Two experts on Illinois government will take part in a panel discussion about “Higher Education, Pensions and Politics” 4 p.m. Wednesday in the Charleston/Mattoon Room of the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union.

Madeleine Doubek, director of policy and civic engagement for the Better Government Association, and Richard Wandling, chair of the political science department, will talk about various issues, according to a press release.

The discussion is sponsored by the EIU Annuitants Association and is designed “to keep the public and EIU community abreast of state issues,” the press release stated.

“Although the state legislature finally approved a budget after more than two years of political gridlock, funding of higher education, pensions and other budgetary issues will continue to be a concern for Illinois taxpayers again this year,” said Margaret Messer, president of the EIU Annuitants Association, in the release. “The public and the EIU community need to stay informed on these and other issues, and we think sponsoring this event will help.”

Doubek has worked as a journalist covering state and local government for 32 years, during which time she has written extensively on the state’s pension system. She served as publisher of Reboot Illinois and assistant vice president/executive editor of The Daily Herald in Arlington Heights.

She is an alumna of Eastern’s journalism department who also minored in political science.

Wandling has taught at Eastern for about 30 years, specializing in public policy, public administration and state and local politics.

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