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* An Illinois Review editorial on the Senate’s bipartisan passage of a constitutional amendment banning so-called “right to work” laws and ordinances…
Illinois Review is firmly grounded in the viewpoint that businesses and industries are the heart and soul of a state’s economy. The weaker the heart and soul of an entity, the less healthy and prosperous that state will be. A state’s key source of energy and bounty is healthy businesses - not the state’s tax-funded system itself. It’s a basic conservative, free market principle.
And one that 11 Illinois Republicans either do not believe or purposely ignored last Friday. And in our opinion here at Illinois Review, their votes to promote a constitutional amendment that would strangle any effort to allow businesses to operate without union bondage demand they be publicly challenged.
Thus this editorial.
First, we want to congratulate and thank the seven Republican senators that stood firm for business freedom, despite making tough votes that could cost them union-funded political challenges in 2022. Those seven Republican senators are: Darren Bailey, Jason Barickman, Dan McConchie, Jason Plummer, Brian Stewart, Jil Tracy, and Sally Turner. Conservatives from throughout Illinois should call each of these folks this week, and offer their help in 2022. They deserve it.
However, we are disappointed that the GOP Senate floor leader Jason Barickman did not say a word in defense of businesses. And evidently, Sen. Barickman either is a weak whip or he didn’t see the importance of the vote, because insiders tell us Barickman lifted not one finger to influence his caucus to vote as Republicans - and as conservatives. We will stand corrected if something to the opposite happened - but thus far, our sources confirm that Barickman was inactive and/or impotent in his leadership position on this issue. That is inexcusable - even IF Senator Barickman wants to run for governor next year.
We are also disappointed that announced gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey did not publicly explain his position on the debate floor of the Illinois Senate on this issue. He does want to be governor. Why didn’t he express his opinion on this important issue if he’s serious about gaining the Illinois business community’s support?
But ultimately, folks, the weight of this devastating failure of leadership lies with Senate Minority Leader Dan McConchie. He failed to emphasize the importance of this issue to his caucus. He failed to push his floor leader to whip the votes for Republicans to stand arm-in- arm as a line against providing complete public and private sector union control of the state. It is unexplainable. It is embarrassing. It is inexcusable.
We at Illinois Review are calling for Senator McConchie to resign and make way for a more committed, strong, and brave leader. Without such leadership in the Illinois Senate, there is no hope for the already weak and feckless Republican Party.
It’s so odd that folks spent decades slamming Mike Madigan for being dictatorial but also want their leadership to be even harsher toward members. McConchie voted against the proposal, as did Barickman. What’s he supposed to do, kick the “yes” votes out of his tiny 18-member caucus?
There was a time when many Illinois Republican legislators supported organized labor and then Bruce Rauner won the governor’s race. Well, Bruce Rauner lost. And that vote was as much about putting Rauner in the rear-view mirror as it was about the issue itself. You can’t get bigger by getting smaller.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, May 25, 21 @ 4:20 pm
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So in the opinion of Illinois Review to be a Republican means you must be anti-union. The only thing inexcusable that I see here is Illinois Review’s dictate that Republicans must stand against unions.
Pathetic.
Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, May 25, 21 @ 4:24 pm
This editorial is filled deep down with such hatred for unions it’s almost…creepy? Imagine being that ideologically bent that you think writing that editorial is a productive thing to do.
Republicans, being so viciously anti-union in IL is just a minority-party mindset. Get over it.
Comment by CubsFan16 Tuesday, May 25, 21 @ 4:29 pm
=== There was a time when many Illinois Republican legislators supported organized labor and then Bruce Rauner won the governor’s race. Well, Bruce Rauner lost. And that vote was as much about putting Rauner in the rear-view mirror as it was about the issue itself. You can’t get bigger by getting smaller.===
This should be what leaving Raunerism is all about, abd getting back to where I can honestly look at the caucus abd call it the Senate REPUBLICANS … not Senate Raunerites.
To the post,
I wrote this earlier, but I’d like to leave it here too;
The Senate REPUBLICANS are stepping out of the “Raunerite” moniker… and realizing labor and the GOP in Illinois worked together… to a benefit for all.
Congratulations to ALL those working to get the SGOP members, and labor working hard with their allies and lobsters to get these GOP numbers.
Great to see. I feel hope.
I’ll add for this post,
This. This is how you convince me you *are* coming back to the party I knew, and where I can disagree 20% of the time with the others, as these 11 members I agree with are still a part of the bigger picture.
If the Illinois Review is steaming, than the 11 did right, and that’s how you grow and keep the likes of “me” from cslljnv y’all Raunerites.
I’m with this caucus here, on this.
This is building a party… again
Congrats to all, the lobsters, members, labor… Illinois Review has it wrong… as ususl.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, May 25, 21 @ 4:37 pm
… calling for Senator McConchie to resign . That’s the ticket. Nothing but a Rino. The rest should go too. Why stop there? No one is pure enough. Everyone should resign and then let us all start over. Republican politics the politics of subtraction
Comment by DuPage Saint Tuesday, May 25, 21 @ 4:39 pm
===Republicans, being so viciously anti-union in IL is just a minority-party mindset.====
I strongly disagree.
It’s the Raunerites who ruined the strong Labor-Republican relationships in Illinois.
Hopefully those will “renew”, with great labor leaders and allies working with these REPUBLICANS.
Raunerism was about destroying labor and destroying Republicans’ link to them was the fulcrum… even forcing GA members, Republican members to exit the legislature…
… this is the correction needed… for the GOP to rise from the ashes… one big step to just that.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, May 25, 21 @ 4:41 pm
Although his true intentions would later be made clear, Governor Rauner won his first race, in part, on support from union households. The Illinois Review seems intent on making sure that never happens again.
Comment by Pundent Tuesday, May 25, 21 @ 4:42 pm
Thank you to the Republicans who voted—and hopefully will vote in the House—in favor of this amendment. I go very hard on the ILGOP but want to thank them when they do good.
This is the right way to try to rebuild the ILGOP, with blue collar folks and not with the Griffins and Rauners. When former Sen. McCann was attacked by Rauner for supporting AFSCME, I think he said he had so many volunteers for his campaign that he had to turn people away.
Comment by Grandson of Man Tuesday, May 25, 21 @ 4:44 pm
===Darren Bailey, Jason Barickman===
Dear Labor…
If these folks are indeed running statewide, don’t forget this vote, and don’t forget what it meant when Rauner won 2 in 5 union households.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, May 25, 21 @ 4:46 pm
The ILGOP brooks no dissent, punishes anyone who doesn’t drink the Rauner/Trump Kool-Aid, and then wonders why they are such a minority party in Illinois. The Republicans who stepped forth in compromise and support to their Democratic colleagues on a matter which the ILGOP has zero power to stop should be supported. It’s time for the adults in the ILGOP to step up, overthrow their failed leadership, and start building a party that famous Illinois Republicans would recognize again. There must be room for the working men and women at the table who earn the money for the businesses; neither bonded servitude nor peonage is acceptable in the 21st Century. The alternative for the ILGOP is to continue losing seats, losing votes, and losing even more power.
Comment by thisjustinagain Tuesday, May 25, 21 @ 4:58 pm
=businesses and industries are the heart and soul of a state’s economy=
I disagree. Consumers are the heart and soul of a state’s economy. Without consumer spending, businesses cease to exist. Pay workers a better wage, and they will spend it. Labor and Business can co-exist for the benefit of both.
Comment by Steve Polite Tuesday, May 25, 21 @ 5:05 pm
===You can’t get bigger by getting smaller.=== Also applies to why Illinois lost a House seat. Those failed, unbalanced policies pushed by Dems for years does help.
Comment by Not a DJT Apologist Tuesday, May 25, 21 @ 5:38 pm
This hit piece makes no sense. If the GOP is ever going to claw their way back to relevancy, they need labor support or at least neutrality. Smart move to let GOP members vote as they saw fit. Illinois was never going to be a “Right to Work” state anyway. Easy vote.
Comment by Rutger Hauer Tuesday, May 25, 21 @ 5:42 pm
This seems to go much further than banning right to work. Under this amendment you would need to change the constitution to take bargaining over police discipline off the table, for example.
Comment by Tawk Tuesday, May 25, 21 @ 5:58 pm
‘businesses and industries are the heart and soul of a state’s economy’
Profound insight.
Comment by Morty Tuesday, May 25, 21 @ 6:19 pm
‘The weaker the heart and soul of an entity, the less healthy and prosperous that state will be.’
Metaphysical jibber-jabber or Laffer Curve silliness…I can’t decide.
Comment by Morty Tuesday, May 25, 21 @ 6:20 pm
To my fellow union brothers and sisters. Two numbers. 15.5% and 13.6%. If unions are to survive, you just can’t have public service unions. You need a blend with private industry. Support the union trades. BTW. Boycott Oreos.
Comment by Blue Dog Tuesday, May 25, 21 @ 6:39 pm
=It’s a basic conservative, free market principle.=
Umm, when? The last two so called conservative presidents signed off on massive subsidies and bailouts using taxpayer dollars. Including bailing out the so called bastion of pure capitalism, Wall Street.
=We are also disappointed that announced gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey did not publicly explain his position on the debate floor of the Illinois Senate on this issue.=
I’ll take this one, hold my beer.
Bailey is absolutely NOT a capitalist or a free market guy. His acceptance of millions of farm subsidies firmly establishes him as a traditional socialist.
Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, May 25, 21 @ 6:41 pm
Guess we can add Illinois Review to the “Burn before reading” pile
Comment by Commisar Gritty Tuesday, May 25, 21 @ 8:14 pm
“Labor is prior to, and independent of, capital. Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if labor had not first existed. Labor is the superior of capital, and deserves much the higher consideration.”
-Abraham Lincoln
I wonder what Illinois Review would have to say about Lincoln’s thoughts on labor vs. capital.
Comment by MyTwoCents Tuesday, May 25, 21 @ 8:31 pm
=== … to whip the votes … ===
So, the Illinois State Capitol is actually the British House of Commons?
Comment by Anyone Remember Tuesday, May 25, 21 @ 8:57 pm
Reuben G. Soderstrom of Streator was both a Republican State Rep (1918-20 & 1922-36) and the President of the Illinois AFL-CIO (1930-1970). “He earned a reputation as organized labor’s strongest advocate in the Illinois House, authoring and shepherding a series of pro-labor bills through the legislature, including the Injunction Limitation Act, the One Day Rest in Seven Act, the Old Age Pension Act, and anti-“yellow dog” contract bills, as well as increases to education funding and favorable amendments to the workmen’s compensation, occupational disease, and pension laws.” (http://www.reubengsoderstromfoundation.com/rgs.html)
As the Illinois Review would have it, those days are long gone.
Comment by Pot calling kettle Tuesday, May 25, 21 @ 9:02 pm
Regular blog readers know my history with unions and business owners, so I’m not going to repeat it here.
The Illinois Review is off base. Yes, people should be able to work without belonging to a union … but they should not directly benefit from bargaining activities without paying to support those activities.
On the other hand, some unions have wandered far afield from just supporting their members seeking better wages and benefits, and brought about the backlash by business against unions.
Both workers and businesses do best when they can cooperate in a less than completely adversarial relationship.
Comment by RNUG Tuesday, May 25, 21 @ 10:25 pm
==It is unexplainable. It is embarrassing. It is inexcusable.== Jackie Chiles, President, Illinois Review
Comment by don the legend Wednesday, May 26, 21 @ 9:37 am