TEAMSTERS JOINT COUNCIL 25
POLITICAL DEPARTMENT UPDATE

JULY 11, 2008

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ILLINOIS HOUSE REJECTS FUNDING FOR $34 BILLION STATEWIDE INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM

The Illinois House failed to pass a gaming proposal (HB 2651) that would have been a key funding source for a $34 billion infrastructure program. The legislation directs revenues from the creation of additional casinos and gaming positions in Illinois to the funding of Illinois infrastructure projects, which would create an estimated 600,000 jobs.

Principal officers from Teamsters Locals 179, 301,325, 673, 731 and 786 traveled to Springfield to lobby for the “Illinois Works” capital plan. To find out how your legislator voted, click here.

GOVERNOR MEETS WITH JOINT COUNCIL 25,
LABOR LOBBYISTS

Following the failure of the gaming bill, the Governor, along with State Rep. Jay Hoffman and Chief of Staff John Harris, held a closed-door meeting with various representatives of organized labor, including representatives from the Laborers and Teamsters as well as Tom Villanova and Mike Carrigan.

The Governor and his staff thanked labor for their support and reviewed progress that had been made. Possible strategies for going forward included a rally in August and rolling pickets of dissenting legislators’ districts. It was decided that organized labor would meet at a later date to discuss the next move.

GOVERNOR ISSUES $1.4 BILLION IN SPENDING CUTS
On July 9, Governor Blagojevich issued vetoes totaling $1.4 billion in budget cuts across state agencies and programs. The vetoes were in response to the Governor’s concern over a $2 billion shortfall in the Fiscal Year 2009 spending plan. The Illinois House is scheduled to be in session next week to consider action on the Governor’s vetoes.

LOCAL 786 VOTER REGISTRATION TRAINING
Local 786 will be hosting a voter registration training Saturday, July 12 beginning at 9:00 a.m. at Teamster City (300 S. Ashland). Teamsters Joint Council 25 Political Directors will be seeking volunteers interested in assisting in the fall campaigns. Voter registration is a critical part of demonstrating our union’s strength. This meeting will be the first step in a process to turn our more members to vote on Election Day (November 4, 2008).

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