* CBS 2…
Mayor Emanuel says the city will provide about $9 million to make sure thousands of children from working families aren’t cut off from the state’s Child Care Assistance Program. The mayor says the Bruce Rauner Administration has tightened the requirements for families that qualify for the help.
“I think the policies by the state, when you look through, you find 90 percent of the children you’re going to kick off… that’s not tightening the standards, that’s basically walking away from the children of the city of Chicago and the state of Illinois,” Emanuel said.
The mayor says the added funding will protect about 5,000 of the 9,000 pre-kindergarten seats affected by the state cuts.
* Tribune…
Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Tuesday accused Gov. Bruce Rauner’s administration of “walking away from the children of the city of Chicago” by making it harder for low-income families to qualify for inexpensive child care, while announcing he had set aside $9 million to keep the service in place for some of the kids. […]
Emanuel estimated the change affects about 9,000 children in Chicago, roughly 90 percent of those who used to qualify. The mayor said his administration had “scraped together” $9 million to keep child care programs running for 5,000 kids who lost their eligibility, but called on Rauner to reconsider the new standards. […]
“If you’re going to tighten the standard, it should be about tightening the standard because you thought maybe it went over slightly,” Emanuel said. “Ninety percent means you don’t believe in day care, you don’t believe in early childhood. And I don’t believe that’s (Rauner’s) policy. I believe somebody in the system has this upside down, and they need to be straightened out.” […]
The mayor noted the city’s intervention isn’t a permanent solution. “We can step in to a point. We can’t make up for the failures of the state,” he said. “It is time for the governor to re-evaluate.”
- Gruntled University Employee - Wednesday, Sep 2, 15 @ 11:13 am:
“It is time for the governor to re-evaluate.”
It is time for the governor to GOVERN.
There, fixed it for ya’
- Formerly Known As... - Wednesday, Sep 2, 15 @ 11:13 am:
Maybe they can work things out on their next vacation together.
- walker - Wednesday, Sep 2, 15 @ 11:16 am:
Yeah OK. Low hanging PR fruit, a couple of weeks late. Playing pretty close to the vest.
Rahm: You’re in or you’re out. Which is it?
- Flynn's Mom - Wednesday, Sep 2, 15 @ 11:20 am:
Maybe BVR can babysit. He sure isn’t governin’
- Langhorne - Wednesday, Sep 2, 15 @ 11:22 am:
I thought rauner said he could hash out the budget, w cullerton and rahm, in no time.
- very old soil - Wednesday, Sep 2, 15 @ 11:25 am:
Rauner re-evaluates, decides to just end program.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Sep 2, 15 @ 11:27 am:
Rahm called the Governor beforehand so they both could have a good laugh about what was going to “happen”
- Flynn's Mom - Wednesday, Sep 2, 15 @ 11:31 am:
Rauner re-evaluates and sets an income threshold for bearing children.
- Wordslinger - Wednesday, Sep 2, 15 @ 11:38 am:
Love how Emanuel claims it’s not Rauner’s policy, but somebody “in the system,” who needs to be “straightened out.”
I guess a guy sets you up with a multi-million personal payday, he gets the benefit of the doubt, kids or no kids.
The new policy has been out there for weeks. If it wasn’t the governor’s policy, he would have changed it.
- Juvenal - Wednesday, Sep 2, 15 @ 11:43 am:
@Word:
I think this is a smart approach by Rahm.
He is giving Rauner the chance to reverse course while still saving face.
- Anon - Wednesday, Sep 2, 15 @ 11:46 am:
Has reverend Meeks had the governor to the house of hope yet so all of his congregants could thank him for shaking up springfield? Has Pastor Cory Brooks had the governor to the New Beginnnings Chirch of Chicago so his congregants could thank him for all he has done to strengthen the programs that many rely on?
- Flynn's Mom - Wednesday, Sep 2, 15 @ 11:49 am:
@anon….no I don’t think the invite is coming anytime soon. It would clearly demonstrate to those in the congregations that their leaders are really only in it for themselves.
- Anon - Wednesday, Sep 2, 15 @ 11:52 am:
I just read the July 17th pres release on pastor Brooks’s appointment to the tollway board. In it, he claimed that he believes that the position wasn’t payback for his support of Rauner in the campaign, and that he believes that rauner will make Illinois a better place, especially for African Americans on Chicago’s south side. I think a visit from the governor is overdue. Folks deserve to hear about the steps this governor takes every day to improve their lives!
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Sep 2, 15 @ 11:52 am:
It’s all about the money everyone. IL has none. You can’t spend what you don’t have. Oh, we did borrow and borrow and borrow but the credit line is maxed out. Who’s fault is that? Bruce didn’t spend it all.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Sep 2, 15 @ 11:56 am:
Oh ” - Anonymous - ”
No one is making Rauner choose those cuts. Rauner is choosing them all on his own.
Rauner isn’t a victim of his own choices.
- cdog - Wednesday, Sep 2, 15 @ 11:58 am:
The mechanics of implementing this generous gesture are more than elusive.
How does the City of Chicago write a check for services provided by a licensed center/home, or relative covered by CCAP, when all those details and transactions rest on the CCMS at DHS and their CCR&R sidekicks? (P.O.S Child Care Managment System. Ya, I said P.O.S)
Now there is an audit opportunity.
Again, nice gesture for families and providers with HUGE PAYROLLS from going under.
- nona - Wednesday, Sep 2, 15 @ 12:02 pm:
== you can’t spend what you don’t have.”
Rauner and those who favor his move prefer to dismantle the subsided daycare than to restore the temporary income tax rate, the way Moody’s urged the other day. Better to punish the working poor rather than more affluent residents who enjoy most of tax cut. It’s a reverse Robin Hood program to soak the poor.
- Anon - Wednesday, Sep 2, 15 @ 12:06 pm:
Maybe Rauner could take back the extra money for FREE motorcycle training and give it to this program!
- hisgirlfriday - Wednesday, Sep 2, 15 @ 12:10 pm:
this just makes me wonder why chicago needs a state cps bailout if they have $9 million just sitting around
- Sir Reel - Wednesday, Sep 2, 15 @ 12:11 pm:
Rauner’s not walking away from this program. He’s running.
- Flynn's Mom - Wednesday, Sep 2, 15 @ 12:17 pm:
@Anon…how much is slated for free motorcycle training?
- Charlie S - Wednesday, Sep 2, 15 @ 12:17 pm:
These day care cuts are not just a “luxury” or “welfare benefit” that are being cut, but it is also revenue cut. One easy way to keep a single parent out of the workforce and keep their potential payroll taxes from becoming revenue is to make sure there is no one to watch their children if they go to work.
Even if you discount the positive benefits pre-school has on children, the multiplier effect of giving those in poverty a helping hand (money not spent on daycare or pre-school will be spent in the community), and the daycare/pre-school jobs it would create (or save), the fact that you’re also cutting state revenue makes this a head-scratcher to me.
- Keyser Soze - Wednesday, Sep 2, 15 @ 12:18 pm:
Are we talking about state supported day care, or is there more to it than that?
- Wensicia - Wednesday, Sep 2, 15 @ 12:25 pm:
I guess Rauner uses the bottom .01% earners to calculate his cut off point.
- cdog - Wednesday, Sep 2, 15 @ 12:26 pm:
@keyser.
We are talking about EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION when licensed child care centers and licensed homes are the providers.
When relatives or neighbors are the providers….?
- Ghost - Wednesday, Sep 2, 15 @ 12:32 pm:
Its harder to sell because Madigan when you aquire multiple voices in leadership questioning your actions….
- A guy - Wednesday, Sep 2, 15 @ 12:45 pm:
Mr. Mayor, propose and pass your needed property tax increase first. Then speak.
- Amalia - Wednesday, Sep 2, 15 @ 1:05 pm:
any coverage of last night’s town hall with Rahm?
- Amalia - Wednesday, Sep 2, 15 @ 1:24 pm:
oh, right, not a town hall last night, but one tonight for Rahm.
- Jack Stephens - Wednesday, Sep 2, 15 @ 2:23 pm:
Rahm,
According to Bruce P&L…..cheaper to put the kids in prison eventually. Plus Bruce makes more money. He’s happy to share the wine with you.
Love,
Jack
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Sep 2, 15 @ 5:24 pm:
This is probably to support the early learning programs (and partners) that blend and braid funding to provide full day options for kids. There are empty classrooms at community based organizations that receive PFA funding all around the city. The mayor wants those slots filled. Ad hoc but still better than nothing. I’m also curious to know where the funds will come from.