The McLean County Republicans Executive Board met this week and went on record as unanimously opposing the passage of Illinois Constitutional Amendment 1. The Amendment will appear on the November 8th General Election ballot. Amendment 1, the Illinois Right to Collective Bargaining Measure, would provide a right to collective bargaining and preempt existing right-to-work laws that prohibit collective bargaining agreements that require union membership as a condition of employment. McLean County Republicans (MCGOP) urge a NO vote on Amendment 1.
A “no” vote opposes establishing a state constitutional right for government employees to organize and bargain collectively to negotiate “wages, hours, and working conditions and to protect their economic welfare and safety at work.” There are many reasons MCGOP opposes Amendment 1, but primarily because its passage would mean higher taxes and debt, and Illinois is becoming an even worse place to do business.
According to the Illinois Policy Institute, “Amendment 1 would guarantee that the typical Illinois family pays at least $2,149 in higher property tax bills over the next four years, no matter which politicians hold office or whether they follow through on their campaign promises. This is a conservative estimate, assuming the rapid growth of Illinois’ property tax burden holds steady. It’s likely property taxes would grow at an even faster rate, because Amendment 1 would give Illinois government unions unprecedented bargaining powers that don’t exist in any other state.”
The Wall Street Journal Editorial Board recently noted, “Public unions already dominate government in Illinois, and Democratic lawmakers now want to amend the constitution to entrench that power and block reforms. Those are the stakes of Amendment 1, which will appear on the November ballot.”
According to the MCGOP, if Amendment 1 passes, there will be grave consequences:
- It will make Illinois the nation's extreme outlier when giving government unions power over taxpayers.
- Passage will ensure that Illinoisans’ property taxes will rise.
- The Amendment will deprive parents of their right to have a say in their children’s education.
- Amendment 1 will force private sector workers to join unions as a condition of employment.
- Passage means more small businesses and entrepreneurs will flee Illinois.