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* Once again, the Tribune editorial board enthusiastically backs Rauner’s “reforms” without actually mentioning what they are…
Rauner is thinking long-term: If Illinois doesn’t restore economic growth and rising incomes, legacy costs will continue to strangle this state’s 7,000 governments. Empowering those governments to control their own costs is one way to give them a chance of survival in the form their constituents expect. Tax hikes will drive even more employers and other taxpayers to more competitive states.
* I’m not sure which Democrats they’re talking to, but maybe they’re part of IllinoisGO…
And some Dems wary of Rauner’s effort to permit local right-to-work zones admit privately that the unions may have to relent: Four of the six states bordering Illinois — Indiana, Iowa, Michigan and Wisconsin — now are right-to-work states, poaching businesses from jobs-starved Illinois.
* More…
Until now the survival strategy at CPS, City Hall and elsewhere has been to beg help from Springfield, duck cost reforms and keep borrowing by the billions. But the credit markets, which already charge huge interest penalties to indebted governments here, won’t let that go forever.
Not yet, as Crain’s reports today. People keep predicting the return of the bond vigilantes, but that return is nowhere in sight.
* Final Trib graf…
At some point — maybe now — Democratic leaders have to decide: Will we keep blocking reforms that would cut government costs? Or will we tell our union allies the truth? We can compromise to rescue failing governments. Or we can let them, and many union jobs, implode.
No doubt that compromise is what we need. But that means real and true compromise, not anti-union legislation.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Aug 10, 15 @ 10:40 am
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” If Illinois doesn’t restore economic growth and rising incomes,”
Can someone explain to me how Right To Work For Less raises incomes for anyone but the employers?
Bruce Bartlett, the architect of Regan’s “Trickle Down Economics” has admitted for years that Supply Side Trickle Down is a detriment to the overall economy and destroys the Middle Class.
Comment by Gruntled University Employee Monday, Aug 10, 15 @ 10:49 am
@EditBoardChick - my hero Rauner’s job is destroying unions, otherwise, what’s the use of doing his other job? #Simple
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Aug 10, 15 @ 10:53 am
One persons “reform” is the other persons rat poison.
Comforting buzz words from the trib, left over from the campaign trail.
When was the last time the leaders met with Rauner? No negotiations. No plan. No progress.
Comment by Langhorne Monday, Aug 10, 15 @ 10:53 am
What exactly is there to compromise on?
Rauner himself introduced a budget that requires more revenue to pay for it.
The changes he’s suggesting or not budgetary and are unwanted by the body politic.
Comment by Anon Monday, Aug 10, 15 @ 11:02 am
The Tribune seems to be afflicted with the same disease as Rauner. They offer up the populist view that we need “reform” but lack the courage to describe what those reforms are nor do they make the connection on how those reforms will lead to a more vibrant state economy.
Comment by pundent Monday, Aug 10, 15 @ 11:08 am
How many jobs have the Tribune editorial board members created? Why am I supposed to be listening to them? It’s certainly not because of the power of their bankrupt ideology.
Comment by Precinct Captain Monday, Aug 10, 15 @ 11:14 am
When Rod tried to sell the GRT, a horrendously bad idea, he at least went full bore on it. He hired consultants, health care policy wonks and dug into the details. He even personally testified on a panel in front of the House (AKA the lion’s den for him). Obviously, since he was selling it, the facts and story had a slant but Rod owned the idea.
That’s a stark difference from Bruce. Whether you agree with Rauner or not, you cant say he has owned the anti-union part of his agenda like a Gov should own his central demand.
Comment by Abe the Babe Monday, Aug 10, 15 @ 11:19 am
I’m surprised they haven’t pulled out the old “Nothing else is working, so let’s just give this a try!” argument yet.
Comment by Tournaround Agenda Monday, Aug 10, 15 @ 11:19 am
Well Tribune, there’s your answer, if the state’s 7,000 governments can’t survive in Illinois without RTW, those governments should just move to Indiana. Illinois could do well without all those levels of government and perhaps those governments would serve a useful purpose over in Indiana.
I have driven on some of Indiana’s pathetically bad roads, so I would be happy to donate my local road commissioner to Indiana.
Comment by A Jack Monday, Aug 10, 15 @ 11:20 am
Rich,
Readers might have noticed that in your last article you criticized Rauner’s reforms as “extreme” and “anti-union” without describing what any of them are.
“As you know, the governor has refused to negotiate a budget until the Democrats accede to his demands to essentially neuter the power of labor unions. The Democrats won’t ever back down from his more radical proposals, including forbidding schoolteachers from negotiating their own salaries.”
Neuter the power of unions? How about torts, term limits, maps, work comp, and term limits. Did you forget about those, or did the throwaway sentence at the end do them justice?
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20150808/NEWS02/150809875/in-springfield-no-ones-winning-if-no-ones-governing
Comment by Grendal Drendall Monday, Aug 10, 15 @ 11:20 am
The Tribune editorial board is locked inside the Rauner bubble and they can’t see outside it since his election. His obsession has become theirs.
Comment by Wensicia Monday, Aug 10, 15 @ 11:23 am
===Readers might have noticed that in your last article you criticized Rauner’s reforms as “extreme” and “anti-union” without describing what any of them are.===
And then you go on to quote me saying what one of them is.
Don’t be a moron.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Aug 10, 15 @ 11:24 am
Oh, wait. I see where you’re posting from now.
I suppose I shoulda known.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Aug 10, 15 @ 11:26 am
The wimps in the ivory tower on Michigan Avenue should grow a collective spine, and actually write an editorial why they think teachers should not be able to negotiate work rules and wages. They should have the guts to write that they agree with the Gov, that school boards should be able to order teachers to work 12 hour days with no breaks , and for whatever the Board says they should be paid. And of course the Trib will also be for excluding school superintendents from the same rules. COME ON TRIBBIES GROW SOME SND JUST COME OUT AND SAY IT!!’
Comment by Wow Monday, Aug 10, 15 @ 11:26 am
I just need to know one thing about Rauner’s attack on unions. Is he doing this because he wants so badly to bust up unions that he spent his own money to be governor or is it because of promises he made to those few 1%ers who contributed so much to his campaign?
Comment by Makandadawg Monday, Aug 10, 15 @ 11:36 am
Rich, was he posting from Tribune Tower?
Comment by Tournaround Agenda Monday, Aug 10, 15 @ 11:38 am
@11:36 am ==I just need to know one thing about Rauner’s attack on unions.
Is he doing this because he wants so badly to bust up unions that he spent his own money to be governor
or is it because of promises he made to those few 1%ers who contributed so much to his campaign?==
Yes to both reasons. But most of all it’s about the billions in profits that this will bring to the corporations when they privatize public schools, prisons, and airports. Lower wages for workers will provide those profits but it wont lower the cost of these services.
Comment by Enviro Monday, Aug 10, 15 @ 12:04 pm
– Four of the six states bordering Illinois — Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, and Wisconsin….—
Talk about burying the lede.
It seems like it was just yesterday that only five states bordered Illinois, and Michigan wasn’t one of them.
That Rauner sure is shaking things up, like tectonic plate shifting.
Seriously, this Tribbie crew is beyond embarrassment. Something that ignorant makes it through the Big Brain Bruce editing process?
No one caught that?
You really think you have something important to say when you’re that demonstrably stupid?
Comment by Wordslinger Monday, Aug 10, 15 @ 12:22 pm
Right on the money, the state has to delverage- killing unions accomplishes nothing.
Comment by Liberty Monday, Aug 10, 15 @ 12:24 pm
Repeating…no such thing as “right to work”.
It. Doesn’t. Exist.
Comment by Jack Stephens Monday, Aug 10, 15 @ 12:45 pm
I’m generally with you Word, but consult Illinois’ border in the middle of Lake Michigan. Illinois extends into the water too….
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Aug 10, 15 @ 3:24 pm
Wonderin’ if the Tirbbies are so goofy cause they work for a anti union/non union company that was destroyed by Zell the his bandits and they are bitter so they want to make rest IL as miserable?
Comment by Anonin' Monday, Aug 10, 15 @ 4:07 pm
Someone please remind the Tribies that the Dems in the legislature recently went against their Union allies in a major way when they passed pension reform. When is the last time GOP legislators crossed a similar “line-in-the-sand” drawn by one of their core constituencies?
Comment by Madison Monday, Aug 10, 15 @ 4:22 pm
I agree with Wordslinger on states that border Illinois. Lake Michigan is on our northeast border, but not the state of Michigan. Check the map.
Comment by Enviro Monday, Aug 10, 15 @ 4:54 pm
Are there right-to-work alewives across the Illinois-Michigan “border” in the middle of the lake?
Comment by Wordslinger Monday, Aug 10, 15 @ 4:59 pm
As I’m sure everyone knows Rauner and Zell are buddies (members of the exclusive 1% club) and these spoon fed editorials are going to continue as long as Rauner’s the Gov.
Comment by MJB Monday, Aug 10, 15 @ 5:03 pm
Well, so far, the union backed Asian carp haven’t crossed “the border” into Michigan waters.
Comment by Wensicia Monday, Aug 10, 15 @ 6:21 pm
Aleta see- forget about reform and keep eating our seed corn as if the sun will come out tomorrow. Don’t any of you recognize that having a successful public sector requires a growing private sector which foots the bill for those of you who are employed by a government entity. For years we refused to recognize that the can could be kicked only so far. Now we are truly robbing the future to pay for the past What better example is there other then laying off hundreds of active teachers to pay for retiree benefits. For those of you who continue bashing Rauner- ask yourselves where will the money come from to pay government salaries and benefits if you refuse to allow the environment for the private sector improve so companies decide to stay here and grow?
Comment by Sue Monday, Aug 10, 15 @ 8:01 pm
Bashing seems the ongoing theme - solutions always seem to take the back seat. For years we seen some groups take far more than was realistic. Now you have a very real problem of schools not being able to function while paying retirees. The prior “solutions” of a new tax or change in something are over. No one is left to borrow from. So keep up the bashing and watch and the decision be taken away. Bankruptcy here we come.
Comment by cannon649 Monday, Aug 10, 15 @ 10:02 pm
Sue:
The Governor’s anti-union proposals aren’t going to pass. Period. Time would be better spent on other things, but no, the Governor chooses to continue to focus on something that isn’t going to happen. He needs to get over it already.
Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 7:47 am
==Bankruptcy here we come.==
There’s always one in the crowd. At least make a valid argument if you are going to whine.
Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 7:49 am
Private sector unions are an important and effective voice for working citizens. Public sector unions have become our overlords - we now know that we must pay higher and higher taxes to support their retirement, which can begin at age 50. And we re told there is nothing we can do about it. Oh, and public sector unions make large campaign contributions to those with whom they negotiate benefits.
Comment by Chicago60609 Tuesday, Aug 11, 15 @ 8:37 am
Enviro: You’re the one who should check the map. The states of Illinois and Michigan “touch” in the middle of the Lake. Atop the water or at the bottom of the mud — I’ll let you take your pick. Check the map.
Comment by Anonymous Sunday, Aug 16, 15 @ 8:24 pm