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AFSCME: Vetoes “wrong course for Illinois”

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Illinois

* AFSCME press release. Statement by Council 31 Exec Director Henry Bayer…

“Past budget cuts have badly hurt the ability of state employees to provide the vital services Illinois residents depend on each day. With a severe staff shortage in nearly every department of state government, services have deteriorated even as employees are working harder to keep pace.

“These past cuts have diminished the quality of care for aged veterans and those with severe mental illnesses and developmental disabilities. They have made public safety less effective and our prisons less safe. They have caused long waits, huge backlogs and overwhelming caseloads throughout state government. And they have made huge, wasteful spending on overtime a fact of life for agencies that are stretched far too thin to function effectively.

“The budget approved two weeks ago took steps to reverse those past cuts, restoring some 1,200 positions to badly understaffed state agencies.

“The governor’s vetoes would turn back that progress. While he technically did not veto funding for the newly restored positions, he did reduce funding for existing positions throughout state government. As a result, if these vetoes are allowed to stand, some short-staffed agencies that expected to make progress this year would instead stay stuck in place. Others would actually suffer even more cuts.

“The budget also included a 2.5 percent cost-of-living increase for the very-low-wage workers who care for the developmentally disabled at not-for-profit community agencies that receive state funds. This would be their first pay increase in three years.

“But the governor acted to reduce the COLA for these very-low-wage workers to a meager 1.6 percent.

“This is the wrong course for Illinois. The governor’s vetoes should not stand. AFSCME urges senators and representatives, both Democrats and Republicans, to come together and override these cuts to the essential services all Illinois residents rely on.”

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Aug 23, 07 @ 6:52 pm

Comments

Per my last post, it begins. I would expect Speaker Madigan to have people representing all of the most affected programs appear to testify on how the Governor’s cuts affected them. The classic use of real life conditions (from what I read from Rich everything from nurses to state’s attorneys, to the developmentally disabled to veterans) to illuminate the effects of the Governor’s actions. The cuts are so broad and seemingly so pernicious that the media will have a field day.

Comment by Walter Sobchak Thursday, Aug 23, 07 @ 6:59 pm
I think there is no doubt the House will override.

I suspect the pressure on Senate Democrats to force Emil to give them a vote on the override will be overwhelming.

Once again, Emil has left his caucus members out to dry.

I’ve wondered what Emil was thinking when he stood up with the Gov on this — but I can’t imagine this is what he thought he was signing up for.

Comment by ILPundit Thursday, Aug 23, 07 @ 7:10 pm
Again, I ask can these veto items still be negotiated?

Comment by schley 1 Thursday, Aug 23, 07 @ 7:19 pm
Nope — its either full override by both chambers or they stand.

Comment by ILPundit Thursday, Aug 23, 07 @ 7:22 pm
So when do we know?

Comment by schley 1 Thursday, Aug 23, 07 @ 7:25 pm
asfcme …..big words bayer. you folks got him elected in 02′. thanks to your valued help an $$$ he got a toe hold & this time too so we’re stuck with him till 2011. remember ‘ you ain’t seen nothing yet’…on election night? that about the only truthful thing this guy has said.

Comment by annon Thursday, Aug 23, 07 @ 7:30 pm
Is he insane? He needs to go into the prisons and see what he’s done. Someone is going to be killed in there.

Comment by state worker Thursday, Aug 23, 07 @ 7:30 pm
Jez Henry! You really thought blajokevich was going to standby his word. Are you that simple? The gov has completely dismantled the agency I work for and with no support from asfcme.

Comment by fed up asfcme member Thursday, Aug 23, 07 @ 7:45 pm
The looters are getting looted! Horrors!

Comment by Johnny USA Thursday, Aug 23, 07 @ 7:54 pm
I understand the House Republicans kept their projects along with Emil’s caucus. If that’s true, there won’t be any override, even if Poe sticks with AFSCME.

Comment by cicero Thursday, Aug 23, 07 @ 7:57 pm
This may be old news — anyone notice that JCAR member projects did not get axed.

No cuts for Emil, No cuts for Cross, No cuts for JCAR — too cute.

I don’t see it working for anyone but Emil though.

Comment by Old Elephant Thursday, Aug 23, 07 @ 8:01 pm
Wow, and remember how Blago trumpeted “his” minimum-wage increases and similar things like this COLA “for the little people”?
He’s planning to nuke everything and try to turn it into funding for the Blagocare health plan.

I get a strong image in my mind of Blago as Charlie Chaplin in the old silent movie, I think it’s called “The General”, where he steals a steam train from the enemy and tries to ride it back to freindly lines, but lacking any coal, he slowly dismembers the entire train car by car, stick by stick, feeding everything into the boiler, so that when he finally gets to the train depot, only the metal parts of the engine itself remain. The rest of the train has gone up the smokestack or been jettisoned down the tracks.

Perfect metaphor I think for what this governor has been up to. He might try growing the small moustache of Chaplin’s too. Since he’s already practicing for a role as “The Great Dictator”.

Comment by Gregor Thursday, Aug 23, 07 @ 8:03 pm
Does not seem like there is a lot of hope for the citizens of Illinois.

The special interests will use their power to preserve their piece if the pie. Who will stand up for the citizens?

Dems?…..ha ha, Repubs, still hurtling towards rock bottom. Blago? he is clever, pulling his stunt 3 years before the election cycle….the voters may forget by then.

Comment by plutocrat03 Thursday, Aug 23, 07 @ 8:07 pm
2 points;
1) Governor and legislators gave themselves 13% but 1.6% for the workers in the field?
2) Just completed a road trip IL to DC and back; anecdotal observations: we observed the following State Troopers on patrol, on stops or rolling:
IL: 0
IN: 6
OH: 7
PA: 5
MD: 6
DC: [not state but lost count in the 20’s]
MD: 5
WV: 3
PA: 2
OH: 9
IN: 8
IL: 0
The only patrol car in IL observed was 1 LaSalle Co Deputy on a motorist assist.
Other observations included IL grass medians that are neglected and overdue for mowing; IL road ways sport billboards and commercial signs while IN, OH, PA, MD and VA are grassy and official information signs only… no ads. Everything I saw along the way [and in DC] looked clean and attractive and encouraged me to return. Even gasoline that’s 2.76 in IN and OH was 3.09 in IL along interstates…. Maybe someone can explain it all to me.

Comment by North of I-80 Thursday, Aug 23, 07 @ 8:09 pm
Wonder if the Speaker is jumping up and down right now screaming, “that’s my money” he simply does not know how this works, that’s my money”.

I bet Jumbo, Edgar and even Ryan can’t help but smile watching the Speaker’s projects and his mushrooms projects go up in flames.

Comment by LOL Thursday, Aug 23, 07 @ 8:30 pm
Blago thinks he’s still back in the ward. Wonder how his team of experts {less Filan} figured this budget & cuts. 1st time in 5 years he’s actually paid attention & can’t get it right.

Comment by annon Thursday, Aug 23, 07 @ 8:51 pm
Jones and Blogo are taking care of each other.
Jones didn’t want the electric rates reduced, noticed the gov hasn’t signed it yet!
The Gov needed Jones help with the budget and got it. They are tag teaming the state and the speaker.

Comment by Daxx Thursday, Aug 23, 07 @ 9:23 pm
Rich, can you tell me something?

How come each and every one of these projects wasn’t an emergency and a necessity until a week in August when the budget got passed by the House?

Now, they are essential functions of our government that should be preserved at all costs - even if it means a recall/impeachment/whatever.

Comment by john Thursday, Aug 23, 07 @ 9:30 pm
Tell it like it is Henry!

Comment by Undercover Thursday, Aug 23, 07 @ 9:32 pm
Wow, how historic! I never knew nor have I observed a state commit suicide.

Comment by A Citizen Thursday, Aug 23, 07 @ 10:16 pm
No one should sell the Speaker short. He’s not doing any jumping right now — he’s coldly calculating just how and when he’ll put the knife in and how hard he’ll twist it.

Blago and Jones are like the street punks that just held up a mob bookie. They better enjoy the money fast because they won’t be around long.

Comment by Old Elephant Thursday, Aug 23, 07 @ 10:21 pm
Revenge is dish best served cold….
And the capitol now has air conditioning….

Comment by Khan Noonian Singh Thursday, Aug 23, 07 @ 10:29 pm
give ‘em the business, Henry.

Comment by rc Friday, Aug 24, 07 @ 12:07 am
IL Pundit? How has Emil left his members out to dry? They still have projects and are not being asked to vote for pork over healthcare…

This has been fun to watch…I am sure there are a lot of dem mushrooms scratching their heads right now. It appears that Madigan has really done a disservice to his members. I’m glad…If he wanted to be the Gov, he should have run or at least let Lou Lang run. Wait..that might have foiled his plans for his daughter. This is nothing new, the Democratic Party has always taken a back seat to the kid’s career. When she ran for Senate, he abused his power then too and hasn’t stopped.

Comment by Crystal clear Friday, Aug 24, 07 @ 12:57 am
…and why should ANYONE care what Henry has to say? Seemes to me they were too gutless to do ANYTHING openly in the past Gov’s election.

Comment by Crystal clear Friday, Aug 24, 07 @ 1:14 am
NOW he complains, while prisons don’t have the line staff to operate? Why wasn’t he raising these issues earlier? He supported Blago in 2002 and 2006, but now that membership has put the heat on him downstate, it’s time to say “it’s the wrong course.” WTG Henry.

Comment by Southern Illinois iPhone Friday, Aug 24, 07 @ 2:26 am
I used to get a little worked up about posts concerning afscme, but quite frankly this union and its collective opinions have become rather insignificant. They were nothing more than rats jumping off a sinking GOP ship in ‘02, and lacked testicular fortitude to endorse in ‘06. Why is what Henry Bayer says even news? His opinions have been proven to be relatively worthless in the big picture.

Comment by Master of the Obvious Friday, Aug 24, 07 @ 6:17 am
Crystal clear - Emil’s hung his members out to dry because he has positioned them to look like they sold out hospitals, schools, veterans homes, and developmentally disabled workers to get a big pay raise and a few pork projects.

If blago had only cut the member initiative money, it might be different. but he didn’t. Instead he cut deep into long funded programs without rhyme or reason, almost all of which serve core Democratic constituencies.

once the House overrides, the pressure on the Senate will be beyond intense. And if Emil doesn’t relent and allow an override vote, heand his members will wear the jacket for very unpopular cuts, while House members can deflect constituent anger at the do-nothing Senate.

Comment by ILPundit Friday, Aug 24, 07 @ 6:25 am
The people who can’t see how Emil has hung his members out to dry are obviously drunk from the KoolAid. He went behind their backs and allowed the Governror to turn the AGREED budget (by all 4 caucuses keep in mind) that they voted (which they all voted for as a complete package - and they were promised by their leaders that the package they were voting for would stay intact in its entirety b/c any vetoes would be overridden)for into an entirely different budget… The budget they voted for included funds to honor the AFSCME and other union contracts which are already in force. It included rate increases for human services sectors who haven’t seen rate increases in the recent past. The budget they voted for included $600 million in new funds for education…err…now make that $540 million in new funds b/c even though the Gov bragged about how EMil had secured $600 million in new funds for education.. .He had no problem turning right around and cutting that number down. What’s he gonna say now?
“Emil thanks so much for finding $600 million in new funds for education. Anything less would have been completely unacceptable… Except I think about $50-60 million of what you spent was total crap and I want to spend it on healthcare so I’ll just take that over here and figure out how I want to spend it… Oh and don’t let the door hit you on the way out…”
And anyone who has ever spent any time around the capital knows that MJM does not jump or throw tantrums nor is he shocked by much of anything (Emil’s breaking his word was likely as shocked as MJM’s been in a while). And although I’m sure some of his pork projects would be considered fluff to many, there are many pet causes of his that are entirely worthwhile. Arts education, autism, libraries, etc. His pet projects, despite what people joke about or actually think - are ALMOST always very worthwhile causes. Which is not different from what we’ve found is the case with most of the legislators. This idea of “pork” sounds great until you realize that with a few exceptions it’s things like senior centers, fire trucks and water treatment plants that are very much needed by people back home.
Also I just wanted to add that the fact the House GOPS may or may not have cut a deal really has no impact on things if Emil sticks with his word and doesn’t call the vetoes for an override. Both chambers have to override for the override to be successful. But we all know how good Emil’s word is these days so maybe the House GOPs are more significant than I’m giving them credit for right now. And I guess Cross’ credibility with the Speaker might be in jeapordy which would be interesting because they have gotten along very well in the past.

Comment by Demsin08 Friday, Aug 24, 07 @ 7:53 am
they can awlays restore the funding with a special appropriation

Comment by Ghost Friday, Aug 24, 07 @ 8:12 am
Yes the Governor is for the little guy, a man of the people.

Raise the minimum wage, (which I noticed immediately resulted in a $.85 increase at the local McDonalds/KFC for any meal package and similar increases at every other retail outlet I have been to lately) but do not adjust any state payments to orgnizations funded by the state which means positions remain open because of higher cost/lack of funds.

Vote yourself a 13% raise (while making well over $125,000) but decide the people working with developmentally disabled (often under $10 an hour because the basic state rates are so low) only need a 1.6% increase.

Keep studying that electric rate package sitting on the desk because those those same people who will get that whopping 1.6% will easily be able to cover the doubling of their electric bill even with a rebate option.

Worry only about state employees and totally forget the hundreds of thousands of people who do the state’s work through local community based social service agencies at much lowers costs (often 50%+) than the state can do the same task.

Comment by zatoichi Friday, Aug 24, 07 @ 8:22 am
If there’s one person in Illinois less relevant than Rod it’s Henry Bayer. Few union members listen to what he has to say. Every union employee that I know throw his asinine letters in the trash. He’s a waste of our dues and space. Shut up Henry!

Comment by jwscott72 Friday, Aug 24, 07 @ 8:24 am
AFSCME needs its own blog to mobilize the thousands of workers, who will be affected by these draconian budget cuts. The budget cutting philosophy is simple–to cut large line items, which include personnel costs for union workers. AFSCME will loose revenue dollars when union workers are laid off; AFSCME is going to loose a lot of revenue for union dues. We need to mobilize now.

Comment by Blogless Friday, Aug 24, 07 @ 8:40 am
we all knew glen was the man

Comment by payback Friday, Aug 24, 07 @ 9:28 am