While some states push back against public-sector unions, Illinois lags

Welcome to Illinois--pay up

 In today's Boston Globe, Jeff Jacoby writes about the pushback against public-sector unions in states such as New Jersey, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Ohio.

But in spending-happy Illinois, a few days after one of those unions, AFSCME, endorsed Democrat Pat Quinn, the governor approved a contract with AFSCME that protects its state workers from layoffs until June 2012. Shortly before Election Day, AFSCME contributed $450,000 to Quinn's campaign.

Pay to play.

Now Quinn and the Democrats in the Illinois General Assembly want to increase the personal state income tax by 75 percent and hike corporate tax rates as well.

ILLinois.

There is a bit of good news. The General Assembly is considering legislation that will severely limit the ability of teachers to strike, a move Chicago Mayor Richard Daley endorses.

But we need a lot more good news here.

Technorati tags: government politics Illinois Democrats Patrick Quinn pat quinn illinois politics  Republican labor unions AFSCME education