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* My weekly syndicated newspaper column looks at Rahm Emanuel and the Statehouse…
Rahm Emanuel will be sworn in as Chicago’s new mayor on May 16, just 15 days before the end of the state legislative session.
So, while Emanuel has more than enough on his plate dealing with the first Chicago mayoral transition in 22 years, he and his team appear well aware that they will have precious few days to get what they want out of the Statehouse after he’s inaugurated.
Emanuel’s transition team hired a Statehouse emissary several weeks ago. They’re not calling him a “lobbyist,” however. He’s more of an “observer,” they say.
And they decided not to call attention to themselves by choosing any of the well-known, Chicago-connected contract lobbyists in town. Instead, they hired Mike Ruemmler, who ran Emanuel’s campaign advance team. Born and raised in southern Illinois’ Mount Vernon, Ruemmler is not your typical city lobbyist. He ran a campaign for state Sen. Michael Frerichs, so he has some Statehouse connections.
Emanuel has tried hard not to step on Mayor Daley’s toes, using the “one mayor at a time” phrase over and over. While that philosophy has extended to Springfield, it doesn’t mean Emanuel is completely uninvolved.
He sat down with House Speaker Michael Madigan, Senate President John Cullerton and Sen. Kimberly Lightford before the final school reform deal was made. His staff also worked on behalf of Lightford’s bill, and Emanuel since has pledged to make sure the House passes the reform bill.
As anyone who has tried it most surely knows, working with Madigan is not the easiest thing in the world. Madigan has not yet committed to approving the Senate’s school reforms as-is. Indeed, some of his people have all but declared that the bill will have to be changed.
Too many anti-union tweaks could endanger the bill’s viability in the Senate, however, where the majority Democrats always are resistant to being pushed around by the House.
Making sure the bill survives the usual House vs. Senate back and forth will be a significant test of Emanuel’s abilities.
A source with close ties to Emanuel predicted last week that the mayor-elect and the speaker should be able to work together. Emanuel served time as a leader in Congress, so he understands how to deal with needy, demanding legislators.
More important, Emanuel, like Madigan, absolutely hates being lied to. Nothing upsets him more than someone who makes a commitment and then doesn’t follow through.
Madigan, of course, always has reserved his most intense payback for those he believes haven’t told him the truth.
But Madigan is a one-of-a-kind character in politics. He won’t ever lie to you, but he also won’t come right out and say what he intends to do until he’s ready to do it.
“He’ll say, ‘You’re going to be fine,’ when you ask him if your bill’s gonna pass,” marveled one longtime Statehouse denizen.
“You never know what that means. Am I going to be fine personally even if my bill dies? Is my bill going to pass? You just don’t know.”
Madigan gave Daley a huge welcome wagon present after Daley was first elected in 1989 by jamming through a tax hike solely for schools and local government.
But Madigan’s latest tax hike gives not a penny more to schools and local governments. In fact, cuts to both are likely.
Madigan often has tried to test new leaders to see what they are made of. But he hasn’t yet clearly shown his hand one way or another when it comes to Emanuel.
As mayor, Daley was reluctant to lobby legislators one on one, even when invited to by Madigan. That refusal to get down into the trenches often meant his bills died, which frustrated his allies to no end.
Emanuel broke with that tradition even before he was elected, lobbying individual members on behalf of the civil unions bill late last year. And then there is his ongoing involvement with the school reform bill, which neatly dovetailed with his campaign promises to rein in the teachers’ union.
He reportedly intends to use the same personal touch on major legislation important to his agenda, personally or municipally. But he will try not to overdo it, I’m told. Instead, he’ll keep that weapon “in reserve” and use it only when he has to.
I’ve covered state politics for 21 years, yet this is the first Chicago mayoral transition I’ve ever seen up close. It should be fascinating.
* Related…
* Mayor-elect Emanuel demands salary cuts for political appointees
* Chicago police say most crime down again in April for 28th straight month
* ‘Outsider’ Lois Scott must dig city out of huge budget hole
* City’s sea of red ink parts a bit - Shortfall shrinks, but Daley still leaving Emanuel to face $587 million gap
* Airports chief Rosemarie Andolino seeks smooth landing with Emanuel administration
* Emanuel taps Daley insider as Buildings chief
* Washington: Black leaders have ‘fair share’ fears
* New top cop McCarthy called ‘one of America’s best police chiefs’
* New police chief: Strong administrator, thick skin
* Daley honored by military, marches in final parade
* Mayor Daley’s name turns up in FBI files on embezzler John F. Duff Jr.: There’s nothing in the 600-plus pages — which include intelligence reports from informants, newspaper stories, subpoenas and agents’ notes, some of it with names and details redacted — to suggest that the mayor did anything illegal. In all, there are about 20 references regarding Daley and the elder Duff.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, May 9, 11 @ 4:53 am
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Regarding the comment, “Too many anti-union tweaks could endanger the bill’s viability in the Senate, however, where the majority Democrats always are resistant to being pushed around by the House.”
I look at it a little differently. Why does it have to be an “anti union tweak”.
Why can’t it be a “pro-parent” and “pro-children” tweak.
The unions referred to are the Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT) and Illinois Education Association (IEA). I really am fed up with the unions, especially the IEA, controlling most state political decisions that effect our schools, often at the expense of my children. Yes I know the unions don’t get everything they want, but they get most of what they want. The balance of power is too much in their favor and as of 2010 this voter has figured that out and is upset.
Comment by Mark Monday, May 9, 11 @ 6:42 am
–Madigan often has tried to test new leaders to see what they are made of. But he hasn’t yet clearly shown his hand one way or another when it comes to Emanuel.–
Yanking some local funding would be a sort of welcome and a test to Emanuel.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, May 9, 11 @ 7:41 am
I made the popcorn and chilled the wine…let the battle of the Titans begin…IMPO Madigan and Emmanuel really won’t get into it until veto session this Fall…two powerful men, cut from the same control freak cloth…
Comment by Loop Lady Monday, May 9, 11 @ 9:33 am
Great column Rich.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Monday, May 9, 11 @ 9:48 am
Magigan is quietly angry some of the time, while Rahm is profanely angry some of the time…;)
Comment by Loop Lady Monday, May 9, 11 @ 10:06 am
oops MadiGan…
Comment by Loop Lady Monday, May 9, 11 @ 10:06 am
Ruemmler is a really good guy-low key and smart. Rahm was very shrewd to put him there. Proves that he’s got a plan for how to run the City and he’s executing it. Good for the Mayor-Elect.
Comment by Nice Suit Monday, May 9, 11 @ 10:30 am
Great pick with Ruemmler.
I am sure two dozen greasy-haired, grinning lobbyists were dying for that gig. Better to keep it in-house.
Comment by George Monday, May 9, 11 @ 10:52 am
@Mark -
If the goal were to actually improve the quality of Chicago Public Schools, we’d actually see some education reform in the bill instead of union reform.
This measure, however well-intended, reminds me too much of the last Chicago school reform bill.
Its more Magic Beans based on the promise “if only we can get the unions out of the way” our schools will be magically transformed.
Just like two decades ago we were told that “if only we can put Mayor Daley in charge” our schools will be magically transformed.
Nevermind that there are plenty of pretty darn good public schools in Illinois that are run by independent school boards and taught by unionized teachers that operate under the exact same tenure rules as Chicago.
And while all eyes are on union reforms, CPS is facing an $800 million budget deficit next year, which no one in their right mind believes can be managed through cuts alone.
Nevermind how you’re actually going to pay for things like longer school days, longer school years, performance bonuses for teachers, enhanced after school programs, reviving physical education, recess, arts…all the things our next Mayor has talked about and all the experts agree are necessary for high performing schools.
And to top it all of, lawmakers are talking about education funding cuts.
Its hard to imagine HOW CPS avoids a property tax increase.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Monday, May 9, 11 @ 12:07 pm
I’ve also wondered how the first Jewish mayor of Chicago will relate to the old Irish Catholic mafia - and what loyalty Speaker Madigan has to the city generally and how much to the crowd that ran the city up until now.
Emanuel is used to giving orders. Let’s see how he responds to Madigan’s non-committal answers. I do see him different from Quinn by asking “show me the language” rather than wait until the end of session for bills or amendments to emerge.
It’s a miserable time to be leading this state, and a miserable time to be mayor of Chicago. Modernizing revenue collection is a major part of both executives’ problems. Finding quality persons to lean on with loyalty just to the leading executive is another challenge…
Comment by Capitol View Monday, May 9, 11 @ 12:26 pm
–Emanuel is used to giving orders–
Not as much as you might think. He was chief of staff for less than two years. Powerful job, but he was still staff. And there were a lot of folks around the White House who had their own power bases that couldn’t be pushed around.
Before that he was a congressman and a staffer. Of course, he had some underlings he could give orders. But he wasn’t the Man on Five.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, May 9, 11 @ 12:50 pm
I hope Rahm’s new Building Chief, unclogs that department so we can get construction moving in the city . Permits,zoning, aldermanic permisson, you name it the Beauracrats have constipated the process of building in Chicago.
Comment by mokenavince Monday, May 9, 11 @ 1:30 pm
Ydd
Just an opinion but I think the reason for the strike language is that the teachers have been able to keep things the way they are for so long because Daley was so scared of a teachers strike. The teachers would never agree to a longer school day or school year before this. Plus it gives the city a chance to get reasonable pay packages in the union contracts. Look at the cops and firemen they received 10% raises over 5 years in their last contract and had to wait 3 years for the contract to settle. The teacher received 16% over 4 years and the contract was settled as soon as the old one expired the difference is the cops and firemen can’t
strike.
As we have seen in Wisconsin,Ohio Indiana Massachusetts and now conneticut the teachers unions are being brought under control.
Comment by Fed up Monday, May 9, 11 @ 1:59 pm
=== The teachers would never agree to a longer school day or school year before this. Plus it gives the city a chance to get reasonable pay packages in the union contracts. ===
Fed-up: HOW do you plan on paying for a longer school day and school year? We’ve got an $800 million budget deficit as it is.
== the difference is the cops and firemen can’t
strike. ==
Um, the difference is about 20,000 union members/votes, two extra zeros in their PAC account and the contract came at election time.
I don’t think there’s any evidence that Daley or anyone else was seriously worried about a strike.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Monday, May 9, 11 @ 2:58 pm
TSS the contracts ended at same time last time around. The cpd teachers make alot more money than the national avg. But work less than national avg. Face it the fear of strike forced the city to give the teachers more and more. Take the strike threat away and some sanity will return. The teachers always received a new contract as soon as the old one expired under Daley along with a nice raise. Ever since the fire union strike in the 80s Daley got his no strike law and makes the fireman and cops wait years. Not sure either is the right way but just how the city handles contracts.
Comment by Fed up Monday, May 9, 11 @ 3:07 pm
@Fed up -
I don’t know about Chicago teachers making alot more money than the national average, but I do know that when you account for cost of living, experience and education level, Chicago teachers make EXACTLY the same a Houston teachers.
Chicago teachers are also paid about the same as Carbondale teachers, but $65,000 goes a lot further in Carbondale.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Monday, May 9, 11 @ 3:43 pm
===I am sure two dozen greasy-haired, grinning lobbyists were dying for that gig. Better to keep it in-house.====
The city always had 3, 4 or 5 in-house people in Springfield. Then they layer it with the grinning lobbyist. Luking fits in somewhere in between.
Comment by Been There Monday, May 9, 11 @ 3:56 pm
I’m just pointing out why the anti strike language is in the bill. The city has to negotiate with the teachers and the city gives more than it gets because a strike is something the city is afraid of. The cops and fireman can’t strike so they are made to wait years for a contract and get less than the unions that can strike. That’s how we end up with the guy with a GED driving the garbage truck making more than a fireman or police ofc. That’s why doing away with the strike possibility will save the city millions and millions.
Comment by Fed up Monday, May 9, 11 @ 4:25 pm
@Fed-up -
They could raise the threshold for striking to 99%, and if they try to lengthen the school day or school year without paying teachers more as the Tribune editorial board suggests, it wouldn’t matter.
99.5% of teachers would vote to strike.
And not to suggest decent public policy or anything, but imagine for a moment that after much negotiation, the union rejects CPS’s “take-it-our-leave-it” last offer.
But then only 70% of teachers vote to strike.
Then what?
Can you imagine the disruption if teachers are forced to accept a deal which 70% of them oppose?
There are things that are much, much worse than a strike. Like an entire workforce of teachers that is completely demoralized.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Monday, May 9, 11 @ 4:55 pm
You mean like the Chicago police felt and the Chicago firemen felt. Police and fire all over the state aren’t allowed to strike but still show up for work. Are you suggesting the teachers are less professional.
Comment by Fed up Monday, May 9, 11 @ 8:24 pm
Yellow Dog states above, “I don’t think there’s any evidence that Daley or anyone else was seriously worried about a strike.”
I disagree with that statement for the following reasons.
I was at the IL State House of Representatives Education Reform Committee Hearings held at IMSA in Aurora during two days in December 2010.
The threat of strike by CPS teachers was stated during those meetings as a major reason a longer school day and other reforms could not be achieved. I didn’t hear anyone at the committee meetings dispute that. Most the major players in Illinois union education were at that meeting including executives from IFT, CTU, IEA, etc.
CPS Strike meant 400,000 kids out of school.
The next piece of evidence is here from ABC News.
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=7877519
Daley: Make CPS strikes more difficult
Monday, January 03, 2011
I am wondering if CPS kids attend less hours and days of school than kids in IL schools outside Chicago?
Comment by Mark Tuesday, May 10, 11 @ 12:12 am
Why are Chicago teachers being singled out for striking? CPS teachers haven’t had a strike since 1986. How many other locals of IFT can say that??? Teachers want to teach. Chicago teachers have proved that. What’s wrong with wanting to get paid for working longer hours/more days? The only reason why CPS and the city want this in the so called School Reform Bill is because they KNOW they are going to do something so drastic/crazy that no one would stand for it.
Comment by Been there Wednesday, May 11, 11 @ 7:19 pm