Morning Spin: Emanuel heads to London, Berlin, Milan to promote Chicago

July 14--Welcome to Clout Street: Morning Spin, our weekday feature to catch you up with what's going on in government and politics from Chicago to Springfield. Subscribe here.

Topspin

Mayor Rahm Emanuel is headed overseas with stops in London, Berlin and Milan to promote Chicago as a destination for jobs.

The trip abroad marks the latest in a series of international trips and events for the mayor, who has been working to bolster his collaboration with international mayors at a time when he's had little cooperation o domestic issues from President Donald Trump's administration.

"Chicago's tech scene has been recognized nationally and internationally and will be the foundation for my trip to Europe, in the sense of cooperation and also agreements we'll be signing, all in the tech space, in three different cities," Emanuel said at a Loop event Thursday, highlighting growing technology companies that plan to add more jobs.

Emanuel will travel to Berlin first, followed by visits to London and then Milan, places where the mayor's office says Emanuel will "work to increase innovation collaboration between the cities and establish new higher education partnerships." Emanuel plans to meet with Berlin Mayor Michael Muller, London Mayor Sadiq Khan and Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala while in each city, according to City Hall.

The junket is the latest in a long list of events involving international mayors that Emanuel either has hosted or attended.

So far in 2017: In February, Emanuel hosted the mayors of Mexican cities Guadalajara, Juarez City and Mexico City on a visit to Chicago and held a news conference to stress international collaboration in the face of Trump's plans to build a border wall. In March, Emanuel hosted a global mayor's forum on waterways that featured Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo and nearly 20 mayors from five continents. In June, the mayor hosted Toronto Mayor John Tory. And weeks later, Tory, Emanuel and Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre held a joint meeting at an economic forum in Montreal. The mayor also met with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on that trip.

Last year, Emanuel made a December trip to Mexico City for a summit organized by the C40 group of global cities and a November trip to Rome for the ceremony that elevated then-Archbishop Blase Cupich to cardinal. And last September, Emanuel also hosted Khan in Chicago for a few days, when he highlighted the city's Riverwalk, technology jobs and economic development efforts in struggling neighborhoods.

Among Emanuel's other international junkets: trade trips in 2013 and 2015 to China, a July 2015 visit with Hidalgo in Paris while vacationing and a 2013 trip to Israel where attended a signing ceremony between the University of Chicago and Ben-Gurion University on water research.

Emanuel's office did not respond to a request for details on how long the mayor's latest trip will last and whether it will be paid for by city funds or by World Business Chicago, the quasi-governmental business arm of the city that is partially funded by taxpayer dollars. (Bill Ruthhart)

What's on tap

*Mayor Rahm Emanuel is in Berlin, Germany.

*Gov. Bruce Rauner's public schedule wasn't available.

From the notebook

*Abortion bill stunt: A bunch of abortion rights groups did a stunt Thursday at the Thompson Center to try to pressure Gov. Rauner into signing HB40, legislation that seeks to expand access to abortion for low-income women and preserve abortion rights in Illinois if Roe v. Wade is overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court. Women dressed to look like the title characters in Hulu's "The Handmaid's Tale."

Rauner had promised to veto the bill earlier in the spring session. The governor, who late in his first campaign in 2014 said he had no social agenda, is seeking re-election next year and looking to shore up support among social conservatives, even if a veto might alienate some suburban women swing voters.

One problem for the protesters though: The Democrat-controlled Illinois Senate hasn't sent the governor the bill yet. Sen. Don Harmon of Oak Park put a procedural hold on the measure after it passed May 10.

*The Sunday Spin: On this week's show, Chicago Tribune political reporter Rick Pearson's guests are state Rep. Elaine Nekritz, D-Northbrook; state Rep. David McSweeney, R-Barrington Hills; and Rob Karr, president and CEO of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association. The "Sunday Spin" airs from 7 to 9 a.m. on WGN 720-AM.

*Quick spins: Mayor Emanuel had no comment Thursday on the indictment of his political ally, Teamsters boss John Coli Sr. ... New York Mayor Bill de Blasio had Mayor Emanuel's back on the public transit issue that landed Emanuel on the front-page of a Big Apple tabloid. ... If you ever wanted to see a picture of Emanuel and a giant red wagon, today's your lucky day.

What we're writing

*Peter W. Smith, GOP operative from Lake Forest who sought Clinton's emails from Russian hackers, committed suicide, records show.

*Democrats pick Steele ally over City Clerk Valencia's husband for Cook County Board seat; keep it in West Side hands.

*Special prosecutor in Laquan McDonald cover-up case moves for new judge.

*Suburban school leaders worried about state education funding.

*Lake Shore Drive proposals would shift beaches, straighten S-curve.

*Sterling Bay looking at $680 million purchase of Prudential Plaza.

What we're reading (Friday summer fun edition)

*Tribune beer writer subjects respected Chicago craft beer makers to bad macrobrews. Which one was best (or least worst)? The answer may surprise you.

*For the millennials and millennial-at-heart: your guide to the Pitchfork Music Festival.

*Cubs mortgage long-term future for near-term future in Sox trade.

*Lone remaining Bulls' star loves "manny packs."

Follow the money

*Democratic Senate President John Cullerton reported collecting $45,000 from the finishing trades union for his state Senate fund. The same union kicked in another $45,000 to Cullerton's Senate Democratic Victory Fund.

*Track Illinois campaign contributions in real time here and here.

Beyond Chicago

*Trump defends son's meeting with Russian lawyer.

*Trump in Paris -- WaPo. Politico. No need for full border wall, president says on Air Force One flight.

*McConnell unveils new Senate health care bill with low-cost plans amid questions of whether this, too, can pass.

*A risky mix: cutting taxes for rich and aid to poor, NYT reports.

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