Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Pre-election IPI legal actions are apparently becoming a thing

Posted in:

Illinois

* 2020…

With less than a month to go until Election Day, the libertarian-leaning Illinois Policy Institute filed a lawsuit today challenging Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s graduated income tax amendment, arguing it contains “extremely biased language . . . that deprives Illinoisans of a fair, informed vote on the progressive tax question.” […]

Jack Vrett of Honigman is representing the plaintiffs. He was previously deputy counsel at the Department of Central Management Services in Gov. Bruce Rauner’s administration, helping negotiate labor contracts, including the contentious negotiation with AFSCME Council 31 in 2015.

They lost.

* 2022…

A group of Cook County residents have filed suit to challenge the efforts of labor unions and their Democratic allies in Springfield to rewrite the Illinois state constitution to create an unfettered “right to collectively bargain,” a revision critics say would give labor unions the power to use union contracts to supersede state law, while violating federal law, in the process.

On April 21, attorneys from the Liberty Justice Center and from the Illinois Policy Institute, both of Chicago, filed a petition in Sangamon County Circuit Court in Springfield, seeking permission to file a complaint challenging the ability of the Democrat-dominated Illinois General Assembly to place the measure, generally known as Amendment 1, before voters on the ballot this fall.

“Amendment 1 violates the U.S. Constitution and must be taken off the ballot,” said attorney Jacob Huebert, of the Liberty Justice Center, in a prepared statement released when the petition was filed.

They lost.

* 2023…

Less than a week before the mayoral runoff election between Chicago Teachers Union organizer Brandon Johnson and former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas, three CTU members filed an unfair labor practice complaint against the union.

Questioning the union’s approximately $2.2 million in donations to Johnson’s campaign for mayor, the complaint alleges CTU “breached its duty of fair representation to its members” in using membership dues for political purposes, contrary to a policy stated in the union’s member handbook. Hancock High School teacher Froylan “Froy” Jimenez, who recently failed to advance to the runoff in his bid to become 11th Ward alderman, is among the complainants.

Not mentioned anywhere in the story is the group’s attorney is Jack Vrett, the same lawyer who handled the Illinois Policy Institute’s failed suit to stop the graduated income tax amendment proposal. IPI was also Vrett’s second-largest direct contributor when he ran against Rep. Mark Walker (D-Arlington Heights) last year (after Jeanne Ives’ committee). Just sayin.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Apr 6, 23 @ 12:02 pm

Comments

–Amendment 1 violates the U.S. Constitution–

It’s sad how the constitution has become just a word in these phrases, mindlessly repeated in these losing crusades, as if it was a religious chant.

Comment by TheInvisibleMan Thursday, Apr 6, 23 @ 12:12 pm
The problem with literalism is as follows.

If it isn’t in the Constitution, it isn’t prohibited at the Federal level. cf. Military-grade assault weapons.

If it isn’t in the Constitution, it is prohibited at the Federal level. cf. Abortion.

As I read the Constitution (and I am a novice), the Ninth and Tenth Amendments must always be interpreted together, unless you misread the Constitution’s intent.

Most people simply read the Tenth, and no cases every revolve around the Ninth (with only one or two historic cases).

Comment by H-W Thursday, Apr 6, 23 @ 12:33 pm
Kinda funny that an attorney who lives in the burbs is complaining about a city election.

Comment by Big Dipper Thursday, Apr 6, 23 @ 12:35 pm
I guess they’ll try anything besides speaking to voters directly.

Comment by vern Thursday, Apr 6, 23 @ 12:37 pm
You gotta spend money to grift money…

Paydays for losses is grifting, “but with style”.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Apr 6, 23 @ 12:39 pm
So DeVore has competition in the grifting game.

Comment by JoanP Thursday, Apr 6, 23 @ 12:42 pm
I don’t understand how these are substantively different than all sorts of lawsuits that occur before an election to strike certain candidates and ballot initiatives. Such lawsuits often don’t succeed but occasionally do. As long as folks’ rights to due process and to be heard are being honored, what’s the harm? Certainly I don’t want a system where the courts are closed off to pre-election challenges.

Comment by Garfield Ridge Guy Thursday, Apr 6, 23 @ 12:48 pm
===Such lawsuits often don’t succeed but occasionally do. As long as folks’ rights to due process and to be heard are being honored, what’s the harm?===

“If you look around wondering ‘who is the mark for the grifters’ and can’t find them, odds are they’re you”

- A. Lincoln, 1857

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Apr 6, 23 @ 12:51 pm
–what’s the harm–

Vexatious Litigation, is a real thing courts punish lawyers/their clients for.

Using the courts as a weapon, isn’t included in due process.

Comment by TheInvisibleMan Thursday, Apr 6, 23 @ 1:20 pm
New IPI motto: “The IPI, our business IS losing”

Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Apr 6, 23 @ 1:50 pm
IPI just needs a haircut. That will make them more sustainable.

Comment by ArchPundit Thursday, Apr 6, 23 @ 2:09 pm
IPI = MAGA GOP. Mode of operation, sue, mislead, lie or resort to violence before trusting voters.

Comment by Norseman Thursday, Apr 6, 23 @ 2:52 pm
Anyone else old enough to remember when tort reform against “frivolous” lawsuits (i.e. by people who were injured by medical malpractice or in the workplace) was a top-5 GOP issue?

Comment by 48th Ward Heel Thursday, Apr 6, 23 @ 2:54 pm
It’s good that Jack’s employed.

Comment by walker Thursday, Apr 6, 23 @ 3:47 pm