The 1 million-strong Illinois AFL-CIO has backed off its support of Gov. Rod Blagojevich's $7 billion tax plan for education and health care because of a flap over charter schools. The labor organization had been poised to lobby for the tax plan, but it switched its position to "neutral" after learning of a provision that would double the number of charter schools allowed in Illinois, said spokeswoman Beth Spencer. Concerns were raised by an affiliate, the Illinois Federation of Teachers, which opposes an expansion of charter schools. Spencer said that if one affiliate is opposed to the governor's plan, the organization as a whole must be neutral until concerns are resolved.
See "Labor backs off on tax plan", Diane Rado, Chicago Tribune, April 19, 2007