Rahm Emanuel Shoots Down Quinn's Pitch to Share State Revenue

The mayor rejects the governor's alternative to raising property taxes in Chicago

Mayor Rahm Emanuel smacked down Gov. Pat Quinn's pitch to share state income tax with chicago as a way to solve the city's looming pension crisis.

Speaking at a City Club of Chicago luncheon Monday, Quinn used his pulpit to float a proposal that would funnel extra funds from state income tax into local municipalities. In doing so, the governor obliquely rejected Emanuel's five-year, $250 million strategy to raise property taxes in order to stabilize two underfunded pensions for city employees.

Emanuel moved quickly to oppose the idea, saying through his spokesperson: "Mayor Emanuel would welcome this reversal in policy to restore full funding of the income tax to local governments. Regardless, it is imperative that Governor Quinn sign the pension reform legislation immediately to secure the retirement of our workforce and a bright future for all of Chicago."

Translation: "Sign the bill now you [BLEEP BLEEP BLEEP]."

This is the latest skirmish in the battle of wills between Emanuel and Quinn since the former pushed his property tax increase plan through the Illinois House and Senate earlier this month. Quinn, who has yet to sign the bill, expressed disapproval of the property tax hike and requested the bill's wording be changed to deflect responsibility onto the city council. (He is running for re-election, after all.)

Emanuel, meanwhile, has shown no willingness to budge despite a multitude of alternative proposals from Chicago aldermen and an onslaught of robo-calls from Republican gubernatorial hopeful Bruce Rauner calling for Quinn to veto the bill.

But, hey, everyone's friends, right?

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