By John Gregory/Illinois Radio Network
CHICAGO – Gov. Bruce Rauner isn’t weighing in on any bills waiting for signature – except for one he especially dislikes.
While Rauner says he’s focused on his own legislative agenda and next year’s budget, he opposes a bill which would ban strikes and lockouts of public employees, instead sending stalled contract talks to binding arbitration. Rauner sees it as unions trying to remove his power in negotiations.
“What they have, for the first time in Illinois history, is a governor who hasn’t taken money from them, who hasn’t been under their influence, and who can negotiate fairly, in good faith. That scares them.” Rauner said. “They won’t control the negotiation. I can work for taxpayers. They don’t like that, and they want to take my negotiating power away.”
As for the lawmakers who supported the bill, Rauner says they voted for “big government, big bureaucracy, insiders’ benefit, and taxpayers losing.”
