Dennis Byrne’s column today goes after the Alliance to Protect the Illinois Constitution, a group established to defend the Illinois status quo against pesky reformers who’d like to see a constitutional convention held to return some of the power back to the people. The money quote:

[To the Alliance] Your cooperation with the rat pack has nurtured the stink. If you are so convinced that the only way to improve Illinois government is a new cast of characters, then form an alliance to throw the bums out.

Byrne goes on to list a series of reforms that are worth fighting for; and among them is recall. I’d go one step farther and say Illinoisans should have the right to binding referendum.

But Byrne’s broader point is that the Alliance doesn’t have to support the Con Con, but they don’t have to oppose it either. If there is a Constitutional Convention it will be because the PEOPLE are fed up and have some demands. The onus is on The Alliance to show how the PEOPLE are going to get what they want without a convention.

If you’re wondering who is a part of the Alliance against change.

AFL-CIO Illinois
American Insurance Association
Center for Tax and Budget Accountability
Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce
Citizen Action Illinois
Illinois Association of Convenience Stores
Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools
Illinois Association of School Administrators
Illinois Association of School Personnel Administrators
Illinois Business RoundTable
Illinois Civil Justice League
Illinois Education Association
Illinois Farm Bureau
Illinois Federation of Teachers
Illinois Manufacturers Association
Illinois Petroleum Marketers Association
Illinois Retail Merchants Association
Illinois Retired Teachers Association
Illinois State Bar Association
Illinois State Chamber of Commerce
Illinois Teachers Retirement System
Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
League of Women Voters of Illinois
National Federation of Independent Businesses/Illinois
Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce
Service Employees International Union Illinois
State University Annuitants Association
Taxpayers’ Federation of Illinois
United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, Local 881