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Today’s quotable

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* Heh…

To state Rep. Reginald “Reggie” Phillips (R-District 110), House Bill 580 “was a disastrous bill.”

The bill was a second attempt to steer contract negotiations between the state and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) to binding arbitration – a move Republicans said sought to strip Gov. Bruce Rauner of his authority to negotiate on behalf of voters who elected him. […]

“I’ve sat on the Labor and Commerce Board and said, ‘Hey, what is in your bill. How much are you actually asking for?’” Phillips said. “When you say the governor is not reasonable, what are you asking for? Give us an outline.’”

Instead, a union official who came to the floor instructed Phillips to read about the bill on Capitol Fax, which didn’t sit well with Phillips.

“I said, ‘I don’t want to read it on Capitol Fax. Sir, don’t you know what you are asking for? Can’t you send a letter to all of us Republicans so we can see (why) the governor is unreasonable?’ He said, ‘I’ll get it to you representative.’ Never sent me a thing,” Phillips said. “So what does that tell you? He knew what they were asking for was unreasonable.”

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Jun 8, 16 @ 1:59 pm

Comments

What’s “unreasonable” is a legislator that doesn’t want to read Capitol Fax. Amiright?!

Comment by Bull Moose Wednesday, Jun 8, 16 @ 2:02 pm
Quite the logical leap from Rep. Phillips. Maybe he’ll open his emails and post box for us to see?

Comment by Precinct Captain Wednesday, Jun 8, 16 @ 2:03 pm
Bravo Mr. Phillips. Keep asking, that is what we elected you to do.

Comment by allknowingmasterofracoondom Wednesday, Jun 8, 16 @ 2:05 pm
My reply to Reggie would have been, “Have you read the bill, sir???”

Comment by Anon221 Wednesday, Jun 8, 16 @ 2:06 pm
When EIU “closes”…

I do hope Rep. Phillips doesn’t learn about on Capitol Fax.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jun 8, 16 @ 2:08 pm
Sigh . . . and this is the person who represents my area of the state. He is a joke - and a bad one at that. My plan is vote for his opponent - even if it’s Mickey Mouse.

Comment by East Central Illinois Wednesday, Jun 8, 16 @ 2:11 pm
Reggie and all the others voting against the bill essentially voted for allowing the Governor to hold the state workforce hostage versus separating the issue from politics. Past Governors have not been this egocentric, thus the legislative need to take it away from him…but of course the ILGOP are sock puppets to him now.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jun 8, 16 @ 2:11 pm
I guess if it had been referenced by IPI or another “reputable” source he would have willingly spent the time to read it. Lame excuses are no justification for any member of the GA shirking their responsibility.

Comment by illini Wednesday, Jun 8, 16 @ 2:12 pm
I think some Republicans could have been won over if AFSCME made more of a case of what would happen if state workers went on strike or were locked out. Republicans aren’t blind, they can see the devastation being wrought due to lack of funding to human service providers, but if AFSCME could have clearly illustrated why HB 580 was needed in terms of what happens when state offices are closed.

I was hoping this time around with HB 580 some wise legislator would realize maybe some compromise could be made, for example letting agency heads identify key positions to prohibit from striking and be subject to interest arbitration.

Comment by Jon Wednesday, Jun 8, 16 @ 2:13 pm
Reggie, stop shoveling it. My boots only go so high.

Comment by Norseman Wednesday, Jun 8, 16 @ 2:15 pm
Great comments…..from public employees who belong to unions….

Comment by allknowingmasterofracoondom Wednesday, Jun 8, 16 @ 2:20 pm
The State workforce has held the citizens hostage for far too long.

Comment by Tone Wednesday, Jun 8, 16 @ 2:20 pm
- allknowingmasterofracoondom -

I’m not a state worker, public employee or in any of those unions.

Your “get off my lawn” ignorance is noted.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jun 8, 16 @ 2:21 pm
Jon, AFSCME talked with every single Legislator about SB1229 and HB580. Correction every legislator that would talk to us. We asked to speak to every single legislator. This is just yet more “salesmanship” as my peer calls it. They are ramping up for the big assault in September.

We’re not going to overcome their “salesmanship” so it’s almost irrelevant to discuss it. This is just a dog whistle to whip up the people who want justification for the oppression of state employees. That’s all it is.

Comment by Honeybear Wednesday, Jun 8, 16 @ 2:22 pm
Rep. Reginald “Reggie” Phillips, why haven’t you read the bill? Isn’t that your job? After all, you do work for the PEOPLE, not Rauner.

Comment by Cimbada Wednesday, Jun 8, 16 @ 2:22 pm
The bill is the bill, it is AFSCME that claims Rauner is being “unreasonable”, Phillips is asking what they think is “unreasonable”. I don’t think the bill spells out what AFSCME claims to be unreasonable.

Keep asking Reggie. Cue the crickets because what is reasonable to the chosen few is everything and anything they ask for.

Comment by allknowingmasterofracoondom Wednesday, Jun 8, 16 @ 2:22 pm
- allknowingmasterofracoondom -

I have lived in this area for most of my life, never has a representative from our district done so much to be so DISASTROUS to our own district than Reggie. He is a puppet for Rauner. I am not a Madigan fan, nor a Rauner fan, but I do support East Central Illinois and EIU, for that matter. Reggie has not been kind to his own district nor his constituents.

Comment by East Central Illinois Wednesday, Jun 8, 16 @ 2:25 pm
The unions need to tell us what they are asking for? If it was fair we would all know what they want. The governor has the right to negotiate on be half of the taxpayers. No independent arbitrator is necessary. The state is flat broke. Spending is a big issue.

Comment by Dandy Edward Wednesday, Jun 8, 16 @ 2:26 pm
Shouldn’t he already know what the outline is/was? After all, he’s an elected representative in the heart of Illinois politics…

Comment by Shanks Wednesday, Jun 8, 16 @ 2:29 pm
Ow - my response seemed to have disappeared. Your comment is unique - because you are neither of those two things. And because you follow issues closely without the bias of being one of those two things.

As far as my lawn? Yea, keep off of it.

Comment by allknowingmasterofracoondom Wednesday, Jun 8, 16 @ 2:30 pm
OW-

Just curious, were you once a government employee and/or union member? Are you now collecting a state pension?

Comment by Robert the 1st Wednesday, Jun 8, 16 @ 2:32 pm
….”your ‘get off my lawn’ ignorance is noted”.

OW, with all due respect, your “I’m the sharpest, most informed commenter here, keep off this blog” style is noted. Just saying.

As for Reggie P., bull meets china no doubt. Though sitting on House Labor can be a bitter lesson in Hoffman’s dismissive style, for a Republican….especially newbies.

ND

Comment by Nick Danger Wednesday, Jun 8, 16 @ 2:33 pm
Rep. Phillips continues to live up to his reputation.

Comment by Archiesmom Wednesday, Jun 8, 16 @ 2:34 pm
Seems like he was asking important questions but wasn’t getting very good replies. I like when politicians ask good questions.

Comment by Maximus Wednesday, Jun 8, 16 @ 2:36 pm
I am not a state employee

I am not now, nor will I be eligible or in any way get, qualify for, or in line to, receive a public pension.

Period.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jun 8, 16 @ 2:43 pm
==Past Governors have not…==

Past Governors who entered into terrible contracts that the State ended up not being able to afford.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jun 8, 16 @ 2:50 pm
–Rep. Reginald “Reggie” Phillips, why haven’t you read the bill? Isn’t that your job? After all, you do work for the PEOPLE, not Rauner.–

He wasn’t asking what was in the bill. He was asking what the Unions demands were in negotiations.

Reggie asked a good question, but from a negotiating standpoint, I understand why he wouldn’t respond.

Comment by A Modest Proposal Wednesday, Jun 8, 16 @ 2:54 pm
Wait, yesterday, the Governor told the State that it’s employees are hard workin’ and need to be paid. Please don’t halt their pay. Isn’t that the gist of it?

Are they hard workin’ folks or the moneyed elite, strangling taxpayers?

Pick a lane, Raunerites.

Comment by illini97 Wednesday, Jun 8, 16 @ 2:56 pm
Seems real simple — if you promise something to a legislator (assuming that is what happened), deliver.

Comment by Ron Burgundy Wednesday, Jun 8, 16 @ 2:58 pm
The Administration says AFSCME’s proposals would amount to $3 billion. The union says that isn’t true. What is their cost estimate on what their proposals would be? If the Administration is wrong about the $3 billion, correct the record with their actual price tag.

Seems that Rep. Phillips is asking a legitimate question.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jun 8, 16 @ 3:03 pm
My vague recollection from what was posted here in the past is that the Union’s position, as well as the Governor’s position in negotiations were well known to both sides. I’m pretty sure the Union objected to certain demands related to increased healthcare costs, bonuses awarded without any structure (possibly favoritism), and frozen pay/reduced benefits. The Governor refused to the requested step formula and annual pay increases (inflation related? I’m not sure).

My understanding of HB580 is that is merely sends the parties to arbitration in the event of an impasse instead of allowing the governor to impose his last best offer. If that’s right, then the issue is whether the governor’s last best offer is “reasonable” in the eyes of an arbitrator.

Comment by Delimma Wednesday, Jun 8, 16 @ 3:03 pm
– Reggie and all the others voting against the bill essentially voted for allowing the Governor to hold the state workforce hostage versus separating the issue from politics. –

How the government plans to spend taxpayer dollars in the future is not something that can be separated from “politics.” How much state employees earn is the business of the taxpayers and everyone else.

Comment by JB13 Wednesday, Jun 8, 16 @ 3:06 pm
===How much state employees earn is the business of the taxpayers and everyone else.===

State employees make too much?

Just say it, they are taxpayers too, don’t be afraid, say they make too much money.

Then, can we judge how much you make?

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jun 8, 16 @ 3:08 pm
I am a union member and supporter, but I believe that Afsmce’s communication, public messaging and overall strategy has significant room for improvement. Taxpayer funded entities in a democracy need to make their case, and make it well. Things were so good for so long, we/they got lazy and sloppy. Took hard-won gains for granted. Same goes for a lot of other unions and the members.

Comment by Molly Maguire Wednesday, Jun 8, 16 @ 3:08 pm
OW for the slam dunks..

Comment by Slippin' Jimmy Wednesday, Jun 8, 16 @ 3:15 pm
I don’t believe state employees make too much money, in fact I think many are underpaid.

What I think is the gaurantee that a pension, with health benefits is too much money.

The chosen few.

There I said it OW! Even though you didn’t ask me….

Comment by allknowingmasterofracoondom Wednesday, Jun 8, 16 @ 3:19 pm
And yes OW, you can judge how much I make…just as soon as you start paying my salary.

Comment by allknowingmasterofracoondom Wednesday, Jun 8, 16 @ 3:21 pm
Allknowing…. do you work for a publicly owned company? Maybe OW owns shares. Do you work for a company that sells goods and services? If so, maybe OW is a customer and does pay your salary. Who knows?

I find it odd that pensions and healthcare were commonplace when a household could survive on one salary, but are more rare these days when two salaries barely can keep a family afloat.

Comment by Delimma Wednesday, Jun 8, 16 @ 3:29 pm
allknowing

We DO pay your salary- we buy products or services from you or your employer, and your salary is part of the price. For example, State Farm pays their employees, that’s part of the insurance bill they send

Comment by Thoughts Matter Wednesday, Jun 8, 16 @ 3:29 pm
===What I think is the gaurantee that a pension, with health benefits is too much money.===

Pesky Constitution.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jun 8, 16 @ 3:37 pm
Delimma - no, I own my own company, do not work for a public company. And being a customer is different than being a taxpayer. A tax payer really has no choice but to pay taxes, and to die of course.

A customer has a choice to buy, not buy, or buy from someone else.

And yes, yesteryears employment culture could be argued to be much better than todays. But only a chosen few remain on that program - public employees. The rest of us pay taxes (as they do), but have to plan and pay for our own retirement and health care.

Thoughts Matter - I can’t even to begin to address your comment. I will just assume you are joking. Or see my comment above.

Comment by allknowingmasterofracoondom Wednesday, Jun 8, 16 @ 3:42 pm
A reminder for the folks suggesting Rep Phillips is just asking ‘reasonable questions” that deserve answers I have this reminder: https://capitolfax.com/2016/02/18/fun-with-numbers-44/
Does anyone really think the thing that stood between AFSCME getting this guys vote was the 2 seconds it would have taken to forward this?

Comment by Bibe Wednesday, Jun 8, 16 @ 3:43 pm
==Pesky Constitution==

OW - didn’t say it was not legal, just too much. And I think it should be removed from the constitution. That pesky document that is supposed to work for all people, yet in this case works only for - The chosen few.

Comment by allknowingmasterofracoondom Wednesday, Jun 8, 16 @ 3:54 pm
Phillips’ question is perfectly reasonable. But if he was really serious about looking into the legislation, he would ask Rauner about what is unreasonable about AFSCME’s position and i why he thinks an arbitrator would consider AFSCME’s overall position more reasonable than his.

Comment by Whatever Wednesday, Jun 8, 16 @ 4:06 pm
“- allknowingmasterofracoondom - Wednesday, Jun 8, 16 @ 3:42 pm:”

Rauner, you are so obvious.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jun 8, 16 @ 4:12 pm
allknowing @ 3:19 ==I don’t believe state employees make too much money, in fact I think many are underpaid.

What I think is the gaurantee that a pension, with health benefits is too much money.

The chosen few.==

And the ones you’re complaining about are a lot fewer (and less costly) than you seem to think. Only about 22% of the underfunding in the state pension funds is for state employees, including those represented by AFSCME in the deadlocked negotiations. 55% is for teachers, and 25% is for university, and the rest is judges and general assembly.

Comment by Whatever Wednesday, Jun 8, 16 @ 4:19 pm
Reggie’s question cannot be answered in its entirely because AFSCME had not reached a ‘best and final’ offer when Rauner arbitrarily declared an impasse. Hard to provide a specific dollar figure when one side was still negotiating. Yes, Rauner has the right to bargain for the taxpayers but he also has an OBLIGATION to do so in good faith.

Comment by Cubs in '16 Wednesday, Jun 8, 16 @ 4:21 pm
Sorry gang…anonymous was me at 2:11…

“Past Governors who entered into terrible contracts that the State ended up not being able to afford.”

What, you just move here from Mississippi? Like I said…ALL the past Governors, mope…and now you don’t like ANY of them??? So ALL of the past deals - ratified and legitimized into appropriations by the legislature are now bad??? Yeah, okay…sure. But once again, let me remind you that no, zero, ziltch, nada none of the State’s workforce miss ANY payment into retirement or the AAI or healthcare. The clear slouches have been the Legislative and Executive branch…period…yet they as taxpayers too will have to bail them out - again.

Comment by Captain Illini Wednesday, Jun 8, 16 @ 4:22 pm
My dilemma with the question is that it seems to ask for the union’s best and final offer. They can’t give that in the middle of negotiations.

Maybe the GA could request each sides best and final and then vote for arbitration. Sorry, silly thought. Would be too transparent and requires trust.

Comment by Last Bull Moose Wednesday, Jun 8, 16 @ 4:26 pm
I wonder where all the folks who find guarantees to state employees so problematic were when we had an opportunity to vote for a new Constitutional Convention a few years back?

Comment by Mike from Blue Grass Wednesday, Jun 8, 16 @ 4:45 pm
If Reggie is so wrong why have several other unions come to the table and negotiated a deal? Generally if a GA member asks for information the association union or lobbyist for them is under some understood agreement to provide it even if it is with there slant. As for the arbitration issue if the law passes Impasse will be declared early and often and likely not by the management side. Arbitrators do not have to consider the ability of the entity to pay only that which they think is fair. If they rule for a 5% increase its shut up and pay.

Comment by the Cardinal Wednesday, Jun 8, 16 @ 5:24 pm
I don’t know how to find it but there was a very detailed back and forth on capfax quite some ago with both sides figures. As I recall the Union’s point is that its not 3 bazillion in an increase, but rather a large chunk of the “increase” would in fact be realized only with them giving up quite a bit of what they have now.

Comment by burbanite Wednesday, Jun 8, 16 @ 5:58 pm
===If Reggie is so wrong why have several other unions come to the table and negotiated a deal?===

AFSCME haven’t been offered the same deals.

Why? Use the search key and keep up with what’s going on.

Tired talking points.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jun 8, 16 @ 6:01 pm
Sorry, deleted too much of my post -
I can choose not to do business with you if I dislike you, your policies, or your prices. Your prices for your goods/services include ….

Comment by thoughts matter Wednesday, Jun 8, 16 @ 6:11 pm
I worked for the state for 36 yrs, starting in the union and retiring as a non-union employee (i.e., I’ve seen both sides). I retired (from a large agency) primarily because the union would not let me do my job. I totally agree with Rauner that AFSCME is out of control.

Comment by Soccertease Wednesday, Jun 8, 16 @ 11:03 pm
All knowing… Just a few more questions for you. You say you are business owner. Do you transact any business with the State? What type of business do you own? Have you ever received special financing from the State or Federal Government? Are there any special tax credits or exemptions unique to your industry. Does your business produce anything? If so, do your employees make above $15 dollars an hour? Are you a partner of a private equity firm or manage hedge funds?

Comment by Triple fat Thursday, Jun 9, 16 @ 9:20 am