Why Are IL Govt Unions Protesting WI Gov. Scott Walker?

April 13, 2012

Illinois government unions sent out a robo-call recently to their[img_assist|nid=27316|title=WI Protestors|desc=|link=none|align=right|width=300|height=200] membership urging them to protest Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker’s upcoming speech on Tuesday in Springfield at the IL Chamber of Commerce’s luncheon. We presume Wisconsin government workers’ criticism of Gov. Walker centers on the reforms that mandate they pay more for their healthcare benefits and contribute something to their pensions. While AFP-IL totally disagrees with their criticisms of Walker’s reforms, we can’t understand why Illinois government workers are upset with him.

As a recent study highlighted by the MacIver Institute shows, even after the budget-balancing reforms, Wisconsin taxpayers still pay a much more for healthcare benefits per state employee. WI taxpayers pay $13,972 per employee for healthcare, while Illinoisans pay $11,149 per employee.

So are IL government unions protesting Gov. Scott Walker to demand they be given the same great deal Wisconsin government workers now have? Perhaps they are rallying to say that Gov. Quinn should pass similar reforms in Illinois? It would certainly be in the government employee unions’ interest. Wisconsin’s reforms prevented the lay-off of thousands of government workers, while here in IL, Gov. Quinn is on track to lay-off hundreds of government workers. Which is the better deal for the government employee?

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