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Budget - Chicago - Cook County - Cook County Board - Democrats/Leftists - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Liberals - State Government - Taxes - Tony Peraica - Warner Todd Huston

Gov’t Waste: $300,000 for Coffee in Cook County Government?

April 22, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Tony Peraica has chimed in on the “Coffee Czar” controversy as reported here earlier this week.

“Yes, despite the political insiders’ claims that government is bankrupt and their calls for tax increases — we’ve learned that the county taxpayers spent more than $75,000 on a local coffee company in the first three months of the current fiscal year alone. That adds up to some $300,000 a year for coffee and snacks!

As I told the reporter for that story, I’ve long said that we have “corruption on steroids” here in Cook County — but now we learn it might also be fueled by coffee!

Are these really the types of wasteful “projects” on which our hard-earned tax dollars should be spent?

As your commissioner, I will continue to fight to expose these instances of abuse, and to fight for sensible spending reform and tax relief.”


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Gov’t Waste: $300,000 for Coffee in Cook County Government?”

Budget - Chicago - Cook County - Cook County Board - Democrats/Leftists - Government - Illinois State Government - Liberals - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Peraica’s Push for Transparency Reveals Waste

April 18, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Commissioner Peraica sponsored a transparency measure that formed the basis for a recent ABC 7 report on waste in county government. Cook County government has started to put its check register online for all to see thanks to Peracia’s efforts.

Of course, we need more stories like the one seen here, ABC 7’s Chuck Goudie who usesd the online check register to identify questionable expenditures of your tax dollars.

One of the worst examples of waste by the County was its expenditures to C.R.O.E., the Coalition for the Remembrance of the Honorable Elijah Mahammad. Mahammad was the former leader of the militant Nation of Islam, a religion now run by Louis Farrakhan. The County is supposedly paying C.R.O.E. for “consulting” services. But no one really knows what sort of “consulting” they really do for the County.

In any case, with the County check register on line for everyone to see, the possibility of more easily finding the waste and graft by Cook County government is a good thing for eventually holding County officials accountable. We should see such efforts at every level of government.

Budget - Chicago - Cook County - Cook County Board - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Elections - GOP - Illinois State Government - Liberals - Republicans - Taxes - Tony Peraica - Warner Todd Huston

Tell the Insiders Not to Play Politics With Your Property Taxes: Text REFORM to 77007

April 14, 2010 by

From Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraica…

This week the focus is on federal Tax Day — the deadline for us all to file our federal income taxes.

And, yes, while federal taxes are burdensome and growing, we must not forget about the tax shenanigans going on right here in Cook County.
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Tell the Insiders Not to Play Politics With Your Property Taxes: Text REFORM to 77007″

Chicago - Cook County - Cook County Board - Elections - GOP - Illinois - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Cook County Board President: Garrido and Keats Debate

January 21, 2010 by

ABC TV has the video of the recent debate between the two Republican candidates for Cook County Board President. Appearing was John Garrido and Roger Keats.

Here are the links to all three parts:

Here are the candidate’s websites:
John Garrido – Policeman and lawyer – garrido2010.com
Roger Keats – Securities Industry – www.keatsforcook.com

Chicago - Cook County - Cook County Board - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - Illinois - Liberals - Race - Society/Culture - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Stroger Ad Goes for the Race Card

January 11, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Blogger Bill Baar of Bill Baar’s West Side ran across an interesting flier being distributed by the Todd Stroger for Cook County President campaign. And it’s all about the race card.

Yes, baby Stroger is going for the slavery/racism angle in order to convince folks that they’re all out to get him.
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Stroger Ad Goes for the Race Card”

Chicago - Cook County - Cook County Board - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - Illinois - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Democrat Cook County Board Prez Candidates Debate ABC7

January 8, 2010 by

ABC 7 Television held the first debate for Cook County Board President on Thursday, Jan. 7. In attendance were Dorothy Brown, Toni Preckwinkle, Terrence O’Brien, and incumbent Todd Stroger.

ABC 7 says they will have the two GOP candidate’s debate coming soon.

Watch the Cook Co. Board Pres. Candidates Debate Part I
Watch the Cook Co. Board Pres. Candidates Debate Part II
Watch the Cook Co. Board Pres. Candidates Debate Part III

Here are the websites for the candidates…

Dorothy Brown
Terrence O’Brien
Toni Preckwinkle
Todd Stroger

Chicago - Cook County - Cook County Board - Elections - GOP - Illinois - Republicans - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Chicago News Bench Great Video Interview With Tony Peraica

January 4, 2010 by

Tom Mannis over at Chicago News Bench has a great series of six video interviews with Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraica. I’ll post for you part one, but not the rest. You will have to go to the Chicago News Bench YoutTube page to see the others.

Here is part one:

See all six parts at the Chicago News Bench YoutTube page

Chicago - Cook County - Cook County Board - Elections - GOP - Illinois - Republicans - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Video: Chgo Trib Editorial Board Interview With GOP County Board Candidates

December 21, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

The Chicago Tribune filmed its interview with two GOP candidates for Cook County Board Chairman, Roger Keats and John Garrido.

You can see he video on the Chicago Trib Video pages, or watch it here…
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Video: Chgo Trib Editorial Board Interview With GOP County Board Candidates”

Budget - Business - Chicago - Cook County - Cook County Board - Entertainment - GOP - Hollywood - Illinois - Movies - Republicans - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Cook Commissioner Tim Schneider: Cut Cook County Film Office

December 2, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Last month Cook County Commissioner Timothy O. Schneider (R, western suburbs) co-sponsored a budget amendment to axe the Cook County Film Commission from fiscal year 2010.

Quoth Schneider, “The creation of the Cook County Film Commission stands as a prime example of government spending run amok.”

The Film Commission is budgeted at $251,611 for 2010. Schneiber pointed out that there is already a Chicago Film Commission as well as an Illinois Film Commission, s the existence of a Cook County version is unnecessary redundancy.

Earlier in the year, Schneider sponsored and saw passed a campaign finance bill that lowered the personal political contribution allowance from $1,500 to $750 per person for those that have done business with the county, including registered lobbyists.

“This legislation can begin the process of restoring confidence and ensuring that influence peddling is eradicated from Cook County,” Schneider said in his recent newsletter.

Budget - Censorship - Chicago - Conservatives - Cook County - Cook County Board - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Illinois - Liberals - President - Republicans - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraica Tweets The Veto Session (Tax Roll Back Succeeds)

December 1, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Here is a really fascinating series of tweets from Commissioner Tony Peraica as he participated in the latest Cook County Board meeting. Today (Dec. 1) Board President Todd Stroger tried to cajole the board into upholding his veto of the roll back of his implementation of the highest tax rate in the country. Peraica is against the tax and since the State Legislature ended the four-fifths rule, lowering it to three-fifths to overturn the president’s veto, the fight was on.

Anyway, here are the tweets that Peraica posted during the debate and they are a fascinating peak inside a board meeting during this important vote. Luckily, the final outcome is victory for the tax roll back. It’s only a roll back of half a penny, but it is a start and it is the first time a board president’s veto has been rolled back in anyone’s memory.

  • Chairman Daley has now started the Finance Committee meeting and has started the process WITHOUT Todd Stroger. This is novel.
  • Stroger and Collins are still holed up in his office. Major arm twisting is going on. We’ll have to look at Com. Collin’s face upon entry.
  • It”s now over ONE hour since the time for meeting of the Board to start, but, Stroger and Collins are STILL NOT HERE. Highly Suspect!
  • Storger and Collins are still talking in his office. It’s been now ONE HOUR and FIFTEEN minutes. This is beginnig to look very fishy.

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Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraica Tweets The Veto Session (Tax Roll Back Succeeds)”

Chicago - Cook County - Cook County Board - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - GOP - Illinois - Republicans - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Cook County Board President Race: John Garrido Responds to Claims He’s a Dem. Plant

November 30, 2009 by

Is it the Chicago dirty tricks squad at work? From the Garrido campaign…

SCHILLER PARK – John Garrido addressed rumors being circulated among Republican circles that he’s a Democrat “plant”. He issued the following statement:

Attempts to try and make me look like a Democrat based on my primary voting record are laughable. I am a Republican, have always been a Republican, and will always remain a Republican.

I have voted in two Democratic primaries. In 2008, I joined over 100,000 Republicans in Ohio, 119,000 in Texas, and 38,000 in Mississippi who voted for Hillary Clinton to put Republicans in the best position to win in the general election. I also voted for an Assistant State’s Attorney and friend running as a Democrat who was more than qualified for judge.
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Cook County Board President Race: John Garrido Responds to Claims He’s a Dem. Plant”

Budget - Chicago - Cook County - Cook County Board - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Illinois - Liberals - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Cook County Board Quietly Approves Employee Raises

November 24, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

CBS2 reports that the Cook County Board has quietly approved of raises for County employees. Yes, this is the same County Board that is fighting over a one half cent tax hike and claiming that the coffers are empty causing hospitals to close up for lack of funds.

While businesses all across the country are freezing salaries, stopping new hires, and even cutting salaries ten and twenty percent, County government is giving luxurious raises to its employees. That’s your tax dollars being spent to give public employee raises when the voters are seeing hard times.

Must be nice to have a cushy, extravagant, recession proof, government job during these hard times, eh?

And now for the understatement of the year…
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Cook County Board Quietly Approves Employee Raises”

Chicago - Cook County - Cook County Board - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Illinois - Liberals - President - State Government - Taxes - Uncategorized - Warner Todd Huston

Cook County Board President Charges Racism

November 20, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Well, little Todd Stroger is at it again. With the Cook County Board now having been given more power by the State Legislature to overturn Stroger’s veto, the junior Stroger is now claiming it’s all about racism.

On an upcoming episode of “Connected to Chicago,” WLS radio’s Bill Cameron found Board President Stroger whining that it’s all about racism instead of his wild tax hikes. WLS is advertising its upcoming episode with this following Stroger quote:

If this was a Southern town it would be like an old fashioned lynching.

Stroger goes on to claim that he was told by the editorial board of the Chicago Tribune that they are “out to get me.” Cameron, though, reports that the Chicago Tribune denies that such a conversation ever took place and that they are not out to get him as the paranoid Stroger claims.
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Cook County Board President Charges Racism”

Chicago - Cook County - Cook County Board - Democrats/Leftists - GOP - Illinois - Liberals - Mayor Richard Daley - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Cook County Board Hijinx: Peraica vs. John Daley

November 17, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Over at WBEZBlog, Tony Arnold posted his “soundbite of the day” featuring an insinuation, an angry reply, and a slam from today’s Cook County Board meeting.

Apparently, during a roll call vote, Commissioner Tony Peraica made some sort of veiled jab at Mayor Daley’s son who recently moved to Russia. I’m not sure what the heck Daley’s son has to do with anything — and Peraica said later that he regretted even saying it — but whatever Peraica meant it sure set John Daley (brother of Mayor Richard Daley) off about “attacking my nephew,” that’s for sure.

After Peraica said his line about the younger Daley’s move to Russia, John Daley started yelling back and that caused Board President Todd Stroger to shut off the mic, saying “You don’t know when to shut up,” to our erstwhile member of the Daley brood.

Still, later in the session, John Daley got his chance to throw out a jab at Peraica and in his blog post, Arnold expressed puzzlement over the comeback.
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Cook County Board Hijinx: Peraica vs. John Daley”

Cook County - Cook County Board - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - GOP - Illinois - Republicans - Society/Culture - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Cook County Board Race Gets Messy

November 13, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

OK, say you are running for the Cook County Board. And say your daddy is the village clerk in the very district where you are hoping to get a whole slew of by-mail and early votes. Also say your cousin is running for Governor and he’s already the State Comptroller now. Do you think your opponent might casually wonder if the fix is in?

… well, it is Crook County, after all.

Naturally, the above isn’t just some bad TV script, but a real situation in southern Cook County. In Orland Park where Democrat Patrick Maher is running to unseat Commissioner Elizabeth Doody Gorman (R, Or. Park) we find that Maher’s daddy just happens to be David Maher, the Orland Park Village Clerk, and Maher’s cousin just happens to be Dan Hynes, Democratic State Comptroller and current candidate for the Dem. nomination for governor.

Naturally, Commissioner Gorman is a bit wary of the whole situation and is raising some red flags about it all.
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Cook County Board Race Gets Messy”

Chicago - Cook County - Cook County Board - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - Illinois - Liberals - Republicans - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Cook County Board President Forum, Nov. 15 Republicans Excluded

November 12, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

The Better Government Association of Chicago is hosting a debate between candidates for Cook County Board President. Naturally, the extremely left-leaning Andy Shaw and his merry little group of faux concerned citizens are excluding the Republican candidates in their forum. Perhaps you might want to email the lefty Shaw and ask why he is excluding the two Republican candidates in his faux forum? Email them at countyboardforum@gmail.com or call them at (312) 427-8330.

Who is your choice for President of the Cook County Board? Still not decided? Perhaps you ‘d like to attend a free, live forum of the candidates on Sunday, November 15 at the DePaul Student Center. For details, read the following media advisory from our friends at the Better Government Association (BGA). Note: If you plan to attend, please let them know so that they can best accommodate a large crowd. RSVP to countyboardforum@gmail.com.

The Better Government Association & 43rd Ward Democrats Host Candidates Forum

Andy Shaw, Executive Director of the Better Government Association, will moderate a lively discussion among the Democratic Candidates for President of the Cook County Board: Todd Stroger, the incumbent; Toni Preckwinkle, 4th Ward Alderman; Dorothy Brown, Clerk of the Circuit Court; and Terrence O’Brien, President of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District. The debate is a DePaul University Forum. Democratic Committeeman Michele Smith and the 43rd Ward Democrats are hosts of the County Board President Democratic Candidates Forum, which is being held at the DePaul University Center at Belden and Sheffield in Lincoln Park.

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Cook County Board President Forum, Nov. 15 Republicans Excluded”

Chicago - Cook County - Cook County Board - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - GOP - Illinois - Liberals - President - Society/Culture - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Minus One: Danny Davis Drops Bid for Cook County Board

November 9, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Too many African Americans running, that is the reason that Congressman Danny Davis (D, Chgo) has decided not to run for Cook County Board President and will instead run for re-election to his 7th District Congressional seat.

He said he did it for “unity” but the real reason that Davis dropped out is because he felt that too many African Americans running for the same seat would spread the votes thin enough that some evil white guy might win the seat.

Currently three other African Americans are running for board president. Incumbent Todd Stroger, Cook County Clerk Dorothy Brown, and Alderman Toni Preckwinckle are all vying for the African American community’s support.

Here are the candidates as announced and filed running for Cook County Board President.
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Minus One: Danny Davis Drops Bid for Cook County Board”