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Setting the stage for today’s “right to work” vote

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Illinois

* AP…

The Illinois House is planning a vote on Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner’s proposal that would allow local governments to permit workers to opt out of unions.

Democratic Speaker Michael J. Madigan’s office says Thursday’s vote is planned even though the governor hasn’t filed a bill with the Legislature.

Rauner has spent recent months pitching city councils and business groups on the idea of local “empowerment zones.” The zones would allow voters to make union membership voluntary, rather than mandatory, at unionized workplaces in their communities.

The legislation is here.

* Sun-Times…

“Our message has been to House members that this is a very serious vote, we want to see a solid “no” vote,” said Illinois AFL-CIO president Michael T. Carrigan who represents the We Are One coalition of public unions in Illinois. Last week, House Republicans voted “present” when Madigan surprised them by putting Rauner’s social service cuts language into a bill and calling it for a vote. On Thursday, he’s expected to do the same with right to work, which is designed to undercut unions’ power.

“We’re not looking for “present” votes. Present votes are not acceptable,” Carrigan told the Chicago Sun-Times. “If there are too many absences by House members, we will look at their absences with suspicious eyes. No. It’s time to find out where an elected legislator, an elected person is on this subject.”

Sources say the governor’s office has been working behind the scenes to influence the Republican House caucus.

In recent weeks, in what is viewed as an attempted show of force by the governor, Rauner has moved hundreds of thousands of dollars into various campaign committees. That is on top of the $20 million already in Rauner’s campaign committee and millions more in a Turnaround Committee that says part of its mission is to “oppose those who stand in the way” of Rauner’s “bold and needed reforms.”

Even Republican lawmakers privately say they hope that a public vote will allow legislators to move forward on issues such as the budget and how to fund pensions.

Subscribers were told about Carrigan’s demands two days ago, and learned much more about the governor’s campaign contributions that same day, plus a behind the scenes account of the governor’s lobbying this morning.

Keep an eye on our live coverage post for updates.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 9:16 am

Comments

How can you vote on a bill that hasn’t been filed?

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 9:20 am
Snowball’s chance(0.0%)that it will pass.

Comment by DuPage Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 9:26 am
Isn’t it HB 1286?

Comment by olddog Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 9:27 am
Illinois is swimming against the trend.

http://www.nrtw.org/rtws.htm

Comment by Steve Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 9:29 am
===How can you vote on a bill that hasn’t been filed? ===

The bill is filed. Click that link

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 9:30 am
I really don’t understand why Rauner is working this one so hard. Isn’t the smart play to dismiss it as political theater that has no bearing on the eventual outcome of the Turnaround Agenda and give the Republican caucuses a free vote? What am I missing?

I also don’t understand why Republican legislators are sweating this one so much. Yes, losing union support is a serious blow, but they have at least $20 million at their back if they vote “Yes”. That’s good reason to think they’ll survive, isn’t it?

Comment by Arsenal Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 9:31 am
@ Steve-

Good.

Comment by Arsenal Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 9:32 am
In reference to the Governor’s recent campaign contributions, in which the “timing” is interesting, am I missing something?
I’ve seen very little media on these specific contributions, which seem to be nothing more than payment to vote his way (bribes). And I have seen very little on the $20M and growing Fund for campaign “coverage” (bribes).

My question is, are these campaign contributions and the whole scenario of the Governor to “buy” his votes a big deal or not? Does this rise to the level of the US Attorney interest or not a big deal?
I would think that if a registered lobbyist, a Corp. or State-wide Trade Assn. presented checks to GA members just before the floor vote, on a piece of legislation which was of major interest to them, then it could/would be viewed with “suspicion”?

Just asking?
(and I hope I didn’t violate any of the new “secret” posting rules?)

Comment by Are Ya Kiddin' Me? Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 9:33 am
=Illinois is swimming against the trend.==

And your point is? Why does it matter what others are doing? Are we to do it just because somebody else did it? That argument is ridiculous.

Comment by Demoralized Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 9:33 am
@ Demoralized

Moreover, the states we should aspire to be “like”, to the extent that there are any at all, remain non-RTWFL and show no indication of going that way in the future.

Comment by Arsenal Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 9:37 am
@Arsenal 9:31

The $20million is there only if they vote yes on all proposals of Mr. Rauner’s turnaround agenda. This is only the first one.

Comment by DuPage Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 9:38 am
@ DuPage

Right, so, vote for them all, yes?

I mean, if I’m a Republican legislator (and perish the thought, they wouldn’t even want me), and I agree with Rauner on all 10 (or 8, or 12, or whatever the # is today) and the only thing holding me back is losing union support…I mean, again, that’s serious, but the unions have yet to prove that they can beat Rauner’s money.

Don’t get me wrong, I find RTWFL an entirely odious policy, I WANT Republicans to vote against it, and failing that, get punished for voting for it. I just don’t understand why they would, or believe that they will.

Comment by Arsenal Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 9:41 am
Swimming against the trend? The nation is split evenly 25/25. We were swimming against the trend on right to carry. We are not on right to work.

Comment by John A Logan Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 9:42 am
“in what is viewed as an attempted show of force by the governor, Rauner has moved hundreds of thousands of dollars into various campaign committees…on top of the $20 million…and millions more in a Turnaround Committee…” Pay to play the old fashioned way!

Comment by School Finance Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 9:46 am
==The $20million is there only if they vote yes on all proposals of Mr. Rauner’s turnaround agenda. This is only the first one. ==

Is this the first one of a total of 10, or 8, or 6, or some other number? I’ve lost count, and I’m trying to figure out the (purely hypothetical) cost per vote in this moment of not-at-all-anything-like-vote-buying.

Comment by Agricola Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 9:46 am
== Are Ya Kiddin’ Me? - Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 9:33 am:===

The $20M fund has been pretty transparently out there since it was “not secretly” created. If you’re going to start dispensing funds (that fundraiser list is long and growing), I’m not sure it’s any different than any other group or individuals making contributions, other than the scale of this one offering help to everyone in one’s party.

I guess my key question would be, was the disbursement in the process, and then the surprise calling of this bill to coincide more closely for dramatic effect? If so, a pretty wily move by the Speaker to create some campaign mail opportunities. Truth is; that would happen anyway.

Your post implies every campaign contribution is a bribe. I guess that’s a topic for another time.

Comment by A guy Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 9:48 am
===but they have at least $20 million at their back===

Yeah, but no precinct workers.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 9:49 am
So Rauner is already applying campaign money to influence Republican caucus votes?

But is his play to solidify “Present” votes, and call it theater, or will he try to get as many “Yes” as possible?

No need for him to take an early loss. Rauner should have waited until later in his term to put RTW at the top of his priorities, since this cannot impact his fiscal 2016 budget in the least.

Steve’s point is worth remembering — the stage for this issue is national for Rauner, not just Illinois.

Comment by walker Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 9:49 am
“in what is viewed as an attempted show of force by the governor, Rauner has moved hundreds of thousands of dollars into various campaign committees…on top of the $20 million…and millions more in a Turnaround Committee…”

I don’t know whether to call that bribes - or bullying. Perhaps it needs to be called both.

Comment by Joe M Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 9:49 am
Democratically elected union officials are considered “thugs” or “union bosses” by Raunerites, I assume because they believe Union leaders intimidate members into doing whatever they want. Raunerites believe Unions shouldn’t be able to use voluntary PAC funds to support politicians who support Union causes. Hum, think our Gov will get called out on his use of intimidation and PAC $$?

Comment by nadia Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 9:52 am
- Demoralized -

Would you rather be in Wisconsin’s situation or Illinois’ pension wise?

Comment by Steve Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 9:52 am
This reminds me a bit of the days when George W. Bush used to publicly tout immigration reform, but didn’t really want a vote in Congress. What is the deal? Rauner tours the entire state saying that we must adopt right to work, but now wants GOP members in the House to vote “present.” Are you for it or against it?

Comment by Suburban Dad Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 9:53 am
Oh, and no whining that the language of the bill on RTW is still being worked out by the “working committees,” so Madigan is jumping the gun and interrupting the process. That would be patently false.

Comment by walker Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 9:54 am
===Rich Miller - Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 9:49 am:

===but they have at least $20 million at their back===

Yeah, but no precinct workers.====

Severe disadvantage in a lot of places, but not ‘none’.

Comment by A guy Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 10:00 am
This is all about the 2020 map which isn’t that far down the road. And further, 50 billionaires-50 states. That’s the real game plan.

Comment by Beenthereseenthat Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 10:00 am
Having read the bill, it appears to be a fair representation of Rauner’s right to work position. The Governor seems disingenuous to now claim that this isn’t the real language that he would want the legislature to vote on.

Comment by phocion Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 10:01 am
==Would you rather be in Wisconsin’s situation or Illinois’ pension wise?==

That’s a really weird cherry to pick, since RTWFL won’t fix the pension problem.

It’s a pretty good argument for us to adopt Wisconsin’s higher, progressive income tax system, though.

Comment by Arsenal Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 10:05 am
If this were ==”about the 2020 map”==, it would be about the 2020 map amendment.

RTW is a whole different icon, and equally worshipped.

Comment by walker Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 10:20 am
==Would you rather be in Wisconsin’s situation or Illinois’ pension wise?==

Your comment was about RTW. That is what I responded to.

And, no, I wouldn’t want to be like Wisconsin considering what they did to their workers.

Comment by Demoralized Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 10:20 am
This looks great. We need to take right to work out of our fiscal fix plans. We need to focus instead on perhaps other elements of Rauner’s agenda along with revenue increases.

Marijuana legalization looks really good right now. It would bring in a lot of tax revenue.

Thousands of workers and their allies, some of whom are in the business community or business advocates, will be sending a powerful message to Rauner and his allies that they support their unions, their way to get a better quality of life.

“Would you rather be in Wisconsin’s situation or Illinois’ pension wise?”

If Illinois was like Wisconsin income tax wise, it wouldn’t have the pension problem it has today.

Comment by Grandson of Man Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 10:31 am
Must say I like the play. Vote one way or the other, but any who vote present should be publicly castigated by whatever group that chooses.

Comment by efudd Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 10:39 am
Steve-

Wisconsin’s pensions were kept well-funded for years before RTW was passed there. Give me a break.

Comment by chi Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 10:41 am
Do I even have to contact my legislators on this one?

Oh yeah, it doesn’t matter if I contact Sen. Oberweis since the last time I met with him a couple of years ago, he pulled out an IPI sheet on how to “fix” the pension mess with 401k’s.

After he agreed with me 100% that
1. it wasn’t workers fault.
2. And pensions are different than SS (cheaper and more effective in long-term strategy).
3. And the state would have to pay more for SS + a 401k.
4. And there would have to be some real “teeth” to get the state to fund the 401k any better than the pension fund.
5. And they would still have to pay back the unfunded liability and earned benefits.

But we still needed to reform ‘em, he said.

Useless. But I guess that is essentially what any Republican legislator is in IL. Does anyone ever wonder if our Republican party and the Guv-nah have gone so far to the right because of the Dems supermajority and utter sense of uselessness? Or do they just watch too much Fox News?

Oberweis actually talked about reamortizing the debt completely, but I doubt he would say such things out loud at any IPI-sponsored events.

Back to lunch and grading papers.

Comment by exasperated teacher Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 11:45 am
Steve, can you explain that right to work/pension relationship?

Did something magical happen with Wisconsin’s pensions when they passed right to work a few weeks ago?

Comment by Wordslinger Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 12:19 pm
@Steve 9:29

You think that link might be slightly biased?

Comment by Finally Out (and now very glad to be) Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 1:01 pm
Durkin looks silly.

Comment by crazybleedingheart Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 2:41 pm
“Workgroups were created!”

He doesn’t scold very well.

Comment by crazybleedingheart Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 2:43 pm
— Finally Out (and now very glad to be) - Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 1:01 pm:

@Steve 9:29

You think that link might be slightly biased?—

Yes– I wonder who Koched up that foundation?
http://www.prwatch.org/news/2014/06/12498/who-behind-national-right-work-committee-and-its-anti-union-crusade

And yes, I know PRWatch is funded with union support.

Comment by exasperated teacher Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 2:49 pm
Dems are completely killing it (to a surprising extent). Will any Rs say anything worth listening to?!!?

Comment by crazybleedingheart Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 3:02 pm
Some very compelling stories and statements by the Democratic representatives.

Comment by NewWestSuburbanGop'er Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 3:32 pm
Democrat votes = all NO
Republican votes = all Present

Wanna bet?

Comment by NewWestSuburbanGop'er Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 3:34 pm
If anything was indicative of how ridiculous this whole thing is, it would be the singing that just occurred during “debate”.

Comment by Anonymouse Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 3:58 pm
Give ‘em hell Representative Lang!

Comment by NewWestSuburbanGop'er Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 4:04 pm
72 no, 37 present, 0 yes - yep, we all knew how that was gonna turn out!

Comment by anonymous Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 4:24 pm
“Give ‘em hell Representative Lang!”

Yes he did. He slammed the hypocrisy of unions having too much power in politics when according to him, Rauner gave $400,000 to legislators in the last week.

It was a beautiful thing to watch. There was so much passion and an absolute commitment by Democrats to reject right to work. What happened in the House is very encouraging to union members.

There were no Republican challenges of right to work on its merits, just crying that the amendment was a political stunt and distraction from budget talks.

Comment by Grandson of Man Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 4:26 pm
72 No votes - Okay, which GOP Rep voted no?

Comment by Bill White Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 4:26 pm
Republican Raymond Poe showed some guts by voting “NO”.

Comment by nadia Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 4:26 pm
God bless Raymond Poe.

Comment by State employee Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 4:28 pm
Yup, Rep. Poe

I just saw this tweet from Kristina Rasmussen

https://twitter.com/kmrasmussen/status/598959845035741184

Comment by Bill White Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 4:28 pm
“Yup, Rep. Poe

I just saw this tweet from Kristina Rasmussen”

Lol, divine justice.

Comment by Grandson of Man Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 4:33 pm
===Anonymouse - Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 3:58 pm:

If anything was indicative of how ridiculous this whole thing is, it would be the singing that just occurred during “debate”.====

In a place known for plenty of odd occurrences, this one has found a place in the top tier of really nutty. Don’t even know what to think of it.

Comment by A guy Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 4:37 pm
Looks like Madigan finally voted on something. “No,” of course.

Comment by State employee Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 4:40 pm
Now if we could just make that lawsuit go away.

Comment by Anon Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 5:22 pm
Rich,

Nothing to report today!

Thanks!
CK

Comment by Anon Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 5:27 pm
– Rauner gave representatives $400,000 in the last week–

That’s more than $10K a “present.”

Hope I get the guv as my Secret Santa this year.

Comment by Wordslinger Thursday, May 14, 15 @ 5:36 pm