We pursue politics as means to improve infrastructure and to spur economic development for the benefit of our membership and society as a whole. Politics is important, but it is always secondary to the direct needs of our membership for steady employment, cutting edge training, quality healthcare, and a stable and comfortable retirement.
The Tuesday saw a Republican sweep that was weeks in the making. It was a nationalized election that was a referendum on President Obama, ISIS, Ebola, and Obamacare. Most voters felt disenfranchised, and stayed at home. Independent voters, who trust neither party, saw Republicans as the lesser of two evils. The local issues, such as education, just did not resonate with the majority of voters. Despite all of this, and a General Assembly with an increasing number of anti-labor members, we will overcome and press on.
No matter the outcome of any election, we will continue to pursue projects, ideas, policies, and legislation that promote the best interests of our membership. I believe that regardless of party, the pursuit of infrastructure investment, economic development and workforce training will remain a top priority of the Indiana General Assembly. Are there those in the legislature that will pursue an anti-labor agenda? You bet! Will their agenda get traction this year? It very well may. Are we prepared to fight for what is right and rightfully ours? Damn straight we are!
Here are the basic results of Tuesday’s Indiana House and Senate races. The Indiana Senate is going to be 40-10, Republican-Democrat. Senators Richard Young (D-Milltown) and Tim Skinner (D-Terre Haute) both lost. Our Republican friend, and UA contractor, Mark Messmer (R-Jasper) also picked up the open Democrat seat held by Senator Lindel Hume (D-Princeton) who just retired. State Rep. Rick Niemeyer (R-Lowell), who was endorsed by the Northwest Indiana Building Trades, picked up the open Republican Senate seat that was held by Sue Landske (R-Cedar Lake). This means that we lost two Democrat friends, and four retiring Republican friends, but picked up two Building Trades-friendly Republicans.
The Indiana House is 71-29, Republican-Democrat. Mara Reardon (D-Munster) and Shelli Vanderburg (D-Crown Point) lost, as did Rep. Bionca Gambill (D-Terre Haute) to Bruce Borders (R-Jasonville). The Dems picked up Melanie Wright (D-Yorktown), who beat Rep. Jack Lutz (D-Anderson).
We must now start reaching out the the newly elected Republicans, and sole Democrat, and make sure that they are educated on our issues.
Thank you for all your work this election cycle!
In Solidarity,
Pete Rimsans
Executive Director
All emphasis in original.
- VanillaMan - Thursday, Nov 6, 14 @ 9:54 am:
It is like getting a letter from the Alamo from Davey Crockett!
- Give Me A Break - Thursday, Nov 6, 14 @ 9:58 am:
VMam: I think you are right and I’m pretty sure those guys from southern Indiana have coon skin hats too.
- Ron Burgundy - Thursday, Nov 6, 14 @ 10:01 am:
Damn straight? Damn straight.
- The Captain - Thursday, Nov 6, 14 @ 10:01 am:
Question of the Day: Find something nice to say about Indiana. No really.
Uh, Hoosiers was pretty good I guess.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Nov 6, 14 @ 10:07 am:
Elections matter.
Labor in Illinois will find out what the Rauner Administration thinks about them, and not just their leaders.
I have no clue what Illinois Labor’s plans are, but the General Assembly still being Veto-Proofed is a stop-gap but doesn’t stop how the Executive may look at things like upcoming labor negotiations, for example.
The place of Labor in the Illinois political discussion is going to face the opposite of Quinn, but just as “dangerous” as Quinn.
Who the Rauner Administration has their liaison will also send a signal to the Unions too.
It’s easier to try to lobby one, than herd cats in both chambers, cobbling votes; but if that one won’t budge, at least having other avenues to a “no” is more helpful(?)
Opposite Land indeed.
- hisgirlfriday - Thursday, Nov 6, 14 @ 10:09 am:
40-10 Senate and 71-29 House?!
Good grief. Obama won that state SIX YEARS AGO!
I know a lot of this has to do with Citizens United changing campaigns, but taking stock of things across the nation I can’t help but view the national Dems dismantling of Howard Dean’s 50-state strategy as an all-time blunder.
- VanillaMan - Thursday, Nov 6, 14 @ 10:12 am:
Star Log #2014-11-05.00121
The Fleet has been conquered. Our attempts to break through to our allies in the west Illinois lands has been stopped by these strange alien creatures.
Our diplomats have been eaten. Yet, we have hope that we may yet reach an empathetic spot within their giant brains capable of seeing us worthy of our lives and work.
Our few remaining members have locked themselves into a restroom within the Indiana State Capitol building with a bag of Halloween Kit Kat bars and two Twizzlers. They are reaching out to the newly elected representatives through the United Planetary Council. We’ve sent in two members to meet with them, but only one has returned, too shaken to be debriefed and crying over the loss of the other.
My god have mercy on our few remaining souls.
If you find this Star Log entry, please use it as a warning to our friends battling the evil ones in Madison. We have had no news of their progress. Tell us, has the evil Scott Walker been vanquished?
- Wordslinger - Thursday, Nov 6, 14 @ 10:15 am:
The election was a referendum on ISIS and Ebola? Who won?
- Upon Further Review - Thursday, Nov 6, 14 @ 10:17 am:
2008 was an outlier. Indiana is generally Republican in presidential years.
- Anyone Remember - Thursday, Nov 6, 14 @ 10:17 am:
hisgirlfriday
Obama won Indiana in 2008 as former Congresscritter Bob Barr (R-GA) got more votes than Obama’s margin of victory. And nearly all those votes would have gone to McCain.
- Phineas J. Whoopee - Thursday, Nov 6, 14 @ 10:17 am:
Make fun of them all we want but they put casinos on our borders and take our money. They sell us cigarettes, booze and fireworks. Our workers live there to escape high housing cost, taxes ect. They get our toll money as everyone drives to Michigan.
So, in some ways, the opposites should attract.
- Bill White - Thursday, Nov 6, 14 @ 10:24 am:
- hisgirlfriday - Thursday, Nov 6, 14 @ 10:09 am:
40-10 Senate and 71-29 House?!
= = =
And people complain about Michael Madigan’s map!
- RoPo Ranger - Thursday, Nov 6, 14 @ 10:24 am:
Wow. And I thought we had supermajorities…
- Wordslinger - Thursday, Nov 6, 14 @ 10:26 am:
–They sell us cigarettes, booze and fireworks.–
Right before you cross the Ohio River into Louisville, there’s a little strip mall off I-65 that has a liquor store, a gun store, a bridal shop and a bakery.
It’s like your one-stop shotgun wedding supplier.
- Chuck - Thursday, Nov 6, 14 @ 10:26 am:
It’s all about the map. At least Indiana had more than one legislative seat turn over.
- walker - Thursday, Nov 6, 14 @ 10:27 am:
Former Illinois Rep Mike Boland, recently moved there, ran for Indiana State Treasurer, and lost by about as much as the other Dems for state office. The Dems cannot even grow their own, without taking one from us.
Good thing to say?
If Rauner wants to develop a public-private partnership to attract big companies to the state, Indiana is the best example to consider. They don’t do much for the small guy, but they do get the big private companies to tout the state, and attract other bigs, rather than badmouth it.
BTW In reviewing other ways to improve our DCEO activities, Rauner should consider how Texas handles international development and exports.
What really works, in looking at other states, is not lower taxes, as much as streamlining regulatory and legal processes, better insurance rates, and selling the business environment overall by other companies in partnership with the state.
- Grandson of Man - Thursday, Nov 6, 14 @ 10:33 am:
A structural advantage that public unions have in Illinois, in my opinion, is that if Rauner attacks them in the right wing sort of way, he can’t escape the fact that his former firm and perhaps he himself profited immensely off of public employee pensions.
It would be quite hypocritical for Rauner to put into practice the anti-union vitriol of the gubernatorial primary. It could give unions the moral high ground.
As far as the midterm success of Republicans, they now have to govern responsibly and try to avoid the howling voices of obstructionism on the right, who scream that Republicans’ sole purpose is to stand against everything Obama and government.
What happens in the midterms doesn’t always play in presidential election years, so this type of success can have a transitory nature (nationally).
- Levi - Thursday, Nov 6, 14 @ 10:35 am:
Sad. When I went to college and law school in Indiana, it was a blue state with good governors like Evan Bayh, Frank O’Bannon, and Joe Kernan, and the legislature was Dem for years.
- Bill White - Thursday, Nov 6, 14 @ 10:38 am:
On Tuesday, Democratic candidates each received about 40% of the vote in the three statewide elections.
However, out of 25 state senate races Democratic candidates won 2 races = one contested and one uncontested. Republicans won the other 23 races.
In contrast, the Illinois map seems pretty darn fair.
http://www.in.gov/apps/sos/election/general/general2014?page=office&countyID=-1&officeID=10&districtID=-1&candidate=
- Bill White - Thursday, Nov 6, 14 @ 10:39 am:
My post at 10:38 a.m. refers to Indiana results from November 4, 2014
- Mason born - Thursday, Nov 6, 14 @ 10:44 am:
I actually think AFSCME came out better by Quinn losing. Here is why.
There isn’t much spare change left in the budget even with the 5% rate. Governors and all Politicians like to have money to throw at the cause/program of the day. Contract negotiations are a key spot to attempt to trim costs. Not saying it’s fair but. Either Governor was going to demand some serious concessions.
Quinn drove AFSCME to the point of planning for a strike last time until it became politically toxic. Since he wasn’t going to run again no reason not to pursue this time.
If Afscme ends up on strike much better the Gov. you fought against then the one you fought for, spent a fortune on, and volunteered for.
Add that to Cullerton and Madigan able to stop any Legislation they wish AFSCME may end up winning for losing.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Nov 6, 14 @ 10:46 am:
===It’s all about the map.===
Hmmmm…it’s all about the map. Yes, I’m sure you’re right. I’m sure that’s the the sole reason. Maybe these GOP caucuses should just stop trying. Wait, I’ve got a better idea. Let’s just transfer all the GOP GA members to the Dem caucuses. Let’s… On second thought, Illinois! Let’s give up on the whole Illinois GOP Party.
Leader Durkin, go on out there and tell your caucus to pack their bags. They surrender to the map.
Leader Radogno, Get President Cullerton on the phone. You’re surrendering your entire caucus to him!
Wait a minute, Leader Radogno, don’t get President Cullerton just yet. Maybe others should consider this for a second.
Maybe, and I’m just spit balling here, maybe, we have a responsibility as a Party to be an alternative to the Dems and fight for votes. Maybe, we as a Party have a responsibility to this state to see to that the men and women living in Illinois have both sides of an argument given as a choice on Election Day.
Yes, I’m certain that I read that somewhere once. And now I’m thinking that the suggestion that’ it’s all about the map, while expeditious and certainly painless, might not be, in a matter of speaking, the American way, and maybe we should try to win and not be so quick to the excuses.
My Party needs to get better in the districts.
- Skeptic - Thursday, Nov 6, 14 @ 10:52 am:
“They sell us cigarettes, booze and fireworks.” I used to work for a border Indiana company that tried legal loopholes to license their company cars in Illinois because it was way cheaper. It works both ways.
- Angry Chicagoan - Thursday, Nov 6, 14 @ 10:59 am:
@hisgirlfriday the 50-state strategy was, to a large extent, about getting money out of Washington DC and away from incompetent Beltway consultants as well as spreading the reach of the Democratic Party. The Beltway crowd revolted against this, successfully. Part of this was Obama’s fundamental conservatism and insecurity; he looked for a “safe place” that was an ideological fit and found it in the apparatus left over from the Clinton years, and canned Howard Dean. In the post Citizens United environment this faction is in an even stronger position to get its way; corporate donors can now buy both parties and big “liberal” donors have more in common with big conservatives than you might think. So candidates do what big money donors want and what Beltway consultants think works, rather than what voters actually want. As they can’t get the moderate Republicans they want given the current GOP primary electorate, they try to back candidates who are like the moderate Republicans of yesteryear in the Democratic primary. Add into this situation a further weakening of unions and other parts of the Democratic Party’s traditional institutional base, and you really have to wonder where the next Howard Dean-style reformer is going to enter into the picture. But you’re right; that’s what the Democratic Party would need in order to operate in the way that its electorate expects.
- Arizona Bob - Thursday, Nov 6, 14 @ 11:01 am:
I just read a yahoo article (certainly left of center) identifying those cities that had the best recoveries since the Great Obama Recession. Interestingly enough, Indianapolis metro and Kokomo were some of the success stories. The improvement was apparently related to growth in manufacturing. There were some cities in Michigan that also made the manufacturing improvement list.
The common thread? Business friendly governments who care more about competing for new jobs instead of partronage and fair “right to work” laws to protect employees and compete for job growth.
The fact that Michigan, Indiana and Wisconsin have figured this out isn’t surprising considering the political IQs of the voters in those states compared to Illinois.
They’ve got it, Illinois hasn’t, except for the Rauner aberration. Maybe that’s the start of Illinois voter education.
It’ll be interesting to see what his plan for becoming manufacturing competitive will be. Right to work? Workman’s comp reform? Tort reform? Kansas found out that massive tax decreases can cause more harm than good, but just keeping to our “temporary” income tax rampdown should help with business confidence.
Dropping the corporate tax rates and fees would do the most good. Indivudual tax rates aren’t as important to new businesses.
Quinn never understood we’re in a competition for jobs and business. One of the big plusses for Rauner is that he does.
I suspect that he’ll be talking to Caterpillar and John Deere to see what they need done to our cost basis in order to do their expansions here rather than down south.
Should be interesting.
- walker - Thursday, Nov 6, 14 @ 11:02 am:
===My party needs to get better in the districts===
Agreed. Madigan wins disproportionately regardless of “waves” and even when the Republicans draw the map. There are many reasons. It starts with identification, encouragement, training and support of candidates who appear to be a good fit for the district. The Dems don’t wait for someone to approach them, or be referred, or work through the ranks. They proactively find the best new candidates, for the highly “competitive” districts.
I have high hopes for Durkin. It just will take some time.
- VanillaMan - Thursday, Nov 6, 14 @ 11:06 am:
If it wasn’t for the guy you spent the entire election cycle insulting - your party would be about as relevant as the Whigs.
Your party spent millions of dollars of his money and gained nothing. Zip. You’ll be lucky to keep the Treasurer’s office. The Illinois Congressional GOP winners are like popular Red Lobster restaurants with no ties to their towns.
You only got one winner, two - if you count Evelyn.
Your party is bankrupted and has officially achieved Whig status on Tuesday. Rauner and Sanguinetti are the Zachary Taylor and Millard Fillmore of Illinois. You’re lucky to have them.
Before Governor Rauner takes over, he needs to reassess ILGOP and dump them like one of his nursing homes. So don’t be surprised if we wake up next month to read that ILGOP has been sold to an old bearded gentleman thinking he just invested in computer parts.
- VanillaMan - Thursday, Nov 6, 14 @ 11:08 am:
Maybe that is Rauner’s plan.
Buy Indiana and then sell it Illinois.
- Cheswick - Thursday, Nov 6, 14 @ 11:14 am:
== The election was a referendum on ISIS and Ebola? Who won? ==
Not really, but that’s what they say on right-wing radio, which gets filtered down to the rest of mankind, unfortunately.
- Enviro - Thursday, Nov 6, 14 @ 11:15 am:
“they put casinos on our borders and … sell us cigarettes, booze and fireworks.”
That pretty much sums up our neighbor Indiana.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Nov 6, 14 @ 11:20 am:
- VanillaMan -,
I have to believe that the changes that began with the SGOP changing their philosophy and running it out this cycle…
…and I have to believe Leader Durkin will consolidate the political operation even better after this cycle…
…and I have to believe that all the oxygen sucked out of the last cycle by $100 million spent on two offices (Gov & LG) will be different with a presidential and off governor year.
Every precinct total, district, region, candidate, opposition candidate, and time makes every race different. It does.
Rauner ran using statewide pluralities in 118 districts, what is needed for a statewide, not what is needed to win districts.
I don’t blame them. I said that was the plan a long time ago; candidates lose by 100 votes bad for them in those districts, great for Rauner if he gets the same pluralities to win.
Both the House and Senate GOP operations ran their new crews for the 1st time as constituted. They both will go back, assess, and recruit better, use a Rauner GOTV model for districts to add up majority voters to win, and in a year, roll out candidates they recruited, and use data better, smarter, cleaner this next time.
- Anyone Remember - Thursday, Nov 6, 14 @ 11:23 am:
Arizona Bob
Yahoo is “left of center” ??
- Illinois Manufacturer - Thursday, Nov 6, 14 @ 11:30 am:
Illinois doesn’t do much for its small manufacturers. Its all big guys. Most of my operations are going to Minnesota which does. I have been all over the Midwest this past summer and I can tell you Indy sure doesn’t look like paradise…..Minn has the best looking economy I have seen MCD offering 9 an hour
- Nearly Normal - Thursday, Nov 6, 14 @ 11:39 am:
I’m wondering what Rauner’s plans are for public K-12 education in Illinois. He is pro charters so will he propose more charter schools for Illinois?
The new governor will be able to appoint 5 members of the 9 member Illinois State Board of Education. There is one vacancy and four board members whose appointments expire January, 2015–Board Chair Chico and members Fields, Brown, and Hall. The other four–Bradshaw, La Barre, Baumann, and Gilford have appointments that expire in 2017.
Granted that the board does not have all that much power per se, they do appoint the State Superintendent. Could we see some changes there?
- Grandson of Man - Thursday, Nov 6, 14 @ 11:44 am:
“There isn’t much spare change left in the budget even with the 5% rate.”
Quinn touted the last AFSCME contract as saving the state $900 million dollars. If anywhere near true, that seems like a good starting place for the upcoming contract.
- Skeptic - Thursday, Nov 6, 14 @ 11:53 am:
@Anyone Remember: To AZBob, Rush Limbaugh is left of center.
- Mason born - Thursday, Nov 6, 14 @ 12:21 pm:
Grandson
I hope your right and an extension of the current contract is the net result. That is best imho for all. Rauner forcing a strike 6 months into his term isn’t going to help move anything He wants. It would be a pyrrhic victory at best.
- Mason born - Thursday, Nov 6, 14 @ 12:33 pm:
Grandson of Man
You may be the best one to ask. Is there any history of Rauner and Unions? I kept waiting to hear of it in campaign surely one of his companies had to negotiate with a union.
- VanillaMan - Thursday, Nov 6, 14 @ 1:28 pm:
OW - there was a Sears department store in every major business shopping district across the US, staffed by the most experienced, dedicated, believing veterans in their fields. Every store was stocked with bargains from sump pump to shingles, from foot to head, from eye wear to insurance. The world’s tallest building.
Today - they’re lucky to exist.
It doesn’t matter what they did to organize their districts. It doesn’t matter what they did to find the right people. Money? Out the butt with it.
Sears failed because other stores figured out how to make customers happier.
In Illinois, the Republicans failed because the Democrats figured out how to make Illinoisans happier.
They did this long enough ago to have had someone in ILGOP begin trying a new formula. Its been over a decade, and ILGOP is still a flop.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Nov 6, 14 @ 1:38 pm:
===Sears failed because other stores figured out how to make customers happier.===
This is bizzaro world; I’m defending 1 whole seat being added.
- VanillaMan -,
This was the dry run for both “new” Crews.
It will be up to Rauner’s Crew, who own the ILGOP, like Edgar and GHR before him, own the ILGOP.
It will be up to the Caucuses to do better recruiting, plus generating for their OWN candidates, a ground game mirrored to Rauner’s in the Micro now, and they need money.
With a Republican governor, maybe with a GOP Nominee for POTUS in 2016, good candidates, etc, things look better for 2016.
Gotta start sometime, they took their lumps, they will learn for 2016
- Grandson of Man - Thursday, Nov 6, 14 @ 1:49 pm:
“You may be the best one to ask. Is there any history of Rauner and Unions? I kept waiting to hear of it in campaign surely one of his companies had to negotiate with a union.”
I read–perhaps buried in one of Ibendahl’s stories at his blog–that Rauner’s company negotiated a nursing home or long term care home contract with SEIU.
If true, how ironic is that?
- Mason born - Thursday, Nov 6, 14 @ 2:02 pm:
Grandson
That is what surprises me. If he was a tough but fair negotiater then i would have expected him to tout it especially after the primary. If he was a d’bag and forced a strike or similar i would have expected AFSCMe to use it to beat him over the head with.
The silence is defining to me.
- Old and In The Way - Thursday, Nov 6, 14 @ 2:38 pm:
Nothing wrong with the premise of making people happier or more satisfied to explain their success. However, be careful with the Sears example. Sears failed for many reasons including leadership. If you think about it Sears should have dominated the Internet retail business. There isn’t much of a leap from the catalog business of Sears and Montgomery Ward to Amazon. Yet Sears never made the transition. Lots of MBA dissertations exploring and explaining why Sears did not exploit their marketing and distribution infrastructure to dominate the online sales market. Fascinating reading.
- Grandson of Man - Thursday, Nov 6, 14 @ 3:22 pm:
Speaking of the Indiana state government and the problem of one-party rule, I tried real hard to hear the cries from those complaining about one-party rule in Illinois. So far I haven’t heard anything.
- Arizona Bob - Thursday, Nov 6, 14 @ 4:36 pm:
@anyone Remember
=Yahoo is “left of center” ??=
Absolutely. They headline “climate hoaxer” headlines over “climate realists” by a ratio of about 3 to 1. Huff Post, AP, NYT, Examiner, Daily Beast and Politico dominate their headline tags. The next time one of them take a GOP or conservative position will be the first time.
Go there and read some headlines sometimes. Their actually story bodies are far more biased on Yahoo.
To Skeptic, how did you know that I consider Limbaugh a pinko? LOL
Michael Savage, now THERE’s a REAL American conservative! He’s not a Republican like Limbaugh.
- Streator Curmudgeon - Thursday, Nov 6, 14 @ 7:13 pm:
In Bizarro Illinois, they have good government.