60 Comments - Grand Avenue - Tuesday, Sep 25, 18 @ 10:19 am: One of the big selling points that got Pritzker all the union endorsements in the primary was that since he could self-fund, the unions would be able to focus their resources on the General Assembly instead of the Governor’s race. If Biss or Kennedy were the nominee, that AFSCME money would be going to them because beating Rauner is the top priority - cover - Tuesday, Sep 25, 18 @ 10:20 am: = the latest JB Pritzker A-1 was heavy with California contributors, including Phil Hellmuth = What interest does Phil Hellmuth have in Illinois’ election? Is he hoping that Pritzker will legalize more gambling in this state? - Skeptic - Tuesday, Sep 25, 18 @ 10:23 am: And how much of that is Fair Share fees? Oh, wait…nevermind. - Roman - Tuesday, Sep 25, 18 @ 10:26 am: == I remember when AFSCME, the IFT and the IEA were boycotting Madigan’s campaign fund, which forced him to turn to Bruce Rauner and Stand for Children Illinois for fundraising help. == Rauner’s first and arguably biggest political mistake: not cutting a deal with Madigan to split labor between the trades and government unions. He had to have it all — crush labor in its entirety. A short-sighted and stubborn ideologue. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Sep 25, 18 @ 10:28 am: ===I’m so old I remember when AFSCME, the IFT and the IEA were boycotting Madigan’s campaign fund, which forced him to turn to Bruce Rauner and Stand for Children Illinois for fundraising help.=== Rauner coulda worked in moderation with Madigan against parts of labor. Rauner chose to try to destroy all of labor. Labor needed an ally, Madigan obliged. To “California”… The real estate out in California, you look around, talk to locals, you have folks making well over 6-figures… living with 3-4 roommates… in areas you might find “sketchy”, but the dollar in real estate is high end. - Occam - Tuesday, Sep 25, 18 @ 10:29 am: Can anyone outline AFSCME’s expected Return on Investment on the $768K invested with Madigan? - Milkman - Tuesday, Sep 25, 18 @ 10:31 am: Rank and file Afscme members hated Madigan for the longest time. He’s the one that caused the back pay issue 7 yrs ago when he refused to put our raises in an appropriation budget. This is probably pay back to him for finally putting them in this year so we could be paid. 3 YRS AFTER I RETIRED! - City Zen - Tuesday, Sep 25, 18 @ 10:32 am: Perfidy - The Real Captain - Tuesday, Sep 25, 18 @ 10:32 am: So Madigan’s committees have reported raising around $5 million since last week and Rauner raised 56K? - Steve - Tuesday, Sep 25, 18 @ 10:35 am: AFSCME will probably do very well in the next session. - wordslinger - Tuesday, Sep 25, 18 @ 10:35 am: –Can anyone outline AFSCME’s expected Return on Investment on the $768K invested with Madigan?– No Rauner. Rauner’s greatest accomplishment have been uniting factions within the Democratic Party plus private sector and public sector unions. - Sue - Tuesday, Sep 25, 18 @ 10:36 am: So much for all of you who routinely refute the money cabal between public unions and Dems. No wonder our taxes are so high here - Cubs in '16 - Tuesday, Sep 25, 18 @ 10:37 am: ===Can anyone outline AFSCME’s expected Return on Investment on the $768K invested with Madigan?=== Survival. And maybe a contract too. - Reality Check - Tuesday, Sep 25, 18 @ 10:40 am: Bruce Rauner contributions: $112,999,619.00 AFSCME contribution per member: $10.24 - don the legend - Tuesday, Sep 25, 18 @ 10:42 am: Sue, Rauner dropped 20 million on the House Republicans. That’s 25 times what AFSCME just contributed. I’ll call your money cabal and raise you a destroyed political party. - City Zen - Tuesday, Sep 25, 18 @ 10:42 am: == the latest JB Pritzker A-1 was heavy with California contributors== Including the Superintendent of LAUSD whose teachers are poised to go on strike. - Thomas Paine - Tuesday, Sep 25, 18 @ 10:46 am: Rich, let’s not forget that Cullerton was pushing a pension reform plan that included “consideration,” and Madigan was of the legal opinion consideration that coerced employees out of their current benefits would not pass muster. AFSCME wants a Democratic super-majority to create a Democratic map and put a graduated income tax on the ballot. They have no friends left in the GOP, none. - low level - Tuesday, Sep 25, 18 @ 10:48 am: After Rauner did his utmost to “protect”’ my free speech rights that were being “violated”, I reupped my membership in AFSCME PEOPLE (the pac) My extra $8.00 / check isn’t much to counter Ruiner and his billionaire junk business friends but its the only way to fight back. - Stumpy's bunker - Tuesday, Sep 25, 18 @ 10:50 am: AFSCME’s contribution will be blood in the water and will cause a feeding frenzy for all the far-right I’ve-got-mine-and-I’m-coming-after-yours groups…but…I guess if the war is on you gotta fight with all you have. - Robert the Bruce - Tuesday, Sep 25, 18 @ 10:52 am: ===What interest does Phil Hellmuth have in Illinois’ election?=== A wise investment; perhaps he has taken a lot of Pritzker brother’s money at the poker table and wants him to keep coming back. - BuckinIrish - Tuesday, Sep 25, 18 @ 10:54 am: Hope you guys checked out the Pritzker Estate. That place is insane. - wordslinger - Tuesday, Sep 25, 18 @ 10:54 am: –AFSCME’s contribution will be blood in the water and will cause a feeding frenzy for all the far-right I’ve-got-mine-and-I’m-coming-after-yours groups…– They’re kind of busy turnin’ on Rauner right now. - Yiddishcowboy - Tuesday, Sep 25, 18 @ 10:54 am: Sue, your hyperpartisanship makes your comments/assertions look silly, as Don the Legend just established. And I’m neither bashing you nor am I “anti-Sue.” At times, I agree with you, while other times I don’t. - Nanker Phelge - Tuesday, Sep 25, 18 @ 10:55 am: I guess the Janus decision hasn’t hurt AFSCME financially. - Honeybear - Tuesday, Sep 25, 18 @ 10:56 am: As they say here in East St Louis “We ain’t playin’ ” City Zen, explain how are actions are perfidy We aim to absolutely destroy All those who have waged open war on us Not a bit of perfidy there Open, naked hatred and malice Rauner is the one in the name of Pro business Reform Free market Destroyed the state in order to kill labor That is perfidy You wanna dance for a bit today cupcake? I’m feelin strong AFSCME Strong - Honeybear - Tuesday, Sep 25, 18 @ 10:58 am: Our not are—sorry - Anonymous - Tuesday, Sep 25, 18 @ 11:03 am: ==We aim to absolutely destroy All those who have waged open war on us== You’re succeeding. From Illinois taxpayers. - JSI - Tuesday, Sep 25, 18 @ 11:08 am: “The property hosted a political party for Mitt Romney in 2012 and a Cirque de Soleil performance in 2014.” - Lucky Pierre - Tuesday, Sep 25, 18 @ 11:10 am: They are certainly getting their money’s worth No reform for pensions the Speaker admits are unsustainable No work rule reforms, overtime after 37.5 hours continues No “reasonable and moderate” reforms for businesses that are growing union jobs faster in our neighboring states than in Illinois - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Sep 25, 18 @ 11:14 am: ===No reform for pensions the Speaker admits are unsustainable No work rule reforms, overtime after 37.5 hours continues No “reasonable and moderate” reforms for businesses that are growing union jobs faster in our neighboring states than in Illinois=== Thanks for listing more Rauner failures. - Lucky Pierre - Tuesday, Sep 25, 18 @ 11:18 am: Aren’t these failures more on the coequal, supermajority Democratic legislature that has had a stranglehold on Illinois politics for decades? Of course not, everything was ship shape until 3 1/2 years ago - DuPage Saint - Tuesday, Sep 25, 18 @ 11:19 am: I checked out that home on the web Funniest thing it has no toilets - Demoralized - Tuesday, Sep 25, 18 @ 11:29 am: ==No reform for pensions == You cannot “reform” them as you would like. I don’t know how much more crystal clear the Supreme Court has to be. Tier II was the reform. They included a modest “reform” in the latest budget. And you seem to forget that the Speaker pushed through the Tier II reform and AFSCME was none too happy about it so don’t give me this bull story that he is somehow in their pocket when it comes to pensions. The facts don’t line up with your assertions. ==No “reasonable and moderate” reforms for businesses== You mean like his union busting proposals. Those “reasonable and moderate” proposals. You are really a horrible advisor. You’re the one that I believe advised the Governor to keep doing what he is doing. How’s that worked out for 4 years? I think you just like to whine and aren’t interested in the actual job of governing. - Stumpy's bunker - Tuesday, Sep 25, 18 @ 11:32 am: Lucky, allow me to respectfully submit that pension reform…Tier II…has happened; Tier II represents a significant reduction in benefits. The pension problem resulted from years of kicking the can down the road by the GA….they simply did not pay into the pension the way they agreed to, while the employees, indeed, did pay into it as they agreed. The IL Supreme Court has, in effect, established that this problem needs to be rectified by the State, rather than the workers who did not cause the problem. - Demoralized - Tuesday, Sep 25, 18 @ 11:32 am: ==refute the money cabal between public unions and Dems. No wonder our taxes are so high here== lol. As if the business community isn’t aligned with Republicans. Organizations support who support their interests. But your hyperpartisan self doesn’t understand that. And to suggest he unions are the reason for high taxes is absolute nonsense. That’s just your rabid anti-public employee garbage. - City Zen - Tuesday, Sep 25, 18 @ 11:33 am: ==You wanna dance for a bit today cupcake?== Sure. May I remove your straitjacket first? - Hottot - Tuesday, Sep 25, 18 @ 11:34 am: ==No reforms for pensions the speaker admits are unsustainable== Lucky Pierre, see the Tier 2 pension system, and the SCOIL ruling concerning pensions. I’m not a fan of Michael Madigan, but as a member of AFSCME, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Without regard to how much it will cost taxpayers, Rauner declared war on my union. He hasn’t given a flip about state spending, he just doesn’t want to pay for it. We’ve been in court with the state Rauner’s entire term, and he’s lost virtually every battle, that is again at taxpayer expense. When Quinn was governor, Madigan was no friend of ours. But right now, as I said before, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. - Honeybear - Tuesday, Sep 25, 18 @ 11:35 am: Anonymous 11:03 Afscme’s are taxpayers We are waging war on Republicans who abandoned labor To get in bed with Rauner How’s that working out now We are waging war on the Captains of corporate welfare Who Have purchased the Republican Party And deceived working folk with perfidy How’s that working for you now? Afscme PEOPLE Public Employees Organized to Promote Legislative Equality Thousands of frontline afscme’s Regular folk Giving $4.20 cents out of each paycheck To stop Rauner To stop Raunerites To stop Republicans who sold their souls To a free market sociopa– Conservatives, true conservatives Should repent And restore their once proud house Afscme endorsed Several Republicans in the primary We didn’t reject them Most republicans rejected labor - Ole' Nelson - Tuesday, Sep 25, 18 @ 11:42 am: No reform for pensions the Speaker admits are unsustainable. Try telling that to an Illinois teacher hired after 2011, Lucky. Tier II has reformed teachers pensions into a system that is possibly less generous than social security and sctually saves the state money. Your repeated talking points are worn out. Will you be accompanying the Rauner’s to Italy after the election? - Honeybear - Tuesday, Sep 25, 18 @ 11:44 am: Straitjacket- that’s good Yes, crazy for labor Yes, I’m crazy for the working person I fight like a crazed berserker for regular folk You fight for the privileged You fight for the moneyed You fight for the individually powerful We combine $4.20 cent contributions To put forth 768k Yeah, I’m crazy about that We get thousands of volunteers To knock on doors to canvas Yeah, I’m crazy about that Truth is I’m so on fire with rage and purpose You’re gonna need more than A straitjacket To restrain me - Lucky Pierre - Tuesday, Sep 25, 18 @ 11:44 am: Is Senator Cullerton’s pension reform that passed the supermajority Democratic Senate in May of 2017 and has not been voted on in the House a “Raunerite bill”? Of course not and the Supreme Court does not offer opinions on the constitutionally of bills that have not become law. How can all reforms for business be “union busting”? Wisconsin is growing union jobs much faster than Illinois is. I am not an “advisor” to anyone. Who is the genius who has been advising Democrats on fiscal issues for the the past 40 years? - Responsa - Tuesday, Sep 25, 18 @ 12:12 pm: Honeybear, are you comfortable with people posting your opinions and verbatim comments on social media as a representative of labor? - Ole' Nelson - Tuesday, Sep 25, 18 @ 12:18 pm: Is Senator Cullerton’s pension reform that passed the supermajority Democratic Senate in May of 2017 and has not been voted on in the House a “Raunerite bill”? That is not pension reform, that is pension theft. But then again, I think that is what you are really after. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Sep 25, 18 @ 12:21 pm: ===Is Senator Cullerton’s pension reform that passed the supermajority Democratic Senate in May of 2017 and has not been voted on in the House a “Raunerite bill”?=== For the 9,784th time. There aren’t 71 votes, there aren’t 60 votes in the House. Rauner could’ve embarrassed Madigan with the votes “on the stairs”, Rauner in front of them, with podium and microphones at the ready. Why didn’t Rauner do that? ===How can all reforms for business be “union busting”?=== All reforms Madigan passed that Rauner wanted, less the labor hurts, were called “sham votes”… but you already know that, lol - Fixer - Tuesday, Sep 25, 18 @ 12:28 pm: LP, false on Wisconsin having more union jobs. U of I study shows there are 165,000 fewer union jobs in Wisconsin now from a decade ago. Next? - Demoralized - Tuesday, Sep 25, 18 @ 12:36 pm: ==the Supreme Court does not offer opinions on the constitutionally of bills that have not become law.== They provided clear guidance in their ruling. Some of you have reading comprehension difficulties however. I’m not going to try and explain it here again as it has been explained multiple times. You choose to remain tone deaf. ==I am not an “advisor” to anyone== I was speaking about a post several days ago that asked what advice we would give the Governor. You’re advice appeared to be keep doing what you’re doing Governor. Great advice. You have got to either be: a paid propagandist or a computer program. No other explanation explains your ridiculousness - Tony Kendall - Tuesday, Sep 25, 18 @ 12:39 pm: That Pritzker Estate tho. The GUEST HOUSE is 3300 square feet. Not shabby. - Truthteller - Tuesday, Sep 25, 18 @ 12:56 pm: Madigan and AFSCME were estranged for many years. Rauner brought them back together. Perhaps Bruce should start a career in couples’s counseling after he gets drubbed in November. - Honeybear - Tuesday, Sep 25, 18 @ 1:00 pm: Responses- very proper of you to ask. Folks will post whatever they will. I have no control over it. But I am no representative of Labor in the leadership sense. I hold no title other than member and Steward. I am not leadership. I am Labor itself, the frontline worker. That’s who I fight for and advocate for. The greatest compliment I’ve ever gotten was from OW “People, first, last and always” But thanks for asking. - Grandson of Man - Tuesday, Sep 25, 18 @ 1:36 pm: Madigan helped stop Rauner’s anti-union agenda and stepped up for the union arbitration bills. He said it correctly, that Rauner’s operating in the extreme. In these respects, and at this time, Madigan is a good union ally. The irony with Madigan is that Rauner likely caused more per-capita debt and damage than any one politician in state history. Where do Rauner supporters get off criticizing Madigan when their guy is terrible like this? If Republicans didn’t help stop the impasse and pass new revenue with veto overrides, the state would likely be in junk status. Rauner would not have stopped the impasse, if the AFSCME contract dispute is any indicator. - Texas Red - Tuesday, Sep 25, 18 @ 1:44 pm: AFSCME just protecting turf. Dem’s feed the big government machine with tax payments…dues flow to union. AFSCME then returns the favor with campaign cash and foot soldiers to MJM. Of course it comes out of the PAC not general fund so there is that. - Joe M - Tuesday, Sep 25, 18 @ 1:47 pm: Madigan has been one of the main reasons Rauner’s turnaround agenda and anti-union agenda did not go anywhere. It makes sense for unions to support Madigan. No real news there. - blue dog dem - Tuesday, Sep 25, 18 @ 1:58 pm: I hope everyone understands that JB should and will negotiate state union contracts in a manner fitting the private sector. I have learned that sometimes these folks are tougher than those you might think are on the other side. Time will tell, but I think JB is going to be a bear. - Anonymous - Tuesday, Sep 25, 18 @ 2:21 pm: Looks like we can count on JB lifting Rauner’s step freeze if it was ever in doubt. - Lucky Pierre - Tuesday, Sep 25, 18 @ 2:42 pm: I hope everyone understands that JB should and will negotiate state union contracts in a manner fitting the private sector. JB’s platform is clear, he will be extremely generous with taxpayer money to Democratic special interest groups JB’s business record is also crystal clear. He is stingy with his own money and the companies he owns have had frequent labor disputes. How do you think he got to be so rich? Certainly not by having generous profit sharing with his employees - Honeybear - Tuesday, Sep 25, 18 @ 2:51 pm: LP you’re correct. JB will be tough to negotiate with. I’m cool with that. Negotiating in good faith should be tough But Rauner refused to negotiate Declaring impasse We are not at impasse To quote the late judge Lachien “You are (Rauner) 180 degrees from good faith bargaining” We just want management to wrestle fairly Not working tirelessly for our utter destruction I welcome good faith negotiation - Honeybear - Tuesday, Sep 25, 18 @ 2:57 pm: Ummm Texas Red, tax payments and union dues are two totally different things. Aren’t union dues free speech now? You wouldn’t restrict my free speech right? But all joking aside Apples and orange fighter jets - Grandson of Man - Tuesday, Sep 25, 18 @ 4:43 pm: There’s no reason whatsoever for state workers to agree to Rauner’s big cuts when he makes tens to hundreds of millions of dollars a year, is taxed at 4.95% and fights like heck to not pay a progressive income tax. None, as in zero. Rauner thought state workers were masochistic saps, willing to stick their heads out and be whacked by multimillionaires, billionaires and the IPI, as if it was their duty before monarchs. I can see why he wears costumes. - Casey - Wednesday, Sep 26, 18 @ 7:07 am: If they have that much of their members money to waste on a political contribution to anyone they don’t need a raise, they need a pay cut. - Guess again - Wednesday, Sep 26, 18 @ 4:35 pm: Money well spent to rid this state of Rauner and his ilk. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.