Local 150 endorses Pritzker and McCann
Monday, Jul 30, 2018 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Go figure…
At a semi-annual meeting of its membership and Executive Board this weekend, the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 150 formally announced its endorsement of both Democrat JB Pritzker and Conservative Sam McCann in the General Election race for Governor of Illinois.
IUOE Local 150 President-Business Manager James M. Sweeney made the following statement:
Local 150 has a politically diverse membership in Illinois, with a nearly 50/50 split of members who identify as Republicans and Democrats. One thing we can all agree upon, however, is Bruce Rauner’s failure as Governor over the past three-and-a-half years. His inability to put the good of our state ahead of his obsession with attacking workers has left our economy, our infrastructure, and our reputation in embarrassing condition.
In this election, JB Pritzker and Sam McCann have stepped forward with their own ideas to stop the gridlock in Illinois, empower working families and get our state moving forward again. Local 150 has proudly endorsed both candidates to our membership in Illinois, and I encouraged our members to vote their issues with the confidence that a vote for either of these candidates will not be a vote against their paycheck, their rights on the job, or their union.
It is no secret that many Republican union workers across Illinois held their noses and voted for Bruce Rauner in 2014 or simply sat out the election. This year, no matter their political affiliation, union members can choose between candidates who represent their beliefs on various issues without threatening their livelihood.
The International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150 is a labor union representing 23,000 working men and women in Illinois, Indiana and Iowa. Local 150 represents workers in various industries, including construction, construction material production, public works, concrete pumping, steel mill service, slag processing and others.
- DuPage - Monday, Jul 30, 18 @ 2:04 pm:
Payback to Rauner for his right-to-work schemes.
- Fax Machine - Monday, Jul 30, 18 @ 2:08 pm:
They’re getting too cute. This McCann thing is gonna end up hurting Pritzker more than Rauner. A majority of Illinoisans are anti-Rauner and you’re giving a lot of them a viable non-Pritzker option to vote for.
- Cubs in '16 - Monday, Jul 30, 18 @ 2:11 pm:
No surprise labor is endorsing ABR (anyone but Rauner). The gov. made his bed very early in his term with the Decatur presentation.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Jul 30, 18 @ 2:13 pm:
===One thing we can all agree upon, however, is Bruce Rauner’s failure as Governor over the past three-and-a-half years.===
This is the whole pre-game, game, post-game, and highlights.
This is everything.
“Bruce Rauner, we all agree, has been a failure”
… and the worst Republican governor in America to boot.
- Texas Red - Monday, Jul 30, 18 @ 2:17 pm:
Trades trying to add legitimacy to Mcann’s Manchurian candidacy. Pure political theater.
- GOP - Monday, Jul 30, 18 @ 2:19 pm:
It’s always about their membership at 150…some love JB and some don’t and they want a real Republican to vote for and that’s Sam. Good move.
- Chris Widger - Monday, Jul 30, 18 @ 2:19 pm:
==and the worst Republican governor in America to boot.==
Why not just worst governor? Or is this comment (besides invoking a poorly written National Review article) an attack on Dan Malloy?
- Robert the 1st - Monday, Jul 30, 18 @ 2:26 pm:
=they want a real Republican to vote for and that’s Sam=
Sam’s closer to being the Marine he pretended to be than a Republican.
- Anonymous - Monday, Jul 30, 18 @ 2:41 pm:
That real Republican will be real happy when he gets a high level position in the JB administration.
- Grandson of Man - Monday, Jul 30, 18 @ 2:56 pm:
Good choice, for the Republican union members. I’m happy for them. McCann has shown that he can be trusted. He withstood Rauner’s political assault because he stood up for state workers, who rewarded his support.
- City Zen - Monday, Jul 30, 18 @ 2:59 pm:
“Local 150 has a politically diverse membership in Illinois…”
Certainly more diverse than Local 150 leadership. Then again, what isn’t?
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Jul 30, 18 @ 3:27 pm:
===Why not just worst governor? Or is this comment (besides invoking a poorly written National Review article) an attack on Dan Malloy?===
So much to unpack… (sigh)
“Why not just worst governor?”
National Review was looking at Rauner, his record, and how that record in no way is someone considered a Republican governor, so Rauner, not being a Republican, is the worst Republican of them.
Rauner is also the most vulnerable governor in America this cycle. The “best” governor, party notwithstanding, wouldn’t be the most vulnerable.
“Or is this comment (besides invoking a poorly written National Review article)”
What made it poorly written? If you want to drive-by critique, you should be able to explain. Because you may not agree, it doesn’t make it poorly written.
“an attack on Dan Malloy?”
Aw. Fun. You can’t or won’t deny Rauner is both the worst Republican and most vulnerable governor in America, “but Dan Malloy” as your throwaway line?
Not great.
- Anonymous - Monday, Jul 30, 18 @ 3:30 pm:
McCann is SO trustworthy that he pretty much bankrupted his business and put hardworking men & women out of work.
- DarkHorse - Monday, Jul 30, 18 @ 3:32 pm:
How does this impact down ballot, esp the AG race? Might help Harold/hurt Raoul as Republicans who dislike Rauner might come out for McCann rather than stay at home.
- Ike - Monday, Jul 30, 18 @ 3:34 pm:
Texas red - McCann is a phoney, but Bruce rauner is not a phoney?
- TominChicago - Monday, Jul 30, 18 @ 3:58 pm:
No Republican is going to “come out” to vote for McCann. His being on the ballot won’t increase GOP turn out. But he may attract the vote of a regular GOP voter who otherwise votes the party line.
- Taxedoutwest - Monday, Jul 30, 18 @ 4:01 pm:
Remember, when picturing Mr. Sweeney, make sure you picture Mr. Madigan right next to him.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Jul 30, 18 @ 4:07 pm:
===Remember, when picturing Mr. Sweeney, make sure you picture Mr. Madigan right next to him.===
Meh.
Rauner with 27% approval and 60% disapproval… not great numbers for a statewide incumbent.
But, by all means… “Madigan”… lol
- Henry Francis - Monday, Jul 30, 18 @ 4:22 pm:
Based on votes in the primary, JB starts with a 213,000 vote lead over the Guv.
So at play are the 670,000 democrat votes that went for Biss, Kennedy et al. And the 324,000 republican votes that went for Ives. So basically 1,000,000 voters.
Just how the heck is the Guv gonna get 606,500 of the 1,000,000 Biss, Kennedy and Ives voters to vote for him?
- Arthur Andersen - Monday, Jul 30, 18 @ 5:18 pm:
I don’t think Harold needs McCann’s help, with the mediocre campaign Tobacco Kwame is running.
- Nacho - Monday, Jul 30, 18 @ 5:46 pm:
==I don’t think Harold needs McCann’s help, with the mediocre campaign Tobacco Kwame is running.==
Any Republican running a statewide campaign this cycle needs all the help they can get.
- TominChicago - Monday, Jul 30, 18 @ 7:37 pm:
Henry Francis. Golf clap sir.
- anon - Tuesday, Jul 31, 18 @ 8:58 am:
Henry Francis - Rauner will need to (a) draw the Ives voters and (b) draw a strong majority of the 1.5-2 million voters who will vote in November but did not vote in the primary. Or he will need Biss/Kennedy voters to stay home.
- Nacho - Tuesday, Jul 31, 18 @ 9:08 am:
==Or he will need Biss/Kennedy voters to stay home.==
This is a tall order when the Dem base is so fired up because of Trump.