Wednesday, November 26, 2008


November 26, 2008


The General Assembly’s Fall Veto Session accomplished little of note. But it did give AFSCME members from the Pontiac Correctional Center an opportunity to draw wider attention to the Blagojevich Administration’s flawed plan to close down their prison. Over 600 union members, including representatives from some two dozen other AFSCME locals, marched through the State Capitol up to the Governor’s Office to present his representatives with a stack of letters from Pontiac area school children describing the damage the closure would do to their community.

The Veto Session also brought into sharper focus the State of Illinois’ dire fiscal situation. Comptroller Dan Hynes pointed out that revenues are coming in far lower than original projections and the State is now many months’ behind in paying its bills. The State’s budget shortfall is now estimated to be more than $2 billion. This budgetary cloud hung heavy over all of the legislative deliberations during the two weeks in November that the legislature was in session.

Most of the excitement in the Veto Session was generated by the leadership change in the State Senate. Both Democratic (Emil Jones) and Republican (Frank Watson) leaders who had served for many years are stepping down. After some fairly intense internal competition, each caucus elected new leaders: John Cullerton for the Democrats and Christine Radogno for the Republicans. Since the Democrats are the majority party in the Senate, it is a foregone conclusion that Sen. Cullerton will be elected Senate President when the new legislative session gets underway in January.

*Preventing Layoffs in State Government and Program Cuts in Community Disability Agencies (SB 1103—Sen. Trotter/Rep. Hannig) -– This AFSCME-backed legislation was passed in a special session earlier this fall and would restore funds that the Governor vetoed from the FY 09 budget for DCFS, DNR, IHPA and DHS. It also adds funds to the budget for the specific purpose of preventing cuts that DHS was planning to make to community-based disability service providers, whose direct care employees are represented by AFSCME. Once the Veto Session was adjourned on November 21, the Governor used his amendatory veto to cut out the funding for IHPA which would have prevented the closure of 14 historic sites and related layoffs. He did leave in the funding for DCFS, DNR, DHS and the community disability agencies. However, thus far he has refused to spend all of the funds that he approved in the bill.

*The 8% Non-Solution – During the Veto Session, Gov. Blagojevich introduced legislation that would have given him unilateral authority to cut up to 8% from state agencies, as well as funds that flow from the state to universities, local governments and school districts. AFSCME opposed this measure which would have likely resulted in further cuts to state agencies, as well as cutbacks in state funding to state universities, school districts, and to cities and counties across Illinois. Fortunately, the legislation never really got off the ground due to the widespread opposition that surfaced as soon as the proposal was made.

*Contract Educators Become State Employees (SB 1529 -- Rep. Bradley/Sen. Forby) – This measure implemented an AFSCME agreement with the State of Illinois which advanced one of the Union’s longstanding goals—to bring contractual services “in-house”, with AFSCME as the collective bargaining representative. Employees of the Macon-Piatt Corrections Special Education District (MCSED) have long provided educational programs in the Illinois Department of Corrections for lower wages and benefits than IDOC employees. When MCSED employees organized with AFSCME Council 31 several years ago, the Union set to work to change that situation. The agreement that was reached with the State makes these employees state employees with the same wages and benefits as those performing similar work. SB 1529 passed overwhelmingly in both houses.

*DJJ Director Confirmed by Senate – Kurt Friedenauer, who has been the acting director of the Department of Juvenile Justice for the past several years, was recently named as the permanent director by Gov. Blagojevich. His appointment requires Senate confirmation. AFSCME opposed his confirmation because Friedenauer has been ineffective in bringing about real reforms that would ensure the safety and security of staff and incarcerated youth or would provide the necessary educational programs in juvenile facilities. Although the Senate did confirm him, questions raised by AFSCME led to a commitment by legislators to further examine the status of educational programs in DJJ.

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