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CHICAGO (FOX 32 / AP) — Mayor Rahm Emanuel says Gov. Bruce Rauner is holding Chicago students hostage for a political agenda people don't agree with.
Emanuel's comments Tuesday mark the second day the leaders verbally sparred over fiscal woes and Rauner's legislative agenda.
"You know, I had a New Year's resolution for the governor! Because we had a conversation right before the holidays wishing each other well and the families time. That was that he would be able as a governor to have his first budget passed before he had to deliver his second (budget) address in February," Emanuel said.
Despite his laughter, the mayor was clearly infuriated by Rauner saying that he'll provide no help for Chicago's nearly bankrupt public schools unless Emanuel starts squeezing Democrats in the General Assembly to approve some Rauner reform proposals, including measures that would weaken public employee unions.
"If Chicago is either opposing reform for the state -- and so far they are -- or staying silent and letting the Speaker block reform. No! I'm sorry. We're not doing things to help the City of Chicago, as much as I would like to," Rauner said.
Chicago Public Schools faces a $1 billion budget shortfall, largely due to increasing pension payments. Emanuel wants legislators to alter how pensions are funded to cut costs and make the system more equitable for Chicagoans.
Emanuel told reporters Rauner should "get the job done" on the budget. Illinois has no budget for the fiscal year that began July 1.
"I give the governor credit for being honest about that cynicism. You want to work out a budget? You want to play political machinations with leadership of the two chambers? Go right ahead. At least he's being honest, that he is going to hold the kids of the City of Chicago hostage as a pawn in that pressure. They are not a pawn in your political maneuvers," Emanuel said.
Rauner's spokesman responded, saying Emanuel is "blaming others" for his unwillingness to fix city finances. Rauner said Monday that Illinois won't help CPS avert a "crisis" unless Emanuel backs some of his agenda.
The governor claims every school kid in Chicago could benefit if his proposals became law, and also that the Board of Education could be freed up of what Rauner considers unnecessarily high costs imposed by the teachers union.