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No surprise: Munger passes on IEA session

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Illinois

* Maybe she was afraid the teachers would force her to take another pop quiz…

After a math flub at the Illinois State Fair last week, Illinois Comptroller Leslie Munger skipped a scheduled endorsement session with the political arm of the Illinois Education Association, taking her out of the running for the powerful plug.

Munger, who is in a competitive race for reelection in November against City Clerk Susana Mendoza, canceled at the last minute, said Jim Reed, Illinois Education Association’s director of Governmental Affairs.

Munger also didn’t follow through on submitting a questionnaire, which the campaign initially promised. It’s a needed first step in qualifying for IEA political backing. […]

[Reed] said he offered another date and even a phone interview but she could not attend.

Munger wasn’t getting that endorsement. No way, no how. The comptroller’s race is a proxy war between the pro-union Madigan Democrats and the anti-union Rauner Republicans. So, skipping the meeting isn’t really a big deal, although Bruce Rauner did have the stones to attend an IEA endorsement session with Pat Quinn in 2014.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Aug 23, 16 @ 9:15 am

Comments

The shame of Raunerism is that Republicans that could get some Labor support can all but see that end for the foreseeable future.

That’s a shame.

I think, if pressed, I could come up with a Republican the IEA endorsed before…

And, it’s true, no way, no how Munger wasn’t going to get this endorsement, but Munger herself, from Lincolnshire, hasn’t made any break from Rauner’s anti-Union stance. If anything, Munger has made clear she supports her sponsor, and that’s admirable, dance with the one who brung ya. While a proxy war, there seems to be very little light between Munger and Rauner. I get it.

You could say…

Never mind.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Aug 23, 16 @ 9:27 am
although Bruce Rauner did have the stones to attend an IEA endorsement session with Pat Quinn in 2014.

Will the Guv have the stones in 2018?

Comment by Henry Francis Tuesday, Aug 23, 16 @ 9:27 am
When was the last time IEA endorsed a Republican against a Democrat? George Ryan? Sam McCann and Dillard have gotten large contributions from IEA recently, but only in their primaries.

Comment by City Zen Tuesday, Aug 23, 16 @ 9:36 am
===When was the last time IEA endorsed a Republican against a Democrat?===

Use the “Wayback” machine to… 2014.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Aug 23, 16 @ 9:38 am
OW I think it was the IEA that endorsed Kay last cycle AGAINST Cullen Cullen, an educator. Yep, just confirmed that. It was a real slap in the face for Cullen. Not that he would have beat Kay.

Comment by Honeybear Tuesday, Aug 23, 16 @ 9:40 am
- Honeybear -…

Think… bigger.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Aug 23, 16 @ 9:41 am
===When was the last time IEA endorsed a Republican against a Democrat?===

Either familiarize yourself with Illinois politics or leave this blog.

For crying out loud, dude, the IEA endorsed Dwight Freaking Kay in 2014, among others. It has worked hard for decades to build relationships with both sides of the aisle.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Aug 23, 16 @ 9:42 am
IEA did this to themselves in 06 when they cowardly chose to not back JBT against Blago. Why should any gopper align themselves with unions after that? If the IEA wasn’t going to back JBT against Blago, they essentially admitted they’d never back any Republican governor candidate against any Democrat ever.

Comment by T. Polk Tuesday, Aug 23, 16 @ 9:50 am
In other news: Water is wet.

Comment by Big Muddy Tuesday, Aug 23, 16 @ 9:52 am
===they essentially admitted they’d never back any Republican governor candidate against any Democrat ever===

Another person ignorant of history. The IEA backed George Ryan in 1998 http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1998-09-13/news/9809130081_1_teachers-union-iea-illinois-education-association

Either learn about politics or go somewhere else.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Aug 23, 16 @ 9:53 am
IEA membership, while not evenly split, has a sizeable portion of their membership that are staunchly GOP. That is especially true as you head south of I-80.

If I had to estimate, I would put my staff at 65% leaning GOP. But we are in a very conservative area that still has a strong Tea Party leaning.

In my opinion (just an opinion) the IEA is more politically balanced than the IFT.

Some commenters here make very broad assumptions that teachers in Illinois are all left of center politically. The truth is very different, especially as you move away from the city. Unless something has changed, DuPage county has had a GOP regional schools superintendent since forever.

The IEA does endorse and contribute to GOP candidates.

Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Aug 23, 16 @ 9:58 am
- JS Mill -

To go even further, to riff on your lead…

There was a time, not too long ago that GOP members wanted endorsements from the following, in the collars especially…

Teachers
Police - Troopers and FOP/PBPA
Fire Fighters
Trades

If a GOP candidate had those, and it was possible to get those, you had a good chance in a competitive/targeted district.

Any mix of those, you were making hay, and teachers were important for an education prong in the GOP.

Raunerism has taken the GOP off-course. Raunerism isn’t building, it’s dividing, and driving wedges. Damage has been done. It’s a shame.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Aug 23, 16 @ 10:06 am
Significant, because IEA has been the union most likely support a Republican candidate in the state, (except maybe OE 150 when both guns and a new highway bill are on the table).

This points to increasing partisanship, and a shifting Republican party.

Comment by walker Tuesday, Aug 23, 16 @ 10:07 am
That would be the wingman flying away from enemy territory.

Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Aug 23, 16 @ 10:11 am
Perhaps Munger should propose a bill requiring union endorsements ##or her reelection or legislators wouldn’t get pais.

Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Aug 23, 16 @ 10:46 am
Perhaps Munger should propose a bill requiring union endorsements for her reelection or legislators wouldn’t get paid.

Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Aug 23, 16 @ 10:48 am
Biggest endorsement gaffe IEA made was endorsing Blago twice. But for the IEA Paul Vallas might still be Governor and Illinois would be in far better shape. The only sin Vallas committed was being in charge of CPS and thus the enemy of teacher unions.

Comment by Sue Tuesday, Aug 23, 16 @ 11:08 am
Sue–IEA did endorse Blago for his first term. IEA did not endorse either candidate when Blago ran for re-election.

Vallas lost the primary election so was not a candidate in the general election.

Comment by Nearly Normal Tuesday, Aug 23, 16 @ 11:13 am
NN-Thanks- I stand corrected

Comment by Sue Tuesday, Aug 23, 16 @ 11:17 am
I think, if pressed, I could come up with a Republican the IEA endorsed before”

Judy Bar Topinka and Judy Biggert come to mind

Comment by Morty Tuesday, Aug 23, 16 @ 11:20 am
A different, but related, point: Before Rauner, even liberal university faculty had to admit that IL republicans had a better track record on supporting higher ed. Well, that’s all over now (baby blue).

Comment by X-prof Tuesday, Aug 23, 16 @ 11:32 am
I didn’t expect to see the day when all of the Springfield area GOP candidates would skip out on the AFSCME endorsement process.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Aug 23, 16 @ 12:06 pm
Unless I am mistaken, and I have not had the time to double check, Charlie Meier, in his first race for the GA was endorsed by and received serious money from both IEA and AFSCME. $20,000 from the Teachers, as I recall and significant support from AFSCME because of the pending closure of Murray Center.

Comment by illini Tuesday, Aug 23, 16 @ 1:34 pm
=== Bruce Rauner did have the stones to attend an IEA endorsement session with Pat Quinn in 2014.===

And it took stones to do so. I wonder if there had been a bit less hostility in that get together if the stones might be there now for Leslie to go.

The endorsement isn’t a jump ball this time. They’re not even pretending it is. That may not be an issue now, but it could in the future if they are perceived as being so “in the bag” in this race. IEA used to endorse a lot of DuPage GOPers. They didn’t do it because they weren’t getting support. They might want to at least appear more thoughtful.

Comment by A guy Tuesday, Aug 23, 16 @ 2:20 pm
I would bet the IEA endorsed Topinka.

Repeatedly.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Tuesday, Aug 23, 16 @ 4:24 pm
YDD, I think they endorsed her more than once in the GA, and at least once for Treasurer and Comptroller.

I’m no political expert, but I would have gone through the motions and participated in their process in hopes of building a bit of goodwill down the road.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Tuesday, Aug 23, 16 @ 4:56 pm
“wonder if there had been a bit less hostility in that get together”

I was in the room when Rauner and Quinn did their Q&A session- it wasn’t particulary hostile.

Still, Rauner was willing to address an unfavorable crowd and say things that he know (or should have known) weren’t going to go over well.

I’ll give him that.

Comment by Morty Tuesday, Aug 23, 16 @ 5:42 pm
Due to Raunerism, Leslie might as well pack her bags, start sending out resume’s to the private sector, as it as good as over for most Republicans.

Comment by Tinsel Town Tuesday, Aug 23, 16 @ 6:20 pm
To be clear,

Doing Kirk a solid and staff abandoning Kirk aren’t mutually exclusive.

Something to think about.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Aug 24, 16 @ 7:25 am