Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner is holding the state budget hostage, demanding his “turnback” agenda that would hurt workers -- he wants to abolish the construction prevailing wage, curtail union contract bargaining rights and cut legal rights for injured workers through workers’ compensation.

The Illinois House has voted on portions of Governor Rauner’s anti-worker, anti-middle class agenda 10 times now; and 10 times the House has overwhelmingly rejected it. 

 
With 60 votes needed to pass legislation and 71 Democrats elected to the Illinois House, Rauner’s proposals face an uphill battle.  Not surprisingly, no Democrat has ever supported the Rauner amendment.  House Republicans have typically either voted “present” (a non-committal vote) or refused to vote.  Their stated reasoning behind the voting strategy is that the amendments – even though they represent Rauner’s proposals exactly – do not reflect the Governor’s bill because it is not tied to his proposed two-year property tax freeze. 

Rauner is holding the final pieces of the state budget hostage until legislators give in to his demands to cut construction worker pay through elimination of Prevailing Wage Act coverage on local government construction projects and allowing local governments to prohibit their workers from bargaining over pay, health insurance, privatization of their jobs and other, basic items.
 
Only a handful of Republicans have voted with Labor on these critical issues and only one has done so consistently: State Rep. Don Moffitt (R-Galesburg).  

Coincidentally, Moffitt announced that he will retire at the end of his term.  

A list of the total number of votes cast by area downstate legislators is on the front page.  

Union members are encouraged to please use this “milestone” tenth vote as an opportunity to thank legislators, both Republicans and Democrats, who have voted to uphold family wages and union rights.

This is also an opportunity to ask legislators who voted “present” or were absent during critical votes why they want to cut the  construction prevailing wage  or why they want to take away your right to have a union voice on the job that can negotiate over your wages, benefits, health care and on the job rights.

Currently many social service agencies and providers for the disabled and poor are unable to meet payroll because of the Rauner deadlock.   Funds for local governments, local roads and other vital services are all lagging because of Rauner agenda.

Representative   Party City       Right   Present    Not Voting    Absent   Excused
Carol Ammons    D-Urbana          9                           1          
Tom Bennett      R-Watseka        2           7              1          
Dan Brady          R-Bloomington               8              2          
Adam Brown       R-Champaign                 3              6                           1
Kate Cloonon      D-Kankakee     10                    
Jehan Gordon-Booth D-Peoria      10                    
Norine Hammon   R-Macomb         2          5              3          
David Leitch         R-Peoria           2          2                                           6
Frank Mautino    D-Spring Valley    6                                      4     
Bill Mitchell        R-Decatur           3          1              5                           1
Don Moffitt        R-Galesburg        8                         1                           1
Sue Scherer        D-Decatur         10                    
Elgie Sims          D-Chicago         10                    
Keith Sommer      R-Morton                      8               1                           1
Mike Unes            R-Pekin             4         2              3                            1

(Thanks to Sean Stott and Deirdre Darnall of the Midwest Region Laborers for this information.)