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Rauner goal: Low wage district of America

I'll speak in praise of Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, because during the continuing budget fiasco brought upon Illinois by Mr. Rauner, it was Speaker Madigan who defended the rights of working men and women to unionize, bargain collectively with their employers and maintain a livable wage.

Mr. Rauner deliberately and consistently wanted to reduce wages, and compensation to those injured at their workplace.

Mr. Rauner and his Republican Party allies have wanted to compete with other states as the low wage district of America. It is not a praise worthy goal. In the most savage method possible, Mr. Rauner wants to reduce the cost of labor to attract business to the state. His plan won't bring prosperity to anyone in Illinois, except the business owner. This competition to be the low cost labor state is fundamentally unconstitutional.

The U.S. Constitution was written in part to eliminate self-destructive commercial rivalry among states and bring unified government to America. The 13 colonies had erected trade barriers between themselves for their state's benefit, but to the detriment of America as a whole. Republicans and Mr. Rauner seem intent on reliving the commercial failures of our young country by driving worker wages below the cost of living to enrich their rich friends and make most states resemble low wage countries in the developing world. Bringing Illinois to the lowest common denominator in terms of worker wage levels is self-destructive.

In the end, it is Speaker Madigan who supports the U.S. Constitution and defended workers' rights guaranteed under it.

Tom Teune

Wheaton

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