Mike Klonsky reviews Governor Bruce Rauner’s dream: a state with no unions and more charters.
“Gov. Rauner used yesterday’s State of the State speech to officially declare war on the state’s working people and on public schools. His first order of business was calling for Illinois to join states like Mississippi and Alabama as union-free zones and for the banning of political contributions from teachers and other public employee unions. He then promised to cut workers’ comp, unemployment benefits and to push for more privately run charter schools.”
Mike points out that Gov. Rauner can’t pass any legislation without Democratic support since both houses of the Legislature are controlled by Democrats. Mike’s not sure which way they will go.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Why are Unionized teachers allowed to have their free speech stifled but not Billionaires? Why is this OK? This stuff is a Supreme Court Case waiting to happen. How can a corporation that has thousands of members be allowed to represent those employees, while a union can’t represent those who pay dues to it? If Citizens United is protected speech via money for the rich, how can unions being legislatively shushed be allowed? Where’s the check and balance? Why must employees wage one on one battle with employers but huge corporations can be a collective force in politics?
Something is deeply deeply wrong in our beloved country.
Something is very wrong on our beloved country. We have a society of people who are unable to sit down at a table with people with different views and get work done. We can’t do this in families,; we can’t do this in Congress. We need help.
Not just the legislators. The courts.
James Popham an academic and critic of policies that silence teachers enjoys freedom of speech. He and Margaret DeSander, a lawyer, have recently reminded educators that legal protections for teachers are limited, especially if the policies are uniformly applied to all teachers.
In a fairly recent case one federal judge characterized the work of teachers as little more than “hired speech.” Teachers are thus required to follow the rules made by school boards on all sorts of matters. Principals may be under similar constraints. See Popham, W. J. & DeSander, M. K. (2013, September 18). Unfairly fired teachers deserve court protection. Education Week, 33(4), 26-27.
The court case–Evans-Marshall v. Board of Education of Tipp City Exempted Village School District, No. 09-3775 (6th Cir. Oct. 21, 2010)– involved the freedom of a teacher to suggest readings for high school students.
Not to play devil’s advocate, but didn’t the Citzens United decision also apply to unions? Granted, while unions spend considerable money on political advocacy, they do not have billions to throw around.
Unions crushed?
Privatize, baby privatize.
Turning into South America . . . . .
Pero no vale la pena de vivir la differencia, yo opino.
The Illinois voters knew what Rauner stood for so they sure should not be surprised. He was quite clear about what he wanted to do with the state. The dislike for Quinn was so great that we are now forced to endure the wrath of Rauner and perhaps some Democrats who are Democrats in name only.
Who’s a real Democrat?
Bernie Sanders, although he is not in IL, and even though he refers to himself as independent.
It’s been wild to watch Republicans dominate the upper midwest states at the state level.
Democrats don’t seem concerned. They’ve lost nearly the entire Great Lakes region of states. It’s a huge swathe of the country-IL, OH, MI, WI. Democrats lose state after state and they change nothing.
Maybe they DON’T care. Maybe it’s easier for Rahm Emanual to have an (actual) Republican at the state level. The policy approach is nearly identical and the two men are buddies, right? Maybe Democratic politicians prefer Republican leadership. Then they can blame Republicans and have something to run on 🙂
They work for the people they donate to.
We need a third party that represents and stands up for working class Americans now. Senator Bernie Sanders may be our best hope.
Agree with Robert & Charles–hoping that Bernie will run in 2016 (a Clinton-Bush race would be a redux of 2012–no choice at all), especially since we’re being picked off state-by-state, & ILL-Annoy hasn’t been true blue for a long time–we have very few (if any at all) progressive Democrats in the legislature.
ILL-Annoy is correct. The people of Illinois overwhelmingly voted for a higher minimum wage and surtax on millionaires. The Dem-controlled state legislators’ response to this?
Crickets ….. and an upraised middle finger.
RIP, USA
Looks like there will fewer TFAers to fill those charter schools. From today’s NYT:
Another political idiot heard from….These ed reformers really don’t care about educating children….
Agreed. Maybe we should stop calling charter schools charters because some may believe this implies charting a new course. It should be called corporate education, and this sounds a lot less enticing. Parents need to understand that corporate education cuts them out of the equation. They lose a voice and chance to choose a local person to represent their interests.
This is heartbreaking. I have no doubt this governor has no problem with PACS that support any of the causes “HE The Governor” .. not “We The People” hold near and dear!! At this time, until campaign finance reform changes, any one individual or group can basically BUY POLICY with enough money. Does he plan to set a legal precedent for the Supreme Court that might prevent him from receiving campaign money from a favorite megamillionaire or corporate PAC when he is up for reelection??? Hmmm????
Meanwhile, he needs to go back into history to study the foundations of democracy in America. The US is not supposed to be a dictatorship!! This “governor’s” actions reveal anger and hatred for the teaching profession and the students of the Illinois public school system. This anger and rage is SO WRONG and SO MISDIRECTED. Perhaps he should try to do some reflection on the root causes of why students and their public schools are struggling so!
Perhaps he should examine the long-term effects of chronic poverty among increasing generations of students and their families. Perhaps he should examine the inequities around funding? School closings destroying the fabric of local communities??? Perhaps he could act in a way that shows concern for his constituents. Is this too much to ask?
Wow, dare I dream??? But since he is having SO MUCH TROUBLE comprehending that he represents “We the People” of Illinois… I AM SO GLAD THAT LEADERS LIKE KAREN LEWIS ARE THERE TO GIVE HIM A REMEDIAL COURSE IN “GOVERNING 101”!!!
Reblogged this on David R. Taylor-Thoughts on Texas Education.
The “I-s” have it: Illinois and Indiana. Hell bent, literally, in destroying the middle class.
We need unions. We are fodder for them when there are no unions. But the unions we have need to stop the administration from the civil rights violations that are directly related to their not enforcing the grievance process. How could thousands of teachers be accused of anything and everything, and be fired…every last one if their right to confront allegations were enforced.
http://www.perdaily.com/2015/01/were-you-terminated-or-forced-to-retire-from-lausd-based-on-fabricated-charges.html
FORMER CTC ATTORNEY KATHLEEN CARROLL LAYS OUT UNHOLY ALLIANCE BETWEEN UNION AND PUBLIC EDUCATION PRIVATIZERS http://www.perdaily.com/2014/07/former-ctc-attorney-kathleen-carroll-lays-out-unholy-alliance-between-union-and-public-education-pri.html
He could save himself some trouble and just run for governor of NC. Our government has already achieved these goals. It’s a nightmare. I hope for the sake of the students and educators in Illinois that he is unsuccessful in this undertaking.
What a CROCK!
Delusional.