The Illinois House has defeated a right-to-work plan, but Republicans denounce the vote as a political charade.
Testimony like this, from Rep. Sue Scherer, a former teacher from Decatur, was typical of what Democrats had to say during the hours-long debate.
"This bill truly takes away the rights of the middle class. There's no way around it. This is not about wages, or conditions for rich people that live in mansions. This is about people working to put food on the table. Working to put shoes on their children's feet. Working to save a little bit the best they can to put their children through college. This is the first step to the end of the middle class."
She, and all other Democrats, used their super-majority status to defeat a plan that would create local right-to-work zones -- as Gov. Bruce Rauner has called for.
But it wasn't his measure that was up for debate; rather the House voted on a plan sponsored by the Democratic House Speaker, Michael Madigan. That's what's behind this frustration from House GOP Leader Jim Durkin.
"If you're coming here to Springfield to watch Branson, Illinois - welcome. But the fact is, it's a disservice. And I'm embarrassed to be part of this process today."
All but one Republican legislator either voted "present" or didn't vote at all, in protest.