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U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock, R-Peoria, responded Thursday to a June 24 Chicago Tribune article written by veteran reporter Rick Pearson detailing an emerging feud between himself and Gov. Pat Quinn.

According to the article, Quinn's office tried to uninvite Schock from a luncheon honoring Illinois Special Olympians and from a fall transportation planning conference. A Quinn aide also acknowledged concern about having the 18th District representative at the luncheon.

The two were also supposed to appear at an Executive Mansion kickoff, and Quinn's office apparently did what it could to get Schock removed from the program, the article states.

"I haven't had any conversations with the governor's offices, but apparently the sponsors of the events have," Schock said during a conference call. "I will leave it at that."

Schock and Quinn spent the better part of June spatting with each other on MSNBC and Chicago radio, both calling each other's talking points "gibberish."

The early Fourth of July fireworks were set off during a joint June 12 "Morning Joe" segment in which the two engaged in a debate, and political pundits are split on who actually got the upper hand. Some also have called it the first signs of a potential gubernatorial race in two years.

During the MSNBC segment from Chicago, Schock made a gaffe by saying the House had passed a five-year transportation plan (in fact, it hadn't until last week). Quinn said President Barack Obama's auto industry bailout helped Ford expand operations in Illinois.

Schock, on Thursday, reiterated that Quinn's comments were "gibberish," though he says he doesn't "remember the exact interview" in which he made them. The interview occurred on WLS-890 AM, a Chicago radio station.

"I think specifically he was talking about the fact we have the auto bailout to thank for Ford's expansion in Illinois," Schock said on Thursday. "I would call it nonsense. People can call it different things."

Quinn has also hammered Schock recently for the Morning Joe gaffe, calling the congressman's comments "gibberish." (J.S.)

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Word on the Street: Schock, Quinn show emerging rivalry