Emanuel — and most of the Chicago City Council — bypassed plenty of opportunities during the last eight years to raise a flashlight on the $100-million-a-year program for government workers who are injured or disabled on the job. Instead, city leaders waited until there was no political risk. Emanuel called for an audit of the program only after Burke got pushed out as Finance Committee chairman due to a federal public corruption complaint. Burke, charged with one count of attempted extortion, is vulnerable. Emanuel pounced. Other city leaders and mayoral candidates suddenly located their spines.