Round two began Wednesday night as the governor candidates continue the ugly tone of the campaign on ABC 7's televised debate.
J.B. Pritzker asked Gov. Bruce Rauner about the Sterigenics plant in Willowbrook Rauner had invested in -- and the cancer causing pollution concerns there.
"Don't you think you owe the people of Willowbrook an answer?" Pritzker asked.
Rauner said he had no interest in the company since May of 2015.
"Our administration has been in close communication with the US Environmental Protection Agency with that company in question," Rauner responded.
Rauner asked Pritzker about the new inspector general's report detailing what the office called Pritzker's scheme to defraud. Pritzker received a $330,000 property tax break after removing five toilets from one of his Gold Coast homes.
"Your Republican party is trying to take advantage of that leak, the fact is we abided by the rules," Pritzker responded to Rauner's incredulity.
Chicago Politics
The pair also tangled over Rauner's handling of the Legionnaires outbreak at a veterans home in Quincy.
Rauner now faces an investigation from Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan to see if any laws were violated in his administration's response.
"Our team did everything they could to protect our veterans in that home," Rauner said. "Treating the water, following all the experts' advice."
Rauner blames House Speaker Mike Madigan for the two-year budget stand off. Pritzker would not answer questions as to whether he thinks Madigan should retire. As for the property tax break Pritzker received, he is in the process of returning the cash.
"I didn't want to, in the last 34 days, this distract people," he said. "We followed the rules here."
Rauner warned not to make light of the toilet controversy.
"This is white collar crime," he said. "This is not a joke. This is not funny. This is not about thrones and humor. This is serious."
It's down to the final four-and-a-half weeks til Election Day with Pritzker leading by an average of 15 points.
