Emanuel Opposes Rauner's Proposed Cuts To Child Day Care
(CBS) -- Mayor Rahm Emanuel questions Governor Bruce Rauner's budget decisions which affect children, reports WBBM's John Cody.
While the Rauner budget boosts K-12 education by $300 million, Emanuel opposes cuts in early care centers, which he says are suffering.
Podcast
"There's hundreds of millions of dollars in cuts in child day care and I've opposed that and I have said to the governor that is your responsibility to fix it. You didn't create it, but you have to fix it," Emanuel said. "I run into constantly mothers, this morning at the 95th Street 'L' station and throughout the weekend, who are going to school, who are working trying to be responsible parents and without daycare they cannot fulfill their obligations as good parents and good employees."
Emanuel said he understands the need for change in Springfield and the need for reform but he says this budget is being balanced on the backs of families and children.
Asked if he'd support a state tax hike to fund additional programs he'd like in Chicago, Mayor Emanuel said that's an issue to be handled by the governor.
Two of the men vying for Mayor Emanuel's also criticized Rauner's proposed budget, saying it would mean bad news for Chicago's residents in more ways than one, reports WBBM Political Editor Craig Dellimore.
Mayoral candidate Bob Fioretti says for every positive thing in Gov. Rauner's budget, like more money for early learning in elementary schools, there is pain, like the cuts in future pension benefits.
"He failed to mention the hundreds of millions in cuts to higher education and service cuts that unfairly impact foster children, the homeless and the developmentally and mentally disabled," Fioretti said.
Rival candidate Jesus "Chuy" Garcia says there will be real pain for local governments, too.
"For Chicago, it means a loss of 125 million dollars," Garcia said. "For the Chicago Transit Authority, it means a loss of 50 million dollars."
Garcia says he can't believe Emanuel would even let his friend Bruce Rauner even propose such a budget.
