The war of words wages on between Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. Neither the mayor or the governor will disclose their private conversations. But publicly, Emanuel’s been building a case that Chicago is functioning not just well, but ahead of schedule, a dig at deadlocked Springfield.
Thursday the mudslinging continued, a Rauner spokesman said Emanuel needs to “get serious” about if he’ll be "a reformer or just another tax and spend politician who wants to blame someone else for their failures. "
Friday morning the mayor had a message for the governor.
"You’re 120 days behind budget. 6 billion dollars and counting and not paying bills. Stop name calling and just do your job."
The mayor needs a lot from Rauner, including his support of a tax exemption that would shield many Chicagoans from the looming property tax hike.
Meantime, Governor Rauner addressed Mayor Emanuel’s comments at a separate event Friday. Rauner talked to reporters at a Chicago meat market where he bought in jest a dead fish he’s sending to Mayor Emanuel.
It’s a reference to the infamous story that years ago Emanuel once sent a dead fish to a political operative.
But Rauner wasn’t all jokes. He says Emanuel’s property tax increase is wrong.
"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."
Rauner also accused Emanuel of hiding and dodging. Because he says Emanuel on principle does want some of the policies that Rauner wants, like changes to workers compensation.