the National Council for Public-Private Partnerships (NCPPP) in 1999-2000.

See stories by Robin Johnson