* Oh, man, this is not good at all…
Earlier this week, Emanuel ticked off the wish list of projects he intends to build with casino cash. It includes: 40 miles of roads and water mains; 25 new schools; 45 renovated CTA stations; 20 miles of new rail; 150 buildings to be made more energy efficient.
The mayor also talked about the other side of the equation: the steady “withdrawal” of state and federal funding that has created the infrastructure crisis.
The pressure tactic didn’t work with Quinn, who accused the mayor of “putting the cart before the horse” and spending casino cash he doesn’t have.
On Thursday, the mayor fired back on that point, too. Emanuel argued that he had shared the wish list with Quinn — and it was the governor who encouraged City Hall to make it public.
“I told him beforehand that this was how I was gonna use the money, and he asked me to lay it out specifically, which I’ve done,” the mayor said. [Emphasis added.]
Seriously, why would you do this to the mayor of the biggest city in your state?
* Meanwhile, Abdon Pallasch has a fascinating story in today’s Sun-Times listing all the questions from a lengthy new Rahm Emanuel poll…
A telephone survey of Chicago voters offers the most extensive clues yet about what Mayor Rahm Emanuel might do to close a $636 million budget gap.
Closing libraries; a 15 percent cut to police, fire and emergency management administration; a $2.5 million cut to programs for seniors, low-income housing and domestic violence are all proposals respondents are asked to give their opinions on.
The survey also opens a window into what issues weigh heavily on the mayor’s mind:
“Rahm Emanuel has been a disappointment as mayor so far and is no better than Mayor Daley,” is one of the statements voters are asked to say whether they agree with.
Another asks whether voters support Emanuel’s school board hiking property taxes $150 million or whether they view that as the mayor “going back on his word” not to raise taxes.
Go read the whole thing. Lots of interesting stuff in there, including a question about a Chicago casino.
* In other news, the Rockford Register Star continues its cheerleading for a local casino on its news pages. Check out this lede…
The latest group to join the Rockford Casino Coalition did it on their turf — the ground was covered with dirt and hay, excited 4-H kids milled about and cows flapped their tails back and forth.
That was the backdrop for this morning’s news conference, the latest in a series of official proclamations from local groups pledging their support to Senate Bill 744, also known as the gambling expansion bill, which includes a casino in Rockford.
As wholesome as mom and apple pie.
- Dirt Digger - Friday, Aug 19, 11 @ 9:28 am:
“Seriously, why would you do this to the mayor of the biggest city in your state?”
Counterpoint: why ask questions with self-evident answers.
- Michelle Flaherty - Friday, Aug 19, 11 @ 9:29 am:
That was Bad Pat.
Don’t worry, Good Pat … err … Soy Boy will save the day.
- Cassiopeia - Friday, Aug 19, 11 @ 9:33 am:
I am beginning to think that Pat’s memory lapses may be indicative of early dementia. Even he can’t be this bad on purpose.
- just sayin' - Friday, Aug 19, 11 @ 9:33 am:
Governor, there’s a delivery for you at the gate.
Oh it’s a package of dead Asian Carp.
Well that can’t be good.
- Aristotle - Friday, Aug 19, 11 @ 9:46 am:
Rich, your premise is wrong. When Quinn asked Rahm to give him a specified list, he did not necessarily mean go out and publish it publicly. So, perhaps it was Rahm who tried to muscle Pat.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Aug 19, 11 @ 9:48 am:
===Rich, your premise is wrong. When Quinn asked Rahm to give him a specified list, he did not necessarily mean go out and publish it publicly===
Umm…
===Emanuel argued that he had shared the wish list with Quinn — and it was the governor who encouraged City Hall to make it public.===
- Coach - Friday, Aug 19, 11 @ 9:53 am:
Having thoroughly submitted to the superior power and skills of Madigan and Cullerton on the budget and other matters, it’s amazing that Quinn would suddenly decide to publicly fight with Rahm. And in classic Quinn fashion, it’s evident he’s making up strategy one moment at a time; yesterday, his spokeswoman resurrected the city parking meter “fiasco” and implied the city can’t be trusted to properly manage the casino. Whoa, this is a battle that Quinn won’t win.
- OneMan - Friday, Aug 19, 11 @ 9:54 am:
Hey it’s Aristotle not Socrates
At this point I am wondering if we should take one of those SNL bits about Rahm and replace in Pat Quinn where nessesary..
- jerry 101 - Friday, Aug 19, 11 @ 10:08 am:
“Seriously, why would you do this to the mayor of the biggest city in your state?”
To show downstaters that you don’t spend all your time catering to every whim of said big city’s mayor?
I’m glad that Quinn did “sandbag” Rahm. Going back to the Mayor’s race, Rahm’s been acting like being elected Mayor of Chicago gives him the right to dictate policy in Springfield as well as Chicago. He spent half of his campaign running around talking about repealing the income tax increase and replacing it with his “luxury tax” (which seems to have vanished from the agenda since Rahm was elected - I wonder why…). Now, he’s trying to strongarm the Governor.
Someone needs to remind Rahm that he doesn’t dictate policy beyond the borders of Chicago. If he plays nice, he can get quite a bit done for Chicago down in Springfield, but making demands and expecting the Governor and the GA to roll over isn’t gonna work. Daley certainly didn’t get everything he asked for down in Springfield, despite all of his power. Rahm’s the newbie. Why should Pat Quinn roll over for him? What’s he ever done for Pat Quinn? Why should the GA roll over for him? What’s he ever done for Madigan and Cullerton?
I hope that Quinn rebukes him a few more times. Maybe he’ll learn that he can’t just threaten his way into getting everything he wants.
“Emanuel argued that he had shared the wish list with Quinn — and it was the governor who encouraged City Hall to make it public.”
He said, she said. If Quinn’s not sure he wants to sign the gambling bill, then why would he ask Rahm to make his life more difficult by showing all these goodies that Chicago can “expect” if the gambling hall goes up? Rahm’s trying to strong arm him.
And those numbers that Rahm put out there seem highly suspect. One casino, in an area that’s already inundated with gambling options, is gonna generate that much revenue? I doubt it. The revenues might -might- get the budget deficit covered.
- Cincinnatus - Friday, Aug 19, 11 @ 10:15 am:
Was that list Pat is talking about in that book he was reading in the Caption contest from a couple of days ago?
- Aldyth - Friday, Aug 19, 11 @ 10:20 am:
“Seriously, why would you do this to the mayor of the biggest city in your state?”
There’s a dozen ways to answer this question, none of which are complimentary to Quinn.
- walkinfool - Friday, Aug 19, 11 @ 10:51 am:
Rahm didn’t make this list public at Quinn’s request, he did it for his own purposes. Rahm is no rookie, and is famous for knowing how to pressure other politicians.
Pat, on the other hand, often doesn’t consider the political implications of what he says.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Aug 19, 11 @ 10:57 am:
walkinfool, then you’re saying that Emanuel lied.
- Wensicia - Friday, Aug 19, 11 @ 11:04 am:
Emanuel must have been away from Illinois too long. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be surprised at Quinn saying one thing, then doing a complete 180. Live and learn.
- anon - Friday, Aug 19, 11 @ 11:23 am:
This back-and-forth reflects on Quinn’s unusual, and difficult, style as an executive. Quinn plain and simple does not know how to engage the process and key players, as Governor, to make big things happen.
He sits back, keeps his own counsel (which continually shifts), and lets all sides guess what his final direction will be. He’s reactive and acts alone, rather than in collaberation with others. No wonder the process has evolved to work around him, as if the Governor didn’t exist.
Can you imagine a Fortune 500 business being lead in this manner…such a chief executive would be gone in a flash. Ditto for a university president, or virtually any other kind of executive leader.
Our Governor sees virtue in sitting back, detached from the other players in the process, and acting in a reactionary manner to what comes his way…because Quinn sees himself as a moral figure who safeguards the citizen interests. Aloof and detached, a morality cop who reacts to what others put forth.
Actually engaging, and making big things happen, would sully that self image.
Rahm is a doer, who plays the inside game like a traditional executive. He and Quinn are equally stubborn and strong willed. Their two styles do not mesh.
If Quinn takes Rahm on, yet another major political player will be ready to support a Democratic challeger to Quinn in 2014. Quinn’s patchwork of alliances gained through appointments (Giannoulias, Kennedy, Mike Smith, Coreen Gordon, Hamos, etc.) will look weak by comparison (Madigan, Cullerton, Emanuel, labor).
Quinn’s best bet on the casino bill would be to work out a trailer to address his concerns, which would require him to specifically engage rather than throw out vague sound bites (”top heavy,” etc.). The pragmatic Emanuel would no doubt respond well to that approach, and politically help the Governor. Rahm would likely even find some humility.
- Michelle Flaherty - Friday, Aug 19, 11 @ 11:35 am:
Jerry 101, the one thing in the bill that Quinn supports is the casino for Chicago. All the stuff for downstate (read non-chicago) he wants out.
- Lulabell - Friday, Aug 19, 11 @ 11:36 am:
Has Quinn forgotten what a junk yard dog political the mayor is? If I were a betting person my money wouldnt be on Quinn in this one (or actually any one!)
- Bill - Friday, Aug 19, 11 @ 11:41 am:
== then you’re saying that Emanuel lied.==
You say that like it has never happened before.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Friday, Aug 19, 11 @ 11:42 am:
Is Quinn being accused of outsmarting Rahm? LOL
- Cincinnatus - Friday, Aug 19, 11 @ 12:51 pm:
anon said,
“Our Governor sees virtue in sitting back, detached from the other players in the process, and acting in a reactionary manner to what comes his way…because Quinn sees himself as a moral figure who safeguards the citizen interests.”
Leading from Behind® appears to be an Illinois trait.
- OneMan - Friday, Aug 19, 11 @ 12:59 pm:
Later Quinn apologized to Rahm and said thought he was talking to AFSCME so could lie to him
- Arthur Andersen - Friday, Aug 19, 11 @ 5:45 pm:
Sounds like a “circular firing squad” to old AA.Oops, is that phrase copyrighted? Never mind.