Governor Pat Quinn (D-Chicago) and House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago) are dealing with the tangled web they've woven over the years with state employee unions.
Quinn's finding his generous campaign support from unions comes with a price, and the courts reinforce union contract agreements. Madigan is hinting now that a pension shrinking deal may be necessary, along with another tax hike for the rest of us to pay for the Democrats' power-grabbing deals over the years.
Quinn wants an $8.25 billion mortgage with which to pay overdue bills. That may be tough to pass in the General Assembly. Add that challenge to the teetering $31 billion capital plan, the resulting loss of more construction union jobs, and things must be very tense in the Democrats' power ranks.
