Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Rauner now says his second term will be successful because the courts will let him bypass Madigan

Posted in:

Illinois

Reporter: You ran on a platform of taking on the Speaker and reducing his power. If you have been unable to do that successfully, and are not in charge now, what is the argument for having four more years if the Speaker isn’t going anywhere?

Gov. Rauner: Ah, but the point is I believe he will be going somewhere. Into, uh, into retirement. And that’s what we’re working on. […]

Reporter: So, are you saying that you envision a scenario where you get elected to a second term… and the Speaker is not the Speaker any more?

Gov. Rauner: I think there’s a very, very high probability of that and it would be a wonderful step for the state.

Yesterday, I explained why the governor’s repeated boasts about taking away Madigan’s Democratic majority were almost surely empty. So, it’s back to the ol’ drawing board.

* The Tribune pressed Rauner yesterday on this very same topic…

Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner on Tuesday raised the central questions surrounding his re-election campaign: What exactly would be different in a second term? Why won’t his agenda “just be crushed by” Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan “again and again?”

The governor then sought to provide answers, saying he’s counting on the courts to give him several “transformative” wins over organized labor, allowing him to bypass Madigan’s opposition. […]

Top among those is an expected June ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court on an Illinois case that Rauner supports and the Trump administration Justice Department backs. The case challenges the requirement that public union members pay “fair share” dues even if they disagree with union membership.

“If we win, it will transform government. It will transform state government, local government and school districts in every state in America,” Rauner said.

“I will be able to have thousands of state employees not be in the union who don’t want to be, and I will be able to pay them based upon productivity and merit and bonuses, and pay them more based on what they do for the service quality and taxpayer benefit than seniority,” he added.

Unless he can decertify AFSCME, he’ll still have to negotiate and deal with the union under state law. And keep in mind that “fair share” fee-payers have dropped since Rauner took office as workers decided to become full dues-paying union members. So, the scenario he painted seems pretty darned pie in the sky. There’s also the little problem of civil service protections.

The governor also told the Tribune that he is pinning his hopes on a court ruling that his local “right to work” zones case is valid (which he claimed will bring “dozens of manufacturing firms” to the state) and state courts will back him in the judicial sparring over AFSCME’s contract.

* Related…

* Rauner administration to appeal AFSCME step pay ruling: Gov. Bruce Rauner’s administration will fight an appellate court ruling that it violated state law when it stopped awarding step increases in 2015 to eligible members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees… Rich Bossert, spokesman for the Department of Central Management Services, said the state is asking for the Supreme Court review because the Illinois Labor Relations Board previously said the ste increases did not have to be paid after the AFSCME contract expired… “Illegally denying steps to the newest-hired and lowest-paid state employees fits Bruce Rauner’s pattern of anti-worker behavior,” Lynch said. “Unfortunately, despite the court’s ruling, he is unrelenting and refusing to honor the law.”

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 9:25 am

Comments

The dude is totally clueless.

Comment by Blue dog dem Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 9:27 am
“Gov. Rauner: Ah, but the point is I believe he will be going somewhere. Into, uh, into retirement. And that’s what we’re working on.”

I am fairly certain what he meant by this statement is that Rauner has offered Madigan any one of his seven homes to live out his days in if he steps down as Speaker.

Comment by Montrose Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 9:28 am
Is the court system no longer corrupt in Rauner’s view? I seem to recall him saying that the Illinois Supreme Court was part of a corrupt system. What changed?

Comment by AC Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 9:32 am
“pinning his hopes on a court ruling that his local “right to work” zones case is valid ” Meanwhile, Missouri has a referendum on their ballot to rescind its RTW law.

Comment by Skeptic Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 9:33 am
I thought he had “hundreds of companies” wanting to move here if only….

Comment by H L Mendicant Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 9:34 am
Strikes me that if Rauner said: “I’ve learned. Here’s what I’d do differently in a second term….” he’d get a hearing and improve his chances for re-election. Then again, that’s not his personality.

Comment by DarkHorse Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 9:35 am
I just can’t stomach another four years of incompetence. After 6 years of Blago, 6 years of Quinn, and 4 years of Rauner, we are desperate for real leadership.

Comment by Just Me Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 9:35 am
=“I will be able to have thousands of state employees not be in the union who don’t want to be, and I will be able to pay them based upon productivity and merit and bonuses, and pay them more based on what they do for the service quality and taxpayer benefit than seniority,” he added=

This? This is why he wants to be re-elected? At least he’s putting his real motivations out there but if this is the only compelling reason that he can provide for re-election than November can’t get here soon enough.

Comment by Pundent Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 9:38 am
“…counting on the courts to give him several “transformative” wins over organized labor, allowing him to bypass Madigan’s opposition.”

Has the Gov ever heard the one about wishing in one hand and doing something else in the other?

Comment by We'll See Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 9:39 am
Rauner stated this, in regards to the court cases, in the Uncommon Knowledge interview. Illinois is being used to drive an agenda, and Rauner is the placeholder to try and make it happen. There is a reason why he is one of the few invited governors to the Koch Brothers’ retreats. It ain’t because of his “costume” changes. https://www.hoover.org/research/budget-crisis-land-lincoln

Comment by Anon221 Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 9:42 am
Merit pay, huh? Seventy five percent of Rauner’s proposed merit pay would go to a minumun of 25% of the workforce. That potentially means the vast majority of workers who perform meritorious work may not get merit pay. Nice way to create a great economy, when government jobs are made lousy like this.

Rauner wants to double health insurance costs, end layoff protections, give new hires lousy health insurance in retirement and have unfettered privatization, which means workers could be subjected to bosses like him, who fire competent workers to scapegoat them for the bosses’ failures.

As if we needed to know again, Rauner’s number one goal is union busting. How much damage has he caused in his refusal to negotiate and compromise because people just won’t roll over for him? It’s making him sick that he just can’t steamroll people, so he whines. Bullies can be identified by how loudly they whine when people stand up to them.

Comment by Grandson of Man Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 9:43 am
== I will be able to pay them based upon productivity and merit and bonuses, and pay them more based on what they do for the service quality and taxpayer benefit than seniority,” he added. ==

And that worked SO well for Merit Comp employees …

Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 9:43 am
OK Bruce, how will it transform government?
Show me, don’t tell me.
What exactly are you talking about?

Comment by Michelle Flaherty Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 9:43 am
== will fight an appellate court ruling that it violated state law when it stopped awarding step increases in 2015 to eligible members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees ==

Past rulings do not favor Rauner’s position …

Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 9:44 am
Bruce reminds me of a college freshman hoping for straight A’s because his roommate died unexpectedly.

Comment by Jocko Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 9:45 am
Rauners only self meaning
And legacy making
Is fused to
Destroying Labor Unions
To the
Exclusion
Of
All else
The perfidy
Was used
Solely
To give the
Illusion
That he had
Any other goal or function
In mind.

Comment by Honeybear Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 9:46 am
Janus may change the playing field but the battle to destroy unions will be far from over. IfRauner is counting on a Janus decision in his favor to transform things during his administration, then Rauner must be planning to to be Governor longer than Big Jim was.

Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 9:49 am
So Rauner still won’t be in charge for term two but is hoping judicial activists legislating from the bench can take over for Madigan. Got it.

Comment by hisgirlfriday Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 9:50 am
If Madigan is out of the picture (pick whatever reason you like), does Rauner really feel no one else is capable of filling the Madigan role. Madigan learned the ropes along the way and his replacement(s) are coming along just as he did. Rauner needs to stop using the Speaker as an excuse. Actually doing something beside whinning about control would be nice.

Comment by zatoichi Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 9:51 am
“saying he’s counting on the courts” Pro tip: Hope is not a plan.

Comment by Skeptic Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 9:56 am
=I seem to recall him saying that the Illinois Supreme Court was part of a corrupt system. What changed?=

Nothing. Different court with no self-interest in their ruling.

Comment by Robert the 1st Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 9:59 am
===I will be able to have thousands of state employees not be in the union who don’t want to be===

Not to nitpick, but: aren’t “fair share” employees already not union members? That’s the point–they don’t join the union, but have to pay the union for bargaining costs anyway. I get that if the Court rules the way he wants, it could financially hurt unions (but, see Rich’s point about membership trends), but that’s not even what he’s saying. For someone so obsessed with union busting, you’d think he could correctly describe how to do it.

Comment by Leslie K Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 10:07 am
Pundent

It’s more like. I’ll be able to reduce your pay to reduce your pensions. Take away vacation and holidays reduce healthcare benefits Lay you off. Etc

Comment by NIck Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 10:08 am
I think I remember “counting on the courts” during the pension debacle.

Comment by whetstone Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 10:09 am
==I will be able to pay them based upon productivity and merit and bonuses, and pay them more based on what they do for the service quality and taxpayer benefit than seniority,” he added.”==

Lies like this is why unions were created in the first place.

Comment by Streator Curmudgeon Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 10:12 am
In the Uncommon Knowledge interview, Rauner talks about cutting unnecessary / unbudgeted items to control the budget then goes on to talk about how he’s transformed the IT systems, omitting the fact the IT spending was all unbudgeted and increased the deficit. Can’t even keep his story straight in the same interview.

Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 10:13 am
- 6 years of Quinn -

Yeah, those years of passing budgets, paying down the deficit, negotiating contracts, not whining and blaming everyone else for problems, sure was rough.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 10:16 am
If Madigan went away today the Dems would just replace him with a more liberal, more energetic and more activist Speaker.

So silly.

Comment by Chris P. Bacon Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 10:18 am
The destruction of
Illinois’ unions
Is Rauners contribution
To
Bannonism-
The “destruction of the Administrative state”
With feckless government
With no administration
Comes
No regulation
No taxation
No redistribution

Thus no restraints
Or obstacles
To corporations
Making profit
You make more money
By paying people less
By dumping in the river
By having no taxes
By not caring what happens to others
By not empowering workers
By controlling the law
By controlling government
For this is truth
“The strong shall do as they will
And the weak will suffer what they must”
All shall be the corporations’
With the destruction
Of the administrative state.

Comment by Honeybear Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 10:22 am
Umm…after all this time, Rauner doesn’t actually have any understanding of what Right to Work is. Not sure why this hasn’t already been brought up, but the labor relations act pretty expressly prohibits employers from paying employees differently whether they are in a union or not. Normally what this means in a right to work state is that the unions are weakened because employees are able to get the benefit of whatever they negotiate without having to pay for it.

Here, the Governor thinks he can pay non-union employees in the same bargaining unit more by basically cutting side deals with them? That’s not how it works, at all, and is a clear violation of labor law.

On every issue, whether property taxes, workers comp, education funding, taxes and the budget, the Governor appears to be way out of his depth. And now, on the one issue that I figured he actually did care about, he has demonstrated that his beliefs are way outside of what is actually within the law. Simply amazing.

Comment by Juice Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 10:23 am
Let’s look at that visit the Guv had with the Trib Edit board…

===“We had the possibility of a transformation for the state with the crisis that we had — if we had a principled caucus. It’s the primary reason I ran. We had the opportunity for a massive transformation. We lost that,” the Republican governor said.===

Now that quote to start this off, that’s the admitting of the hurt he and Ms. Barbara Wheeler wanted, that was critical. Forced pain. But, I’ll get to all that. Lets begin to get “there”… here.

===Rauner spent more than half the time talking about his stalled agenda, his success in vetoing Democratic proposals and how he could work around Madigan. The governor said there are major items that can be accomplished “without the speaker in the second term that are transformative to give us a better future.”

Top among those is an expected June ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court on an Illinois case that Rauner supports and the Trump administration Justice Department backs. The case challenges the requirement that public union members pay “fair share” dues even if they disagree with union membership.===

Yep. Janus. That’s the difference. Same as “Decatur”, it’s about Labor. Think about it for just a sec. it’s not about a big infrastructure boost, or getting a budget. It’s not even making the budget work. It’s Janus. Janus, and this…

===Rauner also is looking for the courts to reverse rulings that prohibited Illinois municipalities and counties from enacting their own right-to-work ordinances, which prohibit required union membership in the private and public sector. A 2015 ordinance passed in Lincolnshire was struck down this year by a federal judge but is being appealed.

“If we can win this, I can bring dozens of manufacturing firms” to Illinois, he said.===

You guessed it RTW. So, before we get to all that leverage and forced crisis part, and I’ll get there, the two big differences Gov. Rauner is banking on, are court cases to hurt labor. His whole fight, in the end, was what it was in the beginning. Hurt Labor. Now… add this…

===Many unionized state workers have been without a new contract as Rauner attempts to impose the terms of his final offer. The union sued, and Rauner said Tuesday that labor is trying to delay the legal proceedings “and hope I lose.” Rauner said he if were to win re-election next year, the courts would be hard-pressed to continue the case another four years.===

“Af-Scammy”. Rauner wants to win, again, not to make IL better or move infrastructure, build our higher ed, nope. Rauner wants to win to destroy “Af-Scammy”. The big differences are, Janus, RTW, and destroying AFSCME. Whew. What’s cute is he’s not anti union…

===Rauner maintained he is not “anti-union,” but he has sharply attacked the Chicago Teachers Union and has referred to the state’s largest employee’s union, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31 as “Af-Scammy.” The governor on Tuesday reiterated what he calls a “conflict of interest”: Public unions give campaign contributions to Democrats, who turn around and grant raises and benefits.===

Rauner has to deny all that anti union fire because even HE knows, as hard core these quotes and his positions are, he has to go full phony, “I’m not anti union”. Even though, his next term he wants people to see as, you guessed it, destroying unions. But how to get that…

===“We had the possibility of a transformation for the state with the crisis that we had — if we had a principled caucus. It’s the primary reason I ran. We had the opportunity for a massive transformation. We lost that,” the Republican governor said.===

And there it is. The crisis creates leverage. Rauner was angry not that social services were being destroyed or higher ed was being crippled beyond repair, no, Rauner and Ms. Wheeler needed that destruction, for the labor end game. So what about all that…

===“I can’t do this alone. It’s just not possible. It has to be a team effort. And I’m a volunteer. I’m just doing this because I want to get a better future. When you’re trying to team up with people who are doing it because it’s a job and they want a salary and a pension and want to take the easy road, it’s hard,” said the governor, who doesn’t take a state salary.

“In order to have change, you have to have a vision. You have to have principles, guiding principles, free enterprise or protecting taxpayers or whatever your principles are. If you don’t have guiding principles, you don’t have a road map of where to go. And the General Assembly hasn’t had that. It’s been power for power’s sake and a job and a pension,” he said.===

So, when someone reveals who they are, believe them. The Rauner 2nd term is about Janus, RTW, “Af-Scammy”, and leveraging and hurting Illinois “if the stars align”. That’s not me. That’s Rauner telling all of us. And let’s remind this governor…

Volunteer or not, Rauner is the Executive of Illinois government. Getting paid or not, that doesn’t change the constitutional duties.

Listen to Rauner, Illinois depends on it.

Oswego Willy

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 10:24 am
And yet
It is my faith
That
Janus
Will actually bring about
The second coming of labor.

Comment by Honeybear Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 10:25 am
=== Gov. Rauner: I think there’s a very, very high probability of that (e.g. Madigan’s retirement in 2019) and it would be a wonderful step for the state.===

Famous last words.

Comment by anon2 Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 10:26 am
LK @ 10:07

Fair Share is the minimum for union membership (and the protections & collective bargaining that come with it). Full membership allows you to contribute to political campaigns.

If you think Bruce is going to shower you with productivity bonuses, you also root for Mr. Potter in “It’s a Wonderful Life”.

Comment by Jocko Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 10:30 am
Sorry folks, unions have been.dying a slow death.long.before Trump and Rauner. Why? No union loyalty. Consumers, including union.consumers price shop. Until we change, this only speeds the.process up.

Comment by Blue dog dem Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 10:38 am
1. Second Term
2. ???
3. SUCCESS

– MrJM

Comment by @misterjayem Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 10:39 am
I wouldnt count on rauner for judicial analysis. This is the guy who called the judicial system corrupt, yet wanted them to approve term limits amendment because it got a lot of signatures.

Comment by Langhorne Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 10:41 am
As I’ve said multiple times, Rauner is flanking Madigan through the high courts.

And honestly, it’s a brilliant tactical move because I don’t Madigan will lose control in 2018. But if the court does as expected, he can exclusively run on vetoing income taxes, absurd increases in property taxes (especially here in Chicago) and pounding Pritzker as an out-of-touch Billionaire who inherited his money.

The courts can set the stage for a Rauner victory or be his undoing.

Comment by SmartiePants Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 10:48 am
Ives v. RAUNER. Ives in a stunning upset. Rauner nicknamed the ‘do nothing’ governor.

Comment by Blue dog dem Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 10:50 am
For those of you wondering why labor is so agitated with Jim Durkin look no further than this. It is sad to see Durkin carry the Gov’s water on this.

Comment by Illinois Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 10:50 am
===The courts can set the stage for a Rauner victory or be his undoing.===

Here’s what’s real.

If Rauner wins Janus, wins RTW Zones, gets to diminish “Af-Scanmy”, why be Governor anymore?

Not one time with the Trib was there a vision that included a better Illinois, it was a bitter man wanting less unions in the state and sacrificing anything possible so Illinois will yield to that want.

Diana Rauner? As long as The Ounce can withstand things, she’s wholly onboard with Bruce’s destruction… as long as cocktail parties don’t get too awkward.

It’s never been about being good citizens for them, or building Illinois, or making lines better… it’s about destroying labor, as long as The Ounce survives.

Just read his comments. He can lose the election, but he has to be the one to destroy labor.

It’s warped, I’ll grant you…

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 10:55 am
===Fair Share is the minimum for union membership (and the protections & collective bargaining that come with it). Full membership allows you to contribute to political campaigns.===

Under federal law, not a dime of either fair share feels or full member dues goes toward political lobbying or campaigning. Full members may voluntarily contribute extra, over and above their dues, toward a union’s PAC. But no one is forced to, in violation of their First Amendment rights.

Comment by Nick Name Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 11:13 am
Jocko @ 10:30am

You are missing the distinction. Yes, they benefit from what the union negotiated, so they have to pay the union for that negotiation service, but fair share are not union members:

“Fair share means a fee paid to the union by members of a bargaining unit who have not joined that union for services and benefits that the union has negotiated for all members of the bargaining unit.” (https://definitions.uslegal.com/f/fair-share/)

Comment by Leslie K Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 11:30 am
If you reflect on it for a few minutes, this has always been Rauner’s mode of operation as a venture capitalist: buy a business, take the cash and divert it elsewhere, then seek relief through the court system (bankruptcy). So it’s not a big surprise Rauner expects the courts to solve his governance problems …

Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 11:36 am
RNUG, might want to go back to school. I suggest Booth if you want to learn about PE.

You described something akin to the 80’s smash-and-grab model. Changed a lot the past few decades.

Comment by SmartiePants Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 11:51 am
=Nothing. Different court with no self-interest in their ruling.=

Yeah, the USSC has never acted in self interest. Ever heard of Antonin Scalia? LOL.

At the end of the day Rauner can have Janus and anything else he thinks he wants but that won’t give him the ability to “work around” Madigan or anyone else. He is another one of these guys with an Ivy League pedigree that doesn’t seem to know very much.

Comment by JS Mill Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 12:24 pm
I used my little orphan Annie decoder ring on the following

“I will be able to have thousands of state employees not be in the union who don’t want to be, and I will be able to pay them based upon productivity and merit and bonuses, and pay them more based on what they do for the service quality and taxpayer benefit than seniority,”

it says . Lower pay unless you contribute to my campaign fund

Comment by Publius Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 12:30 pm
LB & NN,
Sorry for not being clear. Fair share allows you to be union member in all but name only, specifically, your vote on a contract.

To the post, if you think Rauner will be true to his word…I’d encourage you to contact Christine Radogno or Harreld Kirkpatrick

Comment by Jocko Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 12:47 pm
If the USSC rules against unions, I predict there will be a record surge of workers joining unions. The labor movement has to (should have started a long time ago) start messaging again, why it is the best interests of workers to join a union.

Comment by Honeybadger Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 1:26 pm
The reason he doesn’t want us to divorce him is because he thinks he’s finally going to win the lottery, and be able to buy that double-wide down by the river.

Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 2:08 pm
I really don’t understand why he wants the gig.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 2:13 pm
The only thing more delusional than thinking he will be able to bypass Madigan in a second term is thinking he is getting a second term.

I don’t understand why he doesn’t declare victory and retire to Montana.

Comment by ArchPundit Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 2:25 pm
“RNUG, might want to go back to school.”

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH >gasp

Comment by @misterjayem Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 2:42 pm
›gasp‹

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

– MrJM

Comment by @misterjayem Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 2:44 pm
–You described something akin to the 80’s smash-and-grab model. Changed a lot the past few decades.–

You might want to read up on Rauner’s track record in the private sector. It was well-documented in the last campaign.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 2:45 pm
There’s another Madigan (ie a Democrat) waiting in the wings to guide the majority, and Janus will not end the union or change all union rules.

Keep him talking about his dislike of unions and right to work–that’s honest, but those aren’t his preferred talking points.

Meanwhile Governor, we know you want to legislate, adjudicate and campaign, but your actual job is to manage your agencies in the executive branch, where your record is mixed, at best, and vulnerable to detailed analysis by the media and electoral opponents.

Comment by James Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 3:06 pm
Governor you won’t have to worry about Madigan anymore you won’t be there 2019

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 3:09 pm
== You described something akin to the 80’s smash-and-grab model. Changed a lot the past few decades. ==

Well … Rauner did get his degree a few decades back …

Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 4:35 pm
Blue dog dem. ” unions are a dying breed”. Then why spend all this money stepping on the throat of the dying dog?

Comment by Generic Drone Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 6:49 pm
Illinois needs to rid of public employee unions asap.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 8:44 pm
“Illinois needs to rid of public employee unions asap.==

That’s as daft a statement as saying that everyone should give up tbeir 2nd amendment rights so there would be no crime.

Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 9:56 pm
Generic. I dont know.

Comment by Blue dog dem Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 11:39 pm
== Then why spend all this money stepping on the throat of the dying dog? ==

Some kind of personal vendetta?

Or Koch plan to destroy the only force(s) that could oppose their plans to raid the last untouched pile if money (government pension funds)?

Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 11:53 pm
Unions are one of the last organized resistances we have in the US. Autocrats don’t like that. Makes you wonder what they have in store for the rest of us once they’ve defeated them.

Comment by Pundent Thursday, Dec 21, 17 @ 6:44 am