Illinois Republicans push for state takeover of Chicago schoolsCHICAGO (Reuters) - Illinois’ two top Republican legislators said on Wednesday they will introduce legislation soon to let the state take over the cash-strapped Chicago public school system, permit the district to file for municipal bankruptcy and eventually allow for city-wide school board elections. The plan has the backing of Republican Governor Bruce Rauner, who has embraced allowing local governments facing financial turmoil to file for bankruptcy. But it is strongly opposed by Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who controls the city’s schools, the Chicago Teachers Union, and by Democratic leaders, who control the legislature. Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno and House Minority Leader Jim Durkin, both Republican allies of Rauner, said a new approach is needed to rescue the Chicago Public Schools (CPS)from financial mismanagement and near collapse. Rauner told reporters Emanuel has failed to address the school district’s fiscal woes over the nearly five years he has been mayor.  “His message to us in state government has been for months, ‘We have a crisis. We need $500 million. We want the state to give it to us.’ That’s not a reasonable message. That’s not a reasonable request,” Rauner said. The nation’s third-largest school system has a structural budget deficit topping $1 billion and credit ratings that have fallen deep into the “junk” level.  The district’s current budget has a $480 million gap that officials hope to fill with bigger pension funding support from the state. But the plan has become entangled in a state budget stalemate between Rauner and Democrats.  The Republicans’ plan would amend an existing law permitting state oversight of fiscally troubled schools to include CPS and allow for an independent authority to run the district, while making it clear the state is not liable for school debt. Once solvency is regained, an elected school board would take control.  The plan would also open the door to Chapter 9 municipal bankruptcy while protecting general obligation bondholders with a statutory lien. “The mayor is 100 percent opposed to Governor Rauner’s ‘plan’ to drive CPS bankrupt,” Emanuel spokeswoman Kelley Quinn said in a statement, adding that the state has been shortchanging Chicago students. House Speaker Michael Madigan rejected the plan, pointing to Michigan’s takeover of the city of Flint, which has led to a health crisis from lead-tainted water. “The disaster in Flint, Michigan, is a very timely example of how reckless decisions just to save a buck can have devastating consequences on children and families,” Madigan said in a statement. Senate President John Cullerton, a Chicago Democrat, said the Republicans’ “mean-spirited” plan is not going to happen.  CPS has scheduled an $875 million bond sale for next week, partly to free up revenue for its sagging budget. politicsNews
illinois republicans push state takeover chicago schoolschicago reuters illinois two top republican legislators said wednesday introduce legislation soon let state take chicago public school system permit district file municipal bankruptcy eventually allow school board elections the plan backing republican governor bruce rather embraced allowing local governments facing financial turmoil file bankruptcy but strongly opposed chicago mayor ram manuel controls city schools chicago teachers union democratic leaders control legislature senate minority leader christine radon house minority leader jim during republican allies rather said new approach needed rescue chicago public schools cps financial mismanagement near collapse rather told reporters manuel failed address school district fiscal woes nearly five years mayor his message us state government months we crisis we need million we want state give that reasonable message that reasonable request rather said the nation school system structural budget deficit topping billion credit ratings fallen deep junk level the district current budget million gap officials hope fill bigger pension funding support state but plan become entangled state budget stalemate rather democrats the republicans plan would amend existing law permitting state oversight finally troubled schools include cps allow independent authority run district making clear state liable school debt once solvent regained elected school board would take control the plan would also open door chapter municipal bankruptcy protecting general obligation bondholders statutory lien the mayor percent opposed governor rather plan drive cps bankrupt manuel spokeswoman kelly quinn said statement adding state shortchanging chicago students house speaker michael median rejected plan pointing michigan takeover city flint led health crisis water the disaster flint michigan timely example reckless decisions save buck devastating consequences children families median said statement senate president john cullerton chicago democrat said republicans plan going happen cps scheduled million bond sale next week partly free revenue tagging budget politicsnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: Illinois Republicans push for state takeover of Chicago schoolsCHICAGO (Reuters) - Illinois’ two top Republican legislators said on Wednesday they will introduce legislation soon to let the state take over the cash-strapped Chicago public school system, permit the district to file for municipal bankruptcy and eventually allow for city-wide school board elections. The plan has the backing of Republican Governor Bruce Rauner, who has embraced allowing local governments facing financial turmoil to file for bankruptcy. But it is strongly opposed by Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who controls the city’s schools, the Chicago Teachers Union, and by Democratic leaders, who control the legislature. Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno and House Minority Leader Jim Durkin, both Republican allies of Rauner, said a new approach is needed to rescue the Chicago Public Schools (CPS)from financial mismanagement and near collapse. Rauner told reporters Emanuel has failed to address the school district’s fiscal woes over the nearly five years he has been mayor.  “His message to us in state government has been for months, ‘We have a crisis. We need $500 million. We want the state to give it to us.’ That’s not a reasonable message. That’s not a reasonable request,” Rauner said. The nation’s third-largest school system has a structural budget deficit topping $1 billion and credit ratings that have fallen deep into the “junk” level.  The district’s current budget has a $480 million gap that officials hope to fill with bigger pension funding support from the state. But the plan has become entangled in a state budget stalemate between Rauner and Democrats.  The Republicans’ plan would amend an existing law permitting state oversight of fiscally troubled schools to include CPS and allow for an independent authority to run the district, while making it clear the state is not liable for school debt. Once solvency is regained, an elected school board would take control.  The plan would also open the door to Chapter 9 municipal bankruptcy while protecting general obligation bondholders with a statutory lien. “The mayor is 100 percent opposed to Governor Rauner’s ‘plan’ to drive CPS bankrupt,” Emanuel spokeswoman Kelley Quinn said in a statement, adding that the state has been shortchanging Chicago students. House Speaker Michael Madigan rejected the plan, pointing to Michigan’s takeover of the city of Flint, which has led to a health crisis from lead-tainted water. “The disaster in Flint, Michigan, is a very timely example of how reckless decisions just to save a buck can have devastating consequences on children and families,” Madigan said in a statement. Senate President John Cullerton, a Chicago Democrat, said the Republicans’ “mean-spirited” plan is not going to happen.  CPS has scheduled an $875 million bond sale for next week, partly to free up revenue for its sagging budget. politicsNews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: illinois republicans push state takeover chicago schoolschicago reuters illinois two top republican legislators said wednesday introduce legislation soon let state take chicago public school system permit district file municipal bankruptcy eventually allow school board elections the plan backing republican governor bruce rather embraced allowing local governments facing financial turmoil file bankruptcy but strongly opposed chicago mayor ram manuel controls city schools chicago teachers union democratic leaders control legislature senate minority leader christine radon house minority leader jim during republican allies rather said new approach needed rescue chicago public schools cps financial mismanagement near collapse rather told reporters manuel failed address school district fiscal woes nearly five years mayor his message us state government months we crisis we need million we want state give that reasonable message that reasonable request rather said the nation school system structural budget deficit topping billion credit ratings fallen deep junk level the district current budget million gap officials hope fill bigger pension funding support state but plan become entangled state budget stalemate rather democrats the republicans plan would amend existing law permitting state oversight finally troubled schools include cps allow independent authority run district making clear state liable school debt once solvent regained elected school board would take control the plan would also open door chapter municipal bankruptcy protecting general obligation bondholders statutory lien the mayor percent opposed governor rather plan drive cps bankrupt manuel spokeswoman kelly quinn said statement adding state shortchanging chicago students house speaker michael median rejected plan pointing michigan takeover city flint led health crisis water the disaster flint michigan timely example reckless decisions save buck devastating consequences children families median said statement senate president john cullerton chicago democrat said republicans plan going happen cps scheduled million bond sale next week partly free revenue tagging budget politicsnews