Illinois AG Says GOP Governor's Anti-Union Proposals Illegal

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Illinois' Democratic attorney general on Friday delivered a blow to Gov. Bruce Rauner's efforts to weaken labor unions, saying two of the main ideas the Republican has been pitching across the state would be illegal.

Lisa Madigan issued formal opinions at the request of Democratic lawmakers who anticipated legislation would be proposed after Rauner first trumpeted his plans in his State of the State speech last month.

One proposal would allow voters to create "right-to-work zones" in Illinois counties where union membership and dues would be voluntary. The other would let local governments or school districts opt out of prevailing wage agreements, which require workers on public works projects to receive wages that reflect local compensation for similar jobs.

Rauner's office, in a statement, noted voters would decide whether his proposed legislation to protect employee rights should apply within their respective county, municipality, school district or other unit of local government. It said that would comply with the National Labor Relations Act.

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Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/illinois-ag-gop-governors-anti-union-proposals-illegal-29796306

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CHICAGO — Mar 20, 2015, 9:41 PM ET
By SARA BURNETT Associated Press

[mucifer]

1. Lisa Madigan is very popular here in Illinois. Lots of us

wanted her to run for governor .

[midnight]

2. You are very lucky….

[mucifer]

3. Well it's good she's the states attorney. But, I wish she was governor.

We have an awful governor.

[midnight]

4. I know he is just another Walker...

[mucifer]

9. With one exception, he wants prison reform.

Our state is deep in debt. He wants to cut lots of social programs. That's like walker. But, he also wants to get the nonviolent drug offenders out of prison and into rehab and other programs that save money.

[midnight]

12. That is a good exception. Thanks for sharing this.

[murielm99]

5. Rauner has already taken a swipe at her

by getting publicity for the alleged backlog of FOIA requests. Actually, eighty-five percent of the requests have been answered. I don't think Rauner is going to get anything but grief if he tries to tangle with anyone named Madigan.

I think Lisa will run for governor eventually. I think Rauner will go to jail eventually, too.

[freshwest]

6. Can they make a run around with private contractors? This is what I see in my non-RTW state.

[greatlaurel]

7. Good.

I hope the AG keeps the pressure on this nasty Governor. Could he be the next Illinois governor to end up in prison?

[Judi Lynn]

8. What a great change of pace in a story about dirty Rep. Governors' war against unions!

Exceptional excerpt from this great O.P.:

Madigan's opinions are just the latest in what's been a rocky early attempt by Rauner to take on organized labor. After he issued an executive order and sued to try to eliminate fees paid to unions by workers who choose not to join, more than two dozen unions filed their own lawsuit to stop him. Madigan also ruled that action by the governor was illegal, and the Republican comptroller said she wouldn't comply with the governor's plan to hold the dues in a state escrow account.

Rauner, who has called governors in states such as Wisconsin and Michigan who have stripped rights from unions his "role models," also has proposed banning unions from making campaign contributions.

Illinois AFL-CIO President Michael Carrigan said Madigan's opinions confirmed what unions suspected from the start.

"While Gov. Rauner continues his obsessive war on unions and the middle class, he just keeps running into huge road blocks - like the law," Carrigan said.

Wonderful!

[Cha]

10. She should know.. having fun with Gov Rauner yet.. those who voted for him? Which I'm sure

wouldn't be on this board.

Wannabe gov walker.

[dicksmc3]

11. Ruiner is held in CHECK!!!

This guy is a bad mistake for Illinois. He is a multi-billionaire and the voters (Who came out were old farts) simply were hoodwinked by this asshole!!! I'm hoping the idiots that voted for him actually see what they voted for!! He's trying to rip the unions apart with his crap and even people like me who have never belonged to a union disagree with this ass!! He will now try to dismantle all state run centers for the disabled. He has support for that in the state because most of the old farts think that if you have a disabled family member, you should take care of them without any help from Illinois!! We are in a sad shape because of the corruption from several governors both democrat and republican who diverted funds meant for the pension funds but shuffled elsewhere. Blago is in jail now and Ryan I think is released because of his health. I think they should have arrested more governors for their corruption. The only way we can overcome the pension problem is to send the money that's dedicated for it to those funds. Ruiner also doesn't want new taxes. Of course not, he would be harmed significantly by a tax on millionaires and billionaires. I'm certainly hoping for a SHORT 4 YEARS!!

[murielm99]

14. You think they should have arrested more

of them for corruption? Five of the recent governors have gone to jail. That is a lot. I am sure Rauner will be number six.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

13. He borrow's Walker's ALEC playbook from our northern NAY-Bore,

but one advantage that Wanker has over Rauner is that Wanker actually help other offices and knows how to lie and cheat more proficiently. Rauner hasn't learned those lessons yet. Yet.