Gov. Bruce Rauner had several House Republicans over to the executive mansion last week to ask them to vote “present” when the House Democrats called their “right to work” bill the following day.
Right-to-work laws allow union members to not pay for any of their union’s services, even though unions are required by federal law to service all their members. The laws can cripple unions, which may help businesses, but it tends to drive down wages for working folks.
Why would the Democrats bring an anti-union bill to the House floor? Various reasons, one of them being that they are so opposed to the idea and the governor has pushed it so forcefully that they wanted to finally get the issue off the table by killing it dead. They also wanted to put the Republicans in a tight spot of choosing between the governor and their friends in organized labor.
Anyway, the governor’s push last week was resisted by a handful of Republicans, even after House GOP Leader Jim Durkin demanded that they stick with the governor and vote “present.”
Several eventually relented, and the governor reportedly said that they would be free to vote “no” when a “real” bill is presented but that they all needed to stick together and hit their yellow buttons to protest House Speaker Michael Madigan’s ploy to put them all on the hot seat. It probably didn’t hurt that Rauner contributed a grand total of $400,000 earlier in the week to what his staff said was every Republican legislator in Springfield.
The meeting at the mansion was often tense, insiders say, although there was reportedly a moment of levity when one of the governor’s beloved dogs made a doo-doo in front of legislators while Rauner was giving his pitch.
Believe it or not, quite a few unions in this state have spent years wooing Republican legislators. The Illinois Education Association has a strong presence in suburbia and downstate and the union has long endorsed a significant number of GOP candidates—including in Tier One races against Democrats. Getting on their wrong side can be a hazard to one’s political health, which is just one reason so many Republican legislators were nervous last week.
The IEA sent House Republicans a “simple” message last week: “We expect a ‘no’ vote,” said one IEA lobbyist. “Show that you are supportive of the middle class. A vote to the contrary and they will have to explain themselves to our members.”
The Republicans pleaded their case that the bill was mainly just political theater designed to make them look bad. But the IEA and other unions wouldn’t budge, leaving legislators to choose between their party’s governor (and his tens of millions of dollars in campaign cash) and their union allies.
Illinois AFL-CIO President Mike Carrigan said last week that “anything but a solid ‘no’ vote” will “not be tolerated and will be considered as an inexcusable vote against labor.”
Carrigan also specifically said that “present” votes weren’t acceptable. Skipping the vote altogether wouldn’t be a good idea, either, he warned. “House member absences will be reviewed with suspicious eyes.”
In the end, only one Republican sided openly with the unions and Democrats by voting “no” on the bill, Rep. Raymond Poe of Springfield. Four union-friendly Republicans didn’t vote at all (Reps. John Anthony, Bill Mitchell, Michael McAuliffe and John Cabello). A few others didn’t vote, either, but that likely had more to do with the process and/or their relationships with their party leaders than anything else.
Some Republicans with past union ties voted with the governor. Rep. Dwight Kay, for instance, was endorsed by the IEA for the first time last year, but he voted “present.”
One of Rauner’s main goals is to split the Republican Party from all union ties. If the unions follow through with their threats, some of those ties will most certainly be broken.
And the Republicans aren’t the ones that unions have to be worried about. The House Black Caucus sent a clear message to trade unions during the debate that they need to start admitting more minorities or they’ll face retaliation.
Rauner has tried to peel off black and Latino legislators from labor by playing up the historic “whiteness” of the trade unions and promising affirmative-action-style reforms. In remarks planned in advance with other Black Caucus members, Rep. Ken Dunkin, D-Chicago, said during debate that the problem needed to be addressed soon or trouble could arise.
Almost all minority legislators stood during his speech and stared at the gallery where labor leaders were seated.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, May 18, 15 @ 9:55 am:
===One of Rauner’s main goals is to split the Republican Party from all union ties. If the unions follow through with their threats, some of those ties will most certainly be broken.===
Reagan Democrats, “we don’t want you”
It’s a shame watching this…
- Ducky LaMoore - Monday, May 18, 15 @ 9:57 am:
OW, don’t forget, he doesn’t want Moral Majority Republicans either.
- jazzy - Monday, May 18, 15 @ 9:59 am:
If any of the Black Caucus thinks for one minute rauner is for them they need to revisit the subject. Sometimes it is not really about the money when you have a ton of it. It is about the power that money generates.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, May 18, 15 @ 10:02 am:
===Illinois AFL-CIO President Mike Carrigan said last week that “anything but a solid ‘no’ vote” will “not be tolerated and will be considered as an inexcusable vote against labor.”
Carrigan also specifically said that “present” votes weren’t acceptable. Skipping the vote altogether wouldn’t be a good idea, either, he warned. “House member absences will be reviewed with suspicious eyes.”===
The irony, if you could call it that, those not voting, “who” do you think you pleased?
If Rauner can take you 4 out, in a primary, with $20 million in the bank, what makes you think he won’t?
Rauner’s word?
One bill. One “fix”. One broken promise.
Easy to tally, but… boy, you showed everyone; taking a walk.
Better hope Rauner doesn’t take a walk on you 4. He can find anyone, it seems, willing to press the Chicken Button.
- Anonin' - Monday, May 18, 15 @ 10:03 am:
So both BVR and the House GOPies failed
BVR convinced no one that RTW makes sense
House GOPies opted to take BVR;s $4-8K rentals
Biggest loser must be Bill “Airplanes” Mitchell who spoke in debate but was missin’ on the roll call.
Can we just wrap up the session and let BVR move on to his much desired showdown with the unions?
He is really short on all these confrontation scenes.
- Anonin' - Monday, May 18, 15 @ 10:09 am:
Bivens 2nd guy buy to only get $4K….now 3 at8K 3 at 4K
- Are Ya Kiddin' Me? - Monday, May 18, 15 @ 10:09 am:
===One of Rauner’s main goals is to split the Republican Party from all union ties. If the unions follow through with their threats, some of those ties will most certainly be broken.===
The Repubs, in taking BR’s money and moving away from any Union support, are thinking very short term.
They should be thinking about when BR is gone, 4 years, 8 years, whenever.
What are they going to do to fill the money void when BR heads to Montana?
I know thinking that far ahead is what the Speaker does………
- walker - Monday, May 18, 15 @ 10:10 am:
Rauner supposedly said Republican Legislators would “be free to vote No” for a “real” RTW bill.
That would mean Rauner doesn’t assume this bill would pass in any case, and the whole state-wide tour has been a political ploy to look good to some of his funders. It also amplifies any anti-Springfield feelings that were already percolating.
- Grandson of Man - Monday, May 18, 15 @ 10:11 am:
I felt gratified that finally, after months of Rauner bashing unions and pushing right to work, there was a strong response in opposition.
The right to work proponents, aka the super wealthy conservatives and Republicans, have been relentless in pushing right to work in various states. There is yet another right to work bill in Missouri, that’s on the governor’s desk (it will be vetoed and probably not overridden).
I am very proud of Illinois and Democrats for standing strongly against right to work.
- Wordslinger - Monday, May 18, 15 @ 10:12 am:
Let’s hear it for the governor’s dog for being honest and transparent and the owner’s intentions.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, May 18, 15 @ 10:12 am:
- Ducky LaMoore -,
Rauner don’t want nobody nobody can’t rent or buy…
- Liberty - Monday, May 18, 15 @ 10:18 am:
Illinois Republicans can’t afford to push more people out the door.
- Out Here In The Middle - Monday, May 18, 15 @ 10:20 am:
It’s a simple equation, Governor. Total up all union contributions to your “fellow” GOPers and start writing checks! Of course they may wonder whether you will be there with a check next year . . and the next . . . and the next.
- Honeybear - Monday, May 18, 15 @ 10:21 am:
I am very sympathetic to the justified demands of minorities on the trade unions. They are being shut out. At the same time, I don’t think this is the right time to “send a clear message” by standing and glaring. Guys there’s blood in the water. Now is not the time to be chastizing the jacked up sharks swimming in your tide pool.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, May 18, 15 @ 10:22 am:
===- Louis G Atsaves - Friday, May 15, 15 @ 11:17 am
@Oswego Willy: aren’t you the person here who keeps counting noses for Rauner bills to succeed in the House? And who keeps reminding everyone of how Rauner bills will come up short…===
What I gleaned from that?
We know we don’t have the votes, it was never about the votes. It is about dividing people with anti-Union rhetoric.
How dare… MJM call Rauner’s bluff.
Welp, co-equal branches, who get bashed, called “corrupt”, get double-crossed when they thought they had a deal…
They can count too.
They picked a side, on Rauner’s language.
Yep, it’s not about the Agenda passing, it is about the Agenda and the bashing.
Votes? No 60, no 30, no need… until you get called on it.
- Norseman - Monday, May 18, 15 @ 10:24 am:
=== the governor reportedly said that they would be free to vote “no” when a “real” bill is presented ===
Two problems of note. First, the Gov. is not trustworthy. Second, he has no track record of presenting any “real” bills for any of his agenda. It’s been all talk and no show.
- Sage - Monday, May 18, 15 @ 10:24 am:
Does anyone have an insight regarding why Cabello, Fortner, David Harris, McAuliffe, McSweeney and Bill Mitchell were “Non-Votes” as opposed to “Present”?
- Precinct Captain - Monday, May 18, 15 @ 10:26 am:
- Wordslinger - Monday, May 18, 15 @ 10:12 am:
Rauner’s bills are probably waiting to exit the dog too. Where else could BR be hiding them?
- Anonymous - Monday, May 18, 15 @ 10:27 am:
Great point, Wordslinger. Could be the comment of the month. And it didn’t use a single banned word to describe a dirty subject.
- Streator Curmudgeon - Monday, May 18, 15 @ 10:43 am:
“It probably didn’t hurt that Rauner contributed a grand total of $400,000 earlier in the week to what his staff said was every Republican legislator in Springfield.”
$$ for votes. And constituents? Hey, who cares about them anyway?
- Wordslinger - Monday, May 18, 15 @ 10:53 am:
When he spoke to that business writers conference in Chicago last month, Rauer said there are GA members in both parties who are “on the take.”
That’s a serious accusation, one that you would assume an ethical person would only make if he had concrete evidence about specific legislators.
Given that, it’s rather curious that the governor made contributions to every GOP GA member last week, since he suspects some of them are “on the take.”
Why would he give money to legislators he believes are corrupt?
- A realistic citizen - Monday, May 18, 15 @ 10:55 am:
Voting “present”.
First it was democrats. Now republicans. Is it any wonder why Illinois is such a laughing stock and bad joke?
- Jack Stephens - Monday, May 18, 15 @ 11:23 am:
@word:
You probably never knew that you had no Right to Work!
When Bruce does this (buys votes) with money it’s not a Special Intetest. C’mon he’s just helpin the ordinary person to
Understand that your better off with less money.
Hope this passes the snark filter.
- Agricola - Monday, May 18, 15 @ 12:26 pm:
==That’s a serious accusation, one that you would assume an ethical person would only make if he had concrete evidence about specific legislators.
Given that, it’s rather curious that the governor made contributions to every GOP GA member last week, since he suspects some of them are “on the take.”
Why would he give money to legislators he believes are corrupt?==
To ensure that his accusations have merit.
- Old Shepherd - Monday, May 18, 15 @ 12:31 pm:
Does anyone else see the irony in the button being “yellow”?
- Century Club - Monday, May 18, 15 @ 2:01 pm:
A Right To Mooch bill (sorry, just can’t call it by its other name) hurts all unions, including those that are mostly non-white.
I wonder what the Black Caucus will do if bills targeting prevailing wage or project labor agreements came up.
- Hedley Lamarr - Monday, May 18, 15 @ 2:50 pm:
It’s time for the IEA to realize that the IL GOP is not their friend.
- Honeybear - Monday, May 18, 15 @ 2:52 pm:
Really IEA, you expected Dwight Kay to take your calls after he won? Why couldn’t you see this coming?
- mellowjohn - Monday, May 18, 15 @ 6:06 pm:
remember the definition of an honest illinois politician: when he’s bought, he stays bought.