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* House Speaker Michael was asked by Jak Tichenor yesterday whether he was afraid of alienating his longtime supporters in organized labor with his pension reform push. The Speaker went all Bob Dole on us…

“Mike Madigan is not going to alienate labor unions. He may alienate one or two labor unions but not all of them. So put that fear to rest. Organized labor will be supporting Democrats in the next election.”

But, as one labor official said today, Madigan may be forgetting about Democratic primaries.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Mar 7, 13 @ 10:07 am

Comments

The Speaker went “3rd Person” …yikes!

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 7, 13 @ 10:11 am
“as one labor official said…”

I think MJM was correct when he said “one or two labor unions” would be alienated. I wouldn’t count on there being large numbers of unions trying to take out Dem incumbents.

Comment by Hyperbolic Chamber Thursday, Mar 7, 13 @ 10:15 am
I’d vote for the donkey, before I would vote for Madigan!

Comment by Billy Thursday, Mar 7, 13 @ 10:19 am
So a labor backed Democrat is going to win a primary and then vote against Madigan for Speaker (which is really the only vote he cares about from his members). I don’t see it.

Comment by Jaded Thursday, Mar 7, 13 @ 10:28 am
Labor may “blow & snort” for effect but they know that Madigan is “The Man” and they aren’t about to jump off of his bus. They have already spent their cash on their ticket to ride.

Comment by Muffin Man Thursday, Mar 7, 13 @ 10:31 am
dupage dan says, let me say this, about that. dupage dan is not impressed with MJM. dupage dan believes that the democrats assume organized labor will always vote democrat. dupage dan has something to say to MJM.

NOT

Comment by dupage dan Thursday, Mar 7, 13 @ 10:32 am
AFSCME (1)
IEA (2)

He may alienate a few of the rank and file but the leadership has demonstrated they are firmly in the speaker’s pocket, checkbook in tow. The only real fear for democrats and real union workers is that the public pension problem gets so out of hand that there is a blowback on unions in general,, ala WI. The speaker is saying we will not allow public sector unions to sink organized labor in IL.

Face two realities folks. 1. Madigan will be speaker until he or God decides it is his time. 2. A Democrat will win the next election for Governor and for the most part Mike Madigan will decide who that is. (Poshard)

Comment by the Patriot Thursday, Mar 7, 13 @ 10:35 am
HC, I think that part of the quote was about this MJM statement…

===Organized labor will be supporting Democrats in the next election.====

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Mar 7, 13 @ 10:42 am
I am a Democrat. I am a union member. I am bothered by the fact that now there are few in Illinois for whom I can vote. I voted for Rich Whitney in the past gubernatorial election, not because I am totally enamoured of the Green Party, but because voting for the Governor did not appeal to me.

The fact is, the state is attempting to do much of what was done in Wisconsin here. The problem: those doing it to us are our own Democrats.

At some point, it may be useful for union Democrats to vote for sympathetic Republicans for the House. Creating divided government diminishes the Speaker’s influence. Because simply, defeating Madigan in a primary or other election is mostly impossible and expecting Democrats to elect a different speaker is also highly unlikely.

Comment by xxtofer Thursday, Mar 7, 13 @ 10:58 am
Rich - The inference of the labor official you quoted was that, though there may be support from Labor for Dems in the General, it may not be there for the Primary. My point was that I don’t see more than the one or two unions MJM was thinking of not supporting Dems.

Comment by Hyperbolic Chamber Thursday, Mar 7, 13 @ 11:02 am
Well, when you get down to it, who else are they likely to vote for?

Comment by titan Thursday, Mar 7, 13 @ 11:03 am
-went all Bob Dole on us-

Arthur Andersen says well played, sir!

Comment by Arthur Andersen Thursday, Mar 7, 13 @ 11:08 am
That’s funny xxtofer, I’m closer to Green Party but generally vote for whoever I think has the best chance of beating whatever the GOP tries to throw at us. Last time that was Pat Quinn.

Comment by Cheryl44 Thursday, Mar 7, 13 @ 11:09 am
Labor union members do not vote as blocs any more. Their leaders/organizations do provide monetary and volunteer support.

I think what could be lost in votes among members of IEA (more than AFT), and AFSCME, has already been lost to Dems in recent elections.

Comment by walkinfool Thursday, Mar 7, 13 @ 11:22 am
I understand he current dilemma the unions have with the IL Dems, but Unions have not historically been courted or thought favorably of by the GOP, except for the Teamsters, whom had a good relationship with former GOP Governors.

Comment by Endangered Moderate Species Thursday, Mar 7, 13 @ 12:01 pm
Keep voting the same way and you’ll keep seeing the same results.

Comment by Jeeper Thursday, Mar 7, 13 @ 12:35 pm
Once again we ALL see who he is REALLY beholden to….

Comment by Just The Way It Is One Thursday, Mar 7, 13 @ 5:36 pm
Madigan forgot for a second that he actually deigned to speak to the media. In his confusion he spoke as Steve Brown.

Comment by Independent Friday, Mar 8, 13 @ 7:50 am