For the second time in a month, Cook County commissioners yesterday failed to override a veto by County Board President Todd Stroger.
At the board's meeting May 18, Stroger's veto of a county-wide hiring freeze was upheld. This time, commissioners were unable to muster the 11 votes needed to force through an ordinance giving them closer supervision of personnel issues. The override attempt failed with nine yeas, six nays and two absent.
Stroger seemed pleased as he watched commissioners debate the veto override. He argued, as he did last month, that such an ordinance encroached on his power. It would have required him to notify the commission when he hired or gave raises to employees exempt from the county's patronage laws. Read more...
Calling an Arizona law aimed at finding illegal immigrants un-American, Cook County commissioners today approved a resolution boycotting the state and giving the board power to end any contracts with vendors located in the state.
But in a quick turn of events, commissioners then approved a contract with a Scottsdale, Ariz.-based company that will supply red-light cameras in the Cook suburbs.
Commissioners Edwin Reyes and Joseph Mario Moreno, the board's lone Latinos, led the charge to boycott Arizona businesses. Read more...
Citing the endless payment of fees associated with the county’s court-mandated hiring process, Commissioner Earlean Collins today called for an investigation into the county’s compliance with the Shakman accord, which bars politically-motivated hiring and firing.
“We are not moving as fast as we can to resolve the whole Shakman issue,” Collins said. The proposal was sent to the County Board’s litigation sub-committee.
“We have to stop allowing this whole issu to drain the budget. This thing is growing and has taken on a life of its own,” she said.
Read more...
Calling a new Arizona law that targets illegal immigrants – or anyone who could be an illegal immigrant – Cook County Commissioners are set to discuss
an ordinance that would cancel all contracts with Arizona-based companies.
The ordinance, introduced by Commissioners Joseph Mario Moreno and Edwin Reyes, was referred to the finance committee.
Commissioners said the Arizona law was reminiscent of World War II Germany in targeting certain groups of people.
Read more...
Cook County patients are pleased with health care reform, while health system leaders anticipate higher reimbursements and fewer ER visits. Meanwhile, the health system will "step up its game" to make sure patients keep using county facilities. (Fox Chicago/ABC7/WBEZ)
Mistakes at the assessor's office mean Cook County is missing out on a boatload of property taxes. (CBS2)
The Wednesday Journal is no fan of Commissioner Earlean Collins, panning her proposal to make the health system a taxing body. Read more...
