State reps from metro-east vote along party lines on use of arbitrator

Metro-east’s members of the Illinois House voted along party lines Wednesday on whether an arbitrator should be used in labor negotiations with state employees.

Gov. Bruce Rauner won a victory over a Democratic majority Wednesday when the Illinois House failed to override his veto of legislation designed to prevent a strike or lockout if union contract negotiations break down.

Democrats under House Speaker Michael Madigan of Chicago voted 68-34 to reverse Rauner’s rejection of the measure that would give an independent arbitrator power to decide who wins if there’s an impasse in negotiations between the administration and the state’s largest employee union. To become law, the legislation needed a three-fifths majority of 71 votes.

The vote marked a key showdown between the General Assembly’s pro-union majority and the first-year Republican governor they fear wants to smash organized labor. The Senate voted to overturn the veto last month, so a House override would have made it law.

Here’s how metro-east House members voted on whether to override Rauner’s veto:

Rep. Dan Beiser, D-Alton: Yes

Rep. Jerry Costello II, D-Smithton: Yes

Rep. Jay Hoffman, D-Swansea: Yes

Rep. Eddie Lee Jackson, D-East St. Louis: Yes

Rep. Dwight Kay, R-Glen Carbon: No

Rep. Charlie Meier, R-Okawville: No

This story was originally published September 3, 2015 at 4:46 PM with the headline "State reps from metro-east vote along party lines on use of arbitrator."