Chance The Rapper To Illinois Governor: “Take Our Kids Off The Table”
Earlier this month, after Chance The Rapper won the Best New Artist Grammy, Bruce Rauner, the Republican governor of Illinois, tweeted his congratulations. On Twitter, Chance thanked the governor and asked to meet with him to discuss the sorry state of public school in Chance’s native Chicago. Chance got that meeting today, and he did not walk away satisfied.
According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the two sat down together for 30 minutes earlier today. Chance was concerned about a bill, which Rauner had vetoed, which would’ve granted $215 million to Chicago public schools. When asked what his message to Rauner was, Chance said, “Take our kids off the table.”
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Chance challenged news outlets to tell the story of how Chicago public schools fell into decline. Of the meeting, he also said, “I felt it went a little bit different than it should have. I’m here because I just want people to do their jobs… He asked me where the $215 million was going to come from.” He also lamented the “vague answers” he got from Rauner.
.@chancetherapper leaves meeting with @GovRauner apparently disappointed with "vague answers." pic.twitter.com/E0nUVzDhb8
— Amanda Vinicky (@AmandaVinicky) March 3, 2017
After speaking with reporters, Chance tweeted this:
Chicago Public Schools and I did not lose today. Please don't let that become the narrative. Monday morning I'll have a plan.
— Lil Chano From 79th (@chancetherapper) March 3, 2017
SPIN has more details on all the things Rauner has done to cut spending in Illinois. Rauner characterized the meeting with Chance as a “good exchange” and said, “We agreed we are going to talk more. And I hope we can come to a good solution. I’m cautiously optimistic that we can.”