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Cook County Politics
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2/29/2008Stroger, Devine & Dart file suit to keep Cook Co. Gov open
Things aren't looking good for the Cook County Board to meet tonight's deadline for passing a county budget. Board President Todd Stroger, State's Attorney Dick Devine and Sheriff Tom Dart have already filed suit to keep county government operating in the event nothing is passed today: The Cook County board president, state's attorney and sheriff sued county commissioners Friday to keep government services running in the event no budget deal is reached by midnight.
State law holds that the county will lose its authority to spend money if the board misses its Friday night deadline, so Board President Todd Stroger, State's Attorney Richard Devine and Sheriff Tom Dart sought a court order to keep money flowing.
Although the suit was filed Friday, Assistant State's Attorney Pat Driscoll said the office can't seek the court order until Saturday because the county board still has until midnight to pass a budget. If no budget is passed, Driscoll said he will look into getting a hearing before a judge on Saturday. ...
... The suit also asks a judge to require the board to remain in session "without adjournment, recess or other form of continuation or termination of the meeting, with the exception of recess for reasonable time for personal necessities" until commissioners pass a budget. Stroger's non-specific blathering is getting to be a bit much: "Today is a unique day," Stroger said Friday. "Here we are. We're going to court...asking that what needs to be done today is taken care of....We're literally asking that you be brought back here until what needs to happen happens."
Stroger called for taking "personality" out of negotiations. "Right now, we've got the battle of the states. The blue and the gray," Stroger said.
"This is like kindergarten. Take your personality out. I've taken mine out," he said. "And we can figure this out, but someone has got to take the first step. From there, we can keep walking." I have a feeling this diatribe isn't going down in history with "Ask not what your country can do for you," as a great moment in Democrat oratory. I'll forgo walking everyone through the irony of Todd Stroger calling on all to take personality out of this and act adult. I'll just remind you of this gem for Stroger's political consulaire, Com. Bill Beavers: "It's about who's gonna run the county. It's about jobs, contracts, and power," Beavers said. "That's what it's about. Are black folks gonna run it, or are white folks gonna run it?" ...
... "If Todd was white, he wouldn't have half the problems he's got now, let's face it," Beavers said Tuesday. Stay tuned...
Filed Under: Cook County Politics
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Related Headlines
| | Todd Stroger not afraid... to go back on his word - WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2008 | | Too broke to hire HR, plenty to hike his counsin's salary - WEDNESDAY, APRIL 09, 2008 | | Tax Day cometh early in Chicago... - TUESDAY, APRIL 01, 2008 | | Peraica: Throw baby out with bath water? - THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 2008 | | BREAKING NEWS: Cook County Board reaches budget deal, raises sales tax - FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2008 | | Stroger, Devine & Dart file suit to keep Cook Co. Gov open - FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2008 | | Stroger to County Board: You fix it - THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2008 | | Cook County Board looking at budget cuts? Pinch me... - WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2008 | | No deals, no tax hikes during today's Cook County Board Meeting - MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2008 | | Peraica wastes no time - WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 06, 2008 |
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Countdown to Election Day
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