Emanuel Channels Truman, Fires Back At Rauner's Litany Of Criticism
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Faced with harsh criticism from his old friend, the governor, Mayor Rahm Emanuel coolly suggested Bruce Rauner remember the famous words of former President Harry Truman, "the buck stops here."
Emanuel said it's notable that after one year in office, Rauner has mostly been criticizing others this week.
"My recommendation is, rather than pointing fingers at everybody else, and talking about their work, he should take the time to talk about his work, and the accomplishments, or the lack thereof that would reflect the one year of his tenure," the mayor said after Wednesday's City Council meeting.
Rauner has said he's "very disappointed" in Emanuel for his handling of city finances, the Laquan McDonald police shooting scandal, and more.
In an interview about his first year in office, Rauner had a litany of criticisms about the mayor of Chicago, from gun crimes to cash-strapped schools, and a lack of jobs in the neighborhoods.
"I'm not going to discuss the terrible tragedies with the shootings in Chicago. I will talk about Chicago Public Schools, and the financial condition of Chicago. Chicago has basically the lowest credit ratings of any big city, other than Detroit; massive debt, deficits," the governor said. "Brutally high taxes, and a massive property tax [hike] coming now, without any real reforms connected to it."
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The mayor said Rauner's focus on other people's work over the past year is telling.
"On their one-year anniversary, a lot of people note what they've gotten done. I think it's a reflection on the governor that he has taken his one-year anniversary and talked about everybody else except for the one person that's accountable where the buck stops for the state of Illinois, and that's him," Emanuel said.
The mayor often has pointed out the city has a budget in place, but the state does not have one more than six months into its current fiscal year.