Top Stories Milwaukee

Hard-driving Rahm Emanuel – the former White House chief of staff (and Democratic politico of the highest order) elected mayor of Chicago in February – took at jab at Wisconsin during his inaugural address earlier this week.

Rahm Emanuel

In his speech at Millenium Park, Emanuel paid homage to Richard Daley, who announced his retirement last year and stepped down, officially, last week after 22 years in office.

“I have big shoes to fill,” Emanuel said.

“Now, Mr. Mayor, and forevermore, Chicago loves you back,” he added, although Daley ended his tenure amidst low approval ratings.

They were due in part to a fiscal crisis, one Emanuel now faces.  He promised a smaller, more efficient city government, but extracting savings from public employees by limiting their unions may not be on the table.

“I reject how leaders in Wisconsin and Ohio are exploiting their fiscal crisis to achieve a political goal. That course is not the right course for Chicago’s future,” the new mayor said, referring to legislation championed by governors in both states limiting the unions.

Emanuel joins Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn, also a Democrat, in launching barbs at the policies of Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker.

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.