Rauner said he plans to break “a totally rigged system.” He has stopped the government from collecting for unions “fair share” fees from state employees who reject joining a union. This, he says, violates First Amendment principles by compelling people to subsidize speech with which they disagree. The unions might regret challenging this in federal court because it could have nationwide consequences.
Rauner said he hopes to ban public employees’ unions from making political contributions, whereby they elect their employers with whom they negotiate compensation. Rauner said he also hopes to enable jurisdictions to adopt right-to-work laws, thereby attracting business that will locate only where there are such laws.
He said he hopes the Legislature will empower voters to ratify changes to the state constitutional provision that says public pensions can never be “diminished or impaired.” He also proposes shifting state employees to a more affordable benefit plan for the state. And he said he hopes to end practices that now have more than 11,000 retirees receiving six-figure pensions.
Another 2016 referendum would impose term limits on state legislators, ending the careerism on which the corrupt system depends.
By allowing a temporary tax increase to be temporary — to lapse — Rauner increased his leverage with the Legislature, which lusts for revenues not swallowed by pensions.
Former Illinois Gov. Adlai Stevenson once said, “Cleanliness is next to godliness, except in the Illinois Legislature, where it is next to impossible.” If Rauner emancipates Illinois from an interest group that lobbies itself for perpetual growth, so can other states. And the nation.