Obama jobs plan works — for unions

• Reprints

Tea Party supporters and union supports show their respective sign during a large demonstration at the State Capitol in Madison, Wis., Saturday, Feb. 19, 2011. A few dozen police officers stood between supporters of Republican Gov. Scott Walker on the muddy east lawn of the Capitol and the much larger group of pro-labor demonstrators who surrounded them. The protest was peaceful as both sides exchanged chants of “Pass the bill! Pass the bill!” and “Kill the bill! Kill the bill!” The Wisconsin governor, elected in November’s GOP wave that also gave control of the state Assembly and Senate to Republicans, set off the protests earlier this week by pushing ahead with a measure that would require government workers to contribute more to their health care and pension costs and largely eliminate their collective bargaining rights. (AP Photo/Andy Manis)

Updated: November 9, 2011 5:19PM

Jobs, jobs, jobs is what the 2012 campaign will be about, the political pundits tell us. And with Illinois’ unemployment rate climbing above 9.5 percent, there’s no question jobs is what’s on the minds of many here.

President Obama sent his latest jobs plan to Congress this week. It’s another Band-aid plan that will cost American taxpayers nearly half a trillion dollars. And because only 47 percent of our fellow Americans pay income tax, its $450 billion cost will fall on the 53 percent of us who either earn too little to hire loophole-finding accountants or too much to cry poverty.

That $450 billion is in addition to the $4.7 trillion in red ink for shovel-ready jobs the Obama administration pushed through Congress over the last three years.

Still, Obama’s home state is losing jobs at a fast pace. In July, Illinois lost 24,900 jobs, more than any other state.

Hiking the income tax on those fortunate enough to still be working isn’t the answer. Securing business investors’ confidence by removing burdensome government barriers is what must take place for the Illinois job market to open up.

But all that’s nothing new.

Three of Obama’s biggest campaign supporters ­— the National Education Association, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and trade unions — will get Obama’s latest stimulus funds. Those borrowed dollars will be used to put unionized teachers, state employees and construction workers back to work while non-union teachers, electricians, carpenters and state workers stand in unemployment lines. Let’s be clear: Obama’s not interested in feeling the pain of those not in unions.

But in Illinois, less than 17 percent of the workforce belongs to a union. When a presidential or gubernatorial executive order requires that federal and state funds go only to union workers, the free market system is crippled. State regulations requiring union workers only automatically remove bid competition and raise the cost of public projects. Such orders also force 80 percent of the available workforce to watch as union construction crews grab any jobs available.

And as soon as those projects are done, more federal and state funds sweep in to pay for more union jobs, and non-union workers are left on the sidelines again and again.

This is how we reinvigorate the state and national economy toward long-term prosperity? Using tax dollars to fund preferred union jobs and let the non-union jobs sector starve to death?

But it’s all about jobs, the economy and the future, we’re told. No one cares about anything but getting back to work, paying bills and putting their kids through college. No one’s interested in social issues or ethics.

But what if the struggling economy and the poor job market are partially the result of unethical behavior, political favors and backroom deal-making? What if pocket-lining and influence peddling led us into this predicament? Would that make social issues or ethics more pertinent?

Take for instance how state and local bureaucrats in Illinois are richly rewarded with six-figure jobs for their political allegiance. This week, the transparency group For the Good of Illinois opened the state’s books to reveal on the Web the salary of every state and local bureaucrat.

“Our purpose was to help you answer a simple question, ‘how much does my government cost? For the first time in history, you can quickly and privately find an answer,” For the Good of Illinois’ founder, Adam Andrzejewski, said.

All you need is access to the Internet, and you can find a quarter trillion dollars of Illinois government spending. From 2010 alone, For the Good of Illinois’ website contains more than 900,000 individual salaries, pensions and worker’s compensation claims.

“Once you see what government costs, you might be angry,” Andrzejewski said. “Let’s channel that emotion constructively. Public officials that make decisions regarding public payroll and pensions need to be held accountable.”

And just how do we hold them accountable? By digging for the facts, presenting those facts to the elected officials and asking them to explain. If they can’t or won’t, share their answers with your neighbors and friends. Start a petition. Circulate it. Write letters to the editor. Get the word out. Organize a demonstration. Take part in a protest.

Let him or her know that you expect more from them than political cronyism. And if they won’t listen, get involved in a campaign and oust them in the next election.

But be careful.

Union organizers such as Teamsters’ chief James Hoffa have issued a decree to get rid of those elected representatives who stand for free markets and against union favoritism and bullying.

From Hoffa’s perspective, anyone who pays attention to how their tax dollars are being spent and isn’t willing to succumb to the Obama administration’s way of correcting America’s economic woes is a belligerent, good-for-nothing Tea Partier. Someone to be ridiculed, rejected and abhorred.

Illinois is run by the likes of James Hoffa. That’s why we’re losing jobs faster than any other state. And it’s why those in the Tea Party movement in Illinois need to get involved and turn up the heat.