Last spring, a whole bunch of Chicago aldermen were utterly indignant that labor unions would dare to finance their political opponents.
How undemocratic, the aldermen screamed, that they could no longer easily dispatch their historically token opponents with Machine money and Machine precinct workers. It just wasn’t right.
Much of their ire was directed at the Service Employees International Union, which recruited and trained candidates and dumped millions of dollars and deployed hundreds of volunteers into several city wards. As we all know by now, many of those targeted aldermen are now ex-aldermen.
That election was watched closely by the powers that be in Springfield. So when the union came to town last week to lobby for an expensive piece of legislation, they were welcomed with open arms.
Next year’s primary is just around the corner, in early February. Several Chicago Democrats in both the House and Senate either have primary opponents already or are worried that opponents will emerge before next month’s petition filing deadline. The union plans to make its legislative endorsements shortly after that deadline, so there isn’t much time left to boost an incumbent’s voting record.
The union wants millions in new state spending to increase wages by a buck an hour and provide some heath insurance coverage for 19,000 home-care workers who are state contract employees.
Late last month, the union sent thousands of pieces of direct mail into several House and Senate districts demanding that their bill be passed, and then followed up with another mailer this month. They combined all that with some deft Statehouse lobbying work and passed their appropriations bill through the House last week without a single dissenting vote.
Union officials said Wednesday that the floor votes would be weighted heavily when it comes time to make endorsements next month. Most legislators are well aware that this one vote could make or break them in the union’s eyes, and that could lead to all sorts of problems come February.
The union has a long, close relationship with Gov. Blagojevich, and the House Democrats have been openly fighting with Blagojevich all year, so the House Dems are keeping a wary eye on the Service Employees Union these days. The Democrats have to figure that if the union’s demands aren’t met, then that big pile of union cash might wind up behind their primary opponents, some of whom are backed by Senate President Emil Jones’ inner circle. Jones and House Speaker Michael Madigan have been on the outs all year as well, partly because Jones has allied himself with the governor. An unhappy union could mean some very expensive primary races ahead.
So, state representatives with primaries, such as Art Turner, Elga Jeffries, Esther Golar, Monique Davis, Mary Flowers and Deborah Graham, would naturally want a chance to boost their records ahead of the union’s endorsement session. Jeffries and Golar both lost almost all their aldermanic allies during that union-backed purge last spring, so they’re probably extra paranoid.
Over in the Senate, people such as Iris Martinez, Rickey Hendon and Willie Delgado are all fending off primary opponents, so a Service Employees endorsement could mean a significant difference if their races are close.
The Senate Democratic leaders, however, started to play some games with the bill early Thursday afternoon, which could possibly delay its ultimate passage for weeks or kill it altogether. If they go through with their plan, they could be playing with fire. Just ask those former aldermen.
- Levois - Friday, Oct 12, 07 @ 9:43 am:
It looks like it can only get uglier can’t it?
- The 'Broken Heart' of Rogers Park - Friday, Oct 12, 07 @ 10:08 am:
What bothers me mos. The SIEU dumped a ton of money into Joe Moore’s campaign, and since then, he hasn’t done one thing on the ‘Big Box’ ordinance.
It’s like Joe basically abandoned the union once they got him re-elected.
- Squideshi - Friday, Oct 12, 07 @ 11:24 am:
Rich Miller wrote, “The union plans to make its legislative endorsements shortly after that deadline, so there isn’t much time left to boost an incumbent’s voting record.”
Kudos to SEIU for getting rid of that stupid, subjective “electablity” standard when making endorsements, if that is what they have done. I hope, however, that the union does not plan to make endorsements for legislative elections until at least June 24, 2008–the filing deadline for new political party and independent candidates. It wouldn’t be right to decide on endorsements without first officially knowing who ALL of the candidates for the office will be.
- Six Degrees of Separation - Friday, Oct 12, 07 @ 12:04 pm:
It’s a done deal now, no amendments.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Oct 12, 07 @ 12:08 pm:
Yep. It’s updated on the “This just in” post.
- Lula May - Friday, Oct 12, 07 @ 12:38 pm:
Rich,
I don’t think there is a worse union anywhere in this country. This is the same union that openly signs up illegals to their union to take American jobs.
These politicians have no ba–s. Through it right back at this sleazy union. If most Americans knew what this union was doing they would vote against them. I know from first hand experience. One of their union stewards tried to sign me up. When I informed him why I was not interested he stated he felt the same way about his own union. They make him sick but, he can’t afford to lose his job. Shame on this Governor.
- Squideshi - Friday, Oct 12, 07 @ 1:16 pm:
Lula May wrote, “This is the same union that openly signs up illegals to their union to take American jobs.”
Do you have a citation or any other evidence for that claim?
- Bill - Friday, Oct 12, 07 @ 2:15 pm:
Forget it, Squid.
Even SEIU is not going to endorse green candidates.
- Lula May - Friday, Oct 12, 07 @ 2:57 pm:
Squid,
Try listening and reading the news. This is not a secret. They do not hide this. Give them a call I’m sure they are proud of their record.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Oct 12, 07 @ 3:05 pm:
LM, I’d like you to provide a link to an article in a reputable news source to back up your claim that the union openly signs up illegal immigrants.
- Lula May - Friday, Oct 12, 07 @ 3:12 pm:
I find WLS Radio to be reputable. Don and Roma in the morning. It was maybe 6 months back but, I’ll try to find it.
- Cassandra - Friday, Oct 12, 07 @ 3:30 pm:
It’s hard to be opposed to better pay for home care workers, especially home care workers on contract. Presumably they aren’t pulling down those over the top health benefits and pension that we are forced to pay for state civil service employees. Even if we don’t have health benefits or pension benefits ourselves, unlike our fearless state legislators.
Next step–start clearing out those overpriced institutions run by the horrendous DHS and by many private nursing home operators as well. Only the most severely impaired need them but we are funding hundreds of millions of dollars worth of institutional beds annually, including state insitutional beds, for the purpose of maintaining
Dem patronage jobs, including, of course, so many expensive managers.
Although the bipartisan Illinois combine will kick and scream, we do have an opportunity here to deinstitutionalize a significant number of people through enhancing the quality and working conditions of home care workers. 50 percent or less chance it happens though. There seem to be so many underqualified Dems in need of a lifetime govt job.
A civilized society is one in which an absolute minimum of citizens are institutionalized. Illinois, led by Democrats, has a long, long way to go. But paying home care workers a bit more could be a start.
- Anonymous - Friday, Oct 12, 07 @ 4:54 pm:
I have to defend Lula. I listened to the same program. Google SEIU and undocumented workers. You’ll be amazed.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Oct 12, 07 @ 4:56 pm:
Anon, my take on those stories is that SEIU is pushing for looser federal restrictions on illegals, not that they are actively signing them up for union membership. Big difference.
- Anonymous - Friday, Oct 12, 07 @ 4:58 pm:
That’s not what the Don and Roma show said.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Oct 12, 07 @ 5:03 pm:
Again, I’d like to see some citations. Memories of a talk radio program from six months ago isn’t enough.
- Arthur Andersen - Friday, Oct 12, 07 @ 5:24 pm:
I read in the SJ-R yesterday that SEIU is taking on the Carlyle Group. They may have met their match.
The black helicopters could be descending on their HQ at any moment..
- Squideshi - Friday, Oct 12, 07 @ 6:14 pm:
Bill wrote, “Even SEIU is not going to endorse green candidates.”
That wasn’t the issue that I raised. I simply said that it’s not right to make an endorsement without officially knowing who all of the candidates on the ballot will be; and according to Illinois election law, that can’t happen until at least June 24th (Possibly a few days later, depending on objections.)
Incidentally, the Green Party is no longer affected by this deadline anyway. We’re established statewide, remember? This is the filing deadline for independent and NEW political party candidates. Also, I wouldn’t be so quick to suggest that SEIU won’t endorse Green candidates (Their locals have done so in the past.)
Cassandra wrote, “Although the bipartisan Illinois combine will kick and scream, we do have an opportunity here to deinstitutionalize a significant number of people through enhancing the quality and working conditions of home care workers.”
Kudos to Cassandra for correct usage of the word bipartisan. It really is a dirty word.
Arthur Andersen wrote, “The black helicopters could be descending on their HQ at any moment.”
Ummm… They already have.
- Time for a change - Sunday, Oct 14, 07 @ 12:47 pm:
The house incumbents that are being challenged have been in office a combined 100+ years and have become complacent. The most complacent seem to be Rep Monique Davis and Art Turner who just dont get the fact that they are supposed to represent their district but always vote with the speaker. If the constituents of those districts wanted the speaker as their rep, they would have voted for him. It is time for a change and all of those house incumbents have to accept the fact that their time has come and gone. The house needs frseh blood down in Springfield that will vote their district and not the status quo. I also heard that Monique was retiring to take a position with the CTU/IFT. Any truth to that Rich?