The state's largest union of public-sector workers declined to endorse a candidate for governor this year, expressing reservations about each of the leading Democratic candidates.
The abstention, by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31, is the second such blow to the candidates — and especially Gov. Pat Quinn — in as many weeks, after the Illinois AFL-CIO, the federation of state labor organizations, also did not endorse a candidate in a vote of its delegation.
The restraint is notable because it indicates ambivalence about a sitting Democratic governor's record on labor issues. Despite past membership in two unions, Quinn has lagged in union endorsements versus primary challenger and Illinois Comptroller Dan Hynes.
"The governor signed a budget this year that reduces by a billion dollars funding for community-based human services that are in greater demand in this recession than ever before," says Anders Lindall, spokesman for AFSCME.
"And he has threatened the jobs of 2,600 state employees in illinois, who provide environmental services, child protection, care for veterans and the disabled and also keep criminals safely incarcerated."
Lindall tells me union leaders also take issue with Hynes' platform.
"We do have some concern that his budget plan to roll back state spending to the levels of a few years ago could result in job losses," he says.
Spokespeople for neither candidate immediately responded to requests for comment.
Lindall says that ultimately, the state needs more revenue to protect jobs that are in higher demand across the state's public sector.
The union is lobbying for passage of state House Bill 174, which would raise the income tax by two pennies on the dollar, a proposal that Lindall says has not gained traction with the leading Democratic candidates.
"Neither candidate has embraced the kind of comprehensive tax reform, like House Bill 174, that we believe would raise adequate revenue," he says.
The union, which represents about 100,000 active and retired members, endorsed one Republican, comptroller candidate Judy Baar Topinka, among more than 20 candidates. The full list of endorsements:
U.S. Senate
Alexi Giannoulias (D)
U.S. House
1st District: Bobby Rush* (D)
3rd District: Dan Lipinski* (D)
7th District: Danny Davis* (D)
10th District: Julie Hamos (D)
Comptroller
David Miller (D)
Judy Baar Topinka (R)
Treasurer
Robin Kelly (D)
Judicial
1st Judicial District/McNulty vacancy: James Epstein (D)
State Senate
1st District: Tony Munoz* (D)
7th District: Heather Steans* (D)
State House
2nd District: Edward Acevedo* (D)
4th District: Cynthia Soto* (D)
5th District: Ken Dunkin* (D)
18th District: Patrick Keenan-Devlin (D)
23rd District: Daniel Burke* (D)
29th District: Thaddeus Jones (D)
32nd District: Andre Thapedi* (D)
60th District: Eddie Washington* (D)
71st District: Jerry Lack (D)
114th District: Eddie Lee Jackson* (D)