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Cook County Politics
 Yes, yes...tell you something that you don't already know.After reneging on his campaign pledge to cut the wasteful bureaucracy and bring reform to Cook County government, Todd Stroger demonstrated his fearlessness. Uninhibited by his previous campaign pledges, Stroger pushed for a massive tax increase to infuse the failing county government with cash. County commissioners forced Stroger to retreat slightly, eventually to agreeing to a 1 percentage point sales tax hike with the caveat of turning the county's also financially failing hospital over to a private oversight board. Not surprisingly, the makeup of the this board could end up being rife with Stroger loyalists, meaning we can expect little to no change. Palatine - not unlike many Cook County residents - is fed up. After threatening secession from Cook County, Stroger agreed to meet with Palatine town officials tonight at Harper College. Never one to let his word bind him, Stroger has backed out of the meeting. The reason given? Stroger's afraid of the "political agenda" of the Palatine town officials. Irrespective of the merit of Palatine's secession idea, it is a manifestation of the frustration of many Cook County taxpayers at the treatment they receive at the hands of county government officials. If Stroger's original play was to deny giving countenance to Palatine's rebellious proposal, it might have been understandable. But committing to consider their complaints at a public meeting, only to back out at the last moment will only elicit more anger, more dissatisfaction and more questions on Stroger's ability to lead the county. Stroger's up for reelection in 2010. Will voters look for a board president with more moral authority to lead than Stroger possess? I hear Eliot Spitzer is available... Filed Under: Cook County Politics E-mail this article to a friend | Printer friendly format |
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