(Ilinois) Governor threatens up to 5,000 layoffs

[UpInArms]

http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-blago211.html

SPRINGFIELD -- In a brass-knuckles negotiating ploy, Gov. Blagojevich threatened Thursday to pink-slip as many as 5,000 state workers -- if lawmakers don't raise certain taxes and fees and cut corporate tax breaks to balance the upcoming state budget.

His administration insisted it didn't want to preside over what is believed to be the most massive layoff spree in state government history, but stiff legislative resistance to his funding alternatives require cuts in headcount to be considered, aides said.

The idea set off a buzz at the Statehouse and claims of betrayal from the largest union representing state workers, which backed the governor in 2002 on a campaign promise not to lay off state workers to help balance the budget.

<snip>

The governor's bid to raise taxes and fees by close to $400 million and reel in another $300 million- plus in corporate tax breaks has triggered a huge outcry from business groups, which contend the moves will drive companies out of state and cause Illinois to lose jobs.

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[davsand]

1. I wonder where the 66% approval rating comes from.

They cite a 66% approval rating for Blag, but I am durned if i know where that number comes from. I've not talked to too many folks downstate that are happy with him, and it sounds like Chicago is unhappy too.

WHO, exactly, is happy with him?

If he sticks his thumb in AFSMCE's eye right now he's not gonna be in good shape at all. Blag won, in part, because Labor worked hard for him all over the state. They were united behind him and it showed. If he keeps this kind of stuff up that support will not be there come time for re-election.

I've not heard ANYTHING about this--so it is not a rumor that is making the rounds--but what IF Hynes decided to run against Blag in a primary? I did hear there was some bad blood between them after Blag's last campaign. If that is true, there wouldn't be much to stop Hynes from mounting a primary challenge on Blag--especially if Chicago AND Labor are both unhappy.



Laura

[lovedems]

2. My husband lost his job last June 30 due to state cuts!

Needless to say, my husband is not happy with him at all. He worked for the Illinois State Board of Education which is not under the governors control per the state constitution. He working hard to get it under his control so he has cut the budget so my husbands job went down the toilet.

I guess I should say it is a combination of Blago. and Bu$h underfunding NCLB.

I am not happy with Blago. at all. I know he has a mess to clean up but I live in the state capital and he is NEVER here. There was an article in our paper a few weeks back about how many state jobs have left Springfield and have gone up to Chicago.

[davsand]

3. I have not heard many Dems downstate say anything good about him.

I am amazed at how angry the downstate Dems are with Blag--and it is stuff like you cite that they are mad about. From the get-go he had folks mad at him because he didn't want to move to Springfield, and it has gone downhill since then.

In part, some of the bitching I have heard was from Dem party chairs who were pissed that none of the state jobs that opened up were filled by people they wanted to help out. I know that in some parts of the state, they have manufactured jobs to pay off Dems (take a look at St Clair County for some great examples.) But for the most part, the rest of the state has gone begging except for Cook County.

IF the party chairs are mad at him, I doubt that there will be much mobilization or even desire to keep him in office for another term. If you add labor into the ranks of the pissed off, it suddenly makes him very vulnerable to a primary.

Wow, I am just sucking air on this one...


Laura

[lovedems]

4. What is terrible about my husbands job loss was he was union

(IFSO) and rather then let the highly paid contractors go first, which is part of the contract deal, they kept all of the contrators and laid off union people. That is more the fault of ISBE but the gov. didn't stand up and object or put a stop to it. My husband was rather dismayed because he thought Blago. was union friendly! From the beginning of Blago.'s term, ISBE employees were very worried about he would do to their agency. It looks as if their fears are coming to light.

The contractors made significantly more money then the state employees and they should have gone first had they really wanted to save money. Everyone just turned a blind eye to the ISBE layoffs and it was really disappointing.

This is just our very personal story regarding the governor.

[Bandit]

5. Good for him

What the hell do people want? He is trying to establish a progressive taxation system and meeting nothing but resistance. I thought everyone here was for cutting back major tax breaks for Corporations and raising taxes on the wealthy. It is the Republican legislature that is causing the problem because they are blocking his attempts at governing in a proper manner. I am getting pretty damn tired of this attitude of no taxes no matter how much it hurts our country. I'm sorry folks but America is in dire straights and a new taxation policy has to be considered. Like Willie Sutton said I rob banks because that is where the money is. Well the rich people is where the money is so that is where taxes should be heaviest. If it means closing down government or laying off a bunch of people because the Republicans won't allow proper governance then so be it. Some sacrifice must be made especially by those most able to do so. Republicans say "We Are At War" but refuse to sacrifice at all.

[Voltaire99]

6. If the US wasn't pissing billions down the crapper in Iraq...

...it could bail out the states. $300-400 billion would have gone a long way toward ameliorating this national crisis.

Invasion and torture abroad, or functioning societies at home. Can't have everything, people.