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Today’s number: $835,000

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* Keep this in mind when you’re thinking that the Democrats are preparing to cave on union issues…

House Speaker Michael Madigan on Monday reported another $321,000 in campaign contributions to his personal campaign fund and the Democratic Party of Illinois fund. An operating engineers political fund contributed nearly $106,000 of that total, and three personal injury law firms contributed nearly $65,000. Unions and the trial lawyers are siding with the Democrats, as Republican Gov. Rauner wants to scale back collective bargaining rights and approve changes to the civil lawsuit system.

The operating engineers fund has doled out nearly $835,000 since Jan. 1, most of it to Democratic lawmakers. One of the law firms, Power Rogers & Smith, has given nearly $95,000 in the same period. Corboy & Demetrio has given around $90,000. Keefe & Keefe has given more than $115,000.

…Adding… A commenter makes a valid point…

This is about more than money. Members of organized labor live in these districts, attend our functions, know the issues in a very personal and technical manner, and have the same philosophy on the issues as Dem lawmakers.

They are not only members of the same team, but have been for decades.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Nov 17, 15 @ 10:20 am

Comments

As Rich pointed out in a column last week, the governor has done a remarkable job of healing the hard feelings among Dems and the public and private employee unions.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Nov 17, 15 @ 10:24 am
Come January, if Rauner can get 60/30 for decimating Prevailing Wage and Collective Bargaining, the governor will still need 12 more House Democrats to join the Raunerite Dunkin, and 10 Senate Democrats to concur…

… along with the Speaker and the President calling those bills.

The monies are for the fight(s) against IllinoisGO and the Turnaround Agenda PAC, and Rauner’s own committee.

The first hurdle for Rauner is the 60/30 hurdle, the next prong is “Fire Madigan, 2.0″

Nothing is showing me Madigan will back down.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Nov 17, 15 @ 10:25 am
This is about more than money. Members of organized labor live in these districts, attend our functions, know the issues in a very personal and technical manner, and have the same philosophy on the issues as Dem lawmakers.

They are not only members of the same team, but have been for decades.

Comment by Tom B. Tuesday, Nov 17, 15 @ 10:30 am
In Colorado recently, the three GOP Jefferson County school district reformers trying to enact anti-union reforms, were handily defeated by union voters. Big turnout, big defeat.

It is one thing to be anti-union when citizens are prosperous and quite another to do it when citizens are clinging to any help they can get. You don’t kick citizens when they are down, and claim you are kicking them for their own good. Rauner was supremely foolish for his RTW stunt, but then - every day is a good day when you are as rich as Rauner, right?

Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Nov 17, 15 @ 10:30 am
Because who wouldn’t want to be associated with personal injury law firms? They have some of the best commercial jingles going right now.

Comment by nixit71 Tuesday, Nov 17, 15 @ 10:33 am
What happened to the consent of the governed ?

Comment by IlliniChuck Tuesday, Nov 17, 15 @ 10:36 am
Rich, I can not open the following link:
Keep this in mind when you’re thinking that the Democrats are preparing to “cave on union issues”…

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Nov 17, 15 @ 10:41 am
Nixit - in a few judicial races in the Metro East and for Jay Hoffman in 2010, those kinds of contributions hung like an albatross around several necks.

Comment by Team Sleep Tuesday, Nov 17, 15 @ 10:41 am
=== Tom B - “Members of organized labor live in these districts” ==

The facts tell a different story …In 2014, union members accounted for 15.1 percent of wage and salary workers in Illinois, compared with 15.8 percent in 2013, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. This points to the undue influence that labor wields in Springfield.

Comment by IlliniChuck Tuesday, Nov 17, 15 @ 10:46 am
===This points to the undue influence that labor wields in Springfield.===

No Chuck, this points to the difference between “workers” and “organized” labor. What do you think the “organized” part of that means?

Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Nov 17, 15 @ 10:48 am
Anonymous is me. My nickname keeps getting turned off. Rich, is there a solution?

Comment by Mama Tuesday, Nov 17, 15 @ 10:49 am
–What happened to consent of the governed?–

What do you mean? Are these union members from Mars?

If you’re concerned about “undue influence” from those outside of Illinois, you might want to check the governor’s D-2s. Lot of New York, Florida, California and Texas money.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Nov 17, 15 @ 10:52 am
@Illinichuck

=The facts tell a different story …In 2014, union members accounted for 15.1 percent of wage and salary workers in Illinois, compared with 15.8 percent in 2013, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. This points to the undue influence that labor wields in Springfield.=

and in increasing numbers, those in the unions are coerced into joining through public sector oppression to be able to have a public job. I’d guess about 40% of those have little love for the unions they were forced to join.

Comment by Arizona Bob Tuesday, Nov 17, 15 @ 10:55 am
This is why I’m dubious about any compromise including a significant anti union component.

Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Nov 17, 15 @ 10:58 am
Not to mention we aren’t going to bus toss them for the “benefit” of voting for a tax increase. An executable budget isn’t a gift to Dems.

Comment by Conn Smythe Tuesday, Nov 17, 15 @ 10:59 am
@wordslinger ===If you’re concerned about “undue influence” from those outside of Illinois, you might want to check the governor’s D-2s. Lot of New York, Florida, California and Texas money==

For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Citizens United in action !!

Comment by IlliniChuck Tuesday, Nov 17, 15 @ 11:01 am
@Vanilla, I totally agree with you on Rauner’s RTW campaign. It’s not exactly ancient history that many Union households were upset with the Democrats. Madigan pushed a pension reform bill that would have diminished pensioned by about 30% over 20 years and more than a few Democrats voted for that. Now, thanks to Rauner’s strategic blunder, he’s galvanized all the Unions and driven them back to the Democrats. Union folks who refused to vote for Quinn will vote against Democrats who desert them to compromise with the GOP, even if the result is electing a Republican who is more anti Union.

Comment by The Dude Abides Tuesday, Nov 17, 15 @ 11:03 am
==”The Illinois AFL-CIO endorsed Judy Baar Topinka and we supported her,” Carrigan said. “We believe Susana Mendoza will stand with working families and against the Rauner anti-worker agenda.”==
I am in shock! The union does not know Mendoza is in Rauner’s pocket???

Comment by Mama Tuesday, Nov 17, 15 @ 11:10 am
Gee, Chuck, I don’t think physics really has anything to do with it.

But I guess your concern about the “consent of the governed” comes and goes.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Nov 17, 15 @ 11:10 am
“I’d guess about 40% of those have little love for the unions they were forced to join.” And I’d guess that 0% of those were “forced” to join anything.

Comment by Skeptic Tuesday, Nov 17, 15 @ 11:14 am
About the ‘Fire MJM 2.0′…Rauner team ran House GOP 2014 races & came up with zip. Next up is a bluer presidential year. Can you name more nervous H Dem members or H GOP members? I think more GOPers are much more nervous.

Comment by Fan Tuesday, Nov 17, 15 @ 11:15 am
=== The union does not know Mendoza is in Rauner’s pocket??? ===

You can’t be serious

Comment by Anonymouth Tuesday, Nov 17, 15 @ 11:20 am
Rauner has that kind of juice laying on the bed side table!

Comment by anon Tuesday, Nov 17, 15 @ 11:21 am
It’s not exactly ancient history that many Union households were upset with the Democrats.

Rauner won because of Quinn’s error. Then Rauner does what he does so well - doubled down on the dumb by taking that union support and making anti-union policies his top goal during his first year in office.

Who could be so stupid that they would turn upon the very voter base that got them elected - what - eleven days after inauguration?

A week into this governor’s administration and he blew up his own campaign promises, and united the divided union support that helped him defeat Quinn. Rauner has been such a political clod he has Pat Quinn thinking that Illinoisans would want him and Betsy back in that decaying Mansion.

We say that nothing builds a union better than bad bosses and no one has been a worse boss governor that Bruce Rauner.

Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Nov 17, 15 @ 11:21 am
“This is about more than money. Members of organized labor live in these districts, attend our functions, know the issues in a very personal and technical manner, and have the same philosophy on the issues as Dem lawmakers.”

Great points. I’m of a good mind to contact my Democratic reps and ask them to oppose limitations to collective bargaining. I think it’s not appropriate that Rauner gets this concession, after the ways he’s been going after unions, his personal feelings about them and his goal of beating them down or wiping them out.

Rauner is not calling for any extra sacrifice for himself and other very wealthy Illinoisans. Republicans won’t vote for the millionaire surcharge. It could pass and eventually be enacted if enough people get behind it.

Comment by Grandson of Man Tuesday, Nov 17, 15 @ 11:24 am
==Can you name more nervous H Dem members or H GOP members?==

I can name more nervous Dems. But I guess the things about a supermajority are 1) it has more members in the first place and 2) some of those members necessarily hold swing seats.

Comment by Arsenal Tuesday, Nov 17, 15 @ 11:43 am
==those in the unions are coerced into joining through public sector oppression==

Well, that’s ridiculous hyperbole. I wasn’t aware people were forced to take any job. The argument of “forced unionization” is just plain silly. If you don’t like unions then don’t take a job where unionization exists. It’s really that simple.

Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Nov 17, 15 @ 11:46 am
Feb 24 2014 https://capitolfax.com/2014/02/24/labor-hitting-the-boxes-on-rauner/#comment-11438892

==Rauner is the only candidate who could make Quinn look even semi-palatable to unions once again.

I do not envy the choices of labor voters if it comes down to Quinn and Rauner in November.==

Comment by Formerly Known As... Tuesday, Nov 17, 15 @ 12:00 pm
When one person self finances at $26 million, and is joined by a small handful of other billionaires in an effort (successful so far) to threaten lawmakers with tens of millions of dollars and paralyze the government, then you have a story. The groups in the above story are progressive minded, and support like-minded candidates. That’s what political contribution is about.

Comment by out of touch Tuesday, Nov 17, 15 @ 12:44 pm
=This points to the undue influence that labor wields in Springfield. =

Just curious to learn how you feel about the influence of the super wealthy, you know the billionaire class?

Less than 1% of our population wielding a huge amount of influence. Thoughts? Think they are in it to fight for your rights?

Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Nov 17, 15 @ 12:52 pm
- out of touch -,

That’s the ball game.

Well said.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Nov 17, 15 @ 12:56 pm
Perspective?

The Labor Movement and Social Service groups and their advocates are giving a face to the Raunerite wants, and how it will decimate the Social Services (in places it hasn’t already) and how requiring people make less money and can’t negotiate, no matter your Union… Those two groups know the ILGOP isn’t the place to find help.

Rauner took over the ILGOP and the GOP GA. Making the members under Rauner’s thumb a target is on Bruce Rauner, not on the Labor Movement struggling to stay afloat, or the Social Services struggling to stay around.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Nov 17, 15 @ 1:02 pm
So how does the ILGOP find redemption and atonement after the deal with the Devil at the crossroads? Can they make a stand for “welfare to work” programs that they once championed? Is it too late go back to that? Can they go back to leaner more efficient government instead of embracing “no goverment-no services”, consultants only? Can they embrace dialog and compromise instead of striving to “see my enemies driven before me and the lamentations of their women”? I just don’t see how the ILGOP, which is necessary to preserve our democracy, can find redemption and atonement. I don’t see the way back.

Comment by Honeybear Tuesday, Nov 17, 15 @ 2:12 pm
- Honeybear -,

Very respectfully;

===I just don’t see how the ILGOP, which is necessary to preserve our democracy, can find redemption and atonement. I don’t see the way back.===

There’s always a way back. Always.

That’s the politics. I hope for the GOP GA. I do. Every day.

No one is paying attention, so …between us… I am as I am with the GOP GA because I care for them… and I know… there’s always a way to make good on what can be made good.

I agree with the GOP GA 80% of the time. It’s the Raunerite Ideals that are putting them in harms way. How do I know there is hope?

The “Yellow” buttons tell me so.

It’s up to them to find the road. They are. They will. I know it.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Nov 17, 15 @ 2:44 pm
What used to sound like big numbers in campaign accounts just don’t any more.

Comment by walker Tuesday, Nov 17, 15 @ 3:24 pm
$835,000 pales when compared to the war chest of $34 million that Rauner controls.

Comment by Joe M Tuesday, Nov 17, 15 @ 3:30 pm
===$835,000 pales when compared to===

Which is why it’s so important.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Nov 17, 15 @ 3:32 pm
Yellow buttons….wow….my God you’re right. That DOES give me hope. So now the search for life rafts and escape routes. Hmmmm…much to think about. AND now I am with child to look at certain Reps voting records. Anyone know of a user friendly site to check that?

Comment by Honeybear Tuesday, Nov 17, 15 @ 4:01 pm
“Anyone know of a user friendly site to check that?” Try Capitol Fax

Comment by Mama Tuesday, Nov 17, 15 @ 4:32 pm