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 Government unions are funding a new ad claiming
Amendment 1 would boost the economy, but there are no economics to support “how”
it would do so or mention of the property tax drain it would guarantee.
The ad focuses on a construction worker grateful for his new job, claiming
Amendment 1 will create similar jobs in Illinois.
“We need more jobs like this in Illinois, especially with costs going up across
the board. The Workers’ Rights Amendment will keep more jobs like this in
Illinois,” the worker says.
Amendment 1 expands bargaining power exclusively for government workers, but how
does that create more construction jobs? Federal law governs collective
bargaining in the private sector, so changing the Illinois Constitution does
nothing to boost trade union power. It would boost the power of government union
bosses, which means 7% of working adults might be affected by the question at
the top of the Nov. 8 ballot.
The ad gives no explanation for the claim. It also doesn’t mention how taxpayers
would fund the new demands from government unions.
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According to their own reports, Illinois’ government unions spend very little on
representing workers – their main purpose. The largest Illinois government
unions spend no more than 35% representing their members.
Government unions prioritize politics, leadership salaries and other union boss
priorities over their main purpose: representing workers.
The ad is right about rising costs: the average Illinois family pays more than
$4,000 in additional taxes since Gov. J.B. Pritzker took office. Of that, $2,228
comes from property tax hikes because the cost of government pensions keep
rising.
Approving Amendment 1 would bring more property tax pain. One conservative
estimate is Amendment 1 would virtually guarantee higher property taxes of more
than $2,100 during the next four years, simply by maintaining Illinois’ status
quo. Should government union bosses exercise new powers granted through
Amendment 1, the tax hike on Illinoisans could wind up being far more costly.
Whether Amendment 1 can create jobs is arguable, but higher property taxes can
create jobs – in Illinois’ moving van industry.
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