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*** UPDATED x2 - Rahm fires back *** Because… Rahm

Posted in:

* But, wait, I thought they got along fine and could easily cut a deal if it wasn’t for that certain someone

Gov. Bruce Rauner’s office called Emanuel “just another tax-and-spend politician,” Thursday afternoon and at an event later last night in DeKalb, Rauner lit into the mayor for blaming Chicago’s financial woes on the General Assembly. “That’s not created by Springfield,” Rauner said. “That is a failure on the mayor’s part and a failure to take on reforms.”

– “It’s clear that less than 24 hours after passing the largest property tax hike in city history, the mayor is already laying the ground work for another tax hike because he is refusing to engage in passing structural reforms that will save Chicago taxpayer hundreds of millions of dollars,” Rauner spokesman Mike Schrimpf said in a statement. “The mayor needs to get serious about whether he is going to be a reformer or just another tax-and-spend politician who wants to blame someone else for their failures.”

– Responding to … — On Wednesday, Emanuel told reporters: “It’s a very strange economic strategy to try and hurt your economic engine, that’s how you’re gonna grow the economy…Name me a governor in the other 49 states that is attacking the economic engine of their state. Is the gov of Washington state going after Seattle? Is the Gov of Oregon going after Portland?”

– It’s your own fault, Rauner says: “Unfortunately, in hearing the mayor’s comments in Chicago, it sounds like he’s trying to lay the blame for the failure of Chicago on other people, on Springfield,” Rauner said in DeKalb, according to audio obtained by POLITICO. “Chicago has been fundamentally mismanaged for years and the mayor is forcing a massive property tax hike — the biggest tax hike in Chicago history … and it doesn’t even fix the problem … even with that… there are going to be more tax hikes coming because Mayor Emanuel has not done fundamental structural reform for the long term.”

– Basically Rahm, you’re a ‘failure’: “He’s already admitted after this big tax hike he doesn’t have enough money to properly fund the pensions. He’s admitted he doesn’t have enough money to fund for the school year,” Rauner said. “That’s not created by Springfield. That is a failure on the mayor’s part and a failure to take on reforms.”

Please note that the governor said those things in DeKalb. I wonder if he’s ever said anything like that to the mayor himself.

*** UPDATE 1 *** From the twitters…


Rahm to Rauner: "Stop name calling and just do your job"

— Lauren Chooljian (@laurenchooljian) October 30, 2015

*** UPDATE 2 *** Full quote from the Tribune

“My view is we (passed a budget) without rancor, but actually doing exactly what we need to do,” Emanuel said Friday. “I think what Springfield needs to do is not call names to anybody, you’re 120 days and counting behind schedule, 6,000-plus kids have been thrown out of daycare. The job to get done is to actually go back to the negotiating table and get a budget. Calling people names doesn’t get you a budget.”

“My view is, and I would just say this to the governor and the governor’s office: you’re 120 days behind budget, $6 billion and counting in not paying bills. Stop name-calling and just do your job.”

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 8:42 am

Comments

  1. During the depths of our darkest winter nights to come, Bruce Rauner will be able to see the destruction he is forcing upon Illinoisans, by the light of the bridges he has burned across our state.

    Comment by VanillaMan Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 8:45 am

  2. ===…politician who wants to blame someone else for their failures.===

    Pot, meet Kettle.

    ===tax hikes coming because Mayor Emanuel has not done fundamental structural reform for the long term.===

    Here’s your chance Bruce, identify how much money each of your proposed “reforms” will save the city this year, and each year afterwards out say, oh 10 years. If you can’t/won’t, then shut your yap. You’re platitudin’ again, and that ain’t helpin’.

    Comment by PublicServant Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 8:52 am

  3. ==Gov. Bruce Rauner’s office called Emanuel “just another tax-and-spend politician==

    Rauner knows about spendin’ between late fees to vendors, additional pension costs due to a failure to pay scheduled payments plus he personally spends more on wine than average Illinois households spend on everything. I’d say he’s as credible of a source as exists on spending.

    Comment by AC Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 8:53 am

  4. Well, they’re both right. Rahm delayed even starting to address his budget issues his entire first term. Yet Rahm is correct about the proper role of Springfield and the Governor.

    The odd thing is they both knew (or should have known) the depth of the revenue issues facing their respective governments when they were elected, and immediately did nothing to solve the problem (and each probably made it worse).

    Comment by Keyrock Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 8:54 am

  5. As I said back at what now seems like the beginning of time, it was a mistake for the Governor to go speak to the Chicago City Council and personally deliver his hostage threats.

    Rauner is gonna own the property tax hike. The mayor and the alderman have to blame somebody, and they sure as heck aren’t going to blame themselves.

    If Springfield did its job, they will argue, there wouldn’t have been a property tax hike.

    “The Millionaire Tax would have provided $300 million in property tax relief for Chicagoans, but Governor Rauner said No!”

    Comment by Juvenal Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 8:56 am

  6. With friends like this, who needs …

    Comment by Sir Reel Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 8:57 am

  7. I don’t see how Rahm can blame the Governor for the property tax when you have aldermen saying that Rahm didn’t do enough.
    http://www.uptownupdate.com/2015/10/ald-osterman-on-his-city-budget-vote.html

    Comment by jeffinginchicago Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 8:58 am

  8. Trouble in Paradise?

    * Governor Bruce Rauner, who is this/close to Mayor Emanuel, took time in DeKalb to make his feeling clear about Hizzoner.

    To wit;

    Upshot - People outside Chicago love to hear a Republican bash on a Chicago “Democrat” Mayor upping Rauner’s anti-Chicago cred in the collar counties.

    Downshot - This didn’t sit well with the 5th Floor, handing down their own assessmeny of the rookie governor

    Sideshot - The sideshow continues as the state is no closer to a deal, and Chicago is no closer to getting state money.

    Buckshot - The victims to this sideshow are neither Hizzoner or Rauner but everyone else watching.

    Will they soon be a “don’t invite ‘em” publicly, and wine buds together, privately?

    Stay tuned.

    * Jay Doherty had a Double-Power lunch with the powerful Finance Chairman Ed Burke and the Powerful Justice Anne Burke and they three were over the moon about being priceless, ageless, and all-around inportant.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 8:58 am

  9. While we may not like his methods or some of his policies, Rahm finally had the courage to bite the bullet and help address the REAL structural problems (cut spending and find revenue to meet obligations). That’s the “reform” that the state needs to implement as well. Unfortunately, King Rauner has now chosen to find a new bogeyman by attacking Rahm (who has the memory of an elephant). At want point does the Governor start pointing the finger of blame at himself? He’s running out of human shields and corners in which to hide.

    Comment by unspun Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 8:59 am

  10. Rauner is right on this one.

    Comment by Matt Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 9:02 am

  11. Now I may be a Southern Illinoisan, resentful and bitter about the resources and attention Chicago gets. But I would never ever ever say what he just said to a Mayor of Chicago. Holy Mother of God, if any statement ever showed political eneptness, that one did. Bucko you got a lot to learn about respect.

    Comment by Honeybear Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 9:02 am

  12. Bruce Rauner’s wealth did not come from serving people. It happened because he has spent a lifetime taking from people. So he has no way of understanding how his ideas, plans and methods don’t work in government.

    He talks down to us. He dresses down. He drives a vehicle which should have been towed to a dump. He publically presents himself as a man who wants to be like us. He isn’t. He can’t be. The actions he has taken throughout his life don’t demonstrate the humility and servitude needed to be a government leader.

    His “turnaround agenda” isn’t based on service. It isn’t based on caring, or giving or concern. It is based upon what he has done best throughout his adult life - it is based upon taking from people.

    You see, he doesn’t believe you know what you have. He made millions taking assets from people, then stripping away what he wanted, leaving behind less for others, but more for him. He profited by taking what others built but were struggling to keep. He sees our struggles as proof that we shouldn’t have what we’ve got.

    So we have a governor who is a professional taker, and a man who wants to “fix” our government by taking from us. Not serving us.

    Rauner has never been a public servant. He has never experienced lowering himself to serve citizens. He is no Jim Edgar. He is like no other government leader because he doesn’t understand public service.

    Comment by VanillaMan Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 9:03 am

  13. off topic, but glad to see you are up and at ‘em Rich. Good night’s sleep helps a cold

    Comment by ottawa otter Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 9:04 am

  14. The Governor isn’t totally or even mostly wrong. Chicago’s finances have been mismanaged. Skipped pension payments during the Daley years (to be fund nice pay raises and labor peace) is just a part of it.

    But the Governors words would be more meaningful if he had pointed it out back when he was one of the Chicago cheerleaders on the politically appointed committees or having his daughter clouted into a public magnet school.

    Now it is just political noise/pandering that we know he does not really believe or lacked the honesty to point out when he was in the system.

    That and the fact that his “reforms” will not help. I guess I should have led with that, it is kind of a biggee…

    Comment by JS Mill Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 9:04 am

  15. Come on Rahm, Seattle and Portland? How about New York City and Los Angeles.

    Comment by NoGifts Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 9:06 am

  16. Let me see if I have this right: the governor who blames all of the state’s ills on Michael Madigan calls out Rahm Emanuel for blaming the governor for problems the city is having (which are directly related to the governor’s leadership failure)?

    Comment by Father Ted Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 9:08 am

  17. Rauner does not own the property tax hike in Chicago used to fund pensions for Police and Fire.

    He is trying to allow local municipalities to freeze property taxes by changing work rules and collective bargaining.

    Rahm is making Rauner’s point very well that reform is needed but difficult to implement

    Comment by Lucky Pierre Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 9:08 am

  18. “Structural reform” ??

    Is that a fancy way of saying, shut down every union in the city of Chicago?

    Or ignore like every recent Court decision on pensions, just continue to pass legislation that will be struck down as unconstitutional in due course?

    What does he even mean??

    I’m also a huge fan of this “Doesn’t fix the problem” mean. It’s like if someone dug an enormous hole in the street, and then they started to fill it back in, and they were over halfway done, you walk by and say, “Oh what a waste of time. You’ve done nothing. You still haven’t fixed the problem. All that work and you’re still just working on the hole.”

    /rantover

    Comment by ZC Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 9:10 am

  19. Governing is much tougher than campaigning. I hope voters take note that this is what happens when you elect someone without governmental experience who says they are going to “run government like a business”.

    Comment by Stones Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 9:10 am

  20. “Damage report, sir: All bridges to Chicago burnt and collapsing.”

    Commander: “Excelleeeeeent”.

    Comment by Stumpy's bunker Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 9:14 am

  21. Wonder if Private Citizen Rauner ever donated to sitting Mayors or people running for Chicago Mayor like “Democrat” Richard M. Daley or Rahm Emanuel?

    Asking for a friend.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 9:15 am

  22. …not a Rahm fan, but ‘ol BVR knows how to abuse and berate once he thinks he has you in a corner.

    Comment by Stumpy's bunker Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 9:17 am

  23. Whoa, Joe M, take it easy. No violent imagery please.

    Comment by Roamin' Numeral Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 9:21 am

  24. @ow:

    Is your friend also interested in finding out if Private Citizen Rauner ever clouted his daughter into an Elite school?

    Comment by Jack Stephens Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 9:24 am

  25. I seriously wonder if Rauner thinks he says something negative about Chicago outside of Cook County it won’t get back to Rahm and company.

    Political isolation is a cold and lonely place.

    Comment by Almost the Weekend Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 9:25 am

  26. I’m.telling you folks. This is all in the script. The Raun Man creating political cover for the Rahm Man. Kati-bar-the-door after the first of the year.

    Comment by blue dog dem Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 9:28 am

  27. “…Name me a governor in the other 49 states that is attacking the economic engine of their state. …”

    Tom Wolf, Democratic governor of Pennsylvania. He has to deal with a Republican general assembly.

    Comment by Anonymous Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 9:30 am

  28. I agreed with many of the comments from a few days ago that the Sneed drop was just Rahm PR spin to distance himself from BR. But, I don’t know how either man (and their massive egos) recover from shots like these. Wow.

    I think this could be a massive miscalculation by the Gov.

    Comment by Jimmy CrackCorn Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 9:30 am

  29. - Jack Stephens -

    The price of clouting your denied Winnetka-living daughter is, I’m guessing $250K to said school, months after the clouting.

    So, if my friend looks at “who” might have donated $250K, arbitrarily, they might look at what students make up that student body.

    There’s some kid, a worthy Chicago child, that may have had an opportunity… that a privileged north shore denied child’s parent felt… that that Chicago kid… shouldn’t have.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 9:31 am

  30. Rauner is a masochist- loves to call out people who disagrees with him.

    Comment by Anonymous Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 9:32 am

  31. ===the Sneed drop was just Rahm PR spin===

    That was part of it, sure. But this goes a lot deeper than folks in the media are willing to admit.

    Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 9:33 am

  32. His statement shows me he’s more than willing to let Chicago burn. It also shows me that yet another point of leverage has been neutralized. At this point he’s running out of options. I’ve heard from a number of friends in different departments that a lot of midlevel political hacks are leaving their departments because it’s not going well. This grand experiment has not gone well. They took pay cuts to take the job and are not happy having to do something to earn their paycheck. Not so easy is it? Those state government folks actually work hard don’t they? It’s more responsibility than you bargained for and with Gov. Rauner making it real hard to face the public it’s just not worth 100k. I LOVE to see these “show ponies” going back into their private sector cushy jobs. Go back to your well paid lawfirms and consultant jobs making 200k doing nothing. Leave the state to those who have worked 20 years and topped out at 65k. The problem now is that you’ve driven off some of the best people in state government and replaced them with some pimply faced Kirk intern new college grad making 39k. WHO HAS NO IDEA WHAT THEY ARE DOING! Way to poison the well. No wait..Rauner et al have poisoned the whole aquafer. The statement above to the Mayor proves it.

    Comment by Honeybear Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 9:34 am

  33. Rauner is a masochist- loves to call out people who disagrees with him but when they do he will spend money to make sure they don’t exist anymore politically.

    Comment by Yep45 Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 9:34 am

  34. Just when you thought Ken Griffin’s Holiday Party couldn’t possibly get more awkward.

    Comment by Juvenal Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 9:39 am

  35. Just another brilliant move in the 3-dimensional chess played by the Baron.

    Think about it. Step one, burn bridges with the most powerful politician in the state. Step two, reject overtures from the only democratic leader willing to deal. And now step three, insult the Mayor.

    People, he has them right where he wants them.

    Comment by Abe the Babe Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 9:39 am

  36. Well Illinois without Chicago would basically be Indiana, Rauner’s dream state, so him attacking Chicago kind of makes sense. /s

    Comment by ChicagoVinny Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 9:39 am

  37. Glad to see Shrimpf chiming in.

    That’s what this disaster needs. A calm, mature voice of reason.

    Comment by Wordslinger Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 9:42 am

  38. Juvenal wins the Internet!

    Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 9:46 am

  39. Turnaround agenda or not - here is the truth that the Chamber of Commerce and the sycophants are not telling Bruce.

    There are hundreds of small businesses and Fortune 500 companies who are re-evaluating their presence in Illinois and their work with the State of Illinois and the City of Chicago on a DAILY basis. This budget crisis and uncertainty is far worse than any of the previous years of budgetary problems. This is the most destabilizing influence we have ever seen on business.

    Businesses are going to leave, this is not business friendly Bruce. This is chaos and uncertainty.

    Comment by siriusly Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 9:49 am

  40. There’s a war in Springfield and the Mayor has been trying to straddle both sides of it, that’s not going to work and it should have just been made clear to him.

    For the love of god the Democrats need to finally get together and unite and fight back. Bruce Rauner has taken full control of the entire Republican party apparatus and is using it to fight his war, it’s time the Democrats unite to do the same.

    Comment by The Captain Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 9:54 am

  41. “Rauner does not own the property tax hike in Chicago used to fund pensions for Police and Fire.

    He is trying to allow local municipalities to freeze property taxes by changing work rules and collective bargaining.

    Rahm is making Rauner’s point very well that reform is needed but difficult to implement”

    “freezing” taxes is not going to help. Changing collective bargaining only “saves” money if you cut compensation- not exactly an economic “growth” model. It is a punitive model that makes all of the anti-public employee/tea party folks happy.

    Comment by JS Mill Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 9:58 am

  42. Rahm accused Chuy Garcia of being the massive tax hiker during the recent mayoral campaign. Now, he congratulates himself for raising taxes and fees when he ducked the question during the entire election.

    What a typical political hypocrite.

    A side question: Who are Rahm’s floor leaders or liaisons in the General Assembly? He seemed pretty ineffective in the Capitol throughout Quinn’s administration too. Just asking.

    Comment by After Further Review Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 10:01 am

  43. “it’s time the Democrats unite to do the same.”

    MJM strategy is to kick back and watch Rauner burn. And I don’t see a lot of Dems complaining about it. They know what they’re doing.

    Comment by Politix Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 10:01 am

  44. @Juvenal,
    Nah, this guy is like Ron Hubbard- your worthy of certain types of support based on your beliefs for his turnaround agenda.

    Comment by Yep45 Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 10:03 am

  45. (Tips cap to - Juvenal -)

    Heck of a line to drop. You win.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 10:05 am

  46. I think that this was a silly move by the Mayor. It is not a longshot that there will be a Republican in the White House 16 months. If a bailout is needed of the, who will be Chicago’s lifeline?

    https://www.aei.org/publication/the-40th-anniversary-of-gerald-ford-disciplining-a-profligate-new-york/

    Comment by Jockey Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 10:07 am

  47. Rahm’s approval numbers aren’t great, but I wonder if wagons may be circled up there if there’s a perception that Rauner sees Chicago’s problems as fun sport. Even suburban elites may be reassessing their support for Rauner.

    Comment by Stumpy's bunker Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 10:11 am

  48. I guess the Emanuels won’t be out to the ranch in Montana any time soon.

    Comment by DuPage Dave Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 10:11 am

  49. it seems it is getting a lot harder to blame Madigna for this.

    Rauner apparently missed the part where Germany did itself in by opening up too many battle fronts when it decided to turn on its allies. But i am sure an expanding multifront war to destroy unions by wrecking the economy will only improve with time….

    Comment by Ghost Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 10:14 am

  50. -siriusly- hate to tell you, but businesses were already questioning the Land O’ Lincoln befor the Rahn Man took over. Thank goodness we got some delicious goodies like EDGE tax credits still left in the old trick er treat bag to toss around.

    Comment by Blue dog dem Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 10:15 am

  51. Hey Mike Schrimpf! All politicians tax and spend. THAT’s the job. Looks like to me Rahm has set a responsible example for the governor to follow. Taking responsibility shows maturity. Adults pay bills. Not all medicine tastes good. Good job Rahm!

    Comment by Union Man Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 10:15 am

  52. Rahm would not agree to support Rauner’s turnaround agenda in exchange for help from Springfield. Instead Rahm did what needed to be done, raise taxes to pay Chicago’s bills. Toni Preckwinkle did the same for Cook County government. Rahm and Toni both understand that waiting for Governor Rauner is a losing game for the City of Chicago and Cook County. The members of the IL GA need to understand this as well.

    Comment by Enviro Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 10:22 am

  53. Still smiling from the Juvenal comment.

    Comment by Norseman Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 10:23 am

  54. Property taxes can’t be frozen without cutting pay for Government workers and other workers that contract with local governments to build things etc.

    Democrats passed a property tax bill that freezes property taxes but does not cut spending, because as Senator Cullerton says democrats like to spend money but not raise taxes. How has that worked out for everybody?

    The debate is whether people want higher taxes or lower salaries for government workers

    Comment by Lucky Pierre Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 10:32 am

  55. >> Tom Wolf, Democratic governor of Pennsylvania. He has to deal with a Republican general assembly.

    His first-year term indeed has also been labeled a “mixed bag” by Governing Magazine (though one rung above the “struggling” Bruce Rauner).

    Maybe we’re all missing the root structural cause here. Is there something in the water at Dartmouth College?

    Comment by ZC Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 10:38 am

  56. rahm is refusing to engage in passing structural reforms that will save Chicago taxpayer hundreds of millions of dollars,”

    Perfect opportunity. Describe a specific “reform” and put a dollar figure to it. Repeat until you reach hundreds of millions

    Comment by Langhorne Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 11:03 am

  57. Enviro @ 10:22 is quite correct.

    I think what he left out was that Rauner wants to now beat Rahm over the head with the choice he made. And had that tactic in mind the whole time.

    For those who still actually believe that Madigan can push thru a budget with democrat votes alone should now be able to see how foolish the Dems would be to do so. Why in the world would they let BVR and the HGOP off the hook and give them a stick to beat the Dems over the head?

    Comment by Bemused Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 11:14 am

  58. Gosh, I sure wish Dan Sinker were covering all of this on that fake Twitter account.

    Maybe the time vortex can give back as well as take away . .

    Comment by Bill White Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 11:17 am

  59. Lucky Pierre, you seem to have the plan.

    Why don’t you dazzle us with the numbers on the cost-benefit analysis that justifies all the “suffering” the govenor is talking about?

    And while youre at it, give us the rationale for the governor withholding from munis the taxes we all are paying and that are not going for their intended purposes.

    Remembers, numbers and analysis, ROI. We’re already full-up on coloring book economic buzz words.

    Comment by Wordslinger Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 11:17 am

  60. Wordslinger

    Pretty simple raising taxes on middle income people at the city, county and state level to fund higher salary,benefits and pensions for government workers (who are already better paid than the average middle class worker) will leave them less money to spend. There is a hollowing out of the middle class and our regressive tax code has a lot to do with it

    Comment by Lucky Pierre Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 11:26 am

  61. So Lucky, your answer to the hollowing out of the middle class is to pay cops and teachers less money? You do realize that it was in large part those folks being required to live in the city that kept a strong middle class in Chicago when in places like Cleveland and St.Louis they all fled 30 and 40 years ago, right?

    Comment by Juice Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 11:33 am

  62. Did I miss something?

    What real structural reforms did Rahm make to City Government and its school district to assure Chicago taxpayers and visiting taxpayers that Chicago will return to drowning in red ink?

    Maybe “just do your job” Rahm ought to follow his own advice.

    Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 11:45 am

  63. Juice

    Only those CPS teachers hired after 1996 are required to live in Chicago. Chicago was not Detroit or Cleveland before 1996.

    CPS teachers are among the very highest paid in the US with an average pay of $74,236. They have one of the shortest work days of any school system.

    Comment by Lucky Pierre Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 11:49 am

  64. ==Pretty simple raising taxes on middle income people…will leave them less money to spend==

    And by that analogy, lowering wages for union jobs will do the same, right? Or is there trickle down fairy dust that insulates those union households from the Rauner hammer?

    Comment by Abe the Babe Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 11:55 am

  65. Ugh, so annoyed that I’m defending Rahm.

    Louis, Rahm privatized janitorial services. One of the demands that the Governor is making that be a part of his package. (Even though in Chicago, schools are now dirtier, and that contract cost more money).

    Rahm closed fifty schools, something that is a lot more difficult that closing a glorified shooting range what still paying the employees to go there every day. (And that ended up not really saving money, in addition to the other challenges that caused).

    They also already have a property tax cap. High property taxes in Illinois are not being driven by Chicago. It’s mostly being driven by those tax and spend liberals in places like Kendall, McHenry and Lake county.

    What major reforms has the Governor actually proposed for State government (not local government) that changes the way we do business? Most of what he has pushed involves finding an excuse the short the pensions by 2 billion and getting employees to pay more for their health care.

    Comment by Juice Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 11:56 am

  66. –Did I miss something.–

    Louis, definitely a word or two in your post. Right now, it reads kind of crazy.

    Also, your explanation of “real structural reforms” and their projected benefits.

    And “hang in there.” The boss wants a hang in there from you guys at least once a day.

    Comment by Wordslinger Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 11:58 am

  67. Rahm better get ready for another property tax incrrase — the 800 million he is counting on from Springfield may get lost in the mail

    Comment by Sue Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 12:15 pm

  68. Speaking of awkward, while the staff over at IPI continues to jostle with Tribune editorial board for Mike Z’s “Employee of the Month” Award, Reboot Illinois has been comparable brutal to the Governor. Reboot was founded by the Griffins - by venture capitalists for venture capitalists to promote venture capitalists’ solutions to state government. But they haven’t exactly been bootlickers and cheerleaders for Rauner.

    Comment by Juvenal Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 12:26 pm

  69. LP, no, I’ve got the buzz words.

    But surely there must have been an actual cost-benefit analysis on this course of action.

    The cost is real and quantifiable.

    Where’s the other part?

    Comment by Wordslinger Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 12:34 pm

  70. Why should Springfield come up 800 million for CPS when the teachers only pay 2 percent toward their pension instead of the required 9 percent and the City picks up the rest?

    What happened to the Chicago Casino that was going to solve all of our problems by fleecing those stupid enough to gamble?

    Comment by Lucky Pierre Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 12:48 pm

  71. Rahm has a point about Rauner’s budget debacle.

    However, the political landscape in Chicago seems much different than Springfield, with its deep partisan divide.

    I wish there can be other policies to improve Chicago’s finances, such as a financial transaction tax and adult-use marijuana legalization, but they won’t happen.

    I’m concerned about the property tax exemption and would like to see it enacted, but I read that it must be passed in Springfield. With the state budget impasse and Rauner clinging tightly to his demands, I’m not that confident it can be done.

    Comment by Grandson of Man Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 12:52 pm

  72. It does appear the Gov. has lost most of his supporters that post on Capital Fax. Now it is time for him to buy this site and send Rich on a world cruise and only allow posts from his staff…

    Comment by Nieva Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 12:59 pm

  73. ===Now it is time for him to buy this site and send Rich on a world cruise===

    $20 million and he can have it.

    Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 1:03 pm

  74. Reminds me of Truman. You want a friend in politics, get a dog.

    Comment by Left Leaner Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 1:15 pm

  75. == schools are now dirtier, and that contract cost more money==

    which makes you wonder why people keep buying into the idea that privatization will save money. it’s proven to be the opposite time and time again.

    Comment by working stiff Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 1:17 pm

  76. ==Stop name-calling and just do your job.==

    By passing another unbalanced budget? A budget that uses imaginary savings?

    Or a budget that relies on demanding $ from someone else, like Chicago just did?

    Comment by Formerly Known As... Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 1:20 pm

  77. ==$20 million and he can have it==

    Can I buy .00000001% for $20? lol

    Maybe a few of us here can pool some cash and buy 1 full share?

    Comment by Formerly Known As... Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 1:23 pm

  78. ==$20 million and he can have it==

    It would probably be a better use of his $20M slush fund …

    Comment by RNUG Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 1:39 pm

  79. –20 million and he can have it–

    I believe Barton said it best: there is no capitolfax without Rich Miller.

    Comment by Casual observer Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 2:11 pm

  80. “===And that ended up not really saving money===”

    That’s kind of the conclusion I’ve also reached. Time for Rahm to govern and stop pushing those deck chairs around the S.S. (Chicago) Titanic.

    Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 2:58 pm

  81. You under value yourself sir.

    Comment by Nieva Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 3:07 pm

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