Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Rauner wins GOP guv nomination in Illinois--big defeat for Big Labor

In a surprisingly tight race, businessman Bruce Rauner, who I voted for, won a four-man race for the Republican nomination for Illinois governor. In a close second was Kirk Dillard, a state senator best known outside of the Prairie State for appearing in a 2007 Obama campaign commercial.

Seven years later Dillard proved that you can sell your soul more than once to the devil; he accepted labor endorsements and public-sector union campaign contributions for his second gubernatorial run. One union boss suggested to Democrats that they take a GOP ballot and vote for Dillard.

Here's how AP summarized Rauner's win and what it means for unions.
For voters across Illinois, the governor's race was shaping up as a potentially transformative battle over union influence, with some voters saying they wanted to break an alliance between organized labor and Democrats, who have long controlled most statewide offices and the Legislature.

Organized labor was battling back out of concern that Rauner could seek to weaken unions in the same way GOP governors have in other states across the Midwest.

Rauner says he would model his governorship after those of Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and former Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels. Both significantly rolled back union power in what they said were necessary steps to attract business and reduce costs. Running against Rauner and Dillard on the GOP ballot were state Sen. Bill Brady, who conceded Tuesday night, and state Treasurer Dan Rutherford.

"Rauner is going to be a bull in a china shop; we need a bull," said Tom Sommer, a 57-year-old real estate broker from the Chicago suburb Hinsdale. "It's not going to be more of the same."
Right on, brother. We do need a bull in Illinois. Oh, do we ever.

I'm urging my fellow Land of Lincoln patriots to vote for Bruce Rauner in November and to tell their friends in this long-suffering state to do the same.

To follow Rauner on Facebook, click here. To follow him on Twitter, click here.

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