House Fails to Override Governor’s Veto on Collective Bargaining Bill

The Illinois State Senate voted to override Governor Bruce Rauner’s veto of Senate HB 1905. It would have provided misdemeanor criminal penalties to elected municipal officials who passed local collective bargaining regulations. Two of McHenry County’s three State Senators–Pam Althoff … Continue reading

Governor Criticizes Senate Override of Bill That Outlaws Local Regulation of Collective Bargaining, Althoff & McConnaughay Flip

A press release from Governor Bruce Rauner: Gov. Rauner Statement on Senate vote on SB 1905 Chicago (Oct. 24, 2017) – Governor Bruce Rauner issued the following statement following the Senate vote on SB 1905: “Today’s vote could create a … Continue reading

Andrew Gasser Responds to FOIA Lawsuit from Local 150 of the Operating Engineers

Yesterday, McHenry County Blog reported on the Freedom of Information denial suit against the Algonquin Township Road District. Today, we’ll look at the response penned by Highway Commissioner Andrew Gasser’s attorney Robert Hanlon. It asks for a temporary restraining order … Continue reading

Algonquin Township Road District Workers Join Local 150 of Operating Engineers

When public officials lose their election, things change. In the case of Algonquin Township Road Commissioner Bob Miller’s loss to McHenry County Board member Andrew Gasser, not only was there a lot of publicity and statewide shock at the Township … Continue reading

Legislative Committee Adding Anti-Union Language to Legislative Agenda Thursday

You may remember the unhappiness of McHenry County Board members for being called out by Local 150 of the Interanation Union of Operating Engineers for allegedly violating the Open Meetings Act when Governor Bruce Rauner came to the Woodstock Opera … Continue reading

“The cowardice of voting present in the Illinois legislature”

That’s the headline in the State Journal-Register out of Springfield. That newspaper editorial was aiming at its local Republican State Representatives. Here’s a paragraph from the editorial: “They punted – plain and simple – on an important vote that would … Continue reading

Is Madigan or Franks Telling the Truth?

On his blog Illinoyances, Steve Reick, the man who ran against State Rep. Jack Franks last year asks the following questino: Who do you believe? Reick quotes what Franks told the Northwest Herald–sort of a “pox on both sides” to … Continue reading

Circuit Clerk’s Union Contract Clears Committee

Arrived at the McHenry County Board’s Law and Justice Committee a little late on Monday. Discussion was taking place about the collective bargaining agreement between Circuit Clerk Kathleen Keefe’s office and its union, the Metropolitan Alliance of Police. Here’s what the … Continue reading

Mike Tryon on SB 1229

At Wednesday morning’s House Revenue & Finance Committee meeting, Representative Mike Tryon questioned officials from the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget about the financial consequences that could result from SB 1229’s veto override. The bill would unilaterally allow AFSCME … Continue reading

Tribune Ad Targets Sente

A full-page ad on the back page of Sunday’s Chicago Tribune tries to convince people to call State Rep. Carol Sente to urge her to vote against Senate Bill 1229, the legislation that would strip Governor Bruce Rauner of collective … Continue reading

Tribune Targets Franks

The Chicago Tribune had a big editorial Sunday urging so-called “Independent” Democrats: Don’t cave to Madigan Why Independent House Democrats should put taxpayers first Included in the editorial was the following about State Rep. Jack Franks: Two other Democrats, Jack … Continue reading

Senate Override of Rauner’s Veto Might Put Franks on Spot

Between now and next week State Rep. Jack Franks might be nervous. The Illinois Senate has overridden Governor Bruce Rauner’s veto of the bill requested by AFSCME, the union representing most state employees, which would mandate arbitration. Assuming no Republican … Continue reading