Rauner Efforts to Stop “11th Hour” Chicago Bailout are “Reasonable”
While Mike Madigan and his allies pervert the legislative process, intentionally preventing SB1 from reaching Governor Rauner’s desk, editorial boards across the state are siding with Rauner and calling out Madigan’s Chicago machine.
The Chicago Tribune editorial board called Rauner’s plan to remove the Chicago pension bailout a “reasonable” change, and blasted John Cullerton for resorting to “pure brinksmanship.”
They write, “The bill has languished in the Senate since May 31. It passed both chambers even after House Democrats inserted last-minute perks for Chicago Public Schools. But Senate President John Cullerton has been holding on to it rather than sending it to Rauner’s desk for the veto the governor has promised. At first, Cullerton said he wanted time for emotions to calm down. But then his tactic became pure brinkmanship.
President Cullerton, release the bill. We won’t be surprised if Rauner then removes from it money Chicago Public Schools would receive for its annual pension costs. He also could veto money folded into the formula that is specific to Chicago, intended to make up for CPS’ loss of some grant funding.
Fine. Those changes are not unreasonable. We have said Chicago should get help with its pension burden if and when lawmakers pass a statewide pension reform bill. That was the deal lawmakers reached a year ago. So far, Democrats who control both chambers have put no pension reform bill on Rauner’s desk.”
The Telegraph editorial board skewered Democrats for an “11th hour” provision inserted into SB1 – the Chicago bailout.
“So of the $778 million set aside for kindergarten through high school public education in the state, Chicago schools — which account for about 19 percent of the state’s students — would get 64 percent of the money.
So much for fairness.”
They continue, “Rauner made the right call. Pension debt is a serious matter and must be dealt with, but it is damaging to all school systems to allow provisions that favor a single district stay in this plan. It should not be included in Senate Bill 1.”
It’s time for Mike Madigan and John Cullerton to do the right thing, release SB1, and drop their demands for a Chicago bailout.
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