State Rep. Durkin’s advocacy helps lead to historic ruling in Harris v. Quinn
This morning, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn was wrong to issue and enforce his 2009 executive order that forced the unionization of Illinoisans who are not state workers. This groundbreaking ruling on the Harris v. Quinn case asserts that state governments cannot force-unionize participants in state entitlement programs or force...
This morning, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn was wrong to issue and enforce his 2009 executive order that forced the unionization of Illinoisans who are not state workers.
This groundbreaking ruling on the Harris v. Quinn case asserts that state governments cannot force-unionize participants in state entitlement programs or force them to pay union dues as a condition of receiving help from the state. Because of this ruling, Pam Harris will be free to care for her son Josh without fear of union intrusion.
The Illinois Policy Institute and its litigation branch, the Liberty Justice Center, have been following this story for more than a year. We filed an amicus brief on Pam’s behalf in late November 2013.
House Republican Leader Jim Durkin, R-Western Springs, had been following Pam’s story as well. In 2011, he filed a resolution that urged Pat Quinn to reconsider and withdraw his gubernatorial order – and in January, Illinois Policy Action’s government affairs team filed a revised version of that resolution.
The committee to which Durkin’s resolution was assigned ultimately never considered his bill, but he continued to call it, refusing to sideline Pam’s mission. Illinois Policy Action included Durkin’s resolution in its 2014 legislative agenda and voiced support of the resolution each time the Leader called it: on March 20 and 26, on April 7 and 30, on May 7, 14, 22, 26 and finally on May 27, just days before the General Assembly adjourned its spring legislative session. Calling a bill like this again and again is not the norm at the statehouse – this decision was motivated by genuine care and concern.
That Durkin was so persistent in advocating on behalf of the interests of his constituents and Illinoisans across the state is a true testament to what is meant when people refer to elected officials as public servants. We are thankful for the thoughtful direction of his leadership, and that the highest court in the country has ruled in favor of parents like Pam Harris.
Few things in life are as precious as a mother’s right to care for her child on her own terms. That this freedom has been rightly defended today is a momentous victory and cause for celebration, just in time for Independence Day.
Click here to learn more about this historic ruling.