Congressional Democrats from Illinois are treading carefully around
the teacher strike in Chicago, underscoring the political squeeze the
situation has created for President Obama.
Chicago-area Democrats — including several who have relatives in the school system — refrained from taking sides in the strike on Tuesday, saying that both they and the White House should give city leaders space to hash out an agreement.
Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.), who has not been shy in criticizing Obama in the past and endorsed one of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s opponents, repeatedly told The Hill that he wanted his grandson back in the classroom as soon as possible.
“I did multiplication tables with him yesterday and we had gym and I did math. I’m sure like others, we’re struggling with the situation,” Gutierrez said. “I hope everyone sits at the bargaining table and resolves it as quickly as possible.”
Gutierrez and other Illinois Democrats were wary of commenting on the roughly 26,000 teachers currently off the job, even as the Republican presidential ticket slammed Obama on the issue and gleefully sided with Emanuel, Obama’s former chief of staff.
“I think what we need to do is solve the problem locally, and not let it turn into a national or an international event,” said Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.). “This is only going to be solved at the table in Chicago.”
Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/house/248901-dems-duck-labor-fight-in-chicago
Chicago-area Democrats — including several who have relatives in the school system — refrained from taking sides in the strike on Tuesday, saying that both they and the White House should give city leaders space to hash out an agreement.
Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.), who has not been shy in criticizing Obama in the past and endorsed one of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s opponents, repeatedly told The Hill that he wanted his grandson back in the classroom as soon as possible.
“I did multiplication tables with him yesterday and we had gym and I did math. I’m sure like others, we’re struggling with the situation,” Gutierrez said. “I hope everyone sits at the bargaining table and resolves it as quickly as possible.”
Gutierrez and other Illinois Democrats were wary of commenting on the roughly 26,000 teachers currently off the job, even as the Republican presidential ticket slammed Obama on the issue and gleefully sided with Emanuel, Obama’s former chief of staff.
“I think what we need to do is solve the problem locally, and not let it turn into a national or an international event,” said Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.). “This is only going to be solved at the table in Chicago.”
Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/house/248901-dems-duck-labor-fight-in-chicago
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