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| Quinn to Wisconsin Gov.: Think Again About Collective Bargaining |
(IRN)--Gov. Pat Quinn says the governor of Wisconsin must take a "second look" when it comes to unions and state employees.
Fourteen Wisconsin lawmakers left their state to delay a vote on curtailing collective bargaining rights for public employees. Republican officials want the new restrictions as a way to cut the cost of wages, health care and retirement benefits.
The refugee Wisconsin lawmakers are hanging out in Illinois and plan a meeting to chart their next course of action.
Quinn believes those lawmakers are doing the right thing. "Well obviously there's a crisis there and we want to assure the people of Wisconsin that we're their friends," "Quinn said. "We're always available here in Illinois if they’d like to visit and stay awhile until their governor comes to his senses."
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) says Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker must sit down with lawmakers and hammer out a deal. "The answer to this and so many issues is for that governor to sit down with the legislature and work this out," Durbin said.
U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) choose to keep out of the situation and quipped that the Wisconsin senators' flight from their state has been "a boon to the Rockford hotel industry," where some lawmakers had been staying.
Illinois Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago) says the Wisconsin senators are trying to keep public employees from being "bulldozed for political gain."
Wisconsin state Sen. Jon Erpenbach is one of those lawmakers who fled to Chicago. He says Democrats could stay away for weeks if necessary, but he hopes it won't be that long.
(Source: Illinois Radio Network) |
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| 02 18 11 by Newsroom |
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