* Meh…

Gov. Bruce Rauner’s desires to have right-to-work in Illinois went down in flames in the House on Thursday, gaining zero yes votes in a fiery debate Democrats aimed squarely at the governor.

The vote tally was 0 yes votes, 72 no votes and 37 voting present, offering a blistering rebuke to Rauner’s anti-union agenda.

Republicans were ordered to vote “Present.” So “zero yes votes” was completely expected. They were also ordered to stay away from the merits of the bill, which is why nobody rose to speak in favor.

* Umm…

Republicans, as they did in a vote on a portion of Rauner’s budget plan last week, once again objected to Democrats staging the symbolic vote, and with all but one member voted “present” on the bills. The “present” votes, in place of “no” votes — allowed Republicans to avoid taking a stand on the politically-sensitive issue.

“This isn’t about right to work,” Republican state Rep. Bill Mitchell, of Forsyth said. “It’s about dividing people and it’s not fair.”

Only GOP state Rep. Raymond Poe of Springfield, the state capital where many unionized government workers live, voted against the plan.

Poe did vote “No,” but a handful of Republicans took a walk yesterday and didn’t vote either way: Anthony, Cabello, Fortner, David Harris, McAuliffe, McSweeney and Bill Mitchell. Those were the cracks in the Rauner armor.

But some Republicans are gonna get some real grief from unions for their “Present” votes yesterday.

* Sheesh…

Republicans called the ordeal a political stunt. They said Democrats weren’t taking the idea seriously, noting that the language in the bill was not written or reviewed by the Rauner administration.

“People are watching us and they’re demanding results in Springfield that are going to put people back to work,” said House Republican leader Jim Durkin. “This governor was not elected with just Republican votes, he was elected with Democrat votes, independent votes, who told him to come to Springfield and fix the problems that we have.”

The governor has been traveling the state giving speeches almost every day for six months bashing unions, and yet his House leader calls yesterday’s vote a political stunt?

Please.

* Several Republicans also bashed the Democrats yesterday for being “divisive.”

Really?

For months, the governor has cynically attempted to turn the non-unionized have-little’s in this state against the unionized have-some’s while simultaneously catering to the grotesque self-interest of the have-it-all’s.

That’s not infinitely more divisive than a little floor debate?

Rep. Hoffman also addressed the allegation yesterday…

Heh.

* This one could bite him back…

Rep. Ron Sandack, R-Downers Grove, generated a chorus of boos when he said Democrats were just staging the event to produce videos for their next campaigns.

“The idea you are standing up for the working man is an embarrassment,” Sandack said. “You’re for no one but yourselves.”

Video…

* Meanwhile, from a labor official via text last night…

Rauner resolution defeated tonight in Stephenson County. More than 200 in attendance.

70 people at Kewanee city council on Tuesday morning. No vote on Rauner resolution.

Also Tuesday, no support for Rauner resolution at Cuba city council.

On Monday night a resolution rewritten to include nothing about RTW was introduced at the Freeport city council. It was tabled until next week.

* From the Stephenson County debate…

District E’s Dan Neal said he supported working on creating equitable pensions and improving workers’ compensation issues, among other things, but he didn’t support the entire resolution.

“(Rauner has) really put this forth to us as: Take it or leave it; it’s all or nothing,” Neal said. “I don’t think we’re subject to that kind of dictation. I think we should look at this as what should be supported.”

Clukey, however, questioned when Rauner demanded that the resolution considered without any revisions, pointing out that other local governments had. Neal said he talked with a governor’s office representative who said county members could add an addendum but not change the language.

Control freaks.

*** UPDATE *** From the governor’s office…

Good morning, Rich!

Moultrie County and Arthur both passed the Turnaround Resolution.

Have a nice day!
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