This blog is maintained for the sole purpose of allowing the people of Peru and those interested in the cities of the Illinois Valley to express their views.
“It doesn’t take a majority to win, just a tireless minority that will keep starting brush fires in the mind and hearts of their fellow men.” Samuel Adams
Unions are not the problem. The leadership and corruption that accompanied the rise is. The fact that the Democratic Party catered to those masses and the workers fell under the spell is the issue. Unions saved lives and helped wages rise which benefited all. That has been lost. Maybe it can be for the right reason again. I pray so.
Wonderful speech with many values that I believe the Illinois valley citizens can agree with. Pray that he can find bipartisan support to make it work.
I liked the part about reducing the number of government bodies and consolidating services. We should start by consolidating the LaSalle and Peru Police and Fire Departments. I hope he carries this over and provides requirements to consolidate school districts. There is no reason why Peru and LaSalle should have separate school districts. They should be combined into one district with one management and administrative team.
For any of you are ignorant enough to beleive that Rauner will have any success degrading the right of working men and women in Illinois, please look at the political reality of the situation. Rauner has no power to do any union busting without the cooperation of the Democratic party bosses. Period, end of that story. Beyond that issue. Rauner has no power or ability to do "anything" without the cooperation of the Democrats. Rauner has done nothing but point fingers since he took office claiming gloom and doom and finding fault with everything while proposing nothing constructive. He campaingned on complaints of corruption and finger pointing and never once offered a solution or even a proposal for anything and he continued that theme in the state of the state address. This guy has no idea how to deal with the poltical climate in Illinois. To blame organized labor and working men and women for all that ails this state will accomplish nothing. For those of you who are hoping Rauner will copy the failed policies of Scott Walker, please look at the facts of Wisconsin's radical governor and how his policies have destroyed the public school system in that state. Now Walker is cutting funding for Wisconsin's state universities by more than $250,000,000 which will result in higher tuition and a degradation of the quality of higher education. Rauner has an opportunity to lead, but if he tries to balance the budget by increasing the burden on the backs of middle class working folks and the poor he will fail miserably in Illinois. You people really need to research the facts before you spout off.
I heard none of that in this speech and perhaps you need to just sit back and wait and see what he does instead of criticizing his position before something or anything is none. Time will tell and I heard the message of cutting taxes, not increasing them. The budget has to be balanced and taxes cut to give people more money in their pocket.
It is not the rank and file members of the unions that are the problem. It is the corrupt union bosses.
If you are a member of a union - you need to start taking ownership and DEMAND reform. You allow your leadership to run up costs and destroy business. You allow your leadership to bribe public officials using your money.
Lois, Please be advised that neither Bruce Rauner nor anyone else can expect to balance a budget and cut taxes at the same time in Illinois. There is a massive budget deficit in Illinois and there are not enough cuts that can be made without crippling vital services and essentially firing thousands of state workers. To cut taxes will only increase the deficit. Rauner will fail miserably if he thinks he can "cut and slash" Illinois into prosperity. He got the job and now instead of blowing about corruption and union bashing he has to provide real solutions and answers to problems. He has never offered any ideas or suggestions for any of the problems he likes to point out. Never!
How many average union members bother to go to the national convention or even bother to communicate with their local regarding political activities? Nope, the average Joe Union Worker does not give a hoot an holler about political activities funded by their union dues. How many good Catholic union workers allow their union bosses to fund politicians that vote for abortion? How many good hunter and sportsman union workers allow their union bosses to fund politicians that want to ban guns. Union people need to get involved with their union at the local and understand what their union leadership is doing TO THEM.
Anon 7:35 AM You, yourself, are criticizing Governor Rauner for not being specific by utilizing nothing but generalities.Most political participants of any political party would only consider your thoughts to be a smoke screen rather than a form of constructive criticism. Much credit has to be given to the new Governor for staying within his campaign promises and making a honest effort to give the state the leadership he has sworn to. This has not been a recent practice of most elected politicians and if nothing else he has shown us that he is willing to go and stay in the correct direction for the betterment of Illinois no matter how hard it will be. This we know for sure, if past Governors and past and present officeholders would have lived to Governor Rauners' ideas Illinois would not be in the mess it is today. Last in Everything!
10:50 is spot on except for one thing. He knows he cannot do that as well. Illinois has a large structural deficit and despite people making it sound the opposite because of propaganda and lies, nearby states like Wisconsin have a progressive tax structure that is higher than Illinois. This is just a fact. Illinois also has less state employees per capita than anyone else in the U.S. the last time I checked. Do we need reform? Yes. But Bruce Rauner knows he cannot cut "waste" and taxes and balance the budget.
I wonder how many grants for $500,000 combination splash pad and bocce ball courts there are. They have not even started cutting the waste. I'd be willing to bet that the budget can be balanced on three initiatives alone. Cut stupid spending like Peru's own splash pad, convert the retirement plan of all employees with less than 10 years on the job to a 401K, and cut retiree medical at age 65.
He did not mention it in his speech - but I believe Illinois needs to make it illegal to use tax dollars to pay for a lobbyist - like Peru does. Boss Harl is correct in that almost every city in Illinois does this. It should be illegal.
Lois - Please dedicate another topic to the "amusement tax" debacle that Harl and the Nit-Wits have tried to dump upon the citizens of the Illinois Valley. I am still laughing at the way these Bozos are walking back this phony development deal. The fact that Harl and the aldermen could not muster up enough courage to provide their position for the NT story last night shows how cowardly these pretenders are when it comes to taking a position on anything. Instead, they send Schweickert out there as the spokesman for elected officials who sneak around the issue and try to hide from the fact that most of them are in favor of it. No comment from Harl! No comment from the aldermen on the Finance Committee. These are the people you elected Peru, and some of them have been elected multiple times. What is wrong with you people? Why do you settle for leaders with no spine? They were prepared to stuff this tax down your throat for the benefit of a private land developer and a private theatre company. Do you people ever hold your elected officials accountable? Will you re-elect those aldermen who dump on you? I'm afraid I already know the answers to those questions.
I strongly disagree 12:47 PM. No way does "almost every city" in Illinois have a lobbyist. It is a ridiculous idea in the first place, and only allows elected officials the opportunity to be even more lazy than they already are when they should be the ones promoting their city. Like Harl and most of his entourage of do-nothing pretenders who use Peru tax dollars to pay a guy to kiss legislators asses and by them drinks at golf outings. C'mon, what the hell are these people thinking?
2:36 - maybe "almost every" was a bit strong. How about "many." It is true that "many" cities in Illinois hire a lobbyist. My point is that the practice should be illegal. It is essentially using local tax dollars to lobby for state tax dollars. The only one that wins is the lobbyist. And we are the suckers paying the bill.
The hiring of a lobbyist, using local tax dollars to lobby for state tax dollars should be illegal. I do not see any difference between hiring a lobbyist and the mafia laundering money except the mafia is much better at business and finance than politicians and lobbyist. Want proof, what would the mafia do with a non productive employee and what has Peru done with our lobbyist? Hired him for another year.
Here is another bit of waste that Illinois can clean up. A recent audit reported that Illinois paid for medical treatment for thousands of dead people - $16 million in the last two years. This was due to automatic billing for managed care. There is plenty of savings to be gained by competent management.
Just happened to be reading through the NewsTribune today and stumbled upon the comments from some people around the area regarding Rauners State of the State address. With regard to the comment made about the Right to Work Zones, after reading this I could not even believe it. The comment was made that they do not agree with the right to work zones because individuals already have a choice of whether they want to belong to a Union or not. Yes this is true however you left out the most important part, regardless if you choose Union or not you still have to pay the Union DUES. Doesn't matter Union or not you are still funding the Union whether you belong or not. This is what Rauner wants to change. If you do not want to belong to a Union you do not have to pay the dues that go along with it. Everyone knows the dues are used to pay off the politicians and the Union bosses. Rauner is trying to solve this problem and he has the right idea on how to solve it.
Listening to the speech one can't help but get the idea that the Governor is talking about the City of Peru. The evils he described at the state level are almost point for point exhibited by Boss Harl and his band of Merry Men.
The trouble with the way it is set up in Illinois - the employer is required to make the union payment out of the employee payroll. So if you are smart and tell the union to go eff themselves you still have to pay. I figured I would do that and just not send in a check for my portion of the "collective bargaining costs" but my boss said it would be pulled directly from my check - JUST LIKE a TAX!
To all the local Illinois Valley Union bosses - your time is limited! Nobody is putting up with your crap anymore! Take your rat and jump off a bridge!
The Rat is nothing more than a illegal sign in Peru which will be turned into proper authorities to have it removed from being displayed within city boundaries.
Attention all Union bashers! Please hold your breath until Rauner's "Right to Work Zones" become common in Illinois communities. You will all soon be dropping like so many Zombies on Walking Dead and the rest of us will be better off with your loss. Know what I mean?
Anon 11:10 AM First of all I am not a union basher not do I believe everyone who voted for Gov. Rauner is. I voted for Rauner for the simple fact that the previous governor and his methods were not working. Presently I am happy to see Governor Rauner make changes as I am tired of Illinois being last in everything. It appears that there are more like me than you as your man lost. The name of this state is Illinois not Union. What per cent of workers in the U.S. are unionized? Does this give you a hint as to the way things are going. My statement and questions are not bashing unions but stating hard fact that the unions should consider.
Rauner's plan, (which is nothing more than Corporate America and Republicans increasing corporate profits) will do nothing other than drive wages down for the ever shrinking middle-class in America. Saddest part of the situation is that middle and lower middle class Americans like so many on this blog have fallen for the propaganda of the Billionaires that organized labor is at fault for any and all problems in this country. Driving down wages will accomplish nothing more than driving down the standard of living for all.
30 comments:
excellent speech. I look forward to change.
the unions better be watching out. They will be sent packing if his proposal ever gets to the ballot. I really hope it does.
Unions are not the problem. The leadership and corruption that accompanied the rise is. The fact that the Democratic Party catered to those masses and the workers fell under the spell is the issue. Unions saved lives and helped wages rise which benefited all. That has been lost. Maybe it can be for the right reason again. I pray so.
Wonderful speech with many values that I believe the Illinois valley citizens can agree with. Pray that he can find bipartisan support to make it work.
I liked the part about reducing the number of government bodies and consolidating services. We should start by consolidating the LaSalle and Peru Police and Fire Departments.
I hope he carries this over and provides requirements to consolidate school districts. There is no reason why Peru and LaSalle should have separate school districts. They should be combined into one district with one management and administrative team.
For any of you are ignorant enough to beleive that Rauner will have any success degrading the right of working men and women in Illinois, please look at the political reality of the situation. Rauner has no power to do any union busting without the cooperation of the Democratic party bosses. Period, end of that story. Beyond that issue. Rauner has no power or ability to do "anything" without the cooperation of the Democrats. Rauner has done nothing but point fingers since he took office claiming gloom and doom and finding fault with everything while proposing nothing constructive. He campaingned on complaints of corruption and finger pointing and never once offered a solution or even a proposal for anything and he continued that theme in the state of the state address. This guy has no idea how to deal with the poltical climate in Illinois. To blame organized labor and working men and women for all that ails this state will accomplish nothing. For those of you who are hoping Rauner will copy the failed policies of Scott Walker, please look at the facts of Wisconsin's radical governor and how his policies have destroyed the public school system in that state. Now Walker is cutting funding for Wisconsin's state universities by more than
$250,000,000 which will result in higher tuition and a degradation of the quality of higher education. Rauner has an opportunity to lead, but if he tries to balance the budget by increasing the burden on the backs of middle class working folks and the poor he will fail miserably in Illinois. You people really need to research the facts before you spout off.
10:27 agreed.
7:35 AM
I heard none of that in this speech and perhaps you need to just sit back and wait and see what he does instead of criticizing his position before something or anything is none. Time will tell and I heard the message of cutting taxes, not increasing them. The budget has to be balanced and taxes cut to give people more money in their pocket.
It is not the rank and file members of the unions that are the problem. It is the corrupt union bosses.
If you are a member of a union - you need to start taking ownership and DEMAND reform. You allow your leadership to run up costs and destroy business. You allow your leadership to bribe public officials using your money.
Lois, Please be advised that neither Bruce Rauner nor anyone else can expect to balance a budget and cut taxes at the same time in Illinois. There is a massive budget deficit in Illinois and there are not enough cuts that can be made without crippling vital services and essentially firing thousands of state workers. To cut taxes will only increase the deficit. Rauner will fail miserably if he thinks he can "cut and slash" Illinois into prosperity. He got the job and now instead of blowing about corruption and union bashing he has to provide real solutions and answers to problems. He has never offered any ideas or suggestions for any of the problems he likes to point out. Never!
How many average union members bother to go to the national convention or even bother to communicate with their local regarding political activities? Nope, the average Joe Union Worker does not give a hoot an holler about political activities funded by their union dues. How many good Catholic union workers allow their union bosses to fund politicians that vote for abortion? How many good hunter and sportsman union workers allow their union bosses to fund politicians that want to ban guns.
Union people need to get involved with their union at the local and understand what their union leadership is doing TO THEM.
Anon 7:35 AM You, yourself, are criticizing Governor Rauner for not being specific by utilizing nothing but generalities.Most political participants of any political party would only consider your thoughts to be a smoke screen rather than a form of constructive criticism.
Much credit has to be given to the new Governor for staying within his campaign promises and making a honest effort to give the state the leadership he has sworn to.
This has not been a recent practice of most elected politicians and if nothing else he has shown us that he is willing to go and stay in the correct direction for the betterment of Illinois no matter how hard it will be.
This we know for sure, if past Governors and past and present officeholders would have lived to Governor Rauners' ideas Illinois would not be in the mess it is today. Last in Everything!
10:50 is spot on except for one thing. He knows he cannot do that as well. Illinois has a large structural deficit and despite people making it sound the opposite because of propaganda and lies, nearby states like Wisconsin have a progressive tax structure that is higher than Illinois. This is just a fact. Illinois also has less state employees per capita than anyone else in the U.S. the last time I checked. Do we need reform? Yes. But Bruce Rauner knows he cannot cut "waste" and taxes and balance the budget.
I wonder how many grants for $500,000 combination splash pad and bocce ball courts there are. They have not even started cutting the waste. I'd be willing to bet that the budget can be balanced on three initiatives alone. Cut stupid spending like Peru's own splash pad, convert the retirement plan of all employees with less than 10 years on the job to a 401K, and cut retiree medical at age 65.
He did not mention it in his speech - but I believe Illinois needs to make it illegal to use tax dollars to pay for a lobbyist - like Peru does. Boss Harl is correct in that almost every city in Illinois does this. It should be illegal.
Lois - Please dedicate another topic to the "amusement tax" debacle that Harl and the Nit-Wits have tried to dump upon the citizens of the Illinois Valley. I am still laughing at the way these Bozos are walking back this phony development deal. The fact that Harl and the aldermen could not muster up enough courage to provide their position for the NT story last night shows how cowardly these pretenders are when it comes to taking a position on anything. Instead, they send Schweickert out there as the spokesman for elected officials who sneak around the issue and try to hide from the fact that most of them are in favor of it. No comment from Harl! No comment from the aldermen on the Finance Committee. These are the people you elected Peru, and some of them have been elected multiple times. What is wrong with you people? Why do you settle for leaders with no spine? They were prepared to stuff this tax down your throat for the benefit of a private land developer and a private theatre company. Do you people ever hold your elected officials accountable? Will you re-elect those aldermen who dump on you? I'm afraid I already know the answers to those questions.
I strongly disagree 12:47 PM. No way does "almost every city" in Illinois have a lobbyist. It is a ridiculous idea in the first place, and only allows elected officials the opportunity to be even more lazy than they already are when they should be the ones promoting their city. Like Harl and most of his entourage of do-nothing pretenders who use Peru tax dollars to pay a guy to kiss legislators asses and by them drinks at golf outings. C'mon, what the hell are these people thinking?
2:36 - maybe "almost every" was a bit strong. How about "many." It is true that "many" cities in Illinois hire a lobbyist. My point is that the practice should be illegal. It is essentially using local tax dollars to lobby for state tax dollars. The only one that wins is the lobbyist. And we are the suckers paying the bill.
The hiring of a lobbyist, using local tax dollars to lobby for state tax dollars should be illegal. I do not see any difference between hiring a lobbyist and the mafia laundering money except the mafia is much better at business and finance than politicians and lobbyist. Want proof, what would the mafia do with a non productive employee and what has Peru done with our lobbyist? Hired him for another year.
Here is another bit of waste that Illinois can clean up. A recent audit reported that Illinois paid for medical treatment for thousands of dead people - $16 million in the last two years. This was due to automatic billing for managed care.
There is plenty of savings to be gained by competent management.
Just happened to be reading through the NewsTribune today and stumbled upon the comments from some people around the area regarding Rauners State of the State address. With regard to the comment made about the Right to Work Zones, after reading this I could not even believe it. The comment was made that they do not agree with the right to work zones because individuals already have a choice of whether they want to belong to a Union or not. Yes this is true however you left out the most important part, regardless if you choose Union or not you still have to pay the Union DUES. Doesn't matter Union or not you are still funding the Union whether you belong or not. This is what Rauner wants to change. If you do not want to belong to a Union you do not have to pay the dues that go along with it. Everyone knows the dues are used to pay off the politicians and the Union bosses. Rauner is trying to solve this problem and he has the right idea on how to solve it.
Listening to the speech one can't help but get the idea that the Governor is talking about the City of Peru. The evils he described at the state level are almost point for point exhibited by Boss Harl and his band of Merry Men.
@11:02, you are correct.
Right to Work in Illinois - 2015! Down the Unions! Up Employee Choice!
The trouble with the way it is set up in Illinois - the employer is required to make the union payment out of the employee payroll. So if you are smart and tell the union to go eff themselves you still have to pay. I figured I would do that and just not send in a check for my portion of the "collective bargaining costs" but my boss said it would be pulled directly from my check - JUST LIKE a TAX!
To all the local Illinois Valley Union bosses - your time is limited! Nobody is putting up with your crap anymore! Take your rat and jump off a bridge!
The Rat is nothing more than a illegal sign in Peru which will be turned into proper authorities to have it removed from being displayed within city boundaries.
Our code enforcer should be enforcing this.
Attention all Union bashers! Please hold your breath until Rauner's "Right to Work Zones" become common in Illinois communities. You will all soon be dropping like so many Zombies on Walking Dead and the rest of us will be better off with your loss. Know what I mean?
Anon 11:10 AM First of all I am not a union basher not do I believe everyone who voted for Gov. Rauner is. I voted for Rauner for the simple fact that the previous governor and his methods were not working.
Presently I am happy to see Governor Rauner make changes as I am tired of Illinois being last in everything. It appears that there are more like me than you as your man lost. The name of this state is Illinois not Union. What per cent of workers in the U.S. are unionized? Does this give you a hint as to the way things are going. My statement and questions are not bashing unions but stating hard fact that the unions should consider.
Rauner's plan, (which is nothing more than Corporate America and Republicans increasing corporate profits) will do nothing other than drive wages down for the ever shrinking middle-class in America. Saddest part of the situation is that middle and lower middle class Americans like so many on this blog have fallen for the propaganda of the Billionaires that organized labor is at fault for any and all problems in this country. Driving down wages will accomplish nothing more than driving down the standard of living for all.
I don't like unions for the same reason I don't like communists.
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