Rauner speaks about CPS amid state budget battle

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Gov. Bruce Rauner spoke in Chicago Thursday regarding the financial mess at CPS, claiming he's not getting any help from Democrats when it comes to dealing with the money problems.

"I'm in office for seven months. I didn't create this mess," Rauner said.

The governor told reporters that he is not the bad guy, especially when it comes to support for the beleaguered city schools and their nearly 400,000 students.

"We are eager to help Chicago Public Schools. Many of our most vulnerable families depend on those schools," Rauner said.

Rauner says he agreed to delay CPS' $600 million pension payment to pick up the district's normal pension costs for the next two years, also supporting legislation to require teachers to contribute the entire amount for their retirements. He also promised to continue sending a half billion dollars in additional state money to the city schools.

"But at this point the City of Chicago and the mayor have been unwilling to help us in our reform agenda to help the state," Rauner said.

Democrats including Mayor Rahm Emanuel, House Speaker Mike Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton have resisted Rauner's pro-business "turnaround agenda" that would lessen the power and influence of unions in the state.

Still, CPS CEO Forrest Claypool spun hope about the governor's comments Thursday, writing that the leaders "... agree that when it comes to funding our schools, there is an inequity in the system that needs to be changed."

But Rauner insisted there has been no positive movement on his turnaround demands because Speaker Madigan will not join the negotiations on any of them.

"Right now it's happening with certain folks but not with the Speaker. And we need to get with the Speaker on that," Rauner said.

Speaker Madigan has called Rauner's agenda demands "extreme" and an attack on Democratic Party "core values."

The governor says he will also sign a bill to allow federal monies to pass through Springfield to social services agencies during the budget stalemate.