As Feud Expands, Rauner Buys Rahm A Dead Fish
CHICAGO (CBS) -- The political feud between Chicago's mayor and the state's governor blew up even further on Friday in theatrical fashion.
Rauner was at the Paulina Meat Market to sign some legislation, and tried to inject some levity into his very serious dispute with the mayor over the state's budget impasse, and its effect on city finances.
"I bought some fish. I'm going to send some dead fish to the mayor. I think he will deeply appreciate that, as only he can," the governor said.
It was a clear reference to a long-ago gesture Emanuel made to a pollster, believing he'd botched a key poll.
Rauner's comment about the fish was a joke, but he admitted his dispute with Emanuel on budget matters is serious.
"He's put in the biggest tax hike in Chicago history, with no structural reform; and I understand why he's sensitive right now. He's very sensitive. He's got a lot of really angry constituents, and they're angry for good reason," Rauner said.
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Emanuel has been trying to win the governor's support for $800 million in financial help from the state to help shore up the budgets at City Hall, the Chicago Public Schools, and the CTA; but Rauner has been pushing back, and demanding the mayor's help in getting Democratic lawmakers to support his pro-business, anti-union agenda.
The governor said talks with the mayor and House Speaker Michael Madigan were continuing, but they have yet to reach any real agreement. While Rauner said agreement is possible, it is not at hand.
"I've compromised a lot, and I'll continue to compromise, but what we won't do is put a massive tax hike on the people of Illinois without significant structural reform. Chicago, I believe, has made a fundamental mistake. It's the reason I'm opposed to what the mayor has done. He's put a massive tax hike on the people of Chicago without significant structural reform. I think that's a mistake," the governor said.
Earlier in the day, Emanuel said Rauner just needs to govern, and sought to contrast the state's ongoing budget impasse to his ability to win approval of a city budget, including the $588 million property tax hike Rauner has blasted.
"The city of Chicago passed a balanced budget that got our job done. We did it ahead of schedule; met our obligations, and cut $170 million out of the budget for a total of $600 million in cuts," Emanuel said. "My view is we did it without rancor, but actually doing exactly what we need to do."
After the City Council approved the massive property tax hike earlier this week, the governor's office issued a blistering statement attacking Emanuel and his policies.
"The mayor needs to get serious about whether he is a reformer or just another tax-and-spend politician who wants to blame someone else for their failures," Mike Schrimpf said in a statement.
Emanuel defended his budget, and said Rauner needs to do his job.
"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 pass a budget. Calling people names doesn't get you a budget," the mayor said. "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."
While Rauner and Emanuel have been friends for years – vacationing together at Rauner's ranch in Montana – the two have been at odds politically ever since the governor took office earlier this year, and the division has only grown wider as the months have passed.
Things could get even frostier between the two if Emanuel doesn't get the help he's seeking from Springfield, as that could leave gaping holes in the budgets for city government, the CTA, and the Chicago Public Schools.
