Quinn should nix this terrible deal

It's certainly true too many Illinoisans are unemployed. And we wouldn't wish that problem on anyone, including state employees, many of whom do good and critical work.

It's also true, as The Associated Press reported this week, that Illinois has one of the nation's smallest government work forces as compared to the size of the state's population.

But the notion that candidate and Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn cut a deal with a major state government union weeks before state voters elect a new governor is troubling, to put it mildly.

Quinn and the heads of Illinois' chapter of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal employees agreed to a plan revealed this week that could save the state somewhere between $50 million and $100 million.

Quinn agreed the state won't lay off workers or close buildings or services until June 2012, if the union approves at least $50 million in cost savings, AP reported. The savings could come from furlough days, overtime reductions or changes in health insurance. They could total as much as $100 million, AFSCME spokesman Anders Lindall told AP.

Not to diminish the value of savings, but why didn't Quinn or his people reveal this plan? Perhaps because it seems a bit like letting the rank-and-file workers make the rules rather than management? Perhaps because it first was revealed by Crain's Chicago Business within days of that same union's endorsement of Quinn just weeks before the Nov. 2 election?

Perhaps because it's simply a bad idea at a horrible time? If this deal is consummated, it will hamstring the next governor whom we need to lead us to resolve an epic Illinois financial mess that has us $13 billion in debt and facing an $80 billion hole in state pension funds.

Quinn spokeswoman Kelly Kraft defended the agreement by saying it will save money and "also keep people employed during one of the worst economic downturns in history." Quinn and the union denied any quid pro quo connected to the union's backing of Quinn in the Nov. 2 election, noting talks have been underway on the government savings plan for weeks.

That is just simply very difficult to swallow.

We don't doubt the governor and his staff could get some excellent advice on cost cutting from front-line workers and we believe it's wise to ask for their ideas. But giving them the power to approve specific cuts and guaranteeing no jobs will be lost is simply outrageous.

Republican governor nominee Bill Brady suggested the deal looks like another form of the pay-to-play politics we know so well. He added that it's bad policy to take any tools away from the next governor that could help Illinois dig its way out of its' financial hole. We agree. We strongly suggest Quinn abandon the deal and start digging out of the trench he's created.