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* This is big, and it’s very good news for Gov. Pat Quinn’s primary chances…
The state’s largest union, the Service Employees International Union, will announce today it is teaming up with the Teamsters in an effort unprecedented in statewide elections to campaign for Gov. Quinn.
That means working together in the same phone banks, coordinating spending — it will be similar to what the unions did in the last round of aldermanic elections, working together for candidates who supported them over Wal-Mart, said Jerry Morrison, executive director for SEIU.
Huge bucks, lots of workers. From the governor’s press release…
Further expanding Governor Pat Quinn’s broad, diverse base of support, SEIU Illinois Council today announced its endorsement of Governor Quinn’s campaign, recognizing his decades-long record of
standing up for working families in Illinois. […]“Governor Quinn has been a fighter for working families all of his life,” said Tom Balanoff, President of the SEIU Illinois Council, which represents 170,000 union members. “Pat Quinn is the right person to lead Illinois out of this recession.
“Pat Quinn is a governor who consistently listens to the issues affecting working families,” said John T. Coli, president of Teamsters Joint Council 25 [100,000 members], which announced its endorsement of Governor Quinn on Sept. 4. “We look forward to working with SEIU to support Governor Quinn and his strong, common-sense leadership.”
The SEIU endorsement of Quinn comes just days after he won the support of Cook County Democratic slatemakers for election next year. Hynes, the product of a longtime county Democratic family, had urged Democratic leaders to make no endorsement in the governor’s race.
* Dan Hynes was endorsed over the weekend by a couple of Democratic township committeepersons, which may cause some trouble since their party slated Quinn on Friday.
* My weekly syndicated newspaper column was written before the slating on Friday and before I learned late that afternoon about the SEIU/Teamsters deal. Still, I’d say it’s mostly correct. Hynes has some good ideas for the primary and a major flaw that he has not yet fully addressed…
There were no spectacular backdrops in place when Illinois Comptroller Dan Hynes officially announced his campaign for governor the other day.
No pretty pictures for the TV cameras. No gathering of his adoring family who could not keep their enraptured eyes off him. No flowery rhetoric. No huge crowd. No brass band. No rows of oversized American flags. No razzle dazzle at all, in fact.
Instead, Hynes stood in front of a blue curtain, a single flag and a campaign poster and calmly laid out a plan to cut the state’s budget, raise taxes on annual personal income above the first $200,000, tag certain “luxury” purchases with a new service tax, hike cigarette taxes by a dollar a pack and expand gaming.
That’s not a bad strategy for a Democratic primary.
Hynes can blast Gov. Pat Quinn’s proposed 50 percent income tax rate hike on everybody - including the working poor - by pointing to his own, far more “progressive” revenue-generating tax hikes. He can placate Democratic interest groups by showing he’s for new revenues.
Hynes’ message of quiet, honest competence versus the loud, bungling dishonesty of the past eleven years might also be a refreshing change for voters.
The budget cuts Hynes proposes (rolling back the state’s operating budget to fiscal year 2005 levels, for instance) won’t go over well with state employee unions such as the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, among other Democratic constituency groups.
But considering the way Quinn has treated AFSCME this year - demanding contract givebacks and threatening massive layoffs - the union probably has no place else to go in the Democratic primary unless another strong candidate steps into the race.
As for the general election, Hynes said during a conversation after his announcement that his proposal was similar to Barack Obama’s own tax plan during the 2008 campaign and Bill Clinton’s tax proposal from his first presidential bid. As Hynes rightly pointed out, both those guys won.
Even if President Obama’s recent speech on health care manages to turn his listing ship around, the midterm 2010 campaign won’t be like 2008 or 1992.
Illinois voters simply stopped listening to Republicans in this state several years ago. But after years of watching Rod Blagojevich and the perpetual Springfield circus, the GOP message of no tax hikes, budget cuts and ethics reform probably will get a fair hearing next fall.
One couldn’t help but think during Hynes’ announcement about the then-hapless Democrats’ 1994 disaster, when their gubernatorial candidate was constantly whacked for supporting a “42 percent tax hike.” Like that proposal, Hynes’ plan does have real merit, but it’s a big risk for the fall campaign - albeit far less of a risk than Quinn’s own “50 percent tax hike on everybody” plan.
For now, though, Job One for Hynes is winning the primary. And he does appear to have rattled Quinn. The mere mention of Hynes’ name almost never fails to prompt a flash of anger from the governor. You’d think a guy who released a poll recently showing him leading Hynes 54 percent to 26 percent among likely Democratic primary voters could afford to be more magnanimous. You’d be wrong.
All this means absolutely nothing, however, until Hynes can resolve an issue that threatens his entire candidacy.
While Hynes has always carefully burnished his reputation as a competent administrator, he hasn’t yet been able to shake the allegations that he fell down on the job during one of the most sensational scandals to hit the Chicago-area media market in years.
Comptroller Hynes’ office regulates aspects of the cemetery industry, mainly trust funds. Lately, Hynes has been accused by some of gross negligence for not noticing and stopping problems at the infamous and decrepit Burr Oak Cemetery in Alsip, which Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart claims was the scene of a massive scheme to resell already occupied burial plots and stack bodies on top of each other.
The harsh bottom line is Hynes has not yet found a way to effectively address this cemetery issue other than to point out the fact that he wasn’t really responsible for the problem.
Facts supporting inaction in an alleged massive failure like this just never are enough in the heat of a campaign.
His competency is in serious doubt. Without an effective, legitimate counter-spin, this cemetery issue easily could be Hynes’ undoing in a close election.
* Related…
* Cemetery task force report to paint dismal picture of industry in Illinois
* Dan Hynes wants illogical tax increases
* Press Release: Cook County Democratic Party slates candidates
* Cook County Democrats snub Stroger, back Quinn
* Quinn earns Cook County Democrats’ endorsement
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Sep 14, 09 @ 7:11 am
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How sincere is SEIU’s support? They were in the bag for Rod, so they are just being practical now in switching over to Quinn. Moreover, they were a wedge against AFSCME in the Rod years, and with that union and Quinn having a rocky period now, SEIU is just taking advantage. Is their support good? Sure. Is it sincere? Not really. Then again, maybe that doesn’t matter, but we’ll see if they can really turn out votes or if the support is more talk than action.
Comment by Gregor Monday, Sep 14, 09 @ 7:40 am
===Is it sincere? Not really.===
How would you know that?
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Sep 14, 09 @ 7:52 am
Politics as usual. I am a parent with a son with special needs and get a stipened from the state that is matched from the federal government. I used to recieve for my son around $1800.00 and my accountant would keep track of all expenses housing etc. This worked well for my son and our family. The state contracted out the job for the payment for the person with special needs, now they take out taxes. Now The current Goverenor has ok’d for unions to approach families who recceive this money so a union could represent our interest. We don’t want or need a union we our families who take care of children with special needs at home. What are we going to go on strike? I don’t think so. It is just another layer of government. The person who the monies is supposed to go to is the looser. And all those others who have their hand in the pockets of the person with special needs is the winner.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Sep 14, 09 @ 8:15 am
Oh, Republicans. Where are you. I don’t want SEIU to to bring about four more years of our tax-increase and Democratic-hack-loving accidental governor (remember, they played a major role in bringing us our Blago) but it’s sure looking more possible every day. Yet you (Repubs) haven’t even got a front runner we can focus on.
Comment by Cassandra Monday, Sep 14, 09 @ 8:28 am
Live long enough and you’ll see everything:
Incumbent Pat Quinn, racking up endorsements from union bosses and Cook County ward heelers.
Scrappy challenger Dan Hynes, alone in the wilderness, talking good government platforms.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Sep 14, 09 @ 8:39 am
Really neither here nor there, but the road construction out here is going full speed ahead.
While I usually groan and whine or it, I’m looking at it from a different angle right now. Each workers out there is bringing home a paycheck, so what if I am a bit annoyed and held up. But what I’ve been running into mostly is fed money with the big ‘putting America to work’ signs. Not much I can give credit to Quinn for, but it’s good to see the ladies and guys out here.
Comment by Cindy Lou Monday, Sep 14, 09 @ 8:51 am
Cindy Lou: maybe you should look at it like this: there is NO hard reality funding those paychecks. That’s a little scarier, no?
Comment by Mary, Sterling Monday, Sep 14, 09 @ 9:23 am
Mary, I’ll look at things any way I want to, thanks. I’m seeing a person out there doing a honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay and I’, seeing them doing it in some pretty nasty situations right now. Round the bend and out of the fog hardly visible stands the first sign holder. I’m not going to begrudge him/her food on the table tonight that they went out and earned. We’re going to feed them one way or the other, the politics in it are another issue.
Comment by Cindy Lou Monday, Sep 14, 09 @ 9:39 am
Hynes so far has not demonstrated enough charisma/personality to make this a race. So far he just doent have the chops. Facless press releases will only carry so much water.
Quinn on the other hand is galvanizing into quit the campainer.
Comment by Ghost Monday, Sep 14, 09 @ 10:11 am
Note: Danny Davis is a voting member on the Democratic committee in Cook County, and most likely running for Cook County President (although not official, yet). US Rep Davis was quick to reply this is the first time an incumbent was not endorsed. (i.e. Todd Stroger for President)
Comment by Third Generation Chicago Native Monday, Sep 14, 09 @ 10:11 am
Rich, you have totally neglected to mention the feasibility of Hynes’ progressive tax proposal. The General Assembly took a vote last session on it and it failed to get one Republican vote and not one downstate Dem (besides Mike Smith who proposed it). Neglecting to mention that there is almost no way this could be enacted, and that it would take a Constitutional amendment to do it, makes it seem as this has some chance to pass. It doesn’t. In your article you also failed to mentioned that Pat Quinn has supported a progressive tax system a lot longer than Dan Hynes has. This fact really insulates Quinn.
I know you know these things, so I don’t understand while you fail to bring them up. You are usually objective and fair, but your open dislike of Quinn is really effecting your credibility with me about anything your write about the Governor’s race.
Comment by WizardOfOzzie Monday, Sep 14, 09 @ 10:26 am
Wow, SEIU! Teamsters! Cook County Dem Machine! ACORN and moveon.org will probably be next. What a collection of all stars!The only thing that can save Quinn if he gets through the primary will be if Dan Proft wins his.
Comment by Bill Monday, Sep 14, 09 @ 10:41 am
At least there will be some more entertaining Bill & Jerry fights to look forward to.
Comment by Scooby Monday, Sep 14, 09 @ 10:55 am
Hey Bill,
It is obvious that you are an avid Glenn Beck viewer. Why don’t you sketch the Beck Tree for everyone that shows how SEIU and ACORN conspired to make the illegal alien, Barack Obama, President of the United States?
Comment by laborguy Monday, Sep 14, 09 @ 11:39 am
pseudo-labor guy,
What are you talking about? I guess your feeble attempt at a personal attack on me is your way of not talking about your new candidate, Quinn. Since your “union” has been unable to negotiate pensions for your members you don’t care that Mr. Flip Flop has declared war on public employees.
Way to show solidarity,dude. Maybe you can get Quinn to make some back room deals with you like Rod did. I guess that’s one way to be the “fastest growing union” in the country. Now if you could just negotiate raises big enough to cover their dues increases.
Comment by Bill Monday, Sep 14, 09 @ 12:03 pm
Bill, c’mon. Let’s not go back to those not so fun special primary days, OK? Thanks.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Sep 14, 09 @ 12:16 pm
lol,
OK, be a buzz kill. Some chains are just meant for yanking but I’ll behave if he does.
Comment by Bill Monday, Sep 14, 09 @ 12:21 pm
Hey Bill,
Relax brother. I was only referencing the conspiratorial tone of your post. I don’t think it was Governor Quinn that declared war on public employees. If you recall, Gov. Quinn had a plan to increase revenue that would have avoided all the cuts. It was the cowardly state legislature that forced the Governor to make the hard choices. Not a lot of profiles in courage in Sprinfield these days. So, lets make sure to place the blame where it belongs. BTW, I just saw Dan Hynes and his entourage leaving the Tribune Tower w Rick Pearson in tow. He must have been doing the ed board. Good luck bill.
Comment by laborguy Monday, Sep 14, 09 @ 12:56 pm
Wizard,
Pat Quinn is hardly the E.F. Hutton of Illinois. The intellectual dishonesty of PQ and his supporters is truly astounding, and quite shameful. The fact of the matter is that PQ proposed a progressive tax years ago when it wasn’t needed. No doubt one of his numerous populist ploys and attempts to get media attention? Yet, when he becomes governor during one of the state’s worst fiscal crisis, does he even propose the progressive tax? No, he doesn’t. So, what happened did he lose faith?
Now he wants to jump up and take credit as he if invented the progressive taxing scheme. I don’t recall him being a Univ. of Chicago economist, or anyone remotely credible on economic issues. He broke the most basic of economic principles earlier this year by proposing a tax hike (across the board) during a recession, Wiz. I’m Republican, but let me give President Obama, someone I don’t often agree with, credit for even knowing that much.
Did you see that poll that came out last week about PQ? When PQ talks nobody listens? Apparently so, as an overwhelming majority do no like him or don’t think much of him to have an opinion, and this is despite his 40 years in politics and seven months on the job as the man who replaced G-Rod, and who milks media attention every chance he gets.
Pat Quinn who? Indeed! LMAO
Though we all know where the concept of the tea (bag) protest originated and when, I’m surprised he hasn’t tried to take credit for it. He’s been using the tea(bag) protest stunt off and on for the past 35 years.
Comment by Okay Then... Monday, Sep 14, 09 @ 1:06 pm
Hynes so far has not demonstrated enough charisma/personality to make this a race.
Since when did this make a difference? Look at all the “charisma” Blago had. Where did he end up? In this modern age it all seems to be about the flashiness and less and less about what the canidate truly believes in.
Comment by Hobes Monday, Sep 14, 09 @ 1:16 pm
Okay,
Huh? No, Pat Quinn didn’t invent the progressive tax but has been a supporter of it IL for quite a while now. His orginal budget proposal called increasing personal exemptions, thus making the system more progressive. Why was he going to waste his time on bringing up a constituational amendment to make the income tax more progressive when 1) it had no chance of passing (see Mike Smith’s constitutional amendment roll call), 2) wouldn’t have done anything to solve our current budget crisis.
If you’re really a Republican, you should probably worry more about your less then stellar crop of has beens and never will bes than Pat Quinn.
Comment by WizardOfOzzie Monday, Sep 14, 09 @ 1:36 pm
Of course PQ has never engaged in excerises of futility, huh Wizard? So he just decided to waste his time and OURS going on for months about a tax hike knowing that, politically at least, it was a non-starter? Oh, okay then.
I love the way PQ conveniently backed off and out of his 50 percent tax hike talk and will now wait until after the primary. Voter reaction to his tax hike troubling him much? Yeah, he’s real tough (snark). A straight shooter (snark). Able to make hard choices and stand by them (snark). Yeah he’s man of conviction and a real good leader (snark).
For good reason there was no democrat governor post Walker. You guys are real brilliant coming with G-Rod out the gate, not once, but tiwce, aren’t you? I’ve seen what you people have to offer, and no thanks!
George Ryan was just one guy who happened to be republican, your problems are party-wide and systemic/endemic. Roland Burris, Todd Stroger, G-Rod, Daley, his HDO, Joe Berrios etc.
Comment by Okay Then... Monday, Sep 14, 09 @ 2:03 pm
Okay, that is some truly tortured logic. Sorry, but Pat Quinn doesn’t get take votes for the legislators. It takes two branches of government to pass a law. The legislature chose not to act. Please deal in reality.
Comment by WizardOfOzzie Monday, Sep 14, 09 @ 2:16 pm
Actually the senate demcorats, using their majority, did act. they wanted a 67 percent tax increase, which Quinn turned around and supported over his own 50 percent tax increase.
The house democrats didn’t want to hold the bag alone on the tax increase. But, they will in 2010—just after the primary.
Where have you been that you don’t know the facts of what truly happened?
And, as for SEIU and Wal-Mart, how does SEIU feel about Mayor Daley? He generally supports Wal-Mart. In these tough economic times who wouldn’t support business development and the jobs and growth and tax revenue it brings? SEIU doesn’t care about wokers making $10.00+ and getting benefits, SEIU cares only about what’s in it ($$$) for SEIU.
Comment by Okay Then... Monday, Sep 14, 09 @ 2:28 pm
“Where have you been that you don’t know the facts of what truly happened?”
I made the point that the legislature wouldn’t vote for an income tax increase. It takes two houses to pass a bill. Where were you that you don’t know that?
“I love the way PQ conveniently backed off…”
Conveniently? Again, the facts simply don’t support your rant.
Aaaaaaand… What does Mayor Daley have to do with anything posted?
Comment by WizardOfOzzie Monday, Sep 14, 09 @ 3:14 pm
Pat Quinn supported con-con everytime it was on the ballot. He has for many years supported progressive changes to the flat income tax structure presently required by the state constitution. I don’t think Quinn disagrees with Hynes about the desirability of a progressive income tax; its a matter of feasibility. The legislature has consistently opposed con con. Will they find the votes this year for a constitutional amendment for a progressive tax? It would be great if they did, but what are the odds? A governor needs an alternative plan, in case the legislature doesn’t agree to amend the constitution.
So where is Hynes’ Plan B? Do we have to elect him governor first, before he figures out his backup plan?
Pat Quinn is dealing with the world, the legislature and the state constitution as they are–in other words, he is living in the real world.
Comment by james Monday, Sep 14, 09 @ 3:25 pm
==== Yet, when he becomes governor during one of the state’s worst fiscal crisis, does he even propose the progressive tax? No ===
That is a majorily misleading spin. a progressive tax is unconstitutional. quinn needed a ready o go income tax to deal with the current fiscal crisis. Somthing that pops revenue to the State years later if, and only if, you ammend the consitution is not going to help today when it is actually needed. So Quinn tried to craft and effective prgressive tax by majorily upping the per child tax credit. It was the bst way to try and implement an effective progressive tax within the confies of the current constitution.
The State doesnt need more talking points and long term plans to bring in monery in 2012. We need money today. The State has never been this short of revenue, ever. Even when Ryan raised taxes.
Comment by Ghost Monday, Sep 14, 09 @ 3:25 pm
The question about Daley was related to the one of SEIU’s cited reasons, as posted, for supporting Quinn. Try reading the entire entry about the SEIU endorsement, oh that’s right as per your first post you didn’t bother to read anything you just went on the attack.
Look, for what it is worth I think PQ is a pretty decent person, and was a good lt. governor, but I don’t care for him as a governor. It’s cool that you and other people like him, but can y’all at least be honest? Sometimes?
Some of the things he has done while being governor should be of concern to you as a presumably taxpaying Illinois citizen. If you honestly think he is the best and only person to lead the state and its people to the promised land, okay then.
He did conveniently back off his tax hike proposal, approx a week ago. Now he says he’ll try for it after the primary. You do know that some polls (i.e. Rasmussen) showed him being in big trouble politically if he continued to push for that 50 percent tax hike during the Fall session. So he did the politically expedient thing. Coincidence?
Of course it takes both chambers to pass the tax increase PQ sought. The question at budget deadlines one, two and three earlier this year was why didn’t Quinn do the work necessary to secure the votes he needed in the first place? He knew going that his tax increase proposal wasn’t going to be popular.
Comment by Okay Then... Monday, Sep 14, 09 @ 3:40 pm
Ok, james I can accept that on the feasability aspect, but I go back to my original position that Quinn and his supporters need to stop acting like Hynes stole Quinn’s idea and won’t give him credit for it. It’s kinda like the back and forth at the federal level between McCain and Obama on the troop surge in Iraq. Quinn deserves no credit here, and he and his supporters need to stop mudslinging with it.
Ghost, you raise one of my points about Quinn and his supporters. Yes, this is the worst economic condition that the state has ever been in. Instead of attacking Hynes for what he “may not know,” or being a “johnny come lately”, Quinn clearly didn’t have the right answer to address the problem either. His plan as we all know didn’t work. So he and his supporets might want to be less vitrolic here.
Comment by Okay Then... Monday, Sep 14, 09 @ 3:52 pm
“…but can y’all at least be honest? Sometimes?”
Huh? What at all was I dishonest about?
“why didn’t Quinn do the work necessary to secure the votes he needed in the first place?”
If you were Pat Quinn what would you have done to secure those votes? He did everything in his power to work with legislators to craft a proposal that they’d be ok with.
As far as political expediency, PQ has at no time shied away from his call for an income tax increase. It’s not convenient to be the only person out there cheerleading for what you think is right, but politically dangerous. At least give him some credit for sticking up for what he believes is best for this state. That is why he is the best candidate for Governor. He is willing to everything w/in his power to do what he thinks is right.
Comment by WizardOfOzzie Monday, Sep 14, 09 @ 3:53 pm
Why are so many of you down on the Service Employees. I’ve always found them to be pretty good people.
Comment by steve schnorf Monday, Sep 14, 09 @ 4:02 pm
Prolly shouldn’t go there, Steve. Glad you asked late in the day. lol
Were you on vacation during the special primary?
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Sep 14, 09 @ 4:07 pm
Why down on SEIU? Sun-Times report on union leader pensions, maybe?
Wizard,
For what it is worth Hyne’s progressive tax proposal is entirely a bad thing, as it suggests that he is thinking ahead and is in that way, if nothing else, showing some vision. That may be the reason why I am not balking at his proposal. Yes, I will vote republican for governor and my one criticism about all the candidates on teh R side is that they are all stuck on the notion that the fiscal crisis can be solve without a tax increase of somekind. I’m willing to be intellectually honest here and admit that they are wrong.
Comment by Okay Then... Monday, Sep 14, 09 @ 4:21 pm
I’m biting my tongue, er, typing fingers.
Comment by Bill Monday, Sep 14, 09 @ 4:45 pm
Sun-Times report on union leader pensions, maybe?
Except, of course, for the fact that said report had nothing to do with SEIU.
Comment by dave Monday, Sep 14, 09 @ 5:22 pm