Governor's 'Turnaround Agenda' greeted with protests in Marion

Amid a vocal crowd of both protestors and supporters at Black Diamond Harley Davidson in Marion on Monday, Gov. Bruce Rauner spoke about his five-point plan to balance the state's budget, at the same time blaming Democratic lawmakers for refusing to compromise.

The governor outlined main issues in his "Turnaround Agenda" in front of a crowd of about 200 made up of union and labor activists, supporters, local officials and motorcycle advocates.

Those five issues include setting term limits, revamping how district maps are drawn, freezing property taxes, reducing "fraud and abuse" in workers compensation, and reducing insurance costs for businesses by tort reform, or limiting a worker's ability to file a lawsuit and limiting amounts awarded in a lawsuit.

The governor said these fixes will bring business to southern Illinois, but protestors disagreed with Rauner, holding signs that said, "Rauner is wrong for Illinois," "Illinois works best when it stays Union Strong," and "Rauner is against workers."

One protestor, Theresa Casteel of the Vienna chapter of the employee union American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, held a sign reading "Save Hardin County work camp." AFSCME is one of the largest state-employee unions in the nation.

"Closing down that camp is not going to save you that much money. Just fix the kitchen and the problem is solved," the AFSCME representative said in reference to costly repairs needed after a recent fire in the camp's kitchen.

The governor threatened last week to shut down the work camp if Speaker of the House Michael Madigan and Senate President Tom Cullerton, both Chicago Democrats, do not incorporate the governor's agenda into the budget.

"I don't want to have to cut. I don't want to have to close facilities. I don't want to do that at all, but Madigan and Cullterton and legislators have caused this financial mismanagement, and we're going to fix it," Rauner said.

Situated about 35 miles southeast of Harrisburg, the camp has a population of about 200 and employs 66 correctional officers. Prisoners of the low-security facility take construction occupation class. As part of the class, prisoners build homes, which are donated to charities. Habitat for Humanity and Lutheran Social Services are partners of the camp, which primarily serves Hardin, Saline and Gallatin counties.

Rauner painted Speaker Madigan and President Cullerton as "politicians who run (the Illinois) congress," and part of the "Chicago political machine," who refuse to compromise.

"We have been negotiating with them for months in good faith, and then it became clear when they walked away from the table and said causation and workers compensation is off the table, then they weren't negotiating in good faith at all," Rauner said to reporters. "We've eliminated dozens of things that were recommended, and in the spirit of compromise, we've reduced them to five items."

One fourth grade teacher, Marsha Griffin from Jonesboro Elementary, said she attended the event because she is concerned about cuts to education. She said she was disappointed, however, that she did not hear any solutions to proposed cuts.

"Unfortunately, I heard a lot of rhetoric and blame, and not many solutions," said Griffin, who is also the chair of the Illinois Education Association Region 2 teachers union. "I'm disappointed Rauner seems to be trying to balance budget on the backs of frontline employees. Solutions come from through the spirit of bipartisanship, not by attacking the other side of the aisle. We need to do what's right for the children in our state."

Between shouts from protestors, the governor insisted his agenda will create more jobs, increase family incomes and make more money for schools without raising taxes.

Some attending the event believed in Rauner's agenda, saying it would attract businesses to areas that are in need of tax revenue.

"I can understand their (the unions') deal. Quinn made them a bunch of promises, but we need the money down here," said Mike Eddington, chapter president of the southeast region A Brotherhood Aimed Towards Education, a coalition dedicated to motorcycle rights, safety and education.

Eddington said he is hoping for an additional off-road riding park to come to the Harrisburg area, and believes Rauner's reforms would make it easier for businesses to pursue such endeavors.

Rauner continued on to Belleville to speak about his Turnaround Agenda at a country and farm store.