August 19, 2018
To the Honorable Members of
The Illinois House of Representatives,
100th General Assembly:
Today I veto House Bill 126 from the 100th
General Assembly, which expands the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act to mandate
that local governments collectively bargain with any paramedics that they
employ. Specifically, the Bill adds “paramedics employed by a unit of local
government” to the definition of “firefighter” in the Act, making them “public
employees” for the purpose of collective bargaining.
This Bill would operate as an unfunded state
mandate on local governments. Local governments should have flexibility to
determine benefit and employment conditions for their own employees based on
local resources, needs and labor availability, including the categories of
employees with collective bargaining rights. By forcing all local governments
to collectively bargain with paramedics in their employ, the Bill limits
locals’ ability to control and curb their operations and spending.
In addition, this Bill perpetuates the decades
of political corruption that has plagued the State of Illinois for too long.
Time and again elected officials have granted sweeping benefits and power to
the unions in exchange for campaign contributions and political support,
creating a system of entrenchment, waste and bad government. Today, Illinois
has one of the highest percentages of unionized public employees in the country
and offers extremely generous employment and pension benefits. These corrupt
bargains are motivated more by the interests of the union leaders and
politicians who benefit the most, than by the interests of the individual
workers.
I have the utmost respect for paramedics in
Illinois. Their work is extremely taxing and critical to the health and
survival of many Illinois citizens and visitors. This Bill, however, continues
the deep political corruption between union leaders and elected state officials
that is debilitating this State. The Bill widens the already bloated union population
in the public sector—increasing the union’s entrenchment and wealth—and puts a
significant financial and administrative burden on local governments.
Therefore, pursuant to Section 9(b) of Article
IV of the Illinois Constitution of 1970, I hereby return House Bill 126,
entitled “AN ACT concerning government,” with the foregoing objections, vetoed
in its entirety.
Sincerely,
Bruce Rauner
GOVERNOR