Straight Facts About Our Candidates
Illinois Governor
GOV. ROD BLAGOJEVICH WILL FIGHT FOR WORKING FAMILIES
Created Thousands of Jobs.
Gov. Blagojevich supported the O’Hare Airport Modernization Act, creating 195,000 jobs. He supported tax incentives to lure the fi lm industry back to Illinois to create thousands of jobs and boost local retail and hospitality industries. (93-0450, 8/6/03; 93-0543, 1/1/04)
Increased Workers’ Compensation and Unemployment Benefits.
Gov. Blagojevich created proworker changes to the Workers’ Compensation Act, including direct benefi t increases and delivery improvements. He restored solvency to the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund and allowed more
unemployed workers to qualify for unemployment benefi ts. (94-0277, 7/20/05; 93-0364, 12/31/03)
Protected Collective Bargaining.
Gov. Blagojevich protected publicsector workers’ freedom to form unions and restored bargaining
rights for public school system workers and City Colleges employees. He granted collective bargaining rights to 20,000 homecare workers. (93-0444, 8/5/03; 93-0003, 4/16/03; 8-2003, 3/4/03)
JUDY BAAR TOPINKA HAS FAILED WORKING FAMILIES
Opposed Creating Thousands of Jobs.
Topinka voted against preserving 6,000 coal miners’ jobs and against expanding the McCormick Place
convention center, denying us 7,500 construction jobs and 11,000 permanent jobs. She voted against the Lake Calumet Airport, which would have created 225,000 jobs at that time. (S.B. 629, 1991; S.B. 497, 1991; H.B. 2833)
Cut Workers’ Compensation and Unemployment Benefits.
Topinka voted to create a Workers’ Compensation advisory panel that did not include labor representation and repeatedly voted to cut workers’ compensation benefi ts. She supported a bill that would have frozen maximum unemployment insurance benefi t levels, taken $500 million from the unemployment insurance trust fund and reduced the 26-week unemployment insurance period. (S.J.R. 82, 1993; H.B. 2274, 1982; S.B. 1070, 1983; H.B. 334, H.B. 228, 1981)
Stripped Collective Bargaining Rights.
Topinka refused to grant collective bargaining rights to state employees and Chicago public school teachers
and staff , and voted against a labor-sponsored amendment to put collective bargaining protections back in the RTA reorganization bill. (H.B. 1873, 1982; H.B. 525, 1993; H.B. 2519, 1982)
VOTE Nov. 7
How you vote is a personal decision. Whatever you decide, please vote.
