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The harsh reality of tomorrow’s big rally

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Illinois

* Keep in mind that while tomorrow’s big Statehouse rally opposing budget cuts and favoring a tax hike will bring in as many as 15,000 people, Springfield rallies rarely succeed unless that success is already ordained…

But the rally probably won’t push politicians to support a tax increase in an election year, many lawmakers said.

“To say that is going to rally enough support for a tax increase, I don’t think so,” said state Rep. Dan Brady, R-Bloomington. […]

“You got rallies going on today in my area against taxes,” said state Rep. John Bradley, D-Marion.

Case in point, supporters of the Equal Rights Amendment brought even more than 15,000 people to Springfield for a rally back in 1982, to no avail. However, a huge rally that same year sponsored by labor organizations against a move by GOP House Speaker George Ryan to bring a “right to work” bill to the floor did work. The difference is, that bill wasn’t going anywhere anyway. It would’ve been vetoed by Republican Gov. Jim Thompson if it ever advanced to his desk, which was doubtful.

* And when the Republican gubernatorial nominee is pushing for huge cuts in programs and is adamantly opposed to a tax increase, there is just no political cover at all for a tax hike now…

Converting one state government agency into an advisory group, and renegotiating employment contracts at another agency, are two of the ways that the Republican running for governor would save taxpayer money.

State Sen. Bill Brady (R-Bloomington) would change the Illinois State Board of Education from a policy-setting agency to one that would only advise the governor.

Brady says the $80 million agency is currently more of a hindrance to education than an administrator. He also complains about accountability at the board, saying everyone there points their fingers at everyone else. “Harry Truman would have a field day with where the buck stopped,” Brady said.

Brady also says he would renegotiate contracts for Illinois State Police troopers and civilian workers, because he says the salaries and pension are too sweet compared to those in the private sector.

* But the anger at Springfield is palpable among rally organizers. Here’s a quote from David Comerford, a spokesperson for the Illinois Federation of Teachers…

“No politician will be speaking at the rally. They’ve done enough talking without acting,” said Comerford. “They need to hear from us.”

It ought to be an interesting day.

* Related…

* Nursing home reformers push for more staffing

* State’s financial crisis threatens existence of smaller agencies

* Truth in taxation

* Students speak out against budget cuts

* KCC, other schools see enrollment soar, state funding sink

* College Officials Say MAP Funding Almost Gone

* Pension Reforms Confuse Some Teachers

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Apr 20, 10 @ 9:31 am

Comments

The linked story isn’t clear — is Brady saying he would do away with the ISBE?

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Apr 20, 10 @ 9:50 am
So if you see some kids in yellow t-shirts, be kind. We planned our Springfield Day months ago, before we knew there would be multitudes at the capitol…

Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Apr 20, 10 @ 9:51 am
The State could sell food, water and Lincoln memorablia to the folks at the rally to raise revenue

Comment by Ghost Tuesday, Apr 20, 10 @ 9:56 am
The zinger didn’t work from brady. Better use of english please. Incidentally I have spoken to a number of moderate republican women from the east part of glencoe and winnetka, they know that brady is a nut, but they seem to be focused more this year on their bank accounts than their reproductive rights which could bode well for him.

Comment by shore Tuesday, Apr 20, 10 @ 9:58 am
==“They need to hear from us.”==

They have heard from you and look where you are! I know that some republicans take their money too, but not nearly as much. The idea that your voice has not been heard is absurd, especially from a Teachers Union. Teachers have more than their fair share of laws passed. Teachers Unions have made the school code so thick and convoluted that compliance is impossible. No reasonable minded person can look at the laws passed on behalf of teachers unions each year and truely believe they have not been heard!

Comment by the Patriot Tuesday, Apr 20, 10 @ 10:04 am
Brady also says he would renegotiate contracts for Illinois State Police troopers and civilian workers, because he says the salaries and pension are too sweet compared to those in the private sector.

Yea, that private State Police force really has proven to be a model for success.

Oh wait…

Comment by George Tuesday, Apr 20, 10 @ 10:09 am
I love how, after the private sector has screwed employees, that screwing is now viewed as the standard so that what government employees receive is now “too sweet”. The Brady’s motto seems to be “I’ll screw our government employees just like the private sector has screwed the private work force!”

Comment by D.P. Gumby Tuesday, Apr 20, 10 @ 10:16 am
Brady has said he would abolish ISBE.

Comment by Chicago Cynic Tuesday, Apr 20, 10 @ 10:28 am
Because the goal of government should be to treat workers better than anyone else…

Seriously, do people in government get how those not in government view the sense to entitlement that it seems some in government have.

Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Apr 20, 10 @ 10:28 am
No government has screwed their employees more than the current IL government has screwed theirs.

I mean, of course, the Republican holdovers. Their people did very well for themselves.

Comment by Joe from Joliet Tuesday, Apr 20, 10 @ 10:30 am
Yes the pay for state troopers is good , but you need to compare with other state police in other states, because Mr. Brady there is no private sector police. If you want to talk about sweet pensions talk about what yours will be, 85 % after 20 years in a part-time job. IF YOU ONLY SPEND 12 YEARS YOU GET 45%. NOW THAT IS SWEET.YOU ALSO GIVE 11.5 % OF YOUR SALARY TOWARDS YOUR PENSION. THE TROOPERS PUT 12.5 % TO THEIRS.

Comment by ispretired Tuesday, Apr 20, 10 @ 11:08 am
did’n the private sector investment houses, tribune co, an other companies pay their executives millions of dollars in bonuses and options, plus covering perks like free vaction/seminars.

Underthe private sector, for a company with 50k plus employees, we need to increase pay,especially at the top of management, if we wan to miror the private sector.

So we need to increase salaries, benefits, an bonuses…. not sure we want to use the privat sector model, but if thats what we are going to do, lets start paying out those bonuses!

Comment by Ghost Tuesday, Apr 20, 10 @ 12:57 pm
Been to the Capitol area lately? Parking for those buses will be where and how far away will cars be parked? Looks like a great day for parking tickets, restaurants, and bars. ‘I was forced to go to Sebastians or Coney Dog because everything was so packed’.

I agree with Ghost. Please pay me those private sector salaries. Those millions going to corp execs could instead be going toward lowering prices for all types of products which would help the economy. Don’t see that happening. Always the lower guys getting whacked.

Comment by zatoichi Tuesday, Apr 20, 10 @ 1:11 pm
If people don’t make a big noise, the GA will say - you didn’t let us know there were any problems. I was there in 82, big disappointment is an understatement.

Comment by Just the Basics Tuesday, Apr 20, 10 @ 3:09 pm
So, if you work at the Capitol complex, how early do you have to arrive at work in order to be able to get in the parking lots/garages?

Comment by Secret Square Tuesday, Apr 20, 10 @ 3:41 pm
Would someone from the press ask Senator Brady which private sector firm has anyone doing anything like the Illinois State Police? The only private firms with police officers are railroads. Senator Brady? The ball is in your court.

Comment by Smitty Irving Tuesday, Apr 20, 10 @ 3:49 pm
How many non-government workers will be at this rally calling for tax increases on people like Rich, who work hard for a living and earn their money by asking for it, rather than taking it from others.

Bet Rich’s retirement and benefits aren’t anywhere near as good as most state employees. But if state employees want to kill the goose that lays the golden egg, perhaps the people working hard to produce something useful enough to get people to give them dollars will retire or scale back and everyone will suffer.

If your government job is so valuable to others, perhaps you should at least ask for donations and only then ask government for some matching funds in proportion to the money you raised and inverse proportion to local poverty levels. When will government workers have some “skin in the game” by actually learning how hard it is to raise a voluntary dollar?

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Apr 20, 10 @ 7:10 pm
I think that if the protesters generate media attention for their cause, they are one step closer to achieving their goals. Of course it is not a guarantee of success, but it’s a necessary component.

Comment by Squideshi Wednesday, Apr 21, 10 @ 1:18 am