Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner called out Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Thursday as "unwilling" to help him pass his agenda, prompting the mayor to offer the rookie governor advice on how to get out of the budget stalemate he's created.
The back-and-forth illustrates the nature of the impasse that's enveloped the Capitol and City Hall: The politicians meet privately and then publicly posture as they seek leverage to emerge victorious.
Rauner gave the first glimpse behind the curtain, saying Emanuel has not done enough to persuade Democrats to get on board with the governor's pro-business, anti-union agenda in return for financial help for Chicago Public Schools.
"We're eager to help the city of Chicago," said Rauner, who wants a "two-way partnership." "But at this point, the city of Chicago and the mayor have been unwilling to help us in our reform agenda to help the state."
Emanuel returned fire during a Thursday evening appearance on WTTW's "Chicago Tonight," suggesting he's been willing to work with Rauner on portions of his agenda. The mayor singled out the governor's push for workers' compensation reform as an area of potential common ground.
"So, I say to the governor — having worked for two presidents and as mayor — there's a way to get some of the things you want done. I stand ready today. He has my cell number," Emanuel said. "You want to work on workers' comp? Like May 6, when you came to the City Council at your request and we made that happen, like then, three months later, I stand ready to work with you on workers' comp."
The mayor also suggested that Rauner should ditch efforts to pit Democrats against each other.
"I mean two weeks ago, the governor said that with me and (Senate President) John Cullerton, he'd get a deal already. Now, I'm the problem this week," Emanuel said. "I don't look at those things as news items or by trying to use people. ... Don't call any names, don't point any fingers, build trust and confidence so you can share ideas."
At issue is Rauner's proposal to freeze property taxes while allowing local governments, including school boards, to decide what benefits are collectively bargained with teachers and other public workers. It's one of the items on Rauner's legislative wish list that have stalled budget negotiations at the Capitol.
Meanwhile, Emanuel and Chicago Public Schools CEO Forrest Claypool are in the midst of contract negotiations with the Chicago Teachers Union as the district faces a $1 billion shortfall driven by ballooning pension obligations. As part of those negotiations, Emanuel wants teachers to cover the full cost of their pension contributions, instead of the small portion paid by teachers currently.
Rauner charged Thursday that the city is seeking the state's permission to take pension contributions out of the collective bargaining process, which would allow the school board to unilaterally force a higher contribution from teachers.
"That's a special deal for Chicago," Rauner said at a news conference at the Thompson Center. "Why does Chicago ask the state to take things out of collective bargaining to benefit Chicago, but it doesn't allow the state to authorize all communities, all school districts, to manage collective bargaining as they see fit?"
Rauner's remarks came as he tries to bat back an alternative bill moving through the General Assembly that would freeze property taxes statewide and pick up roughly $200 million in CPS pension costs. Emanuel has argued that the current system is unfair to Chicago because CPS pension costs are paid by the city while the state picks up the employer cost of pensions for the other systems in the state.
Cullerton, who crafted the bill, left out Rauner's provisions on local collective bargaining, saying it would not have had enough votes to pass if they were included. The Senate approved the measure Tuesday, and it now heads to the House, where its future is uncertain.
Emanuel encouraged Rauner to "roll up your sleeves" and use the bill as an opportunity to score a victory on a property tax freeze instead of "trying to hold the children of the city of Chicago hostage."
Rauner contended that Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan is to blame for the state's budget holdup because his allies control a large number of seats in Springfield and have refused to budge on the governor's agenda. Emanuel, Rauner said, could help sway his fellow Democrats.
"The city needs to help the state," Rauner said. "The mayor is very powerful in the legislature, more than folks like to talk about. And Speaker Madigan is right out of the Chicago machine. … Chicago's running the state. They're controlling our budget. Chicago is powerful."
Rauner, Emanuel spar on CPS pensions, Springfield stalemate - Chicago Tribune
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