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Not much of a warning shot

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Illinois

* My weekly syndicated newspaper column…

Only a handful of state House Democratic incumbents targeted for defeat by the Republicans were endorsed by the Illinois AFL-CIO last week, but the damage to the Democratic Party’s chances this fall will likely be minimal.

Organized labor’s umbrella organization met in Springfield last week to make endorsements in state legislative and other races. Labor leaders turned a strong thumbs down to some suburban House Democratic members who’ve supported pension changes and voted to cut health insurance coverage for state retirees.

Labor fought pitched battles on several fronts this past spring. Public employee pensions and health insurance coverage were the most visible. Unlike neighboring states such as Indiana, organized labor has worked well with both parties here, and has historically been able to fend off the sort of attacks that Indiana’s unions were unable to when Hoosier legislators debated a so-called “right to work” bill this year. That bill is now law.

There were no massive protests this year in Springfield like there were in Wisconsin last year while the General Assembly considered changes to state worker benefit plans. That’s mainly because the unions were at the bargaining table here. Unions were completely shut out up north. But labor still didn’t get what it wanted here, and some union leaders were furious at the outcome.

AFSCME, which represents state employees, and other unions were hoping to withhold labor’s endorsements from several House incumbents and candidates because of those fights over pensions and retiree health care. The public employee unions were only partially successful.

Just three Downstate House Democratic incumbents who are heavily targeted for defeat by the Republicans were given labor’s nod. Reps. Pat Verschoore (D-Milan), Dan Beiser (D-Alton) and Jerry Costello II (D-Smithton) were endorsed. Unions are still pretty strong in those districts and are considered important to election outcomes, so Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan pushed unions hard for their endorsements.

But some suburban Democrats were left without labor’s backing.

Reps. Fred Crespo (D-Hoffman Estates), Michelle Mussman (D-Schaumburg) and Carol Sente (D-Vernon Hills) were not endorsed. According to one top labor official, the unions withheld their endorsements in those races as a warning to others that the AFL-CIO will not blindly follow the Democratic Party down its current conservative path.

However, those three Democrats represent suburban districts where organized labor is not hugely important, and some of those incumbents may eventually receive backing from individual unions which are locally influential. Ironically enough, Rep. Elaine Nekritz, who has played a key role in negotiating pension and health insurance changes for public employees and retirees, was endorsed by the AFL-CIO. Nekritz (D-Northbrook) is facing a fairly serious challenge this fall and she’s also in the process of becoming a top Madigan lieutenant.

Some of the biggest election battles in the House will be in “open” districts where no incumbents are running, and labor dutifully endorsed several Democratic candidates in those districts. The AFL-CIO also endorsed several Democrats who are challenging sitting Republican incumbents.

For instance, Scott Drury (D-Highwood), who was running against Republican Lauren Turelli for retiring Rep. Karen May’s seat until Turelli dropped out this week, was endorsed, Stephanie Kifowit (D-Aurora) and Sue Scherer (D-Decatur), both of whom are running in hotly contested newly created districts, were endorsed. Katherine Cloonen (D-Kankakee), who is running to replace retiring Democratic Rep. Lisa Dugan, was also given the thumbs up. Jeremy Ly (D-Minooka), who’s up against GOP Rep. Pam Roth (R-Morris), was given the nod, as were Sam Yingling (D-Round Lake Beach) and Mike Smiddy (D-Hillsdale), both of whom are challenging Republican incumbents.

Labor also endorsed Republican state Rep. Saviano, who is being targeted heavily for defeat by the House Democrats. Saviano (R-Elmwood Park) usually gets labor’s endorsement, so it was no surprise.

The news was far better for the Senate Democrats. All of their most heavily targeted incumbents were endorsed, despite the fact that the Senate passed a state employee pension reform bill. No Senate Republican incumbents or candidates were endorsed. But the more important Democratic challengers to sitting Republicans or in open seat contests were also given the nod.

The bottom line is that the House Democrats barely got a slap on the wrist for what they did this past spring. It will take a much sterner rebuke from AFSCME and the teachers’ unions if the Democrats are to get any sort of “real” message.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Jun 18, 12 @ 10:17 am

Comments

ly, yingling, smiddy, a hat tip to the recruiter-those are great last names. Yuengling is one of my favorite adult beverages.

Comment by Shore Monday, Jun 18, 12 @ 10:36 am
What are “pitched” battles? (paragraph three)

Comment by tomhail Monday, Jun 18, 12 @ 10:46 am
Did Madigan really have to push the unions to endorse Beiser? He doesn’t go to lunch without checking with labor first.

Beiser will need the full support of labor if he’s going to survive his challenge from Madison County Board Member Kathy Smith, who is very popular in the area.

Comment by East Sider Monday, Jun 18, 12 @ 11:11 am
I thought Drury was campaigning on cutting back pensions including union pensions? Hmmmm!

Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Monday, Jun 18, 12 @ 11:31 am
Until the unions not only pull their support from the Dems and actively get behind GOP challengers with both cash and manpower, the Dems will continue to take union support for granted.

Comment by RNUG Monday, Jun 18, 12 @ 12:06 pm
The part I agree with on RNUG’s post: “Until the unions not only pull their support from the Dems” - “the Dems will continue to take union support for granted.”

Comment by Mouthy Monday, Jun 18, 12 @ 12:22 pm
What a wimpy response from the union.

Comment by Norseman Monday, Jun 18, 12 @ 2:35 pm
Yeah the unions are showing that they are overrated. Unless some Dems go down because of labor staying out of the race or backing a challenger what will be interesting is how many less friends will labor have after November.

Comment by Fed up Monday, Jun 18, 12 @ 3:02 pm
Mouthy,

I would argue some GOP, such as Rep. Rich Brauer, Rep. Raymond Poe, Sen. Sam McCann and Sen. Larry Bomke, have done more for the unions and / or state employees than any Dem.

Comment by Retired Non-Union Guy Monday, Jun 18, 12 @ 3:44 pm
Should note, if you don’t catch it, I’m RNUG (when on the laptop)

Comment by Retired Non-Union Guy Monday, Jun 18, 12 @ 3:45 pm
The endoresements by AFL-CIO are overrated. Just check the results in the Walker races in Wisconsin. The unions came a full-force against Walker in the 1st general guvernatorial election and again in the most recent re-call election. Yet, Walker prevailed. However, your premise is right on line. Not until AFSCME and the CTU send the Dems are real message; the Dems will continue to take the Unions for granted.

Comment by ChicagoDem Monday, Jun 18, 12 @ 4:41 pm
The myths spread by the Trib, IL Chamber and Civic millionaires clubs about the unions mysteriously controlling all the politicians (with about one tenth of the money and influence of their opposition)may finally start to go away.

Comment by Honestly Monday, Jun 18, 12 @ 4:51 pm
Labor finds beiser as both obedient and virtually unbeatable…some metro east precincts will carry him 150-3. That’s not good judgement, that’s smart investing.

Comment by Madison Monday, Jun 18, 12 @ 4:55 pm
I hope that labor considers Beiser unbeatable. The only precincts he’ll carry by a wide margin are the black precincts in Alton. Kathy Smith routed an IBEW business agent in her county board race in the last cycle, despite being outspent 3-1.

Comment by East Sider Monday, Jun 18, 12 @ 5:16 pm
This can’t be right.

Public employee unions control everything, and are the reason for every bad thing that ever happened.

They have so much money to corrupt public discourse!

Meanwhile, back at the reality ranch, the great majority of your tax dollars are going to social security, health (medicare and VA) plus interest, plus the military.

Cut at will, there.

Did you know, the United States Navy has eleven nuclear aircraft carrier strike forces, and each carrier has two nuclear reactors and weighs over 100,000 tons?

They’re magnificent vessels. Guess how many the rest of the planet have?

None.

Our allies have a few half-assed conventionally powered carriers, and the Russkies have an old Soviet POS coming in at 60,000 tons.

In addition to our eleven behomoths, we have another nine amphibuous carriers that are better than any other carrier in the world and could blow anything else out of the water.

They cost a lot of money, too.

Read Gates farewell speeches. He wanted to cut, and the Iron Triangle of Congress, the Services and the Lobbyists aaid no.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Jun 18, 12 @ 5:22 pm
East sider, we will see how a candidate from what is probably a GOP district runs in a strongly Democratic district. I am sure that even if she is a good candidate, Dorothy will find out that she is not in Kansas any more.

Comment by Madison Monday, Jun 18, 12 @ 5:43 pm
The stern rebuke would be to pull all the money they give to the party committees and focus on their own-very few targets-. After CU ist really a waste to give to these committees when you could just set up your own
Failure to do so may end up with some new unions bosses

Comment by western illinois Monday, Jun 18, 12 @ 9:34 pm
Well said. Very pathetic response from the unions.

Comment by Flan Tuesday, Jun 19, 12 @ 7:45 am