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Blagojevich already has the IFT’s nod, so this decision by the state’s largest teachers union is a blow to Topinka.
The state’s largest education employees union is taking the unprecedented step of making no recommendation for governor of Illinois.The Board of Directors for the 125,000 member Illinois Education Association (IEA) voted Friday to reject endorsement requests from both Gov. Rod Blagojevich and Republican challenger Judy Baar Topinka. The vote was unanimous.
According to President Ken Swanson, IEA members were disappointed by the primary funding sources for both candidates’ education plans.
“A choice between a new casino and the sale of the State Lottery is no choice at all. Neither plan provides the funding stability that will help the school improvement effort and neither provides property tax relief to homeowners harmed by the state’s over reliance on local property taxes,” he added.
According to Swanson, IEA will concentrate its Election 2006 efforts on its Invest in Excellence school funding and tax relief campaign and on electing legislators willing to consider realistic solutions to the school funding crisis.
Comments will be opened on Monday.
*** UPDATE *** AFSCME also took a pass.
Two influential unions that endorsed Gov. Rod Blagojevich when he was elected four years ago have decided not to endorse anyone this time around in the governor’s race.The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31 and the Illinois Education Association both say they’re dissatisfied with what has, or hasn’t been, proposed by the candidates.
“It certainly shows that he’s lost some of his support,” said University of Illinois at Springfield political science professor Kent Redfield.
Redfield’s right to an extent, but we’ve all known for some time that AFSCME wouldn’t endorse Blagojevich. The governor definitely wasn’t expecting it, but JBT was really hoping to get this nod for the general, as she had in the primary. The AFSCME decision was probably more of a win for Blagojevich, despite what the Topinka campaign says, because of the intense animosity between himself and the union’s leaders and members.
The AFSCME decision demonstrates better than just about anything else that Badabinka hasn’t yet convinced the big boys and girls that she can pull this off.
She needs to do something right now or that same “inevitability factor” that helped elect George Ryan and sank Glenn Poshard (among others) will take firm hold.
posted by Rich Miller
Saturday, Sep 16, 06 @ 11:55 am
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Why endorse Blago? Let’s see, he’s messed with pensions for teachers and we won’t start with employees of the state, or how the trickle down effect works with how what he’s done in the state has hurt county and city public employees. Endorse him so he can do more of the same? I don’t think so.
Endorse JBT? And this would do what? If she loses, it peeves Blago off even more at the employees who didn’t back him and he comes gunning even harder. And she’s no guarantee that with a win for her things will get better.
Endorse neither and play it safe. Let people vote their conscience and make both of them work to get the votes they need.
Comment by Tessa Saturday, Sep 16, 06 @ 7:01 pm
If the biggest teachers’ union doen’t like either of them maybe it’s good news for taxpayers.
After all, their fondest wish is a much higher income tax.
Comment by Cal Skinner Saturday, Sep 16, 06 @ 7:55 pm
She seriously needs to just start running video of Louis Farrakhan giving one of his vile and viciously bigoted speeches while pointing out how CARELESS and RECKLESS Rod has been in appointing Sister Claudette, a top aide to Farrakhan, to his panel on hate crimes. If he knew who she was, it looks bad, and if he plays like he was dumb and didn’t know who she was connected to at the time, it looks reckless and careless in a time when we have terror threats to think about. I mean, come on. Farrakhan went on a global tour to visit the various dictators of the world. Why is the Topinka campaign running this so weak? Get that video of the Nation of Islam head bigot into those anti-Blago ads and hit hard. There’s only a month to go!
The only thing I can think of is that perhaps there’s a big shoe about to drop with the Levine case, and that they know about it and are just waiting to pounce when it happens. Otherwise, they had better start moving it with the attacks.
To not hit back hard is the equivalent of getting knocked down in a real battle and just taking it. Come on, Judy. Smile when you tell us what a bright future you have in store for Illinois, but make him look like the reckless bonehead that he is.
Neil Steinberg’s column today was quite critical of the check given to Amy, but in the past, I’ve read Steinberg attacking the Farrakhan ties. That tie because of Sister Claudette is a mountain of ammo just waiting to be fired off. Let’s get moving, Topinka campaign.
Comment by Angie Sunday, Sep 17, 06 @ 2:39 am
I wonder what legislators IEA is planing to back.
New candidates? Most legislative candidates at the state level are effectively unopposed. They are unlikely to see IEA support or lack thereof as a threat. And the Dem-dominated legislature has had four years to reform education funding.
They haven’t, although they have paid themselves huge amounts of pork.
As to solutions, sounds like the IEA is talking about the ole tax swap-when politicians and advocacy groups say property tax relief, that’s code for tax swap. It’s not tax relief for many. Tax swap means a raid on the Chicago suburbs, which will pay a higher combined tax in exchange for the same or less state money for their schools. So they will have to raise property taxes. Thier money will go Downstate, where a small percentage of taxes go to schools, and to Chicago, whre mismanagement, fraud, and patronage are rampant.
If the IEA were serious, they would recommend a change in the state constitution to allow higher taxes on wealthy Illinoisians. But that’s probably too much work. In California, which has, admitedly, lots more wealth than Illinois, a surcharge on residents earning over a million has brought in huge sums for mental health.
As to AFSCME, apparently JBT’s pandering didn’t work. AFSCME is having difficulty understanding that state government is getting awfully expensive and their members may just have to work harder. There is a lot more competition for the money. AFSCME members’ lavish health and pension benefits contribute to the state’s fiscal problems. And taxpayers, burdened with higher utility, housing and medical costs, are starting to resist tax increases as the solution to all problems of government. As well they should.
Comment by Cassandra Sunday, Sep 17, 06 @ 7:28 am
I belong to the Teamsters and no one has ever ask me who I am for in an election. When they say that a union endorses a candiate it only means that the union leaders are for that person.I usually disagree with who they pick but am powerless to stop their endorsment. Most of the union bosses are rewarded with jobs for their family and friends. All you have to do is look at the state payroll and compare the names.
Comment by NIEVA Sunday, Sep 17, 06 @ 6:24 pm
Too bad that these unions don’t endorse candidates outside the Democratic and Republican parties, or Rich Whitney would have had it hands down!
Comment by Squideshi Sunday, Sep 17, 06 @ 8:59 pm
AFSCME is yellow. They are just trying to hedge the bet that Blago will win. So what? He does not need the union anymore. He only needed them 4 years ago to win the primary. Now he has shown his true colors regarding state employees and AFSCME doesn’t have the guts to endorse his opponent. State employees wonder why we get a bad rap from the general public. It is because of a self serving union like AFCSME. What a joke.
Comment by stateworker Sunday, Sep 17, 06 @ 9:13 pm
The governor has already implied that he will even use the AFSCME non-endorsement as a badge of honor. Lets see who’s story the media ends up running with.
Comment by JohnR Monday, Sep 18, 06 @ 12:49 am
I am disappointed in AFSCME. I expected them to endorse Judy. Shame on them…they chickened out. They show their Democratic leanings with this one. They are at war with Blago but just can’t seem to endorse a Republican, and a woman at that! Gutless.
Comment by Criminal Enterprise Called Illinois Monday, Sep 18, 06 @ 3:00 am
During the first years of his administration all of the pundits and many of the political professionals said that Mayor Harold Washington was in over his head, picking the wrong fights and getting mired in “Council Wars”. Turns out he was right, and before he died he had crushed his political adversaries and was firmly in control of the Party and slating process.
Maybe Blago has done a lot more right than he is given credit for. Despite the fights with the teachers, AFSCME, and the constant headlines he appears to be headed for a solid re-election.
Now if he can just deal with that pesky Patrick Fitzgerald thing…
Comment by Maybe not such an idiot Monday, Sep 18, 06 @ 6:21 am
Neither union will win the red badge of courage
Comment by Truthful James Monday, Sep 18, 06 @ 7:50 am
I don’t think AFSCME is being cowardly at all. Neither Blagojevich or Topinka support their cause in any way. Blagojevich has obviously broken his campaign promises to them, and rather than looking at Topinka’s recent rhetoric to help state employees, they looked at her 14 year voting record in the General Assembly that fought them at every turn.
Check it out: http://www.afscme31.org/report/index.asp?objectID=1053
Interestingly enough, this is what they say about Rich Whitney:
“If electability were not an issue, the choice would be easy in this year’s governor’s race. Rich Whitney, the Green Party candidate, is in sync with the union on virtually every issue: adequate school and university funding, improvement of state staffing, maintenance of defined benefit pension plans and more. Not only is he with us on those issues, but he has the courage to support an increase in state taxes to pay for all of it.”
The Greens are going to hit 5% this election cycle and establish themselves as an official state party. AFSCME may be playing it safe this time around, but if the Democrats and Republicans serve up equally poor candidates in four years I’d look for a Green endorsement in 2010.
Comment by Diversity of Thought Monday, Sep 18, 06 @ 8:10 am
The “playing it safe” theme depends on the assumption that by staying neutral they can make nice with whoever wins. That’s probably only true if Topinka wins, especially for IEA. IFT has survived time in the wilderness when IEA had a seat at the table and it didn’t; if Blagojevich wins, the tables will surely be reversed.
The AFSCME non-endorsement definitely hurts Topinka, who was cultivating it (and the Gov had no chance). IEA’s non-endorsement hurts both in different ways. Losing a former ally hurts Blagojevich (more with IEA than AFSCME; he tried to cultivate IEA, not AFSCME), but on the other hand, Topinka needed the help a lot more.
The bottom line is that so many old alliances are fractured right now that no matter who wins, all kinds of strange coalitions could pop up at the Capitol next spring.
Comment by Gus Frerotte's Clipboard Monday, Sep 18, 06 @ 8:18 am
This really surprises me.
It’s practically a “done deal” that Judy will sign a massive income tax and service sales tax bill (ala HB750)if she’s elected and the union “bought and paid for” legislature passes the Bill next Spring.
They must think that it’s almost impossible for Judy to win and don’t want to tick off Blago even further, or they think she’ll double cross them if elected.
Seems like the “non-endorsement” was the right move from the insatiable union perspective.
Comment by PalosParkBob Monday, Sep 18, 06 @ 3:00 pm
I agree both need to work for our vote. I don’t see Rod getting any state employee votes they will go to Judy. And remember even if we didn’t pick a side we will vote for one!
Comment by AFSCME VOTING MEMBER Monday, Sep 18, 06 @ 5:38 pm
Diversity of Thought is absolutely correct–the Green Party is growing by leaps and bounds in Illinois; and it’s the TREND that matters–not where you’re at when you start out!
Comment by Squideshi Monday, Sep 18, 06 @ 8:31 pm
Maybe not such an idiot wrote: “During the first years of his administration all of the pundits and many of the political professionals said that Mayor Harold Washington was in over his head, picking the wrong fights and getting mired in “Council Warsâ€. Turns out he was right, and before he died he had crushed his political adversaries and was firmly in control of the Party and slating process.”
But “Council Wars” gave the guy a heart attack. How tough can you be?
Sorry, bad taste, but that’s the first thing I thought when Washington’s death was announced. I was a kid, but there were jokes going around about how “Oh my God, they gave him a heart attack.”
Maybe, if the press and the investigators keep smacking pinata Blago, he’ll start to show signs of wear and start losing his hair. The Aqua Net job is really starting to annoy me.
Comment by Angie Tuesday, Sep 19, 06 @ 1:06 am