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The governor is not listening

Gov. Rauner's so-called "turnaround agenda" is failing miserably. To date: 29 units of government have approved his agenda representing slightly more than 900,000 people or 7 percent of the state's population, while 32 units of government have rejected Rauner's agenda representing more than 6.3 million people or 49 percent of the population.

Why? Because Gov. Rauner has spent each day since being elected attacking construction workers, teachers and state employees. Labor unions have fought over 100 years, with their lives in some cases, to achieve higher standards of working conditions, worker's rights and fair wages. To them, Bruce Rauner made it personal.

Now, let's imagine that Bruce Rauner's agenda called for specific companies in Illinois such as Caterpillar, State Farm, John Deere and United Airlines to pony up their profits in order to wipe out $100 billion in state pension debt; a debt they didn't create. I assert that these corporations would also use all of their available resources to fight back, or just leave Illinois.

No one wants to be unjustly blamed for the financial woes of the state, and the working families have stood up in unison to urge the governor, in essence, to stop campaigning and start governing. Pinning blame when budget solutions are required is classic task avoidance on the governor's part. The budget should represent a fair balance of spending cuts and revenue generating solutions.

Threaten the livelihood of individuals who have fought for the right to collectively bargain, and your response is a tsunami of outcry. Balance the budget on the backs of those with special needs, and you are a heartless millionaire.

I'd say the people of Illinois have spoken, and it's time for the governor to listen, but listening is a skill that I'm not sure this governor has in his tool box.

Gary Karafiat

Lisle

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