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GOP Accuses Quinn of Pay to Play
Republicans are accusing Gov. Pat Quinn of engaging in "pay-to-play." At issue is a strike by two unions against state highway contractors that halted several large construction projects in the Chicago area for the first part of this month.

Pat Brady, the state Republican chairman, says it was curious that the governor received $500,000 in campaign contributions from the Laborers Union and the Operating Engineers, then put the pressure on state highway contractors to settle a strike with these unions. The pressure was applied by way of a July 19 letter from IDOT Secretary Gary Hannig to the Illinois Road and Transportation Builders Association saying the strike wouldn’t be an excuse for not meeting deadlines, and if work didn’t resume, the state could re-bid the jobs.

"Did Governor Quinn inappropriately use his influence on behalf of labor unions, reminiscent of the pay-to-play politics already on trial in Illinois?" Brady asked.

The governor says no, he did not. "That's a smear, and those who made it know it's a smear," Quinn said. "It's completely untrue. It's all politics."

State Sen. Kirk Dillard (R-Hinsdale) says Quinn should have brought in both sides to broker a deal. Quinn says that's what he did. The three-week strike ended last week.

(Illinois Radio Network)
07 27 10 by Newsroom
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