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FOP: Rauner holding state “hostage,” demeaning workers

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* From the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police…

“Law enforcement officers know about hostage situations, where people try to get their way by threatening innocent lives. We know that the best and safest way to resolve a hostage situation is through negotiation. What we are seeing now with the state budget is a hostage situation. Unfortunately we aren’t seeing a willingness to negotiate by the person who is holding that budget hostage, Governor Bruce Rauner,” said FOP State Lodge President Chris Southwood. “That’s very concerning to us, both as law enforcement officers and as Illinois citizens. Refusing to consider any possible solution, even a temporary or partial solution, until your list of demands is met is not a responsible or safe way to deal with programs and services that affect the well being of nearly 12 million Illinoisans. We urge Governor Rauner to stop the posturing and sit down with the legislative leaders to craft a budget and end this crisis.”

“One of the more recent victims of the state’s budget hostage situation has been the funding to train police officers to deal with the unique and dangerous situations they face every day. This training directly affects the safety of police officers and the people they protect. Government’s function is to provide the services that the private sector can’t. When government fails to provide those services, law enforcement officers, many of them FOP members, must pick up the pieces,” said FOP Labor Council Executive Director David Wickster. “The Governor should not hold for ransom the services millions of people depend on each day, nor should he demean the working men and women of this great state by implying that they are part of the problem. Governor Rauner, don’t shoot the hostage. Negotiate in good faith with the Illinois General Assembly to end this budget crisis.”

Thoughts?

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 1:54 pm

Comments

  1. “Governor Rauner, don’t shoot the hostage.”

    Too late, Rauner has already shot them, some of them 2 or 3 times. And I’m afraid, he’s not worried about doing it a few more times.

    Comment by How Ironic Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 1:57 pm

  2. Dear FOP,

    ===”…We know that the best and safest way to resolve a hostage situation is through negotiation. What we are seeing now with the state budget is a hostage situation. Unfortunately we aren’t seeing a willingness to negotiate by the person who is holding that budget hostage, Governor Bruce Rauner,” ===

    Well done.

    Get some organizing done, spread the word.

    I’m with you guys,

    OW

    Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 1:57 pm

  3. The language is a bit inflammatory, but the point is solid. I think we’ve reached the point where constituent groups have to call out the governor. If the daily drip of criticism won’t motivate the governor the accumulated bad press !ight motivate the citizenry.

    Comment by Relocated Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 1:59 pm

  4. So does the governor’s Turnaround Agenda involve having the FOP and law enforcement turn against him? Must have missed that part of the agenda.

    Comment by Phil Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 2:03 pm

  5. == Thoughts? ==

    I’m willing to bet that those kid gloves with which the Rauner administration has previously handled the police union are coming off.

    Comment by thunderspirit Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 2:03 pm

  6. Rauner is losing Illinois.
    There goes our police support for him.

    Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 2:04 pm

  7. The legislative Democrats are the ones holding the budget hostage. They have the votes. If they don’t want to put the Governor’s proposals to a vote, since they are “extreme” and “non-budget issues,” then why are they wasting our time? Pass the budget, with “some cuts, some revenue” and call it a day. What are they waiting for?

    Comment by Former Federal Prosecutor Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 2:05 pm

  8. Spot on! Way to go FOP!!!

    Comment by James Knell Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 2:08 pm

  9. Rauner is losing Illinois.
    There goes our police support for him.

    um, police almost never back a repub….also the dems..at least in Illinois. wake up

    Comment by bobby brown Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 2:08 pm

  10. How are the state police going to operate without fuel for the police cars?

    Comment by DuPage Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 2:10 pm

  11. ===They have the votes===

    You must’ve missed the AFSCME bill override failure.

    Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 2:11 pm

  12. I didn’t say political support, did I?

    Governor loses police support.

    Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 2:12 pm

  13. After the 911 call centers close, we won’t need the police! All part of the superstar plan!

    Comment by very old soil Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 2:13 pm

  14. “What are they waiting for?” Um…for the Governor to introduce a budget?

    Comment by Skeptic Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 2:14 pm

  15. - Former Federal Prosecutor -

    If all you have is “Because… Democrats”, think on all the “Yellow” buttons pushed by the Raunerite Caucuses, ignoring their districts and their own careers in some cases…

    … and the “NV” - the non voting members.

    Give all that a think, get back to all of us.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 2:14 pm

  16. “… Unless the House Democrats are 100% sane / responsible, then you have to side with the 75% crazy guy.”

    No I don’t.

    Comment by ZC Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 2:15 pm

  17. == If [the legislative Democrats] don’t want to put the Governor’s proposals to a vote… ==

    They did, actually. Back in May. The measures failed in both chambers.

    Comment by thunderspirit Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 2:21 pm

  18. I have found the FOP as being the most articulate and professional of the Unions in presenting the problems with the current Admin. Thanks FOP! Wish there was more leadership like you, hoping to see more of this from others.

    Comment by burbanite Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 2:22 pm

  19. Tourists won’t have to go to Lincoln’s home to see what life was like in the 1800’s. It sounds like the current state capitol will be operating with candles soon, and perhaps the police can return to horseback as well.

    Nice work to FOP.

    Comment by 360 Degree TurnAround Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 2:23 pm

  20. –They have the votes.–

    A couple of weeks ago, Rich pointed out 60 veto override failures in 61 attempts. The one that succeeded was the wack-a-do veto of the heroin bill, when the governor gave the green light to his peeps to override.

    What does it take for some fantasies to die?

    Comment by Wordslinger Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 2:24 pm

  21. Until this state quits acting like the Hatfield’s & McCoy’s, it will continue to decline, as it has for the past 30 years.

    Comment by Digitydan Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 2:26 pm

  22. Lot of heat coming the governor’s way.

    Clearly, it’s time for him to, personally, reveal the economic and fiscal analysis as to the benefits of his political agenda, release all the data-driven backup material justifying the cost being incurred for it, and answer all questions on it until there are no more.

    He wanted the big chair, time to cowboy up.

    Comment by Wordslinger Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 2:28 pm

  23. Gov. Rauner is the “CEO” of IL so, it’s up to him, our top leader, to call off this hostage situation. When might that happen? When 911 shuts down (Rauner is being sued downstate for withholding 911 funds)? When our police are no longer receiving ongoing training? When the presidents of 9 public universities say their schools can no longer function? When prisoners and patients can no longer receive vital substance abuse services? What exactly is it going to take?

    Comment by Former Hoosier Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 2:31 pm

  24. Guess I am missing the mass public uprising against the governor.

    Those demands are extreme, and the governor won’t move to negotiate on them.

    Awaiting the people of Illinois to call them extreme, again kind of missing that. Also I have missed where anyone has said, hey we are willing to do this and this or just saying any changes with regards to unions, public employee unions or pensions are by definition extreme.

    Raise everyone’s taxes governor and not get anything you are looking for generally doesn’t work with any governor Republican or Democrat, Red State, Blue State nor Purple state.

    Comment by OneMan Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 2:35 pm

  25. A letter “From the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police…”
    We need many more letters in the newspapers stating the financial harm the budget crisis is causing from all of the unions who represent the people of Illinois.

    Comment by Mama Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 2:40 pm

  26. Spot on FOP!

    Comment by Chicago Cynic Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 2:43 pm

  27. Yesterday, on Chicago Tonight, I watched a bi-partisan panel made up of Franks & Drury of the Dems and Harris & McSweeny of the Repubs claim that they were fed up with. both Rauner & Madigan. They said the leadership should step aside and let the General Assembly do it’s job! How refreshing! People should demand that Rauner and Madigan stop their power struggle and let the legislators negotiate a compromise.
    There must be more than 4 legislators who want to do their job for the good of the people of Illinois. Contact these 4 to see how the public can help them.

    Comment by Nancy Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 2:44 pm

  28. I dont know why the Dems haven’t been messaging this as Rauner holding the budget process hostage for non-budget stuff.

    Rauner has shut down the govt. over workers comp., prevailing wage, and right to work zones. How is that any less radical and dangerous than the crazies that want a federal govt. shutdown over Planned Parenthood?

    Comment by hisgirlfriday Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 2:46 pm

  29. ++- Wordslinger - Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 2:28 pm:
    Lot of heat coming the governor’s way.
    Clearly, it’s time for him to, personally, reveal the economic and fiscal analysis as to the benefits of his political agenda, release all the data-driven backup material justifying the cost being incurred for it, and answer all questions on it until there are no more.++
    Word, the guv can not release any data-driven backup when he can not justify the cost. If he could justify the cost, he would have released the data before now.

    Comment by Mama Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 2:46 pm

  30. On Dec 2, the GA Republicans will know if they have primary opponents. At that point, the loyalty to the Gov & his $20 million may diminish for some. At that point, a few of them may start listening to their constituents. This letter lays some groundwork and expresses concerns that have been rising amongst the police at all levels across the state. The Gov’s people have been busy patching leaks that lead to discontent, at some point there will be too many leaks. December may be an interesting month.

    Comment by Pot calling kettle Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 2:48 pm

  31. Not so sure about putting all the blame on the Gov., as he just got here, so to speak, what about the certain individuals that have been here for 3 decades that have contributed to this financial hole that the state is in ? I think it may be time for these individuals to rethink what they have done to get us in this, not so happy place. ~I’m Just Say-in~

    Comment by Digitydan Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 2:50 pm

  32. ==I dont know why the Dems haven’t been messaging this as Rauner holding the budget process hostage for non-budget stuff. ==

    Some of the best messages are spread by the impacted people one-on-one. The police have been going around letting people know about this for the past few weeks. (I heard about the issue a week ago.) This method is slow, but has more veracity. The Governor is trying to wait out the Dems; he risks being overrun by messages like this that spread slowly but broadly and deeply. The Dems are figuring the Gov will take the heat as things start to fall apart; at that point, expect the ads with Rauner ‘14 saying we might need to shut things down for a while.

    Comment by Pot calling kettle Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 2:53 pm

  33. It’s nicely said. It would have more impact if social service providers, AFSCME, etc. were advocating with a cohesive theme. Squeezy the Budget Hostage.

    Comment by Earnest Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 3:01 pm

  34. Recall the Governor

    Comment by Dave Sumrall Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 3:03 pm

  35. ===Recall the Governor===

    You know of what you speak.

    Go away.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 3:04 pm

  36. - Digitydan -

    When you get done with your ignorance that we are talking about this year’s budget, we will get off your lawn.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 3:05 pm

  37. “what about the certain individuals that have been here for 3 decades..?” What about them? Are they the ones that are demanding the Turn Around Agenda be passed before even discussing the budget?

    Comment by Skeptic Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 3:09 pm

  38. Thank you FOP. This impasse is hurting a lot of innocent people. Enough is enough.

    Comment by ihpsdm Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 3:18 pm

  39. If the Democrats would just sign Rauner’s balanced budget, this would all be over.
    Wait … never mind.

    Comment by Filmmaker Professor Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 3:20 pm

  40. Apologies for being a uneducated redneck hillbilly from southern IL, but when the Democrats budget is more of the same how can one even be for it. I don’t agree with the way the governor is going about it, but something has to be done. I will go away now and let the more informed (intelligent) post their beliefs and opinions, as mine appear not to matter. Sorry for the inconvenience. Apologies.

    Comment by Digitydan Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 3:20 pm

  41. DigityDan,
    Apology not accepted. The Governor’s proposed budget was also not balanced. The only action he has taken on the budget INCREASED spending on education.

    Comment by ihpsdm Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 3:24 pm

  42. Digitydan-

    The Illinois constitution requires that the Governor present a balanced budget to the general assembly for approval.

    It’s been 326 days since Rauner was elected and Rauner still has not presented a balanced budget to the general assembly.

    Rauner has refused to discuss the budget until his turnaround agenda is passed.

    Rauner’s turnaround agenda items are measures to restrict workers rights and do not affect the budget.

    Comment by Chicago 20 Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 3:27 pm

  43. @DigityDan,

    You post wouldn’t be so sad, if it wasn’t clearly obvious that you are 100% unaware that the ‘budget’ as proposed by Gov Rauner was 3 BILLION out of balance. As it the Gov proposed a budget that spent 3 BILLION more than we could afford.

    So I suppose if the ‘Dems’ signed that it would have been all unicorns and rainbows?

    Comment by How Ironic Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 3:28 pm

  44. Enough money to not care. Enough power to intimidate. Enough hubris to be repellant. Enough folksiness to ridicule.
    Not enough wisdom to realize what often happens to such people. Ryan, Blago, should be enough to remind, but then,
    they were of a lower order. The world has a way of paying out.

    Comment by Back to Center Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 3:30 pm

  45. The number one problem facing the state of Illinois is the budget! Problems are solved in moderation and not in the extreme. To the extent that non budget items get in the way of solving the budget problem, it is not helpful. This is what MJM said back in May of this year and has said it almost every day since.

    Comment by Facts are Stubborn Things Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 3:37 pm

  46. At least in Wisconsin they had the sense of fair play to actually take over the state legislature, first, before they tried to wreck the state.

    Comment by ZC Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 3:44 pm

  47. Sure “something has to be done” but everything done so far has made things worse. Munger estimates the backlog will rise from $6.6 billion at the end of 2014 to $8.5 billion. Our fiscal health is one of the hostages, along with those identified by the FOP, social services providers, local governments and countless others.

    Comment by AC Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 3:47 pm

  48. Tired of the bodies stacking up. Fine, Rauner wins.

    What are the bill #s for the Turnaround Agenda? I’ll write my reps and pressure them to have leadership call a special session and schedule an up-or-down vote.

    /s

    Comment by crazybleedingheart Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 3:48 pm

  49. I mean, there are bill #s now, right?

    He’s not just shooting hostages willy-nilly without having ever actually turned in his homework, right?

    Comment by crazybleedingheart Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 3:49 pm

  50. Hostage taking? It’s a tug of war……that involves both parties.

    Comment by Keyser Soze Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 3:56 pm

  51. AFSCME, Teamsters, IBEW, and even OW’s friends the WGA need to show solidarity with FOP message and speak with one voice. This is the message, it’s time to run with it.

    Comment by AC Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 3:57 pm

  52. ==It’s a tug of war……that involves both parties.==

    If the tug of war doesn’t involve the budget, then the budget is the hostage.

    Comment by AC Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 3:59 pm

  53. ===…and even OW’s friends the WGA…===

    Yep, even them, and… take on Bakke for me, but I digress.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 4:06 pm

  54. Rauner and Madigan - two first class passengers arguing over the bar tab on the Titanic.

    Comment by Grimm Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 4:07 pm

  55. === It’s a tug of war……that involves both parties. ===

    Unfortunately, Rauner tied his rope to a reinforced concrete post rendering the game useless. Nobody wins.

    Comment by Norseman Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 4:09 pm

  56. Not a concrete post. A concrete block, and then he threw it over the bridge.

    Comment by crazybleedingheart Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 4:10 pm

  57. =Hostage taking? It’s a tug of war……that involves both parties. =
    =Rauner and Madigan - two first class passengers arguing over the bar tab on the Titanic.=
    Then why weren’t these kind of things happening when one party held the legislative and executive branches? Are you saying these problem happened every year that Madigan has been speaker?

    Comment by Qui Tam Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 4:14 pm

  58. Is not mid term exams around the time you can drop classes as a student?

    Comment by lost in the weeds Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 4:21 pm

  59. Well said, FOP. More like this, please.

    Comment by Langhorne Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 4:21 pm

  60. Are enough people suffering yet?

    Rauner: “Nope”.

    Comment by Wensicia Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 4:23 pm

  61. Wensicia, are the right people suffering yet, that’s the question.

    Comment by AC Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 4:28 pm

  62. Rauner, Madigan and Cullerton are merely the shepherds leading their flocks.

    Comment by Buzzie Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 4:30 pm

  63. I’m guessing there can be no real AFSCME agreement until there is a budget in place to pay state workers? Right?

    Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 4:47 pm

  64. – It’s a tug of war.–

    Is it?

    Propose negotiations on the FY16 budget without preconditions.

    See who goes for it, and who does not.

    For crying out loud, it’s like trying to talk with the concussed. Not everything is “on the other hand.,,,”

    The governor has been very clear as to his position. This fiscal disaster is a calculated, public, willful, political strategy.

    Take the man at his word.

    Comment by Wordslinger Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 4:50 pm

  65. (R) we respect and value the service of law enforcement. But we are in a deep hole, thats getting deeper. The FOP should encourage the majority party to support my genda. Or, if the dems and their union buddies refuse, they can use their super majority to raise taxes and balance the budget. Any republican who breaks rank to support them, has a #

    Comment by Langhorne Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 4:54 pm

  66. Finally!

    Comment by Ducky LaMoore Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 4:55 pm

  67. We all realize that if a “compromise” was reached today, the Governor would be back next year with a new set of hostage to shoot, right? Actually, if this works, I doubt he’d even wait until next month to trot out a new set of demands.

    Comment by Sam Weinberg Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 5:00 pm

  68. For all the posters who think the current stalemate and hostage taking please list all the ways the legislature has worked cooperatively and in moderation with the Governor

    I am sure you can fit it all on the back of a postage stamp

    Other than letting the income tax expire so they would not have to be blamed 100 percent for the extension I can’t come up with anything

    Comment by Lucky Pierre Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 5:01 pm

  69. Waiting for the frat boys response belittling the FOP position.

    Comment by Anon Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 5:08 pm

  70. == please list all the ways the legislature has worked cooperatively and in moderation with the Governor ==

    Although they were not the Governor’s exact bills in terms of language, the GA did vote on a number of the Gov’s Turnaround Agenda items minus the poison pill anti-union language.

    The GA passed some stuff the Gov claimed to want. others failed. He got the vote and he could have claimed some victories, but the Gov didn’t want those bills.

    Comment by RNUG Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 5:19 pm

  71. If the governor can’t articulate an ROI on these real costs, perhaps Rep. Durkin, Rep. Sandbox or Sen. Radogno can.

    They’re big hitters now, they’ve got to be up for it.

    How’s about the grifters at IPI or IR? Or are they still mad at Rep. Kinzinger for just saying what everyone knew already?

    If not them, how’s about Big Brain Bruce and Katrina? They’re deep thinkers, I’m sure they can deliver a Biblical storm of supporting data.

    Or A Guy or Louis. They always bring the thoughtful, fact-based goods.

    Anyone want to sell this mess, like a grownup, and not just with moronic weasel words?

    Comment by Wordslinger Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 5:22 pm

  72. == please list all the ways the legislature has worked cooperatively and in moderation with the Governor ==

    Additionally, they attended all the “secret” negotiation meetings until it became clear that nobody from the gov’s side was intending to do any negotiating at them.

    Comment by Come Together Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 5:31 pm

  73. === please list all the ways the legislature has worked cooperatively and in moderation with the Governor ===

    The FY 2015 budget fix. Of course the result was hard feelings arose due to miscommunication about what would be cut by Rauner. Since Rauner finally released his legislative bills in late May, there has been no moderation on his union killing proposals.

    Comment by Norseman Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 6:00 pm

  74. What does the governor have to do to convince some people that massive deficits, trashing the social services infrastructure and starving universities are not a problem, but a goal in service of a political strategy?

    For crying out loud, the dude has been way open about this.

    What he hasnt shared is any rationale, at all, as to why his willful engineering of this crisis, and his preconditions for ending it, are worth the price.

    Comment by Wordslinger Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 6:20 pm

  75. I’ll bet the majority of Illinois voters don’t even know what the main reason is for no budget, which is busting collective bargaining in Illinois. The majority of voters in Illinois and in the US don’t support eliminating Union rights. Scott Walker had Rauner’s Union busting platform as a central theme of his campaign, the campaign that he just quit with his polling numbers around 3%. Rauner’s Union busting agenda isn’t popular but he hopes that by inflicting enough pain on the electorate by “holding hostage” the budget he can push thru an agenda that he can’t push thru by conventional means. If the Democrats cave in and give him his entire agenda then Rauner will learn that next time he desires to pass legislation without popular support he will just repeat himself, inflict enough pain on the public until the other party caves in to his demands.

    Comment by The Dude Abides Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 6:29 pm

  76. FOP hasn’t represented the cop on the beat in awhile. Just political hacks looking out for themselves only.

    Comment by DonaldTrump Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 8:35 pm

  77. I guess I missed the actual facts backing up the statements made by the FOP here, to not view it at simply hyperbole. Have troopers been laid off? No. Are they no longer on the streets doing their job? No. Less bloviating, more facts, or else it’s all hot air during contract negotiations.

    Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 9:58 pm

  78. @Anonymous So you are interested in facts? Sounds good to me. Request that the Rauner administration submit a sound financial study on how much money the State of Illinois would actually save by implementing laws ending prevailing wage and greatly impairing collective bargaining rights of workers.
    They have submitted no report to the legislature that can be vetted by independent experts to show if the state will actually save a substantial amount of money.

    Comment by The Dude Abides Thursday, Oct 1, 15 @ 10:17 pm

  79. Other States have repealed all or part of the prevailing wage laws and several universities have analyzed the data to calculate the taxpayer savings.

    Before these laws were repealed the advocates of the repeal claimed projected taxpayer savings from 25% to 40%.

    All of the studies arrived at the same conclusion, there was no taxpayer savings from eliminating prevailing wage laws.

    Additionally these studies found that workers were paid less after prevailing wage laws were repealed, which then had a detrimental impact on the tax base and a negative effect on the local economy.

    The study by the University of Missouri at Kansas City was especially critical of repealing prevailing wage laws.

    But then anyone with internet access could find this same information and realize that ALEC is behind this canard with only one real goal, to break unions to defund Democrats.

    Comment by Chicago 20 Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 2:42 am

  80. Spot on best article yet by any one

    Comment by real one Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 6:42 am

  81. Spot on best article yet by any one

    Comment by real one Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 6:42 am

  82. Anonymous @ 9:58, did you skip the entire second paragraph of the statement? 1) no training for officers and 2) collapse of the social safety net leads to a variety of issues that cops frequently have to deal with.

    Comment by MyTwoCents Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 7:24 am

  83. When a government executive publically loses the support of police - they are seriously harmed. Citizens don’t care about police unions, they care about police protection. Anything that is done to alter this is considered a bad situation. For police to side against Rauner means that Rauner cannot claim to be a friend of law enforcement. A governor who is seen as unfriendly to law enforcement, will not be supported by citizens.

    Police don’t take excuses. They make decisions. All the finger pointing ends when the officer shows up. All the arguing, bickering and threats end when the police show up. Everyone knows this.

    It is the beginning of the end of this administration’s wanton disregard towards the majority of Illinois citizen beliefs on the role of government.

    No more Bruce.

    Move on or get out of the way!

    Comment by VanillaMan Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 8:29 am

  84. Rauner has been Governor for nine months, Madigan has been in office over 30 years. FOP, try picking the correct target.

    Comment by the_avery Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 9:03 am

  85. - the_avery -.

    “Pat Quinn failed…”

    Now?

    “Bruce Rauner destroyed… ”

    Governors own. That’s the ball game.

    Heck, The Owl Sandack made it clear;

    Holding the budget hostage is ok. Think on that.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 9:06 am

  86. Maybe I missed it, I miss a lot nowadays, but has there been a response from ck or anyone in the bunker to what Anon asked earlier (”Waiting for the frat boys response belittling the FOP position.”)?

    Comment by LINK Friday, Oct 2, 15 @ 9:10 am

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