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Spiraling out of control

Posted in:

• Illinois

* Tribune…

Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Friday lashed out at Gov. Bruce Rauner for vetoing a measure aimed at providing city police and fire pension relief, accusing his onetime vacation pal of telling “every Chicago taxpayer to take a hike.” […]

Over the short term, the bill would have reduced how much taxpayers contribute to the retirement funds by hundreds of millions of dollars a year. But that delay would come at a cost of billions of dollars over the long haul. By paying less upfront, the city would see its pension debt continue to grow. […]

“This bill continues the irresponsible practice of deferring well into the future funding decisions necessary to ensure pension fund solvency,” Rauner wrote in his veto message to lawmakers. “The cost to Chicago taxpayers of kicking this can down the road is truly staggering.”

* More from Rauner’s office, which noted that the bill did not pass the House with a veto-proof majority…

“This legislation forces Chicago to borrow against police and fire fighters’ pensions to the tune of $18.6 billion. Absent reforms, this will simply balloon liabilities and ultimately crush taxpayers, which even the Retired Chicago Police Association opposes. This is the same reckless policy that led the city of Chicago and the state of Illinois to financial crisis. Chicago needs wholesale structural reform to solve its problems — borrowing billions against taxpayers is not the solution.”

* Sun-Times…

Top mayoral aides were livid. They likened it to a “declaration of war” on Chicago and Emanuel, akin to President Gerald Ford flatly declaring in 1975 that he would veto any bill calling for “a federal bail-out of New York City” and instead proposing legislation that would make it easier for the city to go into bankruptcy.

Rauner had until Monday to sign or veto the bill. If he had done nothing, the legislation would have automatically taken effect and saved Chicago $220 million this year and $843 million over five years. […]

“You have a governor who said he was for a property tax freeze, who is now, through a veto, gonna force a property tax increase. You have a governor who put this in his own pension proposal and now, he’s vetoing it. You have a governor who said he’s for local control, and the first bill on his desk that reflects local control, he vetoes it. And you wonder why people don’t trust him,” Emanuel said.

“Part of being a leader is people being able to work with you and trust you . . . There’s a reason nobody trusts you. It’s because there’s constant inconsistency. And it’s not an accident that nothing’s getting done in Springfield under his tenure.” […]

“Chicago taxpayers are not a pawn in your failed agenda . . . So far, everything is about hostage-taking. Maybe to break the logjam, the governor should say, ‘I’ll make the first move of good will to anybody anywhere and the good will be to Chicago taxpayers, to Chicago Police and Fire.’ But he hasn’t decided to do that,” he said.

* The war of words continued on Twitter. The Prince of Snarkness was fully unleashed…

Oof.

posted by Rich Miller
Sunday, May 29, 16 @ 3:01 pm

Comments

1. It was a pension holiday. And Rahm trying to pretend that it wasn’t makes him look silly.

   Comment by From the 'Dale to HP Sunday, May 29, 16 @ 3:11 pm

2. Goldberg advising others to stay classy is like the pot calling the kettle …

   Comment by Norseman Sunday, May 29, 16 @ 3:13 pm

3. The bromance is officially over…

   Comment by Anon221 Sunday, May 29, 16 @ 3:36 pm

4. Rahm for Governor in 2018!

   Comment by Union Leader Sunday, May 29, 16 @ 3:47 pm

5. Emanuel’s had a bad year. I’m not surprised he wants change the subject to Rauner’s failures and the harm he’s doing to the city away from his own dismal performance.

   Comment by Wensicia Sunday, May 29, 16 @ 3:57 pm

6. Gov Rauner your true character is showing….

   Comment by El Conquistador Sunday, May 29, 16 @ 4:37 pm

7. Just a lovers’ spat.

   Comment by TinyDancer(FKA Sue) Sunday, May 29, 16 @ 4:55 pm

8. Stately response for the plaintiff Rauner vs. Rauner

   Comment by Rabid Sunday, May 29, 16 @ 6:54 pm

9. Nice video. I remember how transparent the gov was about his vacation plans. This whole argument is like identical twins arguing that they aren’t related.

   Comment by Randolph Sunday, May 29, 16 @ 7:14 pm

10. Goldberg’s ego visits the mayor

    Comment by Rabid Monday, May 30, 16 @ 1:52 am

11. Class act from a class bowl, go with the classics

    Comment by Rabid Monday, May 30, 16 @ 1:59 am

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