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Rockford sides with Rauner

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Illinois

* From the governor’s office…

Hi, Rich –

Some updates for you…
Rockford, Green Oaks, and Effingham County all passed the resolution.

I have attached Green Oaks, will send Rockford and Effingham County when I get it.

Best,
Catherine

Rockford: Pop. 150,251.

Green Oaks: Pop: 3,870.

Effingham County: Pop. 34,307.

The Vandalia City Council voted 6-1 to table the resolution last night.

* From the Rockford Register Star…

A divided City Council voted to support Gov. Bruce Rauner’s “Turnaround Agenda,” his plan for fixing what ails Illinois.

The vote was 8-5 on a resolution that dominated discussion Monday, even though it was a nonbinding measure that will be sent to Springfield in support of Rauner. Winnebago County endorsed the measure April 9. […]

“I’m a Democrat, but I like 90 percent of what’s on here,” said Ald. Venita Hervey, D-5.

Hervey voted with the majority, which included Republicans Tim Durkee, Jamie Getchius, Kevin Frost, Frank Beach, John Beck and Joseph Chiarelli, and independent Teena Newburg. Democrats Tom McNamara, Marcus Hill, Jeanne Oddo, Karen Elyea and Linda McNeely voted against the measure.

Beach said the state has money problems that it has to deal with, and this was a way to start a discussion. Durkee said the government needs reforming.

“I’ve diagnosed Springfield as insane,” said Durkee, a physician.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 8:53 am

Comments

Hey, Rockford’s a reasonably big get!

Durkee’s statement is stupid, though.

Comment by Arsenal Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 8:57 am
They want that Amtrak train, don’t they?

Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 8:58 am
Rockford, Green Oaks and Effingham Co. is a pretty diverse grouping. Maybe there’s actual support for this. I think the Vandalia stuff is a little overstated in light of these passes.

Comment by Pese Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 9:00 am
At least the “Hi Rich-” is back, that’s fun.

You’d think with Rockford, maybe a smiley face emoji, or fireworks…

Unless this is 100%, Catherine, it shows more weakness than strength. The Unions don’t need to win 100%, especially when this is a useless exercise, leading to nothing of substance happening.

I’m excited the emails keep coming, it keeps I’m focus that Rauner is pretty clueless.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 9:01 am
“Unless this is 100%, Catherine, it shows more weakness than strength.”

I wouldn’t go that far, but with Chicago a firm No (”Not just no, but Hell No”), you really need to rack up some wins in the collar counties or the Central Illinois cities.

And you probably need to do it soon- by mid-May, the budget talks will probably crowd out everything else.

Comment by Arsenal Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 9:06 am
To borrow the application from a previous poster:

1. Lower wages
2. ??????
3. Rockford Turnaround!

Comment by crazybleedingheart Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 9:19 am
==The Unions don’t need to win 100%,==

Neither does Rauner. In fact his whole “let locals decide” directly implies not everyone will agree with it.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 9:27 am
I was at the Rockford City Council meeting, and one alderman told me directly that he didn’t find out about the special committee meeting - at which the resolution was initially discussed - until that day. I overheard someone else say that another alderman made the same complaint. Additionally, Rockford’s rules on speaking before the Council require you to sign up by 5:00 p.m. on the Friday before, and they only allow up to five speakers. Despite union presence, no one was allowed to speak because nobody knew that the resolution was coming up until Monday.

And once the committee hearing got underway, alderman pointed out - and were supported by the Legal Director - that rather than continue the discussion in the committee, they could simply introduce the resolution and call an immediate vote of the whole Council because there was no spending attached. The five alderman who ultimately voted against the resolution tried to table it, but that motion failed.

Suffice it to say, this was a pretty underhanded action. One of Rauner’s staff was present and left shortly after the vote.

Comment by From the Stateline Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 9:32 am
===The Unions don’t need to win 100%,===

Here’s why.

If Rauner has retribution against towns not siding with him, trust is then lost at the local level. That’s bad.

Never put to votes that the outcome is not what’s desired when trying to gain leverage. That’s why 100% or nothing. Vite it down, governor looks weak and ineffective.

There is nothing, not one thing that’s binding. Nothing. And still, Rauner can’t get non-binding resolutions passed, what about when it matters?

Local control? Spotty “yes” or “no” areas isn’t a momentum building tool to empower locals, it’s only pitting locals versus local…for no reason.

The Unions just need to expose cracks, it’s just that simple. The organizing and keeping the Unions engaged is a losing proposition for Rauner. Why keep the Unions active? Poking the bear isn’t winning, especially not at a 100% clip.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 9:41 am
This changes exactly zero votes in the General Assembly for right-to-work.

Comment by Juvenal Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 9:42 am
I am so disappointed in Venita.

Comment by Soccermom Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 9:47 am
“Neither does Rauner. In fact his whole “let locals decide” directly implies not everyone will agree with it.”

But he needs the state as a whole to sign off on it* via the GA. Thus, this whole exercise, designed to show a groundswell of support. But it’s not. Like I said, Rockford’s a good get, and I think if he could show- I dunno, 75%?- support that would be good enough, but he’s not nearly there yet.

*- Except that when this fails, he’ll convince some locality to try to do a Kentucky-style “go it alone” strategy.

Comment by Arsenal Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 9:48 am
Insanity is no longer a medical diagnosis and hasn’t been for years. It’s only place is in criminal law.

Someone must not be a very good physician.

Comment by Anon Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 10:01 am
I think Rockford permanently lost the right to throw shade on the fiscal incompetence of other Illinois governmental entities some time ago because of their own egregious failings.

Comment by Graduated College Student Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 10:03 am
Good explaination OW, thanx!

Comment by Jack Stephens Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 10:19 am
- Jack Stephens -,

I’m glad if it helped. Much respect.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 10:31 am
Not sure how passing a resolution agreeing completely with Rauner “starts the discussion.”

Maybe it starts the discussion for more money from the state for Rockford, in someone’s mind. Sorry, not gonna happen.

Comment by walker Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 10:49 am
Rockford voted yes.
Winnebago County, which includes Rockford, did not.
So exactly who gets credit?

Comment by Scholarlyish Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 11:34 am
I wonder if all those employees at the Belvidere plant who live in Rockford will be happy with that move.

Note that on top of the car assembly, it seems like there is constant construction around that plant. That’s a lot of union construction jobs.

Comment by Gooner Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 11:36 am
Can be a political winner for Rauner purely on image. On substance, zero.

Like the Term Limits Petition Drive, to change something not legally subject to change by petition.

Comment by walker Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 11:53 am
To Scholarlyish:

Winnebago County Board endorsed Rauner’s turnaround agenda without debate, but excluded the union provisions.

Comment by Hack Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 11:59 am
“Rockford voted yes.
Winnebago County, which includes Rockford, did not.
So exactly who gets credit?”

Thus, the inanity of this exercise…

Comment by Arsenal Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 12:33 pm
- Arsenal -,

You are On It…

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 12:38 pm
Rockford Mayor Morrissey is also a vocal proponent of the muni bankruptcy law, so he’s on the team.

Comment by Wordslinger Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 2:16 pm
Rockford? That’s not any fun. I have been learning of some new small towns across our state with the usual exercise.

Comment by Precinct Captain Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 3:10 pm
Rockford has had huge challenges attempting to deal with public safety unions under the parameters set forth by the State while enduring a tough EAV environment and the loss of manufacturing in the city. It’s really no wonder the leaders would approve it. They are really hamstrung in a number of ways.

Comment by Shemp Tuesday, Apr 21, 15 @ 4:16 pm