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Quinn Gets Teachers Union Endorsement
Gov. Pat Quinn gained the endorsement Wednesday of one of Illinois' two major teachers' unions.

The Illinois Education Association, with 133,000 members, endorses Quinn for governor over State Sen. Bill Brady (R-Bloomington), the Republican candidate.

IEA President Ken Swanson says he and the union go way back with Quinn. "We have not always liked everything Gov. Quinn has said. We've had our differences," Swanson said at an endorsement press conference today on the sidewalk in front of an elementary school in Evanston. "But there has never been one moment where I have doubted Pat Quinn's sincerity when he talks about his belief in public education and the need to support education even in difficult economic times."

Quinn has promoted a 1 percentage point income tax increase for schools, though lawmakers have not acted on it.

The IEA doesn't always back Democrats. In recent decades, the union has at times endorsed Jim Thompson, Jim Edgar and George Ryan.

The union represents elementary and secondary public school teachers, higher education faculty and staff, school support personnel and retirees from these jobs. Swanson says the support the union will give Quinn in the campaign hasn't yet been determined, but it will include a financial contribution "in the six figures."

(Illinois Radio Network)
07 14 10 by Newsroom
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