While struggles over the role of unions have boiled over in recent years in Republican-held Midwestern states like Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana and Ohio, a fight in Illinois, President Obama’s home state and a Democratically controlled union stronghold, marks new ground. His Democratic opponent in November, Gov. Pat Quinn, is seen as vulnerable....
“I’m not anti-union,” [Rauner] said last week. His complaint, he says, is with public sector union leaders who donate to political leaders. “When government union power can influence politicians in the contract negotiations for pensions, for pay scales, for health care, it’s a direct financial incentive — in effect as a bribe — with someone across the negotiating table.”
March 20, 2014
Bruce Rauner, "denounced by union leaders, some of whom say they fear he will try to be the next Mitch Daniels... or a knockoff of Gov. Scott Walker..."
In the NYT: "Union Leaders Gird for Battle Against Republican Running for Governor of Illinois."
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Illinois has been beyond repair since Reynolds v. Sims, and nothing, not even Bruce Rauner, can fix that.
“When government union power can influence politicians in the contract negotiations for pensions, for pay scales, for health care, it’s a direct financial incentive — in effect as a bribe — with someone across the negotiating table.”
Nice positioning of the issue: "I'm not anti-union, I'm anti-bribery and anti-corruption"
The question is whether Illinois voters see bribery and corruption as a feature or a bug.
When government union power can influence politicians in the contract negotiations for pensions, for pay scales, for health care, it’s a direct financial incentive — in effect as a bribe — with someone across the negotiating table.
The dubious nature of public sector unions used to be obvious even to Democrats like FDR when he was governor of NY. Now, those historical lessons go out the window in favor of cold, hard cash.
"I'm not anti-union, I'm anti-bribery and anti-corruption"
Haha. Here in Wisconsin it's all bribery and corruption. They don't even try to hide it anymore.
I odn't see the Illinois Governor as having the ability to enact reforms in the way that Walker did. Chicago is really an entity unto itself, and too strong for the rest of the state to effect real reform.
It is an awakening, with the public becoming acutely aware of just how corrupt the Labor-Democrat-Media complex is and how it is bankrupting municipalities, cities, states and the country as a whole. As the famous Julian Simon used to say, "Things that can't go on forever won't." The current model of public unions negotiating with pols who set up huge benefits for the unions who turn around donate a large kickback to their local Democrat and then run anti-Republican ads with their members' dues is unsustainable.
The public trough ain't deep enough to feed all the pigs who have their snouts in it. And, fundamentally, making promises that future citizens will have to honor by sacrificing public safety (Stockton, CA) or fire protection (San Bernardino, CA) or low-income services (San Jose, CA) is immoral. It is the equivalent of eating our seed corn and telling the kids, sorry, no food for you. All for the purpose of padding the extremely generous benefits packages that crooked pols made to union thugs.
The model is breaking down because it is unsustainable. Why are progressives so obsessed with sustainability -- except when it comes to financial matters?
"I'm not anti-union, I'm anti-bribery and anti-corruption"
I lived in Chicago for a while. If you're anti-bribery and anti-corruption, in effect you are anti-union in Chicago.
Chicago. The city on the make.
Democrats. The party on the take.
@Mike 949: Well said.
If Raun can stick with this message I think he will get a lot of traction and will help with the continuing education of the poor schmuck taxpayers about public unions. Whether he gets enough traction to beat the Chicago machine remains to be seen.
It's Illinois so even if he wins he will never have enough votes in the state legislature to enact any meaningful reform.
“When government union power can influence politicians in the contract negotiations for pensions, for pay scales, for health care, it’s a direct financial incentive — in effect as a bribe — with someone across the negotiating table.”
That's always going to be a winning issue.
"It's Illinois so even if he wins he will never have enough votes in the state legislature to enact any meaningful reform. "
hit the nail on the head there cubanbob
Mike, I don't think voters are thoughtful enough to realize what you say is happening.
Illinois is not fixable. Rauner is not Walker -- partly because Walker has a majority of the legislature on his side, and no one contemplates the GOP taking the (heavily-gerrymandered) legislature in Illinois; partly because Walker is an idealist, and Rauner, so far as I can tell, has simply seized on "break the unions" as his campaign pitch. I am very skeptical of Rauner accomplishing anything; he's just about buying the governor's office in the way that Bloomberg bought the mayor's office.
http://janetheactuary.blogspot.com/2014/03/illinois-primary-postmortem.html
"Haha. Here in Wisconsin it's all bribery and corruption. They don't even try to hide it anymore."
You're right, garage. The unions don't even try to conceal it anymore.
It will be better for Illinois if Quinn wins. Let the Dems take the blame for the problems and the responsibility to change it. The Illinois general assembly is overwhelmingly Democratic as are Chicago and Cook County. Illinois has the second highest unemployment rate and the worst public pension underfunding.
No same person wants to be the captain on a sinking ship.
Illinois is broke. And the hurt will really begin in about 10 years when the retiring boomers leave.
“When government union power can influence politicians in the contract negotiations for pensions, for pay scales, for health care, it’s a direct financial incentive — in effect as a bribe — with someone across the negotiating table.”
That line of thinking shines a light where no 'news' media will go. If he can articulate that circle of corruption, and hammer on it loud and long, he'll score points among 'the independents' who now fear for their retirement and their progeny. He can use FDR, who opposed unionization for public employees, for reinforcement among Democrats.
FDR accurately foresaw that conflict of interest, union vs public, long before JFK folded to union pressure and enabled it.
Madigan will not let go.
I agree that it's better if the Democrats retain control of this sinking ship USS Illinois. They've run it onto the Shoals of Bankruptcy, let them reap the rewards.
It was interesting listening to WBBM on my drive back yesterday -- that Representative who resigned abruptly after his computers were seized and who is now claiming serious health issues -- was he a Democrat? They never said.
that Representative who resigned abruptly after his computers were seized and who is now claiming serious health issues --
That Rep should move to Wisconsin, easily the most corrupt state in the Union. Seized computers by the authorities wouldn't hurt their career path one bit. It would be called a "witch hunt!"
"That Rep should move to Wisconsin, easily the most corrupt state in the Union. Seized computers by the authorities wouldn't hurt their career path one bit. It would be called a "witch hunt!"
Well, he would certainly get your support if he is a Democrat.
Rainer really could play this class warfare card correctly. Offer to take a salary of $1 a year. Point out Madigan and others and be bi-partisan who are worth big bucks and who don't. Start running on the bennies our elected officials get and point out the state is suffering, the taxpayer shouldn't. I like Vallas, he's a good man which is why Quinn brought him back, but he chose to align himself with Quinn.
mccullough said...
It will be better for Illinois if Quinn wins. Let the Dems take the blame for the problems and the responsibility to change it.
I don't know if it will be better for Illinois, but it will be better for America. What better for America than a few more examples of unrestrained Democratic governance?
- Significantly increased taxes,
- A moribund economy,
- Perpetual borrowing to cover inflated pension costs,
- Poulation decline as younger residents move in search of jobs,
- Bankruptcy.
That Rep should move to Wisconsin, easily the most corrupt state in the Union.
Hyperbole does not suit your writing style.
WI would never top RI or LA in terms of corrupt states. This is easily the least corrupt state of the 4 I've lived in for any amount of time (PA being the 4th).
Stop whining about the normal state of Government business that is all honky-dorey as far as you're concerned when the Democrats control the State.
That Rep should move to Wisconsin, easily the most corrupt state in the Union.
Man, hyperbole flows off of you like gravy, doesn't it?
Stop whining about the normal state of Government business that is all honky-dorey as far as you're concerned when the Democrats control the State
Is it normal to have the sitting governor under investigation before he was even inaugurated? Normal to have a legal defense fund, which is still actively used? That's a first in Wisconsin. Normal for a sitting governor to refuse to answer any questions whatsoever why a illegal router was in his office and refuse to answer any questions about people down the hall that worked for him getting busted for crimes? There have been seized computers all around Walker and his inner circle, and that bothers you not a bit, but one computer in Illinois does?
A union "denouncement" actually seems like quite an endorsement don't you think?
The next Mitch Daniels or Scott Walker? Let's hope.
Gov Quinn's answer: "But my opponent is rich! He owns fancy houses!!"
Gonna be interesting ...
"Is it normal to have the sitting governor under investigation before he was even inaugurated? "
Only if he tries to control public employee unions in a state that was dominated by Democrats until the public woke up.
I expect Rauner will be "under investigation" before the election.
In other Obama news, the ATF raided a gun store in spite of a judge's restraining order. Nothing to see here. Move along.
.... and that bothers you not a bit, but one computer in Illinois does?
I was simply noting that WBBM never mentioned the guy's party affiliation. Shouldn't that be part of the story?
That fact that a computer was seized wasn't really germane to my point (except for the fact that the timing of the seizure and the sudden retirement due to ongoing serious health issues might make a normal person go Hmmmmm). WBBM was quick to point out that no charges have been filed.
I was kinda bummed that Olberweis -- the dairy guy -- won the Senate Primary because his opponent was named Truax. I wonder if he's related.
Is it normal to have the sitting governor under investigation before he was even inaugurated? Normal to have a legal defense fund, which is still actively used? That's a first in Wisconsin. Normal for a sitting governor to refuse to answer any questions whatsoever why a illegal router was in his office and refuse to answer any questions about people down the hall that worked for him getting busted for crimes? There have been seized computers all around Walker and his inner circle, and that bothers you not a bit, but one computer in Illinois does?
President Lincoln's Ghost - "Find out what Walker's drinking and make sure Rauner has plenty of it."
Why is this post tagged with just the names of other white, male Republican governors? Why not L'Wren Scott? Why does everybody presume that L'Wren Scott didn't have serious and thoughtful ideas about public sector collective bargaining?
Rauner is a private equity guy like Romney so let the demonizing begin. It is up to the voters to decide if they prefer an incompetent Dem, i.e. like Obama, or someone who can at least run a large organization.
Only if he tries to control public employee unions in a state that was dominated by Democrats until the public woke up.
The public is so woken up they need to drastically reduce public voting hours?
“I am not willing to defend them anymore,” he explained when Salvia asked why Republicans sought to limit the number of voting hours a municipality could offer. “I’m just not and I’m embarrassed by this.”
"I was simply noting that WBBM never mentioned the guy's party affiliation. Shouldn't that be part of the story?"
Here is the rule for reporting political party affiliation as near as I can tell from reading newspapers the last 15 years:
If the person does something bad, and he/she is a Republican, the party affiliation is studiously reported. If the person does something bad, and he/she is a Democrat, party affiliation is studiously avoided.
"Since announcing his retirement in the face of a tough primary challenge from conservative state Rep. Howard Marklein, R-Spring Green, the Republican iconoclast has become more strident in criticizing the party in which he has made a political career. "
I guess his next job will involve lobbying and the Democrats will probably be some of his clients.
I knew Madison. Madison was a frenemy of mine. Springfield, you are no Madison.
Only if he tries to control public employee unions
Your timeline is fucked up. The investigation started back when Scottie was still telling the lie about him wanting and willing to sit down with the workers to negotiate.
He didn't "drop the bomb" about his actual plan of divide and conquer until much later.
You're really asking for trouble if you're a Republican in a Democrat dominated state and you try and govern as a Conservative (If you govern like Arnold did in California, you'll be just fine).
This is why we see Walker under investigation, it's a tactic in a Democrat controlled state, where all the Bureaucrats are Democrats. We see a similar thing with the IRS because the Republicans (Conservatives) were getting uppity in 2010. Can't have that.
The same will happen to any Republican who tries to govern as a Conservative in Illinois. They will be investigated, trashed, and taken through the wringer.
This is one of the reasons I like Walker for President. He has survived the Democrat onslaught. It gives me hope he is ready for a national stage.
The Garages of the world are left to whining and throwing tantrums. This is good for Wisconsin and good for the USofA.
"Since announcing his retirement in the face of a tough primary challenge from conservative state Rep. Howard Marklein, R-Spring Green, the Republican iconoclast has become more strident in criticizing the party in which he has made a political career. Schultz has served as a legislator from southwestern Wisconsin since 1983, including two stints as Senate majority leader in 2003 and 2005."
Thank God we are getting rid of another one of these "Republicans".
He's doing the smart thing now though, he's angling for a job with the media. The media loves Republicans who criticize Republicans. We should be seeing this guy on MSNBC and CNN a lot, soon.
Ah the specter of "illegal routers" comes up again. My my. It is hilarious that simply the process of investigation and accusation is enough for Garage to hang any Republican, smear their name, call them guilty without benefit of a trial. Yet all the Democrats recently arrested and charged with illegal campaigning, vote buying and voter fraud don't even exist in his universe of concerns.
Illegal routers! John Doe.
Meh. Fuck your concern trolling you stalinist hypocrite.
One more thing Grunge Mahal: Why do you need more than one DAY to freaking vote, you moron. You got fraud-by-mail, early-fraud, no ID fraud. You don't need extra-hours fraud too.
If in a few years I learn that "garage mahal" is standing on a street corner with a sign that reads "The End is Nigh" I will be completely unsurprised.
[sarc]
Corruption only starts anywhere the moment a Republican is elected, apparently. Heck, I'll bet his sister is a thespian and his brother likes to masticate in public. Wouldn't you know his father is a homo sapien?
God, these Republicans are horrible!!
[/sarc]
eric said...
This is one of the reasons I like Walker for President. He has survived the Democrat onslaught. It gives me hope he is ready for a national stage.
Don't kid yourself. The national-stage vetting of a Republican will be two orders of magnitude beyond what Walker was subjected to in Wisconsin.
Ah the specter of "illegal routers" comes up again. My my. It is hilarious that simply the process of investigation and accusation is enough for Garage to hang any Republican, smear their name, call them guilty without benefit of a trial
Reminder: Three people he hired that worked down the hall were charged and convicted. Also noteworthy: The router was in Walker's office and he refuses to answer one question regarding it. Other than that you really nailed it.
"he refuses to answer one question regarding it. "
Wait, are we talking about the Presidents college transcripts?
Another garage fail. Hijacks thread to feed his fact challenged Walker obsession.
Another garage fail. Hijacks thread to feed his fact challenged Walker obsession.
Will be happy to correct. What facts did I get wrong?
garage is still angry about that Billion dollar surplus and 500 million tax cut.
Garage knows those kind of actions cut directly into his free stuff.
"he refuses to answer one question regarding it. "
kind of like Harry Reid refuses to answer any questions about his alleged pederasty. Since accusation=conviction in your world, Garage, when did you stop beating your wife?
The same will happen to any Republican who tries to govern as a Conservative in Illinois. They will be investigated, trashed, and taken through the wringer.
To be fair, just about anyone who governs Illinois eventually ends up in jail, regardless of Political Party. It's just the Illinois way.
garage: "The router was in Walker's office and he refuses to answer one question regarding it."
LOL
Garage gets very very very upset when politicos won't answer questions.
Lois Lerner? Taking the 5th?
Who? What?
LOL
Will be happy to correct. What facts did I get wrong?
Maybe when the hostess does a Walker thread.
Huh? Wha? Questions? J j j just like Obama??????? Harry Reid????????
Maybe when the hostess does a Walker thread.
This post is tagged "Scott Walker". Have at it.
garage: "Huh? Wha? Questions? J j j just like Obama??????? Harry Reid????????"
garage is absolutely helpless without cut and paste assistance.
Sad.
In a way.
If being investigated and refusing to answer questions are proof of corruption, then can I be assured that Garage was in favor of removing Bill Clinton from office and for keeping Hillary Clinton out of office?
Getting back to Bruce Rauner, I'm certain come election day that more than enough votes will be manufactured out of Chicago (a la 1960) to ensure a comfortable dem win.
You're right, garage. The unions don't even try to conceal it anymore.
Don't you know, unions are as pure as the wind driven snow. No mob-connections or anything.
If garage is correct about corruption in Wisconsin, then isn't the prosecutor's office just as corrupt? Why should their investigation be considering trustworthy?
What Walker's crime? When can we expect the indictment?
As if Scott Walker is supposed to know what a router is, much less how one could be configured for nefarious purposes.
Really garage - do you have any evidence that Scott Walker is an IT geek?
Garage, I'm not surprised at your inability to grasp subtlety.
Garage, I'm not surprised at your inability to grasp subtlety
You mean you couldn't find anything I said that was factually wrong.
"if you're a Republican in a Democrat dominated state and you try and govern as a Conservative (If you govern like Arnold did in California, you'll be just fine)."
Actually, Arnold did try for about six months. He sponsored several initiatives that might have done some good. The teachers' union mortgaged their headquarters to spend $56 million to defeat his initiatives. They lost, partly because he made the mistake of calling a special election where there was low (union members) turnout.
He got the lesson, hired a lefty chief if staff and settled down to smoke cigars and play to the Democrats.
wouldn't union controlled stranglehold be more appropriate?
You mean you couldn't find anything I said that was factually wrong.
Tagging "Scott Walker" was due to the similarity of their politics vis a vis union influence, etc. NOT as an excuse to have you, once again, for the millionth time bring up the issues surrounding Walker and his staff. We've heard them, we've talked about them, you have nothing new. You're so simple minded. I couldn't care less about proving you factually wrong. Your MO on this blog was well demonstrated years ago and its assumed to be be factually careless. The onus is on you.
Great rebuttals guys. Strong content.
No rebuttal is necessary when responding to.....nothing.
"Your timeline is fucked up. The investigation started back when Scottie was still telling the lie about him wanting and willing to sit down with the workers to negotiate."
I don't live in WI but if I did I as a WI taxpayer sure as hell would want the governor looking out for my wallet rather than buy, excuse me, negotiate with the public sector unions. Garage on his rant about corruption. Fine. I will believe that when a Democrat prosecutor on the make drops his qualified immunity and exposes himself to the risk of being sued for malicious and or baseless prosecution.
Garage, after years of investigations of the evil Walker, has the case gone to trial yet?
Garage stopped beating his wife after she divorced him for his sexual and intellectual shortcomings..
Great rebuttals guys. Strong content.
The rebuttal crowd is expected to first PRODUCE a case for you AND THEN rebut it?
Seems like a lot of work.
"Is it normal to have the sitting governor under investigation before he was even inaugurated?"
In a State where the Attorney General is a political foe of said Governor? Sure. Hell, garage, anyone can "investigate". Call me when a charge is sustained and the man is actually put on trial and when evidence that something is amiss is presented in open court. Then we'll see if this is anything other than pure political bull$h!t. "Investigation" means nothing.
Hell, here in Illinois we've had 4 of our last 8 governors go to prison on felony convictions, including the last two (1 Democrat, 1 Republican). We laugh at "investigation".
garage:
That Rep should move to Wisconsin, easily the most corrupt state in the Union
LOL! This from someone who lives next to Illinois is just incredible. You're shocked that a politician might be under investigation by a political foe? And that this should be a disqualification? Here in Illinois the Democratic Speaker of the House (arguably the most powerful man in Illinois government) supported two convicted felons and at least one whose actually been charged with a felony related to his office for election to the Illinois House in the primary election just held this last Tuesday. And this is a primary, where control of the seat itself by his party is not at issue, he could easily have found someone clean to run. But - finding someone clean to run is not his objective, finding someone who's O.K. with "pay-to-play" politics is. I suppose that a felon is much more amenable to such things, so perhaps on second thought it makes sense.
Most corrupt? When your Speaker of the House starts supporting felons for election let me know.
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