* In the order they were received. From Democratic congressional candidate Brendan Kelly regarding today’s Janus decision…
“Today’s decision is a direct and devastating blow to our union brothers and sisters in Southern Illinois. It is not just disappointing — it is a terrible assault on the people and institutions who have fought, built, and maintained the American middle class,” said Brendan Kelly, candidate for Illinois’s 12th Congressional district. “Wages are still too low, inequality is rising, and our workers and unions are bruised and battered from decades of sustained onslaught against their rights from the likes of Bruce Rauner and his ally in DC, Mike Bost. This again proves it’s not enough to be on the side of right–we have to fight! This latest attempt to crush the American worker has awoken the sleeping giant of organized labor, and only strengthened our resolve.”
* From the Republican incumbent Kelly is challenging, US Rep. Mike Bost…
“As a former union firefighter and the grandson of a United Mine Workers representative, labor is in my blood,” said Bost. “Unions have played an instrumental role in strengthening the hand of America’s working men and women for generations. It is only right that workers who receive higher pay, benefits, and workplace protections contribute their fair share of the costs. While this position may not always be popular in my party, for me it’s one that rises above politics.”
Bost is the only Republican to send me a statement so far today with that stance.
- A guy - Wednesday, Jun 27, 18 @ 2:02 pm:
Just a hunch, but I think Mike had that one canned up and ready to go for quite a while. Now he can delete “the other one”.
- Concerned Dem - Wednesday, Jun 27, 18 @ 2:11 pm:
Highly doubt Rep Bost really feels that strongly… who you support has consequences. I don’t recall Rep Bost opposing Bruce Rauner or Donald Trump.
- Mike Cirrincione - Wednesday, Jun 27, 18 @ 2:19 pm:
Republicans have traditionally supported unions.
It’s only recently when they got into bed with evangelicals that it changed!
- Lester Holt’s Mustache - Wednesday, Jun 27, 18 @ 2:22 pm:
Poor mike Bost. He’s delusional if he thinks union members aren’t going to associate him with Rauner and this decision in November. Not sure if it’ll cost him enough votes that he’ll lose to Brendan Kelly, but a press release isn’t going to get him a pass on this issue.
- Arsenal - Wednesday, Jun 27, 18 @ 2:30 pm:
Davis didn’t oppose the decision, but he did talk up unions.
- hisgirlfriday - Wednesday, Jun 27, 18 @ 2:32 pm:
And just like that, with Kennedy’s retirement announcement, the only thing the national media will cover regarding SCOTUS and the mid-terms is gay and abortion rights. Discussion of union rights will be in the background in races like Bost’s come election day.
- Honeybear - Wednesday, Jun 27, 18 @ 3:20 pm:
Bost can’t name a single thing he has done for labor.
St. Clair county is my turf
I guarantee a just tripled my
Afscme canvassing force today.
We are gonna go after Bost with
Terrible vengeance.
See if your paid college Republican club
Canvassers can keep up with
30 rabid AFSCME’s
Mr. Kelly
Order a two more boxes of donuts
You’re gonna need them.
- BlueDogDem - Wednesday, Jun 27, 18 @ 10:14 pm:
Actually the actions taken by Trump have helped the rank and file steel worker. At the end of the day, things are looking up. If you buy American union made. Do you fall into that category?
- Arthur Andersen - Wednesday, Jun 27, 18 @ 11:19 pm:
Just for my curiosity, what do you drive, Honeybear?