On Nov. 4, voters will be asked whether to call a constitutional convention.

The state's 1970 constitution requires that voters be asked whether to hold a convention every two decades. The last time the question was on the ballot was in 1988, when the call to revisit our government's rule book was defeated by nearly 2 million votes.

Since then, we've watched the disparity between wealthy and poor areas of the state continue to grow when it comes to educating our children.

We've seen a governor go to jail. We've seen another governor become the focus of federal prosecutors as he's presided over a government that is deeply insolvent.

We've watched the state's legislative leaders amass grand powers to control what gets voted on - or doesn't - in the House and Senate.

We've seen them disappear behind closed doors to negotiate out-of-balance budgets that are then sprung upon the rank-and-file lawmakers at the last minute, take it or leave it.

We've watched competitive races for the legislature become few and far between because of the way legislative leaders have gerrymandered district maps to assure they keep their power intact.

Those types of issues could be addressed by a constitutional convention.

Yet, there are some heavy hitters who don't see a need to revisit the 40-year-old document. They are heavy because they help line the pockets of the politicians who control state government.

Let's take a look at who they are:

- The AFL-CIO Illinois, which represents people who dig ditches, build roads and lay water lines. Labor leaders have been unable to shepherd a statewide construction program through the legislature because of the political gamesmanship that's become standard operating procedure in Springfield.

- Two powerful and well-financed teachers unions - the Illinois Education Association and the Illinois Federation of Teachers - whose leaders used to be viewed as vocal supporters of moving Illinois away from its reliance on property taxes to fund schools.

- The Illinois Farm Bureau, whose members also used to be known as vocal supporters of moving Illinois away from its reliance on property taxes to fund schools.

- The Illinois Manufacturers Association, the Illinois State Chamber of Commerce and other business groups, who've often said schools should be funded equally across the state to ensure a steady flow of educated workers into the job market.

So why are these major players planning to spend millions of dollars to urge you to vote "no?"

In short, they have skin in the game.

The unions aren't saying it publicly, but they are concerned a constitutional convention could somehow alter the state's pension system, which is generally considered a safe haven in comparison with everyone else's battered 401(k) these days.

Business groups aren't talking openly about it, but they are concerned a convention could result in a change in the current constitution that sets a maximum 8-5 ratio between the corporate and individual income tax.

The opponents also claim that gridlock in Springfield is not the work of the current constitution.

"Changing the constitution because we're unhappy with our leaders of the moment would be like junking your entire car just because it has a flat tire," said former state Rep. Nancy Kaszak, executive director of the Alliance to Protect the Illinois Constitution.

Comparing the current state's current dysfunction to a flat tire is like comparing the national economic meltdown to losing some change in a vending machine.

Maybe there is a reason Kaszak is a former state lawmaker.

So what do current lawmakers think?

State Rep. Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet, is among those who doesn't believe members of the General Assembly should lobby for or against the issue.

"It's the people's decision," he said.

However, in a sign of how he might be leaning, Rose added, "We cannot continue to function the way we've been functioning."

THE ILLINOIS MELTDOWN CONTINUES

It's only the first quarter of the fiscal year, and the state budget is in shambles.

Comptroller Dan Hynes is using words such as "dangerous" to describe how the state is being overwhelmed with medical costs at a time when not enough cash is flowing in the front door.

"All entities reliant on state payments could face significant delays in anticipated payments," Hynes noted in a recent report.

The pain already is being felt.

Mike Patton, chief of the Illinois Pharmacists Association, says mom-and-pop pharmacies are waiting more than 100 days to get paid for providing medications to poor people.

kurt.erickson@lee.net|789-0865