Hundreds boo Gov. Quinn at the IL State Fair - Chicago News and Weather | FOX 32 News

It was Governor's Day at the Illinois State Fair, but hundreds of unionized state workers booed so loudly at Governor Pat Quinn, that he could not be heard when he tried to speak.

State government is running out of money and now faces $140 billion in unfunded public employee pensions. Quinn is trying to cut those costs before they crush taxpayers, and plainly hopes to win re-election in two years, despite the sea of troubles that confronts him.

Supporters hoisted signs with Pat Quinn's name, but they were outshouted by state workers from the AFSCME public employees union, infuriated by the governor's attempt to cut the crushing costs of their retirement benefits.

Their union leaders are maneuvering to block the cuts, while pushing to raise more taxes on top of last year's 67% income tax increase.

Despite the booing, Quinn might not have been elected at all two years ago without the support of public employee groups. The irony was not lost on conservatives.

"There's never been a friendlier governor to labor than Governor Quinn," said John Tillman from the Illinois Policy Institute. "He's been very friendly to them. But Governor Quinn can do the math. The unions have not yet done it. Once they do the math, they'll know they have to come to the table. They're not there yet.