CHICAGO — Plans for Grammy Award winner Chance The Rapper to meet with Gov. Bruce Rauner about funding for Chicago's schools are back on, a few hours after they appeared to have fallen apart.
The rapper, born and raised in Chatham, asked for the meeting on Twitter, the day after he won three Grammys — the first to be claimed by an artist who had not released a physical album — and drew congratulations from the Republican governor.
Thank you Governor, I would love to have meeting with you this week if possible. https://t.co/wFC41NQqGq
— Lil Chano From 79th (@chancetherapper) February 13, 2017
Originally set for Wednesday at the Thompson Center, the meeting was canceled after a series of strong tornados swept southern Illinois, killing three people.
Due to the Tornado in southern Illinois, @GovRauner canceled our meeting this morning. My thoughts and prayers are with all those affected.
— Lil Chano From 79th (@chancetherapper) March 1, 2017
But Thursday morning, Chance — whose father works for Mayor Rahm Emanuel — announced on Twitter there were no firm plans in place for the meeting to be rescheduled.
As of right now, my meeting with @GovRauner is still "cancelled" with no new info on a reschedule. https://t.co/nSCmJVeOBW
— Lil Chano From 79th (@chancetherapper) March 2, 2017
A few hours after that, Chance tweeted again, with news the meeting was back on.
Update: The Governor and I are now scheduled to meet Friday morning, I'm more than appreciative of him taking time to discuss funding CPS https://t.co/gjCXe6Vs8Q
— Lil Chano From 79th (@chancetherapper) March 2, 2017
Rauner spent Wednesday and Thursday surveying the damage caused by the tornadoes, according to his spokeswoman Eleni Demertzis.
"He is meeting with families who lost their homes and thanking first responders for their service," Demertzis said. "He looks forward to hearing from Chance."
Ever since announcing his plan to meet with Rauner, Chance has been blasted on social media from those harshly critical of the governor's education policy, with many saying it made no sense for the rapper to meet with the governor who vetoed a bill that would have ended a state budget stalemate and helped Chicago Public Schools pay its pension bill this summer.
Chicago school officials have sued the state, alleging that the way Illinois funds schools in discriminatory.
Unless state lawmakers reach an agreement on a budget that includes more money for Chicago schools, officials have said the school year will end June 1 — not June 20 as planned.
The fiscal crisis for CPS began in November, when Rauner blamed Illinois Senate President John Cullerton for violating a compromise made in June that allowed schools to open last September. Part of that deal promised Chicago schools $215 million to help cover its pension obligation in return for statewide "pension reform," a long-held goal of the governor.
But in a December message to legislators, Rauner said he would not sign a school-funding bill because it would amount to a "bailout" for CPS. The governor also wants lawmakers to adopt his agenda, which he says will spur business growth in Illinois as part of a budget agreement.
Cullerton denied breaking the agreement and said he was willing to continue working on pension reform with the governor.
Rauner and Speaker of the House Michael Madigan have been locked in a bitter fight over the Illinois budget that has lasted nearly two years.
