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Chicago Tribune: Democrats say Rauner bungling ‘bargain’ — gov calls that ‘goofy’
Senate Democrats say it’s up to Gov. Bruce Rauner and his fellow Republicans to stop the ballyhooed ‘grand bargain’ from being nothing more than a bait-and-switch.
The near collapse of the already fragile bipartisan effort to craft a budget compromise on Wednesday was accompanied by anger, emotional outbursts and plenty of finger pointing. But Democrats and Republicans alike are holding out hope that it’s not dead. On life support perhaps but not yet ready for last rites.
Wirepoints: Illinois’ Grand Bargain: 12 Bills But One Overriding Question
Step back from the trees and see the forest as you go through the “grand bargain” legislative package Springfield is considering. The details matter less than one overarching question that’s most immediately important to breaking the death spiral Illinois is in:
Will the grand bargain slow the flight of people and employers from Illinois or accelerate that exodus?
Crain's Chicago Business: Throw the bums out? Let the voters decide.
“Throw the bums out!” is a baseball cliche that also expresses, poignantly and succinctly, a growing voter antipathy toward career politicians who seem to care more about their pay, benefits, perks and longevity than the need for sound decisions that benefit us, the public.
I’ve been watching the anger and disillusionment of Illinois residents deepen and intensify for the past 45 years—most of them as a broadcaster and now as a watchdog with the Better Government Association.
The Southern: Why I opted out of AFSCME, and why other state workers should do the same
I am a state worker in Illinois. In my line of work, I help people who are unable to care for themselves because they have severe mental illnesses. They live at the Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center in Anna.
My typical day includes making sure six individuals are fed, groomed, toileted and kept safe from harm. I’m proud of the work I do, and I’m proud to work with colleagues who take their jobs seriously.
But I’m not proud of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, the union that claims to represent me.
Northwest Herald: Union membership in Illinois last year matches historic low
Union membership in Illinois matched a historic low in 2016, according to figures from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Union membership accounted for 14.5 percent of the wage and salary workers in the state last year, The (Moline) Dispatch/The Rock Island Argus reported. That is down from 15.2 percent from the previous year and ties the historic low set in 2007.
Chicago Tribune: Noble charter school teachers take a step toward forming a union
Teachers at the Noble Network of Charter Schools, whose schools include one with Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner’s name on it, are taking the first steps to unionize.
“We want a voice in decisions, stability in our schools and, most importantly, the best possible future for our students,” the Union of Noble Educators said in an open letter with more than 100 signatures that was delivered to school administrators Friday.
Peoria Journal-Star: Roots of Caterpillar raid reach back years
A criminal investigation apparently connected to tax and export practices at Caterpillar Inc. exploded into public view this week when dozens of federal agents raided the Downtown headquarters.
The inquiry has been quietly progressing for at least two years — the company first received related grand jury subpoenas in January 2015, according to its disclosure statements with the Securities and Exchange Commission — but events that now appear to be the foundation of the case can be traced back more than a decade.
Rockford Register-Star: School Board’s offer to AFSCME is reasonable; strike is not
The students and parents of Rockford Public Schools have been threatened with a three-day strike by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, the union that represents about 900 school bus drivers, food service workers and paraprofessionals in the district.
The union won’t accept the district’s final contract offer, which was implemented Jan. 27 by the School Board after an impasse was declared on Jan. 11. Negotiations between the board and AFSCME started last May.
Bloomington Pantagraph: Metro Zone debate set for Monday
Normal is bringing in an expert witness Monday to help lay out its case about the Metro Zone.
Former Mayor Paul Harmon will speak at the Normal City Council’s 7 p.m. meeting on the fourth floor at Uptown Station as the council discusses what to do next about the tax-sharing zone, which has driven a wedge between the town and the city of Bloomington.
Decatur Herald & Review: Delay sends Richland's Student Success Center cost up $485,000
Freshman Dipti Patel doesn’t like what he sees in the steel beams shooting from the ground on the north side of Richland Community College.
“It does not look good,” he said.
State Journal-Register: Coliseum to remain closed through Illinois State Fair
The Coliseum at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield is lost for the season — including the state fair in August — after years of deterioration that have left the 116-year-old structure unsafe for use.
Seven shows to date have been forced to leave the fairgrounds for alternative sites, according to the Illinois Department of Agriculture. Horse shows account for four of those. A dog show, a midget-car race and an ancient athletics re-enactment competition also have been forced to move.
Belleville News-Democrat: Former metro-east state senator appointed to state commission
Former state senator Dave Luechtefeld has been appointed to the Illinois Civil Service Commission by Gov. Bruce Rauner. The appointment was announced on Friday by the governor’s office.
“Luechtefeld’s experience as a public servant – both as a public school teacher and in the General Assembly – make him well suited for the position,” a news release about his appointment said.
Belleville News-Democrat: How much change can we expect with 2 more cents in sales tax?
Most of us have faith in our law enforcement. Most of us have faith in our schools. Most of us think it is our collective responsibility to give them enough resources to effectively do their jobs.
But we have much less faith in the hierarchies responsible for getting our state income taxes, federal income taxes, gasoline taxes, sales taxes and property taxes from us to them. Our trust has been repeatedly betrayed despite one of the nation’s highest tax burdens — with yet another state tax hike looming.