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Rauner Dodges Veto Override on Right-to-Work Zones

Bruce Rauner
Seth Perlman
/
The Associated Press
Gov. Bruce Rauner

Gov. Bruce Rauner on Tuesday narrowly escaped having one of his vetoes overridden.

The legislation would have banned cities and counties from setting up “right-to-work zones.” That's where employees could opt out of paying union fees, even if they get union-negotiated pay and benefits.

Unions say it’s an attack on working people. But state Rep. Jerry Lee Long, R-Streator, said Illinois is in no danger of becoming a right-to-work state.

“We don’t have enough votes in this House to vote for right-to-work. There’s no way that we could make the state of Illinois right to work. All this is is political theater," Long said.

Long said he’s a third-generation union member, but for unions to survive, Illinois has become more business-friendly.

So far, Lincolnshire is the only Illinois town to have created a right-to-work zone. That led to a lawsuit that’s still being fought in court.

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Brian Mackey formerly reported on state government and politics for NPR Illinois and a dozen other public radio stations across the state. Before that, he was A&E editor at The State Journal-Register and Statehouse bureau chief for the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin.
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