November 18, 2013
Dear brothers and sisters,
On Friday, you may have received an e-mail entitled “Know Your Options” from the Illinois Policy Institute (IPI). In it, IPI claims to be a “non-partisan policy research organization” that is “here to help you.”
This ostensibly caring e-mail was sent from a vicious wolf in sheep’s clothing.
The IPI is neither non-partisan, nor do they have your best interests at heart. They didn’t say so in their e-mail, but they are as anti-union as they come, and proud of it. A quick visit to their website makes a few things very clear:
- IPI wants to obliterate collective bargaining and our seat at the table.
- IPI wants to destroy our pensions and retirement security.
- IPI wants to privatize education, restrict workers’ rights, and create a tax system that benefits most those at the very top level of income.
A deeper look into IPI's background yields even more information.
IPI is a member of the American Legislation Exchange Council, better known as ALEC. ALEC is a corporate "bill mill," a controversial, right-wing organization in which state lawmakers and corporate lobbyists come together to vote on “model” legislation behind closed doors. They introduce these bills in state houses across the country, including Illinois. Corporations – not people – fund almost all of their operations, and so that’s who their efforts benefit.
As you may know, ALEC was the driving force behind the campaign to eliminate collective bargaining in Wisconsin, a model they took on the road to Ohio, Arizona, and beyond.
IPI is also part of the State Policy Network, an $83-million dollar right-wing empire. They don’t disclose the source of all their funding, but a recent report by the Center for Media and Democracy revealed the billionaire Koch brothers and libertarian Cato Institute are among the big donors behind the curtain.
As John Nichols told us at Convention, we have extraordinary collective power in Illinois, and we must use it. It is time we exposed these groups for who they really are: “stink tanks” masquerading as “think tanks,” advancing out-of-touch corporate interests to benefit their out-of-state funders.
Please share this message with your members, and encourage them to learn more about the Illinois Policy Institute at the links below. Talk to your colleagues, stay vigilant, and spread the word that ruthless attacks like these are designed to strip you of your voice and our ability to advocate for students and our communities.
They may be aggressive, but we are united.
In Solidarity,
Dan Montgomery
President, Illinois Federation of Teachers
LEARN MORE:
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Illinois_Policy_Institute
http://stinktanks.org/illinois/
http://www.alecexposed.org/
http://www.politico.com/story/2013/11/koch-brothers-think-tank-report-99791.html?hp=l4